CA1081607A - Flexible conduit injection system - Google Patents
Flexible conduit injection systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1081607A CA1081607A CA294,914A CA294914A CA1081607A CA 1081607 A CA1081607 A CA 1081607A CA 294914 A CA294914 A CA 294914A CA 1081607 A CA1081607 A CA 1081607A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- well
- roller
- housing
- flexible conduit
- curved
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/068—Well heads; Setting-up thereof having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells
- E21B33/072—Well heads; Setting-up thereof having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells for cable-operated tools
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/22—Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes
Abstract
FLEXIBLE CONDUIT INJECTION SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure A system for injecting a flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well. The system includes a connection which is in communication with the well and aligned with the well; a drive mechanism also in communication with the well but not aligned with the well; and a curved guide between the connection and the drive mechanism for guiding movement of the flexible conduit between a direction aligned with the drive mechanism and a direction aligned with the well. This abstract is neither intended to define the scope of the invention, which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting in any way.
Abstract of the Disclosure A system for injecting a flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well. The system includes a connection which is in communication with the well and aligned with the well; a drive mechanism also in communication with the well but not aligned with the well; and a curved guide between the connection and the drive mechanism for guiding movement of the flexible conduit between a direction aligned with the drive mechanism and a direction aligned with the well. This abstract is neither intended to define the scope of the invention, which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting in any way.
Description
Back~ ~ o~ the In~ention A. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a system for in~ecting a soft flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well.
It also relates to a curved guide ~or guiding a so~t ~lexible conduit as its direction of movement changes.
B. The Prior Art Some oil and gas ~ell sub-surface operations are performed with conduit that has been inserted into the well. Fluids are pumped through the conduit ~or treating the well.-Generally, conduits with a steel wire sheath have been used for such operations. The steel sheath protects the outer sur~ace o~ the conduit. Such conduits can there~ore be handled b~ llnk belt chain drive mechanisms which force the conduit into the well. However, there are numerous drawbacks to the use of a conduit with a steel wire protective sheath. Because of the steel sheath, the conduit ls not ~lexible enough to be wound on a small (two (2) to three (3~ footl drum for storage.
Instead it must be wound on a large (eight ~8) to ten (10) .. _ .. . . . . ....... .... . .
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' ~ , 10816~7 foot) drum. The link belt chain drive mechanisms are heavy.
To use such a drive mechanism, it must be positioned directly over the wellhead. Therefore, a hoisting mechanism must be employed to properly position the drive mechanism. The large heavy drum, heavy link belt drive mechanism and hoisting equip-ment all required to insert a steel sheathed conduit into a well, renders such an injection system cumbersome, di~ficult to transfer from one well to another, and expensive.
Additionally, the steel sheath for the conduit undergoes severe bending when the conduit is wound on even a large drum.
The severe bending causes the steel sheath to fail. Conse-quently, to guard against failure during use, a steel sheathed conduit is inserted into a well only seven to ten times before being taken out of service and replaced.
The required large, heavy equipment for inserting a steel sheathed conduit into a well, and the limited use obtained ~rom such a conduit, have encouraged the development of a system for in~ecting a flexible conduit, such as a hose, into a well. The use of a hose as the flexible conduit creates certain unique requirements for the inJection system. Conventional hoses have been designed with one criterion, to hold internal pressure.
They have not been designed to protect the outside ~rom wear due to handling. Therefore, if a conventional hose is to be injected into a well, the in~ection system has to gently handle the hose while in~ecting it against well pressure into the well.
One in~ection system for a flexible hose is disclosed in United States Letters Patent 3,866,679 for "APPARATUS ~OR
INSERTING ~LEXIBLE PIPE INTO WELLS", issued February 18, 1975, 3 to Tibor Laky. The disclosed system includes a drive mechanism in communication with the well. The hose passes through the drive mechanism where it is engaged and either in~ected into :
1(381~()7 the well against the well pressure or retrieved from the well. To minimize wear and damage to the hose's exterior as it moves from the drive mechanism into the well, the drive mechanism is aligned with and above the well. From the drive mechanism, the hose moves straight into the well.
The system as disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent would function to inject a hose into the well. However, it has a few practical limitations. The drive mechanism, while considerably lighter than a link belt drive mechanism for a steel sheathed conduit, is still heavy.
It is estimated that such a unit would weigh on the order of 1,500 pounds.
The disclosed system positions this drive mechanism off of the ground above the well on top of a lubricator. To so position the drive mechanism requires hoisting equipment and/or an excessive amount of structural support members. The hoisting equipment and structural support members complicate movement and use of the system at different well head locations. The com-plications increase the cost per well for using the system and decrease the number of wells that may be treated by one set of apparatus.
Objects of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a system for injecting a flexible conduit into a well which is an improvement over the system disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent.
According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a system for injecting flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well, the system comprising: connector means attached to the well and in communication with the well and aligned with the well for providing a passage aligned with the well through which a flexible conduit may be injected into the well; injector drive means for engaging the flexible conduit, injecting it against the pressure of the well into the well, and retrieving it from the well; said injection drive means imparting movement to the flexible conduit in a direction which is not aligned with the well; seai means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping from said injector ~.
'`' drive means; curved guide means in fluid communication with both of said connector means and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the said flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between said injector drive means and said connector means; storage means for storing the flexible conduit which will be injected into the well; fair lead guide means for guiding the movement of the flex-ible conduit between said storage means and said injection drive means;
measuring means for measuring the amount of flexible conduit that is injected into or retrieved from the well; and common skid frame means for supporting each of said injector drive means, storage means, fair lead guide means, seal means, and measuring means independently from the well; and wherein said curved guide means includes: curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal, curved passage ~;~ through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the curved passage of said curved housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said curved passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing.
Other aspects, objects, features, and advantages, of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, and wherein an illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown:
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~__~ -4 , lOB1607 Figure 1 is a schematic view o~ a well and a system ~or in~ecting flexible conduit therein, which system is constructed in accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2-2 o~ Figure 3, o~ a curved guide o~ this invention;
~ igure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of ~igure 2, of the curved guide; and .
Flgure 4 is a quarter-sectional view o~ a wiper which is ~ ~ -lncluded in the in~ection system of this invention.
Description of the Pre~erred Embodiment In ~igure 1, a well 10 is illustrated. The well 10 has a surface casing 12 through which a production tubing 14 extends ~rom the wellhead 16 to the producing formation (not shown).
Above the wellhead 16 is the usual christmas tree including the master valve 18 and one or more tubing ~low valves 20.
Utilizing the system of this invention, a ~lexible con-duit, such as hose 22, may be run into the well 10. The ~lexible conduit 22 will move through the christmas tree while the master valve 18 and the tubing ~low valves 20 are open and will be in~ected into the well 10 against well pressure. Once in the well 10, the ~lexible conduit 22 may move through the i bore o~ the production tubing 14. At the end o~ the ~lexible conduit 22 is a nozzle 24. The flexible conduit 22 will be used to circulate fluids within the well to wash out sand bridges or permit the well to be otherwise treated.
The ~lexible conduit 22 to be run into the well 10 may comprise a small diameter ~1 inch), soft, ~lexible hose. The ~lexible conduit 22 preferably is capable o~ withstanding high internal pressures on the order o~ 5,000 psi. It may comprise numerous sections o~ hose which are ~oined together b~ cou-plings 25. The couplings 25 may be as disclosed in the a~ore-''' ~ -5-- 108~6(~7 mentioned 3,866,679 patent to Laky.
To inject the conduit 22 into the well 10, the injection system includes connector means 26 through which the conduit 22 passes as it moves into and out of the well 10, injector drive means 28 for positively driving the flexible conduit 22 into and out of the well 10, seal means 30 for sealing around the flexible conduit and preventing well fluids from escaping, and curved guide means 32 for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit 22 between the drive means 28 where the conduit 22 is not aligned with the well 10 and connector means 26 where the conduit 22 is aligned with the well 10.
The connector means 26 is attached to the blow-out-pre-ventor 33 on the top of the christmas tree and is in communi-cation therethrough with the well 10. Through connector means 22 a passage is provided for moving conduit 22 into and out of the well 10.
; One form of connector means 26 is an "Otis Quick Union"
connector as shown on page 3984 of the 1974-1975 "COMPOSITE
CATALOG OF OIL ~IELD EQUIPMENT ~ SERVICES". Another form is disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent. Both of these connector means include a bore through which the conduit 22 passes.
The injector drive means 28 engages the flexible con-duit 22 and provides the positive driving force for moving the conduit 22 into and out of the well. The injector drive means 28 may be the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent. As such, it will be in fluid communication with the well and will include a torous pressure chamber and a capstan drive means within the torous pressure chamber. The flexible conduit 22 will be fed through the torous pressure chamber and therein engaged by the capstan drive mechanism.
, ~08160~
The injector drive means 28 operates in the manner explained in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent to in~ect the flexible conduit 22 into the well 10 against well pressure and to re-trieve the flexible conduit 22 from the well 10.
It will be noted that the injector drive means 28 is mounted on skid frame means 34. Appropriate mounting brackets 36 and 38 o~ the skid frame means 34 support the in~ector drive means 28 and secure it to skid frame means 34. With the in-~ector drive means supported on a separate skid ~rame means 34 instead of being positioned over the wellhead and christmas tree as in the aforementloned Laky '67~ patent, the in~ector drive means 22 does not have to be hoisted into position and may ~e readily moved from one well to another. However, it will be noted that the outlet 40 of the in~ector drive means is not aligned with the well. When the ~lexible conduit leaves the in~ector drive means 28, its movement will therefore also be in a direction that is not in alignment with the well.
