SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AND STOPPING OIL DRILLING FIRES

Abstract: System for controlling oil well fires by blocking the production or drilling pipes. A box incorporating a movable piston is fitted around the pipe. The piston carries, on its forward end, a drilling cylinder (3), which can be brought to the pipe by a hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement. Subsequently, the drilling cylinder drills through the pipe wall and after that the drilling cylinder or a separate plugging cylinder (4) is left in the drilled hole and blocks the fluid flow through the pipe. The process is remote controlled.

Description: System for controlling and stopping oil drilling fires The subject of the invention is a system to controll oil drilling fires or fires of other corresponding liquid substances. With this invention the eruption of burning substance is stopped so that the oil drilling pipe/ pipes are blocked in a way which makes it possible for the pipes to be reopened. Presently there are three different ways to try to put out oil fires: Water is sprayed on the seat of the fire while the fire fighter at the same time approaches the fire behind a protective shield and tries to shut down the valve of the oil pipe manually. The method is dangerous and requires a lot of water, which is not always available at the site of the fire. By exploding the buring oil well the use of oxygen in the surrouding area is temporarily increased so much that the fire is suffocated by lack of sufficient oxygen. After this the valves and other broken equipment can be replaced. The method is very dangerous. By drilling a new hole into the same oil well with the burning oil pipe and by pumping water into it the oil eruption is replaced by a water eruption and the fire is put out. This is an expensive and time consuming operation and the success of it cannot be guaranteed. Additionally it is dangerous to carry out. The main parts of the equipment of this invention in question are: a hydraulic cylinder, a piston, a drilling cylinder, a plugging cylinder, a drill, a box clamp, a hydraulic motor or other power source, a blocking bolt, a hydraulic container with leads and a pressure battery and an automatic control and surveillance system. The idea is that each oil and /or gas drilling pipe within each other has its own drilling unit in accordance with pipe size. By the drilling unit we mean the drilling and plugging mechanism needed to close one oil or gas drilling pipe. Several drilling units can use a mutual energy source with its hydraulic container. In underwater conditions as on off shore oil drilling platforms the water pressure can be directed with its own mechanism to be used in the system. To create pressure also an expolsion inside a massive cylinder with pistons at both ends, can be used and this pressure is directed through a separate central container or directly into the hydraulic container. The pressure can also be taken from the oil or gas drilling pipe under the drilling units, through a drilled hole and a joint fixed to it. The necessary number of drilling units can be installed, which in the example is three. The purpose of the system of this invention is to controll oil and /or gas fires so that the distinction of big oil and /or gas drilling equipment can be avoided. The equipment can be installed either to an oil and /or gas drilling system under construction, an oil and /or gas drilling system already constructed or even onto a burning one. Because the equipment is remote-installed and automatically controlled the oil fire does not pose a threat to humans, when the equipment has already been installed to the oil drilling system in advance and installing one on an already burning system does not necessitate going into the immediate proximity of the fire seat, on the contrary it is installed under ground. Thus as advantages of the invention we can mention that the equipment and method are safe, they save the environment, money and oil or gas. Tie invention is explained in more detail below with references to the enclosed drawing. Figure 1 shows a cross section of the equipment when the first drilling cylinder is in motion. Figure 2 shows a cross section of the equipment when the first plugging cylinder is in place. Figure 3 shows a cross section of the equipment when all three plugging cylinders are in place. Figure 4 shows a cross section of the hemispherical cylinder. Figure 5 shows a part cross section of the conical cylinder with the grinding surface. Figure 6 shows a part cross section of the conical cylinder with protruding blade. Figure 7 shows the equipment installed and a part cross section of the hydraulic container. The figure does not show the structure of the space constructed under ground, where the equipment is situated. Figure 8 is a picture detailing the box clamp and the locked blocking bolt. Figure 9 shows an application in which the drilling cylinder and the plugging cylinder (which, however, are not drawn into the figure) operate beginning from the same side of the oil and /or gas drilling pipe and the above mentioned cylinders are directed by and the cutting seam sealed by means of a stuffing box. In the figure the stuffing box on the right hand side has not been tightened into place. In figures 1, 2 and 3 the idea is that on the right hand side of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes and the plugging cylinder there is a similar pushing and /or rotating mechanism as on the left side of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes. It is also appropriate, deviating from the drawings, that drilling units operating one after the other are placed on opposite sides of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes so that successive drillings as well as pluggings are done starting from the opposite sides of the pipes. If there are three or more drilling units around the same oil and /or gas drilling pipes each can be placed to be started from completely different directions, thus making it possible to minimize the resultant force caused to the pipes by the drilling and plugging. When