Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~53L~3
O O 1 - 1-
002WELI. SERVICING RIG
004BACKGROUND O~ THE INVENTION
005This invention relates to an apparatus useful in
006 handling elongated well elements such as pipe, tubing, and
007 sucker rods and, more particularly, the invention relates to a
008 mobile, totally contained and automatically operated servicing
009 and drilling rig for use in oil well or other similar opera-
010 tions.
011 In oil well operations, elongated well elements such
01~ as tubing, pipe and sucker rods are used for such purposes as
013 well production and well drilling. Individual well element sec-
014 tions are connected together to form an elongated segmented
015 string for use in the well. The segmented string frequently
016 comprises of the order of a hundred or more well elements.
017 A rig hoist is used to lower each successive section
018 into the well to approximately its full length. After the sec-
019 tion has been lowered to such a position, it is gripped near
020 its upper end by suitable means, such as slips, to suspend it
021 in the well. The hoist is then released from this section and
022 a second section is supported from the hoist and then coupled
023 to the first section. The second section is then lowered into
024 the well to its full extent, and it is then held by the slips
025 and the above sequence repeated. As this sequence is repeated,
026 successive sections form a string which progressively goes
027 deeper and deeper into the well.
028 If such a string is being removed from the well the
029 hoist is connected to the uppermost section and the entire
030 string is lifted until such section clears the well. The
031 remaining string is hung by the slips in the wellhead and the
032 uppermost section is then uncoupled and moved to a storage posi-
033 tion. In the usual prior art field operations, the storage
034 position is adjacent to the wellhead and sections, are trans-
035 ported from the storage position to the wellhead for connection
036 to the hoist or removal thereform by manual means. In other
037 prior art sys.ems separate mechanical conveying elements are
~11 S~ 3
,.
001 -2-
002 required to operate the hoist and to transport the sections
003 from the storage position to the hoist position.
004 In much of the prior art operations, several opera-
005 tors are required to perform all of the functions that are
006 necessary to place a section into the hoist QOSitiOn~ to con-
007 nect or disconnect it from the string, and to run the string
008 into the well or to remove it from the well. In some cases,
009 this has required an operator at the wellhead level, an
010 operator at an elevated position above the wellhead to connect
011 or disconnect the sections from the hoist, and an operator to
012 place the sections in the storage or to remove them from the
013 storage position. Each of the operators involved in the opera-
014 tion of running well elements into and out of a well is in inti-
015 mate contact with the wellhead and with the elements removed
016 from the well.
017 Many of the petroleum wells today operate at elevated
018 temperatures, either because of their ~epth within the earth
019 formation or because of their operation in secondary recovery
020 systems where steam or hot fluids are pumped into the well to
021 cause the heavier crudes to become more mobile so as to 1Ow
022 toward the producing wells. In the treatment and operation of
023 such wells, the removal of well elements becomes more difficult
024 because of their elevated temperature. In some cases wells are
025 cooled for many days through the procedure of pumping cold
026 water into the well to bring the elements to a telnperature
027 where they may ~e safely handled by personnel. Automatic well
028 element handling apparatus have been proposed to handle such
02g elements so-as to avoid the cooling step necessary to bring the
030 element to a temperature where individuals may touch them.
031 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
032 The present invention is directed to an apparatus for
033 handling elongated well elements wherein the apparatus is
034 totally contained on a single movable vehicle and the handling
035 of well elements from a storage position to a position for
036 insertion within the well, or the reverse thereof for removal
037 from the well to a position of storage, is accomplished ~o~ally
~5~3
automatically without the need for personnel a~ or close to the wellhead.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided
a totally contained movable rig for servicing and drilling and for handling
elongated well elements between a horizontal storage position and a vertical
position in operating relationship with a well, comprising: (a) horizontal
storing means for storing said well elements in hori~ontal position; (b)
conveying means for conveying individual well elements from said horizontal
storing means to a transfer location; (c) transfer means including means for
holding said individual well elements and means for positioning said transfer
means adjacent to the centerline of said well and parallel thereto; (d)
manipulating means including means for grasping said well element from said
transfer means to position the longitudinal axis of said well element in
alignment with the centerline of said well; (e) means for moving said well
element along said longitudinal axis thereof into operative position with
respect to said well; () coupling means for coupling said well element to
another well element in said well; (g) and control means for sequencing the
operation of said conveying means) said transfer means, said manipulating
means, said means for moving, and said coupling means to accompllsh said
handling of said well elements into and out of said operating relationship
with said well totally automatically.
The automatic control mechanism for controlling the sequential
operation of each of the portions of the apparatus enables well servicing
operations to be conducted from a position remote from the wellhead. Each
of the individual portions of the overall apparatus is preferably designed
to be stored on the mobile rig so that the rig and all of its operating
elements is transportable as a unit from operation to opera~ion.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method for servicing or drilling a well with a self-contained
automatic sequence controlled rig including a derrick and hoist mechanism
positionable in alignment with the centerline of said well, manipul.ating
means for handling well elements into and out of said well, transfer means
~ 3 -
- .
~5~L43
for handling well elements to and from said manipulating means, well element
conveyor means for handling well elements to and from said transfer means,
and pipe rack means for supplying or receiving well elements from said
conveyor means, the steps comprising: (a) storing well elements in a
horizontal position; ~b) indexing single well elements for access to or
from said conveyor means; (c) lifting well elements in horizontal position
to or from said pipe rack means; (d) conveying said well elements in
horizontal position into and from said transfer means; (e) removing well
elements from or positioning well elements into said transfer means; (f)
rotating said well elements from horizontal to vertical position or from
vertical to horizontal position with said transfer means; (g) removing said
well elements from or passing said well elements to said manipulating means;
(h) aligning said well elements with the centerline of said well or removing
said well elements from alignment with said well into alignment with said
transfer means; (i) grasping said well elements with said hoist mechanism
or releasing said hoist mechanism from said well element; (j) lowering or
raising said well element with respect to said well; (k) and connecting or
disconnecting said well elements from other well elements within said well.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided the method of handling well elements between vertical alignment
with the centerline of a well and horizontal storage position with a self-
contained well servicing rig comprising the steps of: (a) providing a
horizontal well element storage area attached to and horizontally at the
side of said rig; (b) rotating individual well elements between horizontal
and vertical position; (c) placing said vertical well elements in alignment
with the axis of said well; (d) moving said well elements into alignment with
the centerline of said well; (e) and positioning said well elements into
engagement with said other well elements within said well.
- 3a -
115~L~43
Q01 -4-
002 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
003 FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the mobile well
004 servicing rig shown in its operational position with respect to
0Q5 a well head.
006 FIG. lA is a schematic representation of a well head
007 and the elements associated with the well head~
008 FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the well
009 servicin~ rig in its transport position with all elements of
010 the rig stored for transport between well heads.
011 FIG. 3 is a top plan view of tha well servicing rig
012 in transport position.
013 FIG. 4 is a rear partial elevational view partially
014 in section showing the well servicing rig in stored position.
015 FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the well
016 servicing rig in operational position with respect to a well
017 head.
018 ~IG. 6 is a top plan view of the well servicing rig
019 having particular reference to the pipe storage portion of the
020 rig.
021 FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the well
022 servicing rig illustrating the pipe storage, conveying and
023 transfer means.
024 FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken generally
025 along the lines 8-8 of FIGo 6~
026 FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the pipe rack details of
027 FIG. ~
028 FIG~ 10 is a side elevational view of the pipe con-
029 veyor portion of the well servicin~ rig.
030 FIG. 10A is a partial elevational view of the
031 conveyor means of FIG~ 10 and illustrating the indexing means
032 and its associated gates.
033 FIG. 10B is a top view of FIG. 10A partially in
034 section.
035 FIG~ 11 is a sectional view taken generally alony the
036 lines ll-ll of FIG. 10.
037 FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view taken generall~
038 along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 10.
~15~ 3
001 ~5~
002 FIG. 13 is a detailed elevational view of the trans-
003 fer arm hands.
004 FIG. 14 is a side elevational view o~ FIGo 13.
005 FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the automatic
006 pipe manipulator of the present invention.
007 FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of FIG. 15 showin~
008 the operational positions of the automatic pipe manipulator
009 ends.
010 FIG. 16A is a sectional view taken along the lines
011 16A-16A of FIG. 5, showing several cooperating positions of the
012 elements of the invention.
013 FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are, respectively, top plan,
014 front elevational and side elevational views of the details of
015 the top hand of the automatic pipe manipulatorO
016 FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 are, respectively, top plan, side
017 elevational and side elevational views of the bottom hand of
018 the automatic pipe manipulator.
019 FIGS. 23 and 24 are front and side elev~tional views
020 of the elevator apparatus of the present invention.
021 FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken generally along the
022 lines 25-25 of FIG. 23.
023 FIG. 26 is a sectional vlew taken generally along the
024 lines 26-26 of FIG. 23.
025 FIG. 27 is a ~ront elevational view of the well
026 element handliny elements at the front of the rig and adjacent
027 to the well head.
028 FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of PI~. 27
029 FIGS. 2g and 30 are partial sectional views
030 illustrating the joint locating means for tublng and rod
031 elements, respectively.
032 FIG. 31 is a top plan view of the centralizer of the
033 present invention.
034 FIGS. 32 and 33 are top and side views of the jaws oF
035 the centralizer of FIG. 31.
~SiL1~3
.
001 -6-
.
002 FIGS. 34, 35 and 36 are sequential views showing the
003 operation of the gate and indexer of the pipe conveying means
004 shown also in FIGS. 10A and 10B.
