The only above hole entry sub presently in use known to applicants is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,162 which is a side entry sub for receiving only a wireline cable therethrough for use in freeing stuck pipe in a well bore.
However, so far as known to applicants there is no above hole top entry sub available to receive wireline or coiled tubing or to use in a snubbing operation. The side entry sub of the above referred to patent is used with a top drive power unit which is located above the working floor. Prior entry subs have generally been limited to use with wireline or other substantially flexible conduits of relatively small diameter because of the limited entry angle.
The side entry sub of the above patent requires that a standard 30 foot joint of pipe be connected to its upper end and also to the lower end of the sub. The wireline is generally fed through the side entry opening and necessary tools for freeing the stuck pipe are then connected to the wireline that projects from the lower end of the tool joint that is connected to and extends from the bottom of the sub as shown in
When the operation is complete, the tool joint is unscrewed from the drill string and the analytical tools disconnected from the wireline so it can be withdrawn from the side entry port.
Also, the above side entry port cannot be employed with coiled tubing and cannot be employed in snubbing operations.
The present invention overcomes the above and other problems and limitations of current side entry above hole subs.
The present invention provides a top entry sub which is adapted to be received and supported in a rotary table that is normally positioned at or adjacent working floor level, or it can be employed with a top drive power unit.
It includes a tubular member having a top surface which is provided with dual openings in which a well string, such as a drill string, may be connected in one opening and is provided with a second opening through which another pipe or conduit may be inserted into the well string.
The sub of the present invention may be connected directly to the well string, such as a drill string, extending up from the rotary table and a wireline with the analytical tools connected thereto extended through the top entry port. This eliminates the need for 30 foot pipe joints connected above and below the sub to enable a wireline and its tools to be stepwise connected as above described with regard to U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,162.
Coiled tubing may be inserted through the opening with the shaped flange and drill or well string may be connected through the other opening.
The sub of the present invention can be employed in snubbing operations.
One object of the present invention is to provide a top entry sub to provide an entry angle to accommodate coiled tubing, tubular members or the like, as well as small diameter members such as wireline conduit and the like to be inserted through the sub and into the well string.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a universal entry sub which employs a top entry for inserting various size and type objects in a well string and reduces the problems encountered with side entry subs presently in use.
A still further object is to provide an entry sub for use with in snubbing operations in a well bore.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.
Attention is first directed to
An enlarged external diameter upper end portion referred to generally at 11, extends upwardly from the main body section 8 of the tubular member. The enlarged upper end portion 11 has an upper end represented generally at 12 with an upper surface thereon shown generally at 12a.
In the
An upper pair of spaced, passages 14 and 14a are provided in upper end portion 11 and are inclined outwardly and upwardly relative to the centerline axis 16 of the main body section 8 as shown.
The passages 14, 14a extend through the annular, enlarged diameter upper end portion 11 from their respective lower ends 14b which lower ends communicate with the upper end of single passage 15 in the main body section 8 as shown in the drawings. The passages 14 and 14a each terminate at their upper end in openings 14c, 14d, respectively, in the upper surface 12a of enlarged end portion 11 as shown.
The enlarged portion 11 includes an inclined, outer annular surface 7 adjacent its lower end at its juncture with the main body section 8, which annular surface helps to support the top entry sub ES in a rotary table as will be explained.
In the preferred embodiment, the inner diameter of the passage 15 is as large or larger than the combined inner diameters of passages 14 and 14a. One preferred internal diameter range for the passage 15, by way of example only and not by way of limitation is from 4¼ inches to 5¾ inches and a preferred range of passage 14, by way of example only, and not by way of limitation is 1 inch to 4¾ inches, while a preferred range for passage 14a, by way of example only, and not by way of limitation is 2 inches to 3½ inches.
In the
The preferred angle of inclination of each surface 13, and 13a is approximately five and one half degrees. The passage 14 is internally threaded adjacent its upper end to form a box connection and receives the well string (not shown) which is provided with external threads to be engaged therein. The lower end surface 9 and lower surface 10 of main body section 8 is inclined in a manner and preferably at substantially the same angle as upper surface 13 as shown in
The passage 14a has a smooth internal bore, preferably throughout its extent for receiving coiled tubing, wireline and tools connected therewith or members used in snubbing operations. This main body section 8 is internally threaded adjacent its lower end as shown to receive a connection, or double pin sub, represented at 17 in
The two passages 14 and 14a are spaced by the longitudinal portion 40 which is shown as extending internally in the top entry sub from approximately adjacent the beginning 41 of the enlarged end portion 11 to the upper end 12 of the tubular member TM. Its longitudinal extent is maintained at a minimum as shown in the drawings in relation to the longitudinal extent of the single passage 15 in main body section 8 to provide maximum clearance for entry of coiled tubing and tubular members and to decrease the angle of entry of any object through passage 14a into the single passage of the main body section.
An adapter 56 is provided with an annular projection or shoulder 57 which seats on the upper end 54 of tubular portion 52, and a coupling 58 with internal threads 59 removably secures adapter 56 with tubular portion 52 as shown. A seal 60 is provided between the adapter and tubular portion as shown in FIG. 2.
When cable or wireline is to be run in the passage 14a of the tubular member TM, the double pin sub 17 and the crossover sub 20, may be employed with the entry sub. A wear sleeve 62 is shown in
When coiled tubing is to be run through the top entry sub, or where a snubbing operation which employs tubular members is to be run through the passage 14a of the top entry sub ES, an arrangement including preferably all of the components as shown in
Blow out preventers such as represented schematically at 24 in
In an emergency, the blow out preventer 26 is actuated in a manner well known in the art to move the rams 25 to sealably engage their inner ends with the annular bottom surface 28a in the annular groove 28 and restrict or prevent movement of the drill string in the well bore in response to pressure.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 08013649 | Feb 1993 | US |
Child | 10300451 | US |