Actuatable Elastomeric Seal for Managed Pressure Drilling Joints
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional managed pressure drilling (MPD) systems in deep water environments are cumbersome and time-consuming to maintain, particularly due to the long length of integration joints which complicate the connection of drilling return fluid hoses and the difficulty in replacing worn-out annular seals without losing pressure control.
Innovation Solution
An actuatable sealing mechanism comprising an elastomeric seal, an axially moveable actuating sleeve member, and a radially moveable activating member that allows for selective sealing and unsealing of a fluid channel between co-axially arranged tubular members, enabling easy movement of tubulars relative to each other without damaging the seal and providing redundancy for reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the integration joint uses separate tubular joints for RCD and annular seal components, then each component can be independently designed and installed, but the overall system length increases and hose connection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the RCD and annular seal components into a single integrated tubular joint structure, eliminating the need for separate tubular joints. This merging reduces the overall system length while maintaining the independent functionality of each component through internal arrangement and modular design within the unified structure.
2Ease of repair
If annular seals are installed in separate tubular joints connected by flanges, then seal replacement is possible, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires breaking pressure control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the annular seal as a removable cartridge within the integrated tubular joint, allowing it to be independently accessed and replaced. The seal is designed as a modular component that can be extracted and replaced without disassembling the entire joint or breaking pressure control, significantly reducing replacement time while maintaining repairability.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular seal is nested within the integrated tubular joint structure as a contained cartridge. This nested design allows the seal to be accessed and replaced from the outside without disturbing the external joint structure or flange connections, enabling rapid seal replacement while maintaining system integrity and pressure control.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used in the integration joint, then functional redundancy is achieved, but the device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components (RCD, annular seal, flow spool) into a single integrated tubular joint while maintaining their individual functional capabilities. This consolidation reduces the number of external connections and interfaces, simplifying the overall device complexity while preserving functional redundancy through internal component arrangement and cross-functional design elements.
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 simplifies the sealing process, reduces maintenance complexity, and maintains pressure control during seal replacement, enhancing operational efficiency and reliability in MPD systems.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric seal, an axially moveable actuating sleeve member; and a radially moveable activating member; wherein the activating member is configured to be moveable in a radial direction in use to translate the actuatable sealing mechanism from an unsealed state to a sealed state, whereby in the unsealed state the activating member does not move the actuating sleeve member sufficiently in a first axial direction to axially compress the elastomeric seal sufficiently to expand the elastomeric seal in a radial direction to seal the fluid channel, and in the sealed state, the activating member axially compresses the elastomeric seal sufficiently to expand the elastomeric seal in the said radial direction to seal the fluid channel
Data Source
AI summary
An actuatable sealing mechanism for sealing a fluid channel provided between two co-axially arranged tubular members having a central longitudinal axis. The actuatable sealing mechanism comprises an elastomeric seal, an axially moveable actuating sleeve member (1400; 2400; 3020) and a radially moveable activating member. The activating member is configured to be moveable in a radial direction in use to translate the actuatable sealing mechanism between an unsealed state and a sealed state. When it is in the sealed state, the activating member axially compresses the elastomeric seal sufficiently to expand the elastomeric seal in the said radial direction to seal the fluid channel.