Powered sheave with wireline pushing capability
10934792 ยท 2021-03-02
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B66D3/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B66D3/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
E21B19/22
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
B66D3/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
Methods include deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore with a conveyance apparatus by mounting a tool to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus, routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave assembly, which includes a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer surface of the sheave to accommodate the conveyance apparatus, and providing a power source for applying torque to the powered sheave. The powered sheave assembly then deploys the conveyance apparatus into the wellbore. In some cases a traction device may be disposed between the powered sheave and the wellbore to provide axial force in both directions. The conveyance apparatus is moved through a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, with the powered sheave, after the routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave.
Claims
1. A method for deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore with a conveyance apparatus, the method comprising: mounting a tool to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus; routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a plurality of grooves disposed on an outer surface thereof and extending generally in line with the conveyance apparatus to accommodate the conveyance apparatus; providing a power source for applying torque to the powered sheave; and providing a pushing force to the conveyance apparatus with the powered sheave assembly to deploy the conveyance apparatus and tool into the wellbore, the sheave being attached to a mount which is arranged on a pivot such that the sheave may sweep along a defined arc oriented such that each groove of the plurality of grooves is allowed to align with a fixed location so as to facilitate deployment of the conveyance apparatus down into the wellbore.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting the tool to a deployment bar.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein a traction device is disposed between the powered sheave and the wellbore to provide axial force in both directions.
4. The method of claim 1 where the powered sheave comprises gripping means which assist in application of force upon the conveyance apparatus to overcome pressure and friction resistance.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises multiple rollers disposed adjacent the conveyance apparatus and the sheave.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the conveyance apparatus may be wrapped on the powered sheave in its entirely.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein a majority of the conveyance apparatus is spooled on a separate reel.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a chain and gripper blocks disposed upon the chain for providing synchronization between the sheave and the chain.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a pair of powered rollers disposed adjacent the sheave.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a wireline cable or a slickline.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the grooves comprise a substantially helical groove disposed on the outer surface of the powered sheave assembly.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the downhole tool is deployed into a wellbore in advance of coiled tubing.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing the conveyance apparatus through a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, after the routing the conveyance apparatus around the sheave.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a conical guide disposed upon a first end of the sealing apparatus and adjacent the sheave, and wherein a gap is defined between the conical guide and the outer surface of the sheave.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein a length of the conveyance apparatus is about 100 feet.
16. A method for deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore with a conveyance apparatus, the method comprising: mounting a tool to a distal end of a section of a spooled conveyance apparatus, wherein the conveyance apparatus is attached to a spool at a proximal end; routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a substantially helical groove disposed on the outer surface, the helical groove being sized to accommodate the conveyance apparatus therein during rotation of the sheave; providing a pushing force to the conveyance apparatus with the powered sheave assembly to move the conveyance apparatus through a sealing apparatus and to deploy the conveyance apparatus and tool into the wellbore, wherein the spool, the conveyance apparatus and the tool form a contiguous system; and allowing the sheave to pivot along an arc oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the conveyance apparatus, the arc being sized to maintain alignment between a centerline of the conveyance apparatus and a centerline of the sealing apparatus as the conveyance apparatus is deployed from any of a plurality of positions along the helical groove of the sheave.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising mounting the tool to a deployment bar.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly is attached to a pivotable mount and wherein the powered sheave is driven by a drive mechanism.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises multiple rollers disposed adjacent the conveyance apparatus and the sheave.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a chain for driving the sheave and gripper blocks disposed upon the chain.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a pair of powered rollers disposed adjacent the sheave.
22. The method of claim 16 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a wireline cable.
23. The method of claim 16 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a slickline.
24. The method of claim 16 wherein the downhole tool is deployed into a wellbore in advance of coiled tubing.
25. The method of claim 16 further comprising routing the conveyance apparatus through a blowout preventer and a wellhead, after the routing the conveyance apparatus around the sheave.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a conical guide disposed upon a first end of the sealing apparatus and adjacent the sheave, and wherein a gap is defined between the conical guide and the outer surface of the sheave.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein each groove comprised in the plurality of grooves is alignable with the conical guide.
