Lockable swivel apparatus and method

Abstract

A lockable swivel ( 4 ) for use in drilling applications which allows the operator to selectively engage and disengage the swivel ( 4 ). The lockable swivel ( 4 ) is comprised of a locking mandrel ( 7 ) carried in a body ( 3 ) which engages, upon actuation, splined surfaces ( 20, 21 ) within the swivel mandrel ( 5 ) thereby locking the two together. Various methods for the use of the lockable swivel ( 4 ) in wireline and other drilling operations are demonstrated.

1. A lockable swivel comprising
 a retainer sub,  
 a lower body providing a cooperating surface for engagement with  to engage a locking mandrel, said lower body connected to the retainer sub and enclosing the locking mandrel,  
 athe locking mandrel providing cooperating surfaces for engagement with the lower body,  
 a swivel mandrel,  
 a retainer nut connected to the lower body and enclosing the swivel mandrel,  
 means for engagingthe cooperating surface means betweenengaging the locking mandrel and the swivel mandrel to permit relative rotational movement.  
 
     
     
       2. The lockable swivel of  claim 1  wherein the retainer sub is provided with threaded connections for connecting to a drill string. 
     
     
       3. The lockable swivel of  claim 1  wherein the cooperating surfaces of the mandrels are splines. 
     
     
       4. An in-line swivel apparatus for use in wireline operations on a drilling operation comprising:
 a tubular  retainer sub providing a threaded connections for connecting the tubular body to the  connection to a drill string,  
 a first tubular  lower body providing spline surfaces for engaging  to engage a locking mandrel,  
 a second tubular body  top sub providing cooperating spline surfaces for engaging the  to engage surfaces of the locking mandrel and to retain a swivel mandrel,  
 a bearing means  connected to the tubular bodytop sub to permit rotation of the swivel mandrel,  
 athe locking mandrel providing first cooperating surfaces for engagingto engage the spline surfaces of the first tubularlower body, and second cooperating surfaces for engaging  to engage the swivel mandrel.  
 
     
     
       5. The in-line swivel of  claim 4  wherein the locking mandrel is engaged by application of hydraulic fluid in a space formed between the inner surface of the first tubular body and the outer surface of the locking mandrel. 
     
     
       6. A method of using a lockable in-line swivel for the purpose of recovering a pipe string of a drill string, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting the swivel in a drill string, wherein the swivel is located between a top drive unit and a rotary table,  
 locking the swivel,  
 holding torque on the drill string with the top drive unit,  
 reciprocating the drill string longitudinally to work torque down the pipe string, and  
 thereafter affixing the pipe string to the rotary table to continue holding the torque on the pipe string while unlocking the swivel to thereby permit rotation of the drill string below the swivel without disengagement of wireline entry devices when present in the drill string above the swivel.  
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein a wireline entry device is connected in the drill string above the swivel and below the top drive unit. 
     
     
       8. A method of using a lockable in-line swivel for the purpose of recovering a pipe string of a drill string, the drill string having a wireline entry device, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting the in-line swivel in the drill string above a rotary table and below the wireline entry device and a top drive unit,  
 engaging the drill string below the swivel on the pipe string with the rotary table,  
 applying torque to the pipe string with the rotary table,  
 holding the torque on the pipe string with the rotary table, locking the in-line swivel,  
 releasing the torque held be the rotary table such that the torque on the pipe string is transferred to the locked in-line swivel and the top drive unit,  
 reciprocating the drill string longitudinally to distribute the torque evenly over the entire length of the drill string, and  
 thereafter affixing the pipe string to the rotary table to continue holding the torque on the pipe string while unlocking the swivel to thereby permit rotation of the drill string below the swivel without disengagement of the wireline entry device.  
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the wireline entry device is a top entry sub. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein the wireline entry device is a side entry sub. 
     
     
       11. A method of using a swivel in a drill string to perform wireline services, wherein the drill string includes a wireline access device, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting the swivel in the drill string above a rotary table and below the wireline access device; and  
 unlocking the swivel such that the portion of the drill string above the swivel is prevented from rotation while the portion of the drill string below the swivel can rotate freely and thus the drill string below the swivel can be rotated by the rotary table without having to remove the wireline access device.  
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the wireline access device is a side entry sub. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  wherein the wireline access device is a top entry sub. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11  wherein the swivel is locked hydraulically. 
     
     
       15. A method of using a swivel in a drill string to perform wireline services, wherein the drill string has a wireline access device, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting the swivel in the drill string above a rotary table and below the wireline access device such that the swivel can alternate from a locked position, in which the portion of the drill string below the swivel does not rotate independently of the portion of the drill string above the swivel, to an unlocked position in which the swivel allows the portion of the drill string below the swivel to rotate independently of the portion of the drill string above the swivel; and  
 selectively alternating the swivel between its locked position and its unlocked position.  
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the the wireline access device is a side entry sub. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  wherein the the wireline access device is a top entry sub. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of selectively alternating the swivel between its locked position and its unlocked position is performed hydraulically. 
     
     
       19. A drill string for use with a top drive unit and a rotary table comprising:
 an assembly joint;  
 a wireline access sub;  
 a lubricator joint;  
 a lockable swivel according to  claim 1 ; and  
 a pipe string,  
 
       wherein when the drill string is in use
 the assembly joint is located between the top drive unit and the wireline access sub,  
 the lubricator joint is located between the wireline access sub and the lockable swivel,  
 the lockable swivel is located between the top drive unit and the rotary table, and  
 the pipe string is located below the lockable swivel.  
 
     
     
       20. The drill string according to  claim 19 , wherein the wireline access sub is a top entry sub. 
     
     
       21. The drill string according to  claim 19 , wherein the wireline access sub is a side entry sub. 
     
     
       22. A lockable swivel, the swivel comprising:
   a body having a first spline, a first connection to a drill string at a first end, and a bore to receive a swivel mandrel at a second end;        a retainer to retain said swivel mandrel within said body;        said swivel mandrel having a second spline configured to cooperate with said first spline and to actuate from an unlocked position to a locked position; and        said swivel mandrel having a second connection to the drill string.      
     
     
       23. The lockable swivel of  claim 22  wherein said swivel mandrel is configured to rotate freely with respect to said body in said unlocked position.  
     
     
       24. The lockable swivel of  claim 22  wherein said swivel mandrel is rotationally fixed with respect to said body in said locked position.  
     
     
       25. The lockable swivel of  claim 22  wherein said swivel mandrel includes a locking mandrel.  
     
     
       26. The lockable swivel of  claim 25  wherein said locking mandrel and said swivel mandrel are freely rotatable with respect to said body in said unlocked position.  
     
     
       27. The lockable swivel of  claim 25  wherein said locking mandrel and said swivel mandrel are rotationally fixed with respect to said body in said locked position.  
     
     
       28. The lockable swivel of  claim 22  wherein said body comprises a plurality of subs.  
     
     
       29. The lockable swivel of  claim 28  wherein said plurality of subs includes a retainer sub having said connection to the drill string.  
     
     
       30. The lockable swivel of  claim 28  wherein said plurality of subs includes a top sub having said bore to receive said swivel mandrel.  
     
     
       31. The lockable swivel of  claim 22  wherein said body comprises a plurality of threadably engaged subs.  
     
     
       32. The lockable swivel of  claim 22  wherein said swivel mandrel is coupled to a locking mandrel.  
     
     
       33. The lockable swivel of  claim 32  wherein said swivel mandrel and said locking mandrel are releasably coupled together by splined surfaces.  
     
     
       34. A lockable swivel comprising:
   a lower body having a first connection to a drill string, a first spline, and a bore;        a swivel mandrel to be received into said bore, said swivel mandrel including a second connection to the drill string and a second spline;        a retainer configured to retain said swivel mandrel within said lower body; and        said second spline configured to engage said first spline in a locked configuration and disengage in a swivel configuration.      
     
     
       35. The lockable swivel of  claim 34  wherein said swivel mandrel is freely rotatable with respect to said lower body in said swivel configuration.  
     
     
       36. The lockable swivel of  claim 34  wherein said swivel mandrel is rotationally fixed with respect to said lower body in said locked configuration.  
     
