Patent Abstract:
Devices and methods for quickly connecting and disconnecting a conduit to a port. In a described embodiment, a quick connect coupling is described for quickly connecting and disconnecting a cement supply conduit to the port of a top drive cement swivel.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/639,949 filed Apr. 29, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to cementing equipment used with oilfield wellhead equipment and, in particular aspects, to couplings that are useful for such equipment. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    After a hydrocarbon wellbore has been drilled, a casing is typically cemented in along the length of the drilled bore. Cementing equipment is used to do this and typically includes a top drive cement head that permits balls or rubber darts to be dropped into the wellbore during the cementing operation. The cement head also must be capable of flowing cement from a cement supply downwardly into the wellbore. Suitable cementing equipment for these purposes includes a top drive cement head which is available commercially from Baker Hughes Incorporated of Houston, Tex. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention provides methods and devices for quickly connecting and disconnecting a conduit to a port. In a described embodiment, a quick connect coupling is described for quickly connecting and disconnecting a cement supply conduit to the port of a top drive cement swivel. An exemplary quick connect coupling includes a stinger assembly that is reversibly coupled to a breech lock box connector on the cement swivel. Raised keys on the breech lock barrel will interfit with complimentary ridges with a bore of the breech lock connector. 
         [0007]    In certain embodiments, a locking arrangement that secures the stinger assembly against rotation within the breech lock connector. In one embodiment, a locking pin is used to lock the stinger assembly into place and against rotation with respect to the cement swivel. An exemplary locking pin is described that is retained by the cement swivel and is axially moveable between unlocked and locked positions. In the locked position, the locking pin will reside within a complimentary indentation within the stinger assembly thereby preventing rotation. 
         [0008]    In operation, a user can quickly and easily couple the stinger assembly with the cement swivel easily and without the need for hammers and other tools to be used. A crane may be used to lift and move the stinger assembly and affixed cement conduit to a position that is proximate the breech lock box connector of the cement swivel. An operator can then orient the stinger assembly so that the keys of the stinger assembly are angularly offset from the ridges within the bore. The stinger and breech lock barrel are then inserted into the bore. Thereafter, the user rotates the stinger assembly to align the keys of the stinger assembly with the ridges of the bore. When aligned, each of the keys are preferably located in line with and behind a ridge, preventing the stinger assembly from being withdrawn from the breech lock connector. The locking arrangement is then engaged to lock the stinger assembly in place so that it cannot be rotated with the breech lock connector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The advantages and further aspects of the invention will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the drawing and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of portions of an exemplary wellbore cementing operation. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an exemplary stinger assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the stinger assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an exemplary cement swivel with stinger assembly attached in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the cement swivel and stinger assembly depicting the stinger assembly being coupled to the swivel. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portions of an exemplary coupling in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the exemplary cement swivel and stinger assembly shown in an unlocked condition. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the cement swivel and stinger assembly of  FIG. 9 , now in a locked condition. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view, partially in phantom, showing portions of the stinger assembly and cement swivel in an unsecured condition. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view, partially in phantom, showing portions of the stinger assembly and cement swivel now in a secured condition. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of an exemplary breech lock barrel shown apart from other components of the coupling. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates portions an exemplary cementing operation for a wellbore. A tubular working string  10  extends downwardly into a wellhead  12 . A cementing tool  14  is incorporated into the working string  10  which typically contains balls and/or plugs which are launched into the working string  10  during a cementing operation. A top drive cement swivel  16  is affixed to the upper end of the cementing tool  14 . The cement swivel  16  operates to receive cement and transmit it through a flowpath in the cementing tool  14  so that the cement can be flowed downwardly into the working string  10 .  FIG. 1  also depicts a cement hose  18  with an affixed stinger assembly  20 . Cement can be flowed to the cement swivel  16  when the stinger assembly  20  is coupled to the cement swivel  16 . The cement hose  18  and stinger assembly  20  are depicted being lifted by block and tackle  22 . 
         [0024]    The structure and operation of an exemplary stinger assembly  20  are better appreciated with further reference to  FIGS. 2-4 . The stinger assembly  20  includes a curved rigid pipe portion  24  that is affixed to the hose  18 . A flange  26  with lifting eye  28  extends upwardly from the pipe portion  24 . A stinger  30  extends outwardly from the pipe portion  24 . A cement flow path  32  is defined within the pipe portion  24  and stinger  30 . A breech lock barrel  34  radially surrounds the stinger  30  and, as can be seen best in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , secured to the stinger  30  by a sleeve  36  that preferably permits the breech lock barrel  34  to rotate about the stinger  30 .  FIG. 13  shows the breech lock barrel  34  apart from the other components of the stinger assembly  20 . A flange  38  projects radially outwardly from the breech lock barrel  34  and presents at least one indentation  40 . In the depicted embodiment, there are six indentations  40 . In preferred embodiments, an enlarged grippable handle  42  also radially surrounds the stinger  30  and is secured by bolts  44  ( FIG. 2 ) to the breech lock barrel  34  so that the stinger  30  will be rotated when the handle  42  is rotated. 
