U.S. patent application number 10/317975 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for horizontal boring pipe connecting and disconnecting device.
Invention is credited to Tompkins, Paul H..
Application Number | 20030132030 10/317975 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26981245 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030132030 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tompkins, Paul H. |
July 17, 2003 |
Horizontal boring pipe connecting and disconnecting device
Abstract
Apparatus and methods, for making and breaking connections in a
horizontal boring drillstring, comprising a skid-mounted torque
wrench and a spinning unit hydraulically operated from a remote
control station, therefore allowing a coupling to be made or broken
without manual intervention. One embodiment of a preferred torque
wrench and spinning unit is horizontally mounted on a structural
frame that is adapted to allow movement relative to a horizontal
drill string. A preferred torque wrench comprises a gripping
mechanism that serves to hold stationary one half of a coupling and
a torquing mechanism that arcuately translates the adjoining half
of the coupling to either make-up or break-out the coupling. A
preferred spinning unit comprises a plurality of drive rollers that
impart rotational motion into the pipe to engage or disengage the
threads of a coupling.
Inventors: |
Tompkins, Paul H.;
(LaMarque, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONLEY ROSE, P.C.
P. O. BOX 3267
HOUSTON
TX
77253-3267
US
|
Family ID: |
26981245 |
Appl. No.: |
10/317975 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60349008 |
Jan 14, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
175/52 ;
175/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/164 20130101;
E21B 19/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/52 ;
175/85 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for handling a horizontal boring drill string
formed by a plurality of pipe joints joined by couplings, the
apparatus comprising; a skid oriented along the axis of the
horizontal boring drill string; a torque unit mounted to said skid;
and a spinning unit mounted to said skid, wherein said torque unit
and said spinning unit are adapted to make or break couplings in
the horizontal boring drilling string.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said torque unit and spinning
unit are adapted to move relative to said skid in a direction
parallel to the horizontal boring drilling string.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a remote control
station adapted to control said torque unit and said spinning unit
from a remote location.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said torque unit further
comprises: a stationary gripping mechanism adapted to grip and hold
stationary a first portion of a coupling; and a rotating torquing
mechanism adapted to grip and rotate a second portion of the
coupling.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spinning unit further
comprises a plurality of drive rollers adapted to impart rotational
motion onto a pipe joint.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said torque unit and said
spinning unit are adapted to receive individual pipe joints in a
direction perpendicular to the axis of the drilling string.
7. A method of removing sections of pipe from a horizontal drill
string at the pipe end of a horizontal borehole, said method
comprising: gripping the horizontal drill string with a
hydraulically actuated torquing mechanism mounted to a skid;
applying a torque to a coupling in the drill string with the
torquing mechanism; activating a hydraulic spinning unit to
disengage the coupling such that a section of pipe is separated
from the drill string.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising releasing the torquing
mechanism before activating the hydraulic spinning mechanism.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising: opening the torquing
mechanism and the spinning unit; and removing the separated section
of pipe from the torquing mechanism and the spinning unit in a
direction perpendicular to the axis of the drill string.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein hydraulic force is used to apply
torque to the coupling.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the torquing mechanism and the
spinning unit are operated from a remote control station.
12. A pipe handling apparatus comprising: a skid aligned with the
axis of a horizontal drill string including a series of pipe joints
connected by threaded couplings; means for applying torque to a
coupling to make or break the threaded connection; and means for
rotating a pipe joint that is separate from the drill string so as
to engage or disengage the threaded coupling.
13. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for applying
torque comprises: means for gripping and holding stationary a first
end of a coupling; and means for applying torque to a second end of
the coupling.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for
controlling the apparatus from a remote location.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for allowing
pipe joints that are separate from the drill string to be moved in
a direction perpendicular to the axis of the drill string.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for applying
torque is hydraulically actuated.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for rotating is
hydraulically actuated.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for applying
torque and said means for rotating are adapted to move along said
skid in a direction parallel to the axis of the drill string.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C.
111(b) provisional application Serial No. 60/349,008 filed Jan. 14,
2002, and entitled Horizontal Boring Pipe Connecting and
Disconnecting Device.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to underground boring. More
particularly, this invention relates to methods and apparatus for
making and breaking threaded connections between pipe segments that
are used in underground boring. Still more particularly, the
present invention relates to making and breaking threaded
connections at the pipe end of a horizontal borehole.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Utility lines for water, electricity, gas, telephone and
cable television are often run underground for reasons of safety
and aesthetics. In many situations, the underground utilities can
be buried in a trench which is then back-filled. Although useful in
areas of new construction, the burial of utilities in a trench in
developed areas may result in disturbance to existing structures,
roadways, and utilities. As a partial solution, the general
technique of boring a horizontal underground hole has been
developed in order to overcome some of the disadvantages of
conventional trenching techniques.
