Patent Application
20160229670
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of drilling and processing of wells. More particularly, present embodiments relate to a system for compensating for slack in a deadline of a drilling rig.
Deadlines are typically utilized during drilling operations to couple a drilling line to a supply reel to supply new sections of drilling line during slip and cut operations. In conventional oil and gas operations, a hoisting system suspends a traveling block above a rig floor. The hoisting system enables the traveling block to move vertically within a derrick to move drilling equipment between the rig floor and a crown block near the top of the derrick. The drilling line extends from a drawworks to the crown block and through a series of sheaves. Additionally, the non-moving portion of the drilling line, known as the deadline, extends from the sheaves to the supply reel. As the drilling line begins to fatigue (e.g., via repeated movement of the traveling block) the drilling line is cut and a new section of drilling line is supplied from the supply line.
In an embodiment a deadline compensator includes a compensator assembly configured to engage a deadline between a crown block and a supply reel. The compensator assembly is configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The deadline compensator also includes at least one compensator sheave of the compensator assembly. The compensator sheave is configured to engage the deadline. The deadline compensator includes at least one actuator of the compensator assembly. The actuator is configured to apply a force to the deadline via the at least one compensator sheave to displace the deadline while the compensator assembly is in the first position and configured to retract into the second position in response to force applied via the deadline.
In another embodiment a deadline compensator for removing slack from a deadline includes a first compensator assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The first compensator assembly is configured to guide the deadline through the deadline compensator while in the first position and to displace the deadline a first distance in a first direction while in the second position. The deadline compensator also includes a second compensator assembly moveable between the first position and the second position and adjacent to the first compensator assembly. The second compensator assembly is configured to displace the deadline a second distance in a second direction while in the second position, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. Additionally, the deadline compensator includes a third compensator assembly positioned between the second compensator assembly and a deadline anchor. The third compensator assembly is configured to guide the deadline toward the second compensator assembly.
In a further embodiment a system includes a support structure having legs and braces configured to couple to a drilling rig and a compensator assembly disposed within the support structure. The compensator assembly is moveable between a first position and a second position such that the compensator assembly is configured to apply a force to a deadline and displace the deadline while in the second position. The system also includes a support compensator assembly coupled to the support structure and configured to guide the deadline toward the compensator assembly. The support compensator assembly is positioned between the compensator assembly and a deadline line anchor.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed embodiments will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Present embodiments provide a deadline compensator configured to remove slack from a deadline during drilling operations. The deadline compensator may include compensator assemblies configured to apply a force to the deadline, thereby displacing the deadline within the deadline compensator and removing slack in the line. In certain embodiments, the deadline may experience a variety of load conditions during drilling operations. For example, the deadline may be subject to a first load condition while a traveling block is in a fully loaded condition (e.g., drilling equipment plus tubulars being added to a drill string). In the first load condition, minimal or no slack may be present in the deadline. However, during drilling operations the traveling block may encounter an obstruction, thereby creating slack in the deadline and a second load condition. Moreover, the traveling block may also apply a third load condition to the deadline due to the weight of the traveling block itself without additional tubulars, equipment, or the like. The deadline compensator is configured to remove the slack in the deadline during the second and third load conditions, thereby dampening the impact of the second and third load conditions on the drilling operations.
Turning now to the drawings,
A tubular drive system 40, hoisted by the traveling block 22, positions the tubular 38 above the wellbore 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular drive system 40 includes a top drive 42, a gripping device 44, and a tubular drive monitoring system 46 (e.g., an operating parameter monitoring system) configured to measure forces acting on the tubular drive system 40, such as torque, weight, and so forth. For example, the tubular drive monitoring system 46 may measure forces acting on the tubular drive system 40 via sensors, such as strain gauges, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, accelerometers, magnetic sensors, optical sensors, or other sensors, which may be communicatively linked or physically integrated with the system 46. The gripping device 44 of the tubular drive system 40 is engaged with a distal end 48 (e.g., box end) of the tubular 38. The tubular drive system 40, once coupled with the tubular 38, may then lower the coupled tubular 38 toward the stump 36 and rotate the tubular 38 such that it connects with the stump 36 and becomes part of the drill string 28.
