U.S. patent application number 14/138115 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for push / pull system and support structure for snubbing unit or the like on a rig floor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Team Snubbing Services Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Team Snubbing Services Inc.. Invention is credited to Brian TUCKEN.
Application Number | 20140174718 14/138115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42371429 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140174718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TUCKEN; Brian |
June 26, 2014 |
Push / pull system and support structure for snubbing unit or the
like on a rig floor
Abstract
In one embodiment, a support structure for use on a rig floor
and for supporting a unit used to manipulate tubular components
through a wellhead comprises a support plate adapted to securely
mount the support structure to said unit, a passage in the support
plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass
therethrough, a plurality of rig engaging members and at least one
tensile member mount. The unit used to manipulate tubular
components through a wellhead may be a compact snubbing unit or may
be a push/pull unit. The support structure may further comprise a
worker platform to support a worker above the rig floor. Various
push/pull system embodiments, for use on a rig to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead, are also taught.
Inventors: |
TUCKEN; Brian; (Hazlet,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Team Snubbing Services Inc. |
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
Team Snubbing Services Inc.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE
CA
|
Family ID: |
42371429 |
Appl. No.: |
14/138115 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12464034 |
May 11, 2009 |
8640767 |
|
|
14138115 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/85.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/00 20130101;
E21B 19/086 20130101; E21B 19/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/85.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/086 20060101
E21B019/086; E21B 19/08 20060101 E21B019/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 30, 2009 |
CA |
2652068 |
Claims
1. A support structure for use on a rig floor and for supporting a
unit used to manipulate tubular components co-axially in and out
through a wellhead, comprising: a support plate adapted to securely
mount the support structure to said unit used to manipulate tubular
components co-axially in and out through a wellhead and adapted to
distribute downward forces to the rig floor; a passage in the
support plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to
pass therethrough; a plurality of rig engaging members; and at
least one tensile member mount to facilitate the connection of one
or more tensile members between the support structure and the rig
floor while tubular components are manipulated co-axially in and
out through the passage.
2. The support structure of claim 1, wherein said unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead further comprises
a plurality of ram recesses, each suitable to receive a jacking
ram, the support structure further comprising: a plurality of ram
passages in the support plate coaxially aligned with the plurality
of ram recesses, each ram passage being of sufficient diameter to
allow a jacking ram to pass therethrough.
3. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rig
engaging members are positioned between the support plate and the
rig floor.
4. The support structure of claim 2, wherein the plurality of rig
engaging members are positioned between the support plate and the
rig floor.
5. The support structure of claim 1 where the unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a compact
snubbing unit.
6. The support structure of claim 1 where the unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a push/pull
unit.
7. The support structure of claim 1, further comprising a worker
platform adjacent the support plate to support a worker above the
rig floor.
8. A support structure for use on a rig floor and for supporting a
unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead, said
unit having a plurality of jacking rams, the support structure
comprising: a support plate adapted to securely mount the support
structure within said unit used to manipulate tubular components
through a wellhead and further adapted to distribute downward
forces to the rig floor; a passage in the support plate of
sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass
therethrough; a plurality of rig engaging members connected to the
support plate; a plurality of tensile member mounts to facilitate
the connection of one or more tensile members between the support
structure and the rig floor while tubular components are
manipulated co-axially in and out through the passage; and a
plurality of ram passages in the support plate adapted to securably
mount the plurality jacking rams; wherein, during operations, any
downward forces are generally distributed into the rig floor
through the support structure and the plurality of rig engaging
members.
9. The support structure of claim 8, further comprising a plurality
of ram retainers to maintain secure placement of the plurality of
jacking rams on the support plate.
10. The support structure of claim 8, wherein said unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead further comprises
a stationary plate and a stationary slip assembly, and wherein the
stationary plate is mounted directly underneath the support plate
and the stationary slip assembly is mounted directly above the
support plate.
11. The support structure of claim 8, wherein the plurality of rig
engaging members are positioned between the support plate and the
rig floor.
12. The support structure of claim 8 where the unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a compact
snubbing unit.
13. The support structure of claim 8 where the unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a push/pull
unit.
14. The support structure of claim 8, further comprising a worker
platform to support a worker above the rig floor.
