Rotating annular preventer and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A rotating annular preventer having a body with at least one seal housed within the body, and the at least one seal being at least one rotatable seal. The at least one seal can seal the annulus around a tubular in the rotating annular preventer by actuating a first seal around the tubular by a piston and/or rotating a second seal sealingly engaged with the tubular, as the tubular is rotated, since the rotating annular preventer is configured to do both. An outlet, located axially below the piston in the side of the body, can divert fluid from an annulus surrounding the tubular.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotating annular preventer, comprising:
 a body;   at least one seal housed within the body and configured to seal against a tubular extending through the rotating annular preventer by actuation of a piston, wherein the at least one seal comprises at least one rotatable seal; and   an outlet in the side of the body to divert fluid from an annulus surrounding the tubular, wherein the outlet is located axially below the piston.   
     
     
         2 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 1 , wherein a single seal is both the at least one rotatable seal and the seal actuated by the piston. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 2 , further comprising a bearing assembly disposed on an outer radial surface of the single seal, thereby providing for the single seal to be rotatable. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 2 , further comprising a bearing assembly disposed on an outer radial surface of the piston, thereby providing for the single seal to be rotatable. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 2 , further comprising a first bearing assembly disposed on an outer radial surface of the piston and a second bearing assembly disposed on an outer radial surface of the single seal, thereby providing for the single seal to be rotatable. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises an upper portion containing a rotating control device and a lower portion containing an annular preventer. 
     
     
         7 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 6 , wherein the rotating control device comprises the at least one rotatable seal and the annular preventer comprises the at least one seal actuated by the piston. 
     
     
         8 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 7 , further comprising a bearing assembly disposed on an outer radial surface of the at least one rotatable seal, thereby providing for rotation of the at least one rotatable seal. 
     
     
         9 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 6 , wherein the rotating control device comprises two rotatable seals. 
     
     
         10 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 9 , wherein the each of the two rotatable seals is rotatable due to a bearing assembly disposed on an outer radial surface of each of the two rotatable seals. 
     
     
         11 . The rotating annular preventer  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal is reinforced with a metallic material. 
     
     
         12 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one or more lubrication systems disposed in the body. 
     
     
         13 . The rotating annular preventer of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet flow line further comprises at least one or more valves to open and close the outlet flow line. 
     
     
         14 . A method for using a rotating annular preventer, comprising:
 placing a tubular in the rotating annular preventer about an central axis of the rotating annular preventer;   sealing off the annulus around the tubular with the rotating annular preventer by actuating a first seal around the tubular by a piston and/or rotating a second seal sealingly engaged with the tubular as the tubular is rotated, the rotating annular preventer being configured to do both; and   opening a valve to redirect a fluid in the annular around the tubular out an outlet flow line that is below the first seal being actuated by the piston.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first seal and the second seal are the same seal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rotation of the at least one seal is by a bearing assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising lubricating the at least one seal with a lubricant to help enable rotation with or without a bearing assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising directing the annulus fluid from the outlet flow line to a fluid transport line. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first seal actuated by the piston is axially below the second seal rotated with the tubular. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second seal is sealingly engaged with the tubular by a wellbore pressure.