U.S. patent application number 13/802463 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for apparatus for aligning tubulars during placement in a well.
This patent application is currently assigned to EXPRESS ENERGY SERVICES OPERATING, LP. The applicant listed for this patent is EXPRESS ENERGY SERVICES OPERATING,LP. Invention is credited to Steve W. Fournier, Jr., Peter P. Huang, James C. Ivison, Russell N. Pullins, Jeffrey P. Rains, John C. Smith.
Application Number | 20130192817 13/802463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48869259 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130192817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fournier, Jr.; Steve W. ; et
al. |
August 1, 2013 |
Apparatus for Aligning Tubulars During Placement in a Well
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for aligning tubulars when a drilling rig
is used to lower a string of tubulars into a well. A joint of
tubular can be moved to a vertical position above a connector to
which it is to be joined and placed at the angle where threads on
the joint and connector can be joined at low torque without damage
to the threads. The apparatus can be used on a variety of drilling
rigs and provides a safer environment for workers on the rig.
Inventors: |
Fournier, Jr.; Steve W.;
(Houston, TX) ; Huang; Peter P.; (Katy, TX)
; Ivison; James C.; (Katy, TX) ; Pullins; Russell
N.; (Spring, TX) ; Rains; Jeffrey P.; (Spring,
TX) ; Smith; John C.; (Conroe, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EXPRESS ENERGY SERVICES OPERATING,LP; |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
EXPRESS ENERGY SERVICES OPERATING,
LP
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
48869259 |
Appl. No.: |
13/802463 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/77.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/77.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/24 20060101
E21B019/24 |
Claims
1. A tubular alignment apparatus for placing tubulars in a well
using a rig, comprising: a rigid base; a post attached to the base,
the post being rotatable; a horizontal support attached to the
post, the horizontal support being linearly extendable; a source of
force attached to the horizontal support to drive a linear
extension; a finger assembly attached to the horizontal support,
the finger assembly being rotatable and tiltable with respect to
the horizontal support and comprising a first pair of fingers; a
pair of sources of force to drive the rotation and the tilt of the
finger assembly; and a source of force to drive a first pair of
fingers, each finger of the first pair of fingers being connected
to a fixed horizontal member and a link, the link being pivotally
and moveably attached at a first end to the finger and at a second
end pivotally and moveably attached to the source of force, such
that the pair of fingers are driven toward open and closed
positions in response to movement by the source of force.
2. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein each finger
further comprises a distal part, the distal parts of the pair of
fingers being in spaced apart horizontal planes such that the end
members overlap when the fingers are closed.
3. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fingers
include a contour adapted for a selected size tubular.
4. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the post is
extendable.
5. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 4 wherein the post is
extended by a source of force.
6. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the finger
assembly further comprises a second pair of fingers and a source of
force to drive the second pair of fingers, each finger of the
second pair of fingers being connected to a fixed horizontal member
and a link, the link being pivotally and moveably attached at a
first end to the finger and at a second end pivotally and moveably
attached to the source of force, such that the pair of fingers are
driven toward open and closed positions in response to movement by
the source of force.
7. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sources
of force are a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
8. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more
of the sources of force are an electric motor and gears.
9. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is a
plate placed on the drill floor or rotary.
10. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is
a rigid attachment to the rig.
11. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fingers
further comprise bearings disposed so as to decrease resistance to
movement of a tubular in contact with the finger.
12. A tubular alignment apparatus for placing tubulars in a well
using a rig, comprising: a rigid base; a post attached to the base,
the post being rotatable; a horizontal support attached to the
post, the horizontal support being linearly extendable; a source of
force attached to the horizontal support to drive a linear
extension; a finger assembly attached to the horizontal support,
the finger assembly being rotatable and tiltable with respect to
the horizontal support and comprising a first pair of fingers; a
pair of sources of force to drive the rotation and the tilt of the
finger assembly; a source of force to drive a first pair of
fingers, each finger of the first pair of fingers having teeth on a
radial convex surface and being pivotally connected to a fixed
horizontal member; a linear driving member having teeth and being
disposed such that the teeth of the driving member mesh with the
teeth on the first pair of fingers; and a source of force attached
to the driving member such that the first pair of fingers can be
driven toward open and closed positions in response to movement by
the source of force.
13. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein each finger
further comprises a distal art, the distal parts of the pair of
fingers being in spaced apart horizontal planes such that the end
members overlap when the fingers are closed.
14. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fingers
include a contour adapted for a selected size tubular.
15. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the post is
extendable.
16. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 15 wherein the post is
extended by a source of force.
17. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the finger
assembly further comprises a second pair of fingers and a source of
force to drive the second pair of fingers, each finger of the
second pair of fingers having teeth on a radial convex surface and
being pivotally connected to a fixed horizontal member; a linear
driving member having teeth and being disposed such that the teeth
of the driving member mesh with the teeth on the second pair of
fingers; and a source of force attached to the driving member such
that the second pair of fingers can be driven toward open and
closed positions in response to movement by the source of
force.
18. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sources
of force are a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
19. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein one or more
of the sources of force are an electric motor and gears.
20. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the base is
a plate placed on the drill floor or rotary.
21. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the base is
a rigid attachment to the rig.
22. The tubular alignment apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fingers
further comprise bearings disposed so as to decrease resistance to
movement of a tubular in contact with the finger.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to apparatus for placing tubulars in
a well using a drilling rig. More particularly, apparatus is
provided for remotely controlling alignment of joints of tubulars
before joining.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The placement of tubulars in wells is normally carried out
by hoisting a single joint of tubular (normally 30-45 ft. in
length) into a vertical position over an assembly of tubulars
(string) already placed in the well, aligning the hoisted joint of
tubular with the string of tubulars, which is hanging in the well
and supported by slips, rotating the hoisted tubular to thread the
tubular into the string, raising the extended string to release the
slips and lowering the extended string into the well. The process
is repeated to make up a tubular string of the required length.
[0005] Tubulars having an outside diameter from about 23/8 inches
to about 36 inches are placed in wells. Tubulars placed in a well
after the hole is drilled are called "casing," and the diameter is
normally more than 5 inches. Smaller tubulars, used as conduits for
fluid flow in the well, are called "tubing." Tubing is usually
placed in a well using a "work over" rig, but it has the same type
apparatus for running tubulars as a drilling rig, and is included
in the designation "drilling rig" herein. A variety of automated
equipment has been developed for placing both tubing and casing in
wells. In most wells, where automated equipment is not available or
is not economically justified, the placement of tubulars is still a
"hands on" operation. The pipe tongs used to rotate tubulars during
a placement operation are often hydraulically powered. Slips are
usually handled manually, but may be hydraulic. The hoisting of
each joint of tubular into a vertical position is performed with a
small hoist in a mast over the well. The lowering of the entire
string in the well is performed with the block-and-cable apparatus
common to drilling rigs. The required lifting capacity of the mast
is usually determined by the weight of the casing.
[0006] When a joint of tubular is in the vertical position, it must
be aligned so that threading into the string of tubulars will not
damage threads in the tubular. Generally, the joint being added has
the male connection and the process of bringing the joints into
position for threading is called "stabbing" the upper joint. When
casing is being placed in a well each joint is much heavier than
tubing joints, so aligning and stabbing casing are more difficult
operations. The alignment operation is normally performed by a man
standing on a platform in the mast ("derrick man"), which may be
30-50 ft. above the rig floor. Safety considerations arise when a
man is required to stand above the level of the rig floor, because
of the danger of falling. At the same time, it is necessary to
thread the joints together without damaging threads in the tubular,
which, with casing, can cause fluid to leak from the well and
require expensive remediation steps to prevent an environmental
risk.
[0007] U.S. Pat. App. No. 2012/0085550 discloses method and
apparatus for stabbing tubular goods using an assembly attached to
an elevator in a conventional drilling rig or a casing-running tool
used in top drive drilling rigs. U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,654 discloses
a pipe handling device for use with a top drive rig.