The drilling rig 10 further includes a control system 54, which is configured to control the various systems and components of the drilling rig 10 that grip, lift, release, and support the tubular 38 and the drill string 28 during a casing running or tripping operation. For example, the control system 54 may control operation of the gripping device 44 and the power slips 34 based on measured feedback (e.g., from the tubular drive monitoring system 46 and other sensors) to ensure that the tubular 30 and the drill string 28 are adequately gripped and supported by the gripping device 44 and/or the power slips 34 during a casing running operation. In this manner, the control system 54 may reduce and/or eliminate incidents where lengths of tubular 38 and/or the drill string 28 are unsupported. Moreover, the control system 54 may control auxiliary equipment such as mud pumps, robotic pipe handlers, and the like.
In the illustrated embodiment, the control system 54 includes a controller 56 having one or more microprocessors 58 and a memory 60. For example, the controller 56 may be an automation controller, which may include a programmable logic controller (PLC). The memory 60 is a non-transitory (not merely a signal), tangible, computer-readable media, which may include executable instructions that may be executed by the microprocessor 56. The controller 56 receives feedback from the tubular drive monitoring system 46 and/or other sensors that detect measured feedback associated with operation of the drilling rig 10. For example, the controller 56 may receive feedback from the tubular drive system 46 and/or other sensors via wired or wireless transmission. Based on the measured feedback, the controller 56 regulates operation of the tubular drive system 46 (e.g., increasing rotation speed).
Returning to the hoisting system, a deadline compensator 70 is positioned between the deadline anchor 24 and the crown block 20. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the deadline compensator 70 is positioned on the rig floor 12 between the deadline anchor 24 and a sheave of the crown block 20. However, in other embodiments, the deadline compensator 70 may be positioned below the rig floor 12, above the rig floor 12, or at any other suitable location based on the operating environment. For instance, the deadline compensator 70 may be placed at the rig floor 12 to facilitate routine maintenance operations. As will be described in detail below, the deadline compensator 70 is configured to apply a force to a deadline 72 to enable dampening of the deadline 72 in response to slack in the deadline 72 during drilling operations.
During operation, the traveling block 22 is configured to move up and down relative to the rig floor 12. During the movement, the traveling block 22 may couple to additional drilling accessories, thereby increasing the load in the drilling line 18 and the deadline 72. For example, in some instances, the traveling block 22 may be coupled to the tubular 38 and lowered toward the rig floor 12 via the drilling line 18. The traveling block 22 may be lowering the tubular 38 toward the stump 36 to couple the tubular 38 to the drill string 28 disposed within the wellbore 30. In certain embodiments, the tubular 38 is threaded to the drill string 28. Accordingly, as operators position the tubular 38 above the drill string 28, the tubular 38 may strike the drill string 28 resulting in undesirable wear and tear to the threaded ends of the tubulars 38. To that end, the deadline compensator 70 is configured to dampen the movement of the traveling block 22 as is moves up and down relative to the rig floor 12.
Additionally, the traveling block 22, and therethrough the deadline 72, may be exposed to multiple load conditions while the traveling block 22 is moving within the derrick 14. For example, the deadline 72 may be in a first load condition in which the load on the deadline 72 includes the traveling block 22 and equipment associated with the traveling block 22 (e.g., the tubulars 38). For example, the traveling block 22 may place the deadline 72 in the first load condition while coupled to the tubular 38. As a result, slack in the deadline 72 may be limited because of the weight acting on the deadline 72 due to the traveling block 22, the tubular 38, and/or other drilling equipment. Moreover, the deadline 72 may be in a second load condition in which the load applied to the traveling block 22 encounters an obstruction, such as the tubular 38 striking the drill string 28. In the second load condition, the slack in the deadline 72 may be greater than the slack during the first load condition. To this end, the deadline compensator 70 is configured to substantially remove the slack in the deadline 72 to prevent or substantially reduce the likelihood that the tubular 38 strikes the drill string 28, thereby potentially improving the useful life of the threaded connections utilized to couple the tubular 38 to the drill string 28. Furthermore, the deadline 72 may be in a third load condition in which the load on the deadline 72 is smaller than the first load condition, but greater than the second load condition. For example, the third load condition may be the result of the weight of the traveling block 22 without the tubular 38 (e.g., after the tubular 38 is coupled to the drillstring 28).