005 FIGS. 37A, 37B, 37C and 37D are chart representations
006 of the sequencing of the operations of the various elements of
007 the present invention.
008 FIGSo 38A, 388 and 38C are a chart representation of
009 the sensor controls of the present invention.
010 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
011 The preEerred form of apparatus assembled in
012 accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1
013 where the apparatus is shown in its operational position with
014 elements erected for servicing operations with respect to a
015 well penetrating the earth formation. The apparatus of the
016 present invention is useful in handling elongated well elements
017 between a horizontal storage position and a vertical opera-
018 tional position. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention
019 is useful to lay down or pick up tubin3, pipe and sucker rods
020 for use within a well. Throughout this specification the terms
021 "well ele~ents~, "tubing", "pipe" and "sucker rods" will be
022 used interchangeably, in some cases the handling of rods and
023 pipes or tubing will be different because of the physical
024 dimensional differences in size between pipe, tubing and sucker
025 rods. The terms "laying down tubing" and "picking up tubing"
026 means, respectively, taking a tubing section which is dis-
027 connected from a tubing string and placing it in a hori ontal
028 manner on a pipe rack, or the like, and taking a tubing section
029 from a horiæontal position on a pipe rack, or the like, and
030 positioning it in a vertical manner for connection with a
031 tubing string.
032 As illustrated in FIG. lA, the conventional envir~n-
033 ment in which the invention i5 useful, includes, for example, a
034 well 10 containing a well casing 12 having a well head
035 gener~lly indicated by the number 14 located at the earth
036 surface. A tubin~ string 16 extends down the well through the
037 well head and through the tubing hanging slips 18 positioned on
llS~g~
001 _7_
002 the well head 14. The tubing string is held by means o~
003 elevator 20 which is connected to traveling block 22 by ~eans
004 of elevator links 24 and 26. Hoist cables 28 and 30 connect
005 the traveling block to a hoist (not shown). Power tonys 21 and
006 back-up 23 are located above well head 14 to disconnected or to
007 connect the threaded tubing sections into the tubin~ string.
008 The apparatus of the present invention is intended
009 for use in the environment previously described and is designed
010 to provide a totally cQntained well servicing apparatus that
011 may be moved from well head to well head and will contain all
012 of the necessary equipment for handling any of the well
013 elements previously described and for laying down and picking
014 up such well elements in a fully automatic manner. As illustra-
015 ted in FI~. 1, the apparatus comprises a wheeled vehicle
016 generally designated 31 having sets of wheels 32 and 33 at the
017 front and rear of the vehicle, respectively. Power systems are
018 provided on the vehicle including an operator's cab at 34 and a
019 power drive system 35 for operating the vehicle and a winching
020 system 36 all of which may be driven from a single power-driven
021 system defined hereinafter.
022 Detailed figures will illustrate each of the elements
023 of the assembled apparatus. However, in generality, ~IG. 1
024 illustrates the pipe rack arms 37, the jib crane 38, the pipe
025 conveyors 39, the transfer arms 41, the hoist cables 42, the
026 derrick 43, the crown block 44, the automatic pipe manipulator
027 45, the traveling block 46, the power tongs 21, back~up tongs
028 23, slips S0, the centralizer 47, and the elevator 48. All of
029 the foregoing equipment i5 supported on and provided with
03~ operating means that is also supported on the vehicle 31. When
031 in operating position, the vehicle is leveled by a set of
032 levelers 49 adapted to engage the earth surface.
033 FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the well servicing rig of
034 the present invention in its storage position for transport
035 from location to location. As illustrated particularly in FIG.
036 2, the derrick 43 is pivoted about pivot ;1 and folded ~ack
037 over the top of the vehicle 31 and supportedJ as shown in FIG.
~s~
001 -8~
002 ~, on inverted A-frame legs 52. The pipe rack arms 37 are
003 folded to be parallel to the axis of the vehicle and jib cranes
004 38 are centralized with the vehicle and folded at their joint
005 to be supported within the vehicle. Conveyors 39 are tilted
006 toward the interior of the vehicle and positioned inside of the
007 derrick masts 43. Transfer arms 41 are positioned in their
008 hori20ntal position and supported on supports 53. The
009 traveling block 46 and elevator 48 are stored adjacent to the
010 operator cab 34 at the forward end of the vehicle. As shown in
011 FIG. 3, the automatic pipe manipulator 45 is stored inside of
012 the derrick le~s 43.
013 8y ref~rring ~o FIGS. 1-5 and comparing the positions
014 of the equipment in the stored and operating positions, it
015 should be apparent that all of the apparatus needed for
016 servicing and operating a well is incIuded in the mobile well
017 servicing rig. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 2, the
018 hydraulic lifting mechanism 54 operating between the frame of
019 the vehicle and the legs of the dexrick 43 ~ay be actuated to
020 expand the piston systems to rotate the legs 43 about the pivot
021 51 to raise the derrick to the position as shown in FIG. 1
022 above the wellhead 14. When in the elevated position, the legs
023 43 are tilted slightly orward of vertical, with respect to the
024 forward end o the vehicle, and ~re maintained in position by
025 the derrick elevatQr pistons and the cables 4Q connected to the
026 vehicle chassis. When in the raised positiGn the automatic
027 pipe manipulating means 45 is in a substantially vertical
028 position, so as to provide true alignment and guidance for well
029 elements into and ou~ of the well head 14.
030 Referring now to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, wherein the first
031 of several coordinated portions of the apparatus o ~he present
03~ invention is shown, a possible first function that the fully
033 contained drilling rig per~or~s is the provision of storage
034 space for well elements. As i5 seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, each
035 side of the rig 31 is provided with fold-out pipe rack ar,~s 37.
036 A pair of pipe rac~ arms are provided on each side so that well
037 elements may be stored parallel to the axis of the chassis o
~15~43
001 -9-
002 the vehicle on both sides in a position for access from the
003 rig. As shown in FI~. 6, the pipe rack arms on the le~t side of
004 the vehicle (facing forwar~ are shown in their extended posi-
005 tion perpendicular to the vehicle, and on the right side of the
006 vehicle, the pipe rack ar~s are sho~n in their stored position
007 withi~ the conFines o the rig. Further details of the
008 mounting of the pipe rack arms are shown in ~IGS. 7, 8 and 9.
009 As illustrated in FIG. 8, the pipe rack arms are
010 journaled on vertical pins 55 supported on a frame member 56
011 journaled at the center oE the rig on frame 57 ~upported on
012 suitable framing legs 58 secured to the chassis of the rig.
013 Inboard of tbe journal 55 and attached to the underside of the
014 framing members 56 is a hydraulic operator 59 suitably pinned
015 at 61 and 62 to the frame Inember 56 and the chassis 31,
016 respectively. The hydraulic operator is operable to raise
017 and/or lower the pipe rack arms about their pivot on frame 57
018 so that the arms slope either toward, away from, or are level
019 with respect to the chassis 31.
020 Referring particularly to FIG. 7 ~here one of the
021 pipe racks 37 is illustrated, it can be seen that the slope of
022 the rack is such that the well elements 17 roll along the upper
023 surface of the pipe rack toward the inboard portion of th~ rig.
024 On the opposite side of the rig a pipe rack arm is shown in
025 phantom with a slope away from the rig so that well elements 17
026 are rolled away from the rig and are stored against a stop pin
027 63 fixed to the outboard side.
028 As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, hydraulic operators 64 are
029 provided for each of the pipe rack arms to provide the opera~
030 ting force to move the arms to the extended position outboard
031 of the rig. The hydraulic operators 64 operate between a
032 bracket 65 on the pipe rack ar~s and a bracket 66 mounted to
033 the frame member 56.
034 As shown in FIG. 7, above the pipe rack and pivoted
035 on a central rotary plate 71 are mounte~ a pair of jib cranes
036 33. The vertical support for the jib crane is a channel shaft
037 72 includin~ a journaling arrangement 73 for rotatably mounting
~5~3
001 -10-
002 the shaEt on the rotary plate 71. The horizontal arm of the
003 jib crane includes a member 74 fixed to the vertical shaft 72
004 and extension 75 hinged at 76 and pinned at 77 onto the member
005 74. ~he outboar~ side of the extension 75 carries a sheave 78
006 pivoted on a bracket 79 and a cable 81 passes over the sheave
007 and is ~uided over a movable sheave 80 moved by operator 82
008 mounted on the upper surface of the horizontal member 74. It
009 should be noted that the jib crane is rotatable about vertical
010 shaft 72 so as to position the cable 81 for use to pick up a
011 supply of well elements 17 on the ground beside the rig or on
012 the bed of a delivery truck, The cable and crane may be used
013 to lift the well elements while the pipe rack 37 is positioned
014 parallel to the rig and, while the cable holds the well
015 elements above the position of the pipe rack, the racks may be
016 extended to be perpendicular to the rig and the well elements
017 may be then placed on the pipe rack. In reverse operations
018 elements may be withdrawn from the pipe rack by being lifted
019 with the cable and placed on a delivery truck or on the ground
020 adjacent to the rig. The jib cranes 38 are mounted above the
021 arms of the Pipe rack and positioned so that they may be
022 rotated to either side of the rig to provide lifting and
023 servicing operations to pipe racks on either side. The
024 construction with the extension 75 and its hinged and pinned
025 relationship permits the jib cranes to be stored in the
026 positions illustrated in FIG. 2 when the rig is collapsed to
027 its transport position.
