KELLY VALVING APPARATUS

Abstract: An automatic kelly valving apparatus (10) for use with oil/gas well drilling platforms provides a kelly valve mechanism (20) mounted for rotational movement. An operator (30) is provided on the valve mechanism (20) for moving the valve mechanism (20) between open flow and closed flow positions with a pressurized hydraulic fluid to power the operator (30). A fluid interface in the form of a collector ring assembly (44) mounted above the kelly valve mechanism (20) supplies the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the operator (30) while the automatic kelly apparatus (10) is spinning. Thus a shutting in of the well can be accomplished even when the kelly apparatus (10) spins by a manual means (40) in the event of an emergency, such as a blowout condition.

Description: KELLY VALVING APPARATUS Technical Field The present invention relates to closure devices and valving devices for oil field kellys. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a remotely operable kelly cock which closes flow of fluid through the kelly even while the kelly is in a spinning operative position. Background Art In the oil field, it is known to use a kelly having an inner flow conveying bore which is operated by a rotary table in drilling for oil or gas with the kelly applying the necessary rotational force to the drill string and its attached drill bit. The kelly forms a portion of the conduit through which fluids (such as drilling mud and additives) flow from the surface to the drill bit area. The kelly thus spins during the drilling operation. During the drilling process, unsafe conditions can arise as in the case of a blowout in which situation it is desirable that the kelly be closed and the flow of fluid through its inner provided bore valved to a shut or closed position. Failure to close the bore allows formation pressures to force oil/gas, drilling fluids and the like back up the well bore to the surface where explosion or fire can result. The national news media has frequently covered scenes of offshore drilling rigs uncontrollably ablaze after a blowout. Such disaster is frequently accompanied by loss of life and always by significant loss of property. Often environmental destruction is produced as oil is thrust into the surrounding waters of an offshore rig creating a "slick" which can extend for miles and pollute beaches. Valving devices to solve these problems by closing the kelly bore are known in the art as "kelly cocks" but these can close the kelly bore only when the kelly is not spinning. Such devices require that the kelly be stopped before closure can be effected. Manual type kelly cocks are known which require manual operation by means of a hand operable tool such as an alien wrench or the like. These types of kelly cocks are known in the art and available from a variety of manufacturers. See, for example, the kelly cock safety valve as manufactured by Hydril. It would be desirable to provide a kelly cock or a kelly valve apparatus which would function in both a static and spinning condition. Such a valve or kelly cock apparatus would be operable while the kelly is still spinning and would be automatically operable from a remote location. In blowout conditions, it is not always possible to close the kelly manually since danger exists and the laborers can panic and retreat from the drilling area. The present invention solves these prior art problems in a simple, inexpensive and straightforward manner by providing an automatic remotely operable (as well as manually operable) kelly valving apparatus which can be opened or closed in either a static or spinning condition of the kelly. OMP Disclosure of Invention The present invention provides a kelly cock apparatus which is both automatic and manual in operation being operable from a remote location if desirable. The apparatus provides attached to the well drilling kelly a valve structure having an associated operator. A hydraulic (for example) driving fluid powers the operator between open and closed flow positions. In order that operation of the operator can be maintained in both spinning and static condition of the kelly, a fluid hydraulic driving fluid to the valve and the valve structure itself. In the preferred embodiment the fluid interface is in a form of an annular collecting ring which provides at least one annular groove filled with hydraulic fluid and connected to the operator for applying driving force thereto. The operator in the preferred embodiment could be, for example, hydraulic, having a drive arm mounted for rotation with the valving member and powered by a pair of hydraulically operated cylinders, with one cylinder moving the drive arm to open the valve while the other cylinder closes the valve. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kelly valve apparatus which is operable in both static and spinning positions of the kelly. It is the further object of the present invention to provide a kelly cock or valving apparatus which is both manually and automatically operable. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a kelly cock or valve apparatus which is remotely operable and manually operable at the valve itself. It is another object of the present invention to provide a remotely operable kelly cock valve apparatus which can be added to existing manually operable kelly cock devices. It is another object of the present invention to provide a supplementary kelly cock operator which is attached to manual type kelly cocks and transforms them from manual to automatic operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a remotely operable kelly valving apparatus which is safe and easy to operate. Another object of the present invention is to provide a kelly valving system having indications to the driller as to the position of the kelly valving member portion thereof. Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a front sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 1A is a front sectional view of the collection ring assembly portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the upper sub portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 3 is a front view of the lower sub portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of figure 1; Figure 6 is a top view of the upper housing base portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 7 is sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of figure 6; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of figure 6; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of figure 6; Figures 10A - 10B are side and front views respectively of the drive arm portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 11 is a front sectional view of the collector seal holder portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 12 is a sectional view of the upper housing cylinder portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Figure 1 best shows the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Kelly valving apparatus 10 provides a kelly valve 20 having an operator assembly 30 which as will be described more fully hereinafter moves the valve between open flow and closed flow positions which respectively allow fluid flow through the kelly valve bore between the upper sub 24 and lower sub 26 and in the closed flow position shut off flow through the bore. Operator assembly 30 in the preferred embodiment provides a hydraulically powered operator with hydraulic fluid being dispensed in a pressurized fashion through collector ring assembly 40 to operator assembly 30. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the kelly valving apparatus 10 of the present invention can be remotely operated as, for example, from the driller's panel on an oil and gas drilling rig without regard as to whether or not the kelly is spinning or static. The apparatus of the present invention thus provides an inside blowout preventor for oil and gas drilling rigs which can be quickly operated from a remote location in any drilling situation. In figure 1 in the drawings there can be seen an upper sub 24 which connects at joint 12 with kelly valve 20 with a lower sub 26 attaching at the lowermost portion of kelly valve 20 at joint 14. Lower sub 26 would attach to the drilling kelly with apparatus 10 valving flow of O PI ; fluids through the kelly. Kelly valve 20 is, for example, a conventional manually operated kelly cock which is commercially available. Presently, such devices are manually operated by use of an alien wrench or the like. This manual operation requires that a human operator or other personnel on the drilling platform climb or otherwise obtain access to the kelly cock and place the alien wrench in position and manually close the valve. Problems exist in that time may be of the essence and significant danger might be presented by an operator approaching the kelly cock to close it in a blowout situation where the entire rig may at any second be subject to explosion or fire. Upper sub 24 is best seen in figure 2 and provides a length of drill pipe having, for example, a lower pin connection 25 and an upper box connection 23 with a uniform fluid conveying bore 27. An annular groove 21 is milled about the exterior of upper sub 24 being of a thickness T which corresponds to the thickness T of plate 51 as seen in figure 1. As will be described more fully hereinafter, end cap 56 attaches to and is supported by upper sub 24 by the attachment of end cap 56 to annular groove 21. A threaded connection could be provided at groove 21 for disassembling sub 24 thus allowing it to be assembled upon end cap 56. End cap 56 would provide a central opening having an inner diameter (I.D.) substantially equal to the outer diameter (O.D.) of sub 24 at groove 21. Upper sub 24 connects to kelly cock 20 at joint 12 which is a box-pin type connection known in the oilfield drill pipe art. The lowermost portion of kelly cock 20 provides a connection at joint 14 to lower sub 26. Lower sub 26 (Figure 3) would have an upper box connection 28 and a lower pin connection 29 with a pin connection provided on kelly cock 20 assembling to the box connection 28 of lower sub 26. The connection of upper sub 24 and lower sub 26 to kelly cock 20 is similar to the connections made with manual type kelly cocks in the oilfield. A bore 22 is also provided in lower sub 26. Figure 1 and figures 4-5, 10A-10B show operator assembly 30. Operator 30 is, for example, a hydraulically powered operator having connection through drive arm 35 to kelly cock 20. It should be understood that a provided hexagonal key 36 on drive arm 35 attaches to a provided hexagonal recess on kelly cock 20 which is receptive of key 36 and which thereafter is connected to a central valving member of kelly cock 20 which could be, for example, a ball valving member or the like as Is the case in conventional kelly cocks. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that once drive arm 35 and more particularly hexagonal key 36 mates with the provided socket on kelly cock 20, rotational movement thereafter of drive arm 35 will effect a rotation of the provided valving member of kelly cock 20 effecting an opening and closing of the kelly cock 20 valving member between open flow and closed flow positions. The provided socket is available on conventional manual kelly cocks and normally is manually operable by an alien wrench or like hand tool. Left and right hydraulically operative cylinders 32, 33 will rotate drive arm 35 approximately 90 degrees between open flow positions and closed flow positions of kelly cock 20 responsive to alternate extensions of hydraulic cylinders 32, 33 and their provided rams 32a, 33a. The opposite end of drive hex key 36 provides a drive sleeve 39 having an internal socket 40 which is hexagonal. This allows drive arm 35 to be manually operated as a backup, if desired, by the placement of a hexagonal alien wrench or the like hand tool into socket 40 and a turning effected. Drive sleeve 39 on its outer surface would otherwise be rounded and would fit into a provided opening on yoke 45. Thus, drive arm 35 would be supported at the end portions of hex key 36 which would be anchored into the socket of kelly cock 20 and at its opposite end with sleeve 39 resting in and rotating within a provided opening on yoke 45. With the end portions being so supported, a rotational movement of drive arm can be achieved by sequential extensions of rams 32a, 33a. Each ram 32a, 33a attaches at its end to drive arm 35 at provided openings 37, 38 of drive arm 35. Pinned connections 32c, 33c are preferable as shown in figures 1 and 5. Support for operator 30 is achieved by bracing cylinders 32, 33 at their upper end portion and by supporting their lower end portion at drive arm 35 with, as aforementioned, drive arm 35 being supported by kelly cock 20 and at its other end by yoke 45. The end portions of yoke 45 are supported by a plurality of brackets which themselves attach to the cylindrical member formed by the connection of upper sub 24, kelly cock 20, and lower sub 26. The construction of the supporting brackets will now be discussed more fully. In figures 4 and 5 there can been seen the inner bore B of kelly cock 20 and in these sectional views also the support of operator 30. Note in figure 4 a pair of upper support brackets 80, 81 which are connected together by structural bolts 83, 84. A pair of recesses 85 are formed on each side of support bracket 80 with pin connections 86, 87 being formed at recesses 85 to hold the upper end portions of cylinders 32, 33 in a supported fashion at bracket 81. Retainers 89, 90 in the form of a bolt and washer, for example, will be provided if desired to keep the pinned connections 86, 87 from disassembly during operation. Openings 91, 92 which are generally semi-circular can be seen on bracket 80. These allow hydraulic hoses ( not shown) to pass through openings 91, 92 and attach to collector ring assembly 44. The opposite end portion of the hoses (not shown) would connect respectively to the provided ports 32B, 33B. Bracket 80 provides an enlarged portion 95 which could be weighted to act as a counterweight to the entire operator assembly 30 thus providing for a dynamically balanced apparatus 10 which would not impart excess vibration to the drill string during rotation of the kelly. Also seen on bracket 80 are openings 93, 94 which could provide inner threads. These openings 93, 94 would align with openings provided in plate 51 through which openings and the corresponding threaded openings of plate 50, attachment bolts would be connected. This would effect a vertical connection between bracket 80 and plate 50 discouraging slippage of brackets 80, 81 downwardly on the assembly of sub 24, kelly cock 20, and sub 26. The connection of bracket 80 to bracket 81 by structural bolts 83, 84 would also be a tight connection which would be assembled using substantial torque so that a clamping effect would be achieved against upper sub 24 which would also enchance in discouraging vertical movement of brackets 80, 81 along the upper sub 24. Figure 5 shows a pair of lower brackets 100, 101 which are affixed to the joint 14 between kelly cock 20 and lower sub 26. A pair of bolts, for example, 103, 104 are attached to brackets 100, 101 respectively and provide conical tips which anchor brackets 100, 101 into the shown recess provided at joint 14. A further assembly of brackets 100, 101 to the assembly of kelly cock 20 and lower sub 26 is provided by structural bolts 106, 107 which assemble brackets 100, 101 together forming a bolted connection which could be torqued to provide a clamping affect of brackets 100, 101 and the provided bolts 106, 107 to the assembly of kelly cock 20 and lower sub 26. O.MPI . &Λ ■ >.