Wells – Submerged well – Connection or disconnection of submerged members remotely...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-02
2002-10-01
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Wells
Submerged well
Connection or disconnection of submerged members remotely...
C166S356000, C166S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06457526
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the drilling of wells through a body of water. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for changing out the components of a drill string assembly used to drill wells through a body of water without retrieving the components being changed out to the surface of the body of water.
2. Background Setting of the Prior Art
During the construction of a well, it is necessary to replace the components included in the bottom hole assembly (BHA) carried at the lower end of the drill string. The BHA typically includes a drill bit, stabilizers and drill collars. In directionally drilled wells, it is also common for the BHA to include a drilling motor, measurement while drilling equipment, logging while drilling and other down hole tools. Replacement or repair of the BHA normally requires retrieving the entire string to the drilling floor of the drilling rig.
A great deal of drilling rig time may be required to retrieve the BHA from the well to the surface of the water for replacement or repair. Deepwater wells are currently being drilled through water depths that approach and may even exceed 10,000 ft. In a drill string assembly having a measured length of 30,000 ft., the portion of the drill string assembly extending between the water bottom, or “mud line,” to the water body surface may be 30% or more of the total string length. The expense in operating deep water drilling rigs is very high, in some cases exceeding $240,000 per day. Any time that can be saved during the construction of the well contributes significantly in reducing the cost of the well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A submerged storage chamber containing BHA components is positioned at the mud line in contact with the base of the riser extending from a blowout preventer to the surface drilling rig. The BHA components in the storage chamber are held within a vertically mounted, rotatable magazine. The submerged chamber includes access doors into the body of water and into the interior of the riser. Pressure between the chamber and the interior of the riser is equalized to permit opening of an access door for transfer of the BHA components between the magazine and the BHA of the drilling string. Automated equipment in the chamber and operating within the riser remove the BHA components from the drill string and replace them with BHA components removed from the rotatable magazine. Pressure between the chamber and the water body is equalized to permit opening of an outside access door for transferring the magazine between the drilling rig and the chamber.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that a primary object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for changing out the BHA in a well being drilled through a deep body of water without the need to retrieve the BHA to the drilling rig operating at the surface of the water.
The foregoing objects, features and advantages of the present invention, as well as others, will be better understood and more fully appreciated by reference to the following drawings, specification and claims.
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patent: 4762185 (1988-08-01), Simpson
patent: 5098219 (1992-03-01), Harrington
patent: 5875848 (1999-03-01), Wolff et al.
Browning Bushman PC
Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
Neuder William
Torres Carlos A.
Walker Zakiya
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