U.S. patent application number 11/666195 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-26 for well servicing combination unit.
Invention is credited to James B. Crawford.
Application Number | 20090050311 11/666195 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38523046 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090050311 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crawford; James B. |
February 26, 2009 |
Well servicing combination unit
Abstract
A single well servicing combination unit comprising: a hydraulic
manifold removably connectable to the power-take-off of an external
power source to drive a plurality of hydraulic pumps and motors
that control a plurality of well servicing units mounted on said
combination unit, said well servicing units being interconnectable
by plumbing.
Inventors: |
Crawford; James B.;
(Laffayette, LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Office of Art Dula
3106 Beauchamp Street
Houston
TX
77009
US
|
Family ID: |
38523046 |
Appl. No.: |
11/666195 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
April 24, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2007/010391 |
371 Date: |
April 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60783928 |
Mar 20, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/90.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/22 20130101;
E21B 43/168 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/90.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/18 20060101
E21B043/18 |
Claims
1. A single, well servicing combination unit comprising: a
hydraulic manifold removably connectable to the power-take-off of
an external power source to drive a plurality of hydraulic pumps
and motors that control a plurality of well servicing units mounted
on said combination unit, said well servicing units being
interconnectable by plumbing.
2. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise: i. a wireline inspection unit; ii. a
coiled tubing unit; iii. a nitrogen source; iv. a unit pump; and v.
a blending lank; said blending tank, unit pump, nitrogen source,
coil tubing unit, and wireline inspection unit being
interconnectable by plumbing.
3. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing unite comprise: a nitrogen source; and a coil tubing
unit; said nitrogen source and coil tubing unit being
interconnectable plumbing.
4. The combination unit according to claim 3, further comprising a
high pressure pump, said nitrogen source, coil tubing unit, and
high pressure pump being interconnectable by plumbing.
5. The combination unit according to claim 3, wherein said nitrogen
source comprises a nitrogen generator that gathers nitrogen from
the earth's atmosphere and wherein said combination unit further
comprises a compressor connectable by plumbing to said nitrogen
generator.
6. The combination unit according to claim 3, wherein said nitrogen
source comprises a tank of compressed nitrogen gas.
7. The combination unit according to claim 3, wherein said nitrogen
source comprises a tank of liquid nitrogen.
8. The combination unit according to claim 2, wherein said unit
pump is a high pressure pump.
9. The combination unit according to claim 2, wherein said unit
pump is a well servicing pump.
10. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise: a wireline inspection unit; and a coiled
tubing unit; said wireline inspection unit and said coil tubing
unit being interconnectable by plumbing.
11. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise: a high pressure pump; and a blending
tank; said high pressure pump and blending tank being
interconnectable by plumbing.
12. The combination unit according to claim 11, further comprising
a crane, said blending tank, high pressure pump and crane being
interconnectable by plumbing.
13. The combination unit according to claim 2, further comprising
an acid pump and an acid tank that is connectable by plumbing to
said blending tank and said coil tubing unit, wherein said
hydraulic manifold is removably connectable to said power-take-off
of said external power source to also drive hydraulic pumps and
motors that control said acid pump.
14. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise: a coil tubing unit and at least one other
well servicing unit; said coil tubing unit and other well servicing
unit being interconnectable by plumbing.
15. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise: a wireline inspection unit; and at least
one other well servicing unit said wireline inspection unit and
other well servicing unit being interconnectable by plumbing.
16. The combination unit according to claim 2, further comprising a
combination nitrogen and high pressure pump that is connectable by
plumbing to said blending tank and said coil tubing unit, wherein
said hydraulic manifold is removably connectable to the
power-take-off of said external power source to also drive
hydraulic pumps and motors that control said combination nitrogen
and high pressure pump.
17. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise: a reel of coiled tubing for introducing
well treatment fluid into a well; and an injector that can advance
said coiled tubing into a wellbore.
18. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said well
servicing units comprise a coiled tubing injector and a crane for
picking up and lowering said coiled tubing injector.
19. The combination unit according to claim 1, further comprising
au operator's console whereby said motors and pumps may be
controlled by an operator.
20. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said
combination unit comprises a barge or marine vessel.
21. The combination unit according to claim 20, further comprising
a marine engine connectable to said power take off.
22. The combination unit according to claim 21, wherein said marine
engine is skid mounted and portable.
23. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said
combination unit comprises a trailer.
24. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said
combination unit comprises a skid.
25. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said
external power source comprises a truck engine.
26. The combination unit according to claim 25, wherein said truck
engine is skid mounted and portable.
27. The combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said
combination unit is engineless.
28. Tho combination unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one
of said well servicing units is removably connectable to said
combination unit.
29. The combination unit according to claim 28, wherein said
removably connectable well servicing unit can be replaced with
another well servicing unit that is removably connectable to said
combination unit.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This invention rotates, generally, to the treatment of oil
and gas wells using fluids to increase the production capability of
the wells, and more specifically, to providing for treatment of oil
and gas wells with a means and apparatus that combines multiple
unite--which may include: coiled tubing, nitrogen generation, fluid
pumping, blending tanks, wireline inspection, and other units--into
a single unit powered by an external source.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is known in the art to use self-powered units to provide
wireline inspection and workover operations using gaseous nitrogen
to remove sand and/or water or other impediments to production of
oil and gas wells. The prior art has not recognized that a single,
relatively small, engineless unit requiring minimal
set-up/take-down time can be provided with all of the equipment and
accessories for tapping into an onsite power source to run a
combined and integrated system that may include one or more of the
following: coiled tubing unit, nitrogen generator, fluid pumps,
blending tanks, and wireline inspection unit, or other units.
[0003] The prior art equivalent typically brings as many as five
transportation units (tractor-trailers, barges, or boats) to the
well to be treated, one having a coil tubing unit; one having
cither a liquid nitrogen tank or a large footprint nitrogen
generation unit; one having the nitrogen pumping unit; one high
pressure pumping unit for acids and other chemicals; and a separate
wireline unit. Alternatively, the prior art may have a very large
boat or barge with multiple units, each with its own power source.
Separate, dedicated power sources for each unit drastically
increases the mass and volume that must be transported. Current
power packs are horsepower limited, which limits the equipment that
each can drive. Conventionally, each of the five units above has
its own engine. Even with a hydraulic power manifold to drive
multiple units from a single engine, the horsepower limits how many
can be integrated. The requirement for multiple (or much larger)
transportation units increases the transportation costs, time, and
personnel required to bring the units to the well and run these
services.
[0004] U.S. Provisional Patent application 60/699759, by the
present inventors, teaches a single, relatively small, self-powered
unit with all of the equipment and accessories for running a
nitrogen generation system and pressure pumping chemicals to treat
wells.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,805 (Vercaemer) teaches a method of
hydraulic fracturing in which at least two separate fracturing
fluid components are pumped downhole--one of said components being
pumped downhole within coiled tubing--but does not teach how to
accomplish this with a single compact unit in which all equipment
is powered by an onsite engine and that also provides for the coil
tubing operation and wireline inspection.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,188 (McCafferty) teaches a trailer
mounted coiled tubing rig.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,011, also by the present inventors,
teaches a combined nitrogen treatment system and coiled tubing
system in one tractor/trailer apparatus. A single tractor-trailer
unit is provided, in which the tractor itself drives a plurality of
hydraulic motors that control the pumps and motors associated with
a nitrogen system that is used for injecting nitrogen into a well.
A crane unit and a coiled tubing injection unit are also provided.
Unlike the present invention, no disclosure is made for the
provision of wireline inspection, well servicing fluid tanks,
mixers, and pumps. Unlike the present invention, the preferred type
of nitrogen system is tanks of liquid nitrogen, although an
alternative mode is disclosed in which the liquid nitrogen system
is replaced with one or more nitrogen generators that gather
nitrogen from the earth's atmosphere. However, it was not
disclosed, as in the present invention, that the nitrogen could be
mixed with well servicing fluids provided by the same unit.