___ WJPO . A pair of openings 109, 110 on lower bracket 100 could be provided with inner threads which would allow a bolted connection to be formed between bracket 100 and cover assembly bottom plate 122. Also provided on bottom plate 122 of cover assembly 120 would be a pair of attachment blocks 125, 126 which could be attached thereto by welding, for example. Yoke 45 would be attached by bolting, for example, to blocks 125, 126 with the bolts shown in figures 1 and 5 as 127, 128 respectively. A retainer bolt and washer are provided as indicated at 130 for retaining key 36 and drive arm 35 in their lateral position so that movement outwardly is not possible. Bolt 130 would be threadably anchored in yoke 45 with washer 131 overlapping the end of sleeve 39 at recess 40. Note from an inspection of figure 10A that a reduced diameter to sleeve 39 is indicated as 41 in figure 10A. This reduced diameter would be the position occupied by an opening of substantially the same diameter in yoke 45. The construction of cover assembly 120 is best seen in figures 1 and 5. Cover assembly 120 provides a pair of halves 140, 150, each of which is hingedly attached at a provided hinge 141, 151 which hinge is attached to by welding, for example, its respective strut support member 142, 152. Each of support struts 142, 152 is attached by bolting, for example, at its upper end portion to plate 51 and at its lower end portion to plate 122. These bolted connections are shown in figure 1. Each cover plate 140, 150 is attached opposite its hinge 141, 151 to the opposite provided strut support 142, 152 as shown in figures 1 and 5 by a plurality of, for example, machine screws. These machine screws are indicated as 160 in figure 1. Disassembly of cover assembly 120 can be achieved by merely removing the aforementioned bolts, first from struts 142, 152 and thereafter from plates 51, 122. An opening is provided in cover plate 150 adjacent recess 40 which allows an alien wrench or like hand tool to be inserted therethrough for operation of recess 40 as aforementioned. A dust cover 155 which could be, for example, of rubber or the like would insure a dust-free environment within the confines of cover assembly 120. Figures 1, 6-9 and 11-12 show with particularity the construction of collector ring assembly 44. In figures 1-1A there can be seen with particularity the complete assembly of collector ring assembly 44. Collector ring assembly 44 comprises generally a pair of collector seal holders 60, 61 which are carried between a collector ring upper housing 50, upper housing end cap 56 and an outer housing cylinder 70. Figures 6-9 show with particularity the construction of collector ring upper housing 50 while figure 11 shows more particularly the construction of each collector seal holders 60, 61; with figure 12 showing more particularly the construction of upper housing cylinder 70. The construction of collector ring upper housing 50 will now be discussed more fully with respect to figures 6-9. Collector ring upper housing 50 provides a lower substantially flat plate portion 51 which connects to a collector housing inner wall 53. A central bore is provided which allows upper sub 24 to pass therethrough. Wall 53 provides a pair of conduits 54, 55 which communicate respectively between provided ports. In figure 7, conduit 54 is shown being connected between port 62 and port 63 while conduit 55 connects at its end portions between port 64 and port 65. Three annular grooves 66-68 are shown in wall 53 which are occupied by thrust rings 69 as being seen in figure 1A. Upper threaded openings 71 allow for a threaded attachment of a bolt, for example, or like connector thereinto which allows assembly of end cap 56 to wall 53 of collector ring upper housing 50. During operation fluid will flow from port 6 downwardly through conduit 55 to port 65. In a lik manner, fluid will flow in operation from port 62 throug conduit 54 to port 63. Ports 63, 65 will be attached b way of hydraulic hoses (not shown) to the provided ports 32B, 33B respectively provided upon hydraulic cylinders 32, 33. Threaded openings 72 provided on plate 51 have inne threads which allow a bolted connection to be formed of plate 51 to bracket 80. Similar openings 93, 94 as aforementioned are provided on bracket 80 which alig with the threaded openings 72 of plate 51. Fluid is supplied through hydraulic inlet ports 75, 76 to each collector seal holder 60, 61. This hydrauli connection can be seen best in figure 1A. Th construction of each collector seal holder is seen best in figure 11. Each seal holder 60, 61 has a central bore for passage of wall 53 therethrough and also provides three external annular grooves 77 with 0-rings or like packing material normally occupying the upper and lowermost grooves. Four openings 79 are bored in the middle groove communicating with an inner chamber 160. Four inwardly projecting annular ribs 161-164 define therebetween three inner annular grooves 165-167. Packing material 78 would normally occupy grooves 165, 167. With respect to upper port 75, fluid flow would be provided thereto in the form of compressed hydraulic fluid which would be the operator fluid. Though hoses are not shown connected to ports 75, 76 it will be understood that hydraulic hoses would be attached thereto and extend to a remote loction where the source of hydraulic fluid would be contained. These hoses would prevent rotation of upper housing cylinder 70. A backup such as a chain, for example, (not shown) could be attached to housing cylinder 70 at one end, and at its other end anchored to the drilling rig structure to further insure non-rotation of cylinder 70. Otherwise, the entire assembly would rotate with bearings "B" within a provided bearing race providing an interface between housing cylinder 70 and collector ring upper housing 50. The flow of hydraulic fluid from port 75 to its respective cylinder 32, 33 would be from port 75 through collector ring outer groove 77 through opening 79 to inner groove 166 and thence to port 64 of collector ring upper housing 50, through conduit 55 and then to port 65. From port 65, a flexible hydraulic hose (not shown) would convey fluid to the port 32B or 33B of the cylinder 32 or 33 which was desired to be operated