Device for securing and catching a cable in an oil well

Abstract

A security device placed at a wellhead over a blowout preventer valve, which can be activated to catch a cable and/or a string of pipes upon a cut event or accident, preventing the fall of the same into the well, which includes: an upper horizontal plate and lower horizontal plate, vertically aligned, each having a circular central orifice for the passing of a string of pipes and/or a cable, and a cutout on the front part thereof, located between its front edge and the circular orifice; lateral support device, located between the upper and lower plates, that connect the plates together, delimiting an aperture at the front part of the device that together with the cutouts on the upper and lower plates form a front passage toward the inside of the device; at least two clamps driven by corresponding hydraulic cylinders, which are arranged at an acute angle with the vertical axis of the device; and a movable vertical plate arranged on the front part of the device between the lateral support means, pivotally connected by one of its sides to the upper and lower plates. The movable vertical plate, in a first position, allows for the horizontal passing of a string of pipes and/or cables through the front passage to a location at the center of the device, and in a second position, the movable vertical plate blocks the front passage. In a first position the clamps allow for vertical movement of the string of pipes and or cables and in a second position the clamps block the movement of the same.

Claims

1. A device for securing and catching a cable in an oil well, the device comprising: a. an upper horizontal plate and a lower horizontal plate, vertically aligned, each comprising a circular central orifice for the passing of a string of pipes and/or cables, and a cutout on a front part of the device, located between a front edge and said circular orifice; b. lateral support plates, located between the upper and lower plates, connecting said plates together, delimiting an aperture on the front part of the device, said aperture together with said cutouts of the upper and lower plates forming a front passage to a center of the device; c. at least two clamps driven by corresponding hydraulic cylinders, which are arranged at an acute angle with the vertical axis of the device; and d. a movable vertical plate arranged on the front part of the device between said lateral support plates, pivotally connected by one side to said upper and lower plates, wherein the movable vertical plate, in a first position, allows for the horizontal passing of a string of pipes and/or cables through the front passage to a location at the center of the device, and in a second position, said movable vertical plate blocks said front passage, wherein in a first position said clamps allow for vertical movement of a string of pipes and/or cables, and in a second position said clamps block the movement thereof, and wherein the hydraulic cylinders are configured to be activated independently from one another to allow the clamps to move independently from one another.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises two clamps driven by corresponding hydraulic cylinders, located at opposed sides of the device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinders are actuated by one or more manually activated hydraulic pumps for providing hydraulic pressure.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lateral support plates comprise a plurality of vertical plates.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the hydraulic cylinders with the vertical axis is of approximately 30, oriented to drive the clamps toward a bottom part of the device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention, with its movable plate in closed position.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention, with its movable plate in open position

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front section view of the device of the present invention, with the clamps partially open.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front section view of the device of the present invention with a string of pipes inserted through it, with the clamps in open position.

(7) FIG. 7 is a front section view of the device of the present invention with a string of pipes inserted through it, with the clamps in closed position.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front section view of the device of the present invention with a cable inserted through it, with the clamps in closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 which show a preferred embodiment, as an example and non-limiting the nature of the invention.

(10) The cable-catcher device of the present invention comprises a rigid body comprised of an upper horizontal plate (1), a lower horizontal plate (2) and vertical lateral support means (3).

(11) Said lateral support means (3) may comprise a plurality of cylindrical bars or bars with a square or rectangular profile. In a preferred embodiment, said lateral support means (3) comprise a plurality of vertical plates.

(12) The upper (1) and lower (2) horizontal plates preferably comprise a circular orifice (9) on their center, thus defining a vertical passage with a diameter such that it allows for free movement of a string of pipes (7), cables (8) and/or well intervention equipment (not shown), such as the cables for an electrical submersible pump (ESP) (not shown), through it.

(13) The upper (1) and lower (2) plates further comprise a cutout or region of removed material (10) which extends from one edge thereof, herein referred to as the front edge, towards said circular orifice (9). Said a cutouts or regions of removed material (10) in the upper (1) and lower (2) plates are vertically aligned to one another. Furthermore, the lateral support means (3) in the front side of the device delimit a vertical opening (11) which spans the entire height of the device and matches said cutouts or regions of removed material (10) of the upper (1) and lower (2) plates, thereby forming a communication or horizontal passage between the exterior of the device and the interior thereof.

