This invention relates, generally, to apparatus which are useful for safely transporting oilfield tubulars, and specifically, to raising and/or lowering a length of oilfield tubulars, and/or for otherwise safely moving a length of oilfield tubulars.
Tubular goods, whose use includes, but is not limited to, use in drilling for, and production of oil and gas, experience a considerable amount of handling and a certain degree of mishandling and abuse on their journey from the steel mill to the final well destination. As a result, screw on cylindrical thread protectors, with a full compliment of threads, are placed on such tubular goods to protect the threads from any harm prior to installation. However, because the removal of such protectors often requires an expenditure of time that cannot be tolerated during the installation of tubular strings in wells, the original protector is often removed at the well site and is replaced with a different protector with quick release and installation capabilities. The tubular good subsequently rides from rack to rig with the new thread protector, which is eventually removed when the joint is to be threadedly attached to the downwardly continuing string. During the interval that the protector is on the threads, a last bore drift test is usually done, and it is desirable that the protector does not interfere with the drift passage. Once the string is pulled out of the hole, the quick install capabilities of such a thread protector ensure protection for the threads on tubular goods whose threads have not been damaged in the drilling activity.
A considerable amount of development work has been done in efforts to improve the bands and related tensioning gear to keep the casing protectors from being knocked off the threads during the rack to well trip.
The body of protectors in rig site use are currently made of elastomer, sometimes polyurethane, but may sometimes be made of other material, such as black rubber. The elastomer is formulated and cured to serve the skid and bash protection function and does not always favor thread gripping. In order for the elastomer to adequately grip the threads on the tubular goods to be protected, a sufficient amount of hoop force must be applied, which is often accomplished through the tensioning of bands around the elastomer. However, such securing bands are designed to be tensioned by hand and consequently, seldom have enough energy to drive the elastomer into the thread grooves sufficiently to prevent the occasional slipping of the protector.
Furthermore, the thread protectors on the rig site are currently designed so that the elastomer is pulled apart to accommodate the threads to be protected and subsequently tightened around such threads when the protector is in place. The net effect of repetitive pulling apart is that the elastomer would eventually deform due to the repetitive yielding, causing the elastomer to lose its memory characteristics.
There have been many attempts in this art to provide improved protectors for male threads on the pin end of oilfield tubulars. U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,672 to Mosing, et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,805 to Mosing, et al, each having been assigned to Frank's Casing Crew and Rental Tools, Inc., are two such prior art patents. The prior art has typically used components which are in intimate contact with the male threads, and while they oftentimes have been used with a great deal of success, these components have sometimes failed to protect the threads when the tubular is dropped or banged against hard surfaces, such as rig floors of ramps and truck bodies. This is especially true when such prior art protectors are used with two-step threaded oilfield tubulars having premium threads.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,894 to Samuel P. Hawkins, assigned to Frank's International, Inc., the assignee of this present invention, shows a device for suspending various downhole tools below the device, for repair and maintenance purposes. Moreover, there have been many attempts to provide lifting surface on the exterior of smooth surfaced oilfield tubulars to which elevators can be attached to either raise, lower, or otherwise move said oilfield tubulars.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2012/0061528 discloses a gripping device for engaging a tubular with a collet structure to receive a tubular. The collet has a plurality of elongated blades, with each blade having a gripping structure at the unsupported end. Because the device requires a gripping surface to establish resistance, the device will not work with tubulars (e.g., casing) that has a tapered or swaged connection or tubulars (e.g., casing) that has an integral box end. Such upset tubulars or casing therefore comprise varying diameters, which are not controlled generally by the American Petroleum Institutes' specifications; and as such, it is difficult to design and engineer a gripping device(s) and/or a gripping surface(s) that can handle one or more of the varying upsets of the tubulars. In addition, sufficient frictional forces are required in order to enable a gripping surface to work; however, if the frictional forces are too high (e.g., intense), then the intense frictional force can cause damage to the tubulars. Accordingly, there is a need for a load ring lifting device that can be suitable for casing or upset tubulars, which have a tapered or swaged end or connection, and/or include an integral box end. In addition, there is a need for a load ring lifting device that does not require the use of intense frictional forces for forming a gripping surface. The embodiments of this invention satisfy these needs.
The objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from a consideration of this specification, including the attached claims, the included Abstract, and the appended drawings.