[0008] What is needed is apparatus for aligning tubulars for
joining, without the need for a person positioned above the rig
floor, that is economical to build and operate and that easily
adapts for use with the variety of drilling rigs widely used in
industry.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Apparatus is provided to be placed on the floor of a
drilling rig, either conventional or top drive, which can be
remotely operated to align tubulars, such as casing, for making
threaded connections at the drill floor. Hydraulic or pneumatic
cylinders or electrically-driven sources of force operate plates
and fingers to control the location and orientation of a tubular as
it hangs in an elevator and align the tubular with a connector on a
mating second tubular, such that lowering and rotation of the first
tubular with low torque makes a threaded connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0010] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the tubular aligning
assembly.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows an isometric front view of the finger assembly
of the tubular arm assembly.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an isometric rear view of the finger assembly
of the tubular arm assembly.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows an isometric detail view of one embodiment of a
driving mechanism for fingers of the tubular arm assembly.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of fingers of the assembly in an
open position.
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of fingers of the assembly in a
closed position.
[0016] FIG. 7 shows an isometric detail view of a second embodiment
of a driving mechanism for fingers of the tubular arm assembly.
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of fingers of the assembly in an
open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a tubular aligning
assembly 10 is shown. Assembly 10 is adapted to be placed on the
drilling floor of a top drive drilling rig or to be placed on the
rotary table of a conventional rotary rig. Base plate 11, which may
be 2-inch thick steel, forms the base of the assembly. Attached
plate 11a contains slot 11b and is preferably removable from base
plate 11 by operation of fasteners 11c. The size of slot 11b is
determined by the size of the tubulars being placed in a well.
Attached plate 11a may have pad eyes 11c that are adapted to
receive slots on the bottom of slips. Post base assembly 12a
supports gear 12 having teeth that mesh with a motor attached to
12a such that post 13 may be rotated by operation of the motor.
Post base assembly 12a may have supports 12b. Post 13 may be
adjustable in height by a movable pin passing through holes in two
concentric sections of the post and post support 13a, or, in
another embodiment, height may be remotely controlled by a
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder inside post 13 (not shown).
Extendable box assembly 15 supports finger assembly 20. Fixed box
member 14 may be attached to support member 14a and post 13.
Movable box member 15 may be extended and retracted within fixed
box member 14 by operation of cylinder 16, which is attached to
member 14 and member 15. Finger assembly 20 is attached to movable
box member 15. Fixed box member 14 may include slot 14b, which
allows retraction of finger assembly 20 nearer post 13.
[0019] Alternatively, in another embodiment, fixed box member 14
may be attached to a fixed structure of a drilling rig, such as one
or more vertical members of the mast of the rig. In this
embodiment, base 11 and post 13 are not used, and operations of the
apparatus may be performed with other elements as if base 11 and
post 13 were supporting fixed box member 14.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric front view of finger
assembly 20. Finger base plate 21 supports upper pair of fingers
22, having distal pasts 22a and 22b, and lower pair of fingers 23,
having distal parts 23a and 23b. Pair of fingers 22 and 23 may
include roller bearings or ball bearings (not shown) inside each
finger to decrease resistance to rotation of a tubular confined by
and being aligned by the fingers. Distal parts 22a and 22b of upper
fingers 22 are preferably in different horizontal planes, such that
the distal parts of the fingers overlap when the fingers close. The
same feature may be used for distal parts 23a and 23b of lower
fingers 23. Distal parts of all fingers may not be necessary and
may be omitted for some pipe sizes and applications. Rotary bearing
25 provides for rotation of finger base plate 21 around box member
15.
