# US 2014/0151056 A1 · Securing a Sub-Sea Well Where Oil/Gas/Water is Flowing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151056 A1 - Document ID: US20140151056A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,179 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-15 - Inventors: Keith Millheim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151056A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/0122: {Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage (cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or the like E02B15/04)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A system and method for securing a flowing sub-sea well using a securing apparatus. The securing apparatus has a gripping assembly to secure the securing apparatus to an outlet the sub-sea well. A bladder assembly seals the securing apparatus to the sub-sea well and fluidly connects the sub-sea well to a riser assembly for collection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for securing a sub-sea well, comprising: a gripping assembly used to secure a riser to a well and to resist fluid pressure emerging from an outlet disposed in fluid communication with the well; and a bladder sealing assembly fixably engaged sealed over said outlet, wherein the combined gripping assembly and ladder sealing assembly system are disposed in fluid communication with an associated riser. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet is one of an outlet stub, a throat of a blow-out preventer, a throat of a well head, and a throat of a production tree. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the gripping assembly comprises: a gripping assembly pipe; and a plurality of gripping elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of gripping elements are configured to fold inward toward the gripping assembly pipe as the gripping assembly pipe is pushed into the outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gripping elements are configured to be forced outward away from the gripping assembly pipe via at least one of a hydraulic force and a mechanical force. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the gripping elements are configured to press against sides of the outlet when the at least one of the hydraulic force and the mechanical force is applied. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising at least one of chains, wire rope, and clamps; wherein, the at least one of chains, wire rope, and clamps are configured to further secure the gripping assembly to the outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the bladder sealing assembly comprises: a sealing element; at least one pressure chamber; and at least one pressure line; wherein the sealing member is configured to seal around the outlet; wherein the at least one pressure chamber is configured to provide pressure against the sealing element such that it forces the sealing element against the outlet; and wherein the at least one pressure line provides pressure to the pressure chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein a pressure of the pressure chamber is greater than a pressure of the well and greater than a hydrostatic pressure surrounding the well. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one injection port configured to inject fluids into an internal portion of the bladder sealing apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a riser assembly extending away from the bladder sealing apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the riser assembly comprises: at least one riser pipe; and a buoyancy chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the riser assembly further comprises a processing line fluidly connecting the at least one riser pipe to a processing vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the buoyancy chamber is adjustable. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for securing a sub-sea well, comprising: a gripping assembly, comprising: a gripping assembly pipe; and a plurality of gripping members; a bladder sealing assembly, comprising: a sealing element; at least one pressure chamber; and at least one pressure line; and a riser assembly, comprising: at least one riser pipe; and a buoyancy chamber; wherein the plurality of griping members are configured to fold inward toward the gripping assembly pipe as the gripping assembly pipe is pushed into an outlet of the sub-sea well and are further configured to be forced outward away from the gripping assembly pipe via at least one of hydraulic and mechanical force; wherein the sealing element is configured to seal around the outlet; wherein the at least one pressure chamber is configured to provide pressure against the sealing element such that it presses the sealing element against the outlet; and wherein the at least one pressure line provides pressure to the pressure chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one injection port configured to inject fluids into the bladder sealing assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a processing line fluidly connecting the riser assembly to a processing vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the buoyancy chamber is adjustable. ### Claim 19 A method to secure a flowing sub-sea well, comprising: placing a gripping assembly of a securing apparatus into an outlet of the sub-sea well, said gripping assembly having a plurality of gripping members; forcing the gripping members against sides of the outlet; securing a bladder sealing assembly to the flowing sub-sea well, said bladder sealing assembly having at least one sealing member configured to seal against at least a portion of the outlet; providing pressure against the sealing member to press the sealing member against at least a portion of the outlet; and fluidly connecting the bladder assembly to a riser assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the riser assembly is fluidly connected to a processing vessel.