Diverter Assembly Breach Lock Sealing for Drilling Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional diverters for drilling operations are inadequate in effectively managing high-pressure fluids during wellbore drilling, particularly in diverting fluids away from the drilling floor and ensuring reliable sealing and fluid routing.
Innovation Solution
A diverter assembly with a diverter body fluidly coupled to the wellbore annulus via a casing or riser, featuring outlet ports and an upper packer assembly with breach lock slots and tabs for secure sealing between the diverter body and drill string, along with a support housing for structural integrity and fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional diverter is positioned beneath the drill floor with simple outlet ports, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of sealing and fluid management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter assembly is divided into multiple functional components: a diverter body with outlet ports, an upper packer assembly with sealing elements, and a lower packer assembly. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve reliable sealing and fluid management while maintaining modularity and ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Packer assemblies with sealing elements are introduced as intermediary components between the diverter body and the wellbore annulus. These packers create reliable seals without requiring direct complex integration between the diverter body and drilling equipment, thereby improving sealing reliability while managing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If a diverter assembly with packer assemblies and breach lock mechanisms is used, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter assembly is segmented into modular components (diverter body, upper packer assembly, lower packer assembly) that can be manufactured separately using standard machining processes and then assembled. This segmentation maintains manufacturing ease while achieving reliable sealing through proper component design and integration.
Solution Approach 2:
Packer assemblies are pre-assembled with sealing elements and breach lock mechanisms before final installation. This preliminary assembly allows for quality control and testing to be performed on sub-components separately, ensuring reliable sealing while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through standardized sub-assembly procedures.
3Productivity
If outlet ports are fluidly coupled to the wellbore annulus, then the fluid diversion capability is improved, but the risk of high-pressure fluid exposure to drilling floor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet ports are positioned and configured to extract and redirect high-pressure fluids away from the drilling floor and operational areas. The diverter body includes specifically oriented outlet ports that channel fluids into the wellbore annulus or designated safe pathways, thereby maintaining efficient fluid diversion while eliminating the harmful exposure risk to personnel and equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A diverter assembly may include a diverter body assembly. The diverter body assembly may also include a diverter body, the diverter body fluidly coupled to the annulus of a wellbore via a casing or riser, and the diverter body including one or more diverter outlet ports fluidly coupled to the annulus of the wellbore. The diverter body assembly may also include an upper packer assembly. The upper packer assembly may include a packer sleeve, the packer sleeve mechanically coupled to the diverter body. The packer sleeve may include one or more breach lock slots. The upper packer assembly may also include an upper packer body having one or more packer breach lock tabs engaged with the breach lock slots of the packer sleeve. The diverter assembly may also include a diverter support housing, the diverter support housing coupled to the diverter body assembly.