the equipment is started the pressure of the pressure batteries 10 is discharged into the hydraulic container 11, the pressure of which starts the operation of the hydraulic motor 8 and the valve. Oil flows into the hydraulic cylinder 1 which pushes the piston 2 and the piston pushes the drill 5 and the drilling cylinder 3 forward. When the drilling cylinder 3 has penetrated sufficently far that is through the oil drilling pipes 7, the mechanical reversing valve gives the comand for the drill 5 and the drilling cylinder 3 to return and further gives the order for the plugging cylinder 4 to carry out the plugging. The plugging cylinder 4 can be placed also behind the drilling cylinder 3, in which case the motion is needed in only one direction. When all the drilling units have operated also the blocking bolt can be closed when necessary. This works either hydraulically or by explosives. The plugging cylinders can operate either only so they are pushed or they can be equipped with a rotating motor for example for grinding. At the time of the plugging or after the plugging a pressurized fire extinguishing substance such as liquid nitrogen can additionally be fed into the gas or oil drilling pipe. This is fed through a hole cut into the oil or gas drilling pipe by a device like the drilling cylinder 3. All this can be done without electricity, by forced controll, in which case once the operation is started it cannot be stopped. The equipment is fixed around the oil pipes with a box clamp 6 and supported to its base. By plugging pipes of various sizes separately the pipes on top are prevented from falling. By installing sleeve pipes in place of the cut ones and by pulling out the plugs the oil drilling system can be made operational again. The following application can be used to block the outer oil or gas drilling pipe and the explanation refers mainly to figure 9: In addition to the parts of the invention mentioned earlier the invention also includes a stuffing box 14, a tightener 15, blocking locks 16, a plain bearing (for example a chrome strip) 17, compressed oil packing 18, a locking groove 19 and a frame groove 20. The end of the stuffing box 14 which is facing the oil or gas drilling pipe is shaped in the form of the outside wall of the pipe in question and is very sharp, this is tightened into place with a plain bearing 17 and a tightener 15 with an outside thread to the inner thread of the frame 12 of the equipment either by hand during installation or by an automatized mechanism when the equipment is started. A locking groove 19 has been shaped around the tightener 15 of the stuffing box, into which the blocking locks 16 drawn to the frame 12 by springs/ fluid pressure are pushed, when the tightener of the stuffing box has been pushed to the required depth. Additionally a frame groove 20 has been shaped into the frame 12 of the equipment, its purpose being to prevent, in addition to the tightener 15 of the stuffing box, the loosening of the stuffing box 14 when it has reached the fixed depth. The purpose of the stuffing box 14 which has been tightened into place and which is very sharp at the oil or gas drilling pipe 7 end and which is of a very hard material, is to seal the plugging seam of the oil or gas drilling pipe 7 being drilled and plugged and to direct the movement of the drilling-plugging combination 3-4 travelling within it. The seam between the stuffing box 14 and the axle 13 is sealed with a compressed oil packing. As the drilling proceeds the pieces drilled loose from the oil or gas drilling pipe 7 are left in the drilling- plugging combination 3-4. The surveillance and control of the valve can operate: 1. By using known methods from the processing and automation technology. 2. By electrically measuring changes with sensors from the magnetic field of the system, these changes are caused for example by changes in the following quantities: flow rate, flow direction, temperature, pressure, stability. Changes taking place in the magnetic field are noted electrically by changes in several resistors, which are transistor directed and integrated by computer, and the operation of the valve is controlled by the limiting values coded into the computer. The underwater surroundings of the valve and changes in it can also be surveilled throught this method, and any observations, for example the threat of terrorism, is passed on to the surveillance and control terminal. 3. By analysing and coordinating quantities, such as temperature, pressure, speed of revolution and travelling speed, and changes in them measured by sensors in the tip of the drill and on the axle. To control the valve we can use: 1. Independent valve controls, electrically connected: closing the valve needs only one command. 2. Control directly or indirectly from the hydraulic valve. 3. A hydraulic valve operated by pneumatics. The operations can be connected either manually or automatically, in which case the system is started by the safety release of the independently closing system. As measuring quantities we can use temperature, gas content, pressure, flow, jolts, mechanics, electrical techniques or other such quantities, which give the valve instructions automatically also when it is not possible to do this by human power. Sensors indicating operation can be installed on the valve which will show the operating status of the valve. 1. A pressure sensor in the hydraulic container showing the valve has started operating, indicating the working pressure of the oil. 2. A gauge showing the amount of oil indicating the distance of motion: - the amount of oil going into the cylinder indicates the distance of motion - the pressure sensor on the return side of the cylinder indicates the operation of the return motion. 3. The pressure sensor in the plugging cylinder indicates the plugging motion. 4. The sensor indicating the rotating of the drill is situated on the axle of the drill 5. A sensor situated in the tip of the drill can measure prevailing quantities. Automatic data processing uses these quantities to form a picture detailing the operation of the valve onto the computer terminal.

