Subsurface Well Shut-in Device for Blowout Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety systems for oilfield operations, such as blow-out preventers (BOPs), are vulnerable to damage from external forces like weather events and human-operated machinery when positioned above the surface, posing a risk during the drilling phase of oil and gas well operations.
Innovation Solution
A well shut-in device is positioned below the surface of the formation within the wellbore casing, equipped with shear rams and an actuation system that can be activated to provide a barrier and restrict pressurized fluids from moving through the casing passageway, thus preventing damage from external factors and ensuring safety during drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the BOP is positioned at or above the surface of the formation, then it can effectively prevent blowouts during drilling operations, but it becomes vulnerable to damage from external forces such as weather events and human-operated machinery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional positioning of the BOP from above the surface to below the surface of the formation. The BOP system is installed in the wellbore at a depth where it is protected from external environmental factors and human-operated machinery, while still maintaining its primary function of preventing blowouts by sealing the wellbore internally
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the BOP is positioned below the surface of the formation, then it is protected from damage by weather events and human-operated machinery, but it becomes more difficult to access and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The BOP system incorporates automatic detection and response capabilities that enable it to function autonomously. Sensors detect wellbore conditions and trigger the sealing mechanism automatically, reducing the need for manual operation and access to the device. The system serves itself by monitoring and responding to blowout conditions without requiring direct human intervention at the BOP location
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces remote operation capabilities and control systems that act as intermediaries between operators and the sub-surface BOP. These intermediary systems transmit control signals and status information through the wellbore, allowing operators to control the BOP from a safe, accessible location without needing direct physical access to the device below the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A sub-surface safety system for hydrocarbon drilling operations is provided and includes at least one casing within a wellbore that extends into a first portion of a formation from the surface of the formation. A shut-in device is positioned in the casing so as to be below the surface of the formation. The well shut-in device defines a device passageway and is operable to sever a drill string extending through the device passageway and form a barrier in the device passageway that restricts wellbore fluids below the barrier from migrating up the casing to the surface.