Well Casing Heads, Systems, and Methods for Removing Fluid from Earth about an Underground Platform

Abstract

Well casing heads are provided that can include: a housing defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the first diameter of the first opening being greater than the second diameter of the second opening; and at least one fluid passageway extending through a wall of the housing and into the second opening. Well casing systems within a wall of an underground platform are also provided. The systems can include: a well casing head; a pair of tubular members about each other extending from the well casing head into a wall of the platform; and a void between the two members, the void extending from within the underground platform to the at least one fluid passageway of the well casing head. Methods for removing fluid from earth about an underground platform are also provided.

1 . A well casing head comprising:
 a housing having housing walls extending between two ends, the housing defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the openings being in fluid communication with one another;   the first opening extending through the housing and defining a first diameter in one cross section, the second opening extending through the housing and defining a second diameter in the one cross section, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; and   at least one fluid passageway extending through a wall of the housing and into the second opening.   
     
     
         2 . The well casing head of  claim 1  further comprising a wall within the housing, the wall extending between the first and second diameters to join the openings within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The well casing head of  claim 2  wherein the wall is other than normal to the diameter of the first opening. 
     
     
         4 . The well casing head of  claim 1  further comprising another fluid passageway extending through another wall of the housing and into the second opening. 
     
     
         5 . The well casing head of  claim 4  wherein the other fluid passageway opposes the one fluid passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The well casing head of  claim 1  further comprising a flange extending from the first end about the first opening. 
     
     
         7 . The well casing head of  claim 1  further comprising a flange extending from the second end about the second opening. 
     
     
         8 . The well casing head of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure gauge operably coupled to the well casing head. 
     
     
         9 . A well casing system within a wall of an underground platform, the system comprising:
 a well casing head comprising:
 a housing having housing walls extending between two ends, the housing defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the openings being in fluid communication with one another; 
 at least one fluid passageway extending through a wall of the housing and into the second opening; 
   a pair of tubular members about each other extending from the well casing head into a wall of the platform; and   a void between the two members, the void extending from within the underground platform to the at least one fluid passageway of the well casing head.   
     
     
         10 . The well casing system of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the pair of tubular members engages the wall of the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The well casing system of  claim 9  further comprising a flange about the first opening of the well casing head, the flange engaging at least one of the pair of members. 
     
     
         12 . The well casing system of  claim 11  wherein one of the members is outside and confines the other of the members therein to define the void therebetween, the outside member engaging the flange. 
     
     
         13 . The well casing system of  claim 9  wherein one of the members is outside and confines the other of the members therein to define the void therebetween, the system further comprising at least one discontinuous wall of the outside member within earth about the platform. 
     
     
         14 . The well casing system of  claim 13  wherein the discontinuous portion of the wall is in fluid communication with the void between the members and the fluid passageway. 
     
     
         15 . A method for removing fluid from earth about an underground platform, the method comprising:
 extending an outer tubular member to within the earth from the underground platform;   extending at least one inner tubular member within the outer tubular member to define a space between the outer and inner tubular members;   coupling both the outer and inner tubular members with a well casing head, the coupling completing fluid communication between the space and a fluid passageway within the housing of the well casing head; and   removing fluid from at least two distinct regions of the earth about the underground platform, fluid from one of the two regions being removed through the space between the members, and fluid from the other of the two regions being removed through the inner tubular member.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the outer tubular member defines a discontinuous portion that provides fluid communication between the earth about the platform and the space, the fluid from the one region being transferred through the discontinuous portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising removing fluid from more than the at least two distinct regions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein fluid is removed through a plurality of discontinuous portions aligned with different regions of the earth about the platform. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein at least some of the plurality of portions oppose each other along the outer member.