Claims: Patent claims: 1. Valve equipment and a system for blocking oil and /or gas drilling pipes which is k n o w n for the fact that the equipment consists of a hydraulic cylinder (1), a piston (2), a partly hollow drilling cylinder (3), a hollow plugging cylinder (4), a drill (5), box clamps (6), a power source (8), a blocking bolt (9), perssure batteries (10), a hydraulic container (11) with lines, a frame (12), axles (13), a mechanism to utilize hydrostatic water pressure and an automatic control and surveillance system. 2. The equipment of item 1 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the point of the drilling cylinder (3) can be ball-shaped and equipped with a blade which is hydraulically projected and pulled back, in which case the drilling cylinder (3) also acts as the plugging cylinder (4). 3. The equipment of item 1 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3) is conical and can be equipped with a dynamic drill size regulator, in which case the plugging cylinder (4) is also conical and can be locked by using oil pressure and /or explosive. 4. The equipment of item 1 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3) is a cylinder with a blade on its point. 5. The equipment of items 1 and 4 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the plugging cylinder (4) can be locked by oil pressure or explosive. 6. The equipment of items 1, 3, 4 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that there is a drill in the center, at the point of the drilling cylinder (3). 7. The equipment of items 1 - 6 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3), plugging cylinder (4) and the drill (5) receive their forward motion energy from pressure batteries (10) through the piston (2), the axles (13), the hydraulic cylinder (1) and the hydraulic container (11) as well as the lines. 8. The equipment of items 1 - 7 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3) and the drill (5) receive their rotating motion energy from pressure batteries (10) through the piston (2), the axles (13), the hydraulic motor used as the power source (8) and the hydraulic container (11) and the lines. 9. The equipment of item 1 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the box clamps (6) can be installed around the pipe (7) from the sides because of their two-part structure. 10. The equipment of items 1 and 9 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the inside of the box clamp (6) is a cone and equipped with a thread. 11. The equipment of item 1 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the blocking bolt (9) is placed and locked in place with explosive or by hydraulics. 12. The equipment of items 1 and 11 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the blocking bolt (9) is wider than the outermost oil and /or gas drilling pipe (7) and has a tapering V formed point. 13. The equipment of items 1 - 8 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3) and the plugging cylinder (4) have an outside diameter larger than the inner diameter of the oil or gas drilling pipe (7) to be blocked and smaller than the outside diameter of the oil or gas drilling pipe (7) to be blocked. 14. The equipment of items 1 and 3 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the blade of the drilling cylinder (3) is brought out mechanically and /or hydraulically when the drilling cylinder (3) starts to rotate and is pulled back into the drilling cylinder (3) mechanically and /or hydraulically when the rotating direction changes. 15. The equipment of items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that there is a grinding surface on the outside of the drilling cylinder (3). 16. The equipment of items 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3) can act also as the plugging cylinder (4), the expansion of which can take place either hydraulically or with explosive. 17. The equipment of items 1 -16 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling cylinder (3) and plugging cylinder (4) are both situated on the same side or different sides of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes (7). 18. The equipment of items 1 - 17 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drilling units are placed on opposite sides of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes so that successive drillings are done starting from different sides of the oil and /or gas drillling pipes, as are the pluggings in this case. 19. The equipment of items 1 -17 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that three or more drilling units are placed on totally different sides of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes so that the successive drillings are done starting from different sides of the oil and /or gas drilling pipes, as are the pluggings in this case. 20. The equipment of items 1 - 19 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that that it can be installed also on to an oil and/or gas drilling system which is controlled by a so called plate. 21. The equipment of items 1 - 19 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that in underwater conditions also the hydrostatic water pressure can be directed by a separate mechanism into energy to be used within the system. 22. The equipment of items 1 - 21 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that by measuring the changes in the magnetic field of the system the oil and/or gas drilling unit and the robot as well as their surroundings be continually monitored and action required by the changes can then be taken. 