from the hose connected to port 75. A similar flow of operator fluid would be seen with regard to port 76. A provided hydraulic hose (not shown) would convey hydraulic fluid from a desired source under pressure to port 76 and thence through to outer groove 77 of collector seal holder 60, 61 thence through opening 79 (four of which are preferably provided) thence to inner groove 166, thence to port 62 of collector ring upper housing 50 and then through conduit 54 to port 63. In similar fashion, a hydraulic hose would connect to port 63 and then be connected at its opposite end to either cylinder 32 or 33 at its provided port 32B, 33B. In this fashion, one skilled in the art will recognize that fluid dispensed at port 75 would operate one cylinder while fluid dispensed at port 76 would operate the other cylinder and a rotational movement of drive arm 35 effected which would respectively open or close kelly cock 20. It will follow that such opening and closing of kelly cock 20. would be effected in either a statis or spinning condition of the assembly of kelly cock 20, upper sub 24, and lower sub 26. If desired seals could be provided at points 180 between cylinder 70 and end cap 56. Seals 182 could also be provided between cylinder 70 and collector ring upper housing 50. Figure 12 shows more particularly the construction of upper cylinder 70 having ports 75, 76 which would preferably be threaded and allow the attachment of hydraulic hoses thereto. A central bore 73 allows the passage of upper sub 24 therethrough and further allows for sufficient thickness to accommodate between collector seal holders 60, 61 and collector ring upper housing 50. Enlarged recess portions of bore 73 are seen at 71 and 72 which allow for placement of bearing races housing bearings B between collector ring upper housing 50, end plate 56 and cylinder 70. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. What is claimed as invention is:

Claims: Claims 1. An automatic kelly valving apparatus com¬ prising: a. an oil well drilling kelly having an inner flow conveying bore, said kelly at times spinning and at times being static during drilling operation; b. a valve body on said kelly; c. valve means on said valve body for valving the flow of fluids through said kelly, said valve means being movable between an open flow position, allowing fluids to flow through said bore and said valve means, and a closed flow position, stopping the flow of fluids through said valve means; d. remotely operable operator means associated with said valve means for operating said valve means, said operator means comprising at least in part a drive arm connected to said valve means and a pair of hydraulic cylinders for moving said drive arm; e. drive means associated with said operator means for powering said operator means between said open flow and closed flow positions, said operator means being fully operable during a spinning or static position of said kelly. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is further provided fluid interface means associated with said valve means for connecting a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said operator means. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid interface means comprises at least in part a fluid collector ring. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said collector ring provides seal means between said ring and said valve means for preventing the loss of hydraulic fluid from said fluid interface means. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said collector ring comprises at least in part a pair of angular grooves defining angular hydraulic fluid conveying cavities. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operator means comprises: a. a hydraulic operator chamber on said valve body; b. a pair of pistons mounted at respective end portions of said chamber; c. an operator shaft conecting said pistons; d. gear means in said valve body for operating said valve means, said gear means being powered at least in part by said operator shaft. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising adjustment means on said shaft for adjustably positioning said pistons on said operator shaft. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said adjustment means is a threaded portion of said operator shaft to which said pistons are threadably mounted. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further wherein said drive means is hydraulic. 10. A rotary kelly valving apparatus, comprising: a. a tool body provided with a flow conveying bore, said bore attachable to an oil drilling kelly; b. a valving member rotatably movable within said bore between open flow and closed positions, said valving member providing an opening therethrough for conveying fluid when said opening is aligned with said bore; c. a drive arm attached at its center to said valving member and moving with said valving member between open flow and closed flow positions responsive to rotation of said drive arm; d. a pair of hydraulic cylinders attached to said drive arm at its ends; e. a collector ring affixed to said body for transmitting a source of hydraulic pressurized operator fluid to said hydraulic cylinders, said collector ring being capable of dispensing hydraulic fluid to said operator chamber during both spinning and static positions of said kelly.

Inventors: CONNELLY L, WINEGEART M
Applicants: CONNELLY L, WINEGEART M
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F16H21
IPC codes: E21B21, E21B34