Patent Application
20190292008
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The present invention relates to the field of coiled tubing systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coiled tubing system wherein a coiled tubing assembly is positioned adjacent a slickline assembly such that the assemblies share an axis of rotation.
Coiled tubing systems for well operations are generally known. In such systems, a continuous tubing, typically fabricated from metal, is driven down into the well by means of an injector head, which consists of a pair of continuous-chain gripping dog assemblies which grip the tubing and drive it down into the well with the aid of two motors. Reverse operation of the chain dog assemblies is used to pull the tubing from the well.
On the surface, the tubing is stored on a large drum or reel from which the tubing is withdrawn by the pull of the injector head. The reel is motor-driven to allow for reloading of the tubing onto the drum as it is withdrawn from the well.
A level-wind is used to guide the tubing string off/onto the drum in an orderly manner to maximize the length of tubing which the drum can accommodate.
For applications where coiled tubing operations are to be carried out at shallow well depths and the wells are considered “dead” (i.e., well fluid hydrostatic pressure exceeds the formation pressure) there is no requirement for an injector due to the weight of the coiled tubing string in the well exceeding the buoyancy factor of the general wellbore fluid.
The basic coiled tubing equipment (reel, fluid pump and tubing guide) are of very similar design across all service providers working within the field of well intervention within the industry. Service providers tend to supply these pieces of equipment separately to maximize the capacity or capability of each unit given that weight restrictions may apply when moving equipment with cranes.
Coiled tubing reels tend to be provided on their own in skid form or on the back of a trailer. Fluid pumps likewise tend to be supplied on a skid of their own or on a trailer.
Various patent have issued in the past related to coiled tubing units. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,407, issued on Oct. 15, 1974 to Bozeman, teaches such a coiled tubing unit. In this patent, an apparatus and method are disclosed for running coiled tubing into a well wherein the coiled tubing is pulled from a reel by a feeding unit which includes opposed roller chains moving along an arcuate path formed by a frame. One of the roller chains is powered and provided with gripping elements for gripping the tubing, and the other roller chain is pressed into engagement with the tubing by fluid pressure in a hose. The hose provides a uniform pressure along the arcuate path, and the tube is straightened at the outlet of the arcuate path by a straightening device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,304, issued on May 5, 1981 to Baugh. This patent discloses a coiled tubing apparatus for operating on wells, wherein a tubing injector head is supported on a mast and movable to selected elevations along the mast. The mast includes a lower section and an upper section which is pivotally joined the lower section. The injector head may be lowered below the pivot point and the mast folded for transportation purposes.
Slickline is another important tool for well operations, and is generally well-known. Slickline is raised and lowered in the well by hydraulically reeling in and out a wire, and is generally requested in addition to a coiled tubing unit, as it is much simpler and quicker to deploy where non-pumping operations are required.
Slickline can be used for a number of purposes within a well, as disclosed in various patents related to slickline. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0153,227, published on Jun. 20, 2013 discloses the use of slickline to run a motor-driven mill the within a well.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,136,587, issued on Mar. 20, 2012 to Lynde et al., discloses the use of slickline with a tubular scraper system. The downhole tubular scraper of this patent is run on slickline with an onboard power supply, and features counter-rotating scrapers with an anchor or an anchor with single rotating scrapers.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,048, issued on Mar. 26, 2013 to Laird et al., teaches the use of slickline to drive a tubing cutter. The tubing cutter is run in with a bottom hole assembly that includes a seal and support within the tubing to be cut.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,593,573, issued on Mar. 14, 2017 to Ullah, discloses fiber-optic slickline and tools associated therewith. The fiber-optic slickline enables communication with various downhole tools and tool assemblies configured to communicate via the fiber-optic slickline. This slickline can be used in logging and other downhole operations and provides real-time communication with surface equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus wherein coiled tubing and slickline reels are combined into a single unit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined coiled tubing and slickline unit which reduces potential hazards associated with transportation and lifting.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a coiled tubing and slickline unit which reduces equipment footprint on a well site.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined coiled tubing and slickline unit which requires less personnel on site.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a combined coiled tubing and slickline unit wherein there are no external removable hydraulic hoses required to connect the fluid pump and power pack to the various reels.
It is another object of the present invention provide a combined coiled tubing and slickline unit wherein both the coiled tubing and slickline drums are aligned with the wellhead.
It is another object of the present invention provide a combined coiled tubing and slickline unit wherein a single power pack provides power for both units such that there is no required disconnect to switch from powering one unit the other.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined coiled tubing and slickline unit wherein a coiled tubing and slickline module can be quickly switchable so as to change the coil tubing and/or slickline sizes.
It is another object of the present invention provide a modular assembly which allows for various uses of coiled tubing and/or slickline drums.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.
