Patent Publication Number: US-11391111-B1

Title: Swivel device for rotating a bowl

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/872,030 filed on May 11, 2020 entitled SWIVEL DEVICE FOR ROTATING A BOWL that is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/410,791 filed on May 13, 2019 entitled SWIVEL DEVICE FOR ROTATING A BOWL that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,648,271 on May 12, 2020 that is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/464,021 filed on Mar. 20, 2017 entitled SWIVEL DEVICE FOR ROTATING A BOWL that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,287,845 on May 14, 2019. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to securing drilling equipment while allowing for rotation and swiveling of the equipment for proper installation at the rig. In particular, the present invention relates to a swivel device that attaches to the bowl or is a component of the bowl that allows repositioning of the outlet to meet the flowline. 
     In the oil and gas industry, rig personnel often install a bowl as a component for operating rotating control device (RCD). The bowl seals pipe inserted into the wellbore while allowing rotation. The bowl also contains and diverts fluids such as drilling mud, produced fluids, and surface injected air or gas to a flowline. 
     The bowl provides an outlet for directing the fluids to the flowline. The flowline secures to the outlet. However, the bowl secures to the stack in a fixed position. Installing the bowl in the fixed position may occasionally lead to the outlet not aligning with the flowline. In such instances, the bowl must be uninstalled. Installation of the bowl must then be modified to align the outlet with the flowline. 
     Removing and modifying the installation of the bowl decreases operation time and increases operating costs. The operation of the rig must be halted while the bowl is properly installed. Such downtime costs money and causes rig non-productive time (NPT). 
     By reducing the downtime and NPT, the present invention increases operation while reducing time spent cleaning. The present invention also provides a more convenient system that reduces the equipment needed and increases functionality of existing drilling equipment. 
     II. Description of the Known Art 
     Patents and patent applications disclosing relevant information are disclosed below. These patents and patent applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,954 issued to Martin-Marshall on Dec. 18, 2007 (“the &#39;954 patent”) teaches a rotating diverter head for use on a blow out preventer stack of an oil, gas or geothermal well. While providing for sealing and rotation of a drill pipe through the head, the head taught by the &#39;954 patent additional includes a flange on which the head is rotatable. The flange taught by the &#39;954 patent connects the head to the stack whereupon it can be rotated to align a return flow line before being locked in position. 
     These shortcomings are overcome by the invention disclosed herein. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved device and system for securing the outlet of the bowl to the flowline. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The swivel device of the present invention attaches to a bowl or is implemented as a component of the bowl. The swivel device enables adjustment of the bowl to align the outlet with the flowline. A flange of the swivel device includes multiple fastener apertures for securing the flange to the stack. 
     The swivel device provides a flange, such as a shoulder that secures a neck within the shoulder. The neck rotates within the shoulder to allow for repositioning of the outlet of the bowl. In one embodiment, the swivel device provides a lower shoulder that allows rotation of the neck. An upper flange secured to the neck remains fixed to the neck such that the upper flange rotates with the neck. The bowl attaches to the upper flange located vertically above the shoulder. Such an embodiment with the upper flange raises the bowl off the annular. 
     In another embodiment, the neck is directly secured to the bowl. The shoulder attaches to the annular. The shoulder secures the bowl while allowing the bowl to rotate. 
     Rotation of the bowl adjusts the positioning of the outlet. Adjustment of the outlet enables alignment of the outlet with the flowline. The flowline is placed in a fixed position such that adjusting the position and orientation of the flowline is difficult. 
     The present invention reduces the downtime and costs of operating the drilling rig. The present invention increases the functionality of existing equipment. The present invention also reduces the time required to install equipment. The present invention also provides a safer work environment and reduces the time required to secure the outlet of the bowl to the flowline. 
     It is an object of the present invention to swivel the outlet of the bowl to align with the flowline. 
     Another object of the present invention is to raise the bowl off of the annular. 
     Another object of the present invention is to reduce the time required to install the bowl. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the time required to connect the flowline to the outlet of the bowl. 
     Another object of the present invention is to allow for the trouble free connection of the flowline to the outlet of the bowl. 
     Another object of the present invention is to create a safer work environment for rig personnel. 
     Another object of the present invention is to avoid unnecessary removal of the bowl to align the bowl with the flowline. 
     Another object of the present invention is to simplify the method of connecting the outlet to the flowline. 
     In addition to the features and advantages of the swivel device for rotating a bowl according to the present invention, further advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent as the description proceeds in the following specification and the attached drawings. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent in the course of the following descriptive sections. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view showing one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial front view thereof, the rear view being a mirror image of the front view; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view thereof; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one embodiment thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view thereof and 
         FIG. 11  is partial sectional view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The swivel device  100  of one embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is implemented as a component of the bowl  101  as shown in  FIG. 1  or as a separator device  118  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The swivel device  100 ,  118  enables adjustment of the bowl  101  to align the outlet  102  with the flowline. 
