NO342131B1

NO342131B1 - Lubricator handler

Info

Publication number: NO342131B1
Application number: NO20160186A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Jens Olav Myklebust
Original assignee: Dwellop As
Priority date: 2016-02-03
Filing date: 2016-02-03
Publication date: 2018-03-26
Also published as: NO20160186A1

Abstract

A lubricator-handling device, to bring a lubricator string (6) into and out of the well centre. The handling device comprises atleast one arm (12, 13), said at least one arm being coupled a first end thereof to at least one clamp (19, 20) for gripping the lubricator (6), said at least one arm (19, 20) being coupled at a second end thereof to an injector platform (9) that is capable of travelling on a tension frame (1) or to an injector platform that is capable of travelling on a coiled tubing jacking frame.A lubricator-handling device, to bring a lubricator string (6) into and out of the well centre. The handling device comprises at least one arm (12, 13), said at least one arm being coupled a first end thereof to at least one clamp (19, 20) for gripping the lubricator (6), said at least one arm (19, 20) being coupled at a second end thereof to an injector platform (9) that is capable of traveling on a tension frame (1) or to an injector platform that is capable of traveling on a coiled tubing jacking frame.

Description

LUBRICATOR HANDLER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a handling device for a lubricator, to bring the lubricator into and out of the well centre at need.

Background Art

A lubricator is a string of tubular elements that are used for sealing around a tool string, such as a wire line or slick-line, when the tool string is run into or out of a well. It is frequently used for maintenance of an oil or gas producing well. The lubricator is usually carrying a BOP at its lower end. The BOP contains a plurality of valves that are used to close off the well if a situation with excess pressure occurs. The combined weight of the lubricator and the BOP results in a heavy string that must be handled by a crane or similar.

The lubricator string is used whenever a tool string is to be used in the well. In between the running of the tool string, the lubricator string has to be removed to give access to the well for replacing tool strings.

Well intervention is often planned. However sometimes, unplanned intervention must be performed if an unexpected event has occurred, such as failure of equipment in the well.

This means that it is convenient to have a lubricator string available close to the well, so that well intervention can be performed within a short time. Especially when shifting from Coiled Tubing to Wire Line operations and vice versa.

Today, the lubricator and BOP is normally handled by means of time-consuming winch operations. It is therefore a strong desire to save time during the handling of the lubricator string.

GB 2418684 shows an injector apparatus that is attached to one leg of a tension frame and is capable of travelling along the leg of the tension frame. This apparatus is not capable of handling a lubricator string, except hanging from the injector. It is therefore time consuming to build up a lubricator string and bring this into operation

US 2005/0189118 shows an injector apparatus that is arranged on a platform in a tension frame. The platform is capable of travelling along the tension frame. A small crane is fixedly attached to one of the tension frame legs. This crane may handle small objects and, with great difficulty, it may handle a lubricator string. However, the arrangement cannot easily switch between using an injector and a lubricator. In order to do this switch, the injector has to be hoisted off the platform using a separate winch before the lubricator is brought into the well centre with the small crane. As the lubricator hangs from the wire of the crane, the crane must be swung slowly and carefully in order to avoid that the lubricator oscillates. A person has to be present to steer the lower end of the lubricator into the well centre.

Consequently, there is a need for a lubricator handling device that can conveniently prepare the lubricator and bring it into the well centre.

It is also a desire to improve safety during handling of the lubricator string, and reduce the need for persons close to the well centre during operations.

Summary of invention

The present invention aims to fulfil most of the above needs. This is achieved by a lubricator handler according to the subsequent claim, wherein the lubricator handler comprises at least one arm, said at least one arm being coupled a first end thereof to at least one clamp for gripping the lubricator, said at least one arm being coupled at a second end thereof to an injector platform that is capable of travelling on a tension frame or to an injector platform that is capable of travelling on a coiled tubing jacking frame.

Preferably, the at least one arm is contained in a set of arms, which is arranged in a parallelogram. Thereby, the lubricator string will be held vertically irrespective of the position of the arms.

In a further preferred embodiment, the lubricator handling device comprises a rotating actuator for moving the at least one arm in a first direction. Thereby the lubricator string can be easily swung out of the way when it is not in use.

