Rotating and reciprocating swivel apparatus and method

Abstract

What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a rotating and reciprocating swivel of adjustable stroke length and shearable by ram blow out preventers can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the lower wellbore from the riser. In one embodiment the mandrel of the swivel being comprised of double box end joints and using double pin end subs to connect a plurality of such mandrel joints together.

1 . A method of creating a rotating and reciprocating swivel tool while located on a drilling rig or platform having a specified stroke length, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a swivel tool, the swivel tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve/housing, the mandrel being rotatable and reciprocable relative to the sleeve/housing, the mandrel having a first stroke length relative to the sleeve/housing;   (b) supporting in a substantially vertical direction the swivel tool at the rig;   (c) adding a mandrel joint to the top of the mandrel, such additional joint increasing the stroking length of the mandrel relative to the first stoking length;   (d) lowering the swivel tool and again supporting in a vertical direction the swivel tool in a substantially vertical direction on the rig; and   (e) repeating steps “c” and “d” until the final stroking length of the mandrel relative to the sleeve/housing is at least 100 feet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps “c” and “d” can be repeated until the final stroking length can be greater than about 150 feet. 
     
     
         3 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step “e” a plurality of the mandrel joints include at least one recessed area in the exterior sealing surface, and during step “c” one of these recessed areas are used to support the swivel tool in a substantially vertical direction on the rig. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the recessed areas includes soft material transition sections. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upper portions of the recessed areas are be frustoconical. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upper portions of the recessed areas are tapered. 
     
     
         11 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A joint and seal ring assembly for joining and sealing threaded pipe or tube ends that define an axial flow passage therethrough, comprising:
 first and second ends, each of the ends being at a respective one of the tube ends;   the axial flow passage having first and second internal diameters;   each end having opposed end faces with side walls cooperating to define an annular recess comprising a seal chamber and a circumferentially continuous groove opening radially inward from the seal chamber to the axial flow passage, the radial groove being positioned between the first and second internal diameters of the axial flow passage;   
       a gasket comprising a main body and a radially inward second portion in the uncompressed state; and
 the main body of the gasket being positioned within the seal chamber. 
 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the gasket is resilient. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the main body of the gasket in an uncompressed state has an inner radius equal to or less than the inner radius of the seal chamber wall forming an interference fit occurs. 
     
     
         31 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of using a reciprocating swivel in a drill or work string, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) lowering a rotating and reciprocating tool to an annular blow out preventer, the tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve, the sleeve being reciprocable relative to the mandrel and the mandrel including at least one joint having double box ends with the joint being severable by a ram blow out preventer, the sleeve having two spaced apart sealing units, the swivel including an interstitial space between the sleeve and the mandrel with first and second spaced apart sealing units each sealing the interstitial space;   (b) after step “a”, having the annular blow out preventer close on the sleeve; and   (c) after step “b”, causing relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the mandrel.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein in step “a” the mandrel includes two double box end joints which are connected by a double pin end sub, and in step “c” when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the first sealing unit, the first sealing unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the second sealing keeps its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the first sealing unit, the first sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the second sealing unit, the second sealing unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the first sealing keeps its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the second sealing unit, the second sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein in step “a” the mandrel includes two double box end joints which are connected by a double pin end sub, and in step “c” when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the second sealing unit, the second sealing unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the first sealing keeps its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein after the double pin end sub passes by the second sealing unit, the second sealing unit regains its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein when the double pin end sub is at the same longitudinal position as the first sealing unit, the first sealing unit loses its seal of the interstitial space, but the second sealing keeps its seal of the interstitial space. 
     
     
         41 - 45 . (canceled)