United States Patent (9 11 Patent Number: 4,709,900

Dyhr 45 Date of Patent: Dec. 1, 1987

(54 CHOKE WALVE ESPECIALLY USED IN OIL Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas R. Morrison
AND GAS WELLS
57 ABSTRACT
76 Inventor: Einar Dyhr, Skodsborgvej 160, A choke valve specially used for regulating the flow
DK-2840 Holte, Denmark volume and with it the back pressure of liquids or gas
21 Appl. No.: 841,564 while drilling through shallow gas bearing formations
from an off-shore drilling platform. The valve com
(22 Filed: Mar. 20, 1986 prises a flexible cylindrical valve element (8) positioned
30 Foreign Application Priority Data in the valve housing (1) flow passage and where the
Apr. 11, 1985 DK) Denmark ............................. 1628/85 valve is so designed that the valve element's (8) flow
area can be reduced by a radial reduction of the valve
51) Int. Cl." ............................................ F16K 31/122 element. The flow area of the valve element (8) is equal
52 U.S. C. ........................................... 251/5; 251/4; to or larger than the remaining flow area of the valve.
251/63.4 The valve has devices (10;22) for constricting the end of
58) Field of Search ................. 251/1.1, 4, 5, 62, 63.4; the valve element (8) being nearest to the outlet opening
137/68.1; 92/89; 175/48 (3) of the valve. The valve element (8) is so long that it
(56) References Cited
is possible to compensate for the wear to which the end
is exposed by sliding the valve element against the con
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS stricting devices (10;22) or by moving the latter along
2,124,015 7/1938 Stone et al. .......................... 251/1.1 the valve element as the wear proceeds. Only the valve
3,599,713 8/1971 Jenkins ............................... 137/68.1 element (8) is exposed to wear and no other parts of the
3,646,607 2/1972 Dower .................................... 251/5 valve being positioned within the wearing zone. The
3,821,726 6/1974 Chang et al. .......................... 175/48 valve element (8) in its withdrawn position has its total
3,868,826, 3/1975 Landers ... 251/1. diameter free allowing a full flow through the valve.
4,085,765 4/1978 Nelson ..... ... 37/68. Accordingly the valve do not disturb the flow under
4,300,748 11/1981 Kreeley ................................... 251/5 normal condition and is not exposed to any wear. At a
4,310,058 1/1982 Bourgoyne, Jr...................... 175/48 gas kick the well can be controlled during a long period
4,378,849 4/1983. Wilks .................... ... 251/1. as it is possible to compensate the wear on the valve
4,508,311 4/1985. Just et al. ............................. 251/1.2 element during operation.
Primary Examiner-A. Michael Chambers
Assistant Examiner-John C. Fox 10 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures

f 7 / S 4 5 /2 / //
N Za 47aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
fy 7 | | %
s area
fele-A-4
/H A to

E
KL
3- Y 2ZA"
-
Y SYYYYYYYXYSwxww.
- I
N

-
S

M
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 1 of 12 4,709,900
Fig. 4

f3 7 ft 5 & 5 /2 /4 // Fig. 3
/ s Z-777 777AA777.27777,777.77777AAA
f44. After
| | If H fiff.
N els
YYYYYYANAVY CANY -4
RN31.
.
s 4.

YAN
H F.
T-7, -T l
AAAAaaaaaaaa-AA
H. Y
A3 f2 /6 //
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 2 of 12 4,709,900
Fig. 2
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 3 of 12 4,709,900

1. Fig. 6
7 :

|
U.S. Patent Dec. 1 1987 4,709,900

|-2
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheets of 12 4,709,900
M
k / /N 22
IX X
X W f 3° W
XIC .
37
8 :
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X
V VA
29

27

27

26

Fig. 8

26
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 6 of 12 4,709,900

6,7•CIAVS
0

A 4

-aa-ra
/
a du 1- CD

-
$2/
O
,
-,o oz
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 7 of 12 4,709,900
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 8 of 12 4,709,900
O N
S)
S U

S
NS Š
S
(N
c
S
II.
ESS is S.

Still
S

S
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 9 of 12 4,709,900

614
?r
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 10 of 12 4,709,900

yyY Y

s SSSW
N

s
S
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 11 of 12 4,709,900
Fig. 44
U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 1987 Sheet 12 of 12 4,709,900
 4,709,900
1. 2
escape of the gas along the outside of the casing to the
CHOKE WALVE ESPECIALLY USED NOLAND surface.
GAS WELS If this happens the rig is in danger.
In the case of a jack-up which is supported by the sea
The invention concerns a choke valve especially used 5 bed the outflowing gas can erode the seabed enough to
in regulating back pressure in oil and gas wells while cause the rig to turn over.
drilling through shallow gas bearing formations from an For floating platforms there is danger of capsizing
off-shore drilling platform and constituting a flexible when the gas aerates the water around the rig.
cylindrical valve element positioned in the valve hous There have been many such accidents in the drilling
ing flow passage and where the valve is so designed that O industry and it is an established procedure not to close
the valve element flow through area can be reduced by the BOP valves during this phase of the drilling. The
a radial reduction of the valve element. In addition the standard rule for off-shore drilling is to close the diver
invention concerns a procedure to control a so called tor valve and divert the gas over board. But even with
shallow gas kick. this procedure the shallow gas kick still causes disasters.
Drilling off-shore is done from platforms. As plat 15 One of the most common reasons for shallow gas
forms can be used the so called jack-up rig which is a blow-out is drilling with too small a trip margin. It takes
platform supported by legs standing on the sea bed, or only very little swabing effect to cause the gas to enter
the so called semi-submersibles which is a floating plat the well bore. On the other hand drilling with too large
form or a drill ship which is a conventional ship rigged 20 a margin will easily cause a surge pressure to lose dril
with drilling equipment, ling mud to the formation with subsequent loss of hy
Briefly described an off-shore well is made by drilling drostatic pressure.
a section of the hole, then lining the section with casing, The shallow gas will then move to the surface in a
then drilling a smaller hole which then is lined with few seconds taking the drilling crew by surprise. When
casing etc. The casing is cemented in the formation. 25 the first gas bubble has surfaced part of the mud column
During the drilling, mud is circulated through the drill is displaced with the resulting loss of hydrostatic pres
pipe up through the angles with the purpose of remov sure. Unless a balancing hydrostatic pressure is estab
ing the cuttings as well as imposing a hydrostatic pres lished by replacing the lost mud or by increasing the
mud weight or by applying backpressure on the well
sure equal to that which exists in the geological forma head the well will flow out of control.
tion outside. 30
This is all a well known procedure and if a so called close After having taken a kick it is a normal procedure to
gas or oil influx is taken from hydro cup and deposits into thethehole. divertor and start both mud pumps pumping
due to an unbalance in the hydrostatic head then the rig flow into the By increasing the hydrostatic head the gas
well bore will hopefully stop.
personal have certain well established procedures and But what happens if the well in unloading mud faster
equipment to counter the problem. 35 than it can be pumped into it? Dependent on the rate of
If on the other hand the gas kickistaken in the upper unloading it can be impossible to re-establish a balanc
geological formation then the situation can become ing hydrostatic pressure.
very serious. Having the divertor closed on the well flowing out
During the 25 years or so where the industry have over the side one can only hope that the formation will
been drilling off-shore there have been no real satisfac breach itself or deplete before any damage is done to the
tory solution to control shallow gas kicks. divertor lines. But there is no guarantee that the flowing
The risk of drilling through shallow gas sands has sand and gas will not come through the divertor lines or
been reduced by the use of high resolution seismics. that the gas does not contain H2S which is a very poi
Where the presence of so called bright-spots indicate sonous gas. On top of that it is very likely that the well
the presence of shallow gas. This knowledge, however, 45 gas will ignite. To prevent this the engines must be shut
does not always keep the oil company from drilling a down further complicating the control process.
particular location. The reason for this can be, that the In the process of controlling the well the gas will
signals are too weak to be absolutely sure of shallow most likely increase in velocity carrying more sand
gas, or because the target zones are so important that along from the formation. This flow is extremely abra
the goal overshadows the risk of encountering shallow SO sive and can cut the divertor lines in minutes. If this
gas. happens then the rig is in extreme danger and the per
The reason can be that the use of high resolution sonnel must be evacuated. At this point the BOPs if they
seismic is prohibitively expensive or because neighbour are installed would have to be closed stopping the gas
ing wells have shown only normal pressure formations. flow and buying time for mixing of heavy mud and
The casing depth can be changed to suit the actual 55 repairing the divertor lines.
formation, but very little can be done to improve the Since there is no way to know whether the formation
strength of the 20" casing strength against vertical frac around the casing will withstand the pressure there is no
ture from the abnormal pressure zones or a too high alternative but to try.
hydrostatic pressure imposed from the surface. If the gas does not come up around the casing then
It is well known that shallow gas is most dangerous in the well can be killed by using a conventional kill proce
the upper section of the hole which constitutes 20' dure. But if conversely the gas does come around the
casing before the 13" casings. casing then the BOPs must be opened again and the
The reason for this is that the conductor pipe and the process of diversion must be continued. In the latter
20' casing shoe (geological formation around the end of case one can only hope that the gas will stop flowing
the casing) is unable to contain a pressure gradient 65 around the casing. If this does not happen the rig must
which exceeds 0.55-0.60 psi per foot. Pressure which be prepared for abandonment. In the case of a floating
exceeds this will most likely cause the formation to rig the procedure will be to cut the pipe and move the
fracture around the cement and will result in subsequent . rig away by pulling on the anchor lines. In this case the
 4,709,900
3 4.
equipment damaged would be limited to the subside cylindrical valve element into the passage of the valve
BOP and the well head. In case of a jack-up there is as abrasion proceeds, the length of the valve element
only a very slight chance to move the rig. In most cases will determine the life of the valve. As the valve ele
the rig will have to be abandoned. ment can be made substantially longer than its wall
As previously described the uncoming gas rises to the thickness, the valve can be given a substantially longer
surface very quickly displaces the drilling mud in the life than the well-known devices. Besides, except from
annulus. Since closing the BOP is not recommended the valve element, the interior parts of the valve are not
then there is only the alternative left to pump drilling essentially exposed to wear.
mud into the well with maximum pumping capacity. As regards the bending of the flexible tubular valve
While pumping, the gas will continue to enter the well 10 element's end into the flow passage, then this can be
bore until unbalancing hydrostatic head is established. carried out in different ways. For instance, the valve
As is often the case the incoming gas displaces a element can be exposed to radial forces. By way of
larger volume of drilling mud than can be replaced by example a series of pistons may be placed longitudinally
the mud pumps. As an example will a two barrel gas within the valve housing and so arranged that they can
influx at 1500' and 9 ppg mud expand to 100 barrel at the 15
be pressed against the valve element as its end is
surface. abraded. Another possibility is to constrict the end of
If such a kick is allowed to expand to the surface then the valve element by means of a steel wire or a chain
it in theory will vacate 275' of the 20' annulus causing wrapped around it or by using clamping jaws. An em
a 128 psi pressure drop in the hydrostatic head. Because bodiment is described in which between a cylindrical
of this reduction more gas will enter the well bore and wall and the valve element is placed one or more flexi
if the incomming mud from the mud pumps continue to ble bodies, divided into one or more chambers which
be less than the displaced mud then the hydrostatic can be filled with liquid or gas and arranged so that the
pressure will be reduced to a point where the incoming pressure in the individual chamers can be regulated
mud will be ejected with the gas no matter how heavy individually to exert a radical pressure on the valve
it it. To kill the well at this point is then impossible. 25
element in order to keep the orifice of the latter con
The logical way to limit the gas expansion as it rises stricted as abrasion proceeds. Thus the end of the valve
to the surface is to increase the surface pressure. In a element is kept constricted by directing the pressure
normal kill procedure this is done by opening the high along the element as its end is worn.
pressure choke valve enclosing the BOPs. Then adjust By another embodiment, the flexible cylindrical
ring the choke valves to establish the desired back pres 30 valve element has two terminal surfaces facing the
sure. As it already has been established that in the top
section of the hole it is dangerous to close the BOPs and valve's inlet and outlet orifice respectively, and it has an
as all wells are drilled without BOPs on the 36' casing essentially radial supporting surface at one end of the
and some wells drilled without BOPs on the 20" casing element and has a valve seat intended for co-operating
and as high pressure choke valves do not have a large 35 with the other end of the element, and where the sup
. . enough choking diameter for venting shallow gas then porting surface and the valve seat are designed so that
it is not possible to increase surface pressure using the they can be moved axially against each other thus bend
s: conventional equipment. ing the end of the valve element causing a radial con
s. If one could apply a back pressure on the surface then striction of the passage of the valve; it also has devices
the gas expansion would be limited causing a smaller for adjustable displacement of the supporting surface
hydrostatic pressure drop in the bottom of the hole. and the valve seat towards one another. The desired
This could make it possible for the mud pumps to end diameter of the valve element can be kept constant,
keep up with the mud displacement and by pumping even if the flowing liquid or gas abrades the valve ele
heavy mud into the well bore could make it possible to ment heavily. This is obtained by displacing the valve
regain the balancing head. While it is important to refill 45 element and the valve seat axially in proportion to each
the well with drilling mud it is equally important not to other until the back pressure wanted is achieved. As the
break down the formation at the casing shoe. bent part of the valve element is worn down, the valve
It is a purpose of the invention to design a choke element and valve seat are moved further towards each
valve that can regulate the back pressure at the well other to keep a constant back pressure resulting in more
head while flowing shallow gas even when the choking 50 of the valve element being bent inwards thus keeping a
process requires hours of flowing highly abrasive gas/- constant inner diameter or passage. This process can go
sand/mud mixture without wearing the valve below its on until all of the bendable part of the valve element is
operating specifications. This is extremely important as worn out. The length of the bendable part of the valve
it is impossible to perform any repair work during the element is merely a function of the safety margin de
choking process. 55 sired.
According to the invention this problem is solved by By a suitable embodiment of the valve its seat is de
a valve indicated in the introduction, viz. by designing signed conically with its sloping surface facing the
it so that the flow passage of the valve element is equal valve element and the passage of the valve. Thus the
to or larger than the remaining flow passage of the end of the valve element will be bent against the conical
valve, that the valve has devices for constricting the 60 valve seat and into the passage.
end of the valve element nearest to the outlet orifice of The valve seat may be shaped in many different ways,
the valve, that the inner parts of the valve except for the e.g. it may consist of a series of segments, however, it is
valve element are not essentially exposed to abrasion, suitable to give it an annular form.
and that the valve element is so long that there will be In principle it is secondary if the valve seat is moved
compensated for the abrasion, to which the end is ex against the valve element or reversely, however, it is
posed, by pushing the valve element against the con most suitable to move the valve seat against the valve
stricting devices or by moving the latter as the abrasion element. For a certain embodiment of the valve the
proceeds. By bending the outermost end of the flexible supporting surface of the valve element is firmly con
 4,709,900
5 6
nected with the valve housing, while the valve seat is annulus and discharge lines as well as special combina
axially movable. tion control gadget included in this invention and capa
The mutual axial displacement of the valve element ble of displaying not only the floater armature but also
and the valve seat may be designed in many different the degree of wear on the flexible insert.
ways; by way of example it can be carried out by means The console can also be preprogrammed to open the
of bolts which are tightened or using cables or chains. choke in case the back pressure exceeds a pre-calculated
However, a suitable embodiment of the valve is charac maximum fracture pressure.
terized by the device for the mutual, axial displacement When the heavy kill mud has entered up into the
of the supporting surface and the valve seat being a annulus thus increasing the hydrostatic pressure the
hydraulic driving unit. O surface backpressure can be reduced to avoid loss of
An embodiment of the valve includes a hydraulic circulation. In the case where the well continues to flow
driving unit comprising at least two hydraulic cylinders the choke pressure will be kept at the maximum allow
placed on either side of the valve housing, with one end able to avoid complete depletion of the well and to
attached to the housing and the other one to the valve allow heavy mud to be mixed and pumped into the well
seat. Placing the hydraulic cylinders symmetrically in 15 bore.
proportion to the housing will neutralize an offset pull. If the kick has been detected too late then the rig
In addition the movement of the hydraulic cylinders is personnel must continue pumping into the well with
easily controlled. maximum pump capacity while still applying maximum
It is principally secondary if the cylinder jacket is allowable back pressure to the choke. At the same time
attached to the valve seat and the cylinder piston to the 20 the rig crew will mix kill mud to a pre-calculated den
valve housing, however, it is most suitable to attach the sity.
jacket to the valve housing and the cylinder piston to The flow from gas bearing sand can be extremely
the valve seat. abrasive and since such parameters as bottom hole pres
In a further embodiment of the choke valve, the valve sure, fracture gradient, gas volume, sand and water
housing comprises an interior cylindrical wall, forming 25 contents etc. are unknown quantities it is impossible to
the passage, and an outer cylindrical jacket concentric predetermine how long the well will keep blowing. It
with said wall, and the hydraulic driving unit is posi be therefore important that the surface equipment is
tioned in the space between the two walls. Thus the designed to continue the choking process for long peri
choke valve can be placed as a unit within the well bore, ods under the most abrasive conditions.
and in addition the hydraulic driving unit lies protected. 30 The valve element can be made out of rubber con
To prevent dirt being accumulated in the valve dur pound which on one hand has the ability to withstand
ing its production, shipment and storage its inlet and the abrasive flow and on the other hand has the flexibil
outlet orifices be covered by a protective membrane ity it takes to close the valve. As the gas and sand flow
which is torn at a certain pressure. under a prolonged choking process whereof the flexible
To preserve the elastic properties of the valve ele 35 material which is exposed in the choking orifice the
ment the passage between the two protective mem back pressure will decrease. This will cause the opera
branes may be filled with a preservative. Thus the tor to push the valve seat further against the valve ele
, choke valve will always be ready to work, regardless of ment thus bringing more flexible material into the chok
3, the fact that it has not been working for a rather long ing orifice, with subsequent decrease of the orifice. This
period. 40 will increase the back pressure. Unveven wear on the
Another embodiment of the protective membrane inside of the flexible element such as channeling has
allowing an undisturbed flow through the valve when it little or no effect on the efficiency of the choke. The
is not in use, is characteristic by the fact that it is de valve seat and other vital metal parts are protected
signed as a tubular, preferably flexible envelope posi against wear by the valve element.
tioned within the valve element and stretching along 45 The elastic valve element has cast grooves stretching
the entire length of the valve and having flanges at its concentrically and longitudinally on its outside thus
ends intended for clamping it to the entire valve, viz. at dividing it into segments which during a prolonged
its inlet and outlet respectively. Beyond its not being wear help to keep the choke opening clear. The worn
disturbing the flow when it is in its passive position, it segments will be carried away by the flowing medium.
can also be tested and even all the way down to the 50 The valve element can be eroded continuously over
closed position by making the protective envelope flexi the total stroke of the hydraulic cylinders and protects
ble enough. As distinct from the above embodiment, against prolonged flows from the well.
this protective membrane must not be burst to open, but The choke valve does not eliminate all the risk in
be worn open at the moment when you start throttling volved with drilling throug shallow gas zones. But it is
the valve. 55 an important alternative to the procedures available
The wear-compensating, variable constriction of the to-day and furthermore the investment only represents
throttle valve, of which the full flow diameter is up to a fraction of the potential loss associated with the full
20', is operated hydraulically. The choke valve is capa scale blow-out.
ble of controlling a flow of heavily abrasive liquids or If attempts to stop the flow with the last kill-mud has
gas-from when the flow is free and until it is totally failed then the process enters in its second phase. At that
stopped. time it is necessary for the personnel to have sufficient
In case of a blow out in the top hole section of the time to mix a new batch of kill-mud, prepare to set a
well bore the divertor and the mud return lines are cement plug or to wait for a new delivery of barite or
closed. The gas can now only flow through the choke. cement. While this is going on sea water is pumped into
The choke control console is installed on the drill floor 65 the well bore at full capacity. At this point in time the
and is either connected to the BOP accumulator unit or well is most likely blowing gas mixed with sand and
to a separate hydraulic pumping unit. The console con water and it is safe to assume that the 20'/5' annulus is
tains pressure gadets for measuring the pressure in the aerated to such a degree that the hydrostatic pressure
 4,709,900
7 8
on the 20" casing shoe is only a fraction of the original FIG. 13 shows a hydraulic steering system for steer
pressure. ing the movement of the valve seat,
Based on this assumption the backpressure is in FIG. 14 shows a control and scale unit to the hydrau
creased to substitute. In theory if the well is flowing lic steering system, and
100% gas then the backpressure could be increased to FIG. 15 shows a hydraulic system for the valve illus
reflect the maximum allowable pressure on the 20" trated in FIG. 7.
casing shoe. Since there is no exact way to determine The choke valve illustrated in FIG. 1-4 of the draw
the actual hydrostatic pressure on the casing shoe it is ing comprises a cylindrical jacket 1 with an inlet and an
necessary to make an estimate based on the visual judge outlet joint 2, 3 fitted with flanges which, as it appears
ment of the gas/water/sand mix which flows from the 10 from FIG. 1, can be covered by protected membranes 4
well. as long as the valve has not been in operation. In the
Flowing gas mixed with sand will wear down any embodiment shown the valve housing comprises three
existing divertor lines in a few minutes. By using this parts, viz. an exterior jacket 5 firmly combined with the
choke valve combined with Densit lined housing spit outlet joint 3, an interior part 6 firmly combined with
tings and piping the choking process can go on for a 15 the inlet joint 2 and an intermediate part which forms a
long time. cylindrical wall 7 defining the flow passage between the
The choke valve can be installed in combination with two joining ends 2, 3 and which is build integral with 1.
the existing divertor. This system, however, does nor Internally and along an essential part of its length the
mally not allow a smooth flow from the well head to the wall 7 houses a flexible tubular valve element 8 with a
oil bore line. This can cause successive wearin places as flat first end resting against a support 9, which is firmly
well as blocked up lines with subsequent uncontrolled combined with the interior part 6 of the valve housing,
increase in backpressure. Another installation mode is and another conical end which co-operates with a valve
to install the choke on a special mud flow cross under seat 10 or with a contracting piston. The interior and
the existing divertor system. This system will then only the exterior surfaces of these are flush with the exterior
be installed when drilling the particular section of the 25 and interior side of the tubular valve element 8 when
hole. As a new feature the flow can be diverted on the the valve is fully open is as it appears from FIG. 1.
sea floor. This is done by installing the mud cross and The valve seat 10 is equipped with radially protrud
choke on the subseawei head. The well head is then ing flaps 11, e.g. four such wings passing through axial
controlled through the rise of kill line. The rised choke slits 12 in the wall 7, and with a corresponding number
line can be used to monitor the annulus pressure and the 30 of hydraulic driving units 13 are positioned in the annu
control parts on the upper marine riser package can be lar space between the walls 5 and 7. The cylinder 14 of
used to operate the valve. As an additional feature the the driving unit is supported by the intermediate part of
inside of all pipings and fittings can be coated with the valve housing and its piston is connected to the
Densit (trade mark). corresponding flap 11 by the piston rod 16.
The embodiments of the invention are diagrammati 35 In the position shown in FIG. 1 the pressure medium
... cally illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in via hoses not shown can be carried to the piston on the
... which: side with the piston rod and by this cause the valve seat
FIG. 1 is an axial cut-away of the choke valve ac 10 to move to the left on the drawing. As the tubular
“...cording to the invention, valve element is firmly supported by the support 9, the
FIG. 2 is a cross section of the choke valve according displacement of the valve seat will squeeze the right end
to FIG. 1, of the tubular element 8 to take up the position shown in
FIG. 3 is alongitudinal section as in FIG. 1, but here FIG. 3, where the flow passage through the valve is
the valve is shown working, totally closed. However, the valve seat 10 is adjustable
FIG. 4 shows the choke valve of FIG. 1 locked at to any position between those shown on the drawing, so
directly from its end, 45 that the passage remains more or less open and thus
FIG. 5 shows a typical surface arrangement of an controls the liquid flow as wanted.
off-shore oil or gas well while drilling in the upper The constricted zone formed by the inwards bent end
