Method and apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids from a well below the surface of the water

An apparatus for controlling and/or stopping the flow of petroleum and/or natural gas from an open well head on the sea floor in which the well head is in communication with a subterranean formation, said apparatus comprising:

• a flow control device comprising:
• (a) an elongated member which can be lowered at least partially into the open well head, said elongated member comprised of a plurality of sections of different diameters, including a lowermost end section having a diameter less than the inside diameter of a well head casing, and
• (b) one or more tapered sections in connection or formed integral with the elongated member, the tapered sections having a variable diameter, at least one of the tapered sections increasing in diameter to a diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the well head casing, and
• (c) an end section in connection or formed integral with the tapered section, the end section having a diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the well casing,
• wherein downward force exerted by the mass and/or external force exerted on the fluid control device is sufficiently great so as to overcome any upward force created by flowing fluids, such as petroleum and/or natural gas, and wherein the downward force results in the downward movement of the fluid control device into the well head casing resulting in closure of the well head, and
• wherein the elongated member has a maximum diameter one half or less than an inside diameter of the well head casing.

An apparatus for controlling and/or stopping the flow of petroleum and/or natural gas from an open well head on the sea floor in which the well head is in communication with a subterranean formation, said apparatus comprising:

• a flow control device comprising:
• (a) an elongated member which can be lowered at least partially into the open well head, said elongated member comprised of a plurality of sections of different diameters, including a lowermost end section having a diameter less than the inside diameter of a well head casing, and
• (b) one or more tapered sections in connection or formed integral with the elongated member, the tapered sections having a variable diameter, at least one of the tapered sections increasing in diameter to a diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the well head casing, and
• (c) an end section in connection or formed integral with the tapered section, the end section having a diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the well casing,
• wherein downward force exerted by the mass and/or external force exerted on the fluid control device is sufficiently great so as to overcome any upward force created by flowing fluids, such as petroleum and/or natural gas, and wherein the downward force results in the downward movement of the fluid control device into the well head casing resulting in closure of the well head, and
• further comprising a drilling pipe in connection with the end section, the drilling pipe operable to enable lowering of the fluid control device to the sea floor and into the open well head.

A method for controlling and/or stopping the flow of petroleum and/or natural gas from an open well head on the sea floor in which the well head is in communication with a subterranean formation, said apparatus comprising:

• lowering a flow control device at least partially into the open well head, the flow control device comprising:
• (a) an elongated member including a plurality of sections of different diameters, and having a lowermost end section with a diameter less than the inside diameter of a well head casing, and
• (b) one or more tapered sections in connection or formed integral with the elongated member, the tapered sections having a variable diameter, at least one of the tapered sections increasing in diameter to a diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the well head casing, and
• (c) an end section in connection or formed integral with the tapered section, the end section having a diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the well casing,
• exerting a downward force on the fluid control device that is sufficiently great so as to overcome an upward force created by flowing fluids, such as petroleum and/or natural gas, and wherein the downward force results in the downward movement of the fluid control device into the well head casing resulting in closure of the well head, and
• threadably engaging two or more of the plurality of sections and the elongated member with an adjacent section.

A method for controlling and/or stopping the flow of petroleum and/or natural gas from an open well head on the sea floor in which the well head is in communication with a subterranean formation, said apparatus comprising:

• lowering a flow control device at least partially into the open well head, the flow control device comprising:
• (a) an elongated member including a plurality of sections of different diameters, and having a lowermost end section with a diameter less than the inside diameter of a well head casing, wherein the elongated member has a maximum diameter one half or less than an inside diameter of the well head casing, and
• (b) one or more tapered sections in connection or formed integral with the elongated member, the tapered sections having a variable diameter, at least one of the tapered sections increasing in diameter to a diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the well head casing, and
• (c) an end section in connection or formed integral with the tapered section, the end section having a diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the well casing,
• exerting a downward force on the fluid control device that is sufficiently great so as to overcome an upward force created by flowing fluids, such as petroleum and/or natural gas, and wherein the downward force results in the downward movement of the fluid control device into the well head casing resulting in closure of the well head.

A method for controlling and/or stopping the flow of petroleum and/or natural gas from an open well head on the sea floor in which the well head is in communication with a subterranean formation, said apparatus comprising:

• lowering a flow control device at least partially into the open well head, the flow control device comprising:
• (a) an elongated member including a plurality of sections of different diameters, and having a lowermost end section with a diameter less than the inside diameter of a well head casing, and
• (b) one or more tapered sections in connection or formed integral with the elongated member, the tapered sections having a variable diameter, at least one of the tapered sections increasing in diameter to a diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the well head casing, and
• (c) an end section in connection or formed integral with the tapered section, the end section having a diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the well casing,
• exerting a downward force on the fluid control device that is sufficiently great so as to overcome an upward force created by flowing fluids, such as petroleum and/or natural gas, and wherein the downward force results in the downward movement of the fluid control device into the well head casing resulting in closure of the well head, and
• connecting a drilling pipe to the end section, wherein the drilling pipe is operable to enable lowering of the fluid control device to the sea floor and into the open well head.