15. A push/pull system for use on a rig to manipulate tubular
components co-axially in and out through a wellhead, the system
comprising: a unit used to manipulate tubular components co-axially
in and out through a wellhead; the support structure of claim 1 to
support said unit used to manipulate tubular components co-axially
in and out through a wellhead at a position above the rig's floor;
and at least one tensile member connected between the support
structure's said at least one tensile member mount and a mounting
point on the rig or the rig's floor, during manipulation of tubular
components co-axially in and out through the wellhead, said at
least one tensile member adapted to overcome any well
pressure-generated forces on the tubular components which would
otherwise urge the tubular components out of the wellhead.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of rig engaging
members are positioned between the support plate and the rig
floor.
17. The system of claim 15 where the unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead is a compact snubbing
unit.
18. The system of claim 15 where the unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead is a push/pull unit.
19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a worker platform to
support a worker above the rig floor.
20. A push/pull system for use on a rig to manipulate tubular
components through a wellhead, the system comprising: a unit used
to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead; the support
structure of claim 8 to support said unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead at a position above the rig's
floor; and at least one tensile member connected between the
support structure's said at least one tensile member mount and a
mounting point on the rig or the rig's floor, during manipulation
of tubular components co-axially in and out through the wellhead,
said at least one tensile member adapted to overcome any well
pressure-generated forces on the tubular components which would
otherwise urge the tubular components out of the wellhead.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of rig engaging
members are positioned between the support plate and the rig
floor.
22. The system of claim 20 where the unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead is a compact snubbing
unit.
23. The system of claim 20 where the unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead is a push/pull unit.
24. The system of claim 20, further comprising a worker platform to
support a worker above the rig floor.
25. A push/pull unit for use on a rig floor and for manipulating
tubular components through a wellhead, said push/pull unit
comprising: a support plate; a passage in the support plate of
sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass
therethrough; a plurality of rig engaging members projecting from
the support plate; at least one tensile member mount; a traveling
slip assembly; a stationary slip assembly mounted to the support
plate; at least one jacking ram securably mounted between the
support plate and the traveling slip assembly; wherein said
traveling slip assembly, said stationary slip assembly and said at
least one jacking ram are actuatable to manipulate tubular
components through a wellhead.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/464,034, which was filed on May 11, 2009,
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to rigs above a wellhead, such as
snubbing units and push/pull units, for manipulating tubing in and
out of a well.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is well known to attach a variety of rigs such as
hydraulically operated rigs above a wellhead. For example, snubbing
units are known in the oil and gas industry for facilitating access
to a well which is under pressure including, for example, well
operations such as well completions. A snubbing unit includes
structure and equipment above a wellhead for manipulating tubular
components such as pipe, tubing, and bottom hole assemblies (BHA)
in and out of a well while controlling the well under pressure.
[0004] Generally, a snubbing unit employs stationary (lower) and
traveling (upper) slip assemblies, opposingly oriented, to
releasably and controllably shift tubular components into and out
of the well through a wellhead despite the possibility of either
heavy tubular loads, which urge the tubular components to fall into
the well, or the pressure-generated forces on the tubular
components, which urge the tubular components out of the well. The
snubbing unit is installed above an existing wellhead seal, such as
that created by a blow-out preventer (BOP), and incorporates its
own seals to seal the tubular components as they are introduced or
removed from the wellhead, such as through the use of a stripping
head.
[0005] Most conventional snubbing units fall into either
rig-assisted or self-contained units. Rig-assisted snubbing units
are typically snubbing units that are pivotally mounted to a truck
and require assistance by an onsite service rig so as to winch them
upright, pivoting from the truck, to a snubbing position over the
wellhead. Self-contained units are typically transported to site on
a truck and lifted into position, over the wellhead, by a separate
crane unit. During operations, self-contained snubbing units do not
require the assistance from an on-site rig.
[0006] When snubbing in low-pressure well environments, such as
wells with surface pressures under 12,000 kPa, a compact,
rig-assisted snubbing unit is often the ideal choice. A compact
snubbing unit can be easily transported to the well site, such as
in a 1 ton pickup truck, and is practical and cost effective for
single wells and underbalanced drilling. Additionally, a compact
snubbing unit reduces or eliminates viewing obstructions often
experienced by service rig operators when utilizing traditional
(larger) sized snubbing units. One example of a compact snubbing
unit is the one marketed under the trade-mark MINI BRUTUS by Team
Snubbing Services Inc. of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta,
Canada.
