Drilling Mud Valve Assembly Preventing Water Hammering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling systems face challenges in safely switching off and deviating circulating liquid flow without causing water hammering, which can lead to uncontrolled soil fracturing and component wear during drilling rod changes.

Innovation Solution

A valve assembly with a bidirectional valve device and hydraulic clamping means, featuring an apparatus body with inlet and outlet channels, flow valves, pressure measuring chambers, and a balancing valve, allowing for controlled mud circulation and pressure management to prevent water hammering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mud pumps are shut off to switch off the liquid flow during drilling rod changes, then the flow can be stopped, but water hammering occurs causing uncontrolled soil fracturing and component wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow switching capabilityVSAvoidwater hammering

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus divides the single flow path into two separate outlet channels (12, 13) with independent flow control valves (14, 15). This segmentation allows one channel to maintain flow while the other is closed, preventing water hammering by avoiding sudden complete flow shutdown. The pressure measuring chambers (19, 20) are also segmented to independently monitor each channel's pressure conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balancing valve (21) equalizes pressure between the two outlet channels before flow switching occurs. By preliminarily balancing the pressure in both channels, the system prepares for smooth transition when one valve closes and the other opens, preventing pressure surges and water hammering effects that would otherwise occur during flow direction changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual operations are performed on the probe manifold valves during drilling rod changes, then flow direction can be changed, but component wear increases and operational safety decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow direction controlVSAvoidcomponent wear and operational safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus replaces manual mechanical valve operations with an automated control system that uses pressure sensors (19, 20) to monitor channel pressures and automatically actuates the flow control valves (14, 15) and balancing valve (21). This substitution of mechanical manual operation with an automated pressure-responsive control system eliminates the need for personnel to manually handle valves under high pressure, reducing component wear from frequent manual operations and improving operational safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the liquid flow is suddenly stopped during drilling rod changes, then the operation can be completed, but pressure compensating cycles cause uncontrolled soil fracturing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling rod change speedVSAvoidsoil fracturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus maintains continuous liquid flow circulation by providing two outlet channels where one channel can remain open while the other is closed during drilling rod changes. This continuity of useful action ensures that the drilling fluid continues to circulate and maintain pressure compensation, preventing uncontrolled soil fracturing while still allowing rod change operations to proceed efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 solution enables safe and reliable operation by minimizing manual effort, reducing component wear, and maintaining the mud circuit characteristics, thereby enhancing safety and reducing operational costs and personnel requirements.

Implementation Method 1

Said outlet channels are moreover coupled to respective pressure measuring chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Implementation Method 2

A balancing valve communicates with one another two respective middle zones, respectively formed in the outlet channels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure equalization:

Data Source

PatentEP3247868B1Apparatus for switching off and deviating a circulating liquid flow without water hammering

Publication Date: 2019.08.21 SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY BV

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

An apparatus for switching off and deviating a circulating liquid flow without water hammering, comprising an apparatus body (10) including an inlet channel (11) which is split into two outlet channels (12, 13) in which respective flow valves (14, 15) are arranged; said apparatus body comprises moreover a discharging channel (16) coupled to said outlet channels through respective discharging valves (17, 18); said outlet channels being moreover coupled to respective pressure measuring chambers (19, 20); a balancing valve (21) communicating two middle zones (22, 23) respectively formed in the outlet channels.