029 Por the purpose of delivering well elements to the
030 transfer arms 41 and eventually to the automatic pipe manip-
031 ~lator 45 for run~ing into the well, it is essen~ial that
032 individual well elements 17 be indexed into a fixed position
033 where other portions of the well servicing rig ~ay cooperate
034 with the well elements. The pipe rack ar~s 37 are provided
035 with an ~pper me~ber 67 preferably wood and slightly shorter
036 than the movable portion of the pipe rack ar~s. ~s shown in
037 FIG. 7 an indexer 91 is locatable in a position with respect to
l~S~3
001
002 the pipe rack arms and slightly above or below, depending
003 respectively, upon whether well elements are running out of or
004 into the well. Details oE the indexer are shown in FIGS. lOA
005 and lOB and the operation of the indexer is shown in FIGS. 34,
006 35 and 36 where the indexer is shown to constitute a body
007 portion 92 having an indexing groove 93 cut into its upper
008 surface to provide an ali~nment location for well elements 17
009 shown as phantom indications of tubing or rods. The indexer
010 has a pair o~ threaded travelers 94 fixed to its outer surface
011 in a position to cooperate with a worm shaEt 96 so that
012 rotation of the wor~ sha~t moves the indexer up and down alony
013 the wor~ to accomplish positioning of the indexer with respect
014 to the pipe rack arms 37. As shown in FIG~ 6 the indexer 91 is
015 adjacent to the pipe rack arms 37 with a portion thereof
016 extending outwardly from the drill rig to a position for
017 cooperation with the well elements.
018 The indexer 91 is further provided with gatin~ means
019 97 including a retractable barrier 98 for controlling movement
020 of well elements into the index groove of the indexer.
021 second gating means 99 including a retractable barrier 100 con-
022 trols the passage of a well element into the indexing groove.
023 The two gating means 97 and 99 are needed for running well ele-
024 ments into the well whQn the control and sequencing of well ele-
025 ment movements will be seen as an integral part of the present
026 invention. As shown in FIGS. 34, 35 and 36, well elements
027 which were supported on the pipe rack arms 37 drop onto the
028 ~ody portion 92 of indexer 91 and stop against indexer gate
029 100. When the equipment is ready to advan~e a well element 17,
030 gate 98 is extended to hold the elements and separate on ele-
031 ment from the row as shown in FIG. 35. Gate 100 is then with-
032 drawn and element 17 rolls into the indexing groove ~3 as shown
033 in FIG. 36. Gate 100 is then extended and gate 98 withdrawn to
034 index the next element for use as shown in FIG. 34. The in-
035 dexer i~ further provided with a blocking bar 101 pinned a~ 102
036 to the body portion 92 and rotatable to a position to cooperate
037 with an ear 103 on the inboard side of the body portion. When
001 -12-
,
002 rotated to the positlon for cooperation with the ear 103, as
G03 shown phantom in FIG. 10A, the blocking bar 101 excludes well
004 elements ~rom the indexer so that elements will ride on the
005 upper surface of the blocking bar and be transported down the
006 slope to the pipe rack arms 37.
007 It should be apparent that in the two operating
008 positions of the indexer, i.e. the position for indexing well
009 elements for running into the well and in the position for
010 guiding well elements when running out of the well, the indexer
011 may be at any position along the worm 96 depending on the
012 height of the elements stored on the pipe rac~ arms 37. The
013 gates 97 and 99 will control entry of elements to the indexer
014 and blocking bar 101 will roll elements onto the stored
015 elements or the pipe rack arms.
016 There are four indexers associated with the mobile
017 well servicing rig of the present invention, one for each o
018 the pipe rack arms. The two indexers on the same side of the
019 rig are positivned in the same elevation regardless of whether
020 they are receiving or passing elements. The worm gear
021 providing the movement and support for the indexers is
022 supported on the conveying means 39. Referring now to FIGS~
023 10, 11 and 12, the worm gear 96 is shown supported on a
024 mounting plate 104 providing both support and a bearing journal
025 for the worm gear. The mounting plate 1~4 is affixed to the
026 frame of the conveying means 39. At one side of the conveying
027 means a hydraulic motor 105 is supported on the mounting plate
028 104 to provide the necessary rotary motion of the worm gear 96.
02~ An upper shaft guide 106 is provided at each side of the
030 conveying means and a ~h~ft 107 is supported in the guide in a
031 relationship to carry drive motion fro~ the worm 96. A pair of
032 90~ angle gear boxes 108 change the direction of the drive from
033 the worm g6 to sha~t 109 passing horizontally across the upper
034 surface of the conveying means with support provided at a
035 bearing journal 111. With the mechanism just described
036 rotation of the motor 105 drives worJm 96 at the left hand side
037 of FIG. 10 to cause movement of indexer 91 up or down the
~5~3
001 -13-
002 conveying means. Rotation of shaft 36 is transferred to shaft
003 106 through gear box 108 and shaft 109 to gear box 108 at the
004 right hand side of FIG. 10 and throu~h shaft 107 to wor~ 96 at
005 the right hand side. The drive and gear boxes are designed to
006 cause in~exers 91 on both sides of the conveyor to move simul^
007 taneously and in the same dir~ction.
008 With the mechanisms just described the well elements
009 which have previously been placed on the pipe rack arms ar~ now
010 positioned in an indexing location when running into the well
011 so that additional mechanism of tlle well servicing rig may
012 always find the well elements in exactly the same location.
013 Likewise,'when well elements are being run out of the well the
014 indexing mechanism is in a place to unload those well elements
015 onto the pipe rack for further disposition. As may be seen in
016 FIG. 11, the indexer 91 on the left hand side of the figu,re is
017 located in a position for running well elements into the well.
018 The indexer 9l shown on the right hand side of the figur~ is in
019 its position for running well elements out of the well.
020 As previously described the mounting plate 104 is
021 supported on a portion of the vertical support members 112 and
022 113 of the pipe conveyin3 means 39. The pipe conveying means
023 39 is duplicated at each side of the well servicing rig; for
024 the purposes of description here, only one side of the con-
025 veying means will be described. The purpose of the pipe con-
026 veying means 39, when running well elements into the well, is
027 to pick the well elements from the indexer 91 and transport
028 them to a position where they ~ay be placed into the transfer
029 arms 41; or in the case of running well elements out of the
030 well t3 transfer well elements from the transfer arms 41 into
031 cooperation with the indexing means 91 and onto the pipe rack
032 arms 37. As illustrated in ~IGS. 7, ll and 12, when the rig is
033 in the operational position, the pipe conveying means is
034 aligned perpendicular to the leveled chassis of the well
035 servicing rig. The pipe conveying ~eans are supported on a bar
036 114 fixed to the underside of the chassis of the vehicle 31.
037 Each of the vertical support members is pivoted on a axle
115~L43
001 - -14-
002 suitably connected to the bar 114 to permit the pipe conveyers
903 to be rotated rom the operational position as shown in FIGS. 7
004 and 11 to the storage position as shown in FIG. 4. Hydraulic
005 actuators 115 operating between the chassis oE the vehicle 31
006 and the vertical support members are adapted for moving the
007 conveyor means about their pivot on bar 114.
008 Each of the vertical support members constitutes a
009 pair of guide plates 116 and 117 that are elongated, ha~e a
010 rotary surface at each end as at 118 and 119, and an internal
011 slot 121. The guide plates 116 and 117 and their rotary
012 surfaces 118 and 119 and the slot 121 are designed to provide
013 operating guides for elements that are adapted to provide for a
014 continuous orientation for a lifter jaw 122 associated with
OlS each of the vertical support members of the conveying means.
016 As shown in FIG. 12 the lifter jaw 122 is provided
017 with an indexing lot at 123. The li-ter jaw is designed and
018 located to be in alignment with the indexing groove 93 of the
019 indexer 91. As the lifter jaw moves in a upward direction
020 passing the indexer 91 it is adapted to pick a well element out
021 of the indexer and carry it along the conveying means. The
022 .lifter jaw is maintained in a vertical orientation by having a
023 pair of arms 124 and 125 affixed at pivoted pins 126 and 127 on
024 the lifter jaw and positioned between the elongated guide
025 plates 116 and 117 with a pair of pins 128 and 129. A link 131
026 spaces th~ arms 124 and 125 within slot 121 and suitable spacer
027 means 132 are provided for each arm to malntain proper
028 al.ignment between the guide plates 116 and 117. The guide
029 plates 116 and 117 are supported in fixed position.by a series
030 of U-shaped brace members 133 spaced vertically along the
031 conveyor means. The interior of the U-shape of the brace is
032 adapted to accommodate the lifter jaws and the bight portion of
033 the U-shape is only on the interior portion of the conveyiny
034 means where it will not interfere with well elements.
035 The driving force to the li~ter jaws is provided by a
036 hydraulic motor 134 mounted, as shown in FI~. 10, adj~cent to
037 the vertical support member 112 and connected by an elongated
~ 4 3
001 -15-
002 shaft 135 to a duplicate set of drive mechanisms at vertical
003 support ~ember 113. Motor 134 is also connected to a drive
004 shaft 136 and, through bearings 137 mounted on and passing
005 through brace 133 connect to the hub 138 of a sprocket 139.
00Z Sprocket 139 cooperates with a chain link belt 141. Secured to
007 the chain linX belt by suitable means is a draw pin 142 which
008 is attached to arm 124 carrying the lifter jaw 122 and a roller
009 143 in a position to cooperate with the rotary surfaces 118 or
010 119 of the guide plates 116 or 117, respectively.
011 Rotation of shaft 136 and 135 by ~otor 134 causes
012 rotation oE sprocket 139 on the inside portions of each of the
013 vertical support members 112 and 113 of the pipe conveyor means
014 39. That rotation causes the sprocket and its connection to
015 draw pin 142 to carry the lifter jaw in a rotary but always
016 vertically oriented path around the vertical support members.