[0007] Despite the many advantages of a compact snubbing unit, the
set-up of such a unit still requires the snubbing unit to be
installed above an existing wellhead seal and to incorporates its
own seals to seal the tubular components as they are introduced or
removed from the wellhead. Typically a compact snubbing unit, such
as the MINI BRUTUS.TM., is installed above a blow-out preventer
(BOP) and incorporates an RS-100 stripping head as its seal to seal
the tubular components.
[0008] Push/pull systems or push/pull units are also known in the
art and are used to manipulate tubular components in and out of a
well. Push/pull units provide alternatives to, and/or improvements
over, conventional snubbing systems.
[0009] Such push/pull systems are generally mounted at the rig
floor (e.g. on the rotary table) and, therefore, allow live well
operations to be conducted at the rig floor rather than in the
greatly elevated work baskets as is generally the case with
conventional snubbing units. One example of a push/pull system is
that manufactured by Tesco Corporation of Calgary, Alberta,
Canada.
[0010] However, the prior art push/pull systems manufactured by
Tesco Corporation is cumbersome, large and heavy, does not have the
compactness that has become associated with compact snubbing units
such as the MINI BRUTUS.TM. and cannot be used to retrofit such
compact snubbing units and/or convert such units into a push/pull
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, a support structure for
use on a rig floor and for supporting a unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead comprises a support plate
adapted to securely mount the support structure to said unit used
to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead, a passage in
the support plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular
components to pass therethrough, a plurality of rig engaging
members and at least one tensile member mount.
[0012] In an embodiment where the unit used to manipulate tubular
components through a wellhead further comprises a plurality of ram
recesses, each such ram recess suitable to receive a jacking ram,
the support structure preferably further comprises a plurality of
ram passages coaxially aligned with the plurality of ram recesses,
each ram passage being of sufficient diameter to allow a jacking
ram to pass therethrough.
[0013] The unit used to manipulate tubular components through a
wellhead may be a compact snubbing unit or may be a push/pull unit.
Preferably, the plurality of rig engaging members are positioned
between the support plate and the rig floor. More preferably, the
support structure further comprising a worker platform to support a
worker above the rig floor.
[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, a support structure
for use on a rig floor and for supporting a unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead, said unit having a plurality
of jacking rams, comprises a support plate adapted to securely
mount the support structure within said unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead, a passage in the support
plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass
therethrough, a plurality of rig engaging members, at least one
tensile member mount and a plurality of ram passages in the support
plate adapted to securably mount the plurality jacking rams. This
embodiment of the support structure may further comprising a
plurality of ram retainers to maintain secure placement of the
plurality of jacking rams on the support plate.
[0015] In an embodiment wherein said unit used to manipulate
tubular components through a wellhead further comprises a
stationary plate and a stationary slip assembly, the support plate
is preferably mounted between the stationary plate and the
stationary slip assembly.
[0016] Various push/pull system embodiments, for use on a rig to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead, are also taught.
These system embodiments preferably comprise a unit used to
manipulate tubular components through a wellhead, one of the
various embodiments of the support structure taught and at least
one tensile member connected between the support structure and a
mounting point on the rig or the rig's floor, said at least one
tensile member adapted to overcome any well pressure-generated
forces on the tubular components which would otherwise urge the
tubular components out of the wellhead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0018] FIGS. 1-12 are various perspective views of one embodiment
of the invention or of components thereof;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention; and
[0020] FIGS. 14-18 are various perspective views of yet another
embodiment of the invention, shown positioned on a rig floor of a
rig and having a platform to support a worker.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The following description is of preferred embodiments by way
of example only and without limitation to the combination of
features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.
Reference is to be had to the Figures in which identical reference
numbers identify similar components. The drawing figures are not
necessarily to scale and certain features are shown in schematic
form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0022] FIGS. 1-12 illustrate the configuration of one embodiment of
the present invention 10.
