Apparatus And Methods For Producing Oil and Plugging Blowouts

Abstract

An apparatus for producing oil from a well comprises a flexible semi-circular shaped skirt with an indentation. A plurality of rods is secured to the skirt and form radially emanating channels in the skirt. The skirt is secured to a hollow drill string via the indentation. The drill string has a drill bit at one end, a distal section above the drill bit, and a holding section above the distal section to which the skirt is operatively coupled. A movable sleeve is selectively wrapped around the skirt to keep the skirt in a closed position. A release that is interactive with the sleeve selectively allows the skirt to move from the closed position to an open position, and an outer area covered by the skirt increases as the skirt moves from the closed position to the open position. The open skirt abuts against and plugs the well.

1 . An apparatus for producing oil from a well, the apparatus comprising:
 a flexible semi-circular shaped skirt having a curved edge and an internal edge, the internal edge having an indentation at its center that divides the internal edge into two segments;   a plurality of rods secured to the skirt forming radially emanating channels therein, the rods having a front end and a rear end, the front ends secured adjacent the indentation, and the rear ends secured adjacent the skirt curved edge;   a hollow drill string having a drill bit at one end, and having a distal section adjacent the drill bit, the distal section having openings to allow the oil to flow into the drill string; a holding section adjacent the distal section, the holding section operatively coupled to the skirt at the indentation, such that rear ends of the rods are farther away from the distal section than the front ends, the internal edge segments of the skirt secured to each other;   a movable sleeve secured about the skirt to maintain the skirt in a closed position;   a release interactive with the sleeve to selectively allow the skirt to move from the closed position to an open position, an outer area covered by the skirt increasing as the skirt moves from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a ring configured to fasten the skirt to the holding section, the ring being secured to the indentation; and   b. wherein the indentation is semi-circular.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein the release can be activated by a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. the skirt is comprised of Kevlar; and   b. the release is mechanically controllable from a rig.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. the skirt is composed of a generally impermeable fabric;   b. the rods are comprised of alloy steel; and   c. the release is radio-controlled.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. the rods are sewn to the skirt; and   b. the openings in the distal section are created by lowering and activating a perforating gun into the distal section.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein the openings in the distal section are initially closed, but can be selectively opened via a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein the openings can be selectively opened mechanically. 
     
     
         9 . A method to produce liquid from a well, the method comprising:
 a. providing an apparatus having:
 (i) a flexible semi-circular shaped skirt having a curved edge and an internal edge, the internal edge having an indentation at its center dividing the internal edge into two segments; 
 (ii) a plurality of rods secured to the skirt forming radially emanating channels therein, the rods having a front end and a rear end, the front ends secured adjacent the indentation, and the rear ends secured adjacent the skirt curved edge; 
 (iii) a hollow drill string having a drill bit at one end, and having a distal section above the drill bit; a holding section above the distal section, the holding section operatively coupled to the skirt at the indentation, such that rear ends of the rods are farther away from the distal section than the front ends, the internal edge segments being secured to each other; 
 (iv) a movable sleeve selectively wrapped around the skirt to keep the skirt in a closed position; 
 (v) a release interactive with the sleeve to selectively allow the skirt to move from the closed position to an open position; 
   b. lowering the apparatus past a lower most point of the well into a liquid layer by rotating and advancing the drill bit;   c. activating the release after the apparatus has been submerged in the liquid layer;   d. hoisting the drill string towards a surface, thereby causing the skirt to open by the liquid filled therein, and plugging the well with the skirt; and   e. transporting the liquid to the surface via openings in the distal section.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a. the liquid is oil;   b. the openings can be selectively opened by a hydraulic actuator; and   c. wherein the method further comprises the step of opening the windows by the hydraulic actuator after the apparatus has been lowered past a lower most point of the well.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a. the liquid is oil;   b. the openings are windows that can be selectively opened mechanically from a rig; and   c. wherein the method further comprises the step of mechanically opening the windows from the rig after the apparatus has been lowered past a lower most point of the well.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a. the liquid is oil; and   b. wherein the method further comprises the step of creating openings in the distal section with a perforation gun after the apparatus has been lowered past a lower most point of the well.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a. the release is a radio-controlled lock; and   b. wherein the method further comprises the step of jarring the drill string to ensure that the skirt opens, thereby enabling the skirt to fill with oil thereafter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the release is a mechanically operable lock. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the release is operated hydraulically. 
     
     
         16 . A method to stop a flow of liquid and gas from a blowout, the method comprising:
 a. providing an apparatus having:
 (i) a flexible semi-circular shaped skirt having a curved edge and an internal edge, the internal edge having an indentation at its center that divides the internal edge into two segments; 
 (ii) a plurality of rods secured to the skirt forming radially emanating channels therein, the rods having a front end and a rear end, the front ends secured adjacent the indentation, and the rear ends secured adjacent the skirt curved edge; 
 (iii) a coiled tubing drilling string having a drill bit at one end, and the skirt operatively coupled to a rigid part of the string such that rear ends of the rods are farther away from the drill bit than the front ends, and the internal edge segments being secured to each other; 
   b. lowering the apparatus past a lower most point of the well into a liquid layer by rotating and advancing the drill bit, the advancement being at a speed greater than the speed of the gushing outflow;   c. jarring the coiled tubing, allowing the skirt to open and to move back towards a surface, thereby filling the skirt with oil and plugging the well with the open skirt; and   d. filling the well and drill string with mud and cement to permanently seal the well.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 a. a movable sleeve is selectively wrapped around the skirt to keep the skirt in a closed position, before the string is pushed into the well; and   b. wherein the sleeve is selectively manipulated after the apparatus is lowered into the liquid layer beneath a lower most point of the well to enable the skirt to open.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the movable sleeve is mechanically operable from a rig. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the movable sleeve is a radio controlled lock that can be opened with a radio controller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a. the movable sleeve is manipulated using a hydraulic actuator;   b. the liquid is oil; and wherein   c. the skirt is lowered past a lower most point of the well at a speed which is only slightly greater than the speed of the outflow.