017 As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the path oE the lifter jaws
018 carries them into alignment with the indexing slot of ~he
019 indexer 91 and, the design of the drive mechanism always keeps
020 the lifter jaw oriented in an upwar~ direction. The arrows
021 shown in FIG. 11, left side, illustrate the direction of the
022 rotation o~ the li~ter jaws for transporting well elements into
023 the well, and the arrows, right side, illustrate the rotation
024 in the opposite dir~ction for r~moval of well elements from the
025 well.
Q26 In FI~ 7, at the left hand side of the conveyor 39
027 and at the left side of the rig, a lifter jaw 122 is shown, in
028 phantom, carrying a well element 117 in its path up the
029 conveyor 39. On the right hand side of that same conveyor, the
030 lifter jaw 122 is shown in its position after it has deposited
031 the well element 117 into the jaws o a hand of the transfer
032 arm 41~ FIG. 13 illustrates the jaw 144 mounted to an arm 145.
033 The arm 145, as snown in FIG. 1, is an elongated member which
Q34 carries two jaws 144 and moves between a position cooperating
035 with the conveyor 39 to a position cooperatin~ with the
036 automatic pipe manipulator 45. FIG. 1 also shows the transfer
037 arm, in phantom, in its position halfway between the conveyor
L143
001 -16-
002 ~eans and the automatic pipe manipulator. The transLer arm is
003 supported on a port ion of the frame of the rig by a pair of
004 ar~s 146 and 147 both of which are pivoted at 148 on frame 149
005 of the rig. A lifting mechanism, comprising a hydraulic
006 cylinder 151, expands and contracts to lift the transfer arm
007 from its cooperating position with the conveyor to its position
008 for cooperation with the automatic pipe manipulator. As shown
009 in FIG. 7, the arm 145 rests on a support 151 attached to a
010 portion of the frame of the rig. When resting on the support
011 151 the transfer arm 41 is in position to receive pipe or to
012 transfer pipe to the conveyor means 39. As shown in FIG. 13,
013 the jaw 144 is fabricated to provide an indexing configura~ion
014 at 152. The orientation of the transfer arm and particularly
015 the indexing conEiguration of the jaw 144 is such that it is in
016 alignment with the indexing slot of the li~ter jaws as they are
017 rotated around the conveying means. A gripper pin 153 is
018 pivoted at 154 and an extension beyond the pivot cooperates
019 with the hydraulic operator 155 to close the pin about a well
020 element, as for instance the tubing piece shown in FIG. 13.
021 There are t~o transfer arms 41, one at each side of
022 the rig and each transfer arm is equipped with a pair of jaws
023 144. ach transfer arm is equipped with its separate arms 1~6
024 and 147 and its hydraulic operator 151. The purpose of the
025 transfer arms 41 is to transfer the well elements from a hori-
026 zontal position above the well servicing rig to a vertical posi-
027 tion in cooperation with the automatic pipe manipulator (AP~
028 45 ~djacent to the center line o~ the wellbore.
029 As shown in FIGS. 1 5, 15 and 16, the arm 145 and
030 the jaws 144 of the transfer arm operate in planes that are
~31 aligned between the legs of the derrick 43. When the transer
032 arm is in the upright, vertical position, the well element in
033 its jaws is positloned for transfer to the automatic pipe
034 manipulator jaws. FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the automatic
035 pipe manipulator in front a~d side elevation. With reference
036 to FIG~ 16A, representing a ~op plan view of the movements of
037 the automatic pipe manipulator, planes represented by dotted
~L~5~1~3
001 ~17-
002 lines 156 and 157 between the legs of derrick 43 represent the
003 operating planes of the transEer arms in tiltin~ horizontal to
004 vertical. The automatic pipe manipulator operates between the
005 operating planes of the transfer arms and within the derrick
006 legs. The automatic pipe manipulator constitutes a pair of
00~ guides 158 fixed at the upper end by offset braces lS9 and at
0~8 the bottom end to the legs of derrick 43 adjacent to the pivot
009 161 for the derrick. Mounting of the AP~ guides to the derric~
010 is such that when the derri~k is in its upright position, the
011 derrick will be leaning forward in respect to the well
012 serviciny rig while the guides 158 will be vertical and offset
013 rom the center line of the well being serviced. Operating
014 between the guide~ is a support 162 pivoted in horizontal
015 braces 163 and 164 with the braces supported by rollers 165
016 pressed against the inside and outside surfaces of the guides
017 158 and 150. The support 162 is offset at 162a to provide a
018 lower portion 162b offset from the upper portion of 162. The
019 purpose of the offset will become more apparent with further
0~0 description of the elements and operation of the rig~
0~1 ~ixed at the upper end o~ the support 162 is an upper
022 APM arm 166 supporting an upper APM hand 167. Fixed to the
023 lower end 162b of this support, is a lower APM arm 168
024 supporting a lower APM hand 169. Arms 166 and 168 are
025 hydraulically operated pistons tha~ support the hands 167 and
026 169 respectively and function to move the hands from solid
027 alignment against the body of the arm to an extended pQsition,
028 a fixed distance away from their support on the arms 166 and
029 168~ The extendea positions are shown in phantom FIG. 16 and,
030 in rotated position, in FIG. 15.
031 The pivot of support 162 on the horizontal braces 163
032 and 164 is slightly forward of a plane passing through the
033 guides 158 so that when the support is rotat~d from a position
034 perpendicular to the plane between the guides to a position
035 parallel of the plane of the guides, the APM arms 166 and 168
036 will be forward of the guides and in a position of operation in
037 a plane which will pass through the center line of the well
~l~lS~L~4;~
001 -18-
002 element held by the transfer arm when it is in its vertical
003 upright position. A hydraulic motor 171 supported on the lower
004 horizontal brace 164 is connected to the pivot of the support
005 162 to cause tAe desired rotation between positions parallel to
006 the guides 158 and perpendicular to the guides 158. A
007 hydraulic piston 170 connected between the horizontal brace 164
008 and a fixed portion of the rig provides for vertical movement
009 of the APM along the guides 158.
010 The upper hand 167 is shown in FIGS. 17~ 18, and 19.
011 The hand constitutes a body port~on 172 having a pair of legs
012 173 and 174 providing pivots respectively at 175 and 176 for an
013 upper jaw and lower jaw 177 and 178. A pair of hydraulic
014 operators 179 and 1~0 are fixed to the b¢dy portion 172 at one
015 end and are attached to a mova~le portion of one of the upper
016 or lower jaws in a position adjacent to the pivots to cause the
017 jaws to be enclosed about a well element.
018 On the lower end of the auto.~atic pipe manipulator at
019 the offset lower portion 1~2b, the lower ~PM hand is mounted on
020 lower APM arm 168. As shown in FIGS. ~0, 21, and 22, the lower
021 APM hand comprises a pair of jaws 181 and 182 adapted to be
022 moved horizontally toward and away from each other so as to
023 firmly grasp well elements both in transporting them in and out
024 of the alignment with the wellbore and into and out o
025 engagement with the transfer arms 410 The jaws 181 and 182,
026 which are substantially duplicate of each other, have a
027 generally U-shape wherein the bight of the U forms the graspin~
028 portion of the jaws as at 183 in FIG~ 21 and a pair of legs 184
029 and 185. The legs surround a generally U shaped track member
030 186 which its bight portion welded to a threaded means 187
031 adapted for mounting the lower APM hand 169 to lower APM ar,n
032 168. The legs 188 and 189 p~ovide track surfaces at their
033 outer edges, as for example at 191 and 192, on leg 138.
034 Cooperati~g with the trac~ surfaces are cams 193 rot~tably
03~ mounted on ~ournal bolts 194 passing through the jaws 181 and
036 182. The cooperati¢n between the cams 193 and track surfaces
037 191 and 192 provide for lateral horizontal movement of the jaws
~S~4~
O 01 -1 9-
002 with respect to the vertical center line of the lower APM
003 hand 169.
004 Uniform and equal movement of the two jaws, 181 and
005 182 is accomplished by actuation of a hydraulic op~rator 195
006 mounted to ears 196 on the inside surface of the legs 188 and
OQ7 189 of track 186. The rod 197 of the hydraulic operator l9S is
008 threaded into and ear 198 on jaw 181, as shown in Fl~. 20, so
009 that actuation of the operator 195 causing the rod to contract
010 into the cylinder causes jaw 181 to move toward the center line
011 of the lower APM hand.
012 Welded to the upper and lower surfaces of jaw 181 are
013 a pair of ears 199 to which are mounted an upper and lower rack
014 201 and 202. 3aw 182 has similar ears 203, positioned inwardly
015 of the jaws with respect to mounting the 187, and upper and
016 lower racks 204 and 205 are suitably mounted to ears 203.
017 Centrally mounted at the top and bottom of the track 186 on
018 legs 188 and 189 are a pair of pinions 206 and 207 on suitable
019 pinion shaft bolts Z08. The pinions are provided with a hub at
020 209 to ~rovide a standoff from the legs 188 and 189 and to
021 place the geared portion of the pinion in cooperation with the
022 racks 201 and 204, respectively, and 202 and 205, respectively.
023 With the mechanism just described, as the hydraulic
024 operator l9S is actuated and rod 197 is contracted into the
025 operator, the connection to the ear 198 of jaw 181 causes th~
026 jaw to move with cam~ 192 and 193 rolling on track surfaces 191
027 and 192. That movement causes track 201 to move toward the
028 center of the hand 169 and causes rotation of pinion 206 which
029 transfers its rotar~ motion to linear mbtion of the track 203.
