Blowout Preventer Blade Piercing and Raking Tubular Severing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for severing tubulars in wellsite operations are inefficient and require high force, posing challenges in effectively preventing blowouts and ensuring safe environmental practices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a blowout preventer with multiple rams and blades, where the blades pierce and rake through the tubular with a cutting surface and shavers to efficiently sever the tubular, reducing the force required and ensuring effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional shear rams are used to sever tubulars, then the tubular can be cut, but high force is required which creates operational challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into multiple functional zones: a piercing point for initial penetration, a cutting surface for shearing, and shavers for material removal. This segmentation allows each zone to perform a specific function that collectively reduces the overall force required compared to a single conventional shear ram approach
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing point performs preliminary action by creating an initial penetration or hole in the tubular before the main cutting surface engages. This preliminary penetration weakens the tubular structure and reduces the force needed for subsequent cutting operations
2Force
If high force is applied to sever tubulars, then the cut can be achieved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade structure integrates multiple functions into a single component: piercing, cutting, and shavings removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for each operation, reducing system complexity while maintaining effective severing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing point, cutting surface, and shavers are merged into a single integrated blade assembly that is carried by the ram. This combination simplifies the overall system architecture compared to using separate piercing and cutting devices
3Reliability
If conventional cutting methods are used, then tubulars can be severed, but leakage risks remain during wellsite operations
Solution Approach 1:
The shavers on the blade convert harmful material removal into a beneficial sealing mechanism. By removing material and creating a clean, controlled cut surface, the system enables more effective sealing after the cut, reducing leakage risks compared to conventional cutting methods that may leave irregular surfaces
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 approach allows for efficient severing of tubulars with reduced force and automatic sealing, enhancing safety and environmental protection by minimizing leakage risks during wellsite operations.
Implementation Method 1
piercing the tubular with a piercing point of at least one of the blades such that a portion of the tubular is dislodged therefrom
Implementation Method 2
raking through the tubular with a cutting surface of at least one of the blades... the cutting surface may be advanced until the tubular shears apart
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A method for severing a tubular of a wellbore is provided. The method involves positioning a blowout preventer (108) about a tubular (118), the blowout preventer having a plurality of rams (24) slidably positionable therein and a plurality of blades carried by the rams for engaging the tubular. The method further involves piercing the tubular with a piercing point (300) of at least one of the blades such that a portion of the tubular is dislodged therefrom, and raking through the tubular with a cutting surface (306) of at least one of the blades.