Rotating Control Device Clamping Mechanism

Abstract

A closure arrangement for use on a rotating control device used during managed pressure drilling, said closure arrangement adapted for the installation of a bearing assembly adapted for insertion into a body, said body defining an upper circular opening and comprising an outer circumferential edge, said closure arrangement comprising:—a closure collet comprising:—a top section comprising an outwardly protruding shoulder and an inwardly protruding shoulder; and a plurality of spaced apart fingers extending downwardly therefrom forming a middle section and a bottom section of said collet; said fingers adapted to securely and removably fit around said outer circumferential edge of said body; and—a collet lock ring adapted to slidingly move between a first position defined by the middle section of the closure collet and a second position proximate the bottom section of the closure collet; wherein, when the closure arrangement is in use, the bearing assembly is securely inserted into said body and the collet lock ring is secured around the bottom section of the closure collet.

1 . A closure arrangement for use on a rotating control device used during managed pressure drilling, said closure arrangement adapted for the installation of a bearing assembly adapted for insertion into a body, said body defining an upper circular opening and comprising an outer circumferential edge, said closure arrangement comprising:
 a closure collet comprising:   a top section comprising an outwardly protruding shoulder and an inwardly protruding shoulder; and a plurality of spaced apart fingers extending downwardly therefrom forming a middle section and a bottom section of said collet; said fingers adapted to securely and removably fit around said outer circumferential edge of said body; and   a collet lock ring adapted to slidingly move between a first position defined by the middle section of the closure collet and a second position proximate the bottom section of the closure collet; wherein, when the closure arrangement is in use, the bearing assembly is securely inserted into said body and the collet lock ring is secured around the bottom section of the closure collet.   
     
     
         2 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly protruding shoulder of the closure collet is adapted to fit a complementary cavity located on said bearing assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the closure collet comprises a single piece comprising an upper section itself comprising a solid upper ring, and a lower section comprising a plurality of flexible fingers integral with the upper section adapted to allow the expansion of the lower part over the outer circumferential edge of the body when inserting or removing the closure arrangement therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock ring comprises a solid piece comprising two or more ears adapted to attach lifting means. 
     
     
         5 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the lifting means comprise commercially available eye bolts intended for lifting. 
     
     
         6 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly protruding shoulder of the collet is adapted to be inserted between a first piece and a second piece on the bearing assembly wherein the first piece is adjacent to the second piece and wherein the collet does not create a rotational lock to said bearing assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein upon installation of the bearing assembly is maintained in alignment with the body with anti-rotation pins. 
     
     
         8 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the closure collet fingers further comprise a shallow inward facing taper adapted to engage with a shallow outward facing taper positioned on an upper outside circumferential edge of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure collet is also adapted to expand over a lip located on the upper edge of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure collet and the body each comprise complimentary tapers adapted to mutually engage one another to guide and center the bearing assembly during the process of lowering the bearing assembly within the circular opening of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The closure arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein when the bearing assembly is fully seated in the body, the closure collet is secured to the body by fitting engagement of the upward facing tapered face on the bottom of the collet with the downward facing lower tapered face on the body. 
     
     
         12 . A method of securing a bearing assembly into a body during managed pressure drilling operations, said body having an upper circumferential opening defining a circular aperture, wherein said method comprises:
 providing a closure arrangement according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 ;   securing the collet to the bearing assembly;   securing a lift sling to lifting hooks located on the collet ring;   lifting the bearing assembly;   aligning the bearing assembly over the circular aperture in the body;   lowering the bearing assembly into the circular aperture in the body ( 2 );   aligning the anti-rotation pins with the corresponding openings in the bearing assembly;   sliding the closure collet down to be secured around the bottom section of the collet by abutting a downward facing taper on the inside of the lock ring with an upward facing taper on the closure collet; and   removing the lift sling from the hooks located on the collet ring.