Continuous Drilling System With Clamp Device for Pipe Addition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling systems require frequent interruptions to add new drill pipes, leading to suboptimal cutting removal and pressure maintenance, causing drilling inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A continuous circulation and rotation drilling system with a top drive, mud circulation system, drill assembly, and clamp device that allows for seamless addition of new drill pipes without stopping rotation or circulation, using axial and radial valves, bearing elements, and actuating groups to manage mud flow and pipe rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If drill pipes are added to the drill string assembly, then the drilling depth capability is improved, but the drilling operations must be interrupted causing loss of time and productivity
Solution Approach 1:
A clamp device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the top drive and the drill string assembly. The clamp device includes a main body with an inner housing that can enclose the drill assembly, and actuating groups with rollers that engage the drill pipe to maintain rotation during pipe addition operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the functions of maintaining rotation and circulation from the pipe addition operation. The clamp device with its actuating groups handles rotation maintenance, while axial and radial valves manage mud circulation independently, allowing pipe segments to be added without interrupting overall drilling operations
2Length of moving object
If drilling operations are interrupted to add drill pipes, then the drill string assembly can be extended, but the removal of cuttings deteriorates causing cleaning performance to worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous mud circulation through the drill string assembly using axial and radial valves that can be positioned to allow mud flow even when the drill assembly is enclosed in the clamp device's inner housing. This continuous circulation ensures cuttings are constantly removed from the wellbore
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp device serves as an intermediary that allows pipe addition while maintaining the drilling system's operational continuity. The actuating groups with rollers maintain drill pipe rotation, and the valve system maintains mud circulation, enabling pipe extension without stopping the useful actions of cutting removal
3Length of moving object
If drilling operations are interrupted to add drill pipes, then new pipe segments can be connected, but the hydrostatic pressure decreases causing drilling safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The mud circulation system operates continuously through axial and radial valves during pipe addition operations. This maintains adequate hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore, preventing kicks and other pressure-related safety issues even while the drill string is being extended
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp device and valve system act as intermediaries that decouple the pipe addition operation from the pressure maintenance function. The axial valve controls mud flow through the drill assembly, while the radial valve provides alternative circulation paths, ensuring pressure stability independent of pipe connection activities
4Productivity
If known techniques are used to add drill pipes without stopping rotation, then drilling continuity is improved, but reliability and safety are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp device with its main body and inner housing serves as a controlled intermediary environment for pipe addition. The actuating groups with rollers provide positive engagement with the drill pipe, ensuring reliable rotation maintenance throughout the pipe connection process
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between different operational states through the clamp device's open and closed configurations. The actuating groups can engage and disengage from the drill pipe as needed, providing adaptive control that ensures reliability while maintaining productivity
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
Enables reliable, safe, and efficient addition of new drill pipes during drilling operations, maintaining continuous mud circulation and rotation, thereby improving cutting removal and pressure consistency, reducing drilling issues like kicks.
Implementation Method 1
one or more bearing elements radially interposed between said cylindrical tube and said sleeve, said one or more bearing elements allowing mutual rotation between the substantially cylindrical tube and the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
an axial valve for selectively opening said axial aperture
Implementation Method 3
a radial valve for selectively opening said radial aperture
Implementation Method 4
a drilling fluid (typically, a drilling mud) is circulated, so as to lubricate the drill bit, maintain an adequate hydrostatic pressure inside the well and allow an easy removal of cuttings from the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
Continuous circulation and rotation drilling system, comprising: a top drive; a mud circulation system; a drill assembly including a drill pipe; a clamp device. The continuous circulation and rotation drilling system is drivable between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the drill assembly and the clamp device are mutually disconnected. In the second condition: the main body of the clamp device is in a closed configuration and the drill assembly is partly enclosed in an inner housing of the clamp device; the mud circulation system feeds drilling mud through a radial opening of a main body of the clamp device; one or more actuating groups of the clamp device are activated to rotate the drill pipe around its longitudinal axis.