Blooie Line Blockage Prevention via Flap Plate Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The blooie line in gas drilling is prone to abrupt blockages due to sudden influxes of solid particles and dust during abnormal drilling conditions, which can lead to serious accidents and disasters.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a sand-storing tank body connected to a rotating blowout preventer through a guiding tube, a guiding three-way joint, and a flap plate assembly that controls the entry of rock particles into the tank, preventing blockages in the blooie line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blooie line is used to expel rock cuttings and dust during normal gas drilling, then the drilling process can proceed continuously, but the line is prone to abrupt blockages when large amounts of solid particles suddenly enter the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the blooie line system into two separate pathways: a primary blooie line for normal operations and a secondary emergency blooie line activated when blockages occur. This segmentation allows the system to maintain continuous drilling capability while providing an alternative route to prevent complete blockage, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a three-way joint as an intermediary component that connects the primary blooie line to the secondary emergency blooie line. This intermediary structure enables automatic switching between normal and emergency pathways, allowing the system to maintain continuous operation while preventing blockages through the alternative route.
2Device complexity
If a traditional blooie line is used without additional protection, then the device complexity is low, but the line can be blocked by high-density solid particles causing serious accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blooie line system into normal and emergency pathways, adding complexity only where necessary to prevent harmful blockages. The secondary emergency blooie line and three-way joint provide targeted protection against high-density particle blockages without requiring complete system redesign, thus limiting the increase in device complexity while effectively preventing accidents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-configuring the emergency blooie line and three-way joint structure before blockages occur. When high-density solid particles attempt to block the primary line, the pre-prepared emergency pathway provides immediate alternative routing, cushioning against the harmful effects of blockage-induced pressure buildup and preventing accidents before they can occur.
3Stress or pressure
If the blooie line is blocked by sudden influx of solid particles, then the pressure at wellhead and inside the line rises promptly, but this causes breaking of the line or bursting of the rubber packer
Solution Approach 1:
The three-way joint acts as an intermediary that provides an alternative pressure relief pathway. When solid particles block the primary blooie line causing pressure buildup, the three-way joint redirects the flow through the secondary emergency line, preventing excessive pressure accumulation that would otherwise cause line breaking or packer bursting.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the blooie line into primary and secondary pathways, the system distributes pressure loads across multiple routes. When blockage occurs in the primary line, the secondary line provides an alternative pressure release path, preventing dangerous pressure concentrations that would compromise the strength and integrity of the line and packer.
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
The device effectively prevents abrupt blockages in the blooie line by diverting high-density rock particles into a sand-storing tank, ensuring continuous gas flow and preventing potential accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a flap plate assembly, which is arranged at the position fronting straight onto the guiding three-way joint inside the sand-storing tank body, and configured to control the rock particles in the guiding tube to enter the sand-storing tank body
Implementation Method 2
a spheric balancer connecting rod is arranged on the hinge shaft, a spheric balancer is arranged on the spheric balancer connecting rod; a clump weight is arranged on the tongue skirt
Data Source
AI summary
A device for preventing abrupt blockage in a blooie line of gas drilling includes a sand-storing tank body, which is connected to a rotating blowout preventer through a guiding tube, and a guiding three-way joint is set between the guiding tube and the sand-storing tank body and connected to the blooie line by a vertical guiding tube; the sand-storing tank body is connected to the blooie line by means of a gas discharge tube; a flap plate assembly is arranged at the position fronting straight onto the guiding three-way joint inside the sand-storing tank body, and configured to control the rock particles in the guiding tube to enter the sand-storing tank body, preventing blockage in the blooie line.