030 Movement of rack 203 causes movement of jaw 182 ~oward the
031 center of the APM hand 169 in the same distance, but reversed
032 direction with respect to jaw 181. The movement of the two
033 jaws toward each other causes any well element between them to
034 be grasped firmly for manipulation in accordance with further
035 operation of well servicing rig.
036 A pair o~ support members 211 are mounted to the
037 ~pper and lower surfaces of the legs 188 and 189 and these mem-
038 bers are pro~ided with a shoulder at 21~ for interior support
001 ~ -
002 of the racks and the outer ends of the support members 211 are
003 provided with a tapped hole into which a machine bolt 213 may
004 be threaded to support a protecting plate 214 at the top of the
005 lower APM hand and a bottom plate 215 at the bottom thereof.
006 With the mechanisms so far described, the well
007 elements have been, in the case of running pipe into the well,
008 loaded onto the pipe loading rack, transferred by conveyor
009 means to the transfer arm-~, tilted by the transfer arms to
010 position to cooperate with the automatic pipe manipulator and
011 are now in position to be grasped by the pipe manipulator and
012 put into position in ali~nment with the well head. FIG. 16A
013 has a composite showing of the several positions of the
014 automatic pipe manipulator 45 and the transfer arms 41 with
015 respect to both the derrick and the center line of the wellbore
016 to which the well elements are to be transferred. As shown in
017 FIG. 16~, the transfer arm 145 with its jaws 144 grasping the
018 well element 17 is between the legs inside of and at the right
019 center of the legs of the derrick 43. The upper APM arm 166
020 and its hand 167 is shown in solid lines slightly withdrawn
021 from its extended position with respect to the AP~ guides 158
022 and, in the phantom position, its fully extended position in
023 alignment with the center line of the well board 14. Also
024 shown in the phan~om lines is the posi~ion of the upper APM ar.
025 166 and its hand 167 in their contracted po~ition at A and an
026 extended position at a with respect to the jaws 144 of transfer
027 arm 145. There are three positions for the extension of the APi~
028 arm 166. The position at A for rotation between the alignment
029 with the transfer arm jaws and the line goiny through the
030 center line of the wellbore, position B for ~ontact position
031 with well elements held within the transfer ar~s, and position
032 C for vertical alignment with the center line of the wellbore.
033 The APM i~ rotated in 90 degree intervals between positions of
034 cooperation with one of the transfer arms 145, 90 degree
035 rotation to position of alignment with the wellbore 14~ and a
036 continued rotation of 90 degrees for alignment with the other
037 transfer arm 145. ~ydraulic motor 71, as shown in FIG. 16, is
038 energized to pro~uce rotation of the APM support 162 through
039 each of the three positions. Both of the AP~ ar.~s 166 and 168
l~S~43
001 -21-
002 are equipped with hydraulic actuators which move the APM hands
003 into the desired positions of A, B, or C. In later description
004 of the positions for the APM arms, position A is referred to as
005 the 30-inch position, position B is the 35-inch position and
OQ6 position C is the 55-inch position.
007 Beginning with the position of solid lines in FIG.
008 16A, the upper AP~ arm 166 is retracted and in alignment with
009 the wellbore, with a well element 17 in the transfer arm 145 as
010 shown, the AP~ arm 166 may be rotated 90 degrees counter
011 clockwise to a position in alignment with the well element held
012 in jaws 144. The arm 166 is now extended to a position to
013 place the well element within the center of the jaws of the
014 hand 167, and, through mechanisms which will be hereinafter
015 described, the jaws 177 and 178, as seen in FIG. 17, are moved
016 toward each other to grasp the well element. It should be
017 understood that the lower AP~ arm 168 and his hand 169 are
018 likewise manipulated and upper and lower jaws 181 and 182 are
019 likewise ope~ated to firmly grasp the well elements 17. In the
020 case of the upper APM hand, the jaws 177 and 178 function
021 merely as guides and do not fir,~ly grasp the element. At this
022 time, the automatic control mechanism release the grasp of jaw
023 144 of the tran~fer arms and permits the APM arms to assume sup-
024 port of the well element. The APM arms are rotated 90 degrees
025 to the solid position shown in FIG. 15A and, when the control
026 mechanisms advise that the automatic rig is ready to accept an
0~7 additional well element, the APM arms 168 and 166 are extended
028 to position C in alignment with the center line of the
029 wellbore.
030 The maneuvering just previously described i3
031 duplicated in the event that well elements at the left side of
032 FIG. 16A are to be transferred from the transfer arms to the
033 automatic pipe manipulator and to alignment with the wellbore.
034 Having transf rred well element to the position j~st
035 described, the well element is now in location for further
036 manipulation with respect to the center line of the wellbore.
037 FIGS. 23, 24, 25, and 26 illustrate the elevator mechanism 48
Q38 which is connected by a suitable means to the traveling block
~ lLS~3
001 -22-
002 46. The elevator 48 performs the main purpose of grasping the
003 enlarged coller of a well element, as shown in FIG. 23 at 17A,
004 taking support of the well element through cooperation with
005 that coller and permitting the APM hands to release their
006 support ~f the well element 17. The APM hands are then with-
007 drawn to the position A of FIG. 16A and the well element is
008 lowered into the well through operation of the traveling block
009 46. The foregoing description is the maneuvering of a well
010 element when it is the first element entering the well. All
011 other subsequent well elements will be transferred by lowering
012 the APM arms until an element comes into contact with the
013 coller of an element already in the well; that lowering is
014 accomplished by moving the AP~ vertically along the APM guide
015 158 until the threaded end 17B of a well element has been
016 stabbed into the coller 17A of the well element then being held
017 by the elevator 48. The elevator 48 therefore has two
018 ~unctions: firstly, for raising and lowering well elements and
019 secondly, for providing guidance for connection of well
020 elements when running in.
021 The elevator 48 is constructed with a solid base
022 portion 215 having a central circular hole 216 therethrough.
023 The base portion is fixed as by welding to a pa~r of side
024 braces 217. The elevator provides a co~struction at the upper
025 end for connection to the support ears 218 of the travelling
026 block 46. Braces 219 are adap~ed to be bolted into place to
027 hold the elevator to the ears 218 of the travelling block. A
028 rectangular funnel 221 is ~ixed, as by weldins, to the inside
029 surfaces of the side braces 217 and a coupling guide 222 is sup-
030 ported below the funnel 221 by the connection of ears 223 on
031 the guide to internal braces 224 on the inside of the side
032 braces 217.
033 A pair of jaws 227 and 228 are mounted below the
034 coupling guide 222, above the solid base 215 of the elevator,
035 within the interior of the side braces 217, on pins 224 and 225
036 extending through an upward extension 226 of the base 215. The
037 jaws have semi-circular cut out portions therein at 22g and are
038 complimentary so that the cut-out portions form a circular hole
039 vertically through the jaws.
~lS~43
001 -23-
002 A pneumatic operator 231 has its fixed end attached
003 to an ear 232 on the interior surface of one af the side
004 braces 217 and its movable end fixed by a pin 233 to jaw 228.
OOS By suitable linkage mechanisms such as links 234 and 235,
006 movement of pneumatic operator 231 causing movement o~ jaw 228
007 causing similar movement of jaw 227. It should be understood
008 that link 235 is fixed to ~aw 227 at pin 224.
009 When the jaws 227 and 228 are in position shown in
010 phantom in FIG. 23 in contact with the base member 215 they are
011 in position to permit the body of a well element 17 to pass
012 through the elevator but a coller 17A will not pass through the
013 jaws. As further shown in phantom in upper portion of Figure
014 23, a threaded end 17B of a well element 17 may be stabbed into
OlS the funnel 221, pass through the coupling guide 222 to contact
016 the coupling 17A to then be in position to be threaded into a
017 string extending into the wellbore.
018 The foregoing has described the idealized situation
019 with a well element transferred to the elevator 48 and lowered
020 by traveling block 46 to well head 14. After running a well
021 element into and connecting it with an existing ro~ or pipe
022 string within the well head~ the elevator 4~ will ha~e been
023 lowered into a position below the APM and the APM will have
024 returned to cooperating position with a transfer arm to grasp a
025 second well element for connection to the well element string.
026 With the APM returned to alignment with the wellbore and then
027 extended to a~ial alignment with the well head, the new well
028 element will be lowered into the funnel 221 and into contact
029 with coupling 17A of the top most well element extending above
030 the wellbore.
031 When the new well element is connected to the s~ring,
032 in the manner to be hereinafter described, the elevator is
033 lowered sliqhtly to release the connection between the jaws and
034 the well element thus releasing the elevator. The elevator
035 would then be in condition to permit the string of elements to
036 be lowered further into the wellbore. The elevator jaws 126
037 and 127 may then be reset t~ catch the coupling as the well
~I~IS~ 3
001 -24-
002 element is lowered and the elevator will be prepared to receive
003 the next element to be coupled to the string.
004 In the reverse, when elements are being withdrawn
005 from the well, the elevator will have its jaws in contact with
006 the coupling 17A oE the upper ~ost element on the string and,
007 by raising the elevator with the travelling bloc~ 4~, the well
008 element may be raised to a position where it may be grasped by
009 the automatic pipe manipulator arms. The well element is then
010 unscrewed from the string and then further raised to permit the
011 automatic pipe manipulator to grasp the element. By lowering
012 the elevator to permit the jaws 226 and 227 to be opened, the
013 elevator may then be drawn over the top o~ the coupling and the
014 automatic pipe manipulator may withdraw the pipe from alignment
015 with the elevator and prepare to pass it to a transfer arm. At
016 the same time the elevator 48 is being lowered into position to
017 grasp the next well element of the string. The solid base 215
018 will pass over the coupling and align the coupling within the
019 coupling guide 222. The jaws 226 and ~27 are then placed into
020 position to make contact with the bottom of the coupling and
021 the elevator may then be raised to pull a well element section
022 out of the well head.