Curved guide means 32 in fluid communication with both connector means 26 and in~ector drive means 28 guides the movement of ~lexible conduit 22 between a dlrection which is aligned with in~ector drive means 28 and a direction which is aligned with the well 10. ~hile the flexible conduit 22 is being in~ected into or retrieved from the well, well pressure will be effective upon the exterior of the conduit 22. To minimize wear damage to the conduit's exterior due to this well pressure, the curved guide means 32 preferably provides a substantiall~ precise curve along which the conduit 22 is guided and the curved guide means 32 preferably provides mini-mal frictional engagement with the conduit 22.
3 The detailed structure of a preferred form of a curved guide means 32 is illustrated in ~igures 2 and 3. The curved guide means 32 includes housing means 40 having an internal : -.
lOB1607 passage 42 for the conduit 22, roller means 44 disposed within the internal passage for engaging the conduit 22 and guiding its passage through the internal passage 42, and mounting means for mounting the roller means 44 within the internal passage 42.
The housing means 40 is curved in a su~stantially precise hyperbolic curve to facilitate ease in mounting the roller means 44 along a subs-tantially hyperbolic curve. Since the well pressure will be e~fective within the internal passage 42 of the housing means 40, the housing means 40 has a wall thickness T capable of withstanding the stresses imposed by the confined well pressure.
The housing means 40 may be formed by precisely bending a tube 46. During bending, care should be taken so as to not de~orm the circular cross-section of the internal passage 42.
The tube 46 is bent until it forms a substantially precise hyperbolic curve. To the ends of the curved tube 46 are attached, as by weldments 48 and 50, connecting subs 52 and 54.
Each connecting sub includes means, such as threads 56 and 58 20 respectively, to enable connection o~ housing means 40 to another member. ~ brace 60 may be welded between the ends of the curved tube 46 to maintain the tube 46 in its desired curved condition.
Roller means 44 are disposed within the internal passage 42 o~ houslng means 40. They will engage the conduit 22 as it moves through the curved guide means 32. Preferably, a plur-allty of small, closely spaced roller means 44, each contoured to con~orm to the conduit 22, are positioned ~ithin the in-ternal passage 42, so that the portion of the conduit that is 3 within the curved guide means 32 is supported substantially along its entire length. Additionally, the plurality of roller means 44 are pre~erably mounted along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve so that the conduit 22 undergoes only an incremental change in direction o~ movement as it advances ~rom one roller to the next. Such a plurality o~ roller means 44 are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. As clearly seen in Figure 3, each roller means 44 includes a central c~lindrical portion ha-ring an outer sur~ace 62 that is concave in cross-section.
These concave surfaces 62 are contoured to con~orm to the exterior of the conduit 22 to provide a track for the conduit's movement through the internal passage 42.
Mounting means are provided ~or mounting the roller means 44 within the internal passage 42 o~ the housing means 40 along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve.
To enaale ~ree rotation of roller means 44, the mounting means includes bearing means 64 ~or each end o~ each roller means 44. In addition to the bearing means 64, the mounting means includes components ~hich are simple to manufa¢ture and easy to assemble. The assembled components comprise a chain-like structure made up o~ a plurality o~ roller housing means 66 and a plurallty o~ link means 68. Each roller housing means comprises one segment o~ the chain-llke structure and houses t~o roller means 44. Each link means 68 comprises another segment o~ the chain-like structure and links together t~o roller housing means 66. ~ith this chain-like mounting means, the bearing means 64 ma~ be ~ournaled in either link means 68 or roller housing means 66. The illustrated bearlng means 64, `
are ~ournaled ln llnk means 68.
Each roller housing means 66 comprises a short U-shaped segment having a base 70 and two upright legs 72 and 74. T~o pairs of opposed slots 76a, 76b and 78a, 78b, respectively, are 3 formed in the housing's upright legs 72 and 74. In Figure 2 the one slot 76a and 78a o~ each pair o~ opposed slots in leg 72 is visible while in Figure 3 the t~o slots 78a and 78b of /
_g_ one pair of slots is visi~le. The slots are sized so that when bearing means 64 are positioned upon the ends o~ a roller means 44 the bearing means 64 may be received within one pair o~
opposed slots to housing the roller means 44 within the roller housing means 66 as seen in Figure 3. Thus two roller means 44 each with bearing means 64 on their ends may be positioned within one roller housing means 66 by sliding the respective bearing means 64 into a set o~ opposed slots.
The link means 68 links together two different roller housing means 66 b~ linking together two di~erent roller means 44 each o~ which is housed in a dif~erent roller housing means 66. Thus i~ the two roller means that are housed within each roller housing means 66 are designated 44 and 4LI~ respec-tlvely and the two roller means which are linked by each link means 68 are designated 44a and 44b respectively it may be seen that any one roller means 44 is housed within one roller housing means 66 and linked to another roller housing means 66 by link means 68. Thus the two roller means 44a and 44b linked by any one link means 68 are housed in two ad~acent roller 20 housing means 66 and the two roller means 4LI and L14~ housed ~ithin any one roller housing means 66 are linked to the ad~acent roller housing means by two dif~erent link means 68.
The link means 68 may comprise a plurality o~ link plate means 80. Each link plate means 80 has two ~earing means 64 ~ournaled therein. Two opposed link plate means as seen in ~igure 3 comprise one link means 68. One link plate means 80 has ~ournaled therein two bearing means 64 ~or receiving one end of two roller means 44a and 44b. Its opposed link plate means 80 also has journaled therein two hearing means 64 ror receivlng the other end o~ the two roller means 44a and 44b.
The assembly o~ the roller means 44 and mounting means within the housing s internal passage 42 is relatively simple.
~10-~08160~7 Two bearing means 64 are ~ournaled within each o~ the link plate means 80. One end of two roller means 44a and 44b is fitted into the bearing means 64 Journaled in one link plate means 80. The other end of those two roller means 44a and 44b is ~itted into the bearing means 64 ~ournaled in another link plate means 80. One Or those two roller means 44 is housed in one roller housing means 66 by sliding its protruding bearing means 64 lnto one set of opposed slots in the housing legs.
Likewise, the other roller means 44 is housed in another roller housing means 66 b~ sliding its protruding bearing means 64 into one set o~ opposed slots of that housing's legs. This ~orms a chain-like structure comprising two roller housing means 66, two roller means 44 and one link means 68. Another set o~ two roller means 44 is linked between two link plate means 80 and is used to ~oin a third roller housing means 44 to the chain-llke assembly. The process is repeated until a suf~icient length of mounted roller means 44 has been obtained.
Pre~erably, the chain-like structure is inserted through the housing's internal passage 42 while it is being assembled. The end pieces of this chain-like assembl~ may comprise anchor housing means 82 which are formed like the roller housing means 66 except that each anchor housing means 82 houses only one roller means 44 and there~ore includes only one pair of opposed slots. Each anchor housing means 82 ma~ be attached to the housing means 40, as by weldment 84 and 86, to maintain the roller means 44 and mounting means in position.
With the curved guide means assembled, it may be used as a component o~ the tubing in,~ector system to guide the movement o~ the ~lexible conduit between a direction o~ movement which 3 is not aligned with the well and a direction o~ movement which is aligned with the well.
During the operation o~ the in~ection s~stem of this .
10~16~7 invention, inJector drive means 28 will be in f]uid communi-cation with the well. To prevent well fluids from escaping through in~ector drive means 28, seal means 30 seal around the flexible conduit 22 as it enters or leaves the in~ector drlve means 28. The illustrated seal means 30 comprises two stuffing boxes 88 and 90 in tandem arrangement. One of the stuffing boxes 88 is attached to a ~lange g2 which defines the opening into the torous pressure chamber of in~ector drive means 28.
The stuffing boxes 88 and 90 normall~ engage and seal around the flexi~le conduit 22. However, when a coupling 25 is moved through the seal means 30, one of the stuffing boxes is dis-engaged from the flexible conduit 22, the coupling 25 is moved therethrough, that one stuffing box is reengaged ~ith the flexible conduit 22 benind the coupling 25, the other stuffing box is disengaged from the flexible conduit 22, the coupling 25 moved through it and this second stuffing box is reengaged with the flexible conduit 22.
The stuffing boxes 88 and 90 may comprise the stuffing boxes as disclosed in the aforementioned Laky ~679 patent.
While the conduit 22 ls within the well, well fluids will collect on the conduit's exterior surface. Wiper means 94 strips these well fluids from the condult 22 to prevent them from contaminating the torous chamber of inJector drive means 28. Wiper means 94 may be positioned anywhere between in~ector drive means 28 and the well 10. The illustrated wiper means 94 is attached to the outlet flange 96 of in~ector drive means 28.
There wlper means 94 can be supported on skid frame means 34 b~
brace 98. Additionally, at such a location, it can perform a seal like function of retarding fluid flo~ into or out of 3 in~ector drive means 28.
The detail structure means of wiper means 94 is illus-trated in ~igure 4. ~iper means 94 comprises two spaced sets , .
~12-' ~ ~ . - '' ' ' :
10816~
o~ wlper rings retained within a cylindrical housing 100. The cylindrical housing 100 includes a flange 102 for attaching wiper means 94 to the inJector drive means 28. ~ithin one end o~ the cylindrical housing 100 is received a packing retainer 104 ~or retaining one set of wiper rings. The packing retainer 104 includes a bore 106 through which the ~lexible conduit 22 may pass and an enlarged bore portion 108 in which one set of wiper rings are retained. The set of wiper rings comprises a plurality o~ elastic rings with alternating rings being of dif~erent internal diameters. ~hen the conduit 22 passes through the rlngs, the rings 110 with the smaller internal diameter will ~lex, engage the conduit 22, and will strip fluids ~rom the conduit's exterior sur~ace. The other rings 112 with the larger internal diameter will maintain the spacing between the smaller internal diameter rings 110 so that they can ef~ectively per~orm their stripping ~unction. ~ retainer ring 114 may be placed over the end o~ the set o~ wiper rings to retain them in position within the enlarged bore 108 of the ~ packing retainer 104. Through the retainer r:Ln~ and wiper ; 20 rings 110 and 112 a plurality o~ bolts 116 may extend. The bolts 116 thread into the packing retainer 104 and maintain the retalner ring 114 and wiper rings 110 and 112 in position. At the other end of the cylindrical housing 96 is received an~ther packing retainer 118. The packing retainer 114 is similar to the packing retainer 106 but for the addition of a nose 120.
The nose 120 includes threads 122 for connecting another member to the ~iper means 94. Since other components at this end of the wiper means are the same as those components previously discussed, they will not be ~urther discussed. Their numeral designation corresponds to the designation of previously dis-cussed corresponding components with the addition of the suffix a.
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Complimenting the connector means 26, in~ector drlve means 28, seal means 30 and curved guide means 32 of the system for in~ecting the flexible conduit 22 into the well 10 are various other appratuses.
One such apparatus is the lubricator 122 above the christ-mas tree. The lubricator 122 enables the nozzle 24 to be posi-tioned on the flexible conduit 22 and permits the nozzle 24 to be changed. As shown, the lubricator 122 may comprise several tubular sections 112a and 122b with coupllng 124 therebetween.
10 The tubular sections 122a and 122b have a working pressure rating higher than the wellhead pressure to enable confinement of well fluids during operation of the tubing in~ector system.
The coupling 124 may be the same as connector means 26 pre-viously described. As shown, the lower tubular section 122a of ; the lubricator 122 is connected to connector means 26. The flexible conduit 22 therefore moves straight through the lubri-cator 122, connector means 26, the blow-out-preventor 33, through the christmas tree and into the well 10.
A coupling 126, which may also be the same as a connector means 26 previously described, interconnects the top tubular section 122b of the lubricator 122 with a union 128 threaded on to the connecting sub 52 of curved guide means 32.
Tubular means 130 extend between another union 132 con-nected to the connecting sub 54 on the other end of the curved guide means 32 and nose 120 of the wiper means 94. This tubular means also has a working pressure greater than the wellhead pressure since it too will confine well fluids. The flexible conduit 22 will pass through this tubular means 130 as it moves between the curved guide means 32 and the in~ector drive means 28. I~ the connecting sub 54 of the curved guide means 32 and the nose 120 of wiper means 94 can be placed in alignment, this tubular means 130 may comprise a pipe section.
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~()8~6~7 However, ir the connecting sub 54 and the nose cannot be so aligned, this tubular member 130 can be a flexible hose as shown.
Storage means 134, comprising a roll, stores a ~uantity o~
flexible conduit 22. Preferably, to provide a unitary flexible conduit in~ecting system which may be transported easily from well to well, the storage means 134 and the in~ector drive means 28 are both mounted on skid frame means 34. Mounting braces 136 are used to mount the storage means 134 on the skid frame means 34-Motor means 138 for turning the storage means 134 may alsobe mounted on braces 136. ~or transmitting the driving po~er between the motor means 138 and the storage means 134, there is a chain drive 140 which engages a sprocket 142 of the motor means and a sprocket 144 of the storage means 134.
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-~ Means are provided to guide the movement of the flexible conduit 22 between the storage means 134 and the inlet 92 of the in~ector drive means 28. Since the conduit 22 will not be subJect to well pressure during such movement, a curved guide 20 means 32 wlll be unnecessary. However, the flexible conduit 22 must still be treated with care to avold damage thereto.
Several guiding apparatuses are used. As the flexible conduit 22 comes off of the storage means 134 it passes through a first hose gulde assembly 146. This first hose guide assembly 120 may include two rollers 148 and 150 between which the flexible conduit passes.
Next, the flexible conduit 22 passes over a pulley 152.
As the flexible conduit 22 comes off of the pulley 152, it is substantially in alignment with seal means 30 and the opening 3 into in~ector drive means- 28. However, to precisely align .; conduit 22 it is passed through a fair lead guide assembly 154.
To measure the amount of hose that has been ~nJected into :
-: -15-the well, a measuring device 156 is used. The measuring devlce 156 enables the operator to determine the depth to which the flexible conduit 22 has been inJected into the well. It also enables him to determine, during retrieval o~ the flexible conduit 22 ~rom the well, how much conduit 22 remains in the well so that retrieval operations may cease when the nozzle 24 is within the lubricator 94.
Control means, as disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent may be provided for controlling the operation o~
the injector drive means 28, the seal means 30, and the motor means 112 for the storage means 108. Additionally, fluid may be circulated into the ~lexible conduit 22 in the manner de-scribed in said patent.
The assembly o~ the injection system at a wellhead may be easily accomplished without the use of hoists or other heavy li~ting apparatus. The skid frame means 24 supports all the heavy components of the system. It may be moved to the well-head by truck and positioned near the christmas tree. A com-municating passage ~rom the well to the inJector drive mean~
28, through which the ~lexible conduit 22 wlll pass, is pre-pared. The master valve 18 of the christmas tree is closed. i The blow-out-preventor 33 is attached to the top o~ the christ-mas tree. The lubricator 122 is attached to the blow-out-preventor with connector means 26. Curved guide means 32 is attached to the top o~ the lubricator 122 by coupling 126.
Tubular means 130 interconnects curved guide means 32 and in~ector drive means 28. Prior to opening the master valve the ~lexible conduit is fed through curved guide means 32. A~ter ~;
the flexible conduit 22 has been fed through curved guide means 30 32, the lubricator 122 may be disconnected to place a nozzle 24 on the end of the ~lexible conduit 22. The lubricator 122 is reconnected. The system is now ready to begin the in~ection o~
the ~lexible conduit 22 into the well 10.
The operation o~ the injection system is straight~orward.
The master valve is opened. As described in the a~orementioned Laky '679 patent, ~luid is pumped through the flexible conduit 22 to prevent its collapse and to aid its passage through the well bore. The in~ector drive means 28 is powered, as de-scribed in the a~orementioned patent, to inject the ~lexible conduit 22 into the well. While the conduit 22 ~s being in-jected, storage means 134 plays out additional conduit 22. The conduit is guided in its movement ~rom storage means 134 to the inJector drive means 28 by the rollers 148 and 150 o~ the ~irst guide assembly 146, the pulley 152 and ~air lead guide assembly 154. Seal means 30 attached to the inlet flange 92 of the injector drive assembly 28 prevent well fluids ~rom escaping through the injector drive assembly 28. When ~ coupling of the flexible conduit 22 advances to the seal means 30, first one stuf~ing box 90 is opened to admit the coupling and closes after it has passed, and then the second stuf~ing box 88 opens and closes as the coupling passes therethrough. In this manner, seal means 30 is always ef~ective. Within the in~ector drive means 28, tne ~lexible conduit 22 is engaged and a driving ~orce is imparted to it to inject it into the well. The ~lexible conduit 22 is moved through the tubular means 130, the curved guide means 32, the lubricator 122 and connector means 26 into the well. As the ~lexible conduit 22 passes through !:, the curved guide means 32, its direction o~ movement is changed between a direction o~ movement in alignment with the injector drive means 28 and a direction o~ movement in alignment with the well 10. Roller means 44 within the curved guide means 32 engage the ~lexible conduit as it passes therethrough, and enable the flexible conduit 22 to change its direction o~
~081607 movement without damage to the conduit's exterior. From thecurved guide means 32, the flexible conduit passes straight through the lubricator 122 and the christmas tree into the well 10.
Once in the well, the flexible conduit may be used to wash out sand bridges or otherwise treat the well. TQ do so, fluid is pumped through the flexible conduit in the manner described in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent.
~ ter the well has been treated, the flexible conduit is retrieved. To retrieve the flexible conduit 22 from the well, the in~ector drive means 28 is reversed. The reversed in~ector drive means 28 imparts a force to pull the flexible conduit 22 r from the well. Storage means 134 accumulates the flexible -~ conduit 22 as it ls retrieved from the well. During the re-trieval, the measuring device 156 is monitored. To prevent breakage of the flexible conduit 22 or damage to the curved guide means 32, when all but a couple hundred ~eet of the flexible conduit 22 have been retrieved, the rate o~ retrieval is slowed. Retrieval is thereafter closely monitored and is lmmediately stopped when it is sensed that the nozzle 24 ls within the lubricator 122 above the master valve 18. The master valve 18 is closed and the lubricator 122 may be dis-connected. Wlth the lubricator 122 disconnected, the nozzle may be taken orf of the flexible conduit 22.
During retrieval, the wiper rings of wiper means 94 strips the well fluids from the conduit's exterior surface.
