Patent Application
20250215757
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to devices, systems, and methods for cable lubrication and maintenance, and particularly to devices, systems, and methods for slickline cable lubrication.
In the oil and gas industry, tools suspended by slickline wire/cable are used to perform a variety of tasks within a wellbore, including retrieving tools and equipment, setting plugs, and collecting downhole measurements including pressure, temperature, pH, etc. In these situations, the slickline cable is subjected to a variety of harsh conditions in the wellbore, including but not limited to high temperatures and physical wear by tensioning of the cable. Further, both inside and outside the wellbore, contaminants such as wellbore fluids (caustic and acidic), dirt, and grime may collect on the cable. All of these conditions may damage or otherwise shorten the useable lifespan of the slickline cable.
Accordingly, desired are devices, systems, and methods of preserving slickline cable such that its lifespan may be extended. One such method of preserving the slickline cable may be cleaning and lubrication, such as by coating the slickline cable in a lubricant prior to entry into the wellbore. However, the application of the lubricant may still not resolve the problem of the contaminants coating/damaging the slickline cable when inserted into or retrieved from the wellbore. Accordingly, devices, systems, and methods are also desired to remove the wellbore fluids and contaminants from the slickline cable.
Consequently, described herein are devices, systems, and methods that fulfill the aforementioned needs. Particularly, a slickline lubrication device may comprise a solvent housing and a contaminant housing arranged around a slickline cable. The solvent housing may be arranged to receive the slickline cable from a slickline cable spool when the slickline cable is inserted into the wellhead, and subsequently expose a lubricating solvent to the slickline cable during the same.
The contaminant housing may be arranged to receive the slickline cable from the wellhead when the slickline cable is retrieved from the wellhead, and subsequently remove the contaminants through one or more sealing elements that wipe an exterior of the slickline cable. Similarly, the solvent housing may comprise one or more sealing elements that remove excess lubricant from the slickline cable when the slickline cable is retrieved from the wellhead. The solvent housing and contaminant housing may also be coupled, such that the lubrication and removal of the contaminants may occur in a single housing. The sealing elements may also contribute to an isolation of the solvent housing from the contaminant housing, such that contaminants do not mix with the solvent when the two housings are coupled.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a slickline lubrication device may comprise a contaminant housing comprising a solvent housing coupling end, a first end, and at least one contaminant housing sidewall extending from the solvent housing coupling end to the first end, wherein the first end comprises a first end opening sized to accept a slickline cable; a solvent housing comprising a second end, a contaminant housing coupling end, and at least one solvent housing sidewall extending from the second end to the contaminant housing coupling end, wherein the second end comprises a second end opening sized to accept the slickline cable, and wherein the solvent housing is coupled to the contaminant housing; a first plate comprising a first plate opening sized to accept the slickline cable, the first plate positioned proximal the contaminant housing coupling end or the solvent housing coupling end; a first sealing element comprising a first sealing element opening that is sized to accept the slickline cable, wherein the first sealing element is positioned within the contaminant housing, the plate, or both; and a second sealing element comprising a second sealing element opening that is sized to accept the slickline cable, wherein the second sealing element is positioned within the solvent housing.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for slickline lubrication may comprise a pressure control apparatus fluidly coupled to a well casing; a lubricator positioned above and fluidly connected to the BOP; a stuffing box positioned above and fluidly connected to the lubricator; a stuffing box sheave positioned above the stuffing box; a slickline lubrication device, the slickline lubrication device positioned below the stuffing box sheave and offset from the lubricator; a joint removably coupling the stuffing box, the lubricator, or both to the slickline lubrication device; a hay pulley positioned below the slickline lubrication device; and a slickline cable extending along the hay pulley and the stuffing box sheave, and extending within the slickline lubrication device, the stuffing box, and the lubricator.
