CA2309054C - Flexible sinker bar assemblies - Google Patents

Flexible sinker bar assemblies Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2309054C
CA2309054C CA002309054A CA2309054A CA2309054C CA 2309054 C CA2309054 C CA 2309054C CA 002309054 A CA002309054 A CA 002309054A CA 2309054 A CA2309054 A CA 2309054A CA 2309054 C CA2309054 C CA 2309054C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
flexible
sinker bar
bar assembly
wireline
socket
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 - Lifetime
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CA002309054A
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French (fr)
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CA2309054A1 (en
Inventor
Larry V. Cooper
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication of CA2309054A1 publication Critical patent/CA2309054A1/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/14Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B31/00Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/20Flexible or articulated drilling pipes, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ropes Or Cables (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)
  • Mechanical Means For Catching Fish (AREA)
  • Investigation Of Foundation Soil And Reinforcement Of Foundation Soil By Compacting Or Drainage (AREA)
  • Stabilization Of Oscillater, Synchronisation, Frequency Synthesizers (AREA)
  • Silicon Polymers (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)

Abstract

Apparatus for recovering logging tools and the like from a wellbore as part of a drilling operation such as for oil wells, irrigation systems and the like. The apparatus comprises the use of a flexible connector member (44) in the form of a flexible wire rope, or strand, or cab le which is provided with socket members (46, 48 or 146, 148) attached with rain (54) or by being swag ed or crimped to the flexible member (44). The apparatus takes the place of the conventional rigi d sinker bar assembly that causes safety concerns when used with a top drive housing.

Description

The present inventions comprise those disclosed in my previously presented U.S. Provisional Applications filed on October 21, 1997 and April 7, 1998.
The inventions relate to apparatus for recovering logging tools from a wellbore and, more particularly, to improved, flexible connectors which may, preferably, be in the form of flexible wire rope sinker bar assemblies to replace the known type of rigid sinker bar. When wireline strip over operations are conducted on drilling rigs that utilize top drive systems, potentially serious problems can be encountered when the conventional rigid type sinker bar assemblies are forced to pass around the top drive housing.
Conventional wireiine fishing operations are comprised of a number of conventional steps, including:
1. A T-bar clamp is clamped onto the logging line and hung off at the rotary table of the rig.
2. The wireline above the T-bar clamp is cut, and a connector is attached to the end of the cable sticking out of the top of the T-bar clamp assembly.
3. Normally, a rigid sinker bar assembly is attached to the portion of the logging line that is run up and down in the derrick. The typical sinker bar assembly is approximately 20 feet long, and a connector on the lower end of the sinker bar assembly is compatible with a connector on the logging line hung off in the T-bar clamp.
4. Prior to beginning a strip over operation, the sinker bar connector is made-up to the end connector on the logging line hung off in the T-bar clamp. Using the logging winch, tension is applied to the logging line, and the T-bar clamp assembly is removed.
5. The wireline connector assembly is then lowered and positioned near the top of the box connection of the drill pipe hung off in the rotary table.
6. Using a hang-off plate, the lower part of the connector is hung off on top of the box connection. The lower sinker bar connector is disconnected to allow the sinker bar assembly to be raised to the racking board (monkey board) level in the derrick.
7. A stand of drill pipe is then latched into the elevators at the racking board height in the derrick. The sinker bar on the logging Gne is guided (stabbed) into the top of the stand of drill pipe by the derrickman. Next, the sinker bar is lowered down and out through the bottom end of a stand of drill pipe at the rig floor.

wo ~nos~i rcrnrs9snz»o 8. The sinker bar assembly is then reattached to the connector on the logging line hung off in the hang-off clamp at the rig floor.
9. Tension is taken on the logging line, and the hang-off clamp is removed.
10. The lower end of the drill pipe stand is slowly lowered over the wireline sinker bar assembly at the rig floor, and the drill pipe connection is made up.
11. Next, the stand of drill pipe is slowly lowered in the hole, stripping over the logging line and sinker bar assembly. Once the drill pipe is hung off in the rotary table, the wireline stripping operation can be continued in this manner until the logging tool is washed over with the fishing tool assembly.
When this type of wireline strip over operation is conducted on drilling rigs that utilize top drive systems, problems can be encountered with rigid sinker bar assemblies.
Problems occur because when the top drive approaches the rig floor and the drill pipe is hung off in the rotary table, the rigid sinker bar exits the drill pipe. At this point in the strip over operation, with tension on the wireline, it is necessary for the sinker bar assembly to pass around the outside of the top drive housing. The rigid sinker bar assembly can be put in an overload situation when the sinker bars are forced to bend around the outside of the top drive body. As a result, the threaded connections can fail and this presents a serious safety hazard to rig personnel and also to the wellbore.
As a result of these safety concerns, various embodiments of the present invention have been developed in order to alleviate the above described problems by providing a flexible connector, preferably in the form of a flexible, wire rope sinker bar assembly to replace the known type of rigid sinker bar assembly described above and thereby result in a safer and more time-efficient wireline stripping operation. Different sizes and types of flexible sinker bars have been designed for specific drill pipe sizes in order to meet allowable work load ratings.
FIG. 1 shows a wireline stripping assembly including a flexible sinker bar in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a fragmentary, enlarged portion of FIG. 1, partly in section, illustrating one form of flexible sinker bar in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 3 shows a modified form of wireline stripping assembly including another form of flexible sinker bar in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary, enlarged portion of FIG. 3, partly in section, illustrating one modified form of flexible sinker bar in accordance with the invention.
A wireiine stripping assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 10, that encompasses a plurality of different sections shown bracketed in FIG. 1 as including an upper rope socket section 12 that provides a slim-line socket 14, and a lower rope socket section 16 that provides a similar slim-line socket 18 which is sized to cooperate with a hang off plate 20.
Located above the lower rope socket section 16 is a spear section 22 comprised of a spear 24 having a tapered head 26 to provide for easy entry into an overlying overshot 28 that forms the overshot section 30. A swivel section 32 includes a rugged dual bearing swivel 34.
Interposed between swivel section 32 and upper rope socket section 12 is a sinker bar section 40 that encompasses a flexible sinker bar assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 42, the details of which are best shown in enlarged form in FIG. 2. Sinker bar assembly 42 is, in one form of the invention, comprised of a flexible connector in the form of a length of wire rope 44, that is shown in the form of a woven strand or cable, that provides flexibility to the sinker bar assembly 42 and which is fitted at its ends with a respective top socket 46 and a bottom socket 48, each having an internally threaded box connection 50 and 52 for attachment to other wireline hardware, such as swivel 34 and the like. Top socket 46 and bottom socket 48 are similarly constructed and may be installed on the wire rope or cable 44 with a cured resin 54 shown in the sectional view of top socket 46. Resin 54 may be applied in liquid or paste form and is then allowed to cure, i.e., harden to provide a high strength bond between the sockets and wire rope.
Sinker bar assembly 42 is amenable to having additional weight applied thereto through the use of a plurality of dog knots 60, one of which is shown in section in FIG.
2 below top socket 46. The dog knots 60 can be swaged onto the rope or cable while maintaining flexibility of the assembly 42.
The length shown at L in FIG. 2, extending between top socket 46 and bottom socket 48, can be on the order of approximately 20 feet. Sockets 46 and 48 are purposely thin in diameter, shown at D near the bottom of socket 48 to provide clearances for running inside a drill pipe (not shown), but provide heavy duty construction for make-up to wireline retrieval assemblies. Dog knots 60 are added for sinker bar assemblies that may have wire rope 44 between 1 3/8 inch and 2 inch; the added weight improves the movement of the assembly through the drill pipe.

