US 8,408,302 B2Granted

Double swivel apparatus and method

AssigneeMako Rentals, Inc.

InventorsKip M. Robichaux, Terry P. Robichaux, Kenneth G. Caillouet, Donny Logan

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A double swivel for use with a top drive power unit supported for connection with a well string in a well bore to selectively impart longitudinal and/or rotational movement to the well string, a feeder for supplying a pumpable substance such as cement and the like from an external supply source to the interior of the well string in the well bore without first discharging it through the top drive power unit including a mandrel extending through double sleeves which are sealably and rotatably supported thereon for relative rotation between the sleeves and mandrel. The mandrel and sleeves have flow passages for communicating the pumpable substance from an external source to discharge through the sleeve and mandrel and into the interior of the well string below the top drive power unit. The unit can include a packing injection system, clamp, and novel packing configuration. In an alternative embodiment the unit can include a plug or ball insertion tool.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A double top drive swivel insertable into a drill or work string comprising:

(a) a first mandrel having upper and lower end sections, the upper section being connectable to and rotatable with an upper drill or work string section, the first mandrel including a longitudinal passage;
(b) a first sleeve, the first sleeve being rotatably connected to the first mandrel;
(c) a first seal between upper and lower end portions of the first mandrel and first sleeve, the first seal preventing leakage of fluid between the first mandrel and first sleeve;
(d) the first sleeve comprising an inlet port positioned between the first plurality of spaced bearings;
(e) the first mandrel comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart radial ports in fluid communication with both the inlet port of the first sleeve and the longitudinal passage of the first mandrel to supply pressurized fluid from the inlet port of the first sleeve to the longitudinal passage of the first mandrel;
(f) a second mandrel having upper and lower end sections, the upper section being fluidly connected to the lower section of the first mandrel and the lower section of the second mandrel being connectable to and rotatable with a lower section of drill or work string section, the second mandrel including a longitudinal passage;
(g) a second sleeve having a longitudinal sleeve passage, the second sleeve being rotatably connected to the second mandrel;
(h) a second seal between upper and lower end portions of the second mandrel and second sleeve, the second seal preventing leakage of fluid between the second mandrel and second sleeve;
(i) the second sleeve comprising an inlet port positioned between the second plurality of spaced bearings;
(j) the second mandrel comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart radial ports in fluid communication with both the inlet port of the second sleeve and the longitudinal passage of the second mandrel to supply pressurized fluid from the inlet port of the second sleeve to the longitudinal passage of the second mandrel;
and
(k) a valve fluidly connecting the longitudinal passages of the first and second mandrels.

9 more elements

A method of using a double top drive swivel insertable into a drill or work string, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a double top drive swivel, the double swivel comprising:
(i) a first mandrel having upper and lower end sections, the upper section being connectable to and rotatable with an upper drill or work string section, the first mandrel including a longitudinal passage;
(ii) a first sleeve, the first sleeve being rotatably connected to the first mandrel;
(iii) a first seal between upper and lower end portions of the first mandrel and first sleeve, the first seal preventing leakage of fluid between the first mandrel and first sleeve;
(iv) the first sleeve comprising an inlet port;
(v) the first mandrel comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart radial ports in fluid communication with both the inlet port of the first sleeve and the longitudinal passage of the first mandrel to supply pressurized fluid from the inlet port of the first sleeve to the longitudinal passage of the first mandrel;
(vi) a second mandrel having upper and lower end sections, the upper section being fluidly connected to the lower section of the first mandrel and the lower section of the second mandrel being connectable to and rotatable with a lower section of drill or work string section, the second mandrel including a longitudinal passage;
(vii) a second sleeve having a longitudinal sleeve passage, the second sleeve being rotatably connected to the second mandrel;
(viii) a second seal between upper and lower end portions of the second mandrel and second sleeve, the second seal preventing leakage of fluid between the second mandrel and second sleeve;
(ix) the second sleeve comprising an inlet port;
(x) the second mandrel comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart radial ports in fluid communication with both the inlet port of the second sleeve and the longitudinal passage of the second mandrel to supply pressurized fluid from the inlet port of the second sleeve to the longitudinal passage of the second mandrel;
and (xi) a valve fluidly connecting the longitudinal passages of the first and second mandrels.
(b) fluidly attaching the double swivel to a top drive unit and to a drill string which;
(c) placing a ball to be dropped above the valve specified in step “a”;
and
(d) opening the valve to let the ball drop into the drill string.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/526,672Filed 19 Jun 2012 · continuation
Priority: 9 Sep 2002
Published: US 2013/0014949 A117 Jan 2013
Granted: 2 Apr 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

E21B 33/14
Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like: for cementing casings into boreholes
E21B 21/02
Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor: swivel joints in hose-lines
E21B
Earth or rock drilling

Family

Application60/409,177Us provisional application · filed 9 Sep 2002
Application10/658,092Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Sep 2003
Application60/644,683Us provisional application · filed 19 Jan 2005
Application11/334,083Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Jan 2006
US 7,007,753 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 Mar 2006
Application11/975,131Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Oct 2007
US 7,281,582 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Oct 2007
Application12/413,636Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Mar 2009
US 7,510,007 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Mar 2009
Application13/286,676Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Nov 2011
US 8,047,290 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Nov 2011
US 8,201,627 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jun 2012
US 2013/0014949 A1Pre-grant publication · published 17 Jan 2013
Application11/334,083Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2005/0034853 A1Published application
US 2006/0283593 A1Published application
US 2008/0087430 A1Published application
US 2012/0080201 A1Published application
US 8,408,302 B2This patent

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