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for lifting upset oilfield tubulars, including casing. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. The disclosure and description herein is illustrative and explanatory of one or more embodiments and variations thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in the design, organization, means of operation, structures and location, methodology, and use of mechanical equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
As well, it should be understood that the drawings are intended to illustrate and plainly disclose one or more embodiments to one of skill in the art, but are not intended to be manufacturing level drawings or renditions of final products and may include simplified conceptual views to facilitate understanding or explanation. As well, the relative size and arrangement of the components may differ from that shown and still operate within the spirit of the invention.
Moreover, it will be understood that various directions such as “upper”, “lower”, “bottom”, “top”, “open”, “closed”, “first”, “second”, “inside”, “outside”, “interior”, “exterior”, “inward,” “outward” and so forth are made only with respect to explanation in conjunction with the drawings, and that components may be oriented differently, for instance, during insertion or lifting upset oilfield tubulars. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting.
Referring now to the drawings in more detail,
In
When the nubbin 50 (shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The thread protector body 90, illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
The handle 112 also has a through-hole 119, which allows an axial bolt to pass through the through-hole 119, in addition to the through-holes 121 and 123, of the link arms 116 and 114, respectively. The two latch links 116 and 114 are illustrated in
In using the band 80 having the handle 100, which is shown in its open position in
When using the ring apparatus shown in
Referring now to
Thus, it should be appreciated that both the load lifting ring 60 and thread protector body 90, both in accordance with the present invention, can be used on the same joint of oilfield tubular as the tubular is being manipulated, such as moving the tubular from a horizontal to a vertical position, or vice versa. Alternatively, moving the tubular can include tripping the tubular into or out of a wellbore, such as is commonly done on an oilfield drilling rig or a completion rig, when tripping casing into or out of the wellbore.
The ring member 130 can have a cut-out portal 131, which can be aligned with the slot 70, illustrated in
Referring now to
As illustrated in
It should be appreciated that although the clamping mechanism 100, illustrated in
In alternative embodiments, the ring, in connection with the band as described above, can be modified to connect or lift a tubular having an upset, which can include a tubular with a tapered or swaged section or connection, or a tubular with an integral box end. For purposes of the application, an upset tubular shall include any tubular that has a change, reduction or variance in the outer diameter. Examples of upset tubulars shall include, but are not be limited to, tapered tubulars, swaged tubulars, tubulars with a box end, or any combinations thereof.
In the alternative embodiments, discussed below, an apparatus for creating a mechanical obstruction or mechanical interference can be utilized to lift the upset tubulars. As shown in
In an embodiment, the band 456 can comprise a substantially cylindrical ring collet 400, which can comprise a mechanical obstruction structure 404 on the unsupported end, as shown in
When the load lifting apparatus 460 is to be brought in contact or engagement with the upset tubular, the mechanical obstruction structures 404 are brought into contact with the first housing 456 and/or the second housing 410, for connecting the two housing(s) of the load lifting apparatus 460; and then, the mechanical obstruction structures 404 can be compressed against the upset tubular 450.
In an alternative embodiment of the load lifting apparatus 460, one or more ball bearings (not shown) can be utilized to quickly connect the mechanical obstruction structures 404 with the first housing 456 and/or the second housing 410, or to retain mechanical obstruction structures 404 against the upset tubular. In one embodiment, at least part of the mechanical obstruction structure 404 can comprise a plurality of ball bearings. In a specific embodiment, a plurality of ball bearings can be positioned inside at least one of the housings, and with compressive force(s), one or more of the plurality of ball bearings can protrude to contact the upset tubular. Once engaged by a mechanical obstruction structure comprising the plurality of ball bearings, the upset tubular can be safely positioned or lifted.
In order to engage an upset tubular for enabling the safe lifting of the tubular, the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structures 404, when engaged, should be less than the largest external diameter of the upset tubular. Therefore, the load lifting apparatus 460 should be capable of sufficiently compressing the mechanical obstruction structures 404 to engage the upset tubular 450 and to form the mechanical obstruction. In forming the mechanical obstruction, the mechanical obstruction structures 404, with the use of compressive forces, can contact an upset tubular 450. This contact can change the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structures 404, from a diameter greater than the largest external diameter of the upset tubular to a diameter less than the largest exterior diameter of the upset tubular section, and enable the lifting of the tubular 450. This change, of internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structures 404, allows the load lifting apparatus 460 to be placed at the upset section 458 of the upset tubular 450.
After the load lifting apparatus 460 is placed at the upset section 458 of the tubular 450, the upset tubular 450 is engaged by compressing the mechanical obstruction structures 404 against a portion of the exterior of the upset tubular 450. Upon completing the engagement, the upset tubular 450 can be lifted or hoisted, for example, by using an elevator system.
In the embodiment shown in
In another embodiment, the one or more spring(s) or spring-loaded mechanism(s) can act on both the ring or second housing 410 and the band or first housing 456, as described above, to compress the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 against the upset tubular 450. In this embodiment, the compressional forces from the one or more spring(s) or spring-loaded mechanism(s) can maintain the position of the ring and band without the need for a mechanical connection, such as latching or screwing together the first and second housings. Persons skilled in the art, upon receiving the benefit of the disclosure herein, would recognize additional embodiments that can create the compressional force(s) and maintain the position of the ring and band, such as the use of hydraulics, pneumatics, magnetic forces or electromagnetic energy. Therefore, all possible compressional embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the claimed invention.
The use of a mechanical obstruction structure for lifting upset tubulars differs structurally and functionally from the use of a gripping device that requires a gripping surface, such as a surface having a saw-tooth edge or serrated teeth for contacting, gripping, biting and/or digging into the tubular for lifting. As set forth above, the mechanical obstruction structure(s) can be used with, or as a part of, a load lifting apparatus for safely contacting and lifting upset tubulars. As further set forth above, and in contrast to the use of gripping devices, the use of the mechanical obstruction structures 404 includes the use of compressive force(s) for changing the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structures 404. Accordingly, the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structures 404 can change, from a diameter greater than the largest external diameter of an upset tubular 450 to a diameter less than the largest exterior diameter of the upset tubular 450, for enabling the lifting of the upset tubular 450. As such, the use of mechanical obstruction structures for lifting upset tubulars does not require the use of gripping devices, gripping surfaces or frictional forces produced by the use of gripping devices having serrated teeth or saw-tooth edges, for the lifting of the upset tubulars.
In contrast, a gripping device, which is usable for lifting a tubular, functions by rigidly gripping the tubular, and in conjunction with gripping and frictional forces, structurally supports the weight of the tubular by digging or biting into the exterior surface and/or walls of the tubular. In contrast, a mechanical obstruction structure device functions by altering or varying the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure of the load lifting apparatus for contacting, engaging and supporting the tubular.
Typically, gripping and frictional forces are created by serrated teeth or saw-tooth edges of a gripping surface, which are brought into contact with the exterior surface and/or walls of the tubular, by digging or biting into the exterior surface and/or walls of the tubular. Too much frictional force, caused by the contact between the teeth of the gripping surface and the surface and/or walls of the tubular, can damage the outside of the tubular and possibly the interior of the tubular, as well. Alternatively, too little frictional force between the gripping surface and the surface of the tubular can cause a loss of adequate control of the tubular, including the dropping of the tubular during lifting. Thus, too much or little friction can cause safety issues from a damaged tubular or a dropped tubular, including injuries to nearby personnel as well as damage to the tubular and the surrounding areas. Accordingly, a gripping surface must be able to grip or dig into a surface of a tubular to adequately provide sufficient gripping and frictional forces to enable the lifting of the tubular. As such, gripping devices are not suitable for use in lifting tubulars having upsets, as the varying diameters of the upset can prevent a gripping device from adequately gripping or digging into the upset tubular, which is necessary for proper lifting of the upset tubular.
In contrast, mechanical obstruction structures can support the weight of an upset tubular, directly, by using compressive forces to vary the diameter of the mechanical obstruction structures for supporting the tubular, without the need for any gripping and/or frictional forces produced from serrated or saw-tooth edges or surfaces. Therefore, a mechanical obstruction structure, or the use of a mechanical interference, can provide a safer and more sufficient apparatus, system and method for lifting upset tubulars, than systems and methods that use a gripping device. In addition, the mechanical obstruction structures, or the use of a mechanical interference, can prevent damage to the upset tubular because the mechanical obstruction structures rely directly on the structural support of the obstruction or interference, and there is no requirement for frictional forces to assist in any gripping and support of the upset tubular. For example, the mechanical obstruction surface 87 of each mechanical obstruction structure 404 can be substantially free of any serrated teeth and/or saw-tooth edges, as required by gripping devices. In an embodiment, the mechanical obstruction surface 87 can be a substantially smooth surface.
With regard to tubulars having no external upsets or changes in their external diameters, a gripping surface or device can be utilized to sufficiently grip and support the tubulars for lifting. However, with regard to tubulars having external upset sections, for example tubulars having integral box ends, tapered sections or connections and/or swaged sections and/or connections, a mechanical obstruction structure(s) is preferable to support an upset tubular for lifting. This is because the gripping devices are generally not able to grip the upset tubulars sufficiently, leading to loss of control and dropped tubulars.
Returning to
At least one of the interior surfaces of the ring 410 can comprise a first portion and at least one of the exterior surfaces of the band 456 can comprise a second portion, wherein, in an embodiment, the first portion can be wider than the second portion, as shown in
The band 456 can further comprise a cylindrical section, as shown in
In an embodiment, the diameter of the interior of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, attached to the band 456, can be smaller than the largest exterior diameter of the upset tubular 450, after external compressive forces have been applied to the band 456 to move the exterior surface of the band 456 radially inward and relative to the interior surface of the ring 410. In addition, a latch mechanism 454, 455 as shown in
Embodiments of the present invention can include methods for lifting a tubular, wherein a portion of the tubular comprises an upset. The steps of the method can include providing a ring, which comprises an interior surface, and providing a band, which comprises an exterior surface and a mechanical obstruction structure(s). The band can be disposed relative to the ring, such that the exterior surface of the band can contact the interior surface of the ring. In an embodiment, at least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface can comprise a first portion wider than a second portion, and an external force can be applied to the band to move the exterior surface relative to the interior surface, such that contact between the first portion and at least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface urges the mechanical obstruction structure(s) toward the upset tubular.
The steps of the method can continue by inserting the upset tubular inside the band, and engaging the upset tubular, which has been inserted inside the band, with the mechanical obstruction structure(s), by contacting the exterior surface of the band with the interior surface of the ring for enabling the engagement between the mechanical obstruction structure(s) and the upset tubular. Engagement between the mechanical obstruction structure(s) and the upset tubular includes any contact between a surface of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) and a surface of the upset tubular, which can include contact that is sufficient to enable the lifting of the tubular. The steps of the method can be completed by lifting the upset tubular, which has been engaged by the mechanical obstruction structure(s), using a lifting device, such as an elevator.
In an embodiment, the methods for lifting upset tubulars can include the upset tubular 450 being inserted inside the band or first housing 456. The upset tubular 450, while positioned inside the band or first housing 456, can be engaged by the mechanical obstruction surface(s) 87 of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 by contacting the ring or second housing 410 with the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404. Alternatively, the upset tubular 450 can be engaged by the mechanical obstruction surface(s) 87 of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 by including an at least one spring or spring-loaded mechanism within the ring, for example, within the interior surface of the ring or second housing 410, and contacting or connecting the spring or spring-loaded mechanism with the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404. The upset tubular 450, now engaged by the mechanical obstruction surface(s) 87 of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 and the ring or second housing 410, can be lifted, for example, by using an elevator or other lifting device.
In another embodiment, the load lifting apparatus 460 can comprise a ring collet 400, as shown in
Referring again to
The elongated blades 403, with the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, can enable the operator to easily determine or calculate measurements regarding the amount of compressive force and/or reduction in the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, which is beneficial for safely engaging and lifting the upset tubular. In this embodiment, the lengths of the elongated members or blades 403, and the spacing 405 between the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, are specifically designed to provide a favorable or the desired amount of compressive force or reduction in the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404. This embodiment is beneficial for creating the required mechanical obstruction to safely lift the upset tubulars.
In an embodiment, the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 can be tapered outwardly or straight, when in the neutral position and not engaged with the ring or second housing 410. However, with pressure or resistance, the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 can be moved and can taper inwardly, such as when engaged by the ring or second housing 410.
In another embodiment, the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 can have a larger cross-section than the elongated blades 403. In this embodiment, the larger cross-section of each mechanical obstruction structure 404 can provide a larger surface area for contacting the exterior of the upset tubular 450 and can provide the ability to more favorably control the interior diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure 404. The larger cross-section further allows increased load bearing or structural weight carrying capabilities of the mechanical obstruction structure 404.
In one embodiment, as shown in
As can be observed in
In one embodiment, at least a three-piece load lifting apparatus 460 is utilized, as shown in
The mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, either alone or in combination with the second housing or ring 410, can provide sufficient structural support to lift the upset tubular 450. The mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, either alone or in combination with the second housing 410, must be made of a material that is of sufficient strength to support the weight of the upset tubular 450. Suitable materials for the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 can include, but are not limited to, metals, alloys, high strength composite materials, and any combinations thereof.
The second housing or ring 410 can be made of materials, such as metals, alloys, composite materials or combinations thereof; however, the lower end of the second housing or ring, such as the structural band 412, can be made of a metal, a high strength alloy, a high strength metal composite, or combinations thereof.
The first housing or band 456 can be made of a lighter weight material to reduce the load or weight of the load lifting apparatus 460. Suitable materials for the first housing 456 can include, but are not limited to, light metals, such as aluminum, plastics, lighter composite materials, or any combinations thereof.
