Tubular Grip Interlock System
A tubular grip interlock system for ensuring that a tubular string is gripped by at least one of a first tubular gripping device and a second tubular gripping device includes a console having a panel forming a track having a first leg and a second leg; a first actuator operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; a second actuator operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; and a single control device movable along the track, the single control device operationally connected to the first actuator and operationally disconnected from the second actuator when the single control device is disposed along the first leg and wherein the single control device is operationally disconnected from the first actuator and operationally connected to the second actuator when the single control device is disposed in the second leg.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/050,208, filed May 3, 2008.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates in general to running tubulars into and pulling tubulars out of a wellbore and more particularly to an interlock for assembling and disassembling tubular strings.
BACKGROUNDStrings of interconnected tubulars are inserted into and pulled from wellbores at various times and for various purposes. For example, tubulars strings are assembled and run into the well for drilling the wellbore, running casing to line the wellbore, and to position tools in the wellbore. Tubulars include all tubular members which are referred to under different terms, such as and without limitation, casing, liner, drill pipe, and tubing, based on the intended use and/or diameter of the tubular.
A drilling rig is employed to assemble the tubular string for insertion into the wellbore and to dissemble the tubular string as it is pulled from the wellbore. The drilling rig employs a pair of cooperative tubular gripping devices to support the tubular string and to assemble and disassemble the tubular string. One tubular gripping device can travel longitudinally relative to the rig floor and is commonly referred to as an elevator or casing running tool. The other tubular gripping device is commonly referred to as a spider and can be maintained in a substantially stationary position at the rig floor.
Generally, the spider grips and supports the portion of the tubular string that extends into the wellbore. The elevator, during assembly, engages an add-on tubular joint and aligns it over the tubular (e.g., tubular string) that is held by the spider. The add-on tubular is then connected to the suspended tubular string. The tubulars may be made-up by various tools including power tongs, spinners, and top drives. The elevator may be utilized in some applications for rotating the tubular for assembly and disassembly. Once the tubulars are interconnected to assemble a tubular string, the spider disengages the tubular string and the elevator lowers the tubular string through the spider to a desired position. The spider then re-engages the tubular string and the elevator disengages the string. The sequence may be reversed when pulling the tubular string from the wellbore and disassembling the tubular string.
Often the elevator and the spider are operated by remote control from a common location by an operator. A lever-operated valve actuates the spider between the engaged or closed position and the disengaged or open position. A second lever-operated valve actuates the elevator between the engaged and disengaged position. The elevator and spider work in tandem to maintain a constant grip on the tubular string by at least one of the tubular gripping devices. The failure to maintain a grip on the tubular string by one of the tubular gripping devices may result in the release of the string into the wellbore. The failure to maintain engagement with the tubular string can occur in many different ways. One example of a failure occurs when a tubular gripping device does not obtain a sufficient grip on the tubular string. Another common failure simply occurs when both tubular gripping devices are inadvertently disengaged at the same time. This can happen for various reasons such as when an operator actuates one tubular gripping device to open (e.g., disengage) before the fluidic (e.g., hydraulic, pneumatic) system has had sufficient time to actuate the other tubular gripping device to the closed (e.g., engaged) position. This can also occur due to the mistiming of actuation steps, wherein an operator begins operating one valve from the closed to the open position while still operating the other valve from the open to the closed position resulting in both valves being in the open position.
Interlock systems such as the grip assurance systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,791,410 and 4,676,312 have been provided to ensure that one tubular gripping device is engaged with the tubular string before the other tubular gripping device is disengaged from the tubular string and or that a sufficient grip is obtained by the engaging device. However, there continues to be a need for interlock systems that can be utilized singularly or in combination with other tubular grip assurance systems.
SUMMARYOne embodiment of a tubular grip interlock system includes a first tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position; a second tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position; and an interlock gate preventing manual operation of the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device simultaneously.
The interlock gate may include a track defining a first leg and a second leg, and a single interlock device operationally connected to the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device. The single interlock device may be moveable along the track; wherein movement of the single interlock device along the first leg operates the first tubular gripping device between its open and closed position and wherein movement of the single interlock device along the second leg operates the second tubular gripping device between its open and closed position. The track may include a cross-over leg separating the first and the second leg, wherein when the single interlock device is disposed at the cross-over leg the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are in the closed position.
The system may include a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device; a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device; a first actuator operationally connected to the first valve, the first actuator moveable along an operational path between the open position and the closed position of the first tubular gripping device; and a second actuator operationally connected to the second valve, the second actuator moveable along an operational path between the open and the closed position of the second tubular gripping device. The system may include a single interlock device that is selectively connectable to the first actuator and the second actuator.
