Systems and Methods for Catastrophe Mitigation for Deep Water Oil Drilling during Blowout Preventer Failure

Abstract

Disclosed herein in example embodiments is a simple Drill-Through-Equipment (DTE) system for deep water drilling of oil, to intervene in the event of Blowout Preventer (BOP) failure, and mitigate spill disaster. Example embodiments of systems and methods of failed BOP intervention, and oil spill disaster mitigation disclosed herein may be used to mount a housing within the existing BOP below the blind shear ram, whereby the failed BOP is made accessible just below the blind shear ram through access ports, opening or closing in the housing. Through these ports blowout is diverted, thus protecting the rig. Through these same ports access is granted to the drill pipe allowing external manipulation or cutting of the drill pipe in effort to render the BOP operational. Once this is accomplished, the access ports are closed, and normal BOP and / or drilling operations are resumed. Example embodiments integrate and make use of existing BOP machinery.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM TO RELATED US PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]To the full extent permitted by law, the present U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application is made pursuant to, and hereby claims priority to and the full benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application entitled “Systems and Methods for Catastrophe Mitigation for Deep Water Oil Drilling during Blowout Preventer Failure,” having assigned Ser. No. 61 / 816,405 filed on Apr. 26, 2013, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present disclosure is generally related to subsea blowout preventers (BOPs) used in deep water drilling for oil, and, more particularly, mitigating disaster in the event of BOP failure.BACKGROUND[0003]Protocol for any oil drilling effort in deep water requires the use of a blowout preventer (BOP), which is designed to stop oil well gushers occurring due to unanticipated peaks in well pressure. These gushers can reach the rig, causing death, damage to property, and harm to the environment. M...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides systems and methods for accessing and remedying a failed BOP (blowout preventer) in a drilling rig. These systems include a housing assembly with an upper and lower parts, each containing an integrated BOP ram system, an annular sealing ram positioned between the two parts, a guide pin, a locking mechanism, a hydraulic chamber, and a system of seals. The methods involve sliding the annular ram open or closed to provide access or seal the housing, and using the system of seals to contain hydraulic and well pressures within and without the system. The technical effect of the invention is to provide a system and method for accessing and remedying a failed BOP that can minimize spill duration and facilitate the remedy of the failure mechanism.

Problems solved by technology

But they provide a limited barrier between the rig and workers, and the dangerous hazards of the approaching high pressure flow.

Furthermore, they offer no remedy to the failure mechanisms of the failed BOP.

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