Pre-positioned capping device and diverter
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsRandall S. SHAFER, Graham ALVORD, Rune WOIE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods contain fluids discharged from a subsea well or at the surface by capping the well blowout with a pre-positioned capping device and diverting flow of hydrocarbons to a secondary location for disposal/handling in situations where casing integrity is compromised preventing ability to close in the flow of the hydrocarbons. The capping device includes at least one blind shear ram and is separate from a blowout preventer. Different personnel offsite of a rig drilling the well may have access and control to operate the device.
Claims20
A pre-positioned capping and diverter assembly, comprising:
- at least one blind shear ram disposed between a wellhead and a blowout preventer stack;
- a control system that sends wellbore data offsite of a rig coupled for drilling through the wellhead and actuates the ram without use of the rig upon receiving command signals from offsite of the rig;
- and
- a conduit coupled to receive flow from the wellhead and output the flow to a location offset in a lateral direction from the rig with the ram actuated to close a fluid pathway to the rig.
A method of controlling a well, comprising:
- disposing a pre-positioned capping device and a blowout preventer stack on a wellhead;
- coupling an outlet of the capping device to a conduit extending to a location offset in a lateral direction from the rig such that flow diverts to the location upon closing a blind shear ram of the capping device;
- drilling the well with the rig through the blowout preventer stack and the capping device coupled to the conduit;
- receiving wellbore data with a control system disposed offsite of the rig and operated by a person not part of rig personnel;
- and
- controlling the ram of the capping device via command signals sent from the control system to the capping device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.