IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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| 출원번호 |
US-0783108
(2004-02-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bailey,Thomas F.
- Luke,Mike A.
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| 출원인 / 주소 |
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| 대리인 / 주소 |
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| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
66 인용 특허 :
24 |
초록
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The present invention generally provides a reduced downtime maintenance apparatus and method for replacing and/or repairing a subassembly in sealing equipment for oil field use. The invention allows the removal of rotating portions of a rotary drilling head without having to remove non-rotating port
The present invention generally provides a reduced downtime maintenance apparatus and method for replacing and/or repairing a subassembly in sealing equipment for oil field use. The invention allows the removal of rotating portions of a rotary drilling head without having to remove non-rotating portions. The reduction in weight and size allows a more efficient repair and/or replacement of a principal wear component such as a packer. Specifically, the packer in a rotary drilling head can be removed independent of bearings and other portions of the rotary drilling head. Furthermore, because of the relatively small size and light weight, the packer can be removed typically without having to use a crane to lift a rotary BOP and without disassembling portions of the drilling platform. In some embodiments, the packer can be removed with the drill pipe without additional equipment. Furthermore, the packer can be removed remotely without necessitating manual disengagement typically needed below the platform. The invention also provides a fluid actuated system to maintain a pre-load system on the bearing.
대표청구항
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The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for rotating a tubular, comprising: a housing having a non-rotating portion; a sealing element disposed within the non-rotating portion; a retainer ring radially disposed about the sealing element; and an annular piston radially disposed about the sealing
The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for rotating a tubular, comprising: a housing having a non-rotating portion; a sealing element disposed within the non-rotating portion; a retainer ring radially disposed about the sealing element; and an annular piston radially disposed about the sealing element and aligned with the retainer ring. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer ring radially engages the sealing element by using fluid pressure behind the annular piston. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein actuation of the annular piston is remotely controlled. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second retainer ring is disposed between the housing and a body surrounding the housing, the second retainer ring being adapted to retain the housing with the body. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a second annular piston is engageable with the second retainer ring. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotating portion disposed between the sealing element and the non-rotating portion, the rotating portion comprising a first cavity for the retainer ring and a second cavity for the annular piston. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lower body and an upper body coupled to the lower body and wherein the sealing element is enclosed therein. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lower body and the upper body are coupled in a sealing relationship. 9. A drilling head, comprising: a sealing element having a central axis; a body having a cavity formed therein, the sealing element being at least partially enclosed in the cavity and the body having at least two ends adapted to be coupled to adjoining members; and a retainer for coupling the sealing element to the body and adapted to fasten or release the sealing element from the body, the retainer having an arcuate surface for contacting the sealing element, wherein a radius of curvature of the arcuate surface is at least equal to a distance from the central axis to the arcuate surface. 10. The drilling head of claim 9, wherein the retainer is at least partially disposed in the body. 11. The drilling head of claim 9, wherein sealing element comprises a packer. 12. The drilling head of claim 11, wherein the sealing element comprises an elastomeric material. 13. The drilling head of claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises a C-shaped ring. 14. The drilling head of claim 9, wherein the arcuate surface is conformable to an outer surface of the sealing element. 15. The drilling head of claim 9, wherein the body comprises a lower body and an upper body, wherein the lower body and the upper body are coupled in a sealing relationship therebetween. 16. The drilling head of claim 9, wherein the retainer further comprises a second arcuate surface, wherein the second arcuate surface is concentric with the first arcuate surface. 17. The drilling head of claim 9, further comprising a housing coupled to the sealing element wherein an opening formed in the body is sufficiently sized to allow the housing to be lifted through the body. 18. The drilling head of claim 9, further comprising a piston engageable with the retainer and disposed in a piston cavity. 19. The drilling head of claim 9, further comprising a first port coupled to a first portion of the piston cavity and a second port coupled to a second portion of the piston cavity, wherein the first port allows fluid into the first portion of the piston cavity and the second port allows fluid into the second portion of the piston cavity to override fluid pressure in the first portion of the piston cavity. 20. A method of retaining a sealing element in a drilling head, comprising: disposing the sealing element in a rotating portion of the drilling head; radially moving a retainer toward the sealing element, the retainer having an arcuate surface for contacting the sealing element, wherein a radius of curvature of the arcuate surface is at least equal to a distance of the arcuate surface from the central axis; radially engaging the sealing element with the retainer; and using bearings to allow rotation between the rotating portion and a non-rotating portion. 