023 The traveling block 46 is of the style known as a
024 split block and may be the block available from Dresser Idico
025 as a Dual Speed Traveling Block as shown and described in the
026 1978-1979 Compo~ite Catalogue of Oilfield Equipment and
027 Services~ 33rd Revision - 1978-1979, published by World Oil
02~ (Gulf Publishing Co.), P. O. Box 2608, ~ouston, Texas, 77001.
029 The split block permits well elements to pass vertically
030 through the center of the block and permits the elements to be
031 inserted horizontally into the block from the front thereof.
032 Power tongs 21 and backup tongs 23 are provided to
033 produce the necessary rotation of the well element string to
034 accomplish the coupling or uncoupling of well elements. Below
035 the power tongs and backup tongs is a centralizer 47 to provide
036 guidance Lor elements into and out of the well head, and, at
037 the well head; a set of slips 50 are provided for holding the
l~S~43
001 -25-
002 string of well elements against downward vertical movement when
OC3 the string is released from the elevator 48.
004 Power tongs and their associated back-up tongs are
005 ~available, as shown at page 68 in the 1978-1979 Composite
006 Catalogu~ noted a~ove from Joy Petroleum Equipment Co. as
007 Hillman-Relley Model 3700-H-Power Tong. The equipment is
008 modified to provide the automatic control herein require~.
009 The Slips are adapted from the equip~ent available
010 from Cavins of Long Beach, California, and shown in the
011 1978-1979 Composite Catalogue, Pages 1621 and 1623 as Cavins
012 "Advance" Automatic Spiders. These spiders are modified to
013 provide the automatic control herein required.
014 FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate the mounting and arrange-
015 ment of the tongs, centralizer and slips with respect to the
016 front end of the well servicing rig and the well head. The
017 power tongs are supported by cross-~ember 261 positioned
018 between mounting post 240 and 242 fixed to the orward end of
019 the rig 31. The cross-member is slidable vertically along the
020 posts through its support on guides 262 and 263 having suitable
021 rolling contact with the posts. Vertical move~ent is provided
022 by expansion of a hydraulic cylinder 264 having its expandable
023 piston end 265 fixed to a lower portion 266 of cross member 261
024 and its fixed end mounted to ears 267 fixed to the chassis of
025 the rig 310
026 Cro~s-member 261 is supported horizontally in guides
027 262 a~d 263 ~y extensions 268 and 269 at the left and right,
028 respectively, of FIG. 27. An hydraulic cylinder 271 is
029 supported at its fixed e~d to the forward end of the rig 31, ~y
030 ~eans not shown, and has its movable piston end fixed to a post
031 273 on support member 274 which supports the power tongs 21 and
032 back-up 23 of a style previously described. Also supported on
033 the suppcrt member 274 is a joint finder 275 having a roller
034 276 supported on a guide 277. Hori~ontal move~ent of ~he power
035 tongs and b~c~-up is accomplished by expansion and contraction
036 of piston 271 cau~ing move~ent of the extensions 268 and 269 in
037 their support on guides 262 and 263~ The ioint finder 275,
1151143
001 -26-
oa2 whose purpose will be more fully describ~d hereinaEter, is
003 moved hori20ntally by operation of a piston member 278 to place
004 roller 276 in contact with the well element 17 within the tongs
005 and to identify the location of a joint between well elements.
006 Below the power tongs 21 and back-up 23 a centralizer
007 47 is supported on the front end of the rig 31. FIGS. 31, 32
008 and 33 illustrate a foldable centralizer 47 mounted on the
009 forward end of the well servicing rig in a position for
010 alignment with the centerline of the wellbore~ The centrali~er
011 47 is pivoted on mounting bracXets 241 fixed, as by welding, to
012 the righthand (~acing forward) mounting post 242 of the rig 31.
013 A pivot pin 243 and locking pin 24~ permit the centralizer to
014 be extended beyond the rig 31 or folded back onto the rig. A
015 foldable joint 245 provides a means for folding the ce~tralizer
016 into extend or contracted position and establishes two portions
017 a pivoted end 246 and jaw 247 for the centralizer. A jaw means
01-8 248 is mounted to the end of the jaw portion.
019 The jaw means includes a pair of jaw members 249 and
020 251 as shown in FIG. 32 with jaw 251 having an openable ~inger
0~1 252. Jaws 249 and 251 are movable toward and away from each
022 other by operation of an hydraulic motor 253 which causes
023 rotation of a pinion gear 254 and resultant lateral movement of
024 racks 255 and 256 mounted, respectively, on jaws 249 and 251.
0~5 The jaws are adapted to close on a well element 17 as shown in
026 phantom and to keep the well element aligned with the
027 centerline of the wellbore. It should be noted from FIG. 1
028 that the centralizer is positioned between the well head 14 and
029 the power tongs 21 and that both the centralizer 47 and the
030 tongs 21 are a significant distance above ground level. Finger
031 252 is provided to permit the initial alignm~n~ of a well
032 element within the centralizer, thereafter the elements remain
033 within the jaws regardless of whether pipe, tubing or rods are
034 being run.
035 At the top of the well head 14 a set of power-opera-
036 ted slips 18 are mounted. Tbe re~ommended slips have the form
037 previously described with suitable modification to permit them
43
~01 -27-
002 to be operated a~tomatically and in accordance with the
003 required sequencing as will be further described hereinafter.
004 The slips as here schematically shown constitute at least a
005 pair of toothed jaws 281 and 282 having linkage connections
006 such as 283 and 284 pivoted on extensions ~85 and 286 of the
00? slip housing. A pair of pistons 237 and 288 are operable to
OOR move the jaws by moving the pivoted linkage to cause the sl ips
009 to be opened and closed. The pistons will be controlled in the
010 automatic sequencing as will be hereinafter des~ribed.
011 FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate enlarged representations
012 of the joint finding apparatus of the present invention.
~13 Roller 276 on guide 277, having at least two possible sizes Eor
014 use with tubing and rods, moves with the support 274 for the
015 power tongs 21. In maXing and un-making a joint between well
016 elements it becomes necess~ry to grasp the upper element with
017 the power tongs, hold the lower element and rotate the upper
01~ elementc Power tongs 21 provide the graspiny and rotation for
019 the upper element and the back-up tongs 23 hold the lower
020 element against rotation. However, because all well elements
021 are not exactly the same length (particularly with rods~, it
022 becomes necessary to sense, the location o~ a joint and to
023 position the joint and the tongs to accomplish the desired
024 making and un-making. Joint ~inder 275 serves that purpose by
025 positioning roller 276 in contact with the well element as the
026 tongs are moved vertically along the element.
027 In the ca~e of tubing, the tongs are raised to their
028 upper limit by the piston 264 and then lowered with wheel ~75
029 in contact with the element. When wheel 2~6 passes the ~oint
030 17A, the vertical movement of the tongs is stopped and, because
031 of prior ad~ustment, the tongs are in pvsition to grasp the
032 upper ele~ent and the lower element to provide for the
033 necessa~y rotary mo~ement.
034 In the case of rod ~oods, the tongs are lowered to
035 their bottom and raised by the piston 264. When the upset 291
036 along the rod is sensed, the tongs are stopped. In that posi-
037 tion the t~ngs will be in position to grasp the upper element
~L~5~ 3
001 -28-
002 and back-up tongs in the form of a fork ~ill contact the flat
003 2g2 between the upset and the joint 17A.
~04 Spring 293 on roller guide 277 biases the roller 276
OQ5 ~oward the w~ll elements 17 and movement of an extension of the
006 guide 277 operates a sensor at 294 to stop the further movement
007 of the tongs.
008 Automatic sensing and control means are associated
009 with each oE the elements perfor~ing a function on the
0~0 rl~neuvering of the well elements so that the entire operation
011 of the well servicing rig is accomplished without the need of
012 direct human contact. FIGS. 37~, 37B, 37C and 37D present a
013 graphic representation of the operations being sensed and
014 controlled. Adjacent the first lefthand numerical column is a
015 column with words describing the function that the particuiar
016 element accomplishes, and in the next series oE columns
017 ~xtending to the right are timing periods during which the
018 action is accomplished. The horizontal bars indicate the time
019 period in a cycle during which the function is performed.
020 Numbers associated with the bar refer to numbered sensors which
021 are listed in FIGS. 38A, 38a and 38C.
022 Referring now to FIG. 37A, the upper and lower
023 portions of the figure are intended to illustrate, in the upper
024 portion, the operations of each oE the elements when pulling
025 well elements out of the wellbore and, in the lower portion,
02~ when running ~ell elements into the wellbore. Between the two
027 sections of the ~hart there are schematic illustrations o~ the
028 functions designate~ in accord with the numerical column.
029 FIGS. 38A, 38B and 38C are a chart iorm representa-
030 tion of the sensor op~rations for the automatic well servicing
031 rig of the present invention. It should be understood that
032 sensiny means (or sensors) will be associated with each of the
033 elements of this invention to provide an indication to a master
034 control as to the condition or sequence of conditions performed
035 by the elements of the rig. As the elements of the rig have
036 been described, their operation in the overall operation of the
037 rig have also been described. It should be evident that
~ 5~ 3
001 -29-
002 sequencing of operations is an essential feature of this
003 invention and the automatic operations it controls. FIGS. 37A,
004 378, 37C and 37D have illustrated the sequence of events for
005 running elements into or out of a well; FIGS. 38A, 38B and 38C
006 illustrate tbe conditions that must occur ~efore a series o~
007 events can happen.