The interlock system may include a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device; a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device; a track having a first leg and a second leg; and a single interlock device moveable along the track, wherein the interlock device is operationally connected to the first valve and operationally disconnected from the second valve when the single interlock device is in the first leg and the interlock device is operationally disconnected from the first valve and operationally connected to the second valve when the interlock device is in the second leg. The track may include a cross-over leg, wherein the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are actuated to their respective closed positions when the interlock control device is disposed along the cross-over leg. The interlock gate may include a member selectively positioned to block movement of the interlock device along the track. The member may be actuated to a position in the track in response to a tubular grip assurance signal.
It is noted that the actuation of a tubular gripping device to a position may not occur simultaneous with the operation of the respective valve or actuator to such position. For example, a first valve may operate a first tubular gripping device. A time lag may exist between operation of the first valve from the open to the closed position and the actuation of the first tubular gripping device from the open to the closed position. Therefore an operational position of a valve or actuator may not correspond to the actual position of the associated tubular gripping device and the tubular string.
One embodiment of a tubular grip interlock system for ensuring that a tubular string is gripped by at least one of a first tubular gripping device and a second tubular gripping device includes a console having a panel forming a track having a first leg and a second leg; a first actuator operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; a second actuator operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; and a single control device movable along the track, the single control device operationally connected to the first actuator and operationally disconnected from the second actuator when the single control device is disposed along the first leg and wherein the single control device is operationally disconnected from the first actuator and operationally connected to the second actuator when the single control device is disposed in the second leg.
The first actuator may be, for example and without limitation, a lever, button or switch, e.g., electric or fluidic. Similarly, the second actuator may be, for example and without limitation, a lever, button or switch, e.g., electric or fluidic. A first control valve may operationally connect the first actuator to the first tubular gripping device. A second control valve may operationally connect the second control valve to the second tubular gripping device.
One embodiment of a method for running tubular strings includes the steps of providing a first tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position and a second tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position; providing a single control device to actuate the first and the second tubular gripping devices from a control console, the single control device moveable along a track having a first leg and a second leg; moving the single control device along the first leg to actuate the first tubular gripping device between the open and the closed position when the second tubular gripping device is in the closed position; and moving the single control device along the second leg to actuate the second tubular gripping device between the open and the closed position when the first tubular gripping device is in the closed position. In one embodiment, the single control device is operationally connected to the first tubular gripping device and operationally disconnected from the second tubular gripping device when the single control device is disposed in the first leg. In some embodiments the first tubular gripping device is in the closed position when the second tubular gripping device is in the open position and similarly, the second tubular gripping device is in the closed position when the first tubular gripping device is in the open position. The first and the second tubular gripping devices may be in the closed position simultaneously. The method may include the step of blocking movement of the single control device to operate the first tubular gripping device to the open position in response to the second tubular being in the open position.
An embodiment of a method for maintaining a grip on a tubular string in a wellbore tubular running operations with at least one of a first or a second tubular gripping device includes the steps of providing a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position and a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; actuating the first valve and the second valve with a single interlock device; and preventing simultaneous operational connection of the single interlock device to the first valve and the second valve.
The method may include the step of requiring actuation of the first valve to the closed position before disconnecting the single interlock device from the first valve. The method may include the step of limiting movement of the single interlock device in response to one of the first tubular gripping member or the second tubular gripping member being in the open position.
The foregoing has outlined some of the features and technical advantages of the invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
The foregoing and other features and aspects of the invention will be best understood with reference to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views.
Refer now to
As used herein, “elevator” or “elevator slips” means an apparatus or mechanism that is arranged to grip and hold a tubular for the purpose of raising or lowering the tubular. Examples of elevators include external slip devices, such as illustrated in
Elevator 12 and spider 14 are controlled between their open and closed position via pressurized fluid (e.g., gas, liquid). For purposes of description “open” is used herein to mean that the tubular gripping device is actuated to a position disengaged from and not gripping the tubular. “Closed” is used herein to mean that the tubular gripping device is operated so as to be engaging and gripping the tubular. These terms apply to both external and internal tubular gripping devices.
The flow of pressurized fluid to elevator 12 may be controlled by an elevator control valve 18. Similarly, spider 14 may be operated between the open and closed position by a spider control valve 20. Control valves 18 and 20 may be referred to herein from time-to-time as a directional control valve. For example, in
A grip assurance interlock type system, generally denoted by 22, may be interconnected between the elevator operating system 2 and the spider operating system 3. Grip assurance interlock system 22 may be one of various types of interlock systems such as, and without limitation, the grip assurance interlock systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,791,410 and 4,676,312, which are incorporated herein by reference. Grip assurance interlock system 22 may be utilized in combination with, or independent of, the interlock gate system disclosed herein.
Depicted elevator control valve 18 and spider control valve 20 are manually operated and positioned at a common location 24, generally referred to herein as a control console, identified by the dashed lines. An interlock gate system 26 can be operationally connected to the elevator system 2 and the spider system 3 to avoid the inadvertent release of the tubular string. Examples of interlock gate system 26 are described further with reference to
Refer now to
Valve actuation devices 18a and 20a may be positioned above, on, or below panel 32. In some embodiments, a view way, or slot, 34 may be formed by panel 32 adjacent to each valve actuation device 18a, 20a. View way 34 may be an open slot formed through panel 32 or may be an elongated window, having a transparent material for example, so that the respective actuation device may be visually seen. View way 34 may extend proximate the length of travel of the associated actuation device 18a, 20a between the open and closed positions (e.g., operational path). In some embodiments the end of the actuation device may terminate in view way 34 (e.g., a slot) to limit the range of travel of the actuation device to the slot dimensions. In other embodiments view way 34 may be provided to visually confirm the position of the valve actuation device. View ways 34 may be particularly suited for embodiments of interlock gate system 26 that are employed to retrofit a conventional two-valve control console.
In some embodiments, track 30 is formed through panel 32 and interlock control device 28 is disposed through the track. In some embodiments, track 30 may be positioned between spaced apart control valves 18 and 20 as illustrated in the embodiments of
In some embodiments, operational legs 36, 38 are lateral spaced apart from one another by cross-over leg 40, however, it is noted that operational legs 36, 38 may be or may not be oriented parallel to one another. It is noted that parallel and similar terms are utilized herein for purposes of description of the general alignment of various features and include positions that may be similar to the utilized term. For example, unless otherwise physically required, parallel may include an alignment of the features such that the projected paths of the features may intersect at some distance.
Interlock control device 28 is expressly illustrated as a lever extending through a slot type control track 30 in
In some embodiments, interlock control device 28 is operationally connectable to control valves 18 and 20 in a manner such that when one valve is operable from the closed to the open position by interlock control device 28 the other control valve is operationally disconnected from interlock control device 28. The operational and functional connection of interlock control device 28 with control valves 18 and 20 is described further below.
Each operational leg 36, 38 is associated with one of the tubular gripping devices and defines a path between an open and closed position of the respective tubular gripping device. For example, in
Refer now to
Interlock control device 28 is selectively connectable to control valve 18, via valve actuation device 18a, and to control valve 20, via actuation device 20a, through an operational connector 42 in the embodiments illustrated in
Operation of interlock system 10 is now briefly described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in
Refer now to
Refer now to
Cross-over block system 64 may include one or more blocking devices 66. In the illustrated embodiment of
As previously noted, spider block 66a is in operational connection with grip assurance interlock 22 (
Refer now to
Elevator control valve 18 includes an actuation device 18a and spider control valve 20 includes an actuation device 20a. Interlock control device 28 is operationally positioned on a rod 74 so as to be selectively moveable between control valves 18 and 20 in the embodiment of
In
In
In
In
Refer now to
Track 30 represents the path of travel of interlock control device 28 between the operational positions as illustrated by the dashed line on panel 32. Track 30 may be formed through panel 32, for example as a slot, or on or by panel 32 such as a detent, index or the like, or it may not be a physical feature but only the route of movement of a portion of interlock control device between operational positions. Track 30 may also be defined, in this embodiment for example, as the outer surface 78 of a cam 80 portion of interlock control member 28. Closed position 37 may be defined as a cross-over leg portion wherein both of the tubular gripping devices are in the closed position. Track 30 is illustrated as a slot through which a portion of interlock control device 28 (e.g., a lever or knob) is disposed.
In the embodiment of
Interlock gate system 26 may include a blocking mechanism 66, for example as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7A-7J. Actuator 68 may be operationally connected to an interlock grip assurance system 22 and tubular gripping device 12 and/or tubular gripping device 14. Blocking mechanism 66 may actuate stop 70 into a blocking position for example when one or the other of tubular gripping device 12 or 14 is not in the gripping (e.g., closed) position. In the illustrated embodiment, the blocking position is shown as stop 70 engaging interlock control device 28. In this example, stop 70 is disposed in a detent 82 of cam 80.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of describing various features and aspects of the invention, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the invention. It is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to those implementation variations which may have been suggested herein, may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims which follow.