If desired, rather than accumulating all of the flexible conduit on storage means 134, a portion may be left within curved guide means 32, tubular means 130, and injection drive means 28. To do so, couplings 24 of the flexible conduit 22 on both sides of these components may be disconnected leaving a portion therein. The remaining portion of the flexible conduit - . -1~816~7 22 may be accumulated and stored on storage means 134.
It should be readily understood that the wiper means 94 has been illus~rated and described as being attached directly to the injector drive means 28 because this is normally the most convenient location for it. However, the wiper means can be located at any convenient place between the lubricator 122 and the injector drive means 28. For instance, i~ it is ex-pected that trash or the like will be wiped from the hose by the wiper, then the wiper means is preferably connected between the upper lubricator section 122b and the curved guide means 32. Thus, any trash or debris carried upwardly on the exterior of the hose wlll be wiped therefrom by the wiper means and allowed to gravitate back into the well rather than collecting and packing in the wiper means as may occur when the wiper means is connected as shown in the drawing. When the wiper means is connected at a location other than as~ shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, it must understandabl~ be provided with suitable fittings on its ends adapting it for such connection.
It was earlier stated that the tubular means 130 may com-prlse a pipe section rather than a flexi~le hose as shown in the drawing. When a pipe section is used herein the stead of the flexible hose as shown, alignment of the injector drive means 28 with the curved guide means 32 may be difficult Therefore, it is preferred to install a fluid tight, pressure ; competent adjustable union (not shown) either between the wiper means 94 and the pipe section 130 or somewhere between the blowout preventer 33 and the curved guide means 32, or, pre-ferably, in both such locat:ions. Such adjustable union is illustrated in the Composite Catalog of Oilfield Equipment and 30 Services, 1974-75 Ed. on page 3916 and is obtainable from Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Texas.
From the foregoing, it may be seen that the objects of ~, . .
1~)816~7 this lnvention have been obtained. There has been provided a system for in~ecting a flexible conduit into a well. The system does not require the use of' heavy hoisting equipment.
Even though the system includes heavy components, the heavy components are readily movable from one location to another.
The system enables the flexible conduit to be guided between a direction of motion aligned with the well and a direction of motion not aligned with the well. The guide for changing such directional movement supports that portion o~ the conduit which is undergoing a change in directional motion while having minimal f'rictional engagement therewith. Additionally, the guide is easy to assemble.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and varlous changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the :
invention.
_20-:, ........................................... .
, : . ~
It also relates to a curved guide ~or guiding a so~t ~lexible conduit as its direction of movement changes.
B. The Prior Art Some oil and gas ~ell sub-surface operations are performed with conduit that has been inserted into the well. Fluids are pumped through the conduit ~or treating the well.-Generally, conduits with a steel wire sheath have been used for such operations. The steel sheath protects the outer sur~ace o~ the conduit. Such conduits can there~ore be handled b~ llnk belt chain drive mechanisms which force the conduit into the well. However, there are numerous drawbacks to the use of a conduit with a steel wire protective sheath. Because of the steel sheath, the conduit ls not ~lexible enough to be wound on a small (two (2) to three (3~ footl drum for storage.
Instead it must be wound on a large (eight ~8) to ten (10) .. _ .. . . . . ....... .... . .
. . I .
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' ~ , 10816~7 foot) drum. The link belt chain drive mechanisms are heavy.
To use such a drive mechanism, it must be positioned directly over the wellhead. Therefore, a hoisting mechanism must be employed to properly position the drive mechanism. The large heavy drum, heavy link belt drive mechanism and hoisting equip-ment all required to insert a steel sheathed conduit into a well, renders such an injection system cumbersome, di~ficult to transfer from one well to another, and expensive.
Additionally, the steel sheath for the conduit undergoes severe bending when the conduit is wound on even a large drum.
The severe bending causes the steel sheath to fail. Conse-quently, to guard against failure during use, a steel sheathed conduit is inserted into a well only seven to ten times before being taken out of service and replaced.
The required large, heavy equipment for inserting a steel sheathed conduit into a well, and the limited use obtained ~rom such a conduit, have encouraged the development of a system for in~ecting a flexible conduit, such as a hose, into a well. The use of a hose as the flexible conduit creates certain unique requirements for the inJection system. Conventional hoses have been designed with one criterion, to hold internal pressure.
They have not been designed to protect the outside ~rom wear due to handling. Therefore, if a conventional hose is to be injected into a well, the in~ection system has to gently handle the hose while in~ecting it against well pressure into the well.
One in~ection system for a flexible hose is disclosed in United States Letters Patent 3,866,679 for "APPARATUS ~OR
INSERTING ~LEXIBLE PIPE INTO WELLS", issued February 18, 1975, 3 to Tibor Laky. The disclosed system includes a drive mechanism in communication with the well. The hose passes through the drive mechanism where it is engaged and either in~ected into :
1(381~()7 the well against the well pressure or retrieved from the well. To minimize wear and damage to the hose's exterior as it moves from the drive mechanism into the well, the drive mechanism is aligned with and above the well. From the drive mechanism, the hose moves straight into the well.
The system as disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent would function to inject a hose into the well. However, it has a few practical limitations. The drive mechanism, while considerably lighter than a link belt drive mechanism for a steel sheathed conduit, is still heavy.
It is estimated that such a unit would weigh on the order of 1,500 pounds.
The disclosed system positions this drive mechanism off of the ground above the well on top of a lubricator. To so position the drive mechanism requires hoisting equipment and/or an excessive amount of structural support members. The hoisting equipment and structural support members complicate movement and use of the system at different well head locations. The com-plications increase the cost per well for using the system and decrease the number of wells that may be treated by one set of apparatus.
Objects of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a system for injecting a flexible conduit into a well which is an improvement over the system disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent.
According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a system for injecting flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well, the system comprising: connector means attached to the well and in communication with the well and aligned with the well for providing a passage aligned with the well through which a flexible conduit may be injected into the well; injector drive means for engaging the flexible conduit, injecting it against the pressure of the well into the well, and retrieving it from the well; said injection drive means imparting movement to the flexible conduit in a direction which is not aligned with the well; seai means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping from said injector ~.
'`' drive means; curved guide means in fluid communication with both of said connector means and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the said flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between said injector drive means and said connector means; storage means for storing the flexible conduit which will be injected into the well; fair lead guide means for guiding the movement of the flex-ible conduit between said storage means and said injection drive means;
measuring means for measuring the amount of flexible conduit that is injected into or retrieved from the well; and common skid frame means for supporting each of said injector drive means, storage means, fair lead guide means, seal means, and measuring means independently from the well; and wherein said curved guide means includes: curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal, curved passage ~;~ through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the curved passage of said curved housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said curved passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing.
Other aspects, objects, features, and advantages, of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, and wherein an illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown:
~' ~.
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~__~ -4 , lOB1607 Figure 1 is a schematic view o~ a well and a system ~or in~ecting flexible conduit therein, which system is constructed in accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2-2 o~ Figure 3, o~ a curved guide o~ this invention;
~ igure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of ~igure 2, of the curved guide; and .
Flgure 4 is a quarter-sectional view o~ a wiper which is ~ ~ -lncluded in the in~ection system of this invention.
Description of the Pre~erred Embodiment In ~igure 1, a well 10 is illustrated. The well 10 has a surface casing 12 through which a production tubing 14 extends ~rom the wellhead 16 to the producing formation (not shown).
Above the wellhead 16 is the usual christmas tree including the master valve 18 and one or more tubing ~low valves 20.
Utilizing the system of this invention, a ~lexible con-duit, such as hose 22, may be run into the well 10. The ~lexible conduit 22 will move through the christmas tree while the master valve 18 and the tubing ~low valves 20 are open and will be in~ected into the well 10 against well pressure. Once in the well 10, the ~lexible conduit 22 may move through the i bore o~ the production tubing 14. At the end o~ the ~lexible conduit 22 is a nozzle 24. The flexible conduit 22 will be used to circulate fluids within the well to wash out sand bridges or permit the well to be otherwise treated.
The ~lexible conduit 22 to be run into the well 10 may comprise a small diameter ~1 inch), soft, ~lexible hose. The ~lexible conduit 22 preferably is capable o~ withstanding high internal pressures on the order o~ 5,000 psi. It may comprise numerous sections o~ hose which are ~oined together b~ cou-plings 25. The couplings 25 may be as disclosed in the a~ore-''' ~ -5-- 108~6(~7 mentioned 3,866,679 patent to Laky.
To inject the conduit 22 into the well 10, the injection system includes connector means 26 through which the conduit 22 passes as it moves into and out of the well 10, injector drive means 28 for positively driving the flexible conduit 22 into and out of the well 10, seal means 30 for sealing around the flexible conduit and preventing well fluids from escaping, and curved guide means 32 for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit 22 between the drive means 28 where the conduit 22 is not aligned with the well 10 and connector means 26 where the conduit 22 is aligned with the well 10.
The connector means 26 is attached to the blow-out-pre-ventor 33 on the top of the christmas tree and is in communi-cation therethrough with the well 10. Through connector means 22 a passage is provided for moving conduit 22 into and out of the well 10.
; One form of connector means 26 is an "Otis Quick Union"
connector as shown on page 3984 of the 1974-1975 "COMPOSITE
CATALOG OF OIL ~IELD EQUIPMENT ~ SERVICES". Another form is disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent. Both of these connector means include a bore through which the conduit 22 passes.