008 Acros~ the top of each of FIGS. 38A, 338 and 38C a
009 series of sensors are identified in numerical or~er. Below
010 each sensor its function is described. For e~ample, sensor 1
011 senses the existence of a pipe (or other well element) within
012 the indexer 91. The letters A and a below the sensor designa-
013 tions distinguish between the operation when running elements
014 into the well (A) and when pulling elements out of the well
015 tB)-
016 Along the lefthand side of FIG. 38A in a vertical
017 column is a listing of actuators with numerical ordered and
018 named identi~ication. The names are the same as those shown in
019 FIGS. 37A, 37B, 37C and 37D. The actuators and the sensors are
020 related as to their functions during the automatic operation of
021 the rig. To the right of the actuator description are word
022 descriptions of the operation performed by the actuator. Por
023 example Actuator 1 - &ate 97 can be either "extended" or
024 n retracted".
025 Within the body of the charts FIG. 38A, 38B, and 38C
026 there are designations of 1, 0~ + and OR. These designations
027 have the following descriptions:
028 1 - initiates an actuator
029 0 = stops an actuator
030 + = desi~nates an "and" circuit, which establishes
031 that two or more conditions must exist before
032 an action occurs
033 - = designates an ~OR" circuit, which establishes
034 that two or more conditions may exist to e~fect
035 an action.
036 For example, in FIG. 38A, with the rig operating to
037 run elements into the well, sensor 1 will sense an element in
1~5~L43
001 ~3~~
002 the indexer 91 and gate 97 will be extended to prevent another
003 element from entering the indexer. A stop operation example is
004 established wher~ the rig is operating to run elements into the
005 well and sensor 2 establishes that the lifter jaw 122 of the
006 conveyor 39 is at the bottom of the conveyQr. The conveyor 39
007 will stop in that location until pipe indexer sensor 91 senses
008 that a pipe is in the indexer. Further, r~ading to the right
009 along actuator 3 (~ipe conveyor line), the lifter jaw 122 will
010 be stopped at the top of the conveyor 39 until sensor 5
011 establishes that the transfer ar~ 41 ~on the sa~e side o the
012 rig~ has been positioned in a horizontal position.
013 An example o~ an ~and" operation in shown in
014 referring to actuator 5 - Tranc~er Arm 41 (left or right side~
015 and sensor 14 on APM upper arm 166 and sensor 17 on AP~ lower
016 arm 168 and when well element~ are being pulled out of the
017 well. It should be recalled that where elements are being
018 pulled from the well, the elements are pulled vertically and
019 grasped by the APM hands, the APM retracts to its 35-inch posi-
020 tion and is prepared to rotate right or left to place the
02~ element into the hands 144 of the transfer arm 41. After the
022 transfer has been made to the hands of the transfer arm, sensor
023 7 recognizes that an element is in the hands and sensor 9 recog-
024 nizes that the transfer arm hands 144 are closed, then the APM
025 upper and lower arms can retract to 30" position and the trans-
026 fer arm can be lowered to hori20ntal position~ The signals
027 from sensors 14 and 17 must indicate that both arms are
028 retracted before the transfer arm lowers to hori~ontal.
029 An example of an ~OR" operation can be seen by
030 referring to FIG. 38A at Actuator 9 - APM lower arm and to
031 sensors 12 and 13. As shown on the chart, when elements are
032 being run into the well, APM lower arm 168 will be extended if
033 the APM is rotated, either right or l~ft, to alignment with a
034 transfer arm 41 or if the APM is rotated to alignment with the
035 centerline of the wellbore. In either of those positions the
036 APH may be extend*d. In any other rotational position the APM
037 should be prevented from extending. When running into the
038 -well, ~he AP~ will retract to the 30-inch position before
033 rotating toward the AP~.
143
001 -31-
002 The following is a description of the operation of
003 the elements of the present invention when running elemen~s
004 into and pulling elements out of a well. Reference to elements
005 are by reference number; reference to sensors is by numbers
006 which are found i.q the upper horizontal sequence across FIGS.
007 38A, 388, 38C and 38D.
008 GOING IN
009 1. Gate t97)
010 Pipe conveyor 122 reaches top, sensor 3 is actuated and
011 retracts gate 97. As soon as pipe rolls into indexer, sensor l
012 is actuated and gate 97 extends. If a pipe is in indexer 99
013 and sensor 3 is actuated, gate 97 will not retract.
014 2. Indexer ~91)
015 When pipe is in indexer 99, sensor 1 is actuated and
016 retracts indexer. When pipe conveyor 122 reaches bottom,
017 sensor 2 is actuated and indexer 99 extends.
018 3. Pipe Conveyor ~39)
019 When pipe is in indexer 99, sensor 1 is actuated, and
020 transfer arm 145 is horizontal, sensor 5 is actuated and the
021 conveyor rotates to carry pipe from the pipe rack to the
022 transfer arm hands.
023 Sensor 2 holds the conveyor at the bottom for signal from
024 sensor 1 and senRor 3 holds the conveyor at the top for signal
025 from sensor 5.
026 4. Tran~fer Arm ~ands (1443
027 When the pipe is placed in both transfer arm hands 144, a
028 sensor 7 in each hand, connected in series, actuates main
029 valve to close both hands. When the pressure builds in the
030 line to close the transfer ar~ hands, pressure sensor 9
031 actuates valve to shut of~ pressure from sensor 7 permitting it
032 to go to neutral. When APM hands 167 and 169 close around
033 pipe, pressure sensors 21 and 23 cause the transfer arm hands
034 to open. Pressure buil~-up in line to open transfer arm hands
035 actuates senso~ 8 and valve gGeS to neutral.
036 5. Trans~er Arrn (145)
037 When the pipe is in the transEer arm hands l44, they close
~5~3
001 -32-
002 and the pressure rises as pipe is gripped, sensor 9 is actuated
003 to cause transfer arm to rise to vertical. In the vertical
004 position, sensor 6 is actuated to cut o~f pressure to main
005 valve and permit it to go to neutral. When the pipe is
006 transferred to the APM 45, the transfer arm hands 144 open and
007 the pressure build-up actuates sensor 8 to shift main valve to
008 cause transfer arm to go horizontal. When it is horizontal,
009 sensor 5 cuts off and vents pilot pressure and permits main
010 valve to go to neutral.
011 6. APM Top Hand (167)
012 When ~PM top hand 167 ~oves to the 35-inch radius (R) and
013 the hands contact the pipe, sensors 15 and 51 are actuated and
014 shift main valve to close APM top hand 166. As the pressure
015 builds, pressure sensor 21 is actuated and cuts off and vents
016 pressure to pilot permitting main val~e to go to neutral. When
017 elevator 20 is on the way up and passes the 27-foot level,
018 sensor 28 is actuated and shifts main valve to open hand 167.
019 7. APM Lower Hand (169)
020 ~hen APM lower hand 169 moves to the 35-R and the hand
021 contacts the pipe, sensors 18 and 52 are actuated and shift
022 main valve to close ARM lower hand. As the pressure builds,
023 pressure sensor 23 is actuated and vents pres~ure permitting
024 main valve to go to neutral when the tongs 21 move to center-
025 line of the well, sensor 43 is actuated and shifts main valve
026 to open APM lower hand. As the pressure builds, pressure
027 sensor 23 is actuated and cuts off and vents pressure to pilot
028 permitting main valve to go to neutral.
029 8~ APM Top Arm (166)
030 1. APM top arm 166 is at the 30-R posltion. It
031 rotates to the side and as soon as the transfer arm 145 gets to
032 the ~ertica~ position, sensors 6 and 12 are actuated which
033 shifts ~ain valve to extend APM top arm 166. When it ~ets to
034 the 35-inch R, sensor 15 ~uts off and vents pilot pressure and
03S main valve goes to neutral, stopping arl~ 166. ~hen the pipe is
036 secured in the APM lower hand 169 and the AP~ 45 has rotated
037 back to center, sensors 13 and 23 are actuated which shifts
~ 1 5~ ~ ~ 3
001 ~33~
002 main valve and arm 166 extends to 55-inch R. Sensor 16 is
003 actuated to cut off and vent pilot pressure and main valve goes
004 to neutral.
005 2. When the pipe is in place and the APM upper hand
006 167 opens, sensors 16 and 20 actuate a pilot valve to give a
007 signal to shiEt main valve and retract ar~ 166. ~t 30-inch R
008 position sensor 14 is actuated to cut off and vent pilot
00~ presure to main valve to permit it to go to neutral and shlft
010 pilot valve to closed position.
011 9. APM Lower Arm 168
012 Same as APM top arm except for the different sensors for
013 the lower arm.
014 10. APM Rotating Actuator
015 1. When the APM 45 is in the up position and upper
016 hand 167 is open, sensors 10 and 20 aee actuated and shift ~ain
017 valve and cause rotary actuator 171 to rotate to side selected.
018 At full rotated position sensor 12 is actuated and permits main
019 valve to go to neutral. As soon as upper hand 167 closes
020 around tube, the rotation signal is gone.