[0005] In accordance with such a general horizontal boring
technique, also known as microtunnelling, horizontal directional
drilling (HDD) or trenchless underground boring, a boring system is
situated on the ground surface and drills a hole into the ground at
an oblique angle with respect to the ground surface. The hole is
normally drilled by rotating a drill bit that is attached to the
end of a length of hollow pipe. As the depth and length of the hole
increases, additional lengths of pipe are attached and fed into the
hole. The assembly of the multiple lengths of pipe and the drill
bit is known as a drill string. A drilling fluid is typically
flowed through the drill string, over the bit, and back up the
borehole in order to remove cuttings and dirt.
[0006] After the drill reaches a desired depth, the tool is then
directed along a substantially horizontal path to create a
horizontal borehole. Once the desired horizontal borehole is
drilled, the drill string then drills through to the surface. The
location at which the pipe breaks the surface is referred to as the
"pipe end" of the hole, while the end from which the hole is
drilled is known as the "drill end." At the pipe end, a reamer may
be attached to the drill string and pulled back through the
borehole, thus reaming out the borehole to a larger diameter. It is
also common to attach a utility line or other conduit to the
reaming tool so that it is dragged through the borehole along with
the reamer. When installing a reamer, or for other applications, it
is sometimes desirable to be able to break-out individual lengths
of drill pipe from the pipe end of the hole.
[0007] Drill strings may comprise many individual lengths of pipe,
each of which is connected in series to form the drill string. The
joints between lengths of pipe are often threaded connections that
must be torqued to within set limits in order to prevent failure of
the connection or damage to the thread. In most prior art boring
applications, the individual lengths of pipe are positioned in
place and connected to the drill sting manually. Manually making
and breaking these pipe connections not only takes a long time but
is potentially hazardous to personnel using the equipment.
[0008] In vertical drilling applications, such as those used to
drill hydrocarbon wells, this safety and efficiency problem has
been addressed by mechanisms designed to connect and disconnect
lengths of vertical drill pipe. One such mechanism is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,920, issued to Boyadjieff. Boyadjieff discloses
is what has become known as an iron roughneck, or automatic
roughneck. These devices generally comprise a large structure
mounted on rails that allow the structure to move from a remote
position to a position centered on a drill string. Once a new
length of drill pipe is placed in position over the drill string,
the iron roughneck is moved into position. An iron roughneck
generally comprises a spinning mechanism that grasps the new drill
pipe and rotates it until the connection is initially made-up. Iron
roughnecks also have a torquing mechanism that imparts the required
amount of torque into the threaded connection. Most iron roughnecks
can also be used to disconnect the lengths of drill pipe.
[0009] Horizontal drilling units, such as are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,231,899, issued to Lee, also have been designed with
components that are used to make-up and break-out lengths of drill
pipe from the drill end of the hole. Lee describes a rotary drill
rig, mounted on a frame and having a moveable carriage with a
rotary motor. The rig also has one wrench for holding pipe in place
and second wrench fitted with a hydraulic cylinder for applying
torque to make or break connections. As new pipe joints are added
or removed, the wrenches are used to make or break the connections
and the rotary motor, which also provides drilling torque, engages
or disengages the connection threads.
[0010] There are no devices currently being used to automate the
process of connecting and disconnecting lengths of pipe used in
horizontal boring operations at the pipe end of the hole.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art to develop a device
which will make and break threaded connections used in these types
of operations. The present invention is directed to methods and
apparatus for making and breaking connections between pipes used in
horizontal boring operations.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Accordingly, there is provided herein methods and apparatus
for making and breaking connections in a drillstring used in
horizontal boring operations. One embodiment of the present
invention comprises a torque wrench and a spinning unit that
operate to fully engage and disengage a coupling in a horizontal
drill string. A preferred torque wrench and spinning unit is
hydraulically operated from a remote control station, therefore
allowing a coupling to be made or broken without manual
intervention.