     The swivel device  100 ,  118  attaches to the stack (not pictured). The swivel device  100  of one embodiment is a component of the bowl. As a component of the bowl  101 , the swivel device  100  eliminates the need for multiple attachments. Such an embodiment also reduces the amount of equipment required at the drilling operation. 
     In another embodiment, the swivel device  118  provides a neck  126  that raises the bowl (not pictured) above the annular as shown in  FIG. 8 . Both swivel devices  100 ,  118  secure to the stack. A bottom shoulder, such as a flange, secures to the stack. A neck is secured within the shoulder to allow the neck to rotate. Such rotation enables fine adjustment of the outlet  102  of the bowl  101 . The user rotates the neck and the bowl to align the outlet  102  with the flowline. 
       FIG. 1  shows the embodiment of the swivel device  100  as a component of the bowl. Shoulder  104  secures neck  106  to the stack. Fasteners inserted into fastener apertures  108  secure the shoulder  104  to the stack. The shoulder  104  remains fixed in relation to the stack. Fasteners inserted into fastener apertures  108  limit movement of the shoulder  104 . 
     Neck  106  rotates within shoulder  104 . Neck  106  is an extension of the bowl. In one embodiment, the neck  106  is welded to the bowl  101 . The shoulder  104  limits vertical movement of the neck  106  and bowl  101  while allowing the rotation of the bowl  101  to position the outlet  102 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the shoulder  104  removed from the neck  106 . The shoulder provides an aperture  110  that increases in size towards the lowest most portion of the shoulder  104 . In one embodiment, the diameter of opening  102  decreases from the bottom of the shoulder  104  vertically upward along the shoulder  104 . Lip  112  contacts neck  106  to prevent the neck  106  from passing through the shoulder  104 . Foot  114  extends outward from the outermost surface of the neck  106 . The foot  114  increases the diameter of the neck  106 . The foot  114  contacts lip  112  to prevent the foot passing through the shoulder  104 . 
     Neck  106  secures to the bowl  101 . The neck  106  provides foot  114  for securing the neck within the shoulder  104 . The attachment of neck  106  to shoulder  104  via foot  114  allows the neck  106  to rotate within shoulder  104 . While shoulder  104  is secured to the stack, the neck  106  can rotate within shoulder  104  for adjusting the outlet in relation to the flowline. 
       FIG. 3  shows the shoulder  104  with fastener apertures  108 . Fastener apertures  108  pass through shoulder  104  for insertion of fasteners to secure the shoulder  104  to the stack. Lip  112  contacts foot  114  to prevent neck  106  from passing through shoulder  104 . The diameter of the aperture  110  decreases at the lip  112  to limit vertical movement of the neck  106  upwards past lip  112 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the neck  106  and opening  107 . The diameter of opening  107  decreases at foot  114 . Foot  114  provides the innermost surface and the outermost surface of neck  106 . The outermost surface of foot  114  contacts lip  112  of shoulder  104 . 
     The innermost surface of foot  114  enables placement of a seal at the contact surface between neck  106  and the stack. A seal is placed within seal groove  116 . The seal contacts the stack to seal the drilling fluids. 
       FIGS. 5-7  show the neck  106  inserted into shoulder  104 . The fastener installed into the stack through fastener aperture  108  secures the shoulder  104  to the stack. The contact between lip  112  and foot  114  prevents the neck  106  from passing through the shoulder  104 . The shoulder  104  remains fixed in relation to the stack due to the fasteners securing the shoulder  104  to the stack. Shoulder  104  secures the neck  106  to allow rotation of neck  106 . Lip  112  limits the upward vertical movement of neck  106 . 
     The user tightens the fasteners within the fastener apertures  108  to secure the shoulder onto the stack. The user rotates the bowl to the proper orientation. Tightening the shoulder  104 , such as a flange, onto the stack, causes the lip  112  of the shoulder  104  to frictionally engage the foot  114 . Such contact between the lip  112  and the foot  114  limits rotation of the neck and foot within the shoulder when the shoulder is tightened down on the stack. To rotate the bowl, the user simply loosens the fasteners to decrease the frictional engagement of the lip with the foot to rotate the bowl. Tightening the fasteners limits rotation of the bowl and the foot within the shoulder. 
     Seal groove  116  provides an area for placement of a seal. The seal creates a seal between the neck  106  and the stack. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show another embodiment of the present invention of the swivel device  118 . Swivel device  118  attaches to the bowl via fasteners inserted into fastener apertures  130 . Neck  126  and head  128 , such as a flange, rotate to enable rotation of the bowl and the outlet. 
