US 11,066,887 B2 · Well cellar excavating device and method

Abstract

A cellar around a wellbore is formed or deepened with an excavating system that is capable of being assembled around an existing wellbore. The system includes an excavating unit having an annular body with a cutting surface that excavates cuttings from ground around the wellbore. The cuttings are directed up through a slot in the body, and are collected inside a receptacle set in a recess of the body. An opening is formed in a side of the receptacle when in the body, and through which the cuttings pass from the slot into the receptacle. The receptacle is removable from within the recess and cuttings collected within are emptied. When the receptacle is removed from the recess, the opening is automatically covered to retain the cuttings inside the receptacle. Another cellar around a different wellbore is formed by disassembling the excavating system and relocating it to the different wellbore.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for excavating around a wellbore, the system comprising:

a selectively rotatable excavating unit comprising,
an annular body having a cutting surface selectively disposed in cutting engagement with ground that circumscribes the wellbore,
inserts disposed on the cutting surface,
a bin removably disposed in a recess of the body,
a slot formed in the body that extends from the cutting surface to the recess, and
a receptacle in the bin that selectively receives cuttings formed by contacting ground around the wellbore with the inserts;
and
a motor rotatingly engaged with the excavating unit, so that when the motor is in an operating mode the excavating unit is rotating and excavating the cuttings from the ground.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Well cellar excavating device and method

Life of this patent

Well cellar excavating device and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20