23. The equipment of item 22 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that changes in the magnetic field can be measured electrically, which are caused by changes in the flow rate, direction of the flow, temperature, pressure, stability or the surrounding material. 24. The equipment of item 23 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the electrical observation is done with the help of resistors and changes in them and transistors, these observations are then collected by computer in an integrated manner. 25. The equipment of items 22 -24 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the information collected by these measuring instruments and collected on the computer is integrated into coded limiting values, which controll the operation of the valve and and are then transferred on to the surveillance and control terminal. 26. The equipment of items 1 - 19 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the pressure created by causing an explosion within the massive cylinder can be directed through leads into energy to be used within the system. 27. The equipment of items 1 -19, 26 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the air pressure caused by the explosion is directed either directly into the hydraulic container or through a separate central container. 28. The equipment of items 1- 19, 26, 27 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that there are two axially parallel pistons in the massive cylinder, which are situated on different sides of the explosive material. 29. The equipment of items 1 - 19 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the necessary energy can also be taken from under the oil or gas drilling pipe, through a separate joint from the negative or excess pressure created in the drilled hole. 30. The equipment of items 1 - 19, 28 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the joint is fixed with box clamps shown in figure 8. 31. The equipment of items 1 - 30 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that in addition to the parts mentioned in patent claim 1 the equipment can include a stuffing box (14), a tightener (15), blocking locks (16), plain bearings (17), compressed oil packing (18), a locking groove (19) and a frame groove (20). 32. The equipment of items 1, 31 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the seam drilled and plugged to block the outer oil or gas drilling pipe (7) is sealed with a stuffing box (14) made of a hard material, which at one end is very sharp and is shaped in the form of the oil or gas drilling pipe (7). 33. The equipment of items 1, 31, 32 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the stuffing box (14) can be tightened into place manually or automatically by a plain bearing (17), profitably with a chrome strip, and a stuffing box tightener (15) with an outside thread. 34. The equipment of items 1, 31, 32, 33 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that with blocking locks (16) drawn to the frame (12) of the equipment the tightener (15) of the stuffing box can be locked by its locking groove (19) when the tightener (15) of the stuffing box has reached the fixed depth. 35. The equipment of items 1, 31, 32, 33, 34 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the cylindrical inner surface of the frame (12) has a frame groove (20) going around its cylindrical form at a distance from the oil or gas drilling pipe (7) which the cross sectionally circular end of the stuffing box (14) reaches when the stuffing box (14) has been tightened. 36. The equipment of items 1, 31, - 35 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the drill (5) or the axle (13) are surrounded by a compressed oil packing (18), with which the compressed oil used as energy is separated from the drilling-plugging combination (3), (4), (5), or its head parts. 37. The equipment of items 1 - 21, 26 - 36 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that the equipment can be operated or controlled through computer programmes and by integrating quantities, such as flow rate, direction of the flow, temperature, pressure, stability and material, measured by sensors and other gauges placed in different parts of the equipment and its surroundings. 38. The equipment of items 1 - 37 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that information received through various sensors and other gauges concerning the maintenance needs of the equipment and the plugging process can be transferred to the control centre by computer and satellite. 39. The equipment of one of the previous patent claims is k n o w n for the fact that at the time of the plugging or after the plugging to put out the fire a pressurized fire extinguishing substance, for example liquid nitrogen, can be fed through a hole drilled from above the plugging unit or plugging units, through a separate joint. 40. The equipment of items 39 of the patent claim is k n o w n for the fact that drilling the hole and the feeding of the extinguishing substance can take place automatically coupled together or separately to the equipment carrying out the actual plugging.

Inventors: HURTTA TERO TAPANI, NIINIVAARA ENSI KYOESTI JUHANI, NIINIVAARA TARMO EINO TAPANI, HURTTA, TERO, TAPANI, NIINIVAARA, ENSI, KYOESTI, JUHANI, NIINIVAARA, TARMO, EINO, TAPANI
Applicants: HURTTA TERO TAPANI, INSINOEOERITOIMISTO SEA VALVE, NIINIVAARA ENSI KYOESTI JUHANI, NIINIVAARA TARMO EINO TAPANI, HURTTA, TERO, TAPANI, INSINOEOERITOIMISTO SEA VALVE ENGINEERING OY, NIINIVAARA, ENSI, KYOESTI, JUHANI, NIINIVAARA, TARMO, EINO, TAPANI
Application year: 1997
Main classification: E21B29
IPC codes: E21B29, E21B34