U.S. patent application number 11/145881 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-07 for level-wind system for coiled tubing.
Invention is credited to Vishal Saheta, Rod Shampine, Jason Turk.
Application Number | 20060273213 11/145881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37178410 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060273213 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Turk; Jason ; et
al. |
December 7, 2006 |
Level-wind system for coiled tubing
Abstract
A level-wind head and system for coiled tubing the head adapted
for passing coiled tubing of various outside diameters without
repositioning or replacing the rollers. A system of an embodiment
of the present invention includes a coiled tubing reel mounted for
rotation about a horizontal axis, a level-wind head comprising only
one pair rollers mounted in spaced relation to one another to form
a throat sized to pass various outside diameter coiled tubing,
without replacement or repositioning of the pair of rollers, to or
from the reel, and a positioning system in connection with the
level-wind head for selectively positioning the level-wind head
proximate the reel.
Inventors: |
Turk; Jason; (Katy, TX)
; Shampine; Rod; (Houston, TX) ; Saheta;
Vishal; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
IP DEPT., WELL STIMULATION
110 SCHLUMBERGER DRIVE, MD1
SUGAR LAND
TX
77478
US
|
Family ID: |
37178410 |
Appl. No.: |
11/145881 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/397.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 75/425 20130101;
B65H 2701/33 20130101; B65H 75/4407 20130101; E21B 19/22
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/397.3 |
International
Class: |
B65H 54/28 20060101
B65H054/28 |
Claims
1. A level-wind system for guiding coiled tubing to or from a reel,
the system comprising: an arm; a roller head non-moveably connected
to the arm, the roller head forming a throat for passing the coiled
tubing.
2. The system of claim 1, further including: a positioning system
in connection with the arm for selectively positioning the roller
head relative to the reel.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the positioning system comprises:
a vertical positioning mechanism for positioning the roller head
vertically relative to the longitudinal axis of the reel; and a
horizontal positioning mechanism for positioning the roller head
laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the reel.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least the vertical positioning
mechanism operates independent of the reel's drive mechanism.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises: an elongated
member having a first end pivotally connected to a support
structure and a free end, the roller head connected to the free
end.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising: a positioning system
in connection with the arm for selectively positioning the roller
head relative to the reel.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the positioning system is
operated independent of the reel's drive mechanism.
8. The system of claim 1, further including an arm assembly
comprising: a pair of spaced apart extensions, each extension
having a first end hingedly connected to a support structure and a
distal end; a leadscrew rotatably mounted between the distal ends
of the extensions; and an actuator in connection with the leadscrew
for rotating the leadscrew; wherein the arm is slidingly mounted on
the leadscrew in a manner such that the arm moves substantially
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reel in response to the
rotation of the leadscrew.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator is independent of
the reel's drive mechanism.
10. The system of claim 8, further including: a vertical
positioning mechanism connected to the arm assembly for moving the
arm vertically relative to the longitudinal axis of the reel.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the roller head comprises: a
pair of rollers mounted in spaced relation to one another to form a
throat sized to pass various outside diameter coiled tubing without
replacement or repositioning of the pair of rollers.
12. A level-wind head for guiding coiled tubing to or from a reel,
the level-wind head comprising: a pair of rollers mounted in spaced
relation to one another to form a throat sized to pass various
outside diameter coiled tubing without replacement or repositioning
of the pair of rollers.
13. The level-wind head of claim 12, wherein the throat is sized to
pass coiled tubing having an outside diameter from approximately 1
inch to 2.5 inches.
14. The level-wind head of claim 12, wherein the throat is sized to
pass coiled tubing having an outside diameter from approximately
1.25 inches to 2.375 inches.
15. The level-wind head of claim 12, wherein the rollers are
substantially one-sheet hyperboloid shaped.
16. The level-wind head of claim 12, wherein the rollers are
non-lubricated.
17. The level-wind head of claim 15, wherein the rollers are
non-lubricated.
18. A coiled tubing system comprising: a coiled tubing reel mounted
for rotation about a horizontal axis; a drive mechanism for
rotating the reel; a level-wind head comprising only one pair
rollers mounted in spaced relation to one another to form a throat
sized to pass various outside diameter coiled tubing, without
replacement or repositioning of the pair of rollers, to or from the
reel; and a positioning system in connection with the level-wind
head for selectively positioning the level-wind head proximate the
reel.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the rollers are substantially
one-sheet hyperboloid shaped.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the rollers are
non-lubricated.
21. The system of claim 18, wherein: the rollers are substantially
one-sheet hyperboloid shaped; and the rollers are
non-lubricated.
22. The system of claim 18, further including: an elongated member
having a first end pivotally connected to a support structure and a
free end, the level-wind head connected to the free end.
23. The system of claim 18, wherein the positioning system
comprises: a vertical positioning mechanism for positioning the
level-wind head vertically relative to the longitudinal axis of the
reel; and a horizontal positioning mechanism for positioning the
level-wind head laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the
reel; wherein at least the vertical positioning mechanism operates
independent of the drive mechanism.