     Shoulder  120  secures to the stack such that the shoulder  120  remains in a fixed position in relation to the stack. Similar to the embodiment discussed above, the fasteners insert into fastener apertures  122  downward into the stack. The user tightens the fasteners within the fastener apertures  122  to secure the shoulder  120  onto the stack. Tightening the shoulder  120 , such as a flange, onto the stack, causes the shoulder  120  to frictionally engage the foot. Such contact between the lip and the foot limits rotation of the neck and foot within the shoulder. To rotate the bowl, the user simply loosens the fasteners to decrease the frictional engagement of the lip with the foot to rotate the bowl. Tightening the fasteners limits rotation of the bowl and the foot within the shoulder. 
     The head  128 , such as a flange, provides multiple fastener apertures  130  for securing the head  128  to the bowl. The bowl secures to the top of the head  128 . Fasteners insert into the bowl and downward into apertures  130  of the head  128 . Neck  126  and head  130  rotate with the bowl. The rotation of the head  126 , head  130 , and bowl adjusts the positioning of the outlet. The user rotates the neck  126 , head  128 , and bowl to align the outlet with the flowline. 
     The swivel device provides a flange, such as a shoulder that secures a neck within the shoulder. The neck rotates within the shoulder to allow for repositioning of the outlet of the bowl. In one embodiment, the swivel device provides a lower shoulder that allows rotation of the neck. An upper flange, such as head  128 , secured to the neck remains fixed to the neck such that the upper flange rotates with the neck. The bowl attaches to the upper flange located vertically above the shoulder. Such an embodiment with the upper flange raises the bowl off the annular. 
     Stopping fingers  124  protrude outwardly from the neck  126 . The stopping fingers  124  prevent the shoulder  120  from travelling past the stopping fingers  126 . Stopping fingers  124  are located above the shoulder  120  to allow rotation of the neck  126  and head  128 . The stopping fingers  124  simplify the process of transporting and moving the swivel device  118 . The stopping fingers  124  prevent the shoulder  120  from travelling up the neck  126  should the swivel device  118  be turned upside down. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a sectional view of the swivel device and the attachment of head  128  with neck  126 . The swivel device  118  provides an upper sealing groove  132  and a lower sealing groove  134 . Seals insert into the sealing grooves  132 ,  134  to seal the swivel device  118 . A seal placed within lower sealing groove  134  is placed adjacent the stack for sealing between the swivel device  118  and the stack. A seal is also placed within upper sealing groove  132 . The seal placed within upper sealing groove  132  is located adjacent the bowl to seal between the swivel device  118  and the bowl. 
     The head  128  located above the neck  126  maintains pressure containment within the sealing device  118 . In one embodiment, the head  128  is a separate piece that is welded onto the neck  126 . The head  128  is welded onto the neck with a high pressure full pin weld  129 . The weld  129  contains the pressure within the swivel device  118 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the attachment of the shoulder  120  onto neck  126 . The shoulder  120  fastens to the stack as discussed above via a fastener. The seal groove  134  provides an area for placement of a seal to seal between the neck  126  and the stack. The shoulder  120  secures the neck to the stack while allowing rotation of the neck  126 . Lip  138  of the shoulder  120  extends inwardly to secure the neck  126 . In one embodiment, the lip  138  extends radially inward. 
     Foot  136  of neck  126  extends outwardly, such as radially outward. The lip  138  located vertically above foot  136  limits vertical movement of the neck  126  while allowing rotation of neck  126 . 
     The present invention provides a method for aligning the outlet of the bowl with the flowline. The user attaches a fixed shoulder to the stack. The shoulder limits the vertical movement of the neck. The interior surface of the shoulder narrows to a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the neck. The narrower section of the shoulder prevents the neck from passing vertically passing through the shoulder. The shoulder limits vertical movement while allowing rotation of the neck. The user rotates the neck and the bowl to align the outlet with the flowline. After obtaining the proper orientation, the user attaches the outlet to the flowline. 
     The user tightens the fasteners within the fastener apertures to secure the shoulder onto the stack after the bowl is properly aligned with the flowline. Tightening the shoulder, such as a flange, onto the stack, causes the shoulder to frictionally engage the foot. Such contact between the lip and the foot limits rotation of the neck and foot within the shoulder. To rotate the bowl, the user simply loosens the fasteners to decrease the frictional engagement of the lip with the foot to rotate the bowl. Tightening the fasteners limits rotation of the bowl and the foot within the shoulder. 
     The swivel device shown in  FIGS. 8-11  can be configured to attach different sized bowls to the stack. The swivel device  118  can be configured to secure a bowl sized for a 13-5/8-5M to a stack configured to receive a bowl for 11-5M and vice versa. Such a swivel device allows rotation of the bowl. The swivel device also allows different sized bowls to attach to different sized stacks. Such a swivel device increases the functionality of different sized bowls. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention is one well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.