Sealed Well Cellar Fluid Containment and Leak Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing well cellar systems suffer from soil and water pollution due to leaks and spills of drilling fluids, lubricants, and oil, which require costly remediation before a well can be capped.

Innovation Solution

A sealed well cellar system with a planar base and side members that form a cavity around a conductor pipe, featuring seals between the base and side members, and between the base and the conductor pipe, along with an impermeable liner and berm to contain and collect fluids, and sensors to monitor and manage fluid levels, preventing fluid leakage and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional open well cellar is used, then equipment access and installation are easier, but fluid leaks and spills cause soil and water pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of equipment installationVSAvoidsoil and water pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The well cellar is divided into a base and side members that can be assembled separately and then connected with sealing mechanisms. This segmentation allows for easier installation of equipment while the sealed connection prevents fluid leakage and pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A seal member acts as an intermediary element between the base and side members, preventing direct contact between drilling fluids and the surrounding soil. This intermediary component blocks the harmful effect of fluid leakage while maintaining the structural integrity of the well cellar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If seal means are added between base and side members, then fluid leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid containmentVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible seal member is used between the base and side members to prevent fluid leakage. This thin film approach provides effective sealing without requiring complex mechanical structures, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to make the entire well cellar structure sealed and complex, the invention uses a simple seal member that is installed in the gap between modular components. This inverted approach of sealing at the joint rather than throughout the structure reduces overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the well cellar is sealed, then environmental pollution is reduced, but cost of remediation increases if leaks occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental pollutionVSAvoidremediation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The seal member is installed in advance during the well cellar assembly, preventing fluid leakage before it can cause environmental pollution. This preliminary sealing action avoids the need for costly remediation operations that would be required if leaks were to occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member, which adds structural complexity, converts the potential harm of fluid leakage into a benefit by preventing pollution. The added complexity is justified by the elimination of costly remediation operations and environmental damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If an impermeable liner and berm are added to contain fluids, then pollution is prevented, but device complexity and construction difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid contaminationVSAvoidconstruction difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The containment system is segmented into an impermeable liner and a separate berm structure. This segmentation allows for easier construction and installation of each component while collectively providing effective fluid containment and preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8127837B1Sealed well cellar

Publication Date: 2012.03.06 NAT OILWELL VARCO LP

AI summary

A well cellar system includes a substantially planar base, the base defining an aperture sized to receive a conductor pipe. The well cellar system also includes at least one substantially inflexible side member attached to the base, the at least one side member and the base defining a cavity. A seal between the at least one side member and the base substantially prevents the flow of fluids between the at least one side member and the base. The attachment between the base and the conductor pipe substantially prevents the flow of fluids between the base and the conductor. An additional embodiment incorporates an extension ring to minimize/eliminate runoff entering the cellar. One version of the extension ring includes a telescoping section which moves between an extended and retracted position representing its to operative positions. Yet a further embodiment provides a rain cap to reduce the amount of precipitation which enters the cellar and becomes hazardous waste. A still further embodiment is configured with cement ports for securing a conductor pipe in an oversized whole. This embodiment also has a grout port to restabilize the cellar following soil subsidence. A final embodiment is configured as a sectional version which can be more easily installed or placed in an existing well cellar to seal it.