One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus having a base, a coiled tubing assembly affixed to the base and a slickline assembly affixed to the base. The coiled tubing assembly has a coiled tubing reel mounted on a shaft. The slickline assembly has a slickline drum and at least one bearing unit. The shaft of the coiled tubing assembly is received by the at least one bearing unit so as to pass through the interior of the slickline drum such that the coiled tubing drum is rotatable independently of the slickline drum.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the coil tubing assembly and the slickline assembly have a common axis of rotation.
In an embodiment, the apparatus further includes a skid, wherein the base is removably positioned on the skid. The skid may have a power unit positioned thereon. The power unit preferably has an engine and at least a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump. A first motor may be positioned on the base and connected to the coiled tubing assembly. The first motor is connected to the first hydraulic pump via a first hydraulic hose. A second motor may be positioned on the base and connected to the slickline assembly. The second motor is connected to the second hydraulic pump via a second hydraulic hose.
A fluid pump may be positioned on the skid. The fluid pump preferably has a third motor connected thereto. The third motor is connected to third hydraulic pump of the power unit by a third hydraulic hose.
In an embodiment, the shaft of the coiled tubing assembly has an end extending outwardly of the slickline drum. In this embodiment, a fluid hose connection is mounted on the end of the shaft and is rotatable relative to the shaft. A hole is drilled through the shaft in a location between first and second reel flanges of the coiled tubing drum. Preferably, the shaft of the coiled tubing assembly has an interior passageway between the hole and the fluid hose connection.
In an embodiment, the slickline assembly has a level-wind assembly positioned adjacent thereto.
Preferably, a control cab is positioned on the skid.
The present invention is also an apparatus having a skid with a power unit positioned thereon, and a module removably positioned thereon. The power unit has an engine, a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump. The module has a primary reel assembly with a first motor and a secondary reel assembly with a second motor. The primary reel assembly and secondary reel assembly having a have a common axis of rotation and are independently rotatable. The first motor is connected to the first hydraulic pump via a first hydraulic hose. The second motor is preferably connect the second hydraulic pump via a second hydraulic hose.
In an embodiment, the skid preferably has controls positioned thereon adapted to operate the power unit, the primary reel assembly and secondary reel assembly. The controls are preferably located in a control cab positioned on the skid.
In an embodiment, the primary reel assembly has a shaft and a drum. The secondary reel assembly has a drum with at least one bearing unit. The shaft of the primary reel assembly is received by the bearing unit of the secondary reel assembly and extends through an interior of the drum of the secondary reel assembly. Preferably, a fluid hose connection is mounted on the shaft on a side of the secondary reel assembly opposite the primary reel assembly. The fluid hose connection is rotatable relative to the shaft. A hole is also drilled through the shaft in a location between first and second reel flanges of the drum of the primary reel assembly.
In an embodiment, the skid has a fluid pump positioned thereon, the fluid pump being adapted to supply a fluid to the primary reel assembly through the fluid hose connection and the hole.
Preferably, the primary reel assembly is a coiled tubing reel assembly, and the secondary reel assembly is a slickline reel assembly.
The present invention is also a coiled tubing unit having a base, a coiled tubing assembly affixed to the base, a secondary drum positioned adjacent the coiled tubing assembly and a swivel connection. The coiled tubing assembly has a coiled tubing drum with opposing flanges and a shaft. The shaft extends through an interior of the coiled tubing drum and has a hole drilled therein in a position between the opposing flanges of the coiled tubing drum. The secondary drum is positioned adjacent the coiled tubing assembly such that the secondary drum and the coiled tubing drum share an axis of rotation. The secondary drum has at least one bearing unit. The shaft of the coiled tubing assembly is received by the at least one bearing unit and extends through an interior of the secondary drum. The swivel connection is affixed to an end of the shaft adjacent the secondary drum. The swivel connection is rotatable relative to the shaft and is adapted to allow for introduction of a fluid or cable into a hollow interior of the shaft.
Preferably, each of the coiled tubing assembly and secondary drum have a respective motor connected thereto and positioned on the base. The coiled tubing unit also includes a skid having a hydraulic power unit thereon. The base is positioned to the skid. The hydraulic power unit has a first hydraulic hose connected to the motor of the coiled tubing assembly and a second hydraulic hose is connected to the motor of the secondary drum. Preferably, the base is removably affixed to the skid.
Preferably, the secondary drum is a slickline drum.
This foregoing Section is intended to describe, with particularity, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that modifications to these preferred embodiments can be made within the scope of the present claims. As such, this Section should not to be construed, in any way, as limiting of the broad scope of the present invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
Referring to
The slickline and coiled tubing module 14 has a base 16 supporting a primary reel assembly 18 and a secondary reel assembly 26. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the primary reel assembly 18 is in the form of a coiled tubing assembly 18, while the secondary reel assembly 26 is in the form of a slickline assembly 26, each being referred to hereinafter as such. It is within the concept of the present invention that the various tubing or reel assemblies could take the form of different types of tubing or reel assemblies usable in well operations or other similar operations.
