Well cellar base plate with alternate conductor pipe slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional well cellars lack protection against fluid spills during drilling operations, leading to ecological pollution and increased remediation costs, and existing designs restrict flexibility in well pad construction and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The well cellar design features a base plate with multiple, alternate slot locations for the conductor pipe, allowing for flexible installation and access options through the 'Dril-Thru' process, using a conductor cement bushing for precise cementing and an adaptor plate for a leak-proof seal, providing structural support and protection against spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a well cellar is made from a section of steel culvert pipe with a dirt floor, then construction is simple and quick, but it provides no protection against fluid spills during drilling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The well cellar is divided into distinct functional components: a steel culvert pipe structure for containment, a base plate with predetermined slot locations for conductor pipe installation, and sealing mechanisms. This segmentation allows the structure to provide fluid spill protection while maintaining construction simplicity through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The steel culvert pipe well cellar structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural containment, prevents fluid spills into the environment, supports drilling equipment, and allows for conductor pipe installation through predetermined slots. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the simple structure serve both construction ease and spill protection requirements.
2Strength
If the base plate has predetermined slot locations for conductor pipe installation, then structural integrity is maintained, but flexibility in well pad construction and layout options is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is prepared in advance with predetermined slot locations at multiple possible positions during manufacturing. This preliminary action allows the well cellar to be installed quickly with structural integrity maintained, while still providing flexibility later when one of the pre-positioned slots can be selected based on well pad layout requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static single-slot design to a dynamic multi-slot configuration where the functional slot position can be selected based on operational requirements. This dynamic capability allows the base plate to maintain structural integrity while adapting to different well pad construction and layout options.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple alternate slot locations are provided in the base plate, then flexibility in equipment access and well pad development is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is segmented with multiple discrete slot locations rather than a single opening. Each slot position is a distinct feature that can be independently selected, providing equipment access flexibility without requiring a complex adjustable mechanism. The segmentation approach maintains relative design simplicity while improving adaptability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the conductor pipe is cemented into place through the base plate slot, then seal against fluid spills is improved, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate slots are pre-positioned and sized during manufacturing to accommodate the conductor pipe and cement sealing process. This preliminary preparation allows the cementing operation to proceed efficiently during installation without requiring complex alignment procedures, thus improving fluid spill prevention while minimizing additional installation time.
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 design enhances flexibility in well pad development and maintenance, prevents fluid spills, and reduces remediation costs by ensuring a secure and adaptable well cellar system.
Implementation Method 1
the conductor pipe is cemented into place and then sealed to the floor or base plate to protect against fluid spills during operation
Implementation Method 2
the plate is welded or otherwise sealed to the conductor pipe and the base plate of the well cellar to create leak-proof seal
Data Source
AI summary
A well cellar assembly, and a method of using same, with the well cellar including a base plate, the base plate having at least two well slot openings therein for receiving a conductor pipe, and at least one vertically extending side wall connected to the base plate with a fluid tight seal. The at least two well slot openings provide alternative locations for the conductor pipe and at least one of the at least two well slot openings is selected for placement of the conductor pipe.