[0008] PCT Application US2004/034521, also by the present
inventors, teaches a three-in-one nitrogen treatment system, fluid
system, and coiled tubing system in one unit. A single
tractor-trailer or marine unit is provided, but unlike the
engineless present invention, an onboard engine drives a plurality
of hydraulic motors that control the pumps and motors associated
with a nitrogen system and a fluid system that is used for
injecting nitrogen and fluid into a well. Like the present
invention, a coil tubing system is also provided. The only means
disclosed for pumping fluid to the well is through the coil tubing
system and no disclosure is made for the injection of well
servicing fluids directly into the well, and no fluid blending tank
is disclosed. Also, no means for wireline inspection is
provided.
[0009] The off-shore prior-art that has the same functionality as
the present invention is larger, more expensive, and requires
either multiple barges or ships--necessitating additional time and
expense for set up and take down of ship to ship plumbing--or a
larger, more expensive barge or ship that has a deeper draft and
can therefore depart from and reach fewer locations.
[0010] The primary object of this present invention is to provide a
small engineless unit that can be placed on a single small barge or
ship or a single tractor-trailer or marsh buggy and use an onsite
power supply to provide wireline inspection, coil tubing
operations, and nitrogen generation and pump a combination of high
pressure nitrogen and acids or other chemicals into wells. The
configuration of the present invention on a marsh buggy could be
nearly identical to the configuration on a boat or barge.
Combination of multiple units such as a wireline, coil tubing unit,
nitrogen generator with fluid pumping and mixing on a single
transportation unit and all powered by an external power source
through a angle onboard custom hydraulic manifold is not known in
the prior art to the best of the inventor's knowledge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A single small engineless well servicing unit
comprising:
[0012] a custom hydraulic manifold removably connectable to an
onsite power source to drive a plurality of hydraulic motors, which
control several of the following as well as other units:
[0013] a wireline inspection unit;
[0014] a coil tubing unit;
[0015] an injector;
[0016] one or more nitrogen generators that gather nitrogen from
the earth's atmosphere;
[0017] an acid pump;
[0018] high pressure pumps;
[0019] acid tanks;
[0020] blending tanks;
[0021] a combination nitrogen and fluid pumping unit; and
[0022] other pumps and motors associated with oilfield services
that require pressure pumping of various chemicals down a
well--said pumps, motors, tanks, nitrogen generator(s), and coil
tubing being interconnectable by plumbing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a top view diagram of the lay out of a 105 class
jack-up boat with a custom hydraulic manifold, wireline inspection
unit, coil tubing equipment, crane, mixing tank, storage tank,
fluid pump with power pack, operator console, and nitrogen
generation equipment;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an elevated, block diagram side view of the deck
of the boat from FIG. 1, that shows nitrogen generation equipment
that is connected to the discharge line at a tee, and storage,
mixing, and pumping equipment for well servicing fluid connected to
said discharge line at said tee;
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates, in block diagram, the various systems
that are used in accordance with the present invention to treat a
well with nitrogen and well servicing fluid;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of three nitrogen generators;
and
[0027] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of membrane technology used to
pull gaseous nitrogen out of the atmosphere.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1, a top view of jack-up boat 10
having either a gasoline engine or a diesel engine is illustrated.