The coiled tubing assembly 18 is shown as having a coiled tubing drum 20 with a pair of coiled tubing reel flanges 22. A coiled tubing level-wind 24 is shown positioned in front of the coiled tubing drum 20, and serves to assist in the winding of the coiled tubing (not shown) onto and off of the coiled tubing drum 20. The slickline assembly 26 is shown in more detail hereinbelow.
Preferably, the skid 12 has a control cab 28 with suitable controls therein for controlling the coiled tubing assembly 18, slickline assembly 26 and related motors and pumps. The control cab 28 is illustrated as having an access door 32 and windows 34. The control cab serves as a central location for controls, thus requiring less personnel to operate, as compared to the prior art where coiled tubing and slickline are provided on separate units having separate power supplies.
A power unit 30 is shown as positioned on the skid 12 at an end thereof opposite the assemblies 18 and 26. Positioned adjacent the power unit 30 is a hydraulic radiator 36 for cooling hydraulic fluid from hydraulic pumps, which are described below.
A high-pressure fluid pump 37 is illustrated in
Referring to
A second chain sprocket 45 is shown in
Importantly,
In
Referring to
Shown in
Referring to
The slickline and coiled tubing module 14 is shown as including the coiled tubing assembly 18 and the slickline assembly 26. A motor 52 for the coiled tubing assembly 18 is shown as having a shaft connection between the motor 52 and the coiled tubing assembly 18. Similarly, there is another motor 72 shown having a chain connection to the slickline reel assembly 26.
The high-pressure fluid pump 37 is shown as having a motor 68 with a shaft connection thereto. The fluid pump 37 supplies water or other fluid through a hose to the coiled tubing assembly 18.
Suitable controls 78, illustrated in
Introduction of fluid to the coiled tubing assembly presents particular challenges when combining the coiled tubing assembly with the slickline assembly. In normal coiled tubing drums, there are few issues, as the gearing system is on one side of the reel, and the fluid enters the reel on the other side by means of a coiled tubing swivel joint. A coiled tubing swivel joint turns through 360° on bearings that allows fluid entry to the reel.
In the present invention, the slickline assembly is positioned on the side of the coiled tubing assembly opposite the gearing system of the coiled tubing assembly, so as to accomplish the objectives of the present invention wherein: (1) the coiled tubing and slickline drums are aligned with the wellhead; and (2) the coiled tubing and slickline assemblies are placed on a single module which can be easily changed out on the skid. So as to allow introduction of the fluid (or electrical cable) into the coiled tubing assembly, the main shaft 54 of the coiled tubing assembly was developed to run through the center of both reels and extend past the slickline reel without affecting the rotation of the slickline reel.
One of the unique aspects of the present invention is the relative ease with which the slickline and coiled tubing module 14 can be changed out. Various circumstances arise during well operations which require changing a coiled tubing string. For example, it may be necessary or desirable to change the tubing size being utilized. Often, it is also necessary to a re-string a coiled tubing unit which takes a considerable amount of time. In some cases, it may be desirable to have an unstrung coiled tubing or slickline unit so as to utilize the unit to recover and re-spool tubing or other cable or wire that is sheared in a well. With the present invention, to change out the coiled tubing unit (for size or other purposes), operators simply need to remove the slickline and coiled tubing module 14 after disconnecting the hydraulic hoses connected thereto. The module will then be replaced with another module and the hydraulic hoses connected.
As previously noted, within the concept of the present invention, the reels can comprise a primary reel and a secondary reel. In certain circumstances, the slickline or coiled tubing reels (i.e. primary and secondary reels) can be used for less-conventional applications. For example, an electrical base type module can be utilized. In this application, a power or data cable can extend between the swivel-joint connection 48 and drilled hole 56, instead of a fluid. In this example, the larger primary reel can be used to hold electric line cable or electric-line coiled tubing instead of the traditional capillary tubing.
The module 14 can also be used as a cable-pulling unit. In this application, pulling cable is added to the primary reel and can be used for equipment pulling purposes in the field. Possible uses include pulling items across rivers or muddy low spots in environments in which regular vehicles cannot work.
The module 14 can also be used for retrieving lost cable in a well or as a storage unit when needing to retrieve cable or other strings, such as capillary tubing, slickline and rubber hoses, etc. The unit could also be moved to a field location to transfer cables, tubing, etc. onto other devices or units at a controlled rate and with controlled force and tension. The unit of the present invention can hold a back pressure force tension on cable as a crane is applying the cable to its crane drum.
As can be appreciated from a review of the specification and drawings, the modular nature of the present invention can save both time and money on the well site, as well as reduce the possibility of injury to workers on the site.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
