Well Tubing Guide And Straightener Apparatus

Abstract

A well tubing guide and straightener apparatus for positioning between a reel and a tubing injector for feeding tubing from the reel to the injector, and vice versa, with a change in direction thereof and with a limited amount of permanent deformation of the tubing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is apparatus for guiding well tubing to and from a well.

In the past, it has been thought desirable to guide tubing made of steel or other materials of similarly limited flexibility in a large loop or arc from a reel to a tubing injector, as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,313,346. Such arrangement minimizes permanent deformation of the tubing due to the large arc of the tubing, but it suffers from the disadvantage that the large expanse of exposed pipe in the arc or loop between the reel and the injector is subject to shifting, breaking and other damage, especially in high winds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and improved well tubing guide and tubing straightener apparatus mounted above the upper end of a tubing injector unit so that tubing made of steel or other materials of similarly limited flexibility may be fed in a substantially straight line from the reel to the inject or unit and then in a curved path with a relatively sharp radius while supported, and with a limited amount of permanent deformation of the tubing, being so that the deformation, if any, does not prevent normal usage of the pipe, or result in deterioration due to cold working.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus of this invention in combination with other apparatus for injecting or withdrawing tubing with respect to a well;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2A--2A of FIG. 2 to further illustrate the invention; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawing, the letter R designates generally one suitable type of reel unit or assembly which is adapted to wind and unwind well tubing T with respect thereto, wherein the tubing T is made of steel or other material of similarly limited flexibility. An injecting apparatus I of known construction, examples of which are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,182,877; 3,285,485; and 3,330,531; is positioned over a well having casing C for the injection and withdrawal of the tubing T with respect thereto. The injector apparatus I is preferably located on the ground G or other suitable platform or base in the known manner. The apparatus A of this invention is positioned between the reel unit R and the injector apparatus I so as to guide the tubing T in a curved path as it is fed between the reel R and the injector means I, so that the tubing T is changed in its feeding direction with only a limited amount of permanent distortion of the tubing T, such that the deformation, if any, does not prevent normal usage of the pipe, or result in deterioration due to cold working.

The details of the construction of the reel unit R are disclosed in co-pending U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 36,780 filed May 13, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,614,019. Briefly, the reel unit R includes a drum 10 upon which the tubing T is wound or wrapped. The drum 10 is driven by any suitable power source such as a motor (not shown) connected to a pulley 12 which drives a belt or chain 14 in driving engagement with another pulley or sprocket secured to the drum 10.

A level wind mechanism M of any suitable construction is mounted with the reel drum 10 and is adjustable to different positions such as the solid line position of FIG. 1 and the dotted line position of FIG. 1 so as to preferably maintain the tubing T in a straight line from the drum 10 to the apparatus A, as will be more evident hereinafter. Adjustable telescoping supports 20 of any suitable construction are provided on a skid or base 21 for the entire unit R so that by adjusting the support 20 the level wind mechanism M may be disposed at the desired elevation with respect to the drum 10. The skid 21 is preferably mounted on a truck or other bed 22 having wheels 23 therewith so that the unit is portable.

Considering the invention in more detail, and particularly the apparatus A illustrated in the drawings, such apparatus A includes a well tubing guide G (FIG. 2) and a tubing straightener S. The guide G includes a frame having a base member 30 which is preferably hollow and rectangular in cross-section (FIG. 2A). Such base member 30 is curved at a relatively sharp radius so as to feed tubing T of steel or other similarly limited flexibility material in a curved path, which may be a bend of ninety degrees or more. The frame member 30 extends in an arc which preferably is greater than ninety degrees and less than 180 degrees. Normally, the frame member 30 extends in an arc of about 135 degrees (FIG. 2). A pair of roller supports 31, which are preferably conventional angle iron members, are curved to the same curvature as the frame member 30 and are welded or are otherwise affixed to such frame member 30.

Each of the roller supports 31 has a lower leg 31a which is in contact with the upper surface of the frame member 30 (FIG. 2A) and which is welded or otherwise affixed thereto. The other leg 31b extends substantially perpendicularly to the leg 31a and to the upper surface of the frame member 30, and it has an opening 31c therethrough for receiving a roller shaft 35, as will be more fully explained. It is to be noted that the outer extremities of the legs 31a extend beyond the sides of the frame member 30 (FIGS. 2A and 3) so that both of the support members 31 and the frame member 30 may be welded or otherwise secured to a suitable frame support 50 forming the upper end of the injector means I.

The lower ends 31d of the support members 31 are preferably welded or otherwise secured to the frame support 50. The frame member 30 and the support members 31 extend upwardly in an arc from the base or support 50 so that the highest point of the apparatus A is at approximately 90.degree. from such lower ends 31d, and then they may extend downwardly therefrom for approximately 45.degree. .

