US 7,681,633 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for preventing spillage or loss of drill fluids

AssigneeHudson Services, Inc.

InventorsRichard Blanchard, Jr., Sandra Remedies, John Rucker, Sr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A well bore fluid recovery system and method is disclosed for recovering a column of well bore fluid within a stand of casing before cutting the casing. The recovery system relates to a system for preventing fluids from being spilled when casing is being finished for a well bore. After being run the casing must be cut and finished at an appropriate level to install rig equipment such as blow out preventers along with other equipment. However, because of earlier operations, the entire length of casing is typically filled with drilling fluid. Depending on conditions, the length of casing which is to be cut and removed may therefore over a 100-foot (27.4 meter) column of drilling fluid therein. The drilling fluid in this section must be properly drained before the casing is cut and removed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fluid recovery system for recovering well bore fluid from a joint of casing, comprising:

(a) a body, the body including first and second ends, a longitudinal passage between the first and second ends, and an outlet attached to the body between the first and second ends, the body outlet being fluidly connected to the longitudinal passage;
(b) a clamp, the clamp located at the first end of the body, the clamp being mountable around the joint of casing, the clamp including an opening, the opening being fluidly connected to the longitudinal passage;
(c) a drill, the drill comprising a drill bit, the drill bit being rotatably connected to the drill, the bit being insertable into the longitudinal passage;
(d) a rack, the rack comprising a base, the base being movably connected to the rack, the rack being mountable on the joint of casing, the drill being mounted on the base;
(e) wherein the second end of the body is fluidly blocked from the longitudinal passage while the bit is located in the longitudinal passage;
and
(f) wherein movement of the base causes movement of the bit while the bit is located in the longitudinal passage.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/346,267Filed 30 Dec 2008 · continuation
Priority: 27 Aug 2003
Granted: 23 Mar 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E21B 29/08
Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming…
E21B 7/20
Special methods or apparatus for drilling: driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing…
E21B 21/015
Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes: means engaging the bore entrance, e.g. hoods for…
E21B 29/002
Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming…

Family

Application60/498,215Us provisional application · filed 27 Aug 2003
Application10/925,827Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Aug 2004
Application11/599,170Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Nov 2006
US 7,134,502 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Nov 2006
US 7,373,987 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 20 May 2008
Application12/123,607Parent of this continuation · filed 20 May 2008
US 7,469,747 B1Parent of this continuation
US 7,681,633 B1This patent

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