(14) This way, the body of the device comprises a vertical passing-through central orifice (9), in which a string of pipes (7), intervention equipment and/or feed cables (8) can move, and said vertical passing-through central orifice (9) is also horizontally connected to the exterior of the device by means of said passage or horizontal communication of the opening (11) which allows for rapid and simple installation or removal of the device in an oil well without the need for prior removal of the string of pipes (7) or cables (8).

(15) The body of the device of the present invention further comprises a movable vertical plate (6), pivotally connected by one of its sides to the front part of the upper (1) and lower (2) plates. Said movable vertical plate (6), due to its pivotal connection, can adopt two positions. In a first position, the movable vertical plate (6) adopts a closed position as shown in FIG. 1, in which it obstructs or blocks the passage or horizontal communication opening (11) to the interior of the device. This closed position is the position used when the device is installed over the wellhead (not shown).

(16) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movable vertical plate (6) is secured in this closed position by means of suitable non-permanent fastening means (not shown).

(17) In a second position, the movable vertical plate (6) adopts an open position as shown in FIG. 2, in which the same is rotated such it does not obstruct or block the passage or horizontal communication opening (11). This open position is the position used when the device is being installed by moving it horizontally, on a wellhead that is in operation.

(18) In case installation of the device of the present invention over a well which is not operative is desired, that is to say without intervention equipment or strings of pipes hanging inside the well, the device of the present invention may be installed directly over the BOP without the need of using the movable vertical plate (6) in open position.

(19) As it can be understood, the existence of this passage or horizontal communication opening (11) allows for the device to be placed over the wellhead, over the BOP, when the well is under intervention operations, with equipment or strings of pipes hanging within. This presents a considerable advantage over the devices known in the art, which require the removal of all hanging equipment and halt of operations prior to its installation, with consequent longer time out of operation and greater economic losses.

(20) As it can be seen in FIGS. 5 to 8, the cable-catcher device of the present invention comprises a securing mechanism which comprises a plurality of clamps (4) driven by respective actuators, which in a preferred embodiment comprise hydraulic cylinders (5). Said clamps (4) have the capacity to secure or catch cables (8) and/or strings of pipes (7), either to support part of the weight of these elements during normal operation, or when these elements are in free-fall inside the well due to an accident.

(21) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic cylinders (5) that drive said clamps (4) are powered by a suitable means for providing hydraulic pressure (not shown), external to the device, such as one or more hydraulic pumps.

(22) Two hydraulic cylinders (5) are rigidly connected to the body of the device, preferably to the lateral support means (3), and their movable rods (5A) are rigidly connected to respective clamps (4), thereby driving the movement thereof when actuating said hydraulic cylinders (5).

(23) The clamps (4), by being connected to the rods (5A) of said hydraulic cylinders (5), are linearly moved from a first open position, away from the equipment, cables (8) or strings of pipes (7) that run through the device and a second closed position, in which the clamps (4) firmly secure or catch said equipment, cables (8), and/or strings of pipes (7) running through the device.

(24) The direction of movement of the clamps (4) between said open and closed positions may be any suitable direction, as long as it does not obstruct the passing of equipment while in open position and adequately secures the same when in closed position. However, better securing results have been observed when the clamps (4) adopt a downward movement in a direction that forms an acute angle with the vertical axis, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(25) In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angle formed by the movement direction of the hydraulic cylinders (5) with the vertical axis is approximately 30, preferably 27.

(26) In the open position of the clamps (4), the rods (5A) of the hydraulic cylinders (5) are in a retracted position, and the clamps (4) are away from the center of the device and in their most elevated position. When the device is activated so it adopts the closed position, the rods (5A) of the hydraulic cylinders (5) extend downward in a direction that forms an acute angle with the vertical axis, and the clamps (4) move until converging at the center of the device, in their lowermost position.

(27) The movement of the clamps (4) may be equal and simultaneous for all of them, or they may move individually. This way, the device of the present invention may be used to secure with greater ease a string of pipes (7), cables (8) or a combination thereof which do not have a symmetrical or regular cross section. The activation of the means for providing hydraulic pressure, and consequently the actuation of the clamps (4) may be automatic or manual.

(28) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the activation of the device is by manual operation. This allows for the device to be used for catching or securing a string of pipes (7) and/or intervention equipment cables (8) upon a failure, and that it also can be used to support, at least partially, the combined weight of an electrical submersible pump (ESP) and the string of pipes (7).