[0023] A compact snubbing unit 12 (or most of the components
thereof) is shown being supported on a load bearing apparatus or
support structure 20 having a central passage 20c of sufficient
diameter to allow passage of tubular components T therethrough,
preferably having at least one tensile member mount 21 to
facilitate the connection of one or more tensile members 40 between
the support structure 20 and a mounting point on a rig or rig floor
RF and having a support member or support plate 22. The support
plate 22 is adapted to be secured to, or within, the compact
snubbing unit 12. Unless otherwise specified, it is preferred that
the components of the invention be made of steel or other suitable
high-strength materials capable of taking stresses and strains
during its intended use during well operations.
[0024] In this embodiment, compact snubbing unit 12 comprises
stationary (lower) and traveling (upper) slip assemblies 14s, 14t,
traveling plate 15t (to support the travelling slip assembly 14t
and having a central passage 15tc of sufficient diameter to allow
passage of tubular components T therethrough), bottom or stationary
plate 15s (to facilitate mounting of the compact snubbing unit 12
to the support structure 20 and having a central passage 15sc of
sufficient diameter to allow passage of tubular components T
therethrough) and a pair of jacking rams 16a, 16b securely mounted
to the stationary plate 15s and actuatable in a conventional manner
to releasably and controllably shift tubular components T into and
out of the well through a wellhead. Preferably, jacking rams 16a,
16b are hydraulic rams.
[0025] In this embodiment, compact snubbing unit 12 does not
comprise a seal to seal the tubular components (such as an RS-100
stripping head as would typically be provided with such compact
snubbing unit). One example of a suitable compact snubbing unit 12
is the MINI BRUTUS.TM. manufactured by Team Snubbing Services Inc.
of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada, but without the RS-100
stripping unit or with such a stripping unit having been
subsequently removed (see FIGS. 11-12).
[0026] In an alternate embodiment (not shown), a compact snubbing
unit 12 with a stripping unit is provided, but such a stripping
unit would be mostly redundant and unnecessary in typical push/pull
applications, and would therefore be unnecessarily adding to the
cost and/or complexity of the invention 10.
[0027] Preferably, jacking rams 16a, 16b are securely mounted to
the compact snubbing unit 12 in the conventional manner, such as is
done in the MINI BRUTUS.TM. compact snubbing unit. In this
embodiment, the stationary plate 15s comprises paired ram cut-outs
or recesses 15a, 15b, said ram recesses 15a, 15b being
substantially positioned at 180.degree. across from each other
around central passage 15sc and at the periphery of the stationary
plate 15s (see FIG. 12). Further in this embodiment, the jacking
rams 16a, 16b each comprise an annular groove 16ag, 16bg of such
diameter and dimensions to allow secure placement of the jacking
rams 16a, 16b within the ram recesses 15a, 15b (see FIG. 7) and the
compact snubbing unit 12 further comprises ram keepers or ram
retainers 17a, 17b. As such, jacking rams 16a, 16b are securely
mounted to the compact snubbing unit 12 in the conventional manner,
such as is done in the MINI BRUTUS.TM. compact snubbing unit, by
placing the annular grooves 16ag, 16bg of jacking rams 16a, 16b
within the respective ram recesses 15a, 15b and then bolting or
otherwise fasten the ram retainers 17a, 17b so as to maintain
secure placement of the jacking rams 16a, 16b on the stationary
plate 15s (see FIGS. 6-8, 10 and 11).
[0028] In this embodiment, the support structure 20 further
comprises ram openings or ram passages 22a, 22b, in the support
plate 22, each ram passage 22a, 22b being coaxially aligned with
ram recesses 15a, 15b of the stationary plate 15s and each ram
passage 22a, 22b being of sufficient diameter to allow passage of
the jacking rams 16a, 16b therethrough (see FIGS. 1, 5-6, 9 and
10). Preferably, ram passages 22a, 22b, while allowing of passage
of the jacking rams 16a, 16b therethrough, are positioned and are
of such dimensions so as to have the support structure 20 still
provide some contact surface area SA or support for the ram
retainers 17a, 17b and are not so large so as to also allow passage
of said ram retainers 17a, 17b therethrough when the compact
snubbing unit 12 is mounted to the support structure 20 and the
invention is subject to pushing or pulling forces from the tubular
components T. Preferably, and as more clearly shown in FIGS. 1-6,
the support structure 20 comprises plurality of rig engaging
members or legs 24 distributed around and connected to the support
plate 22.
