Concentric Valve Bypass Passage Riserless Drilling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Offshore drilling systems face challenges in efficiently managing fluid circulation and pressure control without a marine riser, particularly in maintaining fluid communication and preventing backflow in riserless operations.

Innovation Solution

A concentric valve system is introduced, featuring a valve body with a central passage, receptacle, and radial ports, along with a bypass passage, which includes a piston and biasing member to control fluid communication based on pressure differences between the inlet and recirculation flowpaths, ensuring selective fluid flow and preventing backflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a concentric valve system is used to control fluid communication in riserless operations, then fluid circulation and pressure control are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components (valve body, receptacle, piston, bypass passage)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid circulation controlVSAvoidvalve system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The concentric valve system employs nested components where the piston is disposed within the receptacle, which is itself within the valve body. The bypass passage is integrated into the valve body structure. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functions (fluid communication control, pressure regulation, backflow prevention) to be achieved within a compact configuration, improving reliability while managing complexity through spatial efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The concentric valve system performs multiple functions simultaneously: the valve body with radial ports controls fluid communication between chambers, the piston provides pressure-actuated flow control, and the bypass passage enables alternative fluid pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, addressing the reliability improvement while mitigating complexity increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a piston and biasing member are added to control fluid communication based on pressure differences, then backflow prevention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidvalve component assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is biased by a biasing member (such as a spring) to automatically respond to pressure differences between the inlet and recirculation flowpaths. When backflow pressure exceeds forward flow pressure, the piston automatically shifts position to prevent backflow without requiring external control systems. This self-regulating mechanism improves backflow prevention reliability while simplifying manufacturing by eliminating complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple bypass passages are circumferentially spaced to provide redundant fluid communication, then fluid circulation reliability is improved, but device complexity and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid communicationVSAvoidvalve body size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple bypass passages are circumferentially spaced and integrated within the valve body structure, with the piston and seal assembly nested within the receptacle at the center. This arrangement allows redundant fluid communication pathways to be achieved without proportionally increasing overall valve volume, as the passages utilize the radial space efficiently around the central piston assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 concentric valve system effectively manages fluid circulation and pressure control in riserless offshore drilling operations, ensuring efficient fluid communication and preventing backflow, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of drilling processes.

Implementation Method 1

a piston and biasing member to control fluid communication based on pressure differences between the inlet and recirculation flowpaths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the inner tubular member comprises a seal assembly configured to sealingly engage an inner surface of the receptacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

a piston and biasing member to control fluid communication based on pressure differences

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS11441364B2Concentric pipe systems and methods

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 KRYN PETROLEUM SERVICES LLC

AI summary

A concentric valve positionable in a wellbore includes a valve body including an outer surface and a central passage, a receptacle disposed in the central passage and defining a chamber disposed therein, and a radial port extending between the receptacle and the outer surface to provide fluid communication between the chamber of the receptacle and an environment surrounding the concentric valve, an inner tubular member received in the receptacle of the valve body, wherein the inner tubular member includes a seal assembly configured to sealingly engage an inner surface of the receptacle, and a bypass passage extending around the receptacle of the valve body and circumferentially spaced from the radial port, wherein the bypass passage provides fluid communication between a first end of the central passage and a second end of the central passage opposite the first end.