Rotating control device having a partition seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017167221-A1
Application number	US-201514969153-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2015
Priority date	Dec 15, 2015
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rotating control device (RCD) which partitions the rotating speed of an inner barrel relative to a rotary and stationary seal via a roller bearing assembly. The roller bearing assembly causes the rotary seal to rotate at near half the speed, or portion of the speed thereof, of the inner barrel. Alternatively, a rotary seal assembly is rotatable by frictional contact with the inner barrel, and a stationary seal assembly is in frictional contact with the rotary seal assembly to prevent the rotary seal assembly from rotating at the same speed as the inner barrel. The speed differential between the inner barrel and the rotary seal, as well as between the rotary seal and the stationary seal is reduced by nearly half, which reduces wear and increases performance life of each seal.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A rotating control device, comprising:
an inner barrel; an outer barrel; a roller bearing assembly disposed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel, wherein the roller bearing assembly is rotatable by rotation of the inner barrel; a rotary seal assembly coupled to the roller bearing assembly; and a stationary seal assembly disposed adjacent to the rotary seal assembly.

2 . The rotating control device of claim 1 , wherein the rotary seal assembly is rotatable relative to the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

3 . The rotating control device of claim 1 , wherein the roller bearing assembly comprises:
an inner ring; an outer ring; a plurality of roller bearings disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring; a cage comprising a plurality of roller bearing slots, wherein at least one roller bearing is disposed in each roller bearing slot; and a cage insert coupled to the cage.

4 . The rotating control device of claim 3 , wherein the cage insert is coupled to the cage by a pin mechanism.

5 . The rotating control device of claim 4 , wherein the rotary seal assembly is coupled to the cage insert by another pin mechanism.

6 . The rotating control device of claim 5 , wherein the inner barrel is rotatable at a first rotational speed, and wherein the cage of the roller bearing assembly is rotatable by rotation of the inner barrel at a second rotational speed less than the first rotational speed.

7 . A rotating control device, comprising:
an inner barrel; an outer barrel; a roller bearing assembly comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, a cage comprising a plurality of slots, a plurality of roller bearings secured by the slots, and a cage insert disposed between the inner and outer rings, wherein the roller bearing assembly is coupled to the inner barrel; a first seal coupled to a first seal carrier, wherein the first seal carrier is coupled to the cage insert of the roller bearing assembly; and a second seal coupled to a second seal carrier.

8 . The rotating control device of claim 7 , wherein the roller bearing assembly is rotatable by rotation of the inner barrel to rotate the first seal carrier.

9 . The rotating control device of claim 7 , wherein the second seal is stationary relative to the outer barrel.

10 . The rotating control device of claim 9 , wherein the second seal is disposed adjacent to the first seal and seals against the first seal carrier.

11 . The rotating control device of claim 7 , wherein the first seal is rotatable relative to the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

12 . The rotating control device of claim 11 , wherein the first seal is rotatable by rotation of the inner barrel via the roller bearing assembly at a first rotational speed.

13 . The rotating control device of claim 12 , wherein the first rotational speed of the first seal is lower than a second rotational speed of the inner barrel.

14 . The rotating control device of claim 7 , wherein the cage insert is coupled to the cage by a pin mechanism.

15 . The rotating control device of claim 14 , wherein the first seal carrier is coupled to the cage insert by another pin mechanism.

16 . The rotating control device of claim 7 , further comprising a sleeve member disposed between the first seal and the inner barrel.

17 . The rotating control device of claim 7 , wherein at least one roller bearing is disposed in each slot, and wherein the cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring.

18 . A rotating control device, comprising:
an inner barrel; an outer barrel; a rotary seal assembly disposed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel, wherein the rotary seal assembly is rotatable by frictional contact with the inner barrel; and a stationary seal assembly disposed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel, wherein the stationary seal assembly is in frictional contact with the rotary seal assembly to prevent the rotary seal assembly from rotating at the same speed as the inner barrel.

19 . The rotating control device of claim 18 , wherein the rotary seal assembly rotates at a first rotational speed, wherein the inner barrel rotates at a second rotational speed, and wherein the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

20 . The rotating control device of claim 18 , further comprising a roller bearing assembly disposed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel, wherein the roller bearing assembly is rotatable by rotation of the inner barrel.

21 . The rotating control device of claim 20 , wherein the roller bearing assembly includes a inner ring, an outer ring, a cage having a plurality of slots, and at least one roller bearing disposed in each slot, wherein the cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring.

22 . The rotating control device of claim 18 , wherein the inner barrel is rotatable relative to the rotary seal assembly and the stationary seal assembly.

23 . The rotating control device of claim 22 , wherein the rotary seal assembly is rotatable relative to the stationary seal assembly.

24 . The rotating control device of claim 18 , wherein the rotary seal assembly comprises a first seal coupled to a first seal carrier, and wherein the first seal is in contact with the inner barrel.

25 . The rotating control device of claim 24 , wherein the stationary seal assembly comprises a second seal coupled to a second seal carrier, and wherein the second seal is in contact with the first seal carrier.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Reinhardt Paul Andrew

Classifications

• E21B3/00

  Rotary drilling · CPC title

• F16J15/441

  with floating ring · CPC title

• F16C2352/00

  Apparatus for drilling · CPC title

• F16C33/7893

  mounted to a cage or integral therewith · CPC title

• F16C19/54

  Systems consisting of a plurality of bearings with rolling friction (spindle bearings F16C35/08) · CPC title