[0012] One embodiment of a preferred torque wrench and spinning
unit is horizontally mounted on a structural frame that is adapted
to allow movement relative to a horizontal, or near horizontal,
drill string. A preferred torque wrench comprises a stationary
gripping mechanism and a rotating torquing mechanism, wherein the
gripping mechanism serves to hold stationary one half of a coupling
while the torquing mechanism arcuately translates the adjoining
half of the coupling to either make-up or break-out the coupling. A
preferred spinning unit comprises a plurality of drive rollers that
impart rotational motion into the pipe in order to engage or
disengage the threads of a coupling. Both the torquing mechanism
and the spinning unit preferably are adapted to receive pipe
sections either along the axis of the drill string or in a
direction perpendicular to that axis.
[0013] In one preferred method of operation, the torquing mechanism
and spinning unit are opened to accept the end of the drill string.
The gripping portion of the torquing mechanism grasps the drill
string on the coupling to be broken. The torquing mechanism is then
actuated until the coupling begins to turn. The gripping and
torquing mechanisms are then released and the spinning unit is
activated in order to disengage the threaded coupling of the pipe
joint from the mating coupling on the drill string. The spinning
unit rotates the pipe joint about the axis of the coupling until
the thread is fully disengaged. Once the thread is fully
disengaged, the pipe joint can be removed and stored until needed.
All of the above described steps are preferably executed without
manual intervention in the torquing or spinning process. The
operation can be controlled from a remote control station. The
above described method can also be used to makeup a pipe joint by
reversing the process.
[0014] Thus, the present invention comprises a combination of
methods and apparatus that enable a pipe joint to be made-up or
broken-out of a horizontal drill string without manual intervention
from an operator. Thus, the present invention increases safety by
removing personnel from the process and improves the process by
providing a consistent level of torque applied to the couplings.
These and various other characteristics and advantages of the
present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art upon reading the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention and by referring to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] For a more detailed understanding of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying Figures,
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of a
combination torque wrench and spinner assembly;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of one embodiment of a torque
unit;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of one embodiment of a torque
unit; and
[0019] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of one embodiment of a spinner
unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In the description that follows, like parts are marked
throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference
numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to
scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated
in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of
conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity
and conciseness.
[0021] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for
making and breaking pipe couplings in a horizontal drill string.
The present invention is susceptible to embodiments of different
forms. There are shown in the drawings, and herein will be
described in detail, specific embodiments of the present invention
with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be
considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention,
and is not intended to limit the invention to that illustrated and
described herein. In particular, the following description of a
method of employment will involve using embodiments of the present
invention to remove joints of pipe from the drill string at the
pipe end of the hole, but the embodiments of the present invention
can also be used to add lengths of pipe at the drill end. It is to
be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments
discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable
combination to produce desired results.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 1, an elevation of an assembly 10
comprises a torque unit 14 and a spinning unit 16, each of which
are slidably mounted to a skid 12. Skid 12 has a rails 30, 32 on
which torque unit 14 and spinning unit 16 are slidably engaged.
Torque unit 14 can be moved along rails 30 by extending or
retracting hydraulic cylinder 26. Spinning unit 16 can be moved
along rails 30 by extending or retracting hydraulic cylinder 28.
Wheels 34, attached to torque unit 14 and spinning unit 16 on rails
30.
[0023] Torque unit 14 is preferably capable of imparting a required
torque into a coupling, either to make or break the connection.
Torque unit 14 is preferably mounted to a chassis 18 that supports
the unit and provides for lateral movement in relation to skid 12.
This movement allows torque unit 16 to be adjusted to properly
align with a coupling. Torque unit 16 is also preferably capable of
acting in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. A preferred
torque unit 16 is actuated and controlled by a hydraulic
system.