24. The system of claim 18, further including: an elongated member
having a first end pivotally connected to a support structure and a
free end, the level-wind head rigidly connected to the free
end.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the positioning system
comprises: a vertical positioning mechanism for positioning the
level-wind head vertically relative to the longitudinal axis of the
reel; and a horizontal positioning mechanism for positioning the
level-wind head laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the
reel; wherein at least the vertical positioning mechanism operates
independent of the drive mechanism.
26. The system of claim 18, further including an arm assembly
comprising: a pair of spaced apart extensions, each extension
having a first end hingedly connected to a support structure and a
distal end; a leadscrew rotatably mounted between the distal ends
of the extensions; an actuator in connection with the leadscrew for
rotating the leadscrew; and a nut that is slidingly mounted on the
leadscrew, the level-wind head connected to the nut; wherein the
level-wind head moves substantially parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the reel in response to the rotation of the leadscrew.
27. The arm assembly of claim 26, wherein the actuator is
independent of the drive mechanism.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates in general to coil tubing
systems and in particular to a level-wind system for coil tubing
units.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Level-wind systems have been provided for spooling coiled
tubing onto a reel when removing the tubing from a well and guiding
the tubing off of the reel when injecting the tubing in a well. In
many of the prior systems, the level-wind system is positioned by
the reel's drive mechanism. These systems included many
shortcomings that result in mechanical failures or failure to
properly spool the tubing on or off of the reel. Additionally, the
tubing guide heads of these prior systems are not adaptable to
various tubing diameters and are subject to excess failures. These
prior systems are also expensive to implement, maintain, and
operate.
[0003] An improved level-wind system was taught in co-owned U.S.
Pat. No. 6,264,128, which is incorporated by reference herein. The
level-wind system of the '128 patent addressed many of the
shortcomings of the prior level-wind systems.
[0004] However, there still exists a need to further address the
shortcomings of the prior level-wind systems. It is a still further
desire to provide an improved tubing guide head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Thus, it is a desire of the present invention to provide a
level-wind system that addresses shortcomings and disadvantages of
the prior level-wind systems.
[0006] It is a further desire of the present invention to provide a
level-wind system that is less expensive to manufacture, maintain,
and operate relative to prior art systems.
[0007] It is a still further desire of the present invention to
provide a level-wind system that reduces points of failures in
relation to the prior systems.
[0008] It is a still further desire of the present invention to
provide a level-wind system which can accommodate multiple sizes of
tubing without requiring adjustment or replacement of parts.
[0009] Accordingly, a level-wind head and level-wind system for
coiled tubing is provided. The system including a coiled tubing
reel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a level-wind
head comprising only one pair rollers mounted in spaced relation to
one another to form a throat sized to pass various outside diameter
coiled tubing, without replacement or repositioning of the pair of
rollers, to or from the reel, and a positioning system in
connection with the level-wind head for selectively positioning the
level-wind head proximate the reel.
[0010] The foregoing has outlined the features and technical
advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed
description of the invention that follows may be better understood.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing and other features and aspects of the present
invention will be best understood with reference to the following
detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention,
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side-view of an embodiment of a level-wind
system of the present invention mounted on a trailer;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
skid-mounted coiled tubing system of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a level-wind system, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, in isolation;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
skid-mounted coiled tubing system of the present invention in
isolation;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of the coiled tubing system of FIG.
5; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view of a level-wind head of the present
invention illustrating the passing of coiled tubing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not
necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are
designated by the same reference numeral through the several
views.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a trailer mounted
coiled tubing unit of the present invention, generally designated
by the numeral 10. A reel 12 for spooling coiled tubing T is
mounted on a trailer. Coiled tubing T is spooled from reel 12 to
injector 14 for injecting coiled tubing T into a well, and spooled
onto reel 12 when removing coiled tubing T from the well. Reel 12
having an axle 16 is rotatably mounted on struts 18. Axle 16
defines the longitudinal axis of reel 12. A hydraulic motor 20 is
connected to reel 12 for rotating reel 12. Hydraulic motor 20 and
the drive connections, not shown, to reel 12 are generally referred
to as the reel's drive mechanism.
[0020] A level-wind system 22 having an arm 24 and a level-wind
head, or roller head, 26 is positioned proximate reel 12.
Level-wind head 26 serves to hold and guide coiled tubing T to and
from reel 12. Arm 24 of the present embodiment includes an
elongated member 28 having a first end 30 pivotedly connected to a
support structure 32 and a free end 34. Level-wind head 26 is
connected to free end 34.
[0021] A positioning system comprising a vertical positioning
mechanism 36 and a horizontal positioning mechanism 38 in
connection with arm 24 may be provided. The positioning system
facilitates precise positioning of level-wind head 26 relative to
reel 12. A positioning system is provided in co-owned U.S. Pat. No.
6,264,138 which is incorporated herein by reference. The
positioning system may be operated independently of the rotation of
reel 12. Desirably, the positioning system maintains a force on
coiled tubing T.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
skid-mounted coiled tubing system 10 of the present invention in
isolation. Reel 12 and axle 16 are rotatably mounted on struts 18
of support structure 32.
[0023] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, arm 24 is an elongated member
28 having a first end 30 and a free end 34. First end 30 is
pivotedly connected to support structure 32 permitting both
vertical and horizontal movement of arm 24 in relation to the
longitudinal axis (axle 16) of reel 12. Level-wind head 26 is
rigidly connected to free end 34 of arm 24 preventing rotating,
pivoting, and translating movement of level-wind head 26 in
relation to arm 24.
[0024] Vertical and horizontal positioning mechanisms 36, 38 are
shown connected between arm 24 and support structure 32 for
positioning level-wind head 26 relative to reel 26. As illustrated
positioning mechanisms 36, 38 are hydraulic cylinders. Again, the
positioning system and hydraulic circuits are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,264,128 which is incorporated herein. Other positioning
systems may be utilized and fall within the scope of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a level-wind system 22, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, in isolation. Level-wind head 26 includes a
frame 40 holding a single pair of rotating rollers 42a and 42b.
Rollers 42a and 42b are each substantially one-sheet hyperboloid
shaped. Rollers 42a and 42b are spaced apart for each other in a
manner to form a throat 44 of sufficient size to pass coiled tubing
of varying outside diameters, without repositioning or replacing
rollers 42. The operation and positioning of rollers 42 is
described further in relation to FIG. 6.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
skid-mounted coiled tubing system 10 of the present invention in
isolation. Reel 12 and axle 16 are rotatably mounted on struts 18
of structure 32. Level-wind head 26 is connected to arm 24.
Level-wind system 22 is connected within an arm assembly 46 to
facilitate the positioning of level-wind head 26 relative to reel
12.
[0027] Arm assembly 46 is described with reference to FIGS. 4 and
5. Arm assembly 46 includes a pair of extensions 48a and 48b, a
cross-bar 50, and horizontal positioning mechanism 38 comprising a
leadscrew 52 and an actuator 54. Extensions 48a, 48b are elongated
members each having a first end 56 and a distal end 58. First ends
56 are hingedly connected to support structure 32. A cross-bar 50
may be connected between the distal ends 58a, 58b to provide
structural support. Leadscrew 52 includes threads and is rotatably
mounted between distal ends 58a, 58b. An actuator 54 is
functionally connected to leadscrew 52 to provide controlled
rotational movement. Actuator 54 may be an electric motor or
hydraulic driving mechanisms. Actuator 54 may be operationally
connected to the drive mechanism of reel 12 or may be controlled
independent of reel's 12 drive mechanism.
[0028] Horizontal positioning mechanism 38 is a leadscrew system
for converting rotary to linear motion. Horizontal position
mechanism 38 includes leadscrew 52, actuator 54 and arm 24. Arm 24
is a nut that is slidingly mounted on leadscrew 52 in a manner such
that arm 24 and level-wind head 26 move substantially parallel to
the longitudinal axis of reel 12 in response to the rotation of
leadscrew 52 as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 5. The leadscrew
system may include, but is not limited to, acme screws and
ballscrews.
[0029] Referring back to FIG. 4, vertical position mechanism 36 is
shown connected between support structure 32 and arm assembly 46.
Vertical position mechanism 36 operates as described above an in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,128.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a view of a level-wind head 26 of the present
invention showing coiled tubing passing through the head at various
angles. Rollers 42a and 42b are one-sheet hyperboloid shaped
members spaced apart in a manner to form a throat 44 of sufficient
size to pass coil tubing T of various diameters, without requiring
the repositioning or replacement of rollers 42a and 42b. Desirably,
throat 44 is sized to pass coiled tubing T having an outside
diameter substantially from 1 inch to 2.5 inches. In particular,
the throat is desired to accommodate coiled tubing T having an
outside diameter of 1.25 inches to 2.375 inches. Rollers 42 may be
constructed of various material, including, but not limited to,
Nylatron, stainless steel, or polyurethane. The utilization of a
material having self-lubricating properties, such as Nylatron,
eliminates the requirement of bearing thus reducing a point of
failure and an element of additional cost.
[0031] As described with reference to FIGS. 1-6, level-wind head 26
may be rigidly or non-moveably connected to arm 24. By eliminating
the pivoting requirement and connection of the prior level-wind
heads another point of failure and cost is eliminated. The pivoting
requirement of level-wind head 26 in relation to arm 24 is
eliminated by facilitating the passing of coiled tubing T through
level-wind head 26 at various angles.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the single pair of rollers 42 having a
one-sheet hyperboloid shape facilitate the passing of multiple
diameter coiled tubing T at various angles through throat 44.
Various strings of coiled tubing are shown superimposed upon
one-another to illustrate various angles of travel through throat
44. The various coiled tubing strings are identified as T1, T2, T3,
T4, T5, T6, T7, and T8.
[0033] From the foregoing detailed description of specific
embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent that a
level-wind coil tubing system that is novel and unobvious has been
disclosed. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the
purposes of describing various features and aspects of the
invention, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the
scope of the invention. It is contemplated that various
substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not
limited to those implementation variations which may have been
suggested herein, may be made to the disclosed embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims which follow.
* * * * *