21. The drilling head of claim 20, wherein the bearings am pre-loaded by a force exerted on the bearing. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising altering the pre-loading on the bearing by adjusting fluid pressure exerted on the bearing. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising maintaining the pre-loading on the bearing from a location remote to the bearing by controlling the pressure of the fluid. 24. The drilling head of claim 20, wherein the retainer is at least partially disposed in the rotating portion. 25. The drilling head of claim 20, further comprising deforming the retainer, thereby conforming the retainer to the sealing element. 26. A method of retaining a sealing element in a drilling head, comprising: providing a rotating portion in the drilling head, the rotating portion comprising a retainer having an arcuate surface for contacting the sealing element, wherein a radius of curvature of the arcuate surface is at least equal to a distance of the arcuate surface from the central axis; disposing the sealing element in the rotating portion; and introducing fluid pressure behind a piston, thereby forcing the retainer radially inward toward the sealing element to radially engage the sealing element relative to the rotating portion. 27. A seal assembly for handling a tubular, comprising: a non-rotating portion; a sealing element at least partially disposed within the non-rotating portion, wherein an outer circumference of the sealing element has a radius larger than a radius of the tubular; a retaining member having an arcuate portion complementary to the outer circumference; and a piston adapted to urge the retaining member into engagement with the sealing element. 28. The seal assembly of claim 27, wherein the retaining member engages the sealing element by fluidly actuating the piston. 29. The seal assembly of claim 27, further comprising a rotating portion disposed between the sealing element and the non-rotating portion. 30. The seal assembly of claim 29, wherein the sealing element is rotatable with the rotating portion when the retaining member is engaged with the sealing element. 31. A method of retaining a tubular in a drilling head, comprising: providing a rotating portion of the drilling head with a retaining member; positioning the sealing element in the rotating portion of the drilling head, the sealing element having a circumference larger than the tubular; engaging the sealing element with the tubular; fluidly actuating a piston to move the retaining member radially toward the sealing element; and engaging at least a portion of the circumference of the seating element with a complementary arcuate portion of the retaining member, whereby the sealing element is coupled to the rotating portion. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising rotating the rotating portion relative to a non-rotating portion while maintaining engagement of the sealing element with the retaining member. 33. The method of claim 31, wherein fluidly actuating the piston comprises using hydraulic pressure to force the piston toward the retaining member. 34. The method of claim 31, wherein fluidly actuating the piston comprises using pneumatic pressure to force the piston toward the retaining member. 35. The method of claim 31, further comprising rotating the sealing element with the rotating portion. 36. A method of retaining a sealing element, comprising: providing an outer body having a rotating portion; disposing the sealing element in the rotating portion; radially moving a retainer toward the sealing element using fluid pressure behind a piston to force the piston toward the retainer, the retainer having a first arcuate surface for contacting the sealing element and a second arcuate surface for contacting the rotating portion, wherein the first arcuate surface is concentric with the second arcuate surface; and radially engaging the sealing element with the retainer. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the retainer is disposed between the sealing element and the rotating portion prior to engagement with the sealing element. 38. The method of claim 36, further comprising allowing the rotating portion to rotate relative to a non-rotating portion while maintaining the engagement of the sealing element with the retainer. 39. The method of claim 36, further comprising actuating movement of the retainer from a location remote to the retainer. 40. The method of claim 36, wherein using fluid pressure behind the piston to force the piston toward the retainer comprises using hydraulic pressure to force the piston toward the retainer. 41. The method of claim 36, wherein using fluid pressure behind the piston to force the piston toward the retainer comprises using pneumatic pressure to force the piston toward the retainer. 42. The method of claim 36, wherein the fluid pressure behind the piston forces the retainer radially inward toward the sealing element. 43. The method of claim 36, wherein the piston is an annular piston. 44. The method of claim 36, wherein a radius of curvature of the first arcuate surface is at least equal to a distance of the first arcuate surface from a central axis of the sealing element. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the sealing element comprises an elastomeric material. 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the sealing element comprises a packer. 47. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing an indication that the retainer has engaged the sealing element. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein an indicator is provided to indicate engagement of the retainer to the sealing element. 49. The method of claim 48, further comprising pushing the indicator outward when the retainer engages the sealing element. 50. The drilling head of claim 9, further comprising an indicator to indicate that the retainer is coupled to the sealing element. 51. The drilling head of claim 50, wherein the Indicator is pushed outward from the body when the retainer is coupled to the sealing element. 52. A seal assembly for handling a tubular, comprising: a non-rotating portion; a sealing element at least partially disposed within the non-rotating portion; a retaining member adapted to engage the sealing element; a piston adapted to urge the retaining member into engagement with the sealing element; and an indicator for signaling that the retaining member is engaged with the sealing element.
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