[0021] In another embodiment, only one pair of pairs of fingers 22
or 23 may be present in finger assembly 20, but not both. It may
not be necessary to have two pairs of fingers, as shown in FIG. 2
and FIG. 3, in some applications. The thickness of the fingers in
one pair of fingers may be increased to provide an adequate source
of torque transverse to the axis of a tubular. The driving
mechanism for only one pair of fingers is required in this
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric rear view of finger assembly
20 having two pairs of fingers. Finger support plate 30 is attached
to finger base plate 21 and the extended end of box member 15 by
horizontal pin 34, disposed so as to allow tilting of support plate
30 by rotation around the pin. Force for control of tilting is
supplied by cylinder 31. Rotation of finger base plate 21 with
respect to finger support plate 30 is provided by rotary bearing 25
(FIG. 2). Force for rotation is supplied by cylinder 32.
Alternatively, the force may be supplied by an electric motor.
Cylinders 37 and 38 supply the forces to operate the finger
assembly, as described below.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, one embodiment of a driving mechanism
40 for upper and lower pairs of fingers is illustrated. The same
driving mechanism is used for upper and lower pairs of fingers. The
position of piston 41 of cylinder 37, extending through a hole in
finger base 18 controls the position of fingers 22. H-member 43 is
rigidly attached to piston 41. The proximate ends of links 45 are
pivotally and moveably attached to H-member 43 by bushings 44. The
distal ends of links 45 are pivotally and moveably attached to
fingers 22 by bushings 46. Fingers 22 are pivotally and rigidly
attached to horizontal U-member 42 by bushings 47. Therefore,
bushings 44 and 46 move linearly (hence, are "movably attached") in
response to linear movement of piston 41, while bushings 47 remain
fixed (hence, pivotally and rigidly attached). Driving mechanism 40
converts linear movement of the piston into angular movement of the
fingers. In another embodiment, opening and closing of fingers may
be achieved by a rack and pinion mechanism, described below. It
should be understood that, although hydraulic or pneumatic
cylinders are illustrated and described herein to provide driving
forces, in other embodiments, driving forces provided by any or all
of the cylinders can be provided by electric motors and associated
gears.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates fingers 22 in an open position, to be
used for placing the fingers around a tubular and beginning to
grasp the tubular. FIG. 6 illustrates fingers 22 in a closed
position. Contour 22c may be adapted for different diameters or
ranges of diameters of tubulars.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a driving
mechanism for a pair of fingers is shown. Driving mechanism 70
operates as a rack and pinion. Finger base plate 78 supports
horizontal U-member 72. Fingers 79 are pivotally and rigidly
attached to member 72 by bushings 77. Movement of piston 71 (or
other source of force) causes member 74, having teeth 73, to move
linearly. Teeth 75 in fingers 79 translate linear movement into
angular movement of fingers 79.
[0026] All embodiments of a tubular aligning assembly disclosed
herein may be used for placing any tubulars in a well with a rig;
only casing will be discussed here. Assembly 10 may be placed on
the floor of a drilling or completion rig. In another embodiment,
post base assembly may be rigidly attached to one or more rigid
members of the rig, such as a vertical member of the mast or the
drill floor or substructure. Finger assembly 20 may then be
operated to align the tubular being added to the tubulars in the
well. A joint of casing, normally with male threads, is suspended
in the mast by elevators. Slips support a string of casing that has
been placed in a well, with a female connector above the slips.
Normally, the position of elevators in a horizontal plane does not
allow a joint to align with the connector such that the joint can
be rotated at low torque, which is necessary to insure that threads
on the joint and connector are properly mated. Preferably, some
threads are engaged by manual force before tongs are applied to
torque the connection to the recommended level. This minimizes the
risk of cross-threading the connection, which is especially
important in placing casing in a well. Operation of the cylinders
or other apparatus to supply a driving force in the apparatus from
a control panel allows alignment of a joint such that it can be
joined to a connector by pipe threads at low torque even if the
elevator is not vertically above the joint. The control panel may
be on or off the drill floor. Observation of tubular alignment may
be by visual observation and communication to an operator of the
control panel, by a video camera and viewing screen for the panel
operator or other sensors and communication channels for detecting
the location of a joint with respect to a connector and
communicating data to the panel operator.
[0027] Although the present invention has been described with
respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details
should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention,
except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *