Wells – Processes – Assembling well part
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-17
2004-06-01
Walker, Zakiya (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Assembling well part
C166S077530, C166S085100, C166S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06742596
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for facilitating the connection of tubulars. More particularly, the invention relates to an interlock system for a top drive and a spider for use in assembling or disassembling tubulars.
2. Background of the Related Art
In the construction and completion of oil or gas wells, a drilling rig is constructed on the earth's surface to facilitate the insertion and removal of tubular strings into a wellbore. The drilling rig includes a platform and power tools such as an elevator and a spider to engage, assemble, and lower the tubulars into the wellbore. The elevator is suspended above the platform by a draw works that can raise or lower the elevator in relation to the floor of the rig. The spider is mounted in the platform floor. The elevator and spider both have slips that are capable of engaging and releasing a tubular, and are designed to work in tandem. Generally, the spider holds a tubular or tubular string that extends into the wellbore from the platform. The elevator engages a new tubular and aligns it over the tubular being held by the spider. A power tong and a spinner are then used to thread the upper and lower tubulars together. Once the tubulars are joined, the spider disengages the tubular string and the elevator lowers the tubular string through the spider until the elevator and spider are at a predetermined distance from each other. The spider then re-engages the tubular string and the elevator disengages the string and repeats the process. This sequence applies to assembling tubulars for the purpose of drilling, running casing or running wellbore components into the well. The sequence can be reversed to disassemble the tubular string.
During the drilling of a wellbore, a drill string is made up and is then necessarily rotated in order to drill. Historically, a drilling platform includes a rotary table and a gear to turn the table. In operation, the drill string is lowered by an elevator into the rotary table and held in place by a spider. A Kelly is then threaded to the string and the rotary table is rotated, causing the Kelly and the drill string to rotate. After thirty feet or so of drilling, the Kelly and a section of the string are lifted out of the wellbore, and additional drill string is added.
The process of drilling with a Kelly is expensive due to the amount of time required to remove the Kelly, add drill string, reengage the Kelly, and rotate the drill string. In order to address these problems, top drives were developed.
FIG. 1A
is a side view of an upper portion of a drilling rig
100
having a top drive
200
and an elevator
120
. An upper end of a stack of tubulars
130
is shown on the rig
100
. The figure shows the elevator
120
engaged with a tubular
130
. The tubular
130
is placed in position below the top drive
200
by the elevator
120
in order for the top drive with its gripping means to engage the tubular.
FIG. 1B
is a side view of a drilling rig
100
having a top drive
200
, an elevator
120
, and a spider
400
. The rig
100
is built at the surface
170
of the well. The rig
100
includes a travelling block
110
that is suspended by wires
150
from draw works
105
and holds the top drive
200
. The top drive
200
has a gripping means for engaging the inner wall of tubular
130
and a motor
240
to rotate the tubular
130
. The motor
240
rotates and threads the tubular
130
into the tubular string
210
extending into the wellbore
180
. The motor
240
can also rotate a drill string having a drill bit at an end, or for any other purposes requiring rotational movement of a tubular or a tubular string. Additionally, the top drive
200
is shown with elevator
120
and a railing system
140
coupled thereto. The railing system
140
prevents the top drive
200
from rotational movement during rotation of the tubular string
210
, but allows for vertical movement of the top drive under the travelling block
110
.
In
FIG. 1B
, the top drive
200
is shown engaged to tubular
130
. The tubular
130
is positioned above the tubular string
210
located therebelow. With the tubular
130
positioned over the tubular string
210
, the top drive
200
can lower and thread the tubular into the tubular string. Additionally, the spider
400
, disposed in the platform
160
, is shown engaged around a tubular string
210
that extends into wellbore
180
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a side view of a top drive engaged to a tubular, which has been lowered through a spider. As depicted in the Figure, the elevator
120
and the top drive
200
are connected to the travelling block
110
via a compensator
270
. The compensator
270
functions similar to a spring to compensate for vertical movement of the top drive
200
during threading of the tubular
130
to the tubular string
210
. In addition to its motor
240
, the top drive includes a counter
250
to measure rotation of the tubular
130
during the time tubular
130
is threaded to tubular string
210
. The top drive
200
also includes a torque sub
260
to measure the amount of torque placed on the threaded connection between the tubular
130
and the tubular string
210
. The counter
250
and the torque sub
260
transmit data about the threaded joint to a controller via data lines (not shown). The controller is preprogrammed with acceptable values for rotation and torque for a particular joint. The controller compares the rotation and the torque data to the stored acceptable values.
FIG. 2
also illustrates a spider
400
disposed in the platform
160
. The spider
400
comprises a slip assembly
440
, including a set of slips
410
, and piston
420
. The slips
410
are wedge-shaped and are constructed and arranged to slidably move along a slopped inner wall of the slip assembly
440
. The slips
410
are raised or lowered by piston
420
. When the slips
410
are in the lowered position, they close around the outer surface of the tubular string
210
. The weight of the tubular string
210
and the resulting friction between the tubular string
210
and the slips
410
, forces the slips downward and inward, thereby tightening the grip on the tubular string. When the slips
410
are in the raised position as shown, the slips are opened and the tubular string
210
is free to move axially in relation to the slips.
FIG. 3
is cross-sectional view of a top drive
200
and a tubular
130
. The top drive
200
includes a gripping means having a cylindrical body
300
, a wedge lock assembly
350
, and slips
340
with teeth (not shown). The wedge lock assembly
350
and the slips
340
are disposed around the outer surface of the cylindrical body
300
. The slips are constructed and arranged to mechanically grip the inside of the tubular
130
. The slips
340
are threaded to piston
370
located in a hydraulic cylinder
310
. The piston is actuated by pressurized hydraulic fluid injected through fluid ports
320
,
330
. Additionally, springs
360
are located in the hydraulic cylinder
310
and are shown in a compressed state. When the piston
370
is actuated, the springs decompress and assist the piston in moving the slips
340
. The wedge lock assembly
350
is constructed and arranged to force the slips against the inner wall of the tubular
130
and moves with the cylindrical body
300
.
In operation, the slips
340
, and the wedge lock assembly
350
of top drive
200
are lowered inside tubular
130
. Once the slips
340
are in the desired position within the tubular
130
, pressurized fluid is injected into the piston through fluid port
320
. The fluid actuates the piston
370
, which forces the slips
340
towards the wedge lock assembly
350
. The wedge lock assembly
350
functions to bias the slips
340
outwardly as the slips are slidably forced along the outer surface of the assembly, thereby forcing the slips to engage the inner wall of the tubular
130
.
FIG. 4
illustrates a cross-sectional view of a top drive
200
engaged to a tubular
130
. The figure
Walker Zakiya
Weatherford / Lamb, Inc.
LandOfFree
Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3315176