Nova Patents
EP2016254B1

Downhole swivel apparatus and method

Abstract

This record has no abstract on file.

EP2016254B1, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 65

Term

0.6 yearsleft in the term

Expires 8 May 2027.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Today
  5. Expires

31 claims: 19 independent, 12 dependent

  1. 1
    A swivel (100) comprising:(a) a mandrel (110) having upper (120) and lower (130) end sections and connected to and rotatable with upper (85) and lower (86) drill or work string (60) sections, the mandrel (110) including a longitudinal passage (160) forming a continuation of a passage in the drill or work string (60) sections;and (b) a sleeve (300) having a longitudinal sleeve passage, the sleeve (300) being rotatably and reciprocably connected to the mandrel (110) by a pair of longitudinally spaced bearings (1100), the swivel (100) including a quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) detachably connecting the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein in a locked state the quick lock/quick unlock system reduces the amount of relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel compared to an unlocked state;and (c) a seal (1300) between upper and lower end portions of the mandrel (110) and sleeve (300).
  2. 7
    The swivel (100) according to claims 5 or 6, wherein the spring catch (3400) includes a contacting surface (3400), the contacting surface (3400) having at least one opening or groove (136) for allowing fluid flow across at least part of the surface (3400).
  3. 8
    The swivel (100) according to claims 6 or 7, wherein the mandrel (110) includes a ramp (3420) and locking valley (3460) which locking valley (3460) operatively connects to the plurality of fingers (3120).
  4. 9
    The swivel (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the spring (3120) includes a locking ring and the mandrel (110) includes a locking valley (3460), and the mandrel includes a fluted area (135).
  5. 10
    The swivel (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) includes a clutch (3600) which rotationally aligns the spring (3120) with the catch (3400).
  6. 11
    The swivel (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the spring (3120) can rotate relative to the sleeve (300).
  7. 12
    The swivel (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the mandrel (110) includes a locking position and the spring (3120) is locked by longitudinally moving the sleeve (300) to the locking position.
  8. 14
    A method of using a reciprocating swivel tool (100) in a drill or work string (80), the method comprising the following steps:(a) lowering a rotating and reciprocating swivel tool (100) to an annular blow out preventer (70), the swivel tool (100) comprising a mandrel (110) and a sleeve (300), the sleeve (300) being reciprocable relative to the mandrel (110) and the swivel tool (100) including a quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) detachably connecting the sleeve and the mandrel, wherein in a locked state the quick lock/quick unlock system reduces the amount of relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel compared to an unlocked state;(b) after step "a", having the annular blow out preventer (70) close on the sleeve (300);(c) after step "b", causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve (300) and the mandrel (110) and causing the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) to enter an unlocked state;and (d) after step "c", moving the sleeve (300) outside of the annular blow out preventer (70).
  9. 16
    The method of claims 14 or 15, wherein after step "d", the sleeve (300) is moved inside of the annular blow out preventer (70) and the annular blow out preventer (70) is closed on the sleeve (300).
  10. 17
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein after step "e", relative longitudinal movement is caused between the sleeve (300) and the mandrel (110) and the quick lock/quick unlock system (300) is activated.
  11. 18
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein in step "a", the sleeve (300) is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel (110), and in the locked state the sleeve (300) remains rotatable relative to the mandrel (110).
  12. 19
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 18 wherein, after step "b", the sleeve (300) is unlocked longitudinally relative to the mandrel (110).
  13. 20
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 19 wherein, after step "c", the sleeve (300) is longitudinally locked relative to the mandrel (110).
  14. 21
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein during step "c" operations are performed in a wellbore (40).
  15. 22
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein during step "f" operations are performed in a wellbore (40).
  16. 23
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein during step "c" the swivel tool (100) is fluidly connected to a string (80) having a bore and fluid is pumped through at least part of the bore of the string (80).
  17. 24
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein during step "f" the swivel tool (100) is fluidly connected to a string (80) having a bore and fluid is pumped through at least part of the bore of the string (80).
  18. 25
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) is radially aligned before being activated and in a locked state.
  19. 26
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) can rotate relative to the sleeve (300) when activated and in a locked state.
  20. 27
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 26, wherein the sleeve (300) includes at least one catch (326) for restricting relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve (300) and the annular blow out preventer (70) when the annular blow out preventer (70) is sealed on the sleeve (300).
  21. 28
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 27, wherein the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) includes a longitudinal locking position for locking the sleeve (300) relative to the mandrel (110), and after step "b" placing the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) in an locked state by longitudinally moving the sleeve (300) away from the locking position, and subsequently placing the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) in a locked state by longitudinally moving the sleeve (300) into the locking position.
  22. 29
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 28, wherein after step "b", the blow out preventer (70) is used to lock and unlock a plurality of times the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000).
  23. 30
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 29, wherein when the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) is in an unlocked state the sleeve (300) has an unlocked amount of allowed longitudinal movement relative to the mandrel (110), and when the quick lock/quick unlock system (3000) is in the locked state, the sleeve (300) has a locked amount of allowed longitudinal movement, the allowed unlocked amount of longitudinal movement being greater than the allowed locked amount of longitudinal movement.
  24. 31
    The method of any one of claims 14 to 30, wherein:(i) the swivel tool (100) is inserted into a riser (R), the riser (R) being fluidly connected to a well bore (40), the riser (R) and well bore (40) being fluidly connected to an annular blow out preventer (70), the annular blow out preventer (70) being located at a first level, the riser (R) and well bore (40) being at least partially filled with a first fluid, the first fluid being at a level in the riser (R) which is above the first level;(ii) detachably connecting the annular blow out preventer (70) to the sleeve (300) thereby separating the first fluid into an upper section of the first fluid, located above the first level, and a lower section of the first fluid, located below the first level;(iii) displacing a portion of the lower section of the first fluid;and (iv) displacing a portion of the upper section of the first fluid.
Independent claims24