Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090056467 | Method and System for Evaluating Rod Breakout Based on Tong Pressure Data - A method for evaluating rod quality and wellbore dynamics includes receiving information about the rod size and tong type for a rod pulling operation. Expected breakout pressures can be determined based on the rod size and/or tong type and can be input into an evaluation system. Upper and lower limits for acceptable rod breakout pressures can be calculated based on the expected breakout pressure and/or rod size. Actual rod breakout pressures can be evaluated while pulling rods from a well and compared to the upper and lower limits. Rod breakout pressures below the lower limit or above the upper limit can generate an alarm notifying a rig operator to evaluate the condition of the rod to determine if the rod can be reused. The rod breakout pressures can be recorded as breakout pressure data for further evaluation, including determinations of improper rod make-up and poor well conditions. | 03-05-2009 |
20090057630 | Method and System for Governing Block Speed - A task input is received at a well service rig. The maximum allowable speed is determined for the task. Current block speed inputs are received. The throttle position for the engine controlling the block is evaluated to determine if the block is to be sped up or slowed down. When the throttle position indicates the operator is attempting to speed up the block, the current block speed is compared to the maximum allowable speed and the engine is only allowed to speed up the block up to the maximum allowable speed, at which point the operators control of block speed is limited to reducing block speed. Each task can have multiple maximum allowable speeds, which can vary based on specified conditions. When the hookload is light or the remaining equipment in the well is small, the lock-up feature for the transmission can be disengaged in addition to the block speed governing feature. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063054 | Method and System for Controlling a Well Service Rig Based on Load Data - The present invention is directed to methods for controlling the operations of a well service rig at a well site by evaluating load sensor data obtained from sensors on or associated with the well service rig. A rig load data chart can be reviewed and an average rig load can be determined for each pull of tubing or rods from a well. The average rig load can be used to calculate and set a rig overload level. If the rig load sensor reads a rig load at or above the rig overload level, the clutch for the hoist can be disengaged and the brake applied to prevent the load from either damaging the rig or breaking off the tubing or rods in the well. In addition, the rig load can be evaluated to determine when the limit the block speed when pulling rods or tubing. | 03-05-2009 |
20110214856 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A WELL SERVICE RIG BASED ON LOAD DATA - The present invention is directed to methods for controlling the operations of a well service rig at a well site by evaluating load sensor data obtained from sensors on or associated with the well service rig. A rig load data chart can be reviewed and an average rig load can be determined for each pull of tubing or rods from a well. The average rig load can be used to calculate and set a rig overload level. If the rig load sensor reads a rig load at or above the rig overload level, the clutch for the hoist can be disengaged and the brake applied to prevent the load from either damaging the rig or breaking off the tubing or rods in the well. In addition, the rig load can be evaluated to determine when the limit the block speed when pulling rods or tubing. | 09-08-2011 |
20130008644 | Tongs triggering method - A method for controlling and coordinating the operation of a lifting device and a tongs device in removing and disassembling and/or installing and assembling a series of elongate members disposed within a wellbore involves sequentially sensing the presence of a series of joints and automatically triggering the lifting device and tongs device in response thereto. In some examples, the method senses the location of an upper joint to determine when the lifting device should begin decelerating prior to stopping the ascent of a lower joint at a target elevation. In some examples, the method includes control means for automatically skipping various joints. | 01-10-2013 |
20130032358 | Method And System For Controlling A Well Service Rig Based On Load Data - The present invention is directed to methods for controlling the operations of a well service rig at a well site by evaluating load sensor data obtained from sensors on or associated with the well service rig. A rig load data chart can be reviewed and an average rig load can be determined for each pull of tubing or rods from a well. The average rig load can be used to calculate and set a rig overload level. If the rig load sensor reads a rig load at or above the rig overload level, the clutch for the hoist can be disengaged and the brake applied to prevent the load from either damaging the rig or breaking off the tubing or rods in the well. In addition, the rig load can be evaluated to determine when the limit the block speed when pulling rods or tubing. | 02-07-2013 |
20130269952 | Robotic Disassembly Method at a Well Site - An example robotic method for disassembling and removing a well string (e.g., a string of sucker rods or tubing within a wellbore) involves a computer controlled track and trolley system. Movement of multiple trolleys, carriages, shuttles, articulated arms and other hardware is orchestrated in a manner that minimizes cycle time and thus reduces the overall time for removing the entire well string. In some examples, upper and lower robots travel along and share a first set of tracks while an upper trolley mechanism and a main trolley travel along and share a second set of tracks. In some examples, the two sets of tracks are mounted vertically to a mast, wherein the mast is part of a workover vehicle. | 10-17-2013 |
20130276291 | Tongs With Low Torque at High Pressure - A tongs system and method for making and breaking threaded joints of a string of tubing for an oil well involves, in some examples, the use of a set of tongs with a two-speed transmission and a hydraulic system selectively operable in a high-pressure mode and a low-pressure mode. During an initial tightening period, the tongs system operates in high-gear and high-pressure for maximum speed. During a subsequent final tightening period, the tongs system operates in low-gear and low-pressure to controllably tighten the joint to a predetermined target torque. In some examples, to allow the transmission to shift speed without jamming gears, the tongs system pauses for an instant between the initial and final tightening periods. In some examples, the tongs system is interlocked with a hoist and/or other tube-holding and handling equipment. | 10-24-2013 |
20140027106 | Dual Rack Mast for a Well Servicing Vehicle - Example workover vehicles for removing and installing sucker rods and tubing of completed wells include a mast having a distinctive spatial relationship with various equipment of the vehicle. The mast has a series of vertical corner posts or weight bearing derrick legs that define the mast's horizontal footprint. In some examples, a tubing storage rack is situated mostly within the footprint while a rod storage rack is mostly beyond the footprint. A robot traveling vertically along the mast transfers rods and tubing between the well and the appropriate storage rack. In some examples, the rod storage rack pivots between an extended operative position and a retracted transport position. In some examples, a robotic jib transfers rods or tubing to and from a lay-down storage area. Some example robot jibs are movable to a fully deployed position for normal operation and a stored position within the mast's footprint for vehicle transport. | 01-30-2014 |
20140290938 | Circumferential Displacement Tool System - Just above an oil wellbore, an example circumferential displacement tool grips a threaded coupling in performing a circumferential displacement method of properly tightening the coupling to an upper sucker rod and/or to a lower one. In some examples, upper and lower joints of the coupling are tightened sequentially and independently to ensure proper circumferential displacement at each joint. In some examples, during disassembly of a string of rods being withdrawn from the wellbore, the tool can unscrew the coupling selectively from either the upper rod or the lower one. In some examples, a controller monitors the tightening or unscrewing of a joint and derives a joint signature based on a series of torque and rotation readings sampled during the make or break operations. The controller, in some examples, identifies a defective joint by comparing the joint signature to a predetermined reference. | 10-02-2014 |