Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of an Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter designed to be positioned below the conventional blowout preventer stack, and which will be activated during near balanced drilling operations to seal the annulus between the drill pipe and the casing. Returned drilling fluid and produced fluids are diverted up the annulus between the casing and intermediate casing and through a well head located below an all-inclusive BOP stack. The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter is a ram operated device, wherein hydraulic rams compress a flexible seal around the drill pipe. Some embodiments have an elliptical internal cavity which ensures that the elliptical seals cannot rotate. Doors are provided on each side of the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter to permit changing of the seal elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter for use during the drilling of a well to seal the annulus between a drill pipe and a casing surrounding the drill pipe while the drill pipe is a rotating or stationary in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:
 a ram blowout preventer operated by hydraulic pistons and modified to be activated while the drill pipe is present and rotating and flexible seal elements contained within an internal cavity which forms a seal housing within the modified ram blowout preventer,   wherein the flexible seal elements close around the drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating or stationary to block and seal the annulus.   
     
     
         2 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter is installed below a conventional BOP stack. 
     
     
         3 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements do not rotate within the seal housing. 
     
     
         4 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements and the seal housing are elliptical to prevent rotation of the flexible seal elements within the seal housing. 
     
     
         5 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the outer surfaces of the flexible seal elements are equipped with raised ridges which grip the inside of the seal housing to prevent rotation of the seal elements. 
     
     
         6 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements contain metal inserts to provide additional rigidity and resistance to torsional forces. 
     
     
         7 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the flexible seal elements have a different composition from the composition of the edges of the seal elements. 
     
     
         8 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements have a hard outer circumference. 
     
     
         9 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements have a hard lower section. 
     
     
         10 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements have a tapered shape at the upper and lower corners to better accept a tool joint with 90° shoulder and enable a tool joint to more easily enter the seal. 
     
     
         11 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the seal housing of the flexible seal elements is modified with flanges at the upper and lower ends to prevent the flexible seal elements being distorted by the drill pipe as the drill pipe is lowered or raised. 
     
     
         12 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements have a tapered shape at the upper and lower corners to better accept a tool joint with a right angle shoulder and enable the tool joint to more easily enter the seal. 
     
     
         13 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders of the rams are reinforced to resist the torsional forces exerted through the flexible seal elements and seal housing into the pistons when the drill pipe is rotating. 
     
     
         14 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal elements rotate within the seal housing. 
     
     
         15 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 1  further comprising a threaded access port on each side of the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter. 
     
     
         16 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 15  wherein a pressure gauge is attached to a threaded access port. 
     
     
         17 . The Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter of  claim 15  wherein a valve is attached to a threaded access port to enable the reduction of pressure within the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for use while drilling a well to seal the annulus between a rotating or stationary drill pipe and a casing surrounding the drill pipe in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:
 an Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter created by modifying a ram operated blowout preventer to be used while the drill pipe is present and rotating, incorporating flexible seal elements which close around the drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating to block the annulus, and   a pipe ram installed below the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter and the pipe ram are separate devices. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter and the pipe ram are combined into one device. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for use while drilling a well to seal the annulus between a rotating or stationary drill pipe and a casing surrounding the drill pipe in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:
 a first Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter created by modifying a ram blowout preventer operated by hydraulic pistons to be used while the drill pipe is present and rotating or stationary, incorporating flexible seal elements which close around the drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating or stationary to block the annulus, and   a second Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter installed below the first Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first and second Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverters are separate devices. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first and second Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverters are separated by a sufficient distance to accommodate a drill pipe joint. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first and second Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverters are combined into one device. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the two Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverters are separated by a sufficient distance to accommodate a drill pipe joint. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the flexible seal elements within each Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter are accessed through a separate door on each side. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the flexible seal elements within both Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverters are accessed through a common door on each side. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein each of the two Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverter has a separate set of flexible seal elements. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein a single set of flexible seal elements covers both Annular Pressure Control Ram Diverters and the intervening space. 
     
     
         30 . A method for sealing the annulus between a drill pipe while the drill pipe is rotating or stationary and a casing surrounding the drill pipe in order to divert the flow of returned drilling and produced fluids into an outer annulus, comprising:
 modifying a passive device such as a pipe ram that is normally used to shut-in a well when drill pipe is not rotating to enable using the device as a diverter, an active device, to block and seal the annulus and divert drilling fluid while the drill pipe is rotating.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein modifying a passive device further comprises installing flexible seal elements designed to withstand rotational forces. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein modifying a passive device to create an active device further comprises reinforcing the internal parts of the device to withstand transmitted rotational forces.