The injector drive means 28 engages the flexible con-duit 22 and provides the positive driving force for moving the conduit 22 into and out of the well. The injector drive means 28 may be the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent. As such, it will be in fluid communication with the well and will include a torous pressure chamber and a capstan drive means within the torous pressure chamber. The flexible conduit 22 will be fed through the torous pressure chamber and therein engaged by the capstan drive mechanism.
, ~08160~
The injector drive means 28 operates in the manner explained in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent to in~ect the flexible conduit 22 into the well 10 against well pressure and to re-trieve the flexible conduit 22 from the well 10.
It will be noted that the injector drive means 28 is mounted on skid frame means 34. Appropriate mounting brackets 36 and 38 o~ the skid frame means 34 support the in~ector drive means 28 and secure it to skid frame means 34. With the in-~ector drive means supported on a separate skid ~rame means 34 instead of being positioned over the wellhead and christmas tree as in the aforementloned Laky '67~ patent, the in~ector drive means 22 does not have to be hoisted into position and may ~e readily moved from one well to another. However, it will be noted that the outlet 40 of the in~ector drive means is not aligned with the well. When the ~lexible conduit leaves the in~ector drive means 28, its movement will therefore also be in a direction that is not in alignment with the well.
Curved guide means 32 in fluid communication with both connector means 26 and in~ector drive means 28 guides the movement of ~lexible conduit 22 between a dlrection which is aligned with in~ector drive means 28 and a direction which is aligned with the well 10. ~hile the flexible conduit 22 is being in~ected into or retrieved from the well, well pressure will be effective upon the exterior of the conduit 22. To minimize wear damage to the conduit's exterior due to this well pressure, the curved guide means 32 preferably provides a substantiall~ precise curve along which the conduit 22 is guided and the curved guide means 32 preferably provides mini-mal frictional engagement with the conduit 22.
3 The detailed structure of a preferred form of a curved guide means 32 is illustrated in ~igures 2 and 3. The curved guide means 32 includes housing means 40 having an internal : -.
lOB1607 passage 42 for the conduit 22, roller means 44 disposed within the internal passage for engaging the conduit 22 and guiding its passage through the internal passage 42, and mounting means for mounting the roller means 44 within the internal passage 42.
The housing means 40 is curved in a su~stantially precise hyperbolic curve to facilitate ease in mounting the roller means 44 along a subs-tantially hyperbolic curve. Since the well pressure will be e~fective within the internal passage 42 of the housing means 40, the housing means 40 has a wall thickness T capable of withstanding the stresses imposed by the confined well pressure.
The housing means 40 may be formed by precisely bending a tube 46. During bending, care should be taken so as to not de~orm the circular cross-section of the internal passage 42.
The tube 46 is bent until it forms a substantially precise hyperbolic curve. To the ends of the curved tube 46 are attached, as by weldments 48 and 50, connecting subs 52 and 54.
Each connecting sub includes means, such as threads 56 and 58 20 respectively, to enable connection o~ housing means 40 to another member. ~ brace 60 may be welded between the ends of the curved tube 46 to maintain the tube 46 in its desired curved condition.
Roller means 44 are disposed within the internal passage 42 o~ houslng means 40. They will engage the conduit 22 as it moves through the curved guide means 32. Preferably, a plur-allty of small, closely spaced roller means 44, each contoured to con~orm to the conduit 22, are positioned ~ithin the in-ternal passage 42, so that the portion of the conduit that is 3 within the curved guide means 32 is supported substantially along its entire length. Additionally, the plurality of roller means 44 are pre~erably mounted along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve so that the conduit 22 undergoes only an incremental change in direction o~ movement as it advances ~rom one roller to the next. Such a plurality o~ roller means 44 are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. As clearly seen in Figure 3, each roller means 44 includes a central c~lindrical portion ha-ring an outer sur~ace 62 that is concave in cross-section.
These concave surfaces 62 are contoured to con~orm to the exterior of the conduit 22 to provide a track for the conduit's movement through the internal passage 42.
Mounting means are provided ~or mounting the roller means 44 within the internal passage 42 o~ the housing means 40 along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve.
To enaale ~ree rotation of roller means 44, the mounting means includes bearing means 64 ~or each end o~ each roller means 44. In addition to the bearing means 64, the mounting means includes components ~hich are simple to manufa¢ture and easy to assemble. The assembled components comprise a chain-like structure made up o~ a plurality o~ roller housing means 66 and a plurallty o~ link means 68. Each roller housing means comprises one segment o~ the chain-llke structure and houses t~o roller means 44. Each link means 68 comprises another segment o~ the chain-like structure and links together t~o roller housing means 66. ~ith this chain-like mounting means, the bearing means 64 ma~ be ~ournaled in either link means 68 or roller housing means 66. The illustrated bearlng means 64, `
are ~ournaled ln llnk means 68.
Each roller housing means 66 comprises a short U-shaped segment having a base 70 and two upright legs 72 and 74. T~o pairs of opposed slots 76a, 76b and 78a, 78b, respectively, are 3 formed in the housing's upright legs 72 and 74. In Figure 2 the one slot 76a and 78a o~ each pair o~ opposed slots in leg 72 is visible while in Figure 3 the t~o slots 78a and 78b of /
_g_ one pair of slots is visi~le. The slots are sized so that when bearing means 64 are positioned upon the ends o~ a roller means 44 the bearing means 64 may be received within one pair o~
opposed slots to housing the roller means 44 within the roller housing means 66 as seen in Figure 3. Thus two roller means 44 each with bearing means 64 on their ends may be positioned within one roller housing means 66 by sliding the respective bearing means 64 into a set o~ opposed slots.
The link means 68 links together two different roller housing means 66 b~ linking together two di~erent roller means 44 each o~ which is housed in a dif~erent roller housing means 66. Thus i~ the two roller means that are housed within each roller housing means 66 are designated 44 and 4LI~ respec-tlvely and the two roller means which are linked by each link means 68 are designated 44a and 44b respectively it may be seen that any one roller means 44 is housed within one roller housing means 66 and linked to another roller housing means 66 by link means 68. Thus the two roller means 44a and 44b linked by any one link means 68 are housed in two ad~acent roller 20 housing means 66 and the two roller means 4LI and L14~ housed ~ithin any one roller housing means 66 are linked to the ad~acent roller housing means by two dif~erent link means 68.
The link means 68 may comprise a plurality o~ link plate means 80. Each link plate means 80 has two ~earing means 64 ~ournaled therein. Two opposed link plate means as seen in ~igure 3 comprise one link means 68. One link plate means 80 has ~ournaled therein two bearing means 64 ~or receiving one end of two roller means 44a and 44b. Its opposed link plate means 80 also has journaled therein two hearing means 64 ror receivlng the other end o~ the two roller means 44a and 44b.
The assembly o~ the roller means 44 and mounting means within the housing s internal passage 42 is relatively simple.
~10-~08160~7 Two bearing means 64 are ~ournaled within each o~ the link plate means 80. One end of two roller means 44a and 44b is fitted into the bearing means 64 Journaled in one link plate means 80. The other end of those two roller means 44a and 44b is ~itted into the bearing means 64 ~ournaled in another link plate means 80. One Or those two roller means 44 is housed in one roller housing means 66 by sliding its protruding bearing means 64 lnto one set of opposed slots in the housing legs.
Likewise, the other roller means 44 is housed in another roller housing means 66 b~ sliding its protruding bearing means 64 into one set o~ opposed slots of that housing's legs. This ~orms a chain-like structure comprising two roller housing means 66, two roller means 44 and one link means 68. Another set o~ two roller means 44 is linked between two link plate means 80 and is used to ~oin a third roller housing means 44 to the chain-llke assembly. The process is repeated until a suf~icient length of mounted roller means 44 has been obtained.
Pre~erably, the chain-like structure is inserted through the housing's internal passage 42 while it is being assembled. The end pieces of this chain-like assembl~ may comprise anchor housing means 82 which are formed like the roller housing means 66 except that each anchor housing means 82 houses only one roller means 44 and there~ore includes only one pair of opposed slots. Each anchor housing means 82 ma~ be attached to the housing means 40, as by weldment 84 and 86, to maintain the roller means 44 and mounting means in position.
With the curved guide means assembled, it may be used as a component o~ the tubing in,~ector system to guide the movement o~ the ~lexible conduit between a direction o~ movement which 3 is not aligned with the well and a direction o~ movement which is aligned with the well.
During the operation o~ the in~ection s~stem of this .
10~16~7 invention, inJector drive means 28 will be in f]uid communi-cation with the well. To prevent well fluids from escaping through in~ector drive means 28, seal means 30 seal around the flexible conduit 22 as it enters or leaves the in~ector drlve means 28. The illustrated seal means 30 comprises two stuffing boxes 88 and 90 in tandem arrangement. One of the stuffing boxes 88 is attached to a ~lange g2 which defines the opening into the torous pressure chamber of in~ector drive means 28.
The stuffing boxes 88 and 90 normall~ engage and seal around the flexi~le conduit 22. However, when a coupling 25 is moved through the seal means 30, one of the stuffing boxes is dis-engaged from the flexible conduit 22, the coupling 25 is moved therethrough, that one stuffing box is reengaged ~ith the flexible conduit 22 benind the coupling 25, the other stuffing box is disengaged from the flexible conduit 22, the coupling 25 moved through it and this second stuffing box is reengaged with the flexible conduit 22.