28. The method of claim 16 wherein the conveyance apparatus is deployed into the wellbore by the powered sheave assembly.
29. A system comprising: a tool mounted to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus; a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a plurality of grooves disposed circumferentially along the outer surface to accommodate the conveyance apparatus therein during rotation of the sheave, and wherein the conveyance apparatus is routed around the sheave, the sheave being attached to a mount which is arranged on a fixed pivot such that the sheave may swing transversely to a direction of travel of the conveyance apparatus to thus allow the plurality of grooves to better align for accommodating deployment of the spooled conveyance apparatus; a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, through which the conveyance apparatus passes through after the conveyance apparatus is routed around the sheave; and, a wellbore; wherein the conveyance apparatus and the tool is deployable into the wellbore by providing a pushing force to the conveyance apparatus with the powered sheave assembly.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a conical guide disposed upon a first end of the sealing apparatus and adjacent the sheave, and wherein a gap is defined between the conical guide and the outer surface of the sheave.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each groove comprised in the plurality of grooves is alignable with the conical guide.
32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a wireline cable or a slickline.
33. A system comprising: a tool mounted to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus; a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer surface to accommodate the conveyance apparatus, and wherein the conveyance apparatus is routed around the sheave; a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, through which the conveyance apparatus pass through after the conveyance apparatus is routed around a powered sheave; and a wellbore; wherein the conveyance apparatus is deployable into the wellbore by the powered sheave assembly, and wherein the powered sheave assembly provides a pushing force to convey the tool and the conveyance apparatus into and out of the wellbore, the sheave being pivotably mounted to a fixed pivot which maintains movement of the sheave along an arc oriented generally transverse to the plurality of grooves, the arc being sized such that pivoting movement of the sheave maintains alignment between a centerline of the spooled conveyance apparatus and a centerline of the sealing apparatus as the spooled conveyance apparatus is deployed from the sheave and into the sealing apparatus.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein the conveyance apparatus comprises surface features engageable by mating surface features disposed upon one or more of the powered sheave, rollers, and gripper blocks.
35. A system comprising: a tool mounted to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus; a powered sheave assembly comprising a circular sheave, wherein the conveyance apparatus is routed around the circular sheave, the circular sheave being attached to a mount which is arranged on a fixed pivot about which the circular sheave is able to pivot along a defined arc oriented generally transversely to a direction of travel of the conveyance apparatus; a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, which remain stationary while the conveyance apparatus passes therethrough after the conveyance apparatus is routed around the circular sheave, the fixed pivot allowing the circular sheave to swing so as to help align a centerline of the conveyance apparatus with the sealing apparatus, as the sealing apparatus remains stationary, to thus facilitate entry of the conveyance apparatus into the sealing apparatus; and a wellbore; wherein the conveyance apparatus and the tool are deployable into the wellbore by the powered sheave assembly providing a non-zero pushing force.
36. The system of claim 35 wherein the non-zero pushing force is equal to or greater than the combined highest rated pressure in the wellbore and frictional force of the sealing apparatus.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and:
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DESCRIPTION
(9) The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, its application, or uses. The description and examples are presented herein solely for the purpose of illustrating the various embodiments and should not be construed as a limitation to the scope and applicability of such. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, or refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). In addition, use of the a or an are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of concepts according to the disclosure. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless otherwise stated. The terminology and phraseology used herein is for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as including, comprising, having, containing, or involving, and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited. Also, as used herein any references to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase in one embodiment in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.
