Pipe centering and washing apparatus

Abstract

A pipe centering and washing apparatus comprises a body having an axial bore sized to accommodate a drill string, and pipe moving means. The pipe moving means comprises a ram housing having a radial bore, a pipe ram movable along the radial bore, and a ram actuator to move the pipe ram along the radial bore. When the pipe centering and washing apparatus is mounted on the wellhead, the axial bore is in fluid communication and substantially aligned with the wellhead's internal bore. The pipe centering and washing apparatus is operable between a retracted position and a centering position. When a drill string is present in the axial bore, the pipe moving means is operable to position the drill string in the axial bore between an off-centered position and a substantially centered position.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is being claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A pipe centering and washing apparatus for use with a wellhead having an internal bore, the pipe centering and washing apparatus comprising:
 a body having an axial bore being sized to accommodate a drill string;   a pipe moving means, comprising:
 at least one ram housing having a radial bore; 
 at least one pipe ram movable along the radial bore; and 
 at least one ram actuator to move the pipe ram along the radial bore; 
   wherein, when the pipe centering and washing apparatus is mounted on the wellhead, the axial bore is in fluid communication and substantially aligned with the wellhead's internal bore;   wherein the pipe centering and washing apparatus is operable between a retracted position and a centering position; and   wherein, when a drill string is present in the axial bore, the pipe moving means is operable to position the drill string in the axial bore between an off-centered position and a substantially centered position.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body is a rotating flange. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pipe ram further comprises a pipe engaging end having a width that measures between 25% to 65% of the diameter of the axial bore. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the radial bore is sized to fully receive the pipe ram therein when the pipe centering and washing apparatus is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises additional radial bores in fluid communication with the axial bore. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ram actuator further comprises a double-acting hydraulic ram having a piston in a cylinder, said piston connected to the pipe ram by means of a piston rod;
 wherein the piston rod comprises a proximal end and a distal end; 
 wherein the piston connects to the pipe ram at said proximal end; and 
 further comprising at least one removable ram stop operable to connect to said distal end and sized to limit the stroke of the ram actuator to a predetermined position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the distal end comprises a threadable opening;
 wherein the at least one removable ram stop further comprises:
 a central axial shaft member suitable to threabably connect to the threaded opening; and 
 a circumferential member dimensioned to engage the piston when the stroke of the ram actuator is in the predetermined position. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises at least one fluid passage having at least one nozzle;
 wherein the fluid passage is suitable to direct a cleaning fluid from an exterior source into the axial bore via said at least one nozzle. 
 
     
     
         9 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a plurality of fluid passages and a plurality of nozzles are provided in a radial manner around the axial bore. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a circumferential groove along the interior of the body; and
 wherein said plurality of nozzles are all positioned entirely within said circumferential groove. 
 
     
     
         11 . A pipe centering and washing apparatus for use with a wellhead having an internal bore, the pipe centering and washing apparatus comprising:
 a body having an axial bore being sized to accommodate a drill string;   a pipe moving means, comprising:
 at least one ram housing having a radial bore; 
 at least one pipe ram movable along the radial bore; and 
 at least one ram actuator to move the pipe ram along the radial bore; 
   wherein, when the pipe centering and washing apparatus is mounted on the wellhead, the axial bore is in fluid communication and substantially aligned with the wellhead's internal bore;   wherein the pipe centering and washing apparatus is operable between a retracted position and a centering position;   wherein, when a drill string is present in the axial bore, the pipe moving means is operable to position the drill string in the axial bore between an off-centered position and a substantially centered position;   wherein the radial bore is sized to fully receive the pipe ram therein when the pipe centering and washing apparatus is in the retracted position; and   wherein the ram actuator further comprises a double-acting hydraulic ram having a piston in a cylinder, said piston connected to the pipe ram by means of a piston rod;   wherein the piston rod comprises a proximal end and a distal end;   wherein the piston connects to the pipe ram at said proximal end; and   further comprising at least one removable ram stop operable to connect to said distal end and sized to limit the stroke of the ram actuator to a predetermined position.   
     
     
         12 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the body further comprises at least one fluid passage having at least one nozzle;
 wherein the fluid passage is suitable to direct a cleaning fluid from an exterior source into the axial bore via said at least one nozzle. 
 
     
     
         13 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a plurality of fluid passages and a plurality of nozzles are provided in a radial manner around the axial bore. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a circumferential groove along the interior of the body; and
 wherein said plurality of nozzles are all positioned entirely within said circumferential groove. 
 
     
     
         15 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the body is a rotating flange. 
     
     
         16 . The pipe centering and washing apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the pipe ram further comprises a pipe engaging end having a width that measures between 25% to 65% of the diameter of the axial bore.