Apparatus & methods for mechanically coupling a sealing system around the opening to an underground borehole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016090806-A1
Application number	US-201514666584-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Oct 10, 2013
Publication date	Mar 31, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus useful for providing a liquid-tight seal around an opening formed in the earth's surface includes a reusable load-supporting surface having at least two sealingly interconnected mats surrounding and spaced-away from the borehole opening. At least one flexible, planar spanner is configured to extend between the borehole wall and mats. At least one elongated spanner support is used to mechanically couple one or more spanners to the borehole wall. At least one elongated lip support is used to mechanically couple one or more spanners to the mats.

First claim

1 . Apparatus useful for providing a liquid-tight seal around an opening formed in the earth's surface to the underground borehole of a hydrocarbon exploration or production well without the need for liners around or adjacent to the borehole, the borehole having a wall formed of wood, cement, metal or other material extending around its opening, the apparatus comprising:
a reusable load-supporting surface including at least two sealingly interconnected mats constructed of impermeable plastic, said mats being spaced away from and at least partially surrounding the borehole opening; at least one flexible, planar spanner configured to extend between the borehole wall and said mats; at least one elongated spanner support configured to be positioned atop part of at least one said spanner and mechanically couple said at least one spanner to the borehole wall in forming a liquid tight seal therebetween; and at least one elongated lip support configured to be positioned atop or below part of at least one said spanner and mechanically couple said at least one spanner to at least one said mat in forming a liquid tight seal therebetween, wherein liquid exiting the borehole through the borehole opening is prevented from contacting the earth's surface around the borehole opening without the need for liners around or adjacent to the borehole.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said spanner is constructed of poly-liner material, each said lip support is constructed of thermoplastic material and each said spanner support is constructed of metal.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one platform-clamp unit configured to sealingly engage the borehole wall, wherein said at least one spanner support is configured to mechanically couple said at least one spanner to said platform-clamp unit to form a liquid tight seal between said at least one spanner and the borehole wall.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said platform-clamp unit is constructed at least partially of angle iron.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said platform-clamp unit includes a clamp configured to extend around the borehole wall, a platform extending from said clamp away from the borehole and an extension extending from said clamp toward the borehole.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one said spanner is configured to be coupled to said platform and said extension is configured to extend at least partially over the top of the borehole wall to assist in positioning said platform-clamp unit relative to the borehole wall.

7 . The apparatus of claim 3 further including at least one elongated seal member sandwiched between each said platform-clamp unit and the borehole wall.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one elongated spanner support seal configured to be sandwiched between each said spanner support and at least one said spanner.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 further including at least one elongated lip support seal configured to be sandwiched between each said lip support and at least one said spanner.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one removable cover configured to rest atop and protect said at least one spanner.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said removable cover includes at least one rubber mat.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 further including a plurality of releasable locking pins, at least one said locking pin configured to mechanically couple each said lip support to at least one said spanner and at least one said mat.

13 . Method of providing a liquid-tight seal around an opening formed in the earth's surface to the underground borehole of a hydrocarbon exploration or production well without the need for liners around or adjacent to the borehole, the borehole having a wall formed of wood, cement, metal or other material extending around its opening, the method comprising:
positioning at least two sealingly interconnected mats of a reusable load-supporting surface around, and spaced-apart from, the borehole opening; extending at least one flexible, planar spanner between the borehole wall and at least one mat; positioning at least one elongated spanner support atop part of at least one spanner proximate to the borehole wall; mechanically coupling each spanner support to its associated spanner or spanners and the borehole wall to form a liquid tight seal between the spanner and borehole wall; positioning at least one elongated lip support atop or below part of at least one spanner proximate to at least one mat; and mechanically coupling each elongated lip support to the at least one spanner and mat associated therewith to form a liquid tight seal between the spanner and mat, wherein liquid exiting the borehole through the borehole opening is prevented from contacting the earth's surface around the borehole opening without the need for liners around or adjacent to the borehole.

14 . The method of claim 13 further including sealingly engaging at least one platform-clamp unit to the borehole wall, wherein each spanner support mechanically couples at least one spanner to at least one platform-clamp unit to form a liquid tight seal between the spanner and borehole wall.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein each platform-clamp unit includes a clamp, a platform extending from the clamp away from the borehole and an extension extending from the clamp toward the borehole, further including
the clamp extending around the borehole wall, and
the extension extending at least partially across the top of the borehole wall to assist in positioning the platform-clamp unit relative to the borehole wall, wherein the spanner is mechanically coupled to the platform.

16 . The method of claim 14 further including sandwiching at least one elongated seal member between each platform-clamp unit and the borehole wall.

17 . The method of claim 13 further including sandwiching at least one elongated spanner support seal between each spanner support and at least one spanner.

18 . The method of claim 17 further including sandwiching at least one elongated lip support seal between each lip support and at least one spanner.

19 . The method of claim 13 further including positioning at least one removable cover atop and each spanner.

20 . The method of claim 13 wherein each mat includes an upper lip extending along at least one edge thereof and a lower lip extending along at least one edge thereof, wherein when the lower lip of a mat is closest to the borehole opening, the elongated lip support is positioned atop the associated spanner and lower lip of the mat.

21 . The method of claim 20 wherein when the upper lip of a mat is closest to the borehole opening, the elongated lip support is positioned below the associated spanner and upper lip of the mat.

Assignees

• Newpark Mats & Integrated Services Llc

Inventors

• Dugas Aaron William
• Durio Kenneth Edward
• Mcdowell James Kerwin
• Bordelon Randy Paul
• Edwards Jr Richard Lamar

Classifications

• E21B33/03 Primary

  Well heads; Setting-up thereof · CPC title

• E21B33/02

  Surface sealing or packing · CPC title