US2243439A - Pressure drilling head - Google Patents

Description

y 1941- A. PRANG ER EI'AL 2 5 PRESSURE DRILLING HEAD Filed Jan. 1a, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fly. 1

INVENTOR. ALBERTPRANGER BY JAMUEL ALLEN g4 4figRgoMlr ATTORNEY.

May 27, 1941. A. PRANGER ETAL PRESSURE DRILLING HEAD Filed Jan. 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

R @Mmm NS 0 M m 1% 70W mm i Am L m M w Patented May 2?, 1941 OFlC- A Albert hanger and Samuel Allen Guiberson, m,

Dallas, Tex assignors to The Gulberson Corpo-' ration, Dallas, Ten, a corporation of Delaware Application January 18, 1938, i

Claims.

This invention relates to an improved pressure drilling head.

In the oil well industry, many advantages result from drilling in under pressure, but many diiilcult ies and obstacles result from drilling in under pressure. A square kelly is frequently employed, which is rotated by the rotary table, while the drill pipe is round, and outside collars are frequently employed. Under these conditions, it has proved to be very difli-sult to drill.

without considerable loss of pressure. An important object of this invention is to cure these difficulties by providing a packer of unique construction which will accommodate a-kelly of any outside configuration, and which will permit the passage of the outside collars, and will also automatically accommodate or conform to the shape of a. round drill pipe. By this arrangement, the pressure drilling head provides a pressure seal, when a fiat-sided kelly or drill stem is employed, so that there is very little loss of pressure, and as the collars or round drill pipe is passed through the drilling head, the packer will conform to the configuration ofthe same, so as to hold the pressure.

-We have shown a specific form of the invention by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a vertical view of the pressure drillin head, the square kelly, the drill pipe, and one collar, certain of the parts being shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in cross section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the Kelly clamp, which is shown in the upper part of Fig.' 1.

Fig. l is a cross sectional view on the line 4-6 of Fig. 1, showing a square kelly, packed oil in the rubber sleeve or packing member.

with downwardly extending skirts I which have straight inner faces, as is shown in Fig. 3, which inner faces lie against the opposite sides of the square kelly I. It is, therefore, obvious that as the square kelly l is rotated, the Kelly clamp would be rotated with the same, but as the well was drilled deeper, the kelly would pass longitudinally downwardly through the Kelly clamp, and if it were desired to pull the kelly, upwardly, the kelly would slide upwardly between the members of the Kelly clamp.

Each section of the Kelly clamp is provided with an outstanding collar 8, which normally rests against the upper surface of a gland 9, which is circular (except for the vertical channels H) on its interior, as shown in Fig. 2, and which has an outstanding flange ID. The vertical channels ll receive the straight sides of the skirts I of the Kelly clamp, as shown in'Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a round drill pipe packed off in the rubber sleeve or packing member, and, I

Fig. 6 is a view partly in cross section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking to the left.

The square kelly I is rotated bythe rotary table, as is well understood in the industry. A Kelly clamp composed of two sections, 2 and 3, is placed around the kelly Land has an inside dimension and shape to conform to the outside of the square kelly. Two halves of the Kelly clamp are bolted together by the bolts 4 which pass through apertures 5 in ears 6, which form a part of each section of the Kelly clamp. Each of the sections of the Kelly clamp are provided The outer periphery of the gland 9, below the flange I0, is circular, as shown in Fig. 2, except for diametrically opposite keyways H2. The rotary housing i3 is provided at its upper end with threads I4 on which is screweda ring l5, which is provided with a keyway [6. The rotary housing i3 is provided with a similar keyway in alignment with the keyway l6, and'a key I1 is positioned in the said keyways, and, if desired,

it may be extended into the keyway I2, and is held I in position by a bolt l8, which passes through the key I1 andthe ring l5. From the above construction, it is apparent that when the square kelly I is rotated by the rotary table, not shown, the Kelly clamp is likewise rotated, which in turn, rotates the gland 9, and through the keyway l2 and key l1, and by, means 01. the bolts is the ring l5 and the rotary housing I3 is likewise rotated. It will, of course, be understood that there are diametrically opposite keys H, as is shown in Fig. 2, but if desired, a greater number of keys may be employed.

It is, of course, obvious that the kelly would rotate the packing member 4|, which is under compression, and this would rotate the rotary housing independently of the Kelly clamp as well as independently of the keyway I2 or the key II or the ring l5. If the Kelly clamp is omitted entirely, the gland 9 would rotate with the rotary housing through the ring l5 and bolts l9 and this is especially true since there is nothing to retard-the rotation of the gland 8. It is also obvious that, regardless of whether the clamps 2 and 3 are used or are not used, it is'not essential that the keys I'I, project into the keyways i2 for the gland 2 is locked to the by means of the bolts I9.

The flange i is provided with apertures which ring ll receive bolts it, there being four, shown in Fig.

rotary housing l2 and the ring it cannot be moved upwardly, so that the net result is that the member 9 is moved downwardly when the bolts iii are screwed down or tightened, and as a result, compresses the packing member which will "be hereinafter described.

The rotary housing i2 is provided with a shoulder 20 which receives, above the same, an inner race member 2|, thereby holding the said race against downward movement. The member i2 is also provided with a lower shoulder 22, which receives a lower inner race member 22. The upper and lower race members are, of course, cincular on their outer faces and are provided with circumferential grooves, as is well known in the art, which receiverollers 24 and 25 respectively, which contact sloping surfaces 26 and 21 respectively of upper and lower outer race members 22 and 22 respectively.

An outer housingv 22 is provided, which surrounds the rotary housing, except that it does not extend as far upwardly as the rotary nousmember 4|, there is a flange 45 extending outwardly and in contact with the lower surface of the ring 42. Near the lower end of the packing member 4| -is a flange 44, under which lies the shoulder 22. when the member 2 and ring 42 move downwardly, as above described, so as to compress the packing member, the ridges between the inner circumferential channels 42 are moved into packing engagement with the-kelly, the drill pipe orthe collar and the ridges between the outer circumferential channels 42 are moved into packing engagement with an inner rotary housing l2.

The packing member 4| is made of any resilient packing material, and the inner periphery is circular for both the round drill pipe, or the square kelly. Preferably, it is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the round drill pipe,

or the shortest distance between opposite sides of the square kelly. If a square kelly is to be inserted, in the packing member 4|, the corrugated inner and outer surfaces thereof will permit a sumcient change of configuration, so as to conform to the square kelly, or if a drill pipe is to be passed through the same, it will,'of course, conform to the contour of the outside of the drill pipe.

The usual collar 41 serves as a connecting means between "the kelly and the drill pipe 42. The collar is larger than the drill pipe, provided an external collar is employed, and the lower ing, which outer housing is provided with threaded bolt holes 2|, which receivebolts 22, which have heads which overlie a cover plate 22. The cover plate is provided with an oil duct 24,

which is closed by a plug 25. Lubricating oil may be inserted through the said duct so as to oil the parts below the same, including the rollers. The outer housing 22 is held stationary by being rigidly attached to the casing of the well, not shown. v The cover plate 22 is provided with a downwardly extending lug 24 which, when the bolts 22 are tightened, presses the outer race member 28 downwardly so as to contact the upper rollers 24, which in turn tends to press the'inner race member 2| downwardly, and as this member 2| overlies the shoulder 22, the entire rotary housing |2 would be moved downwardly so that the lower shoulder 22 would engage the lower inner race member 22, and press the lower rollers 22 skirt 29 with a reduced diameter, as shown in Fig. 1. Immediately below the lower end of the gland 9 is a ring 42, and below the ring 42 and above the shoulder 28 is a packing member 4|. The compression of the packing member 4| may be varied by tightening or loosening the bolts l9, thereby moving the gland 2 down or up, and compressing or relieving the compression of the packing member 4| through the ring 42.

As shown in Fig. l, the packing member 4| is corrugated, by having internal circumferential channels 42 and external circumferential chan- 'nels 42, with ridges 44 between the said channels orvalleys. At the upper end of the packing inner surface of the packing member 4| is provided with a flange 42, which forms an outwardly extending surface so that, as the collar 41 is raised, it will contact the beveled surface of the flange 49, so the packing member will not be distorted vertically to a material extent, as would be the case if the lower end of the pac member formed a horizontal plane. a

The usual packing 52 is interposed between the lower portions of the stationary outer housing 22- and the rotatable inner housing l2, which packing prevents the oil that has been inserted through the oil duct 24 from draining into the well casing. From the above description, it is apparent that when the kelly I2 is rotated, everything in the drawing is likewise rotated, except the outer housing l2 and the parts directly secured thereto, including the outer race members 22 and 22, which parts are held stationary. It is also apparent, that owing to the unique construction of the packing member 4|, a pressure drilling head is provided which will accommodate both a square and around kelly, as well as a collar or drill pipe. It is further to be noted that, the pressure or packing engagement be In operation the rotary housing l2 simply rotates and has no longitudinal movement relative to the'outer housing and the well casing. when -runninginthedrill-pipe,itisnotnto have the packing or any of the members above the packing in place. However, before the kelly is attached to the drill pipe the packer 4| and.

the parts which press the packer downwardly are inserted and-the kelly is then attached'to the drill pipe. The kelly may then be lowered into the housing into the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the bolts lkgould be tightened so as to compress the packer ownwardly on the shoulder 22 and so as to cause the corrugated aasaaso packer to pack oh the space between the kelly and the housing It regardless of whether the kelly is round or square. In pressure drilling the normal pressure used would be employed and the pack on should be suiiiciently tight 'to withstand these normal pressures while the packer is resting on the shoulder 38. If new the operator drilled into a high pressure zone the high pressures would cause the packer to be pushed upwardly since the lower end thereof extends into the high pressuresand this would cause the seal to be tightened so as to resist these pressures and as a matter of fact, the'higher the packer is sufilciently resilient to take care of the passage of the collars so that after boring into the high pressure zone the entire drill pipe may be removed by simply pullingit upward. Of course, you would not wish to entirely remove the drill pipe if the high pressures were being experienced, but the drill pipe can be pulled up to a point above any member which might seal the well, such as the usual gate valve. If a gate valve were employed, obviously, you would close the gate valve after the bit had been raised above it and while the lower portion of the drill pipe was still within the packer, therefore preventing a blow out. It is the usual custom in order to remove the bit to first remove the pressure head, and of course, after the gate valve would close this could be done as is the accepted practice.

We realize that many changes may be made in the specific form of the invention which is shown by way of illustration and not by way.

of limitation in the accompanying drawings,

and we therefore reserve the right to make all changes in the specific form thereof, except as we may limit ourselves in the appended claims. Having now described our invention, we claim: 1. In a drilling head for an oil well, a resilient packing member provided with circumferential r inner and outer valleys, with intervening ridges and adapted to receive either a square'member or a round member, and manually controlled means to control the compression said packing means and a rotatable housing which said packing member is mounted.

2. In a drilling head for an oil well, a rotatable housing, a resilient packing member corrugated in vertical cross section forming inner and outer valleys and ridges and having a bore extending therethrough, adapted to receive and pack ofi a fiat or round-faced drill member, and manually controlled means to regulate the compression oi said packing member, the lower end of said member being exposed to the gas pressures in the well.

3.. In combination, a rotatable housing, aresiiient pacmng member corrugated in vertical crom section forming inner and outer valleys and ridgeg-- and having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive either a fiat or round faced drill member, contacting shoulders on said housing and packing member tov hold the lower end of said packingmember against downward movement, and means to press downwardly on the upper end of the said packing member to cause said packing member to make a pressure seal between said rotatable housing and said drill member.

4. In combination, a rotatable housing, a resilient packing member corrugated in vertical cross section forming inner and outer valleys and ridges and having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive either a iiat or round faced drill member, contacting shoulders on said housing and packing member to hold the lower end of said packing member against downward movement, and means to regulate the pressure exerted by said packing member in sealing the space between the rotatable housing and the drill member.

5. A well drilling apparatusincluding a rotatable housingthrough. which a iiat sided drill stem, a round drill pipe or an outside collar may be passed, a packing within and rotatable with said housing, said packing having circumferential corrugations, and being sufliciently resilient to permit vertical passage of the fiat-sided drill stem, drill pipe or collars, while rotating and adapted to hold the well pressure and a gland to regulate the compression of said pack- 6. A well drilling apparatus including a rotatable housing through which a flat sided drill stem, 9. round drill pipe or outside collar may be passed, a packing within and rotatable with said housing, said packing having circumferential corrugations, and being sumciently resilient to permit vertical passage of the flat-sideddrill stem, drill pipe or collars, while rotating and adapted to hold thwell pressure and a gland to regulate-the compression of said packing, a' stationary housing in which said rotatable housing is mounted, and anti-friction bearings between said stationary and rotatable housings.

