US3590920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote-controlled oil well pipe shear and shutoff apparatus
Assignee: Shaffer Tool Works
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Filing: 1969-03-12
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-03-12
Abstract
Abstract In an offshore oil well production system including a surface platform, a submerged wellhead, and a pipe string interconnecting the wellhead and platform, the provision of a pipe shear and shutoff apparatus between the platform and wellhead having a housing with a throughbore with an enlarged intermediate chamber and end bores for receiving a section of the pipe and means within the apparatus for shearing the pipe and closing the fluid passage through the apparatus when the pipe is severed, means for selective actuation of the apparatus and remote control means for the actuating means which is operative at a remote location from the wellhead notwithstanding the loss of physical connection between the platform and wellhead through the pipe string, such as when the pipe string is ruptured.
Inventors
- 👤 Valdek J Orund
- 👤 Edward T Cugini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:36
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B29/00; E21B29/08; E21B34/00; E21B34/02; E21B34/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A combination pipe shear and shutoff apparatus for use in well operations to sever a pipe string and provide immediate complete shutoff in the event of pipe string rupture, comprising: a housing defining a work chamber and including a through bore for receiving a pipe; carrier means slidably mounted in said work chamber for movement transverse to said pipe; pipe-shearing means including blade means carried by said carrier means to effect cutoff of said pipe; a shutoff plug carried by said carrier means in a direction transverse to said pipe into an operative position; means axially urging said shutoff plug into sealing relation with said housing through bore when in the operative position; and actuating means for selective movement of said pipe-shearing blade means and said shutoff plug.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A combination pipe shear and shutoff apparatus for use in well operations to sever a pipe string and provide immediate complete shutoff in the event of pipe string rupture, comprising: a housing defining a work chamber and including a through bore for receiving a pipe; carrier means slidably mounted in said work chamber for movement transverse to said pipe; pipe-shearing means including blade means carried by said carrier means to effect cutoff of said pipe; a shutoff plug carried by said carrier means in a direction transverse to said pipe into an operative position; means axially urging said shutoff plug into sealing relation with said housing through bore when in the operative position; and actuating means for selective movement of said pipe-shearing blade means and said shutoff plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means axially urging said shutoff plug into sealing relation with said housing through bore comprises ramp means carried by said housing within said work chamber in the path of slidable movement of said shutoff plug and said plug includes complementary ramp surfaces whereby transverse sliding movement of said plug into sealing relation with said chamber through bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises An actuator housing defining a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and in operative engagement with said carrier means, a high-pressure fluid source in fluid communication with said piston cylinder, and valve means for selectively controlling fluid flow to and from said piston cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pipe-shearing means additionally includes annular anvil means fixedly supported by said housing and at the periphery of said through bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shutoff plug, after cutoff of said pipe, is in sealing relation with said housing through bore portion receiving that section of the pipe extending away from a wellhead, the other through bore portion receiving that section of the pipe connected to the wellhead, whereby said shutoff plug surface in sealing relation is exposed to ambient pressure when said pipe section extending away from the wellhead is ruptured and the opposite surface of said shutoff plug is exposed to well fluid pressure thereby urging said shutoff plug into further sealing relation with said housing through bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shutoff plug comprises a substantially cylindrical solid metallic body having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said housing through bore and carries an annular sealing member for engagement with said annular anvil means when said shutoff plug is in the operative position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes longitudinally extending tracks disposed transversely to said pipe and within said work chamber for slidably supporting said carrier means, and longitudinally extending guide ways substantially parallel to said tracks and within said chamber disposed on opposite sides of said carrier means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a combination pipe cutoff and shutoff apparatus for use in well operations for severing a pipe having a longitudinal axis, the combination of: a housing having an internal chamber disposed laterally of said pipe axis and having a through bore extending along said axis for receiving a portion of said pipe in said chamber; carrier means guidably mounted within said chamber in a zone transverse to and at one side of said axis for cutting said pipe and sealing said through bore by movement of said carrier means in one direction in said zone; said carrier means including a fixed cutting edge and a shutoff plug behind said fixed cutting edge and movable relative to said carrier means in the axial direction of said pipe; and actuating means for said carrier means whereby movement of said carrier means in said one direction is adapted to cut said pipe portion within said chamber and to immediately thereafter move said plug to seal said through bore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a combination pipe cutoff and shutoff apparatus for use in well operations for severing a pipe having a longitudinal axis, the combination of: a housing having an internal chamber disposed laterally of said pipe axis and having a through bore extending along said axis for receiving a portion of said pipe in said chamber; carrier means guidably mounted within said chamber in a zone transverse to and at one side of said axis for cutting said pipe and sealing said through bore by movement of said carrier means in one direction in said zone; said carrier means including a fixed cutting edge and a shutoff plug behind said fixed cutting edge and movable relative to said carrier means in the axial direction of said pipe; and actuating means for said carrier means whereby movement of said carrier means in said one direction is adapted to cut said pipe portion within said chamber and to immediately thereafter move said plug to seal said through bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as stated in claim 8 wherein said internal chamber includes a chamber portion on the opposite side of said axis for receiving said fixed cutting edge on said carrier means and the crushed severed end of said pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as stated in claim 8 including cam means on said housing engageable by said plug during movement of said carrier means to move said plug into sealing relation with said through bore.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |