Patent Application
20160341008
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a coiled tubing unit, more particularly, a lifting bale used to position injector heads in operation and during rig-up and rig-down operations.
The main engine of a coiled tubing unit is the injector head. This component contains the mechanism to push and pull the coiled tubing in and out of the well. The injector head is installed on the wellhead. The injector head should be at the correct angle relative to the wellhead to be installed correctly and provide proper entry of the coiled tubing into the wellhead.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lifting bale configured to be mounted on top of an injector head for handling the injector head, the lifting bale including a lifting arm attached to the injector head, an articulated member attached between the injector head and the lifting arm, the articulated member having a knee joint, and a cylinder, having an extendable and retractable arm, attached between the injector head and the knee joint. The cylinder arm is configured to be moved to raise the lifting arm, and is further configured to be extended and retracted to provide load balancing of the injector head.
In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of handling an injector head, comprising pivotally attaching a lifting arm to the injector head, attaching an articulated member having a knee joint between the lifting arm and the injector head, attaching a cylinder having an arm between the injector head and the knee joint, manipulating the cylinder arm and raising the lifting arm, attaching a cable to a distal end of the raised lifting arm and positioning the injector head over a wellbore, and extending or retracting the cylinder arm to balance the injector head.
In yet another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a coiled tubing unit including an injector head, a gooseneck mounted on top of the injector head, a lifting bale mounted on top of the injector head, the lifting bale including a lifting arm attached to the injector head, an articulated member attached between the injector head and the lifting arm, the articulated member having a knee joint, and a cylinder having an arm attached between the injector head and the knee joint, wherein the cylinder arm is retracted and extended to balance the injector head.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,
An injector head lifting bale is disclosed. The lifting bale is a mechanism configured to provide load balancing of an injector head during handling operations. The injector head lifting bale may be mounted on top of the injector head of a coiled tubing unit. The coiled tubing unit may include a complete set of equipment necessary to perform standard continuous-length tubing operations in the field. For example, the coiled tubing unit may comprise a reel for storage and transport of coiled tubing, an injector head to provide surface drive force to run and retrieve coiled tubing, a control cabin from which an equipment operator may monitor and control the coiled tubing, and a power pack to generate hydraulic and pneumatic power required to operate the coiled tubing unit. The coiled tubing units may further comprise other equipment for continuous-length or coiled tubing operations in the field. Moreover, in certain embodiments the coiled tubing unit may comprise onshore coiled tubing units such as a truck mounted coiled tubing unit or larger trailer mounted coiled tubing units. Still further, in other embodiments the coiled tubing unit may comprise offshore coiled tubing units such as those mounted on a lift boat, barge, offshore platform or any other offshore structure.
The lifting bale is comprised of various arms secured with pins, hydraulic cylinders that can be manipulated for leveling the injector head, and an arm for connecting the lifting bale to a crane.
The lifting bale includes a lifting arm that is pivotally attached on a side or anywhere on the injector head. The lifting bale includes an articulated member attached between the lifting arm and the injector head. The articulated member has a knee joint coupling the first and second arms of the articulated member. For example, the knee joint may include a pin inserted through holes in the arms of the articulated member, or any other type of joint. The first arm is connected to a pivot point (e.g., pinned or otherwise) on the lifting arm at an end opposite the knee joint. The second arm is connected to a pivot point (e.g., pinned or otherwise) on a base structure at an end opposite the knee joint. The base structure may be part of the injector head on which the lifting bale is mounted.
The lifting bale further includes a cylinder having an extendable arm. The cylinder may be attached between the base structure and the articulated member. For example, the cylinder may be attached at a pivot point (e.g., pinned or otherwise) of the base structure and the knee joint (e.g., pinned or otherwise). Alternatively, the cylinder could be attached at a pivot point (not shown) on either the first arm or second arm. In one embodiment, the cylinder may be a hydraulic cylinder in fluid communication at any pressure with a hydraulic fluid source. In other embodiments, the cylinder may be pneumatic or electric. In yet other embodiments, the cylinder may be mechanical. The lifting bale may include one or more extendable cylinders and articulated members on each side of the injector head.
The lifting bale 100 further includes a cylinder 116 having an extendable arm 115. The cylinder 116 may be attached between the base structure 102 and the articulated member 110. For example, the cylinder 116 may be attached at a pivot point 103 (e.g., pinned or otherwise) of the base structure 102 and the knee joint 111 (e.g., pinned or otherwise). Alternatively, the cylinder 116 could be attached at a pivot point (not shown) on either the first arm 110a or second arm 110b. In one embodiment, the cylinder 116 may be a hydraulic cylinder in fluid communication at any pressure with a hydraulic fluid source. In other embodiments, the cylinder 116 may be pneumatic or electric. In yet other embodiments, the cylinder 116 may be mechanical. The lifting bale 100 may include one or more extendable cylinders and articulated members on each side of the injector head.
During transport or at other times of nonuse, the lifting bale 100 is in the collapsed position (shown in
To raise the lifting arm 104 to a fully extended position (shown in
As the injector head is positioned over the well, the lifting bale 100 may be manipulated to shift the center of gravity as required to maintain vertical alignment. Referring to
To completely lower the lifting arm 104, the cylinder arm 115 is substantially fully extended.
The claimed subject matter is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
