Patent Application
20140048286
The present disclosure relates generally to well drilling operations and, more particularly, to modular drum equipment for well drilling and logging operations.
Existing well drilling operations require information on formation characteristics to aid in drilling decisions. Numerous measurement techniques are used, including logging while drilling (LWD), measuring while drilling (MWD), and wireline tests. In wireline tests, for example, a wireline with sensing equipment is lowered downhole. The wireline is typically wound around a wireline drum. The wireline drum configuration may differ at each rig, however. For example, some may include integrated control, some may include separate power connections or no power source at all, each may include a different connector to transmit data from the wireline drum, etc. Utilizing the on-site drum is therefore problematic, as different converters and equipment may be required at each drill site to operate the wireline drum. Additionally, the differences in configuration may increase error rates. What is needed is a common modular drum assembly that can be easily deployed and operated at any drilling site.
Some specific exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be understood by referring, in part, to the following description and the accompanying drawings.
While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure relates generally to well drilling operations and, more particularly, to Modular Drum with a Common Power Pack Unit for use in well drilling operations.
Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail herein. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the specific implementation goals, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure.
To facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, the following examples of certain embodiments are given. In no way should the following examples be read to limit, or define, the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to horizontal, vertical, deviated, or otherwise nonlinear wellbores in any type of subterranean formation. Embodiments may be applicable to injection wells as well as production wells, including hydrocarbon wells.
In certain embodiments according to the present disclosure, rig equipment may be modularized for easy deployment and use at any drill site. This includes providing common measurement and control system connections and providing a common power unit to power the modular wireline drum.
Controlling the wireline drum 104, winch 110, and logging tools 108 may also be problematic. Like the power connections, the wireline drum 104 and winch 110 may not have a readily accessible interface. For example, the wireline drum 104 and winch 110 may simply include a port with non-standard connection, requiring external controls. Like the power connection, the port may be located at the top of the rig or elsewhere, depending on the individual rig configuration. The non-standard connection of the port may require multiple converters and additional equipment to match. Additionally, the wireline drum controls may include internal logic that must be matched in order to properly control the wireline drum winch.
As can be seen, each of the modular units, including the modular drum unit 201, may be implemented in a free standing structure, such as a skid. The skid may be shipped out to a rig site when wireline operations are required, or alternatively, the module can be incorporated into the rig itself. Although the modular units are shown divided, some or all of the modular units may be combined into a single skid. For example, the modular drum unit 201 and control unit 203 may be combined into a single skid, integrating the drum and the control for the drum into a single structure. Likewise, some or all of the units may be further subdivided. Additionally, as would be apparent to one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure, additional functionality can be added to some or all of the modular units 201, 202, and 203.
Each of the modular units may be a constructed out of a cuboid steel frame. In the case of the modular drum unit 201, the frame may include a steel base to which the drum 201a is attached. The modular drum unit 201 may also include a cable assembly 201c, 201d. The cable assembly may include a connector and internal logic to connect and interface equipment disposed in the modular drum unit 201 with external equipment, such as control unit 203 and power pack unit 202. When control and/or power equipment are integrated into the modular drum unit 201, the cable assembly may comprise wiring harnesses internal to the modular drum unit 201 necessary to operate the drum 201a and winch 201b.
The cable assembly 201c, 201d may include a connector incorporating design constraints from both the modular drum unit and external equipment. For example, the connector may include pin locations and layout based, at least in part, on circuitry in both the modular drum unity and the external equipment. The pin layout on a particular connector maybe specific to the equipment it connects, such that the connector cannot be used to connect pieces of equipment for which the cable is not designed. In
In certain embodiments, the power pack unit 202 may be specifically configured and rated to provide power to the modular drum unit 201. The modular drum unit 201 may be manufactured to have a standard, common power requirement, meaning that the power pack unit 202 may be used interchangeably with multiple modular drum units. In some embodiment, the power pack may also power elements the control unit 203 via the cable assemblies and connectors disposed in the modular drum unit 201. The power pack unit 202 may further power the logging tools 218 via the wireline 220.
As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure, the power pack unit 202 may be comprised of a power source, such as a generator, batteries, solar panels, etc., electrically coupled to power control components, such as transformers, switches, etc. In certain embodiments, the power pack unit may include a diesel engine to power the hydraulic winch 201b incorporated in the modular drum unit 201. The power pack unit 202 may also include internal logic to control the power provided to the other modular elements in the system.
The control unit 203 may include the interface 203a through which a rig operator or other user controls the winch 201b. This may include various physical buttons, switches, joysticks, etc. Internal circuitry of the control unit 203 may receive control commands via the interface and generate control signals. The control signals may be transmitted through a cable to the modular drum unit 201. The control signals may cause the drum 201a to spool or unspool the wireline 220, changing the location of the logging tools 218.
The control unit 203 may also include internal logic for receiving and processing measurements 203b from the logging tools 218. In some embodiments, both the modular drum unit 201 and the control unit 203 may include logic to implement a universal interface language. The logging tools may receive power through wireline 220 from the power pack unit 202 via the modular drum unit 201. The logging tool 218 may transmit measurements, such as reservoir measurements and borehole measurements, though the wireline 220 to the control unit 203 via the modular drum unit 201. The internal logic for receiving and measuring processing measurement from the logging tools may be part of the internal logic of a computer system 203b disposed within the control unit 203. Like the winch control 203a, the computer system may include an interface such as a monitor and keyboard, through which a rig operator or user may view and process the measurements received from the logging tools. In certain other embodiments, the control unit 203 may transmit the measurements through a wired or wireless communications system to a remote location. In such instances, a computer system at the remote location may receive the measurements and process the measurements remotely.
In wireline operations, the connection between the modular drum unit 201 and the control unit 203 may include a communication bus, through which depth measurements are sent from logging tools 218 on the wireline 220 to the control unit 203. The control unit 203 may also receive telemetry information, a video feed, and tension measurements from the modular drum. Additionally, the control unit 203 may include the logic and mechanism for performing an emergency shutdown of the modular drum unit 201 in response to downhole or environmental changes.
Although the modular drum is shown on a separate skid in
The embodiment shown in
The modular drum unit 301 may receive power from power pack unit 302 via a cable assembly and cable 310. The cable assembly in
As can be seen, power pack unit 302 includes both an engine and power circuitry. As mentioned previously, the engine may be, for example, a diesel engine connected to an alternator, converting rotational motion to electrical power. The power circuitry may receive the electrical power from the alternator and through power circuitry, such as transformers, etc., condition the power and divide the power into separate channels for transmission through cable 310 to modular drum unit 301.
At step 402, the method may include receiving at a rig site a power pack unit. The power pack unit may include a power source, such as batteries, solar panels, diesel engines, etc. The power pack unit may also include power circuitry for conditioning and limiting the power output by the power pack unit. The power circuitry may be designed to output the predetermined power level and type required by the modular drum unit.
At step 403, the method may include connecting the power pack unit with the modular drum unit using at least one cable with a pre-determined, common connector type. In some embodiment, such as in
Therefore, the present disclosure is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. The indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US11/47006 | 8/9/2011 | WO | 00 | 10/23/2013 |
