Well shut-in safety apparatus

Abstract

An above-ground well shut-in safety apparatus, structure, and method useful for shutting-in wells during a blow-out is provided. The apparatus includes a top portion closing an upper end of an apparatus, a side wall with a long axis, a sleeve inside the side wall, and a bottom portion including an open end. A structure for shutting in a well, comprising a rig, a drive rigidly connected to the rig, and an apparatus rigidly connected to the drive, the apparatus including a tubular side wall, a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall, and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall. A method for shutting-in a well including driving an open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including a closed end opposite the open end and a tubular side wall with a sealing sleeve, and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.

1 . An apparatus for shutting-in a well, comprising:
 a top portion closing an upper end of the apparatus;   a side wall with a long axis;   a sleeve inside the side wall; and   a bottom portion including an open end.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall is cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of a material selected to create a seal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an annular chamber between the sleeve and the side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the annular chamber is formed between the sleeve and a groove within the side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection on the top portion, the connection connectable to a drive, the drive being for driving the apparatus onto the well. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the connection includes one or more anchor points positioned radially outward from the top portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the connection includes a threadable connection concentric with the long axis. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein
 the top portion further includes a port;   the drive further includes a fluid conduit connectable to the port,   the fluid conduit and the port being configured to allow fluid to flow out of the apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a rig; and   a drive rigidly connected to the rig,   the top portion being connectable to the drive.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the drive is one or more of a power swivel, a top drive, and an apparatus carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a structure to physically engage a stump of the well. 
     
     
         13 . A structure for shutting-in a well, comprising:
 a rig;   a drive rigidly connected to the rig;   an apparatus rigidly connected to the drive, the apparatus including:
 a tubular side wall with a long axis and an open end; 
 a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall; and 
 a sealing sleeve inside the side wall. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method for shutting-in a well, comprising:
 driving an open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including
 a tubular side wall with a long axis and an open end; 
 a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall; and 
 a sealing sleeve inside the side wall; and 
   sealing the sleeve onto the stump.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein sealing includes hydraulically sealing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising guiding the open end of the apparatus onto the stump using a lead-in on the bottom portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting the apparatus to a drive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising releasing fluid from the well via a port on the top portion.