US 11,851,973 B1
Rotating and reciprocating swivel apparatus and method
Kip M. Robichaux, Houma, LA (US); and Terry P. Robichaux, Houma, LA (US)
Assigned to Mako Rentals, Inc., Shriever, LA (US)
Filed by Mako Rentals, Inc., Houma, LA (US)
Filed on Mar. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/177,438.
Application 18/177,438 is a continuation of application No. 17/722,691, filed on Apr. 18, 2022, granted, now 11,598,175.
Application 17/722,691 is a continuation of application No. 17/176,304, filed on Feb. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,306,558, issued on Apr. 19, 2022.
Application 17/176,304 is a continuation of application No. 16/416,404, filed on May 20, 2019, granted, now 10,920,522, issued on Feb. 16, 2021.
Application 16/416,404 is a continuation of application No. 15/093,357, filed on Apr. 7, 2016, granted, now 10,294,747, issued on May 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/143,991, filed on Apr. 7, 2015.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 33/08 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 33/085 (2013.01) 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
10. A method of preparing a rotating and reciprocating swivel tool while located on a drilling rig or platform, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a swivel tool, the swivel tool comprising a mandrel and a sleeve surrounding the mandrel, the sleeve having a generally cylindrical exterior sealing surface, said sleeve having an inner volume and upper and lower end portions, an interior volume between the mandrel and sleeve which is sealed by a pair of spaced apart sealing units, each end portion having a wiper cavity with a wiper, the mandrel being rotatable and reciprocable relative to the sleeve, the mandrel extending into the inner volume and having a first stroke length relative to the sleeve;
(b) lowering the swivel tool in a riser and towards a blowout preventer and wellbore, and supporting an upright orientation swivel tool;
(c) repeating step “b” until the final stroking length of the mandrel relative to the sleeve is at least 150 feet; and
(d) detachably connecting the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve to a seal of the blowout preventer, wherein the seal of the blowout preventer can be selectively closed on the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve, and while the seal is closed and forms a seal against the exterior sealing surface of the sleeve and separates upper and lower volumetric sections of fluid, the upper volumetric section being located in the riser above the blowout preventer and the lower volumetric section being located in the wellbore below the blowout preventer, wiping the mandrel with one or both of the wipers to prevent debris from damaging the upper and/or lower sealing units.