The roller supports 31 are laterally spaced from each other, and they provide for the support of longitudinally spaced rollers 60 which are mounted on the shafts 35. Each roller 60 is preferably formed with a double taper so as to have a central portion 60a of smaller diameter than the outer portions thereof to facilitate a centering of the tubing T as it is guided by the rollers 60 in the curved path defined by the rollers 60. The rollers 60 may be of any suitable construction, but as illustrated in particular in FIG. 2A, each roller 60 preferably has suitable bearings 60b mounted on the shaft 35. The shaft 35 has a suitable grease channel 35a which extends outwardly to a grease fitting 35b. Thus, grease may be supplied regularly to the bearings 60b to assure the proper rotation of the rollers 60 on the shafts 35. The shafts 35 are themselves secured to the supports 31 by means of a shaft head 35c, and a suitable nut 35d with a conventional washer 35e.

Although the tubing T is normally held under sufficient tension to constantly maintain it in contact with all of rollers 60 as it is being guided by the apparatus A, it is desirable to have confining brackets 65 longitudinally spaced with respect to each other and connected to the roller supports 31 so as to prevent the tubing T from becoming displaced from the apparatus A. Each of such brackets 65 is releasably connected to the support member 31 by a releasable bolt or other suitable attaching means 66, as will be well understood.

For additional strength, the apparatus A may include a brace 67 which is connected to the frame member 30 by any suitable means such as a bolt and nut 68 near the outer extremity of the base member 30 so as to leave the outer extremity or end of the guide means G unobstructed. Thus, as the tubing T is fed to and from the apparatus A, the unobstructed outer end of the apparatus prevents any interference with the movement of the tubing T. The lower end of the brace 67 extends downwardly to any suitable point on the injector unit or apparatus I such as the base or support 50 where it is bolted or is otherwise suitably connected (FIG. 1). Other braces 70 may also be utilized for further supporting the guide means G on the base or support 50.

The tubing straightener S is of conventional construction and it includes a pair of rollers 71 which are rotatably mounted on one side of the tubing T and are longitudinally spaced from each other. A third roller 72 is mounted on the opposite side of the tubing T from the rollers 71 and it is adjustably movable relative to the rollers 71 so as to exert a bending force on the tubing T between the two rollers 71. The roller 72 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly relative to the rollers 71 by any suitable means, such as a threaded shaft 73 which works in a nut 73a and which preferably has a handle 73b therewith. The roller 72 is urged towards the spaced rollers 71 so as to apply a slight bending force to the tubing T to counteract any curvature or bend which might otherwise remain in the tubing T after it leaves the rollers 60. It is to be noted that the bend or bending force applied to the tubing T in the straightener S is in a direction which is the reverse of any bend or curvature placed in the tubing T as it moves through the guide apparatus G.

In the use of the apparatus A, the tubing T is initially positioned over the rollers 60 and is confined by the brackets 65 for the feeding of the tubing T from the reel R to the injector unit I. Even though the tubing is made of steel or other material of similarly limited flexibility, such tubing T may be guided in a straight line and then curved at an angle of over 90.degree. , with a limited amount of permanent deformation of such tubing T, so that the deformation, if any, does not prevent normal usage of the pipe, or result in deterioration due to cold working. Any residual bend or curvature in the tubing T after it has passed over the rollers 60 may be removed by the straightener S. Since the outer end of the guide G is unobstructed, the tubing T may be fed to the guide G from the reel R at different angles. Since the tubing T is supported for substantially the full extent of its curvature by the guide G, there is no danger of a sharp bend or fold being formed in the tubing T as its direction of movement is changed.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A well tube guide and straightner apparatus comprising:

an arcuate guide frame formed in an arc with a predetermined radius;

said guide frame having a lower end supported at a substantially horizontal position and curving upwardly for a 90.degree. portion of said arc to substantially the highest point of said frame and with the remainder of the frame curving downwardly for approximately 45.degree. and terminating in the upper end of said guide frame;

roller means mounted on said frame for receiving and guiding a tubing which has been curved thereover; and

a tubing straightener mounted at the lower end of said frame for applying a small bending force to the tubing in a reverse direction to the curve in said roller means to thereby counteract any tendency of the tubing to remain curved as it is fed from said roller means.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide frame includes:

a curved hollow base member extending for substantially the full arc of curvature of said guide frame; and

a pair of laterally spaced roller supports secured to said base member and having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said base member.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said roller means includes:

a plurality of rollers mounted on said roller supports at longitudinally spaced points along the curved path formed by said supports.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein:

each of said roller supports is an angle iron member, with one leg thereof secured to said base member and with the other leg extending upwardly substantially perpendicular thereto.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

brace means connected to said frame near its upper end but inwardly therefrom for providing an unobstructed upper end of said frame thereof while still supporting said frame.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said straightener includes:

a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to be disposed on one side of the tubing and in contact therewith;

a third roller disposed on the opposite side of said pair of rollers in contact with the other side of said tubing and in alignment with the space between said pair of rollers; and

means for adjusting said third roller towards and away from said pair of rollers for applying a controlled bending force on the tubing passing between said third roller and said pair of rollers.