     
       37. The lockable swivel of  claim 34  wherein said swivel mandrel includes a locking mandrel.  
     
     
       38. The lockable swivel of  claim 37  wherein said locking mandrel and said swivel mandrel are configured to rotate freely with respect to said lower body in said swivel configuration.  
     
     
       39. The lockable swivel of  claim 37  wherein said locking mandrel and said swivel mandrel are rotationally fixed with respect to said lower body in said locked configuration.  
     
     
       40. The lockable swivel of  claim 34  wherein said lower body comprises a plurality of subs.  
     
     
       41. The lockable swivel of  claim 40  wherein said plurality of subs includes a top sub having said bore to receive said swivel mandrel.  
     
     
       42. The lockable swivel of  claim 40  wherein said plurality of subs includes a retainer sub having said first connection to the drill string.  
     
     
       43. The lockable swivel of  claim 34  wherein said lower body comprises a plurality of threadably engaged subs.  
     
     
       44. The lockable swivel of  claim 34  wherein said swivel mandrel is coupled to a locking mandrel.  
     
     
       45. The lockable swivel of  claim 44  wherein said swivel mandrel and said locking mandrel are coupled together by splined surfaces.  
     
     
       46. A method to perform drilling services using a top drive assembly, the method comprising:
   connecting a lockable swivel to a drill string above a rotary table and below an access sub;        unlocking the lockable swivel;        deploying a tool through the access sub, the lockable swivel, and the drill string;        rotating the drill string below the lockable swivel with the rotary table; and        holding the access sub stationary with the top drive assembly.      
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46  wherein sections of drill pipe separate the lockable swivel and the access sub.  
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 46  wherein the access sub is a wireline top entry sub.  
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 46  wherein the access sub is a wireline side entry sub.  
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 46  further including reciprocating the drillstring, lockable swivel, and access sub to work torque down a wellbore.  
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 46  wherein the drilling services include wireline services.  
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 46  wherein the drilling services include directional drilling.  
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 46  wherein the drilling services include pipe recovery.  
     
     
       54. A drill string for use with a top drive unit and a rotary table comprising:
   an assembly joint located between the top drive unit and a wireline access sub;        a lubricator joint located between the wireline access sub and a lockable swivel; and        a pipe string below the lockable swivel passing through the rotary table.      
     
     
       55. A method of using a lockable in- line swivel to recover a pipe string of a drill string, the method comprising:      connecting the swivel in the drill string, wherein the swivel is located between a top drive unit and a rotary table,        locking the swivel,        holding torque on the drill string with the top drive unit,        reciprocating the drill string longitudinally to work torque down the pipe string, and        thereafter affixing the pipe string to the rotary table to continue holding the torque on the pipe string while unlocking the swivel to thereby permit rotation of the drill string below the swivel without disengagement of wireline entry devices when present in the drill string above the swivel.      
     
     
       56. A method of using a lockable in- line swivel to recover a pipe string of a drill string, the drill string having a wireline entry device, the method comprising:      connecting the in - line swivel in the drill string above a rotary table and below the wireline entry device and a top drive unit,        engaging the drill string below the swivel on the pipe string with the rotary table,        applying torque to the pipe string with the rotary table,        holding the torque on the pipe string with the rotary table,        locking the in - line swivel,        releasing the torque held by the rotary table such that the torque on the pipe string is transferred to the locked in - line swivel and top drive unit,        reciprocating the drill string longitudinally to distribute the torque evenly over the entire length of the drill string, and        thereafter affixing the pipe string to the rotary table to continue holding the torque on the pipe string while unlocking the swivel to thereby permit rotation of the drill string below the swivel without disengagement of the wireline entry device.      
     
     
       57. A method of using a swivel in a drill string to perform wireline services, wherein the drill string includes a wireline access device, the method comprising:
   connecting the swivel in the drill string above a rotary table and below the wireline access device; and        unlocking the swivel such that the portion of the drill string above the swivel is prevented from rotation while the portion of the drill string below the swivel can rotate freely and thus the drill string below the swivel can be rotated by the rotary table without having to remove the wireline access device.      
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 57  further comprising locking the swivel such that the portion of the drill string above the swivel rotates with the portion of the drill string below the swivel.