Claims
1. A tubular grip interlock system, the system comprising:
- a first tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position;
- a second tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position; and
- an interlock gate preventing manual operation of the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device simultaneously.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interlock gate comprises:
- a track defining a first leg and a second leg; and
- a single interlock device operationally connected to the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device, the single interlock device moveable along the track; wherein movement of the single interlock device along the first leg operates the first tubular gripping device between its open and closed position and wherein movement of the single interlock device along the second leg operates the second tubular gripping device between its open and closed position.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the track comprises a cross-over leg separating the first and the second leg, wherein when the single interlock device is disposed at the cross-over leg the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are in the closed position.
4. The system of claim 1, comprising:
- a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device;
- a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device;
- a first actuator operationally connected to the first valve, the first actuator moveable along an operational path between the open position and the closed position of the first tubular gripping device; and
- a second actuator operationally connected to the second valve, the second actuator moveable along an operational path between the open and the closed position of the second tubular gripping device.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the interlock gate comprises a single interlock device that is selectively connectable to the first actuator and the second actuator.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises:
- a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device;
- a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device;
- a track having a first leg and a second leg; and
- a single interlock device moveable along the track, wherein the interlock device is operationally connected to the first valve and operationally disconnected from the second valve when the single interlock device is in the first leg and the interlock device is operationally disconnected from the first valve and operationally connected to the second valve when the interlock device is in the second leg.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the track further comprises a cross-over leg, wherein the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are actuated to their respective closed positions when the interlock control device is disposed along the cross-over leg.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the interlock gate further comprises a member selectively positioned to block movement of the interlock device along the track.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the member is actuated to a position in the track in response to a tubular grip assurance signal.
10. The system of claim 6, further comprising:
- a first actuator operationally connected to the first valve, the first actuator moveable along an operational path between the open position and the closed position of the first tubular gripping device; and
- a second actuator operationally connected to the second valve, the second actuator moveable along an operational path between the open and the closed position of the second tubular gripping device.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first leg and the second leg are positioned inside of the operational paths of the respective first actuator and the second actuator; and
- the single interlock device is operationally connected to the first valve via the first actuator and the single interlock device is operationally connected to the second valve via the second actuator.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the interlock gate further comprises a member selectively positioned to block movement of the interlock device between a closed position and an open position.
13. A tubular grip interlock system for ensuring that a tubular string is gripped by at least one of a first tubular gripping device and a second tubular gripping device, the system comprising:
- a console having a panel providing a track having a first leg and a second leg;
- a first actuator operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position;
- a second actuator operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; and
- a single control device movable along the track, the single control device operationally connected to the first actuator and operationally disconnected from the second actuator when the single control device is disposed along the first leg and wherein the single control device is operationally disconnected from the first actuator and operationally connected to the second actuator when the single control device is disposed in the second leg.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch; and
- the second actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch.
15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
- a first control valve operationally connecting the first actuator to the first tubular gripping device; and
- a second control valve operationally connecting the second actuator to the second tubular gripping device.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch; and
- the second actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch.
17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a member selectively actuated to a blocking position relative to the track, wherein the single control device is blocked from passing the member in the blocking position.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the member is operationally connected to a tubular grip assurance system, the member removed from the blocking position in response to a signal from the tubular grip assurance system.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the track includes cross-over leg, wherein the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are in the closed positioned when the single control device disposed in the cross-over leg.
20. A method for running tubular strings, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position and a second tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position;
- providing a single control device to actuate the first and the second tubular gripping devices from a control console, the single control device moveable along a track comprising a first leg and a second leg;
- moving the single control device along the first leg to actuate the first tubular gripping device between the open and the closed position when the second tubular gripping device is in the closed position; and
- moving the single control device along the second leg to actuate the second tubular gripping device between the open and closed position when the first tubular gripping device is in the closed position.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the single control device is operationally connected to the first tubular gripping device and operationally disconnected from the second tubular gripping device when the single control device is in the first leg.
22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of blocking movement of the single control device to operate the first tubular gripping device to the open position in response to the second tubular gripping device being in the closed position.
23. A method for maintaining a grip on a tubular string in wellbore tubular running operations with at least one of a first or a second tubular gripping device, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position and a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position;
- actuating the first valve and the second valve with a single interlock device; and
- preventing simultaneous operational connection of the single interlock device to the first valve and the second valve.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of requiring actuation of the first valve to the closed position before disconnecting the single interlock device from the first valve.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of limiting movement of the single interlock device in response to one of the first tubular gripping member or the second tubular gripping member being in the open position.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2009
Applicant: FRANK'S CASING CREW AND RENTAL TOOLS, INC. (Lafayette, LA)
Inventors: Brian David Begnaud (Youngsville, LA), Robert L. Thibodeaux (Lafayette, LA), Jeremy R. Angelle (Lafayette, LA)
Application Number: 12/435,259
International Classification: E21B 19/10 (20060101); E21B 19/16 (20060101); E21B 19/07 (20060101);