In an even further preferred embodiment the parallelogram comprises a first arm and a second arm and a bar, said bar interconnecting first ends of said arms, further comprising a linear actuator for moving the set of arms in a second direction, which is transverse to the first direction. Thereby the lubricator string can be adjusted securely to a position aligned with the well centre.

In a preferred embodiment, said first arm and said second arm are coupled to the rotating actuator at second ends of said arms opposite of said first ends. Thereby, is achieved an adjustment device for position of the lubricator string that is easy to manoeuver.

Preferably, said linear actuator is coupled at a respective end to the first arm and the second arm, and more preferably, the linear actuator extends substantially diagonally with respect to said parallelogram.

Preferably, said set of arms have lubricator clamps hingedly attached at the first end.

Preferably, said rotating actuator has a rotating angle of at least 90° in order to be capable of swinging the lubricator string completely out of the tension frame.

If an upper position of the handling device is when the arms extend substantially horizontal, the maximum distance from the lubricator handler attachment point to the lubricator string will be clearly defined.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will now be explained in detail, referring to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in isometric view a tension frame for coiled tubing and wireline operations, including a lubricator string attached to a lubricator handler according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a detail of figure 1, depicting the lubricator handler,

Figure 3 shows the tension frame of figure 1 in front elevation view,

Figure 4 shows the tension frame of figure 1 in side elevation view,

Figure 5 shows the tension frame in the same view as in figure 3, but with the lubricator in the well centre,

Figure 6 shows the lubricator handler of the invention in isometric view,

Figure 7 shows the lubricator handler of the invention in side elevation view,

Figure 8 shows the lubricator handler of the invention in planar view, and

Figure 9 shows the lubricator handler of the invention in side elevation view, in a lowered state.

Detailed description of the invention

In the following directional terms, such as upper, lower, vertical and horizontal denotes directions relevant when the lubricator handler is in its operating state. There terms are not to be considered limiting, as the directions may be different when the handler is in a non-operating state.

Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 shows a tension frame 1, which is of a per se conventional design. The tension frame 1 is used for well intervention on floating drilling rigs. It holds the riser in tension and provides a window for well intervention operations. The tension frame carries an injector platform 9, which in turn may carry a coiled tubing injector 2, which is also of a per se conventional design. The injector platform 9 is capable of travelling vertically along the vertical stays 1a, 1b of the tension frame 1 and has a pair of guiding sleeves 22 encircling the vertical stays 1a, 1b.

The tension frame 1 is coupled to a wellhead 3, or alternatively to an upper end of a riser. The tension frame 1 may be equipped with a coiled tubing BOP 4.

A lubricator handler 5 according to the invention is mounted to one side of the injector platform 9, such as on one of the guiding sleeves 22. As the injector platform 9 is capable of travelling vertically on the tension frame 1, the lubricator handler 5 will travel along with the injector platform 9. The handler 5 carries a lubricator string 6. The lubricator string 6 comprises a lubricator 7 and a wireline BOP 8 as its main components.

The lubricator handler 5 will now be explained in detail, referring to figures 6 - 9.

The lubricator handler 5 comprises an attachment plate 10, for attaching the handler 5 to the tension frame 1. The attachment can be made by bolts (not shown) or any other suitable means, as known per se to the skilled person.

The attachment plate carries a rotating actuator 11, which may be of any suitable type known per se.

Two arms, an upper arm 12 and a lower arm 13, are coupled to the rotating actuator 11 via a respective hinge 14, 15, enabling rotation of the extension arms 12, 13 in the vertical plane.

At their outer ends the arms 12, 13 are interconnected by a bar 16 that is hingedly coupled to each of the arms 12, 13. Thereby the four members, rotating actuator 11, arms 12, 13 and bar 16, form a parallelogram 17.

A linear actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator 18 is hingedly coupled at a respective end to the upper arm 12 and the lower arm 13. The hydraulic actuator 18 roughly forms a diagonal in the parallelogram 17. By extending the actuator 18, the arms 12, 13 will swing downwards about the hinges 14, 15, as shown in figure 9.

At the outer end of each arm 12, 13, is hingedly attached a respective lubricator clamp 19, 20. These clamps 19, 20 are adapted to encircle the lubricator sting and loosely hold this. The grip is sufficiently loose so that the lubricator string 6 will slip relative to the clamps if the lubricator string is brought unintentionally downwards so that the lubricator string hits an object. The slipping of the lubricator string will prevent damage on the lubricator string. To prevent the lubricator string from inadvertently slipping downwards, a collar on the lubricator string may be positioned above one of the clamps. One of the clamps (in the present case the upper clamp 19 is therefore equipped with a thrust sheave 21 that carries the weight of the lubricator string 6.

The clamps may be in two parts that are held together by bolts (as shown) or they may be hydraulically actuated clamps.

The rotating actuator 11 is capable of rotating the parallelogram 17 in the horizontal plane about its rotation axis.

The functioning of the handler will now be explained, referring especially to figures 1-5.

In a resting position, the handler 5 holds the lubricator string 6 as shown in figures 3 and 4. When the lubricator string 6 is to be put into operation, the rotating actuator 11 rotates the parallelogram 17 with the lubricator string into a position where it is aligned with the well centre. When the lubricator string 6 is aligned with the well centre, the injector platform 9 is lowered gently to land the lubricator string 6 onto the proper position on top of the coiled tubing BOP 4 as shown in figures 1 and 5.

By means of the linear actuator 18, the lubricator string 6 can be moved sideways to align the string 6 properly with the well centre. The downward movement of arms 12, 13 of the parallelogram will move the lubricator string 6 somewhat sideways towards the rotating actuator 11. Hence, the horizontal distance, when the parallelogram 17 is in completely extended position, from the rotating actuator 11 to the lubricator string 6 is somewhat greater than the horizontal distance from the rotating actuator 11 to the well centre. The purpose of this is to be able to adjust the lubricator 6 in horizontal directions in case the riser or coiled tubing BOP is not in the well centre.

When the lubricator string 6 has been properly aligned with the well centre, the injector platform 9 is lowered. As the lubricator handler 5 is coupled to the platform 9, the handler 5 will be lowered together with the platform 9.

Conveniently, handler 5 is guided by the tension frame.

The lubricator string will always be vertical irrespective of the position of the arms 12, 13.

The handler 5 may also be attached to other items than a tension frame, such as directly to the derrick or on a separate stand, such as a coiled tubing jacking frame.

A tension frame 1 is commonly used on a floating facility. However, the handler and the injector platform may also be used on a fixed facility or on a land based facility that does not need a tension frame.

Claims

1.

A lubricator-handling device, to bring a lubricator string (6) into and out of the well centre, said device comprising at least one arm (12, 13), characterised in that , said at least one arm (12, 13) being coupled at a first end thereof to at least one clamp (19, 20) for gripping the lubricator (6), said at least one arm (12, ) being coupled at a second end thereof to an injector platform (9) that is capable of travelling on a tension frame (1) or to an injector platform that is capable of travelling on a coiled tubing jacking frame, and further comprising a rotating actuator (11) for moving the at least one arm (12, 13) in a first direction, the at least one arm is contained in a set of arms (12, 13), which is arranged in a parallelogram (17), said parallelogram (17) comprises a first arm (12) and a second arm (13) and a bar (16), said bar (16) interconnecting the first ends of said arms (12, 13), and further comprising a linear actuator (18) for moving the set of arms (12, 13) in a second direction, which is transverse to the first direction.

2.

The lubricator-handling device of claim 1, characterised in that said first arm (12) and said second arm (13) are coupled to the rotating actuator at second ends of said arms (12, 13) opposite of said first ends.

3.

The lubricator-handling device of claim 2, characterised in that said linear actuator (18) is coupled at a respective end to the first arm (12) and the second arm (13).

4.

The lubricator-handling device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that said linear actuator (18) extends substantially diagonally with respect to said parallelogram (17).

5.

The lubricator-handling device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said set of arms (12, 13) has lubricator clamps (19, 20) hingedly attached at the first end.

6.

The lubricator-handling device of any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said rotating actuator has a rotating angle of at least 90°.

7.

The lubricator-handling device of any of the preceding claims, characterised in that an upper position of the handling device is when the arms (12, 13) extend substantially horizontal.