Flow-Retaining Head for Underwater Well Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies are inadequate for quickly and safely closing underwater oil and gas wells, especially when emergency shut-off devices like BOPs are malfunctioning or absent, due to high pressure and turbulence, and irregular well mouth contours.
Innovation Solution
A device with a flow-retaining head and actuation means that can be remotely operated to engage and seal the well outlet, using a deformable seal and hydraulic actuation to manage pressure and turbulence, allowing for the injection of plugging materials like mud to ensure a secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a BOP shut-off safety device is used to prevent hydrocarbon leakage, then environmental harm and economic loss are reduced, but the device may malfunction or be absent in emergency situations, rendering it ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the closing device with flow-retaining head) that mediates between the failed BOP system and the wellbore. This intermediary provides a backup sealing mechanism that engages with the wellbore directly when the primary BOP system fails, ensuring shutdown capability under emergency conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by transitioning from a pressurized open state to a sealed closed state through controlled movement of the flow-retaining head. The system manages pressure transitions and turbulence parameters during the closing operation to achieve reliable sealing even when emergency conditions occur.
2Reliability
If a closing device is deployed to seal a well with high pressure outflow, then fluid leakage is prevented, but the high turbulence and pressure make device positioning and sealing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary positioning actions before final sealing engagement. The flow-retaining head is first positioned near the wellbore outlet, then engaged and sealed in a controlled sequence that manages the challenges of high pressure and turbulence, making the overall operation easier and more reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs dynamic elements including the movable flow-retaining head that can transition between retracted and engaged positions, and the deformable seal that adapts to the wellbore outlet geometry. These dynamic features enable the device to overcome positioning difficulties caused by high turbulence and pressure conditions.
3Reliability
If the flow-retaining head is positioned close to the outlet mouth to seal the well, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the head is affected by high pressure and turbulence from the outflow
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary sealing engagement at a position where pressure and turbulence effects are manageable, then progressively moves the flow-retaining head into its final sealing position. This staged approach allows the structure to adapt to increasing pressure loads while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a deformable seal that can flex and deform under high pressure and turbulence conditions. This flexible sealing element maintains contact with the wellbore outlet geometry even under adverse flow conditions, ensuring sealing effectiveness while protecting the overall structural integrity of the flow-retaining head.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device is designed to work very deep under the sea, then underwater well closure capability is achieved, but the high hydrostatic pressure increases operational difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates buoyancy compensation and counterbalancing mechanisms that offset the effects of high hydrostatic pressure at great depths. This allows the device to be operated more easily despite the extreme pressure environment, reducing the net force that operators must overcome during deployment and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs dynamic sealing and positioning mechanisms that adapt to the high hydrostatic pressure conditions at great depths. The deformable seal and movable components are designed to function reliably under varying pressure conditions, maintaining ease of operation despite the extreme depth environment.
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 rapid and safe closure of underwater wells even under high pressure and turbulence conditions, effectively preventing fluid outflow and allowing for the use of available plugging materials to ensure well integrity.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic actuation to manage pressure and turbulence
Implementation Method 2
deformable seal and hydraulic actuation to manage pressure and turbulence
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2B
Figure 3~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and to a method for blocking the outflow of a pressurized fluid from an underwater well, in particular, for blocking the outflow of crude oil and/or of natural gas, for carrying out an operation of closure of the well. In particular, the invention relates to a device and to a method for quickly stopping the flow and closing the well in case of incident and/or in case of fault of emergency shut-off devices of the underwater well, such as "blowout preventer" ("BOP") systems, in order to reduce harm to the environment and economic losses due to fluid outflow from the well.