The stuffing boxes 88 and 90 may comprise the stuffing boxes as disclosed in the aforementioned Laky ~679 patent.
While the conduit 22 ls within the well, well fluids will collect on the conduit's exterior surface. Wiper means 94 strips these well fluids from the condult 22 to prevent them from contaminating the torous chamber of inJector drive means 28. Wiper means 94 may be positioned anywhere between in~ector drive means 28 and the well 10. The illustrated wiper means 94 is attached to the outlet flange 96 of in~ector drive means 28.
There wlper means 94 can be supported on skid frame means 34 b~
brace 98. Additionally, at such a location, it can perform a seal like function of retarding fluid flo~ into or out of 3 in~ector drive means 28.
The detail structure means of wiper means 94 is illus-trated in ~igure 4. ~iper means 94 comprises two spaced sets , .
~12-' ~ ~ . - '' ' ' :
10816~
o~ wlper rings retained within a cylindrical housing 100. The cylindrical housing 100 includes a flange 102 for attaching wiper means 94 to the inJector drive means 28. ~ithin one end o~ the cylindrical housing 100 is received a packing retainer 104 ~or retaining one set of wiper rings. The packing retainer 104 includes a bore 106 through which the ~lexible conduit 22 may pass and an enlarged bore portion 108 in which one set of wiper rings are retained. The set of wiper rings comprises a plurality o~ elastic rings with alternating rings being of dif~erent internal diameters. ~hen the conduit 22 passes through the rlngs, the rings 110 with the smaller internal diameter will ~lex, engage the conduit 22, and will strip fluids ~rom the conduit's exterior sur~ace. The other rings 112 with the larger internal diameter will maintain the spacing between the smaller internal diameter rings 110 so that they can ef~ectively per~orm their stripping ~unction. ~ retainer ring 114 may be placed over the end o~ the set o~ wiper rings to retain them in position within the enlarged bore 108 of the ~ packing retainer 104. Through the retainer r:Ln~ and wiper ; 20 rings 110 and 112 a plurality o~ bolts 116 may extend. The bolts 116 thread into the packing retainer 104 and maintain the retalner ring 114 and wiper rings 110 and 112 in position. At the other end of the cylindrical housing 96 is received an~ther packing retainer 118. The packing retainer 114 is similar to the packing retainer 106 but for the addition of a nose 120.
The nose 120 includes threads 122 for connecting another member to the ~iper means 94. Since other components at this end of the wiper means are the same as those components previously discussed, they will not be ~urther discussed. Their numeral designation corresponds to the designation of previously dis-cussed corresponding components with the addition of the suffix a.
. ' .
Complimenting the connector means 26, in~ector drlve means 28, seal means 30 and curved guide means 32 of the system for in~ecting the flexible conduit 22 into the well 10 are various other appratuses.
One such apparatus is the lubricator 122 above the christ-mas tree. The lubricator 122 enables the nozzle 24 to be posi-tioned on the flexible conduit 22 and permits the nozzle 24 to be changed. As shown, the lubricator 122 may comprise several tubular sections 112a and 122b with coupllng 124 therebetween.
10 The tubular sections 122a and 122b have a working pressure rating higher than the wellhead pressure to enable confinement of well fluids during operation of the tubing in~ector system.
The coupling 124 may be the same as connector means 26 pre-viously described. As shown, the lower tubular section 122a of ; the lubricator 122 is connected to connector means 26. The flexible conduit 22 therefore moves straight through the lubri-cator 122, connector means 26, the blow-out-preventor 33, through the christmas tree and into the well 10.
A coupling 126, which may also be the same as a connector means 26 previously described, interconnects the top tubular section 122b of the lubricator 122 with a union 128 threaded on to the connecting sub 52 of curved guide means 32.
Tubular means 130 extend between another union 132 con-nected to the connecting sub 54 on the other end of the curved guide means 32 and nose 120 of the wiper means 94. This tubular means also has a working pressure greater than the wellhead pressure since it too will confine well fluids. The flexible conduit 22 will pass through this tubular means 130 as it moves between the curved guide means 32 and the in~ector drive means 28. I~ the connecting sub 54 of the curved guide means 32 and the nose 120 of wiper means 94 can be placed in alignment, this tubular means 130 may comprise a pipe section.
. ' - . . . .
~()8~6~7 However, ir the connecting sub 54 and the nose cannot be so aligned, this tubular member 130 can be a flexible hose as shown.
Storage means 134, comprising a roll, stores a ~uantity o~
flexible conduit 22. Preferably, to provide a unitary flexible conduit in~ecting system which may be transported easily from well to well, the storage means 134 and the in~ector drive means 28 are both mounted on skid frame means 34. Mounting braces 136 are used to mount the storage means 134 on the skid frame means 34-Motor means 138 for turning the storage means 134 may alsobe mounted on braces 136. ~or transmitting the driving po~er between the motor means 138 and the storage means 134, there is a chain drive 140 which engages a sprocket 142 of the motor means and a sprocket 144 of the storage means 134.
`
-~ Means are provided to guide the movement of the flexible conduit 22 between the storage means 134 and the inlet 92 of the in~ector drive means 28. Since the conduit 22 will not be subJect to well pressure during such movement, a curved guide 20 means 32 wlll be unnecessary. However, the flexible conduit 22 must still be treated with care to avold damage thereto.
Several guiding apparatuses are used. As the flexible conduit 22 comes off of the storage means 134 it passes through a first hose gulde assembly 146. This first hose guide assembly 120 may include two rollers 148 and 150 between which the flexible conduit passes.
Next, the flexible conduit 22 passes over a pulley 152.
As the flexible conduit 22 comes off of the pulley 152, it is substantially in alignment with seal means 30 and the opening 3 into in~ector drive means- 28. However, to precisely align .; conduit 22 it is passed through a fair lead guide assembly 154.
To measure the amount of hose that has been ~nJected into :
-: -15-the well, a measuring device 156 is used. The measuring devlce 156 enables the operator to determine the depth to which the flexible conduit 22 has been inJected into the well. It also enables him to determine, during retrieval o~ the flexible conduit 22 ~rom the well, how much conduit 22 remains in the well so that retrieval operations may cease when the nozzle 24 is within the lubricator 94.
Control means, as disclosed in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent may be provided for controlling the operation o~
the injector drive means 28, the seal means 30, and the motor means 112 for the storage means 108. Additionally, fluid may be circulated into the ~lexible conduit 22 in the manner de-scribed in said patent.
The assembly o~ the injection system at a wellhead may be easily accomplished without the use of hoists or other heavy li~ting apparatus. The skid frame means 24 supports all the heavy components of the system. It may be moved to the well-head by truck and positioned near the christmas tree. A com-municating passage ~rom the well to the inJector drive mean~
28, through which the ~lexible conduit 22 wlll pass, is pre-pared. The master valve 18 of the christmas tree is closed. i The blow-out-preventor 33 is attached to the top o~ the christ-mas tree. The lubricator 122 is attached to the blow-out-preventor with connector means 26. Curved guide means 32 is attached to the top o~ the lubricator 122 by coupling 126.
Tubular means 130 interconnects curved guide means 32 and in~ector drive means 28. Prior to opening the master valve the ~lexible conduit is fed through curved guide means 32. A~ter ~;
the flexible conduit 22 has been fed through curved guide means 30 32, the lubricator 122 may be disconnected to place a nozzle 24 on the end of the ~lexible conduit 22. The lubricator 122 is reconnected. The system is now ready to begin the in~ection o~
the ~lexible conduit 22 into the well 10.
The operation o~ the injection system is straight~orward.
The master valve is opened. As described in the a~orementioned Laky '679 patent, ~luid is pumped through the flexible conduit 22 to prevent its collapse and to aid its passage through the well bore. The in~ector drive means 28 is powered, as de-scribed in the a~orementioned patent, to inject the ~lexible conduit 22 into the well. While the conduit 22 ~s being in-jected, storage means 134 plays out additional conduit 22. The conduit is guided in its movement ~rom storage means 134 to the inJector drive means 28 by the rollers 148 and 150 o~ the ~irst guide assembly 146, the pulley 152 and ~air lead guide assembly 154. Seal means 30 attached to the inlet flange 92 of the injector drive assembly 28 prevent well fluids ~rom escaping through the injector drive assembly 28. When ~ coupling of the flexible conduit 22 advances to the seal means 30, first one stuf~ing box 90 is opened to admit the coupling and closes after it has passed, and then the second stuf~ing box 88 opens and closes as the coupling passes therethrough. In this manner, seal means 30 is always ef~ective. Within the in~ector drive means 28, tne ~lexible conduit 22 is engaged and a driving ~orce is imparted to it to inject it into the well. The ~lexible conduit 22 is moved through the tubular means 130, the curved guide means 32, the lubricator 122 and connector means 26 into the well. As the ~lexible conduit 22 passes through !:, the curved guide means 32, its direction o~ movement is changed between a direction o~ movement in alignment with the injector drive means 28 and a direction o~ movement in alignment with the well 10. Roller means 44 within the curved guide means 32 engage the ~lexible conduit as it passes therethrough, and enable the flexible conduit 22 to change its direction o~
~081607 movement without damage to the conduit's exterior. From thecurved guide means 32, the flexible conduit passes straight through the lubricator 122 and the christmas tree into the well 10.
Once in the well, the flexible conduit may be used to wash out sand bridges or otherwise treat the well. TQ do so, fluid is pumped through the flexible conduit in the manner described in the aforementioned Laky '679 patent.
~ ter the well has been treated, the flexible conduit is retrieved. To retrieve the flexible conduit 22 from the well, the in~ector drive means 28 is reversed. The reversed in~ector drive means 28 imparts a force to pull the flexible conduit 22 r from the well. Storage means 134 accumulates the flexible -~ conduit 22 as it ls retrieved from the well. During the re-trieval, the measuring device 156 is monitored. To prevent breakage of the flexible conduit 22 or damage to the curved guide means 32, when all but a couple hundred ~eet of the flexible conduit 22 have been retrieved, the rate o~ retrieval is slowed. Retrieval is thereafter closely monitored and is lmmediately stopped when it is sensed that the nozzle 24 ls within the lubricator 122 above the master valve 18. The master valve 18 is closed and the lubricator 122 may be dis-connected. Wlth the lubricator 122 disconnected, the nozzle may be taken orf of the flexible conduit 22.
During retrieval, the wiper rings of wiper means 94 strips the well fluids from the conduit's exterior surface.
If desired, rather than accumulating all of the flexible conduit on storage means 134, a portion may be left within curved guide means 32, tubular means 130, and injection drive means 28. To do so, couplings 24 of the flexible conduit 22 on both sides of these components may be disconnected leaving a portion therein. The remaining portion of the flexible conduit - . -1~816~7 22 may be accumulated and stored on storage means 134.
It should be readily understood that the wiper means 94 has been illus~rated and described as being attached directly to the injector drive means 28 because this is normally the most convenient location for it. However, the wiper means can be located at any convenient place between the lubricator 122 and the injector drive means 28. For instance, i~ it is ex-pected that trash or the like will be wiped from the hose by the wiper, then the wiper means is preferably connected between the upper lubricator section 122b and the curved guide means 32. Thus, any trash or debris carried upwardly on the exterior of the hose wlll be wiped therefrom by the wiper means and allowed to gravitate back into the well rather than collecting and packing in the wiper means as may occur when the wiper means is connected as shown in the drawing. When the wiper means is connected at a location other than as~ shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, it must understandabl~ be provided with suitable fittings on its ends adapting it for such connection.
It was earlier stated that the tubular means 130 may com-prlse a pipe section rather than a flexi~le hose as shown in the drawing. When a pipe section is used herein the stead of the flexible hose as shown, alignment of the injector drive means 28 with the curved guide means 32 may be difficult Therefore, it is preferred to install a fluid tight, pressure ; competent adjustable union (not shown) either between the wiper means 94 and the pipe section 130 or somewhere between the blowout preventer 33 and the curved guide means 32, or, pre-ferably, in both such locat:ions. Such adjustable union is illustrated in the Composite Catalog of Oilfield Equipment and 30 Services, 1974-75 Ed. on page 3916 and is obtainable from Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Texas.
From the foregoing, it may be seen that the objects of ~, . .
1~)816~7 this lnvention have been obtained. There has been provided a system for in~ecting a flexible conduit into a well. The system does not require the use of' heavy hoisting equipment.
Even though the system includes heavy components, the heavy components are readily movable from one location to another.
The system enables the flexible conduit to be guided between a direction of motion aligned with the well and a direction of motion not aligned with the well. The guide for changing such directional movement supports that portion o~ the conduit which is undergoing a change in directional motion while having minimal f'rictional engagement therewith. Additionally, the guide is easy to assemble.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and varlous changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the :
invention.
_20-:, ........................................... .
, : . ~
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A system for injecting flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well, the system comprising: connec-tor means attached to the well and in communication with the well and aligned with the well for providing a passage aligned with the well through which a flexible conduit may be injected into the well; injector drive means for engaging the flexible conduit, injecting it against the pressure of the well into the well, and retrieving it from the well; said injection drive means imparting movement to the flexible conduit in a direction which is not aligned with the well; seal means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping from said injector drive means; curved guide means in fluid communi-cation with both of said connector means and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the said flexible con-duit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between said injector drive means and said connector means; storage means for storing the flexible conduit which will be injected into the well; fair lead guide means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit between said storage means and said injection drive means; measuring means for measuring the amount of flexible conduit that is injected into or retrieved from the well; and common skid frame means for supporting each of said injector drive means, storage means, fair lead guide means, seal means, and measuring means independently from the well; and wherein said curved guide means includes:
curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal, curved passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the curved passage of said curved housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said curved passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing.
curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal, curved passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the curved passage of said curved housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said curved passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing.
2. A system for injecting flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of the well, the system comprising: storage means for storing the flexible conduit which will be injected into the well; injector drive means for engaging the flexible conduit, injecting it against the pressure of the well into the well, and retrieving it from the well; seal means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit and for preventing well fluids from esca-ping; common frame means for supporting said storage means and said injector drive means independently of the well; and curved guide means in fluid communication with both the well and said injector drive means with one end of said curved guide means being aligned with the well and the other end being aligned with the injector drive means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between said injector drive means and the well; and wherein said curved guide means includes: curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal, curved passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the curved passage of said curved tubular housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said curved passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing.
3. The system of claim 2 additionally including: fair lead guide means for guiding the movement of the flexible con-duit between said storage means and said injector drive means;
measuring means for measuring the amount of flexible conduit that is injected into or retrieved from the well; and wherein said frame means supports each of said injector drive means, storage means, fair lead guide means, seal means, and measuring means.
measuring means for measuring the amount of flexible conduit that is injected into or retrieved from the well; and wherein said frame means supports each of said injector drive means, storage means, fair lead guide means, seal means, and measuring means.
4. A system for injecting a flexible conduit into a well bore against the pressure of the well, the system comprising:
injector drive means in fluid communication with the well and engaging the flexible conduit for injecting the conduit against the pressure of the well into the well and for retrieving the flexible conduit from the well; seal means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping through said injector drive means; said injector drive means being positioned with respect to the well so that the flexible conduit, as it leaves said conduit injector drive means is not aligned with the well bore; curved guide means in fluid communication with both the well and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between a direction which is aligned with said injector drive means and a direction which is aligned with the well; and wherein said curved guide means includes:
curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal curved passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means dis-posed within the curved passage of said curved tubular housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing;
and frame means for supporting said injector drive means indepen-dently from the well.
injector drive means in fluid communication with the well and engaging the flexible conduit for injecting the conduit against the pressure of the well into the well and for retrieving the flexible conduit from the well; seal means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping through said injector drive means; said injector drive means being positioned with respect to the well so that the flexible conduit, as it leaves said conduit injector drive means is not aligned with the well bore; curved guide means in fluid communication with both the well and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between a direction which is aligned with said injector drive means and a direction which is aligned with the well; and wherein said curved guide means includes:
curved tubular housing means capable of withstanding the pressure of the well and having an internal curved passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means dis-posed within the curved passage of said curved tubular housing means for guiding said flexible conduit through said curved passage with a minimal amount of frictional engagement, and mounting means for mounting said roller means in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve in said passage, said mounting means including a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means with each roller housing means housing two roller means, a plurality of link means with each of said link means linking together two of said roller housing means, and means for anchoring the ends of said mounting means to said curved housing;
and frame means for supporting said injector drive means indepen-dently from the well.
5. The system of claim 4 additionally including: storage means for storing the flexible conduit which will be injected into the well; fair lead guide means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit between said storage means and said injector drive means; measuring means for measuring the amount of flexible conduit that is injected into or retrieved from the well; and wherein said frame means additionally supports said storage means, fair lead guide means, seal means, and measuring means.
6. A curved guide for guiding the movement of a flexible member, under pressure, around a curve with minimal frictional engagement, the curved guide comprising: tubular housing means curved in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve and having a substantially precise hyperbolic curved internal passage through which the flexible member may pass; a plurality of roller means disposed within the internal passage of said housing means;
mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including: bearing means for each end of each roller means, a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means, each roller housing means retaining the bearing means of two adjacent roller means to thereby house two of said roller means, a plurality of link means for linking together said roller housing means, each link means linking together two roller housing means by retaining the bearing means of two adjacent roller means, said two adjacent roller means retained by said link means being different from the two adjacent roller means retained in said roller housing means, and whereby said roller means may be mounted in said housing means with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one of said roller housing means also being retained within two different link means and with each of said two adjacent roller means retained within one of said link means also being housed within two different roller housing means.
mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including: bearing means for each end of each roller means, a plurality of roller housing means for housing said roller means, each roller housing means retaining the bearing means of two adjacent roller means to thereby house two of said roller means, a plurality of link means for linking together said roller housing means, each link means linking together two roller housing means by retaining the bearing means of two adjacent roller means, said two adjacent roller means retained by said link means being different from the two adjacent roller means retained in said roller housing means, and whereby said roller means may be mounted in said housing means with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one of said roller housing means also being retained within two different link means and with each of said two adjacent roller means retained within one of said link means also being housed within two different roller housing means.