[0024] FIG. 2 generally illustrates the structure of one embodiment
of a torque unit 14 including a rotating gripping assembly 22
adapted to grip and apply torque in either direction to one half of
a pipe coupling, and a stationary gripping assembly 20 adapted to
engage and maintain stationary the other half of a coupling. Each
gripping assembly 20, 22 comprises gate 54 pivoted to body 64 for
movement between an open position passing the pipe into engagement
with the gripping assembly and a closed position to securely grip
the pipe within the assembly. Gate 54 may be held in closed
position by a latch element (not shown) and is preferably moved
between the open and closed position by hydraulic actuators (not
shown). Once gate 54 is closed, gripping elements 66, carried by
gate 54, and diametrically opposed gripping elements 68, mounted to
piston 56, act to tightly grip the pipe when pressurized fluid is
forced into a cylinder chamber (not shown) to move piston 56 toward
the center of pipe 40.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, after first and second gripping
assemblies 20, 22 have been actuated to tightly grip pipe 40 on
either side of a threaded connection, the assembly 22 is rotated
relative to pipe 40 and assembly 20 to either break the threaded
connection or make it up to a tightened condition. This relative
rotation is produced by two piston and cylinder mechanisms 58, each
of which has its cylinder connected to one of assemblies 20, 22 by
a pivoting arm 60, 62. The pressure acting on piston and cylinder
mechanisms 58 can be controlled to limit the amount of torque that
is applied to the coupling during actuation.
[0026] Spinning unit 16 serves to rotate a joint of pipe in order
to engage or disengage a threaded connection. A preferred spinning
unit 16 provides a recess into which a pipe is received for powered
rotation by the spinning unit. A preferred spinning unit 16 is also
mounted for lateral movement relative to skid 12 so that the
location of the interface between a pipe joint and the unit can be
controlled and to adjust for movement of the pipe joint as a
coupling is engaged or disengaged.
[0027] FIG. 4 generally illustrates the structure of one embodiment
of spinning unit 16, comprising spinning mechanism 24 and side
plates 36 mounted to a frame 22. Spinning mechanism 24 comprises
gear system 42 that is rotated by a motor (not shown) and rotates
pipe 40 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Gear
system 42 is raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinder 44 to
maintain the desired contact with pipe 40. Spinning mechanism 24
also comprises a pair of retaining arms 48 that rotate about pin 50
to maintain roller 52 in contact with pipe 40. The position of arm
48 is controlled by extending and retracting hydraulic cylinder 46
and preferably can be adjusted so that arms 48 are in a fully open
position to allow pipe 40 to be lifted from spinning unit 16.
Spinning unit 16 may be any type of mechanism used to rotate pipe.
Spinning unit 16 is preferably able to rotate in both a clockwise
and counter-clockwise direction and be hydraulically powered.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, during horizontal boring
operations, a site is prepared to receive the drill string as it
rises to the surface. Torque wrench and spinner assembly 10 is
positioned to align with the drill string as it exits the
formation. Assembly 10, preferably mounted on skid 12, may be
positioned on the surface, truck-mounted, or set into a trench dug
into the ground. Assembly 10 may be horizontal or placed at an
angle to receive the drill string. Assembly 10 is preferably placed
so that pipe coming out of the hole first encounters torque unit
14. Torque unit 14 and spinning unit 16 may be fully opened so that
the drill string can be lowered into the units from above. The
drill string may also be inserted axially through torque unit 14
and spinning unit 16.
[0029] The drill string is positioned, and torque unit 14 adjusted,
so that a pipe coupling is properly engaged with the torque unit.
Torque unit 14 applies a torque to the coupling to break the
connection. Torque unit 14 is then released so that spinning unit
16 can be actuated to rotate the free end of the drill string in
order to disengage the coupling. Once the coupling is fully
disengaged the pipe joint can be removed. Assembly 10 preferably
works in conjunction with a crane, or other lifting apparatus, to
safely manipulate the pipe joint after removal from the drill
string. This same process can be reversed to add pipe back to the
drill string.
[0030] All of the functions of both the torque unit 14 and spinning
unit 16 are preferably hydraulically actuated from a control panel
that is remote from assembly 10. Functions may be individually
controlled or operate as part of a single hydraulic circuit. The
use of hydraulic power also serves to control the amount of torque
applied to a coupling so as to ensure consistent, correct
connection strengths without risk of damage to the coupling.
[0031] Therefore, the above described assembly allows joints of
pipe to be removed from, or added to, a horizontal drill string
exiting the ground at the pipe end of a borehole. By providing a
remotely operated hydraulic assembly, a single operator can make
and break pipe connections safely from a remote location.
Furthermore, the use of a hydraulic system allows precise control
of the torque applied to a coupling so that damage to the coupling
can be limited.
[0032] The embodiments set forth herein are merely illustrative and
do not limit the scope of the invention or the details therein. It
will be appreciated that many other modifications and improvements
to the disclosure herein may be made without departing from the
scope of the invention or the inventive concepts herein disclosed.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within
the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, including
equivalent structures or materials hereafter thought of, and
because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein
detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the
law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *