Rotatable Ball Valve for Continuous Drilling Mud Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drilling wells face challenges in maintaining continuous mud circulation when adding or removing drill string joints, leading to fluid pressure loss and increased drilling costs due to the need for expensive couplers and complex sealing devices.
Innovation Solution
A fluid circulation valve with a rotatable ball and side port allows continuous mud circulation by diverting fluid through either the ball's throughbore or side port, minimizing fluid loss during joint connections, and utilizing a spring-biased valve to maintain fluid flow when the attachment coupling is disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional threaded connections are used to add or remove drill string joints, then the drill string can be assembled or disassembled, but fluid circulation must be stopped and fluid pressure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The drill string system is segmented into modular components with a valve assembly that can be independently operated. The valve body separates the fluid circulation path from the mechanical connection path, allowing the connection to be made or broken while the valve maintains fluid pressure in the drill string. This segmentation enables independent control of mechanical assembly and fluid circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is pre-installed on the drill string joint before drilling operations begin. The ball valve mechanism is pre-positioned in the open state, and the side port is pre-configured to divert fluid flow. This preliminary setup ensures that when a joint needs to be added or removed, the fluid circulation path is already prepared to maintain pressure while the mechanical connection changes.
2Ease of manufacture
If pumps are shut off to make up threaded connections, then connections can be made, but restarting circulation is difficult and leads to drilling problems
Solution Approach 1:
The ball valve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pump system and the drill string connection. When a joint is being made up, the ball can be rotated to close the main flow path and open the side port, creating an alternative fluid path that maintains circulation without requiring pump shutdown. This intermediary valve mechanism mediates between the need for mechanical connection and continuous fluid circulation.
3Reliability
If expensive couplers and sealing devices are used to enclose connections for continuous circulation, then fluid leakage is minimized, but the device becomes expensive and slows down the makeup or breakout process
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly extracts the fluid control function from the mechanical connection process. Instead of using complex couplers and multiple sealing devices to enclose the connection, the valve is threaded directly onto the drill string joint and provides fluid control independently of the connection status. This extraction simplifies the system by separating fluid control from mechanical coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of enclosing the connection to maintain fluid pressure, the invention inverts the approach by using a valve that actively directs fluid flow away from the connection area. The ball valve closes the internal passage and redirects fluid through the side port, preventing the need for enclosing connections with complex sealing mechanisms.
4Loss of substance
If complex sealing devices and couplers are used to maintain continuous circulation, then fluid loss is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly merges the fluid control function with the drill string joint structure. The valve body is integrated with the joint components, and the ball valve mechanism combines sealing, flow control, and connection maintenance functions into a single integrated assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate couplers and multiple sealing devices.
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 continuous drilling mud circulation during joint additions or removals, reducing fluid loss and operational complexity, thereby lowering drilling costs and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A rotatable ball positioned within the flow path in the valve housing has a throughbore. The ball throughbore is in fluid communication with the housing central flow path when the ball is open, and the ball side port is in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed.
Implementation Method 2
a spring-biased valve to maintain fluid flow when the attachment coupling is disconnected
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid circulation valve is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while continuously circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing has a central flow path therein, a housing side port, and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a port in the ball is in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed. A coupling is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.