         [0025]    The outer radial surface of the breech lock barrel  34  preferably presents a plurality of raised keys  46 . As will be appreciated with regard to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  8 , the keys  46  are organized into rows (A, B and C) and perpendicular columns. The keys  46  are spaced apart from each other along each of the rows A, B and C and each of the columns. In some embodiments, there are six keys  46  per row A, B and C spaced angularly from each other at about 30 degrees apart. In certain embodiments, the breech lock barrel  34  also includes a row of raised anti-rotation locking dogs  47 . In the depicted embodiment, there are six locking dogs  47  that are positioned in a spaced relation from one another of about 30 degrees apart. 
         [0026]    The structure of the exemplary top drive cement swivel  16  is better understood with reference to  FIGS. 5-10 . It can be seen that the cement swivel  16  has a generally box-shaped main housing  50 . A central axial flowbore  52  passes vertically through the main housing  50 . Lateral fluid flow openings  54 ,  56  extend through the main housing  50  and permit fluid communication between the central flowbore  52  and the exterior of the cement swivel  16 . A tubular breech lock box connector  58  extends outwardly from the main housing  50 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the breech lock box connector  58  defines an interior bore  60  having a plurality of inwardly projecting ridges  62 . The ridges  62  are spaced apart from each other both radially and axially within the bore  60 . Preferably, the interior bore  60  also includes an annular fluid seal  63  ( FIG. 8 ) that creates a fluid seal against the stinger  30  when it is inserted into the bore  60 . In addition, the interior bore  60  also presents a row of inwardly projecting anti-rotation locking dogs  48 . The dogs  48  are meant to be complimentary to the anti-rotation dogs  47  of the breech lock barrel  34 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a locking pin  64  which is preferably used with the cement swivel  16  and is used to lock the stinger assembly  20  into a coupled position with respect to the cement swivel  16 . The locking pin  64  is preferably retained by a sleeve  66  and is axially shiftable between two positions. In the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 9 , the locking pin  64  does not prevent rotation of the stinger assembly  20  with respect to the cement swivel  16 . In the locked position shown in  FIG. 10 , the locking pin  64  is disposed within an indentation  40  of the flange  38  and will prevent rotation of the stinger assembly  20  with respect to the cement swivel  16 . In particular embodiments, the locking pin  64  has a handle portion  68  that can be used to rotate and shift the locking pin  64  between the unlocked and locked positions. 
         [0028]    In operation, a user can rapidly couple or uncouple the cement conduit  18  to the cement swivel  16 . In order to couple the stinger assembly  20  to the cement swivel  16 , the block and tackle  22  is used to lift and move the stinger assembly  20  by lifting eye  28  until the stinger assembly  20  is proximate the breech lock connector  58  of the cement swivel  16 . A user can then grasp the handle  42  of the stinger assembly  20  and rotate the stinger assembly  20  to the approximate position shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7 , the stinger assembly  20  is rotated approximately 30 degrees from the vertical, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . This rotation will align the keys  46  of the stinger assembly  20  angularly between the ridges  62  of the breech lock barrel bore  60  so that the breech lock barrel  34  can be fully inserted into the bore  60 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Once fully inserted, the user will rotate the stinger assembly  20  approximately 30 degrees back to the position depicted in  FIG. 5 . This rotation will move the raised keys  46  of the breech lock barrel  34  to the position illustrated in  FIG. 12 , wherein each key  46  is located behind a ridge  62  within the bore  60 . Also, each row A, B and C of keys  46  is located behind a row of ridges  62 . The locking dogs  47  will radially abut the dogs  48  of the bore  60  (as depicted in  FIG. 12 ), preventing further rotation beyond 30 degrees. In this position, the stinger assembly  20  cannot be axially withdrawn from the bore  60 . The stinger assembly  20  is now coupled to the cement swivel  16 . The user can now move the locking pin  64  from the unlocked position ( FIG. 9 ) to the locked position ( FIG. 10 ) as described previously. Seating of the locking pin  64  within the indentation  40  will prevent the stinger assembly  20  from being inadvertently rotated and uncoupled from the cement swivel  16 . Cement can now be flowed along the cement flow path  32  from the cement conduit  18  into the lateral flow opening  54  of the cement swivel and into the central flowbore  52  of the cement swivel  16 . 
         [0029]    In order to uncouple the stinger assembly  20  from the cement swivel  16 , a user will reverse the operations. The locking pin  64  is moved from the locked position ( FIG. 10 ) to the unlocked position ( FIG. 9 ). A user can then rotate the stinger assembly  20  approximately 30 degrees to the position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The stinger assembly  20  can then be axially withdrawn from the bore  60  of the breech lock connector  58 . 
         [0030]    The foregoing description is directed to particular embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the embodiment set forth above are possible without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4