WO 991208'8 PCT/US98/22170 4 _ FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A modified wireline stripping assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 100, that encompasses a plurality of different sections shown bracketed in FIG. 3 as including an upper rope socket section 112 that provides a slim-line socket 114, and a lower rope socket section 116 that provides a similar slim-line socket 118 which is sized to cooperate with a hang off plate 120.
Lbcated above the lower rope socket section 116 is a spear section 122 comprised of a spear 124 having a tapered head 126 to provide for easy entry into an overlying overshot 128 that forms the overshot section 130. A swivel section includes a rugged dual bearing swivel 134.
Interposed between swivel section 132 and upper rope socket section 112 is a sinker bar section 140 that encompasses a flexible sinker bar assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 142, the details of which are best shown in enlarged form in FIG. 4. Sinker bar assembly 142 is, preferably, comprised of a flexible connector in the form of a length of wire rope 144, that is shown in the form of a woven strand or cable, that provides flexibility to the sinker bar assembly 142 and is fitted at its ends with a respective top socket 146 and a bottom socket 148, each preferably having an internally threaded box connection 150 and i 52, or other provision, for attachment to other wireline hardware, such as swivel 134 and the like. Top socket 146 and bottom socket 148 are similarly constructed to provide a slim-line socket configured for large diameter wire rope, or the like, and are installed on the wire rope or cable 144, preferably by being swaged thereon, to provide for increased sinker bar weight and assurance against slippage or disconnection from the flexible connector, wire rope, strand or cable.
It is to be noted that the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 does not include the provision of a plurality of dog knots, such as the dog knots 60 shown in FIGS.
1 and 2.
There are some operations for which the additional weight of the dog knots is not necessary. .
The length shown at L-2 in FIG. 4, extending between top socket 146 and bottom socket 148, can be on the order of approximately 20 feet, more or less.
Sockets 146 and 148 are purposely thin in diameter, shown at D-2 near the bottom of socket 148 to provide clearances for running inside a drill pipe (not shown), but provide heavy duty construction for make-up to wireline retrieval assemblies.
From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various forms of the invention provide many advantages and safety features over the known types of rigid sinker bars. While specific showings and descriptions are provided, it is to be understood that differences in size, weight, length, diameters, etc. can be made depending upon variations in any particular wireline operation.

Claims (8)

Claims:
1. A flexible sinker bar assembly for use with a top drive housing in wireline stripping operations in connection with a wellbore, said apparatus including a flexible connector member (44) having a pair of opposite ends and top and bottom socket members (46, 48 or 146 and 148) fixedly secured to said ends for adding increased weight thereto, and means for attachment of said sockets to other wireline hardware.
2. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 including at least one dog knot (60) secured to said flexible member for further increasing the weight of said flexible sinker bar.
3. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket members (46 and 48) are secured to said connector member with cured resin (54).
4. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket members (146 and 148) are secured to said connector member by being swaged thereto.
5. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said sinker bar is approximately 20 feet in length.
6. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible connector member (44) is comprised of heavy metal wirerope.
7. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible connector member (44) is comprised of a heavy metal flexible cable.
8. A flexible sinker bar assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for attachment of said sockets to other wireline hardware comprises threaded end portions at free ends of said sockets.
CA002309054A 1997-10-21 1998-10-21 Flexible sinker bar assemblies Expired - Lifetime CA2309054C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6319797P 1997-10-21 1997-10-21
US60/063,197 1997-10-21
US8089398P 1998-04-07 1998-04-07
US60/080,893 1998-04-07
PCT/US1998/022170 WO1999020871A1 (en) 1997-10-21 1998-10-21 Flexible sinker bar assemblies

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2309054A1 CA2309054A1 (en) 1999-04-29
CA2309054C true CA2309054C (en) 2005-11-15

Family

ID=26743151

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002309054A Expired - Lifetime CA2309054C (en) 1997-10-21 1998-10-21 Flexible sinker bar assemblies

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1032748B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE275236T1 (en)
AU (1) AU1191599A (en)
CA (1) CA2309054C (en)
DE (1) DE69826025D1 (en)
EA (1) EA001690B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999020871A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3149277A (en) * 1959-06-04 1964-09-15 Sun Oil Co Borehole logging apparatus including flexible detector and weighting means
US4024913A (en) * 1974-03-25 1977-05-24 Grable Donovan B Well installations employing non-metallic lines, tubing casing and machinery
US4901804A (en) * 1988-08-15 1990-02-20 Eastman Christensen Company Articulated downhole surveying instrument assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1032748A1 (en) 2000-09-06
EA200000447A1 (en) 2000-12-25
WO1999020871A1 (en) 1999-04-29
CA2309054A1 (en) 1999-04-29
DE69826025D1 (en) 2004-10-07
EP1032748A4 (en) 2001-01-31
ATE275236T1 (en) 2004-09-15
EP1032748B1 (en) 2004-09-01
EA001690B1 (en) 2001-06-25
AU1191599A (en) 1999-05-10

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Effective date: 20181022