It should be noted that the illustration of
In the illustrated embodiment, the compensator assemblies 80 are configured to apply a force to the deadline 72 via compensator sheaves 82 to remove slack from the deadline 72 during drilling operations. The compensator sheaves 82 include a groove 84 configured to receive and to guide the deadline 72. The groove 84 may be recessed relative to the surrounding portions of the compensator sheave 82 (e.g., radially closer to a center of the sheave than the surrounding portions). Moreover, the groove 84 guides the deadline 72 along the compensator sheave 82. In certain embodiments, the compensator sheaves 82 are configured to rotate about a sheave axis 86. Rotation of the compensator sheave 82 about the sheave axis 86 facilitates movement of the deadline 72 along the compensator sheaves 82 and reduces the potential for obstructions as the supply reel 16 feeds drilling line 18 back to the drawworks 26 during slip and cut operations.
Moreover, the compensator assemblies 80 include actuators 88 configured to move the compensator sheaves 82 between a first position (e.g., a position in which a small force or no force is applied to the deadline 72) and a second position (e.g., a position in which a larger force is applied to the deadline 72). For example, the actuators 88 may be hydraulic cylinders (e.g., hydraulic motors) configured to linearly displace the compensator sheaves 82 relative to a body 90 of the compensator assembly 80. As will be appreciated, in embodiments where the actuators 88 are hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinder may include a cylinder body having a piston rod configured to extend and retract relative to the cylinder body due to hydraulic pressure applied to a piston at a base of the piston rod. As will be described below, the hydraulic pressure may be supplied by a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to the hydraulic cylinder and a fluid reservoir. Accordingly, the compensator assemblies 80 including actuators 88 may be referred to as dynamic or moveable compensator assemblies 80.
Additionally, in certain embodiments, the compensator assemblies 80 may not include the actuators 88. Rather, the compensator assemblies 80 may include rigid or semi-rigid arms 92 configured to hold the compensator sheaves 82 at a substantially uniform position relative to the body 90 of the compensator assembly 80. Accordingly, the compensator assemblies 80 including arms 92, rather than actuators 88, may be referred to as static or stationary compensator assemblies 80. As will be described below, the stationary compensator assemblies 80 are configured to guide the deadline 72 through the deadline compensator 70 and to enable the moveable compensator assemblies 80 to apply a force to the deadline 72 in response to a force applied to the drilling line 18.
While the illustrated embodiment includes the compensator assemblies 80 arranged such that the compensator sheaves 82 are positioned horizontally (e.g., the sheave axis 86 is substantially perpendicular to the rig floor 12), in other embodiments the compensator assemblies 80 may be positioned in other orientations. For example, the compensator assemblies may be positioned such that the sheave axis 86 is parallel to the rig floor 12, or in any other suitable orientation that enables the compensator sheaves 82 to engage the deadline 72. Moreover, while four compensator assemblies 80 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments there may be 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or any suitable number of compensator assemblies 80 to sufficiently dampen the deadline 72 during drilling operations.
Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, a fluid reservoir 100 is fluidly coupled to the actuators 88 of the moveable compensator assemblies 80b, 80c. As described above, in certain embodiments the actuators 88 include hydraulic cylinders having a cylinder body 102, a piston rod 104, and a piston 106. The fluid reservoir 100 is configured to supply fluid to the cylinder body 102 via a flow line 108 to apply a force to the piston 106 to enable the piston rod 104 to extend from the cylinder body 102. In certain embodiments, the fluid reservoir 100 may be coupled to a pump configured to supply the fluid to the actuators 88. As will be appreciated, supplying fluid to the cylinder body 102 will facilitate extension of the piston rod 104 out of the cylinder body 102, while removing fluid from the cylinder body 102 will facilitate retraction of the piston rod 104 into the cylinder body 102.