7'. A. well drilling apparatus including aretatable housing through which a fiat sided drill stem, a round drill pipe or outside collar may be passed, a packing within and rotatable with said housing, said packing, having circumferential inner and outer corrugations, and being suiflciently resilient to permit vertical passage of the flat-sided drill stem, drill pipe or collars, while rotating and adapted to hold the well pressure, a gland to regulate the compression of said packing, a stationary housing in which said rotatable housing is mounted, and anti-friction bearings between said stationary and rotatable housings, and means whereby'said bearings may be simultaneously adjusted.

8. In combination, a fiat-sided kelly,a clamp rotatable therewith, a member provided with a keyway rotatable with said Kelly clamp. a housing carrying a key projecting into said keyway whereby said housing rotates with said member, a packer in said housing and provided with a circular here, but being sumciently resilient to receive a flat-sided drill member and being adapted to prevent-themes of gas pressure,

said first named member being adjustable relative to said packer to govern the amount of pressure or said packer.

9. In a combined pressure drilling head and oil saver adapted to seal the upper end of an oil well, a rotary housing, means to prevent the longitudinalmovement of said housing, a circumierentially corrugated er forming inner and outer valleys and ridg Kelly I v and pofltioned' within the housing and having a'bere extending therethrough to receive a drill member, said packer being suiilciently resilient to allow the passage therethrough of either flat sided or round drill members while sealing the space between the rotary housing and the drill member, contacting stops on said packer and housing to limit the downward movement of said packer, means to force said packer downwardly to cause said packer to seal the space between the housing and the drill member, the lower end of said packer being exposed to the pressures within the oil well so that it high pressures should be encountered the packer would be forced upwardly from its stop'and form a tighter seal between the housing and drill member than before the high pressures were encountered.

10. In a combined pressure drilling head and oil saver adapted to seal the upper end of an oil well, a rotary housing, means to prevent longitudinal movement of said housing, a circum-' ferentially corrugated packer provided with a bore adapted to receive either a round or a flat sided drill member or the outside-collars thereon and to seal the space between the housing and drill member, adjustable means to compress the packer downwardly so as to pack off the space between the housing and drill member when normal pressures are encountered} the lower end of said packer being exposed to the pressures in the well so that if abnormal pressures are encountered, the lower portion of thepacker will be moved upwardly to hold said abnormal pressures, the inner dimensions of said rotary housing and adjusting means beinglarger than the drill inembereor the collars thereon so that the drill nfiember and collars-may be passed upwardly and downwardly through the head while the head and packer are intact.

11. A combination pressure drilling head and oil saver including a rotatable housing, a packmg member having a bore therethrough and seated in said housing, said packing member having circumferentially extending ridges and grooves and being sufllclently resilient to accommodate either a flat sided or a round drill member and a gland operable on the upper surface 01 said packing member to compress said packing member so as to seal the space between said drill member and said housing. I

l2. A combination pressure drilling head and oil saver including a rotatable housing, a packing member having a bore therethrough and seated in said housing, said packing member having circumferentially extending ridges and grooves and being suiliciently resilient to allow the vertical passage therethrough of a flat sided or round kelly or a drill pipe or a drill pipe ber around drill pipe or the outside collars on said drill pipe while rotating and without loss of well pressure, said packing member having yieldable corrugations forming inner and outer valleys with intervening ridges for engaging the drill pipeand collars without loss of well pressure and a gland rotatable with the housing and adapted toforce the upper end of said packer downwardly so as to compress said packer.

14. A combination pressure drilling head and oil saver including a rotatable housing, a packing therein having a bore extending vertically therethrough and being of such a configuration and the packing being of such resilience as to allow the vertical passage therethrough of a fiat sided drill member or a round drill member or an outside collar and manual means to adjust the compression of said packing member, the inner dimensions of said housing and manual means being larger than the said collars so that the collars can be pulled through the head without loss of well pressure.

15. A combination pressure drilling head and oil saver including a rotary housing provided with a seat, a packing member provided with circumierentially extending corrugations, said packing member resting on said seat, a gland to adjust the compression of said packing member, said packing member being provided with a bore adapted to admit the vertical passage therethrough of a flat sided or a round kelly or a drill pipe or an outside coupling without loss of well pressure when drilling, said packing member permitting the vertical removal of the

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