BOP Blade System with Piercing Point for Tubular Severing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for severing tubulars in wellsite operations are inefficient and require high force, with existing blowout preventers (BOPs) struggling to effectively cut through tubulars, particularly those with larger diameters, leading to increased maintenance and potential environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
The development of a blade system for BOPs featuring a blade body with a piercing point, cutting surface, and shavers, which is extendable by a ram to pierce and rake through tubulars, reducing the force required for severing by distributing the cutting action across multiple surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional BOP shear rams are used to sever tubulars, then the severing function is achieved, but high force is required and the process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple functional surfaces: a piercing point for initial penetration, multiple cutting surfaces for progressive cutting, and shavers for finishing the cut. This segmentation allows the severing process to occur in stages, reducing the peak force required at any single moment while maintaining high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing point performs a preliminary action by creating an initial penetration hole in the tubular before the main cutting surfaces engage. This preliminary penetration reduces the force required for subsequent cutting operations, as the blade only needs to cut through the remaining material rather than penetrating the entire thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing BOPs are used to cut larger diameter tubulars, then the severing function is achieved, but the equipment struggles and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the blade are optimized for specific functions: the piercing point is designed with a specific geometry for penetrating tubulars of various diameters, while the cutting surfaces are angled to match the material being cut. This local optimization allows the same blade structure to effectively handle different tubular sizes without requiring frequent maintenance or replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade design incorporates universal features that allow it to sever tubulars of various diameters and material types. The multiple cutting surfaces and shavers work together to handle different work conditions, making the blade adaptable to various tubular sizes while maintaining consistent performance and reducing maintenance needs.
3Reliability
If manual severing processes are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but safety risks and environmental hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade system is designed to perform the severing function automatically through its geometric design. The piercing point, cutting surfaces, and shavers work together in a self-contained manner, requiring minimal external intervention. This self-service capability improves safety by reducing human exposure to hazardous conditions while maintaining acceptable device complexity.
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 blade system efficiently severs tubulars with reduced force requirements, enabling easier maintenance and enhanced safety by automating the severing process, while being compatible with existing equipment and minimizing environmental risks.
Implementation Method 1
a piercing point along the front face for piercing the tubular. The piercing point has a tip extending a distance from the cutting surface.
Implementation Method 2
a cutting surface along at least a portion of the front face for engagement with the tubular
Implementation Method 3
a pair of shavers along the front face of the blade body... Each of the pair of shavers has a projection extending a distance beyond the cutting surface
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for severing a tubular of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. A blade is extendable by a ram of a blowout preventer positionable about the tubular. The blade includes a blade body having a front face on a side thereof facing the tubular. At least a portion of the front face has a vertical surface and at least a portion of the front face has an inclined surface. The vertical surface is perpendicular to a bottom surface of the blade body. The blade body includes a loading surface on an opposite side of the blade body to the front face. The loading surface is receivable by the ram. The blade also includes a cutting surface along at least a portion of the front face for engagement with the tubular, and a piercing point along the front face for piercing the tubular. The piercing point has a tip extending a distance from the cutting surface.