Strata, of the valve element 8 is exposed to a considerable
FIG. 6 is a horizontal section of the arrangement abrasion, but this wear will be compensated for by grad
shown in FIG. 5, SO ually displacing the valve seat 10 axially against the
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the choke valve element 8. Therefore, such an adjustment for
valve according to the invention, wear can be carried out until the valve seat 10 has
FIGS. 8A and 8B show schematically a jack-up dril reached its outermost position, i.e. only limited by the
ling rig and a semi-submercible platform, respectively length of each of the hydraulic cylinders' stroke.
where both platforms have drilled into a shallow gas 55 The flexibility of the tubular valve element 8 can be
bearing formation which communicates to deeper gas improved by axial grooves distributed over its inner
sand through a fault, surface and its outside can have circumferential weak
FIG. 9 shows pressure/depth diagram showing the ening grooves, which indicate "clear' constriction
pressure steps used in a typical kill procedure with zones as the abrasion proceeds and results in a succes
emphasis on use of this divertor choke, sive sacrifice of the material of the valve element.
FIG. 10 shows the choke valve mounted on an exist FIG. 5 shows a typical surface arrangement of an
ing divertor system, offshore oil orgas well drilling mounted with the choke
FIG. 11 shows the choke valve mounted on a double valve 17 described above. In case it is necessary to air
outlet mud cross under the existing divertor system, the well because of an inflow of gas from the strata
FIG. 12 shows the choke valve and mud cross 65 drilled a divertor 18 is closed. By this the pressure in the
mounted on a subsea well head with the lower marine well 19 increases until the protective membrane 4 of the
riser packet mounted on top. This is used on drill ships choke valve is torn and the drilling liquid flows through
and semi-submercibles. the choke valve and the divertor 20. After that the
 4,709,900
9 10
drilling operator can adjust the end diameter of the zone 26. Going out from geological measurings carried
valve element 8 by exerting pressure on the valve seat out earlier, the formation gradient is indicated as 456
10 by means of the hydraulic driving unit 13 and with it psi/foot. The point C indicates the formation pressure
regulate the back pressure in the well to a beforehand at the upper side of the shallow gas zone on level
calculated maximum pressure which is read from the -3000'. The pressure is like that on level -3600, the
manometer 21. The dotted line in FIG. 6 indicates an gas pressure being constant everywhere within the shal
alternative mounting of two choke valves, one on either low gas zone 26.
side of the well. The point D indicates the pressure at the 20' casing
In FIG. 7 of the drawing there is shown another shoe, where the geological formation will break down.
embodiment of the choke valve according to the inven 10 The 20" casing shoe is here at a depth of level - 1250.
tion. The reference numbers employed for certain parts Point E indicates the pressure at the 20" casing shoe,
correspond to the same parts in FIG.1. Between the if the BOPs are closed after has having penetrated the
valve housing 1 and the valve element 8 there is posi well bore.
tioned a flexible element 22 stretching over the total or Point F indicates the pressure at the drill floor 30
nearly the total length of the valve element. That flexi 15 with the BOP closed. Point G indicates the maximum
ble element is divided into a series of separate chambers permissible back pressure on the divertor when the gas
23 into which a liquid or gas can be led under pressure. kick is circulated out.
By adjusting the pressures in the individual chambers 23 The point H indicates the estimated maximum per
you can obtain that the valve element 8 takes up the missible pressure in the throttle valve when the gas
shape shown in the figure, consequently a gradual con flows out of a well bore.
striction towards the outlet end of the valve. As this end The curve I indicates the pressure of a kill sludge
of the valve element is worn-down, the pressure in the having a volume weight of 10.2 ppg.
outermost chamber at this end is reduced, whereas the The pressure in the hatched field exceeds the strength
pressure is increased in the next chamber to constrict of the formation and will make it break down with the
the worn-down end of the valve element and so on. 25
FIG. 8A shows quite schematically a drilling plat risk of losing the drilling platform and the well bore, as
form 24 of the socalled jack-up type, i.e. a drilling plat described previously.
. . form supported by legs standing on the seabed 25. It is In the FIG. 10 of the drawing the choke valve 17 is
illustrated that while drilling a shallow gas zone 26 is shown being used in connection with a ordinary diver
... hit. In this case it will not involve any especially critical 30 tor 32. The reference designation 30 indicates the drill
situation, as you will not hit the shallow gas zone until floor, and 33 indicates the rotary table. Otherwise the
after establishing the 20' casing 27. In this case the drilling platform is of the jack-up type. Immediately
casing 28 will be able to resist the forces occurring under the rotary table 33 there is placed a divertor 32 of
when the well bore is closed with the usual BOPs. the conventional design, and between the divertor 32
FIG. 8B shows a far more critical situation, viz. 35 and the casing pipe 28 there is a spacer spool 34 with a
where, from a semi-submersible drilling platform 29, Braden head 35 for coupling-up the casing pipe 28. The
while establishing the 20" casing 27, the shallow gas one outlet pipe of the divertor is used for the return
zone 26 is penetrated. Here, due to geological displace drilling sludge and is connected to a usual stop valve.
... ments, the strata, is placed higher. With the known The other outlet 36 of the divertor is conducted over
technique you are powerless here and can only hope for board from the platform by a divertor pipe 37 and the
good luck. As mentioned earlier, a closing of the well choke valve 17 is positioned in the immediate vicinity of
bore will entail a great risk of breaking the casing 28 and the divertor 32. In case of a kick the divertor 32 is
the surrounding geological formation, so that gas under closed and the choke valve 17 is adjusted to the maxi
high pressure will leak up through the formation. Irre mum permissible back pressure and till the hydrostatic
spective of it being about a jack-up 24 or a semi-subm 45 head is reestablished.
ersible rig 29 it is equally hazardous. As to the jack-up FIG. 11 of the drawing shows another embodiment.
24 the ground under the legs will be eroded so much Instead of inserting the choke valve 17 into the divertor
that the platform may turn over. As regards the semi pipe 37, a fitting 38 is inserted into the spacer spool 34,
submersible platform 29 the water will be aerated so said spool having two branches 39 and 40 which are
that the platform looses its buoyancy. 50 curved softly into the flow direction. By this abrasion
Utilizing the present invention you can throttle the will be reduced substantially in proportion to the effect
drilling under conditions so well controlled that there is of a sudden change of the flow direction-such as it
a possibility of reestablishing the back pressure thus takes place in an ordinary divertor. In the immediate
regaining control of the drilling. vicinity of the branchings 39, 40 each of these is
FIG. 9 of the drawing illustrates the pressure condi 55 equipped with a choke valve 17 according to the inven
tions of a drilling which penetrates a gas-bearing sand tion the outlets of which are conducted overboard from
stratum-a so-called shallow gas zone 26. The horizon the platform by means of divertor lines 37. Placing them
tal axis indicates the pressure in psi and the vertical axis so is very advantageous as regards conducting the pipes
the level in feet. The drill floor 30 (FIGS. 8A, 8B) is of the divertor line 37 as regularly as possible. Because
found on level -- 100 above the water surface 31 on 60 of the entire design of the platform the pipeline from the
level 0 as starting point. The seabed 25 is found on level usual divertor 37 placed immediately under the rotary
-250. On level -3000' the drilling penetrates a shal table 33 has essentially more changes of direction com
low gas zone 26. pared to the lower placing shown in FIG. 11.
The extreme point of the curve A indicates the hy It is obvious that the design described above just as
drostatic head of the well bore immediately before the 65 well can be used in connection with a semi-submersible
kick with a drill sludge the volume weight of which is platform or with a drilling ship, in which case the con
9.2 ppg. The point B gives the formation pressure on struction will be mounted on top of a telescopic junc
level -3600' which is the under side of the shallow gas tion 41 (FIG. 11A) between the divertor 32 and the
 11
4,709,900 12
casing pipe 28. The telescopic junction is shown quite It should be noticed that all the valves are shown in a
schematically to the left in FIG. 11. position corresponding to the first hydraulic system 50.
FIG. 12 of the drawing illustrates a design quite dif When the valve seat 10 hits the valve element 8 the
ferent from the previous ones, as here the gas from the pressure of the driving system 52 rises, by which all the
shallow gas zone instead of being conducted out at the valves shift to a position for the other hydraulic system
water surface 31 is conducted out immediately above 51.
the sea bed 25. The length of stroke of the operating cylinder 14 is
The choke valves 17 and the branching device 38 are controlled by the valve 58. By opening said valve 58 the
positioned immediately above the sea bed, the latter length of stroke is increased and by throttling the valve
being connected with the top of the casing by means of 10 58 the stroke is decreased. When the valve is closed the
a Braden head 42. The reference designation 43 indi length of stroke remains unchanged.
cates a baseplate for the casing pipes. Above the The two cylinders 59 and 60 are slave cylinders
branching device 38 follow in succession a Braden head showing the respective positions of the cylinders 54 and
44, a BOP 45 and a flexible junction for the pipe 34 up 15 55. These signals are transmitted to a reading scale on
to the submersible drilling platform or to the drilling a control panel.
ship. Hydraulic pressure is produced by a hydraulic pump
The reference number 47 illustrates controlling de 61.
vices for the choke valves 17 and the BOP 45. The The steering system shown has the advantage, that
reference designations 48, 49 indicate connecting lines you can control the choke valve completely with one
to said control device, so that it can be operated from 20 single hand lever. At the same time you may be in
formed as to the wear on the valve element and thus
the drilling platform.
The outlets from the choke valve 17 can freely be estimate how much longer the choke valve will be
reliable in function.
conducted in the direction and distance desired, e.g. in A control and scale unit is shown in FIG. 14 of the
the direction of the prevailing current of the sea, so that 25 drawing.
the escape from the drilling is carried away from there FIG. 15 of the drawing quite schematically illustrates
thus reducing the risk of aerating the water under the a hydraulic system for the valve shown in FIG. 7. The
rig or the drilling ship. single chambers pressing the valve element into the
In the FIG. 13 of the drawing is illustrated a hydrau flow passage of the valve can be set under pressure by
- lic steering system for steering the movement of the 30 a series of valves.
valve seat 10 within the choke valve 17. The valve seat
10 is the component which bends the end of the valve Even though the valve here is described especially in
element 8 and presses the latter into the passage of the connection with shallow gas blow-outs from oil or gas
valve, thus choking the flow of gas and liquid. wells, it is obvious that the employment of the valve is
The hydraulic operating cylinder 14 can be activated not limited to this special field. For instance it is very
: by two separate hydraulic systems. The first hydraulic
35 suitable for all arrangements where heavily abrasive
("system 50 can move the valve seat 10 over its total liquids or gas flow through the choke valve.
It has to be taken into consideration that the well
: stroke. The other hydraulic system 51 can move the control plan for shallow gas blow-outs are not the exact
*... valve seat 10 over its total length of operation. science which can be used for deeper blow-outs where
A control system selects between the two hydraulic the casing show allows for much higher pressure read
systems 50, 51 going out from a pre-determined maxi ings. There are no exact equations or computer pro
mum pressure in a driving system 52 which corresponds grames which can be used to calculate the weight of
to the rise of pressure taking place in the first hydraulic kill-mud, pump strokes or choke pressure required to
system 50, when the valve seat 10 hits the valve element circulate out the incoming gas.
8. When said pressure is reached, the control valves 45 The margin between control and catastrophe is small
automatically shift to the other hydraulic system 51. and good timing and training of the personel is critical.
In addition, a manual system enables the operator to Shallow gas moves to the surface so fast that it often
shift between said two systems. has surprised the drilling crew by sending the kelly
When the operating cylinder 14 reaches its bottom bushing flying in the air. At this critical moment it is
position, which is the position where the piston rod 16 50 important to know that the back-up tool is available.
is totally out of the cylinder 14, the hydraulic flow By using this choke valve in connection with the well
direction will automatically be reversed. trained crew the platform will have a second chance
The other hydraulic system 51 comprises a spring which is otherwise not available on today's drilling rigs.
operated cylinder 53 and with oil on on the spring I claim:
loaded side of the piston, said piston being operated by 55 1. A choke valve comprising:
another hydraulic cylinder 54. an inlet at an upstream end thereof;
The spring-actuated cylinder 53 has a volume which an outlet at a downstream end thereof;
corresponds to the quantity of oil needed to move the a flexible tubular element between said inlet and said
operating cylinder 10 the length of one working stroke. outlet;
A spring-actuated hydraulic cylinder 55 in the first 60 a central passage in said flexible tubular element for
hydraulic system 50 has a volume which is needed to permitting a flow of a fluid from said inlet to said
move the operating cylinder 10 one full length of outlet;
stroke. means for deforming a downstream end of said flexi
By the other hydraulic system 51 the operating cylin ble tubular element into a controllable position
der 10 forces oil to a tank 56. At the return stroke of the 65 selectively constricting said central passage; and
cylinder 53 caused by the spring actuating, oil is sucked said means for deforming further including means for
from the tank 56 to the cylinder 53 through a one-way successively deforming additional portions of said
valve 57. flexible tubular element into said controllable posi
 4,709,900
13 14
tion as deformed portions at said downstream end 6. A choke valve according to claim 1 wherein:
of said flexible tubular member are abraded away said means for deforming includes a plurality of annu
by said flow of a fluid, whereby an operating life lar passages surrounding said flexible tubular ele
time of said choke valve can be made as long as ment;
desired by increasing a length of said flexible tubu- 5 each of said annular passages being independently
lar element and an operational range of said means capable of receiving a pressurized fluid, whereby
for deforming. an adjacent portion of said central passage is de
2. A choke valve according to claim 1 wherein said formed into said controllable position; and
central passage includes a diameter substantially equal said means for successively deforming includes means
to a diameter of said inlet and said outlet, when said 10 for successively pressurizing said annular passages,
flexible tubular member is in an undeformed condition. beginning with downstream ones thereof and pro
3. A choke valve according to claim 1 wherein said gressively pressurizing ones upstream, whereby
means for deforming includes: abrasion of said flexible tubular element at de
an annular support adjacent said inlet; formed portions thereof is accommodated.
15 7. A choke valve according to claim 6 wherein said
an upstream end of said flexible tubular member abut means for successively deforming includes progres
ting and being supported by said annular support; sively depressurizing ones of said annular passages
an annular valve seat at a downstream end of said
flexible tubular member; downstream of a furthest-upstream pressurized annular
passage, whereby further wear on portions of said flexi
saidsaidvalve seat including in conical surface contacting ble
downstream end of said flexible tubular mem tubular element which have previously been
abraded is reduced.
ber; and 8. A choke valve according to claim 1 wherein said
and means for forcibly urging said conical surface in flexible
an axial direction against said downstream end of groovestubular element includes a plurality of annular
about on inner surface thereof, said plurality of
said flexible tubular member, whereby said down- 25 annular grooves providing weak points permitting
, , , stream end of said flexible tubular member is de abraded portions of said flexible tubular element to
formed into its constricting position in said central break off and be carried away with said flow.
passage. 9. A choke valve according to claim 8 wherein said
4. A choke valve according to claim 3, wherein said flexible tubular element includes a plurality of annular
means for forcibly urging includes at least one cylinder 30 grooves about on outer surface thereof, said plurality of
having a driving rod movable in response to admission. annular grooves providing weak points permitting
of a pressurized fluid into said cylinder, and means for abraded portions of said flexible tubular element to
connecting motion produced by said at least one cylin break off and be carried away with said flow.
der and driving rod to said valve seat. 10. A choke valve according to claim 1 wherein said
5. A choke valve according to claim 4 wherein: 35 flexible tubular element includes a plurality of annular
said at least one cylinder includes at least four cylin grooves about on outer surface thereof, said plurality of
ders angularly spaced about an axis of said choke annular grooves providing weak points permitting
valve; and abraded portions of said flexible tubular element to
is said valve seat includes radially extending members break off and be carriedat away with said flow.
aligned for urging by said at least four cylinders. 40 k h :

45

50

55

65