In the illustrated embodiment, the moveable compensator assemblies 80b, 80c are in a first position 110, in which the piston rods 104b, 104c are retracted within the cylinder bodies 102b, 102c. Moreover, a first load condition 112 acts on the deadline 72. The first load condition 112 may be the result of the traveling block 22 coupled to the tubular 38 (or other associated drilling equipment) as the traveling block 22 moves the tubular 38 toward the drill string 28. Because the deadline 72 is coupled to the drilling line 18 supporting the traveling block 22, the first load condition 112 acting on the traveling block 22 also acts on the deadline 72. Accordingly, the deadline 72 has substantially no slack due to the first load condition 112 acting on the deadline 72. That is, the first load condition 112 supplies a sufficient tension to the drilling line 18 to keep the deadline 72 substantially taut while the first load condition 112 acts on the deadline 72. As a result, the deadline 72 is positioned within the grooves 84 of the compensator sheaves 82 as the traveling block 22 moves toward the rig floor 12. However, as mentioned above, the compensator assemblies 80 may not apply an appreciable force to the deadline 72 while the first load condition 112 acts on the deadline 72.
As mentioned above, the deadline 72 is configured to extend from the crown block 20 to the supply reel 16. Moreover, the deadline 72 is configured to remain substantially stationary during drilling operations. In the illustrated embodiment, the deadline 72 has a first length 114 extending from the stationary compensator assembly 80a to the stationary compensator assembly 80d. As will be described in detail below, under other load conditions the moveable compensator assemblies 80b, 80c are configured to extend to maintain a force applied to the deadline 72, thereby utilizing a larger portion of the deadline 72 within the first length 114 to maintain tautness in deadline 72 and substantially dampen the deadline 72 during drilling operations conducted utilizing a load condition less than the first load condition 112.
In the illustrated embodiment, the compensator assembly 80c (hereinafter the first compensator assembly 80c) and the compensator assembly 80b (hereinafter the second compensator assembly 80b) are both in a second position 118 in which the piston rods 104b, 104c are extended from the cylinder bodies 102b, 102c. That is, the fluid from the fluid reservoir 100 is directed toward the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b to drive the piston rods 104b, 104c from the cylinder bodies 102b, 102c. As a result a first force 120 is applied to the deadline 72 by the first compensator assembly 80c and a second force 122 is applied to the deadline 72 by the second compensator assembly 80b. The first and second forces 120, 122 are configured to displace the deadline 72 and take up the slack in the deadline 72, thereby dampening and/or blocking the potential contact between the tubular 38 and the drill string 28.
As discussed above, the deadline 72 extends the first length 114 between the stationary compensator assemblies 80a, 80d. However, due to the first and second forces 120, 122 applied to the deadline 72, a larger segment of the deadline 72 is contained in the deadline compensator 70 (e.g., between the stationary compensator assemblies 80a, 80d). For example, the first compensator assembly 80c displaces the deadline 72 a first distance 124. Moreover, the second compensatory assembly 80d displaces the deadline 72 a second distance 126. As a result, a second length 128 of the deadline 72 is longer than the first length 114. In other words, a longer segment of the deadline 72 is between the stationary compensator assemblies 80a, 80d while the second load condition 116 acts on the deadline 72. Accordingly, the slack in the deadline resulting from the second load condition 116 is substantially removed due to the deadline compensator 70.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first compensator assembly 80c has a first surface area 130 and the second compensator assembly 80b has a second surface area 132. The first surface area 130 is larger than the second surface area 132, thereby enabling the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b to produce a different first force 120 and second force 122. Accordingly, the first and second forces 120, 122 may be varied for existing design conditions. For example, in embodiments where the traveling block 22 weighs approximately 6,000 pounds, the first compensator assembly 80c may include the first surface area 130 such that the first force 120 is equal to approximately 6,000 pounds. As a result, the slack in the deadline 72 may be sufficiently dampened using only the first compensator assembly 80c. Moreover, the second compensator assembly 80b may be sized to generate the second force 122 such that the combination of the first and second forces 120, 122 is approximately equal to the weight of the traveling block 22 plus the tubular 38 and/or any other drilling components coupled to the traveling block. Accordingly, simultaneous activation of the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b may dampen the slack in the deadline 72 while the traveling block 22 is fully loaded with drilling equipment.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first compensator assembly 80c displaces the deadline 72 the first distance 124. As mentioned above, the additional line occupied by the first distance 124 may be sufficient to remove the slack from the deadline 72 while the deadline 72 is under the third load condition 134. As a result, a third length 136 is disposed within the deadline compensator 70 (e.g., between the stationary compensator assemblies 80a, 80d). The third length 136 is longer than the first length 114, thereby maintaining tautness in the deadline 72 during the drilling operations.
In operation, the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b may be configured to continuously apply the first and second forces 120, 122 to the deadline 72. For example, the first compensator assembly 80c may be configured to apply the first force 120 to the deadline 72 while the first load condition 112 is applied to the deadline 72. Because the force applied to the deadline during the first load condition 112 is larger than the first force 120, the deadline 72 will be not displaced. As a result, the deadline 72 maintains the first length 114 during the first load condition 112, even if the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b are applying the first and second forces 120, 122 to the deadline 72.
Moreover, in embodiments where a continuous force is applied to the deadline 72, changes in the load conditions may be automatically adjusted by the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b. For example, in embodiments where the load condition changes from the first load condition 112 to the second load condition 116, the first and second forces 120, 122 applied by the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b will displace the deadline 72 once the load condition changes from the first load condition 112 to the second load condition 116. As a result, sudden changes in the load condition applied to the deadline 72 may be accounted for via the deadline compensator 70.
However, in other embodiments, the controller 56 may receive a signal indicative of a load on the deadline 72. For example, a sensor may be positioned on the traveling block 22 configured to detect increased loads applied to the traveling block. Moreover, the deadline 72 may include a sensor that detects strain in the deadline 72. The controller 56 may evaluate the signal. For example, the controller 56 may determine the magnitude of the load on the deadline 72 using a computer readable program stored on the memory 60. Thereafter, the controller 56 may send a control signal to the moveable compensator assemblies 80b, 80c instructing the moveable compensator assemblies 80b, 80c to extend or retract the piston rods 104b, 104c. For example, the controller 56 may send a control signal to the compensator assemblies 80b, 80c indicating that the second load condition 116 is applied to the deadline 72. As a result, the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b may extend the piston rods 104c, 104b to apply the first force 120 and the second force 122 to the deadline 72. In certain embodiments, the control signal may activate the pump coupled to the fluid reservoir 100 to drive the fluid toward the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b. Accordingly, the method 140 may be utilized to apply the first and second forces 120, 122 to the deadline 72 during drilling operations to remove slack from the deadline 72.
As described in detail above, the deadline compensator 70 is configured to displace the deadline 72 during load conditions in which the deadline 72 includes some slack. For example, the deadline compensator 70 includes compensator assemblies 80 configured to apply forces to the deadline 72 to displace the deadline 72 and maintain tautness in the deadline 72 during drilling operations. For example, while the second load condition 116 is applied to the deadline 72, both the first and second compensator assemblies 80c, 80b may move to the second position 118 to apply the first and second forces 120, 122 to the deadline 72. The first and second forces 120, 122 displace the deadline 72 within the deadline compensator 70, thereby removing the slack from the line as a result of the second load condition 116. As a result, obstructions encountered by the tubular 38 as the tubular 38 is lowered toward the rig floor 12 may be accounted for by the dampening provided by the compensator assemblies 80.
While only certain features of disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.