Mounted on the boat deck 30 is nitrogen generator 31 (also shown in
FIG. 4) that extracts nitrogen from the atmosphere to eliminate the
need for (and the associated cost of) transporting and filling
nitrogen tanks. Mounted to boat deck 30 are chemical storage tanks
42 that supply chemicals to blending tanks 50 where the chemicals
arc mixed. The mixed chemicals flow to the well servicing fluid
pump 48. The mixed chemicals may flow through the coil tubing 82,
50 to the well head. Wireline inspection unit 52 is mounted to deck
30. Also mounted on the deck 30 is control cabin 34 in which the
electrical and hydraulic units 36 are controlled by a human
operator. Components arc described in greater detail in the
description of FIG. 2 below.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 2, a diagram of a jack-up boat 10 is
illustrated. Mounted on the boat deck 30 is a custom hydraulic
manifold 70 that distributes power from an external power source
200 to all engineless units on deck 30--nitrogen air feed system
32, injector 44, crane 46, well servicing pump 48, blending tanks
50, and Wireline 52. Mounted on deck 30 is a feed air system 32
that is connected to nitrogen membranes 33. Together, the feed air
system 32 and nitrogen membranes 33 function as a nitrogen
generator 31 (also shown in FIG. 4) that extracts nitrogen from the
atmosphere to eliminate the need for (and the associated cost of)
transporting and filling nitrogen tanks. In the preferred
embodiment, nitrogen generator 31 utilizes a membrane 33 (also
shown in detail in FIG. 5) that allows nitrogen-rich air from the
earth's atmosphere to be continuously fed into bundle housing. The
air reaches the center of the bundle of membrane fibers which, at
that point, consists mostly of gaseous nitrogen. The nitrogen
collects in the mandrel at the center of the bundle. As the air
passes through the bundle of membrane fibers, the oxygen and other
fast gases pass through the wall of the membrane fibers as the fast
gases go through to be collected at the end. Oxygen, water vapor,
and the other fast gases are continuously collected and arc moved
from the bundle, thus leaving the nitrogen available to be used for
injection into the well being treated. This occurs at near ambient
pressure and temperature. It is an advantage of this embodiment
that large volumes of nitrogen can be provided at the well site to
be pumped into the well, without the need to transport that entire
volume in either liquid or gaseous form to the well site. The
nitrogen generators 31 of the preferred embodiment accomplish this
nitrogen generation with a smaller footprint than any prior art the
inventor knows. The nitrogen then flows to the nitrogen booster
compressor 38 that then compresses the dry nitrogen to the desired
pressure. The nitrogen will then be pumped to the tee 39 where it
mixes with a fluid or a fluid mix, such as an acid, and then the
resulting mixture enters the discharge line 41. The nitrogen in the
discharge line may be either liquid or gas. Mounted to boat deck 30
are chemical storage tanks 42 that supply chemicals to blending
tanks 50 where the chemicals are mixed. The mixed chemicals flow
first to the centrifugal pump 47 and then to the well servicing
fluid pump 48. The mixed chemicals flow to the tee 39 where the
mixed chemicals mix with nitrogen and the resulting mixture flows
into the discharge line 41. From the discharge line 41 the
resulting mixture can flow directly to the well head or through the
coil tubing 55 to the welt hand. An injector unit 44, also
described in more detail hereinafter, is situated on the boat deck.
A hydraulically driven crane 46 is also situated on the boat deck
for situating the coiled tubing injector 44 immediately above the
well being treated. A hose reel 45 and a coiled tubing reel 55 are
situated on the deck 30. A goose neck 53 is also situated on the
deck 30 adjacent the coiled tubing injector system 44 for feeding
the coiled tubing from the reel into the injector. A stripper 54 is
located on the lower end of the coiled tubing injector system 44
for enabling the coiled tubing 55 to be placed into tho well being
treated. A blow out preventer unit 56 is also located on the boat
deck to be used in shutting in the well to be treated, if needed.
Wireline inspection unit 52 is mounted to deck 30. Also mounted on
the deck 30 is a control cabin 34 in which the electrical 36 (not
shown) and hydraulic units 70 are controlled by a human
operator.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated in block
diagram some of the components that are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0031] The nitrogen air feed system 32 has its output connected
into the input of a hydraulic pump 90. The custom hydraulic
manifold 70, which may be connected to either a gasoline powered or
diesel powered external power source 200, has a return line 74. A
hydraulic pump 90 is connected into a hydraulic motor 92 that is
used to drive the return line 74.
[0032] A hydraulic pump 96 is connected into a hydraulic motor 98
that is used to drive the chains of the injector 44 that can cither
move the coiled tubing into the well being treated or pull the
coiled tubing out of the well being treated, as desired, depending
on the direction of the chain rotation.
