# US 2016/0258233 A1 · Release tool with adjustable release rod for a drill string inside blowout preventer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258233 A1 - Document ID: US20160258233A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/050,185 - Filed: 2016-02-22 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-03 - Assignees: Dwj Inc. - Applicants: Dwj Inc. - Inventors: DONALD L. WILLIAMS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258233A1 ## CPC - E21B 21/106: {Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves (valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Inside blowout preventer release tool having an upper section and a tubular lower section. The upper section includes a pair of longitudinal members defining a central open region, and a formed lifting feature accepting a manipulator. The lifting feature is positioned such that when the release tool body and an inside blowout preventer connected thereto are lifted by the rig hoist they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe while minimizing possibility of slipping off cables or chains. The lower section includes a threaded end mating with a mating end of an inside blowout preventer, a central longitudinal bore to accept a length-adjustable release rod, and an upper end formed to mate with the upper section. Slots in each longitudinal member may define one or more manipulating handles for a rig worker, machine, or tool, or a pair of generally horizontal hand holds are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular release tool for use with inside blowout preventers comprising: a one-piece, formed, planar metallic upper section having a longitudinal axis, the upper section comprising a pair of longitudinal members defining a central open region, each longitudinal member having a lower end, the longitudinal members joined by a top manipulating end having one or more lifting features formed therein configured to accept one or more manipulator cables or chains, the one or more formed lifting features positioned such that when the release tool body and an inside blowout preventer connected thereto are lifted by the manipulator cables or chains they are they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe while minimizing possibility of slipping off the manipulator cables or chains; a one-piece, formed, tubular metallic lower section removably attached to the upper section having the same longitudinal axis as the upper section, the lower section comprising a threaded externally tapered pin end configured to threadedly mate with a box end of an inside blowout preventer; a central longitudinal bore having diameter sufficient to slidingly accept a release rod; an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section and retaining members therefore; the upper end further formed to comprise a central axial extension comprising one or more fluid outlets fluidly connected with the central longitudinal bore, the central axial extension of length sufficient to accommodate an internally threaded bore substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the central longitudinal bore, and accept a mating threaded release rod lock screw therein; one or more formed slots in each longitudinal member of size sufficient to define one or more manipulating handles for a rig worker or mechanical manipulator to grasp the upper section and rotate the release tool and thread the pin end of the lower section into the box end of the inside blowout preventer, and thread the inside blowout preventer into a drillpipe; and a length-adjustable release rod slidingly positioned in the lower section central bore and dimensioned so as to be accessible by a rig worker or remotely operated device through the central region of the upper section, the central region having a width substantially larger than diameter of the release rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular release tool according to claim 1 wherein the length-adjustable release rod comprises an upper and a lower rod portion telescopically engaged and held in length position by one or more fasteners, such as cotter pins, screws, nuts and bolts, and the like. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular release tool according to claim 1 further comprising a rod lock housing including one or more view slots allowing viewing of position of the release rod in the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular release tool according to claim 1 wherein the one or more lifting features is a single centered lifting eye formed through the top manipulating end of the upper section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular release tool according to claim 1 wherein the upper end of the lower section is formed to include a pair of vertical receptacles for the lower ends of the upper section, and wherein the retaining members comprise one or more screws threaded through corresponding threaded bores through the receptacles and lower ends. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular release tool according to claim 1 wherein the central open region is sufficiently large to allow a rig worker or mechanical manipulator to engage a release rod and move the release rod downward, opening a valve in the inside blowout preventer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular release tool according to claim 1, further comprising a combination of metallurgy and structural reinforcement such as to prevent failure of the release tool upon exposure to inner pressure up to 10,000 psia. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A combination modular release tool and inside blowout preventer for threadedly attaching to a drillpipe, the drillpipe having a threaded end for engaging the inside blowout preventer, the combination comprising an inside blowout preventer having a lower end threadably engageable with the drillpipe threaded end and an upper box end threadably engaged with the modular release tool of claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The combination of claim 8 wherein the one or more lifting features is a single centered lifting eye formed through the top manipulating end of the upper section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The combination of claim 8 wherein the upper end of the lower section is formed to include a pair of vertical receptacles for the lower ends of the upper section, and wherein the retaining members comprise one or more screws threaded through corresponding threaded bores through the receptacles and lower ends. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The combination of claim 8 further comprising one or more subsea hot stab ports for subsea ROV intervention and/or maintenance of the inside blowout preventer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The combination of claim 8 comprising one or more ports allowing pressure and/or temperature monitoring inside the inside blowout preventer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The combination of claim 8 further comprising a combination of metallurgy and structural reinforcement such as to prevent failure of the inside blowout preventer and/or release tool upon exposure to inner pressure up to 10,000 psia. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The combination of claim 8 further comprising one or more subsea umbilicals fluidly connected to locations on the inside BOP selected from the group consisting of a kill line, a choke line, and both kill and choke lines. ### Claim 15 A modular release tool for use with inside blowout preventers comprising: a one-piece, formed, planar metallic upper section having a longitudinal axis, the upper section comprising a pair of longitudinal members defining a central open region, each longitudinal member having a lower end, the longitudinal members joined by a top manipulating end having one or more lifting features formed therein configured to accept one or more manipulators, the one or more formed lifting features positioned such that when the release tool body and an inside blowout preventer connected thereto are lifted by the one or more manipulator, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe while minimizing possibility of slipping off the manipulator, and two or more formed slots in each longitudinal member of size sufficient to define one or more generally horizontal manipulating handles for a rig worker or mechanical manipulator to grasp the upper section and rotate the release tool and thread the pin end of the lower section into the box end of the inside blowout preventer; a one-piece, formed, tubular metallic lower section removably attached to the upper section having the same longitudinal axis as the upper section, the lower section comprising a threaded end configured to threadedly mate with an end of an inside blowout preventer; a central longitudinal bore of diameter sufficient to slidingly accept a release rod; an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section and retaining members therefore; the upper end further formed to comprise a central axial extension comprising one or more fluid outlets fluidly connected with the central longitudinal bore, the central axial extension of length sufficient to accommodate an internally threaded bore substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the central longitudinal bore, and accept a mating threaded release rod lock screw therein; and a length-adjustable release rod slidingly positioned in the lower section central bore and dimensioned so as to be accessible by a rig worker or remotely operated device through the central region of the upper section, the central region having a width substantially larger than diameter of the release rod. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The modular release tool according to claim 15 wherein the length-adjustable release rod comprises an upper and a lower rod portion telescopically engaged and held in length position by one or more fasteners, such as cotter pins, screws, nuts and bolts, and the like. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The modular release tool according to claim 15 further comprising a rod lock housing including one or more view slots allowing viewing of position of the release rod in the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The modular release tool body of claim 15 further comprising hand guards removably attached to each longitudinal member, the hand guards positioned and sized sufficiently to provide protection to a worker's hands or mechanical manipulator when grasping the generally horizontal manipulating handles. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The modular release tool body of claim 15 wherein the hand guards are half members of split aluminum pipe attached to the longitudinal members using bolts. ### Claim 20 A method of easily and safely attaching a combination inside blowout preventer and release tool having a lower threaded end to a threaded end of a working drillpipe, the method comprising the steps of: (a) optionally, determining whether lower section will make up to the IBOP, which depends on whether the IBOP will make up to the working drillpipe, and if not, changing the lower section of the release tool body (FIG. 2) to match size (outside diameter) of another IBOP; (b) measuring the length of adjustable length release rod required by inspecting the IBOP (actual IBOP or drawing of same), setting the length of the release rod accordingly, and tightening the release rod lock screw; (c) assembling the combination of IBOP and release tool so that the lower end of the locked-in-place, adjustable length release rod presses down on and moves into a position holding a valve of the IBOP open; (d) lifting the combination, with IBOP valve locked open, to a position over the working drillpipe threaded end using the one or more formed lifting features on the release tool, the lifting feature positioned such that when the release tool body and IBOP attached thereto are lifted by the ropes, cables or chains, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with the working drillpipe while minimizing possibility of slipping off the cables or chains; (e) threading the combination onto the working drillpipe and continue turning the combination using formed handles so that threads of the lower end of the IBOP thread into the threads of the working drillpipe; and (f) optionally, if the IBOP is of the type having a check valve therein, as soon as the IBOP is fixed in position on the working drillpipe, no further escape of fluid or liquids will occur, and if the IBOP is the type having a valve therein, then the valve may be closed by turning the release rock lock screw, allowing an IBOP spring to bias and IBOP dart upward and seal, terminating flow.