(10) Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a powered sheave, similar to an overhead crane drum, which is used to run a short section of conveyance apparatus in and out of a wellbore for deployment purposes. The sheave may include a means of gripping the conveyance apparatus so that the conveyance is forced into the wellbore. Examples of conveyance apparatus include, but are not necessarily limited to wireline cable, slickline cable, or plasticized wireline cable, capillary tubing, fiber composite tubing, coiled tubing, spring wire, and the like. The conveyance apparatus may be any type useful for conveyance of tools. Embodiments of the conveyance apparatus may comprise a length that is much shorter than the length of the wellbore, such as about 100 feet in overall length or the like.
(11) Referring to
(12) In an embodiment shown in
(13) In an embodiment as shown in
(14) Referring now to
(15) In an embodiment shown in
(16) The wire pushing rollers such as, but not limited to, the rollers 508, may have a groove formed with a radius configured to minimize the contact stresses or, in an embodiment, the rollers may be V grooved, which would double the number of contact points. The sides of the V groove should also have a radius to minimize contact stresses, such grooves are known as gothic arch grooves. A much steeper groove is desirable in the disclosed embodiments, in that it reduces the overall clamping force. A 60 degree V angle may be desirable as the two side contact forces are substantially equal in magnitude to the clamping force. Such contact forces are designed such that neither the rollers nor the conveyance means are permanently deformed. In an aspect, this may be achieved by selecting a low elastic modulus material (relative to the conveyance means 502) for the rollers 508, which lowers the contact stresses considerably relative to the situation where the two elastic moduli are similar.
(17) Referring now to
(18) With reference to
(19) In some aspects, sheave 700 may be attached on a mount 722, which is attached to pivot point 724 (like or similar to that depicted in
(20) Sheaves useful in embodiments of the disclosure provide force to the conveyance apparatus, and may be powered by any suitable technique and/or device, including but not limited to power sources such as electric, natural gas, hydraulic, combustible engine, diesel engine, and the like. Power may be transferred to the sheave by direct drive, chain drive, hydraulic line, belt drive, and the like. Force exerted on the conveyance apparatus may be such force adequate to deploy and convey the tool(s) into the wellbore without causing damage to any of the apparatus.
(21) In accordance with the disclosure, any useful number of grooves on the outer surface of the sheave may be used. In some aspects, a plurality of grooves are used, and the conveyance apparatus wraps around the sheave at least once, and in some cases, the conveyance apparatus completely wraps around the sheave one less time than the number of grooves disposed on the sheave. In some other aspects, the conveyance apparatus wraps around the sheave only a number of times sufficient to optimize requisite power input to the sheave with sufficient gripping force of the conveyance apparatus on the sheave, such that slippage is minimized or prevented.
(22) Where a gap is defined between the outer surface of the sheave and the sealing apparatus, without or without a conical guide, the length of gap defined may be any suitable size that minimizes or prevents buckling, kinking, binding, slacking, or any other nonlinear orientation of the conveyance apparatus when passing from the sheave into the sealing apparatus. In some aspects, the length of the gap is about equal to or less than the diameter or longest cross-sectional dimension of the conveyance apparatus, while in other cases, the length of the gap is about equal to or greater than such dimension. In some embodiments, length of the gap is about from one to about five times the diameter or longest cross-sectional dimension of the conveyance apparatus. In some aspects, the gap length may be varied in operation to minimize any nonlinear orientation of the conveyance apparatus.
