Oil and gas wells may be equipped with control lines for mechanically, electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or optically linking various downhole devices to the surface. Control lines may be used to receive data from downhole instruments or to operate downhole devices such as valves, switches, sensors, relays, or other devices. For example, control lines may be used to open, close, or adjust downhole valves in order to selectively produce or isolate formations at locations deep in the well. A control line may transmit data gathered downhole to the surface or communicate commands to downhole devices to take samples, readings, or to stroke valves. Control lines may include electrically conductive wires or cables, optical fibers, or fluid conduits for pneumatically or hydraulically controlling downhole devices or transmitting data.
Control lines generally have a small diameter relative to the diameter of the pipe string to which they are secured. For example, an individual control line may be between 0.5 cm and 6 cm in diameter. However, multiple control lines may be aggregated to form an umbilical having a diameter of up to 10 cm or more.
Control lines are generally secured along the length of the outer surface of a pipe string, generally parallel to the center axis of the bore of the pipe string. Continuous control lines are secured to the pipe string using control line clamps at intervals along the string. The control line and the clamps may be installed while joints of pipe are made up into a pipe string and run into a well.
Most control line clamps are “wrap-around” style clamps, which are connected to the tubular by encircling the tubular. Typically, two semi-circular sections are joined together using fasteners (e.g., bolts and nuts) at their circumferential ends to form the wrap-around control line clamp.
Recently, axially-retained control line clamps have been proposed. These clamps are semicircular and extend around a portion of the outer diameter surface of the tubular, but do not fully encircle the tubular. Such clamps may be secured by causing two axial sections to grip a coupling that connects two tubulars of the pipe string together. For example, the axially-retained control line clamps may have a lip or another securing feature that fits into the small gap existing between the coupling and the tubular body at the upper and lower faces of the coupling. Such features provide the axial and radial support to retain the control line clamp onto the tubular.
While the axially-retained control line clamps may facilitate installation by not requiring two halves that encircle the tubular, the axially-retained control line clamps generally require a human operator to be present at well center to drive the two axial sections into a secure position onto the coupling.
The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrates an embodiment of the present teachings and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures:
A clamp installation system is disclosed. The clamp installation system includes a clamp head configured to engage a top section and a bottom section of an axially-retained control line clamp. The clamp installation system also includes a manipulator assembly configured to bring the clamp head close to and away from a tubular string run into a well. The clamp head is configured to position the top and bottom sections of the axially-retained control line clamp on opposite axial sides of a coupling of the tubular string. The clamp head is configured to drive the top and bottom sections of the axially-retained control line clamp axially-together so as to secure the axially-retained control line clamp to the coupling.
A method is also disclosed. The method includes receiving a clamp into a clamp head of a clamp installation assembly. The method also includes moving the clamp head into proximity of a tubular string having a coupling between two tubulars. The method also includes pressing the clamp into engagement with the tubular string using the clamp installation assembly. The clamp includes first and second sections that are initially separated axially apart. When pressed into engagement with the tubular, the first and second sections are at least partially on opposite axial sides of the coupling. The method also includes driving the first and second sections of the clamp toward one another using the clamp head. The method also includes releasing the clamp from the clamp head. The method also includes moving the clamp head away from the tubular string.
A method for installing a clamp is also disclosed. The method includes actuating a device into a first position. A clamp installation assembly of the device faces away from a tubular string when the device is in the first position. The method also includes running the tubular string into a wellbore. The tubular string is run while the device is in the first position. The method also includes deploying a control line along the tubular string using a control line manipulating arm. A coupling connects adjacent tubulars of the tubular string together. The control line runs along and past the coupling. The method also includes loading the clamp into a clamp head of the clamp installation assembly. The method also includes actuating the device from the first position into a second position. The method also includes actuating the device from the second position into a third position. The method also includes moving the clamp head vertically along the tubular string to at least partially align the clamp head with the coupling. The method also includes actuating a draw actuator of the clamp installation assembly. Actuating the draw actuator includes retracting the draw actuator, which causes the draw actuator to engage the tubular string. The method also includes securing the clamp onto the coupling, wherein the clamp is secured by adducting two sections of the clamp head together. The method also includes moving the clamp installation assembly away from the tubular string once the clamp is secured to the coupling.
The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrates an embodiment of the present teachings and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures:
It should be noted that some details of the figure have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the embodiments rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a remote control line clamp installation device and method, e.g., which may be easily configured for use with any of the various types of axially-retained control line clamps. With introduction of the present remote installation device, human operators may be removed from close proximity to the well center and thus from exposure to the dangers of the equipment operating in that area of the rig floor. Further, at least some embodiments of the system and method may reduce the installation time by the introduction of mechanization to deliver the control line clamp along with the clamp securing apparatus to well center, and to install the clamp onto the tubular string, which may avoid worker fatigue.
In some embodiments, a manipulator arm assembly may be used to maneuver a control line clamp head to and from well center. The manipulator arm assembly may allow for a worker to load a control line clamp into the clamp head while in a safe location, away from well center. Once loaded, the manipulator arm assembly may move the clamp head to an installation position. Once the clamp has been installed, the manipulator arm assembly may return the clamp head to its loading position, a safe location away from well center. Further, the clamp head may be interchangeable depending on the design of the control line clamp being installed.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements, where convenient. The following description is merely a representative example of such teachings.
The clamp installation assembly 104 may include components configured to (1) engage and hold an axially-retained clamp, (2) position the axially-retained clamp against a tubular string, such that axial sections of the clamp straddle a coupling between two tubulars of the string, and/or (3) fasten the axial sections together.
In some embodiments, the draw mechanism 210 may include a draw arm 212, draw actuator/cylinder 214, and roller 216. The clamp head 300 may be configured to engage the control line clamp 200, which, as shown, has two axial sections 220, 222. The scissor assembly 202 may include an extendable scissor linkage 230 (or another extensible structure) that is configured to position the clamp head 300 in proximity to a tubular string.
Referring now to the operation of the device 100, with continuing reference to
Next, as shown in
As shown in
Advancing to
Next, as shown in
Proceeding to
With the clamp 600 now secured to the coupling 408, as shown in
Next, the actuators 106, 108 may retract, thereby rotating the manipulator arm assembly 102, such that the clamp installation assembly 104 is away from the tubular string 406 and back in the loading position, and the process may repeat for the next clamp/coupling on the tubular string 406.
As shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
The method 2000 may include actuating the device 100 into a first position, as at 2005. The clamp installation assembly 104 of the device 100 may face away from the tubular string 406 when the device 100 is in the first position.
The method 2000 may also include running the tubular string 406 into a wellbore, as at 2010. The tubular string 406 may be run while the device 100 is in the first position.
The method 2000 may also include deploying the control line 404 along the tubular string 406 using the control line manipulating arm 400, as at 2015. The coupling 408 connects adjacent tubulars of the tubular string 406 together. The control line 404 runs along and past the coupling 408. In an embodiment, the device 100 may be secured to a base of the control line manipulating arm 400. As mentioned above, the control line manipulator arm 400 may include the control line positioner 1800 which defines the channel 1802 through which the control line 404 may be received. The channel 1802 may be circumferentially aligned with notches formed in the clamp 600 to position of the control line 404 in a circumferential direction.
The method 2000 may also include loading the clamp 600 into the clamp head 300 of the clamp installation assembly 104, as at 2020.
The method 2000 may also include actuating the device 100 from the first position into a second position, as at 2025. The device 100 may be actuated by extending the first actuator 106 of the device 100. The first arm 110 of the device 100 pivots about a first pivot axis (Axis 1) in response to extending the first actuator 106. The clamp installation assembly 104 moves in response to pivoting the first arm 110 about the first pivot axis.
The method 2000 may also include actuating the device 100 from the second position into a third position, as at 2030. The device 100 may be actuated by extending the second actuator 108 of the device 100. The second arm 112 of the device 100 pivots about a second pivot axis (Axis 2) in response to extending the second actuator 108. The clamp installation assembly 104 moves toward the well center in response to pivoting the second arm 112 about the second pivot axis.
The method 2000 may also include receiving the tubular string 406 between the clamp head 300 and the roller 216 of the draw mechanism 210 of the clamp installation assembly 104, as at 2035. The tubular string 406 may be received when the device 100 is in the third position.
The method 2000 may also include moving the clamp head 300 vertically along the tubular string 406, as at 2040. The clamp head 300 may be moved to at least partially align the clamp head 300 with the coupling 408. The clamp head 300 may move in response to actuating the vertical adjustment actuator 204 of the clamp installation assembly 104.
The method 2000 may also include actuating the draw actuator 214 of the clamp installation assembly 104, as at 2045. Actuating the draw actuator 214 may include retracting the draw actuator 214, which causes the draw actuator 214 to engage the tubular string 406. Actuating the draw actuator 214 may also or instead cause the scissor assembly 202 of the clamp installation assembly 104 to extend. The clamp 600 may be pressed into engagement with the coupling 408 in response to the scissor assembly 202 extending. The scissor assembly 202 biased toward retracting by the counterweight 1000.
The method 2000 may also include securing the clamp 600 onto the coupling 408, as at 2050. Securing the clamp 600 may include adducting two sections 306, 308 of the clamp head 300 together. The clamp 600 may be secured while the clamp 600 is pressed into engagement with the coupling 408. The clamp 600 may include a shoulder feature configured to be positioned in a radial gap between the coupling 408 and the tubular string 406.
The method 2000 may also include moving the clamp installation assembly 104 away from the tubular string 406, as at 2055. The clamp installation assembly 104 may be moved once the clamp 600 is secured to the coupling 408. Moving the clamp installation assembly 104 may include actuating the draw actuator 214. Actuating the draw actuator 214 may include extending the draw actuator 214, which then allows the counterweight 1000 to cause the scissor assembly 202 to retract. The clamp head 300 may move away from the tubular string 406 in response to the scissor assembly 202 retracting.
The method 2000 may also include actuating the device 100 from the third position back to the first position, as at 2060. The device 100 may be actuated by retracting the first and second actuators 106, 108. The clamp installation assembly 104 may move until it is facing away from the tubular string 406 in response to retracting the first and second actuators 106, 108.
As used herein, the terms “inner” and “outer”; “up” and “down”; “upper” and “lower”; “upward” and “downward”; “above” and “below”; “inward” and “outward”; “uphole” and “downhole”; and other like terms as used herein refer to relative positions to one another and are not intended to denote a particular direction or spatial orientation. The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and “connecting” refer to “in direct connection with” or “in connection with via one or more intermediate elements or members.”
While the present teachings have been illustrated with respect to one or more implementations, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, while a particular feature of the present teachings may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular function. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Further, in the discussion and claims herein, the term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated embodiment.
Other embodiments of the present teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present teachings disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the present teachings being indicated by the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/484,267, filed on Feb. 10, 2023, which is incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63484267 | Feb 2023 | US |