7. A curved guide for guiding a flexible member, under pressure, around a curve with minimal frictional engagement, the curved guide comprising: curved tubular housing means having a substantially precise hyperbolic, curved internal passage through which the flexible member may pass; a plurality of roller means disposed within the internal passage of said curved housing means;
and mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including: bearing means for each end of each roller means, a plurality of link plate means, each link plate means retaining two of said bearing means, one end of two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in one of said link plate means, the other end of each of said two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in another of said link plate means, a plurality of roller housing means, each of which houses two adjacent roller means, each roller housing means including two pairs of opposed slots with each of said pair of opposed slots being adapted to receive the two bearing means on each end of one of said roller means, whereby said roller means may be mounted in said curved tubular housing means in chain-link fashion with each of said two adjacent roller means retained by an opposed pair of link plate means also being housed within two different roller housing means and with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one roller housing means also being retained by different opposed pairs of link plate means.
and mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including: bearing means for each end of each roller means, a plurality of link plate means, each link plate means retaining two of said bearing means, one end of two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in one of said link plate means, the other end of each of said two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in another of said link plate means, a plurality of roller housing means, each of which houses two adjacent roller means, each roller housing means including two pairs of opposed slots with each of said pair of opposed slots being adapted to receive the two bearing means on each end of one of said roller means, whereby said roller means may be mounted in said curved tubular housing means in chain-link fashion with each of said two adjacent roller means retained by an opposed pair of link plate means also being housed within two different roller housing means and with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one roller housing means also being retained by different opposed pairs of link plate means.
8. A curved guide for guiding the passage of a flexible member around a curve with minimal frictional engagement and minimal damage, the curved guide comprising: tubular housing means curved in a substantially precise hyperbolic curve and having a substantially precise hyperbolic curved internal passage through which the flexible member may pass; a plurality of roller means disposed within the internal passage of said housing means;
mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including: bearing means for each end of each of said roller means, a plurality of roller housing means for housing two adjacent roller means, each of roller housing means having two pairs of opposed slots in which said bearing means of said two adjacent roller means may be received; and a plurality of link means for linking together said roller housing means with each link means linking together two adjacent roller housing means by retaining two adjacent roller means, whereby said roller means may be mounted in said curved tubular housing means in chain-link fashion with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one roller housing means being retained by two different link means and with each of said two adjacent roller means retained by one link means being housed within two different roller housing means.
mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including: bearing means for each end of each of said roller means, a plurality of roller housing means for housing two adjacent roller means, each of roller housing means having two pairs of opposed slots in which said bearing means of said two adjacent roller means may be received; and a plurality of link means for linking together said roller housing means with each link means linking together two adjacent roller housing means by retaining two adjacent roller means, whereby said roller means may be mounted in said curved tubular housing means in chain-link fashion with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one roller housing means being retained by two different link means and with each of said two adjacent roller means retained by one link means being housed within two different roller housing means.
9. A system for injecting a flexible conduit into a well bore against the pressure of the well, the system comprising:
injector drive means in fluid communication with the well and engaging the flexible conduit for injecting the conduit against the pressure of the well into the well and for retrieving the flexible conduit from the well; seal means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping through said injector drive means; said injector drive means being positioned with respect to the well so that the flexible conduit, as it leaves said injector drive means, is not aligned with the well bore; frame means for supporting injector drive means independ-ently from the well; and curved guide means in fluid communica-tion with both the well and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between a direction which is aligned with said injector drive means and a direction which is aligned with the well; said curved guide means including: curved tubular housing means having a sub-stantially precise hyperbolic, curved internal passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the internal passage of said curved housing means, and mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including bearing means for each end of each roller means, a plurality of link plate means, each link plate means retaining two of said bearing means, one end of two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in one of said link plate means, the other end of each of said two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in another of said link plate means, a plurality of roller housing means, each roller housing means housing two adjacent roller means and including two pairs of opposed slots with each of said pair of opposed slots being adapted to receive the two bearing means on each end of one of said roller means, whereby said roller means may be mounted in said curved tubular housing means in chain-link fashion with each of said two adjacent roller means retained by an opposed pair of link plate means also being housed within two different roller housing means and with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one roller housing means also being retained by different opposed pairs of link plate means.
injector drive means in fluid communication with the well and engaging the flexible conduit for injecting the conduit against the pressure of the well into the well and for retrieving the flexible conduit from the well; seal means in fluid communication with said injector drive means for sealing with the flexible conduit to prevent well fluids from escaping through said injector drive means; said injector drive means being positioned with respect to the well so that the flexible conduit, as it leaves said injector drive means, is not aligned with the well bore; frame means for supporting injector drive means independ-ently from the well; and curved guide means in fluid communica-tion with both the well and said injector drive means for guiding the movement of the flexible conduit, while the flexible conduit is subject to the pressure of the well, between a direction which is aligned with said injector drive means and a direction which is aligned with the well; said curved guide means including: curved tubular housing means having a sub-stantially precise hyperbolic, curved internal passage through which the flexible conduit may pass, a plurality of roller means disposed within the internal passage of said curved housing means, and mounting means for mounting said roller means within the internal passage along a substantially precise hyperbolic curve, said mounting means including bearing means for each end of each roller means, a plurality of link plate means, each link plate means retaining two of said bearing means, one end of two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in one of said link plate means, the other end of each of said two adjacent roller means being mounted within the bearing means retained in another of said link plate means, a plurality of roller housing means, each roller housing means housing two adjacent roller means and including two pairs of opposed slots with each of said pair of opposed slots being adapted to receive the two bearing means on each end of one of said roller means, whereby said roller means may be mounted in said curved tubular housing means in chain-link fashion with each of said two adjacent roller means retained by an opposed pair of link plate means also being housed within two different roller housing means and with each of said two adjacent roller means housed within one roller housing means also being retained by different opposed pairs of link plate means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US759,464 | 1977-01-14 | ||
| US05/759,464 US4091867A (en) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-01-14 | Flexible conduit injection system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1081607A true CA1081607A (en) | 1980-07-15 |
Family
ID=25055749
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA294,914A Expired CA1081607A (en) | 1977-01-14 | 1978-01-13 | Flexible conduit injection system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4091867A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1081607A (en) |
Families Citing this family (21)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4682657A (en) * | 1985-02-14 | 1987-07-28 | Crawford James B | Method and apparatus for the running and pulling of wire-line tools and the like in an oil or gas well |
| US4940095A (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1990-07-10 | Dowell Schlumberger Incorporated | Deployment/retrieval method and apparatus for well tools used with coiled tubing |
| US4972904A (en) * | 1989-08-24 | 1990-11-27 | Foster Oilfield Equipment Co. | Geothermal well chemical injection system |
| US5287741A (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 1994-02-22 | Halliburton Company | Methods of perforating and testing wells using coiled tubing |
| US5503370A (en) * | 1994-07-08 | 1996-04-02 | Ctes, Inc. | Method and apparatus for the injection of cable into coiled tubing |
| US5599004A (en) * | 1994-07-08 | 1997-02-04 | Coiled Tubing Engineering Services, Inc. | Apparatus for the injection of cable into coiled tubing |
| US5738173A (en) * | 1995-03-10 | 1998-04-14 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Universal pipe and tubing injection apparatus and method |
| US5826654A (en) * | 1996-01-26 | 1998-10-27 | Schlumberger Technology Corp. | Measuring recording and retrieving data on coiled tubing system |
| US6006839A (en) * | 1996-10-02 | 1999-12-28 | Stewart & Stevenson, Inc. | Pressurized flexible conduit injection system |
| US6386290B1 (en) | 1999-01-19 | 2002-05-14 | Colin Stuart Headworth | System for accessing oil wells with compliant guide and coiled tubing |
| US6321596B1 (en) | 1999-04-21 | 2001-11-27 | Ctes L.C. | System and method for measuring and controlling rotation of coiled tubing |
| US6247534B1 (en) | 1999-07-01 | 2001-06-19 | Ctes, L.C. | Wellbore cable system |
| WO2003021301A2 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2003-03-13 | Sensor Highway Limited | Method and apparatus for determining the temperature of subterranean wells using fiber optic cable |
| US7051803B2 (en) * | 2003-03-24 | 2006-05-30 | Moretz Benny W | Enclosed radial wire-line cable conveying method and apparatus |
| US20060054315A1 (en) * | 2004-09-10 | 2006-03-16 | Newman Kenneth R | Coiled tubing vibration systems and methods |
| GB2455285B (en) * | 2007-11-22 | 2012-05-09 | Schlumberger Holdings | Formation of flow conduits under pressure |
| NO340587B1 (en) * | 2011-12-23 | 2017-05-15 | C6 Tech As | Flexible well intervention device |
| DK2943641T3 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2017-07-03 | C6 Tech As | Borehole Intervention Cable Bending Limit for a Stiff but Elastic Rod Shaped Intervention Cable |
| GB2559989B (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2021-10-13 | Quality Intervention Tech As | Well access apparatus and method |
| US10392893B2 (en) | 2017-09-27 | 2019-08-27 | The Jlar Group, Ltd | Lubricator system and method of use |
| US11623263B2 (en) | 2019-09-20 | 2023-04-11 | Kristian MARTIN | Bending apparatus for coiled tubing |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2810439A (en) * | 1955-05-11 | 1957-10-22 | Mccullough Otis Johnson | Well head attachment for operating tools in a well under pressure |
| US3363880A (en) * | 1966-11-14 | 1968-01-16 | Schiumberger Technology Corp | Cable-feeding apparatus |
| US3920076A (en) * | 1972-10-25 | 1975-11-18 | Otis Eng Co | Method for inserting flexible pipe into wells |
-
1977
- 1977-01-14 US US05/759,464 patent/US4091867A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1978
- 1978-01-13 CA CA294,914A patent/CA1081607A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4091867A (en) | 1978-05-30 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |