Wells – Above ground apparatus – With means facilitating connecting or disconnecting...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-27
2004-12-07
Tsay, Frank (Department: 3672)
Wells
Above ground apparatus
With means facilitating connecting or disconnecting...
C166S085500, C166S380000, C175S052000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827143
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally related to devices which facilitate operations in fluid and hydrocarbon production; and, more particularly, the invention relates to devices which aid in the positioning of one piece of casing or tubing with respect to another.
2. Description of the Related Art
For onshore and offshore fluid production operations (for example, hydrocarbon production), at times it is necessary to install a smaller diameter casing within larger diameter tubing, such as a conductor pipe, a well head, another casing or the like. To facilitate the placement of the smaller diameter casing in the larger diameter tubing, wedge-like slips are well known in the art. However, at times, the smaller diameter casing lies in a non-central location within the outer pipe. In order to install the slips, the casing must be centrally aligned.
In drilling operations, past and present, certain basic procedures apply. A drilling rig, onshore or offshore, bores a hole in the ground to a specified objective depth where natural resources are projected to exist. This drilling is not always accomplished by simply drilling a single hole with a single diameter, but rather can be a string of holes (for example, two or more) with varying diameters.
In the commencement of a well, a large diameter pipe known as a conductor pipe is driven into the ground or ocean floor to a depth of anywhere from one to three-hundred feet or more under the surface (ground/ocean floor level). After the conductor pipe is driven, a large diameter hole—known as a surface hole—is drilled through the conductor pipe to a pre-specified depth (typical depths being up to 2,000 feet or more under the surface). Next, a string of pipe called “surface casing” is run through the conductor pipe and surface hole, from the surface to the bottom of the surface hole. This string of pipe is cemented into the earth's crust, and then cut off at the surface above the conductor pipe. Next, a surface wellhead assembly, called the “A” section, is placed at the surface on top of the surface casing, whereupon the “A” section is secured to the surface casing by welding or other special techniques.
After the securing of the “A” section, a blowout preventer is affixed to the top of the “A” section. The blowout preventer, after being secured, is tested. If the blowout preventer functions, drilling activity commences.
In the commencement of drilling activity, a smaller hole is drilled through the larger surface casing to a deeper specified depth. Then, smaller diameter casing is run from the surface to a specified depth and again cemented into the earth's crust. Next, the string of casing is suspended on the “A” section and surface casing to avoid collapse. To accomplish this, the blowout preventer is uncoupled and lifted to allow working clearance above the “A” section. A set of casing slips are placed around the subject smaller diameter casing and lowered into the “A” section top. The “A” section top has a special low tolerance bowl for receiving the casing slips at its top section. In order to place these slips into the bowl of the “A” section receptacle, the smaller diameter casing must be perfectly centered within the “A” section. However, the problem in most cases is that the casing is not centered in the “A” section, thus requiring centering by force. Typical methods, prior to the present invention, include the use of one of the drilling rig's winch lines. Such a method involves attempts to find a direct point for pulling in order to center the casing. The use of such a device and methods are not only time consuming, but can also be very dangerous.
While this basic illustration has been described in reference to an “A” section, the process may be repeated in the course of a well through “B”, “C”, “D”, etc. sections.
For offshore operations, safety and time consumption can become even a greater concern. In such offshore operations—for example, in a jack up rig—the wellhead equipment lies below leverage points. Trying to find a point for pulling (in order to center the casing) becomes very difficult, if not impossible. Sometimes, the BOP is rocked against the casing in an attempt to jar the casing to the center point. This is not only extremely dangerous, but can also cause the support lines of the suspended BOP to break, dropping the BOP on personnel attempting to land the slips. On fixed platforms, where various production lines, other wellheads, etc. are in place, the temptation and sometimes practice is to use these as leverage points which can cause many potential dangers.
Another extremely important issue with regards to safety involves the time the blowout preventer (BOP) is uncoupled from the wellhead. The longer the duration of such uncoupling, the more likely that well control may be imperiled. Thus, the reduction of time in centering the casing becomes an issue.
The present invention in several embodiments increases the safety and reduces the centering task time. In essence, the centering tool assembly offers the following:
I. Safety and Reliability
II. Reduced Risk
III. Economics—Saved Rig and Operations Time
IV. Overall Comprehensive Safety
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the invention, a centering tool assembly utilizes an actuator, baseplate, power source, support tube, and reaction studs to help centrally position a casing within an outer pipe. The baseplate is arranged and designed to couple to the outer pipe. The actuator is either pre-coupled to the baseplate or coupled to the baseplate after the baseplate couples to the outer pipe. The support tube is arranged and designed to vertically adjust and provide support for the actuator. The power source actuates the actuator, which provides a force on the casing, moving it into a desired position, typically a central position. The reaction studs help stabilize the centering tool assembly during the application of the actuation force.
Various other embodiments of the centering tool assembly are also disclosed. In some of the embodiments, the reaction studs are either not required at all or are replaced with other counteracting members. In yet another embodiment, the centering tool assembly may be used to pull the casing into the desired position.
Additionally, a method for positioning a casing into a desired position within an outer pipe involves coupling a baseplate to the outer pipe. An actuator is coupled to the baseplate, prior to or after said baseplate coupling. Then, the actuator may be vertically adjusted via a support tube. The actuator is activated via a power source and the casing is forced into the desired position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3556042 (1971-01-01), Laughlin et al.
patent: 4223920 (1980-09-01), Van Bilderbeek
patent: 4585061 (1986-04-01), Lyons et al.
patent: 4765401 (1988-08-01), Boyadjieff
patent: 5848647 (1998-12-01), Webre et al.
patent: 6062312 (2000-05-01), Wilkins
patent: 6089338 (2000-07-01), Bouligny, Jr.
patent: 6138776 (2000-10-01), Hart et al.
patent: 6227587 (2001-05-01), Terral
patent: 6264395 (2001-07-01), Allamon et al.
patent: 6270136 (2001-08-01), Dagenais
patent: 6330911 (2001-12-01), Allen et al.
patent: 6471439 (2002-10-01), Allamon et al.
“Photograph of Slips,” www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com, printed from Internet Apr. 28, 2003, 1 page, photo courtesy of the Petroleum Extension Service, The University of Texas at Austin. Date of publication unknown.
“CMS-XL Extra Long Multi-Segment Casing Clips,” www.cam-tech.com, printed from internet Apr. 28, 2003, 1 page. Date of publication unknown.
“Casing Slips,” www.rutong.com.cn, printed from internet Apr. 28, 2003, 1 page, © 2002 Jiangsu Rudong General Machinery Co., Ltd. Date of publication unknown.
“Casing Slips—Reconditioned,” www.jtoilfield.com, printed from internet Apr. 28, 2003, 3 pages. Date of publication unknown.
McGuffin Martin H.
Spencer, Jr. Webster W.
Andrews & Kurth LLP
Rommelmann Douglas W.
Tsay Frank
LandOfFree
Casing centering tool assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Casing centering tool assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Casing centering tool assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3329005