US 8,770,273 B1Granted

Method of drilling and operating an oil or gas well, a method of preventing or minimizing contamination to the soil about an oil or gas well, using a kit to install, an impervious and reusable liner and apparatus therefor

OwnerRyan Gibsoninventor

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Abstract

A method of preventing or minimizing contamination to the soil about an oil or gas well, using a kit to install, an impervious and reusable liner and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of minimizing leakage of at least one of:

oil, drilling mud, and drilling fluids, into soil about a well cellar of a gas well or an oil well, said method comprising the steps of:
installing a sealing structure by:
covering a portion of a top surface of soil surrounding a well cellar with a first portion of said sealing structure comprising a containment material layer;
and
lining interior surfaces of said well cellar with a second portion of said sealing structure comprising:
a side layer that covers a side wall of said well cellar;
a floor layer that covers a bottom of said well cellar;
a resilient ring that is held against said side layer by friction or by an adhesive;
and
an additional layer of containment material joined to said containment material layer and configured to cover an upper portion of said side layer;
installing a sealing band, which sealing band comprises a sealing ring, by placing said sealing ring against said second portion of said sealing structure by positioning said sealing ring against said resilient ring with a portion of said additional layer of containment material between said sealing ring and said resilient ring, which sealing ring comprises a plurality of arcuate members connected to one another;
and
then expanding said sealing ring by adjusting an adjusting structure disposed at the connection between two of said arcuate members, and thereby pressing, holding, and at least assisting in sealing said second portion of said sealing structure.

10 more elements

A method of minimizing leakage of at least one of:

oil, drilling mud, and drilling fluids, into soil about a well cellar of a gas well or an oil well, said method comprising the steps of:
installing a sealing structure by covering a portion of a top surface of soil surrounding a well cellar with a first portion of said sealing structure, and by lining side and bottom surfaces of said well cellar with a second portion of said sealing structure;
and
installing an expandable sealing ring, comprising a first section and a second section separate from said first section, each being made of metal or other generally inflexible material, by placing said expandable sealing ring against said second portion of said sealing structure at least one side surface of said well cellar, then expanding said expandable sealing ring and increasing the diameter of said expandable sealing ring by adjusting the position of said first section with respect to said second section, and thereby pressing, holding, and at least assisting in sealing said second portion of said sealing structure.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/057,191Filed 18 Oct 2013 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Jul 2012
Granted: 8 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E02D 31/004
Ground foundation measures for protecting the soil or subsoil water, e.g. preventing or counteracting oil pollution: sealing liners
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…
E02D
Foundations
E21B
Earth or rock drilling

Family

Application61/668,594Us provisional application · filed 6 Jul 2012
Application13/826,602Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Mar 2013
US 2014/0102691 A1Published application
US 8,770,273 B1This patent

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

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