US 8,408,337 B2Granted

Downhole blowout preventor

AssigneePresssol Ltd.

InventorJames I. Livingstone

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The downhole flow control means or downhole blowout preventor (downhole BOP) of the present invention is adapted for use during reverse circulation drilling with both concentric drill pipe and concentric coiled tubing. The downhole BOP comprises an inner tube member having an inner passage therethrough and an outer casing forming an annular passage between the inner tube member and the outer casing. The inner passage and the annular passage of the downhole BOP is in fluid communication with the inner passage and annular passage, respectively, of the concentric drill pipe or concentric coiled tubing. The downhole BOP further comprises two valve means, preferably a check valve and a ball valve, for closing off the annular passage and the inner passage of the downhole BOP, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the downhole BOP further comprises an electric actuator for opening and closing the ball valve.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A downhole flow control device for use during reverse circulation drilling with a concentric drill string, the concentric drill string comprising an inner pipe or tube having an inner passage therethrough and an outer pipe or tube surrounding the inner pipe or tube and forming an annular passage therebetween, the device adapted to be connected to the concentric drill string for well control, the device comprising:

(a) a first passage therethrough, the first passage being in fluid communication with the inner passage of the concentric drill string;
(b) a second passage therethrough, the second passage being in fluid communication with the annular passage of the concentric drill string;
(c) a full opening first valve assembly located in the first passage of the device adapted to be moved from a closed position to an open position, whereby, when the first valve assembly is in the open position, flow through the first passage of the device and the inner passage of the concentric drill string is substantially unrestricted;
and
(d) a second valve assembly located in the second passage of the device adapted to be moved from a closed position to an open position, whereby, when the second valve assembly is in the open position, material can flow through the second passage and the annular passage of the concentric drill string.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/188,670Filed 8 Aug 2008 · continuation
Priority: 12 Feb 2004
Published: US 2008/0289878 A127 Nov 2008
Granted: 2 Apr 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E21B 21/103
Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems: down-hole by-pass valve arrangements, i.e. between the inside of the drill string and…
E21B 21/12
Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor: using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed…
E21B 34/066
In wells: electrically actuated
E21B 34/08
In wells: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained

Family

Application60/521,056Us provisional application · filed 12 Feb 2004
Application10/906,277Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Feb 2005
US 2008/0289878 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Nov 2008
US 2005/0178586 A1Published application
US 8,408,337 B2This patent

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