(23) In some embodiments, a traction device is disposed between a powered sheave and the wellbore to provide axial force in both directions along the longitudinal axis of the conveyance device. Such traction device provides the ability to push or pull the conveyance device relative the wellbore. Since forces such as wellbore pressure with area forces act on the conveyance device to force it out of the wellbore, the weight of tools and a sinker bar act to pull the conveyance device into the hole, frictional forces in a pack off act to prevent motion in either direction, the end result in some cases is the need for axial force to push, pull, or otherwise control the conveyance device while being moved into, or out of the hole. In some instances, the axial force required is equivalent wellbore pressure multiplied by conveyance device outer area, plus friction force (i.e. about 100 pounds) less the tool string weight, and may allow introducing the conveyance device into the wellbore against the maximum pressure and maximum friction. Such approach may avoid use of equivalent sinker bar weight force, thereby increasing pulling capacity. Further, pushing with a traction device avoids high sinker bar lengths, or even the use of a sinker bar. In a non-limiting example, the axial force (a tensile force, which may be applied in opposite axial directions, i.e. a push force and a pull force) provided by embodiments of the powered sheave assembly disclosed herein to the conveyance device may be about fifty percent (50%) of the yield strength of the conveyance device. In operation, the magnitude of the pushing force exerted by the powered sheave assembly may be controlled such that the pushing force is less than a buckling load of an exposed length of the conveyance device, such as area 106 shown in
(24) Embodiments according to the disclosure may be useful in cased hole and/or open hole operations, which include the use of coiled tubing, wireline or slickline conveyance apparatus. In some open hole wireline operations, during the drilling of wells measurements are performed to collect information regarding formations penetrated by well-bore. In such wireline operations, a wireline truck couples to a wireline tool via an armored wireline cable that includes a conduit for conducting communication signals and power signals. Armored cable serves both to physically couple the wireline tool to the wireline truck and to allow electronics contained within the wireline truck to communicate with the wireline tool. Some examples of measurements taken during wireline operations include formation resistivity (or conductivity) logs, natural radiation logs, electrical potential logs, density logs (gamma ray and neutron), micro-resistivity logs, electromagnetic propagation logs, diameter logs, formation tests, formation sampling and other measurements. Some useful systems for conducting wireline operations include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,779, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
(25) Some cased-hole wireline operations include logging which involves retrieving logging measurements through the well casing, or the metal piping that is inserted into the well during completion operations. Cased-hole logging may be used to help operators obtain additional information from a well or reservoir that has already been completed. For example, the well may have already started production and a cased-hole log could help determine what has hampered flow. In some cases, the decision must be made to plug and abandon the well or recomplete it, and the cased-hole log will help identify what lies beyond the casing of the well. Cased-hole logging can be used to evaluate the formation and completion of the well, as well as determine the state of the cement, corrosion and perforation. Both gamma ray and neutron porosity logs can be run through the casing of a well, and better ideas of thermal decay and interval transit time can be achieved through porosity, hydrocarbon saturation and producibility measurements.
(26) While a wireline truck and wireline cable are depicted in embodiments illustrated above, it is within the scope and spirit of the disclosure to apply systems and methods for coiled tubing and slickline operations as well. In coiled tubing operations, a coiled tubing rig is provided which transports and contains coiled tubing on one or more reels. Similar to or like those illustrations above, coiled tubing is deployed around the powered sheave and through a sealing apparatus, which may include a conical guide. The tubing passes through a blow out preventer, wellhead and into the wellbore. In some cases one end of the coiled tubing is to the reel, and other distal end directly connected with a tool, often called a bottom hole assembly (BHA), with nothing disposed there between. The sheave applies at least sufficient force to deploy and convey the coiled tubing and tool into the wellbore, without use of other force applying apparatus. Tools used in coiled tubing operations include, but are not limited to a jetting nozzle, for jobs involving pumping chemicals, stimulation fluid, drilling fluid or cement through the coiled tubing, drilling tools, perforation tools, large strings of logging tools, and the like, depending on the operations.
(27) While certain wireline and coiled tubing operations are discussed above, embodiments of the disclosure may be applicable to any type of wireline, slickline and coiled tubing operations useful in exploration, development and production of petroleum products.
(28) The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be sufficiently thorough, and will convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, but are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. It will be appreciated that it is within the scope of the disclosure that individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
(29) Also, in some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Further, it will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that in the design, manufacture, and operation of apparatus to achieve that described in the disclosure, variations in apparatus design, construction, condition, erosion of components, gaps between components may present, for example.
(30) Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
(31) Spatially relative terms, such as inner, outer, beneath, below, lower, above, upper, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented above the other elements or features. Thus, the example term below can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In the figures illustrated, the orientation of particular components is not limiting, and are presented and configured for an understanding of some embodiments of the disclosure.
(32) Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.