[0033] Another hydraulic pump 100 drives a motor 102 to drive the
crane 46 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0034] Another hydraulic pump 110 drives a motor 112 to power the
well servicing pump 48, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0035] Another hydraulic pump 116 drives a motor 118 to power the
blending tanks 50, which are illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0036] Another hydraulic pump 122 drives a motor 124 to power the
wireline inspection unit 52, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0037] It should be appreciated that from the power-take-off of an
onsite power source 200, a custom hydraulic manifold distributes
power to each of the five units. Said external power source with a
power-take-off 200 routed through custom hydraulic manifold 70
drives each of the hydraulic pumps 90, 96, 100, 116 and 122 as
shown by the line 106. Coming off of the custom hydraulic manifold
70, the hydraulic pumps 90, 96, 100, 116 and 122 are preferably
driven by one or more belts that can be used with clutch pulleys as
desired. The compressor unit 108 is also driven by the custom
hydraulic manifold 70 via the drive line 106 to bring the nitrogen
down to its desired temperature. By using a power-take-off on the
vessel (rig, platform, work boat, tug boat, or jack up barge) that
is already on site, that power source 200, with over 1000
horsepower available, can drive more machines than a less powerful
onboard source could.
[0038] The preferred embodiment of the present invention can
operate with a separate land or marine external power source. As
long as the preferred embodiment of the present invention can avail
itself of an adequate external power source it can do all of the
following well servicing, including but not limited to:
[0039] Completions
[0040] Workovers
[0041] Underbalanced drilling
[0042] Well servicing
[0043] Enhanced oil recovery
[0044] Industrial plant degassing and purging
[0045] Mining
[0046] Purging pipelines with nitrogen
[0047] Deepwater marine applications
[0048] LNG & LPG tanks and facilities
[0049] Nitrogen lifting, the flooding webs that won't flow with
nitrogen
[0050] Nitrified Acid
[0051] Nitrogen Displacement
[0052] Pipeline testing
[0053] Tubing testing
[0054] Acidizing
[0055] Cleanouts
[0056] Fix sanding up
[0057] Paraffins
[0058] Foam wash
[0059] Jet with nitrogen
[0060] Nitrify acid
[0061] Nitrogen inhibitor
[0062] Wireline inspection
[0063] One advantage of the present invention is that it makes it
possible to do with one unit and an onsite power source what
previously required five separate powered units--a wireline
inspection unit, a coiled tubing unit, a liquid nitrogen tank
transport means, a powered unit with a high pressure pumping system
for other chemicals and acids, and a unit with a nitrogen pumping
means. Because this embodiment allows one unit to do what once
required several powered units connected together with the
requisite hoses and plumbing, the time and expense of plumbing
rig-up is avoided. Disconnecting and stowing all of the plumbing
after completion is also avoided, saving additional time and labor.
Where the prior art would have taken several units and several days
(for set-up, inspection, well treatment, and disassembly), the
preferred embodiment of the present invention can do the same job
with one unit in one day. The present invention saves the trouble
and expense of transporting five separate power sources to the
site, each of which takes up over sixty square feet of deck space,
allowing tins combined unit to be smaller and cheaper than any
prior art equivalent. The smallest existing vessel with a coil
tubing unit is a 175 class boat, yet an embodiment of the present
invention with an integrated coil tubing unit along with four other
integrated units can be placed on a single 105 class boat. The deck
load of the prior art equivalent would be about 150,000 pounds, yet
an embodiment of the present invention has a deck load of only
about 50,000 pounds, allowing operations in shallower water. The
danger of transporting liquid nitrogen, which is an explosion
hazard, is also avoided. Hazards associated with running plumbing
and hoses from boat to boat arc also avoided, and fewer personnel
are required. As far as the inventor knows, the preferred
embodiment of the present invention has a smaller footprint and
lighter weight than airy functional equivalent.
[0064] The preferred embodiment of tho present invention is even
more advantageous in remote locations where liquid nitrogen is rare
and expensive, or extremely difficult to transport to the well
head.
[0065] The invention is well suited for off shore use. Because of
its small footprint, this invention allows replacement of large,
expensive vessels with much smaller and cheaper barges or ships
that have shallower drafts. An embodiment of the present invention
may also be trailered on land, to replace as many as five separate
units and realize similar time and cost savings.
[0066] Although the present invention has been described by
reference to its preferred embodiment as is disclosed in the
specification and drawings above, many more embodiments of the
present invention are possible without departing from the
invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be limited only
by the appended claims.
* * * * *