Actuatable Sealing Mechanism for Managed Pressure Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional managed pressure drilling (MPD) systems are lengthy and cumbersome, making it difficult to connect drilling return fluid hoses and replace worn annular seals, which disrupts pressure control and requires disassembly of the drill string.
Innovation Solution
An actuatable sealing mechanism with an elastomeric seal and axially moveable actuating sleeve, activated by a radially moveable member, allowing selective sealing and unsealing of the annulus between tubular members, enabling easy replacement and maintaining pressure control without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional MPD systems use separate tubular joints for RCD and annular seal, then each component can be independently installed, but the overall system length increases and makes hose connection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the RCD and annular seal into a single integrated tubular joint assembly. The annular seal is positioned within the same tubular joint as the RCD, eliminating the need for separate tubular joints for each component. This integration reduces the overall system length while maintaining the functional independence of each component through internal positioning and flanged connections.
2Ease of repair
If annular seal is installed in separate tubular joint connected by flange and bolting, then seal can be replaced, but the operation becomes very difficult and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the annular seal as a removable component within the integrated tubular joint. The seal can be accessed and replaced by opening the tubular joint without requiring complete disassembly of the entire riser string. This segmentation allows quick replacement of the seal while maintaining the integrated structure, significantly reducing replacement time compared to conventional separate joint systems.
3Ease of repair
If riser string is broken out to replace annular seal, then seal replacement is possible, but pressure control ability is lost and drill string must be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the annular seal replacement operation from the context of breaking out the entire riser string. The seal is designed to be accessible within the integrated tubular joint, allowing it to be removed and replaced without disrupting the continuity of the riser string. This extraction of the seal replacement task from the larger system disassembly process maintains pressure control capability throughout the operation.
4Device complexity
If MPD flow spool is positioned low in the riser system, then component arrangement is simple, but hose connection to moon pool becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the hose connection difficulty by providing multiple goose neck outlet ports at different positions and orientations on the MPD flow spool. This dimensional variation in outlet port placement allows hoses to be routed effectively to the moon pool without requiring the flow spool to be repositioned vertically, maintaining simple component arrangement while improving operational ease.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates quick and reliable sealing of annuli between tubulars, reducing maintenance time and ensuring pressure control, while allowing relative movement without damaging seals, thus enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric seal configured to expand in use in a radial direction when compressed axially to thereby seal the fluid channel
Data Source
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AI summary
An actuatable sealing mechanism ( 1030, 1034, 1038; 2030, 2034, 2038; 3007 ) for sealing a fluid channel ( 1024; 2024; 3013 ) provided between two co-axially arranged tubular members ( 1010 & 1100, 1200, 1300; 2010 & 2100, 2200, 2300; 3010, 3012 ) having a central longitudinal axis. The actuable sealing mechanism comprises an elastomeric seal ( 1209; 2209; 3015 ), an axially moveable actuating sleeve member ( 1400; 2400; 3020 ) and a radially moveable activating member ( 1060, 1064, 1068; 2060, 2064, 2068; 3025 ). The activating member is configured to be moveable in a radial direction in use to translate the actuatable sealing mechanism between an unsealed state and a sealed state. When it is in the unsealed state, the activating member does not move the actuating sleeve member sufficiently in a first axial direction to axially compress the elastomeric seal sufficiently to expand the elastomeric seal in a radial direction to seal the fluid channel.