The Hampering Active Wellbore Kit (HAWK) for rapidly controlling a free flowing oil well

Abstract

To mitigate the impact of a Blowout Preventer (BOP) failure, this work proposes a method and machine that can create a gradual flow reduction to zero in an offshore well by introducing a mechanical plug inside the BOP. The backup safety tool, referred to as the Hampering Active Wellbore Kit (HAWK), is a machine that gradually introduces a continuous medium (e.g. wire) from a spool through the choke/kill lines of a failed BOP to gradually stem the flow through the BOP. The machine can couple to a standard choke/kill line on the BOP and can co-exist with the BOP or be deployed at the time of an accident. This work presents the design theory for wire feeding in order to form an entanglement, and the mechanism by which to accomplish the reliable feeding of the continuous structure. The efficacy of the entanglement is evaluated by comparing flow rates of a single experimental wellbore before and after the introduction of the mechanical plug.