[0029] In the preferred embodiment, support plate 22 is secured to
the compact snubbing unit 12 by bolting or fastening to the
stationary plate 15s in a conventional manner. In the preferred
embodiment, the stationary slip assembly 14s is unfastened from the
stationary plate 15s, stationary plate 15s and ram retainers 17a,
17b are fastened directly underneath the support plate 22 and
stationary slip assembly 14s is placed and fastened directly above
the support plate 22 thereby sandwiching the support plate 22
between the stationary slip assembly 14 and the stationary plate
15s (see FIGS. 6 and 10). As such, support structure 20 is mounted
within the compact snubbing unit 12 and allows one to easily
retrofit such a compact snubbing unit 12 to become a push/pull
unit.
[0030] Advantageously, by mounting the stationary plate 15s and ram
retainers 17a, 17b directly underneath and against the lower
surface of the support plate 22, and/or by provide some contact
surface area SA or support for the ram retainers 17a, 17b, the
invention 10 can more easily accommodate significant upward forces,
such as those which might be created when well pressure-generated
forces on the tubular components T urges the tubular components T
out of the well. More advantageously, the invention 10 can be
utilized to reduce or eliminate the chance of a well blowout, such
as that which might occur during under balanced drilling
operations, ejecting the tubular components T out of the well.
[0031] In another embodiment (not shown), the stationary plate 15s
is fastened directly on top of and against the top surface of the
support plate 22 and then the invention 10 can more easily
accommodate significant downward forces, such as those which might
be created when heavy tubular loads urge the tubular components T
to fall into the well.
[0032] During operations, the support structure 20 is positioned on
a rig floor RF above a wellhead (not shown) extending from the
ground and including standard wellhead components and wellhead
seals. Loads and downward forces from the compact snubbing unit 12
and/or tubular components T are generally distributed into the rig
floor RF through the support structure 20 and legs 24. Where upward
forces (e.g. where the well pressure-generated forces on the
tubular components T urge the tubular components T out of the well)
are expected to be incurred, one or more tensile members 40 can be
utilized to further secure the support structure 20 to the rig or
rig floor RF via the tensile member mounts 21. Preferably, tensile
members 40 are chains and fasten the support structure 20 to the
rig floor RF in a conventional manner.
Second Embodiment
[0033] FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention
10, which is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, but wherein
the compact snubbing unit 12 does not comprise a stationary plate,
wherein the ram passages 22a, 22b are adapted to act as, and have
similar dimension to, the ram recesses 15a, 15b of the embodiment
in FIGS. 1-12, and wherein the jacking rams 16a, 16b are securably
mounted directly to the support plate 22 of the support structure
20 (in a similar or identical manner as they are mounted to the
stationary plate 15s of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12) through use
of ram retainers 17a, 17b. This embodiment would operate in a
similar manner as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12.
Third Embodiment
[0034] FIGS. 14-18 illustrate the configuration of another
embodiment of the present invention 10 which is similar to the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, but which further comprising a worker
platform 50 to support a worker W. Advantageously, the worker
platform 50 places a worker W in a safe and efficient position to
conduct well operations and to handle the tubular components T.
More advantageously, the worker W is only placed a few feet above
the rig floor RF and can simply step onto the worker platform 50
without need of ladders or other means to climb up to a greatly
elevated position as is the case with conventional snubbing units
(see, for example, FIG. 15 where worker W is shown on the worker
platform 50 only about 2 to 3 feet above the rig floor RF).
[0035] Advantages:
[0036] Advantages of the invention 10, of the prior art snubbing
units and/or push/pull units, include: [0037] It is of simple
design. [0038] It accepts existing compact snubbing units and is
able to retrofit such existing units to convert them into a
push/pull system. [0039] It provides a safer working environment
for a rig worker, especially the embodiment having a worker
platform. [0040] It is cost efficient in that existing compact
snubbing units can be used for both snubbing and push/pull
applications.
[0041] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
various modifications to the invention as described herein will be
possible without falling outside the scope of the invention.
* * * * *