In the previous embodiment, the slickline lubrication device may comprise a contaminant housing comprising a solvent housing coupling end, a first end, and at least one contaminant housing sidewall extending from the solvent housing coupling end to the first end, wherein the first end comprises a first end opening sized to accept a slickline cable; a solvent housing comprising a second end, a contaminant housing coupling end, and at least one solvent housing sidewall extending from the second end to the contaminant housing coupling end, wherein the second end comprises a second end opening sized to accept the slickline cable, and wherein the solvent housing is coupled to the contaminant housing; a first plate comprising a first plate opening sized to accept the slickline cable, the first plate positioned proximal the contaminant housing coupling end or the solvent housing coupling end; a first sealing element comprising a first sealing element opening that is sized to accept the slickline cable, wherein the first sealing element is positioned within the contaminant housing, the plate, or both; and a second sealing element comprising a second sealing element opening that is sized to accept the slickline cable, wherein the second sealing element is positioned within the solvent housing.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of conducting slickline operations may comprise providing a system for slickline lubrication; feeding the slickline cable through the slickline lubrication device, thereby exposing an exterior of the slickline cable to solvent in the solvent chamber; feeding the slickline cable through the wellbore, thereby exposing an exterior of the slickline cable to wellbore fluids; and retrieving the slickline cable from the wellbore, thereby removing the wellbore fluids from an exterior of the slickline cable utilizing the first sealing element and subsequently exposing the slickline cable to the solvent in the solvent housing.
In the previous embodiment, the system for slickline lubrication may comprise a pressure control apparatus fluidly coupled to a well casing; a lubricator positioned above and fluidly connected to the BOP; a stuffing box positioned above and fluidly connected to the lubricator; a stuffing box sheave positioned above the stuffing box; a slickline lubrication device, the slickline lubrication device positioned below the stuffing box sheave and offset from the lubricator; a joint removably coupling the stuffing box, the lubricator, or both to the slickline lubrication device; a hay pulley positioned below the slickline lubrication device; and a slickline cable extending along the hay pulley and the stuffing box sheave, and extending within the slickline lubrication device, the stuffing box, and the lubricator.
The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
As previously stated, embodiments herein generally relate to devices, systems, and methods for cable lubrication and maintenance, and particularly to devices, systems, and methods for slickline cable lubrication and slickline operations utilizing the same.
As used herein, the term “distal” means farther away from another component, such as at the opposite end from that component which the second component is distal from. Similarly, the term “proximal” means nearer to, such as at the same end of that component which the second component is proximal to. For example, as used herein, a first plate being proximal to a solvent housing coupling end means the first plate is nearby, adjacent to, or aligned with the solvent housing coupling end. Similarly, a first plate being distal to the solvent housing coupling end means the first plate is farther away from (with respect to proximal) or opposite of the solvent housing coupling end.
Referring initially to
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The lubricator 230 may be positioned above and fluidly connected to the pressure control device 220. The stuffing box 240 may be positioned above and fluidly connected to the lubricator 230. The stuffing box sheave 250 may be positioned above the stuffing box 240. The slickline lubrication device 100 may be positioned below the stuffing box sheave 250, and may be offset from the stuffing box 240. The slickline lubrication device 100 may be removably coupled to the joint 260, which may be a ball-joint 260. The joint 260 may in turn be removably coupled to the stuffing box 240, the lubricator 230, or both. The hay pulley 270 may be positioned below the slickline lubrication device 100. The hay pulley 270 may be coupled to the lubricator 230 or an anchor point (not illustrated) as may be understood in the art.
Still referring to
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In embodiments, the contaminant housing 102, the solvent housing 120, or both have an inner diameter of from 3.5 inches to 4 inches and an outer diameter of from 4 inches to 4.5 inches.
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The solvent housing 120 may comprise a second end 124, a contaminant housing coupling end 122, and at least one solvent housing sidewall 128 extending from the second end 124 to the contaminant housing coupling end 122. The second end 124 may comprise a second end opening 126 sized to accept the slickline cable 210.
The solvent housing 120 may also be coupled to the contaminant housing 102, such as being removably coupled to the contaminant housing 102. The solvent housing 120 may be coupled or removably coupled to the contaminant housing 102 in any manner understood in the art, including but not limited to flange-type connectors, threaded connectors, adhesive connectors, magnetic connectors, or combinations thereof. For example, and as illustrated in
Still referring to
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As previously stated, the slickline lubrication device 100 may also comprise the first sealing element 150 and the second sealing element 170. The sealing elements described herein may be an elastomer, such as but not limited to, rubber or polyurethane. In embodiments, the sealing elements used herein may be O-rings, although other sealing elements are contemplated and possible. The first sealing element 150 may be positioned within the contaminant housing 102, the first plate 140, or both. The first sealing element 150 may also comprise a first sealing element opening 152 sized to accept the slickline cable 210. The second sealing element 170 may be positioned within the solvent housing 120 proximal the second end 124, may be positioned within the second plate 160, or both. The second sealing element 170 may also comprise a second sealing element opening 162 sized to accept the slickline cable 210.
In embodiments, the first sealing element 150 may be configured to accept and wipe the exterior of the slickline cable 210 when the slickline cable 210 translates from the first end 106 to the second end 124. Without being limited by theory, the wiping of the slickline cable 210 in such a manner may operate to remove contaminants from the slickline cable 210 when the slickline cable 210 is retrieved from the wellbore 290. Similarly, the second sealing element 170 may be configured to accept and wipe the exterior of the slickline cable 210 when the slickline cable 210 translates from the first end 106 to the second end 124. Without being limited by theory, the wiping of the slickline cable 210 in such a manner may operate to remove excess lubricant from the slickline cable 210 before the slickline is spooled on the slickline spool, such as within the slickline truck 300.
In some embodiments, and as shown in
In some embodiments, and as also shown in
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Similarly, the second plate 160 opening or the second end opening 126 may comprise a second plurality of female threads 164 and a second ledge 166 extending radially inward from the second plate 160 opening or second end opening 126, respectively. The second ledge 166 may be sized to receive the slickline cable 210 and the second plurality of female threads 164 may be sized to receive the second sealing element 170, the fourth sealing element 190, or both. The second ledge 166 may also be positioned below the second plurality of female threads 164, such that the second sealing element 170 and the fourth sealing element 190 cannot pass through the second ledge 166.
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The solvent housing 120 may also comprise a solvent housing drain valve 130 positioned above the second sealing element 170. The solvent housing drain valve 130 may be configured to drain solvent from the solvent housing 120, such as by gravity drainage. The solvent housing 120 may also comprise a solvent housing inlet valve 132 positioned above the second sealing element 170, the solvent housing drain valve 130, or both. The solvent housing inlet valve 132 may be configured to provide additional solvent to the solvent housing 120. Without being limited by theory, the combination of the solvent housing inlet valve 132 and the solvent housing drain valve 130 may operate to allow the purging of the solvent housing 120 in the event of contamination of the solvent without needing to remove the slickline lubrication device 100 from the slickline cable 210. In embodiments, the solvent may be a degreaser (such as CC02B Industrial Degreaser), an oil (such as a penetrating mineral oil), or combinations thereof, although other solvents are contemplated.
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Now referring to
The method may further comprise feeding the slickline cable 210 through the wellhead 280, thereby exposing the exterior of the slickline cable 210 to solvent in the solvent chamber. The method may also comprise feeding the slickline cable 210 through the wellbore 290, thereby exposing an exterior of the slickline cable 210 to wellbore 290 fluids. The method may also comprise retrieving the slickline cable 210 from the wellbore 290, thereby removing the wellbore 290 fluids from an exterior of the slickline cable 210 utilizing the first sealing element 150 and subsequently exposing the slickline cable 210 to the solvent in the solvent housing 120.
It is also noted that recitations herein of “one or more” components, elements, etc., should not be used to create an inference that the alternative use of the articles “a” or “an” should be limited to a single component, element, etc. For example, a sealing element may mean one sealing element, two sealing elements, three sealing elements, and so on.
It is noted that recitations herein of a component of the present disclosure being “configured” in a particular way, to embody a particular property, or to function in a particular manner, are structural recitations, as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component.
It is noted that terms like “preferably,” “commonly,” and “typically,” when utilized herein, are not utilized to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to identify particular aspects of an embodiment of the present disclosure or to emphasize alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.
Having described the subject matter of the present disclosure in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is noted that the various details disclosed herein should not be taken to imply that these details relate to elements that are essential components of the various embodiments described herein, even in cases where a particular element is illustrated in each of the drawings that accompany the present description. Further, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, including, but not limited to, embodiments defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present disclosure are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these aspects.
It is noted that one or more of the following claims utilize the term “wherein” as a transitional phrase. For the purposes of defining the present invention, it is noted that this term is introduced in the claims as an open-ended transitional phrase that is used to introduce a recitation of a series of characteristics of the structure and should be interpreted in like manner as the more commonly used open-ended preamble term “comprising.” It is noted that the use of the term “having” in this disclosure should also be interpreted in like manner as the more commonly used open-ended preamble term “comprising”.
