US 2021/0172284 A1Published application

Managed Pressure Drilling Manifold and Methods

AssigneeOpla Energy Ltd.

InventorsHossein KHORSHIDIAN, Vitaliy SHPAK, Elvin MAMMADOV

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Abstract

A managed pressure drilling (MPD) manifold has one or more valves that are operable by one or more actuators configured to synchronize the opening of one or more passageways in the valves with the closing of one or more of the other passageways in the valves, in order to minimize the likelihood of error and reduce response time. The valves are configured to transition smoothly between positions without fully blocking fluid flow in the manifold while changing the flow direction. The synchronization may be achieved mechanically, electrically, hydraulic, and/or pneumatically. The actuators may be remotely controlled by a control unit having a processor and control logic software, based on data collected by one or more sensors in the MPD manifold. The positions of the valves of the MPD manifold may be automatically adjusted by the control unit via the actuators.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A manifold for use in a managed pressured drilling operation, the manifold comprising:

one or more housings;
a first passageway and a second passageway defined in the one or more housings;
a first valve assembly comprising:
a first valve control mechanism in communication with the first and second passageways, the first valve control mechanism movable to synchronously open and/or close the first and second passageways;
and
a first actuator operably coupled to the first valve control mechanism for actuating the first valve control mechanism to transition the first valve assembly between a first position and a second position, wherein
one of:
(i) in the first position, the first passageway is open and the second passageway is closed;
and in the second position, the first passageway is closed and the second passageway is open;
and
(ii) in the first position, the first and second passageways are open;
and in the second position, the first and second passageways are closed.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/115,622Filed 8 Dec 2020
Priority: 9 Dec 2019
Published: 10 Jun 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E21B 21/08
Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor: controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid,…
E21B 21/106
Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems: valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves
E21B 34/025
In well heads: chokes or valves in wellheads and sub-sea wellheads for variably regulating fluid flow
E21B
Earth or rock drilling

Family

Application62/945,783Us provisional application · filed 9 Dec 2019
US 11,680,453 B2Related patent
US 2021/0172284 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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