Integral Diverter System for Land Drilling Rigs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional diverter systems used in subterranean operations are costly and not easily adaptable for use with land drilling rigs, as they require a housing and are primarily designed for marine drilling environments.
Innovation Solution
An integral diverter system that couples directly to the conductor, eliminating the need for a housing, featuring a tubular body with overshot and main packers, and additional outlets for diverting drilling fluid returns into flowlines, allowing for selective fluid direction and low-pressure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional diverter system with housing is used, then low pressure control and fluid diversion are achieved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the diverter assembly directly with the conductor, eliminating the separate housing structure. The conductor itself serves as the structural support and fluid conduit, while the diverter assembly (including packers and outlets) is integrated onto the conductor, creating a unified system that maintains low pressure control functionality without the complexity of a separate housing
2Reliability
If a traditional diverter system with housing is used, then fluid diversion capability is provided, but adaptability to land rigs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated diverter-conductor system is designed with universal applicability to both marine and land drilling rigs. By eliminating the marine-specific housing structure and using the conductor as the primary support element, the system can be adapted to land rig configurations where space and structural arrangements differ from marine environments
3Reliability
If a traditional diverter system with housing is used, then outlet positioning is achieved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlets are integrated directly into the conductor structure rather than requiring separate housing components. This merging of functions allows outlet positioning to be achieved through the conductor's own structural design, eliminating the need for additional housing materials and assembly steps, thereby reducing overall system cost
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
This configuration reduces costs by eliminating the need for a housing, allows for adaptability to land rigs, and provides efficient fluid management by selectively directing fluids away from the rig, enhancing operational flexibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The main packer may comprise an inwardly inflatable rubber sleeve
Implementation Method 2
the innermost packer element forms a low pressure seal about the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
An integral diverter system for diverting drilling fluid returns into flowlines connected to outlets for return to the drilling fluid reservoirs or other desirable locations is disclosed. The diverter assembly includes a lower tubular body that is coupled to a conductor and an upper tubular body having one or more diverter flow outlets, and one or more additional outlets. A connecting means secures the lower tubular body to the upper tubular body. One or more additional packer elements are disposed within the upper tubular body and locking means are provided for securing the one or more additional packer elements in position within the upper tubular body.