Blowout Preventer Assembly with Adjacent Pressurized Fluid Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blowout preventer (BOP) systems face challenges in rapidly closing the annulus or wellbore to prevent a blowout, with existing solutions often taking longer than desired to respond to a kick, potentially allowing formation fluid to enter the well.
Innovation Solution
The proposed BOP assembly includes a housing with a fluid pressure-operated actuator dividing it into open and close chambers, featuring a close line with a source of pressurized fluid located adjacent to the housing, an open line with an exhaust valve connected to atmosphere or a larger conduit for reduced resistance, and an electrically operable close control valve, allowing for rapid closure of the BOP within 3-5 seconds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a conventional BOP control system is used with a pump and accumulator, then the BOP can be closed, but the closing time exceeds 3-5 seconds which is too slow to prevent blowout
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-positions a large volume of pressurized fluid (100-500 gallons at 300-1000 psi) in a storage tank adjacent to the BOP, ready for immediate discharge. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for pump startup and accumulator discharge delays, enabling the BOP to close in 3-5 seconds when triggered by a kick detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the pressurized fluid storage function from the conventional pump-accumulator system and places it as a separate, stand-alone storage tank positioned adjacent to the BOP. This extraction allows the fluid source to be independently optimized for rapid discharge without being constrained by pump cycle times or accumulator charge/discharge characteristics.
2Speed
If the source of pressurized fluid is located far from the BOP housing, then the system can be more compactly arranged, but the fluid delivery time increases reducing closing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurized fluid storage tank is pre-positioned adjacent to the BOP housing, eliminating transport delays. The tank contains 100-500 gallons of fluid pre pressurized to 300-1000 psi, ready for immediate discharge through a control valve directly into the BOP actuator, achieving rapid response time.
3Reliability
If the open line is blocked completely to prevent fluid leakage, then fluid containment is improved, but the exhaust valve cannot function to vent open chamber fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a localized exhaust valve in the open line that provides controlled venting capability only where needed. The exhaust valve is positioned to allow fluid discharge from the open chamber to atmosphere or reservoir while the rest of the open line remains sealed. This localized quality change enables both fluid containment and controlled venting functions to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust valve acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the sealed open line and the atmosphere/reservoir. It provides a controlled interface for fluid discharge while maintaining the integrity of the overall system sealing, allowing the open chamber to be vented without compromising the closed chamber seal or requiring complete line isolation.
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
This configuration enables rapid closure of the BOP, minimizing the time between detecting a kick and sealing the wellbore, thereby reducing the amount of formation fluid entering the well and maintaining lower shut-in casing pressure within kick tolerance, aligning with the 'Hard shut-in' method advocated by oil and gas exploration companies.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator being moveable, by means of the supply of pressurised fluid to the close chamber, to urge the sealing element into sealing engagement with a drill pipe
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust valve which is movable between a first position in which flow of fluid along the open line into the open chamber is permitted, and a second position in which the open line is substantially blocked upstream of the exhaust valve relative to the open chamber, and the open chamber is connected to a low pressure region
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A blowout preventer assembly comprising a blowout preventer and control apparatus, the blowout preventer comprising a housing a sealing element and a fluid pressure operated actuator mounted in the housing, the actuator 18 dividing the interior of the housing into two chambers, namely an open chamber and a close chamber, substantially preventing flow of fluid between the two chambers, and being movable, by means of the supply of pressurised fluid to the close chamber, to urge the sealing element into sealing engagement with a drill pipe extending through the blow out preventer, the control apparatus including a close line which extends from the exterior of the housing to the close chamber, and a source of pressurised fluid which is connected to the close line, wherein the source of pressurised fluid is located adjacent to the housing.