The ring collet 400 can be made of materials that are flexible enough to be sufficiently compressed for reducing the interior diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, located at the end of the elongated blades 403, wherein the interior diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 is compressed to an amount or a diameter that is less than the maximum diameter of the upset tubular, while engaged. However, the interior diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 must be greater than the maximum diameter of the upset tubular, when the ring collet 400 is in the neutral or disengaged position. In one embodiment, the ring collet 400 comprises the elongated blades 403, which can be flexible enough to compress the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404. This compression engages the upset tubular by eliminating the gap 452 between the mechanical obstruction structure 404 and the tapered section 458 of the upset tubular 450. For example, the compression of the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 can be related to the outer diameter of the initial tubular and the amount of change in the outer diameter of the tubular caused by the upset. Typically, the upset differential can be one-half inch, regardless of the outer diameter of the tubular. Therefore, a one-half inch upset on a twelve (12) inch diameter tubular would require more compression of the internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404, for safely lifting the tubular, than a one-half inch upset on a five (5) inch diameter tubular. Suitable materials for the elongated members or blades 403 can include, but are not limited to, flexible metals, including aluminum, plastics, composites, or any combinations thereof.
The preferred properties of the materials for the make-up of the load lifting apparatus, including the mechanical obstruction structures 404, can depend, directly, on the upset tubular. For example, a larger tubular, with a one-half inch offset, would require more compression of the mechanical obstruction structures 404 and, thus, more flexible material(s) for the make-up of the load lifting apparatus, including particularly the mechanical obstruction structures 404, than a smaller tubular with a one-half inch upset. In addition, a larger upset tubular is typically heavier and, thus, may require stronger materials for the make-up of the load lifting apparatus, including the make-up of the mechanical obstruction structures 404, for providing the structural strength necessary to lift the tubular. Persons skilled in the art, with the benefit of the disclosure herein, could design and engineer the load lifting apparatus, using materials to provide favorable properties, based upon the upset tubular that is being engaged.
The exterior sidewalls or outer walls of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) 404 can have circumferential threads or grooves 462, which can be complementary to the threads or grooves 466 on the interior surface of the second housing or ring 410, as shown in
In
In an embodiment, the second housing 410 or bodynut can be rotated in the direction of arrow 468, for forming a “made-up” position of the load lifting apparatus 460, as shown in
The first housing or band 456 and the second housing or ring 410 can be secured with a connection, such as a latching mechanism, to assure that the load lifting apparatus 460 cannot be rotated or disengaged, and to prevent an undesired release of the upset tubular or casing 450. As such, one purpose of this connection is to prevent any undesired movement of the first and/or second housing(s), or the entire load lifting apparatus 460. Suitable connectors can include, but are not limited to, fasteners, latches or latching mechanisms, nuts, bolts, screws, pins, adhesives, and combinations thereof. For example, the connector can be a sliding safety latch, such as a latch and pin mechanism, for securing the first housing or band 456 with the second housing or ring 410. The sliding safety latch can be any safety latch, or the sliding safety latch can utilize the inventive ring and band embodiment disclosed herein. In one embodiment, duck-tail notches 454 on the upper perimeter of the band or first housing 456 are designed to be complementary and to latch onto the notches 455 on the interior of the ring or the second housing 410. Therefore, the connected first and second housings cannot be disconnected or unscrewed until the latch is removed. This latching system can ensure that the first and second housings are latched and locked together until the operator disengages the housings.
In alternative embodiments, combinations of mechanical obstruction structures and gripping structures can be used to lift tubulars, including a tubular having an upset. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described with emphasis, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
This application is a continuation-in-part application that claims priority to the U.S. patent application having the Ser. No. 13/694,404, filed Nov. 29, 2012, which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,936,292 on Jan. 20, 2014 and which claims priority to the U.S. patent application having the Ser. No. 12/082,736, filed Apr. 14, 2008, which in turn claims priority to the U.S. patent application having the Ser. No. 10/690,445, filed Oct. 21, 2003 and is related to the U.S. patent application having the Ser. No. 10/689,913, filed Oct. 21, 2003. All of the above-referenced patents and applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150197996 A1 | Jul 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13694404 | Nov 2012 | US |
Child | 14600249 | US | |
Parent | 12082736 | Apr 2008 | US |
Child | 13694404 | US | |
Parent | 10690445 | Oct 2003 | US |
Child | 12082736 | US | |
Parent | 10689913 | Oct 2003 | US |
Child | 10690445 | US |