021 2. When tube is transferred frosn transfer arm 145 to
022 APM 45 and transfer arm hands 144 open, sensor 8 is actuated to
023 shift main valve to cause rotary actuator 171 to rotate and
024 return to center position where sensor 13 is actuated and
025 permits main valve to go to neutral~
026 11~ APM Vertical Actuator
027 1. When APM 45 has tube in both hands 167, 169 and
028 extends both arms 166, 168 to 55-inch R, sensors 16 and 19 are
029 actuated which shifts main valve and actuator 170 retracts and
030 APM goes down. When APM gets to bottom, sensor 11 is actuated
Q31 and cuts off ~ilot pressure and permits main valve to go to
032 neutral.
033 2. After the tube is attached to elements within the
034 tongs, the AP~ arms 166, 168 retract to 30-inch R and actuates
035 sensor 14 which shiEts main valie to extend actuator 170 and
036 APM goes up. In the up position, sensor 10 is actu~ted and
037 cuts off pilot pressure peri~itting main valve to go to neutral.
~5~43
001 ~34~
002 12. Tongs Horizontal ~ctuator (271)
003 1. When the APM 45 is in the bottom position, sensor
004 1 is actuated which shifts main valve to extend the tongs
005 horizontal actuator 271. When the tongs 21 reach the center-
006 line of the well, sensor 43 is actuated which cuts pilot
007 pressure off main valc~e and it goes to neutral.
008 2. After tongs 21 make up joint and reverse rotation
OOg and lock open pressure, sensor 41 shifts main valve to retract
010 tongs. When tongs are fully retracted, sensor 44 is actuated
011 to permit ~ain valve to go to neutral.
012 13. Tongs - Vertical Actuator (264~
013 1. When tongs horizontal actuator 271 extends to
014 center of well, sensor 43 is actuated and shifts main valve to
015 retract actuator and tongs 21 move down ~when running pipe) or
016 up (when running rod). When Roller 276 contacts coupling 17A,
017 sensor 35 is actuated and cuts off pilot pressure and main
018 valve goes to neutral and holds tongs 21 at that leYel.
019 2. After the joint is made up, the tongs horizontal
020 actuator 271 is retracted. As soon as the tongs back away,
021 neither sensor 43 or 35 are actuated and when the tongs
022 horizontal actuator 271 is fully retracted, sensor 44 is
023 actuated and shifts main valve to extend tongs vertical
024 actuator 264 and cause tongs 21 to move up When tongs reach
025 top, sensor 33 is actuated to cut pilot pressure to main valve
026 which goes ~o neutral.
027 14. Tong Rotation
028 When Roller 27& locates pipe coupling, sensor 35 is
029 actuated and shifts main valve to rotate tongs 21 clockwise and
030 make up coupling. When high torque is achieved, pressure
031 sensor 40 is actuated to cut off sensor 35 and reverse main
032 valve to reverse rotation of tongs 21. The signal from sensor
033 40 goes through a ~Time Oelay on Release~ (TDR) tO ~aintain the
034 signal until tongs can reverse rotation, lock open and back off
035 of coupling.
036 15. Centra1izer (47)
031 1. Going in when elevator 48 is at 27-foot, sensor
~15~43
001 ~35_
002 28 is actuated to shift main val~e to open the centralizer jaws ,~
003 249, 251. When slips 50 are set, the signal that was started
004 by sensor 28 is cut off.
005 2. When the slips are set and the elevator is at
006 8'-0" level, the centralizer jaws 249, 251 close. When
007 elevator is at 27'-0~, sensor 28 actuates ~alve to cut off
008 signal started by 25.
009 16. S~ips (50)
010 1. When elevator 4~ is at 35'-0" going up, sensor 29
011 is actuated to shift main valve to release the slips as soon as .:
012 the load is taken off. When the elevator 48 lowers to the
013 8'-0" level, the brake on the drive to the traveling block 46
014 is set, actuating sensors 49 and 28 to shift main valve to set
015 the slip jaws 231, 282.
016 17. ~levator Jaws 1227, 228)
017 When APM is at bottom, sensor 11 actuates j~ws 227, 228 to
018 open. When elevator 48 is at 11, sensor 27 actuates jaws 227,
019 228 to close.
020 18. Drawworks Clutch
021 Lowering joint (clutch released) brake stops elevators ~t
022 8'-0~ APM stabs next joint and elevators drop to ~'-0" (sensor
023 24) and engages clutch. Elevators raise to 27'-0" and if APM
024 top arm 166 not at 30-inch R, clutch releases until ar,n at
025 30-inch R. Elevator 48 continues up to 40'-0" (sensor 32~ and
026 clutch releases. Elevator 48 falls with ~tring~
027 19. Drawworks Brake
028 1. Elevator 43 sliding up tubing and tonging up
029 joint. Elevator stop at ~7' (sensor ~8~ until tongs make up
030 ~sensor 40) then brakes release, clutch engages and elevator
031 continues up.
032 2. Elevator 48 lowering,string into holes and stop~
033 at 9'-0~ e~evation (sensor 26) until APM vertical actuator hits
034 DOttOm (sensor 11) when slips are set ~sensor 36) and brakes
035 release.
~L~Sl~'~3
001 -36-
002 20. Back up Arm Tongs
009 21. Engine Throttle
010 1. Throttle advances, clutch engages, when elevator
011 48 hit 6'-0~ elevation (sensor 24~.
012 2. With elevators at 16 feet ~sensor 53) clutch
013 releases and throttle goes to idle.
014 3. When lower arm APM 168 is at 30-inch R (sensor
015 17), clutch engages and throttle advances.
016 4. When elevator at 271 (sensor 28) clutch releases
017 and throttle goes to idle.
018 5. When upper AP.~ arm 166 is at 30-inch R (sensor
019 14), clutch engages and throttle advances.
020 6. When elevator is at 40 feet (sensor 3~), clutch
021 releases and throttle goes to idle.
022 COMING OUT
023 1. Gate (97)
024 1. Coming out the ~ate ~7 is held in the retracted
025 position at all times.
026 2. Indexer (91)
027 1. The indexçr is held in the retracted position.
028 3. Pipe Conveyor (39)
029 When transfer arm hand 144 is open, sensor 8, pipe
030 conveyor rotates clockwise, If lifter jaw 122 is at back of
031 conveyor, sensor 4, and transfer arm hand 144 is not open,
032 sensor 8, pipe conveyor stops.
033 4. Transfer Arm Hands (144~
034 1. ~hen APM 45 puts tube into the hands 144 of the
035 transfer arm 145, sensors 7 are actuated to shiLt main valve to
036 close hands. When the pressure builds, pressure sensor 9 is
037 actuated to cut off pilot pressure and permit main valve to go
038 to neutral.
Q01 -37-
002 2. When the transfer arm 145 is horizontal sensor 5
00~ is actuated to shift main valve to open hands. Pressure
004 build-up actuates pressure sensor 8 to cut off pilot pressure
005 and main valve to neutral.
006 5. Transfer Arm ~145)
007 1. Transfer arm 145 is vertical and the AP~I 45 trans-
008 fers tube to transfer arm 145 and both APM ar.~s 166, 168
009 retract to 30-inch R, sensors 14 and 17 actuate main valve to
010 rotate transfer arm 145 to horizontal. when horizontal, sensor
011 5 is actuated to cut off pilot pressure to permit main valve to
012 go neutral.
013 2. When tube reaches top of conveyor 39, sensor 3 is
014 actuated momentarily to shift valve to give a sustained signal
OlS to shift main valve to rotate transfer arm 145 to vertical.
016 Sensor 6 is actuated to shift valve back and permit main valve
017 to go neutral.
018 6. APM top hand (167)
019 1. When AP.~ upper arm 167 is at 55-inch R and tube
020 is in APM upper hand, sensors 16 and 51 are actuated to shiEt
021 main valve to close hand. pressure sensor 21 is actuated to
022 cut off pilot pressure and main valve goes to neutral.
023 2. When APM upper hand transfers tube to transfer
024 arm hand 145, sensor 9 is actuated to shiEt main valve to open
025 AP~1 upper hand 167 which actuates pressure sensor 20 to cut off
026 pilot pressure to permit main valve to go to neutral.
027 7. APM lower hand tl69)
028 1. The AP~ arms 1~6, 158 are extended to 55-inch R,
029 when sensor 39 is actuated (counting tong revolutions on break)
030 actuates main valve to close hand 169. Pressure sensor 23 cuts
031 off pilot pressure and main valve goes to neutral~ Sensor 9
032 sences transfer arm hands closed. Lower APM hand opens with
033 signal from sensor 22.
034 8. APM Top Ar~ (166)
035 1. When APM 45 reaches the top position sensor 10 is
036 actuated to shift main valve to retract arm 166. When arm gets
037 to 35-inch R, sensor 15 is actuated to shift valve and cut of
- 1~S~43
001 ~3~~
002 signal from sensor 10 and main valve goes to neutral to hold
003 ar~ at 35-inch R. After tube is transferred to transfer arm
004 145 and APM hands 167 and 169 open, pressure sensor 20 again
005 shifts main val~e to retract arim to 30-inch R, where sensor 14
006 is actuated to cut off pilot pressure and main valve goe~ to
007 neutral.
008 9. APM Lower Arm (168)
009 1. Works same as upper arm 166 except for the
010 different sensors and retract simultaneously with the upper
011 arm.
012 10~ APM Rotating Actuator (171)
013 1. When both upper and lower APM arms 166, 168 are
014 retracted to 35-inch R, sensors 15 and 18 are actuated to shift
015 main valve to rotate APM to the side where sensor 12 is
016 aotuated to cut off pilot pressure and permit main valve to go
017 to neutral.
018 2. When the tube is transferred to the transfer arm
019 145 and both upper and lower AP~ arms 166, 168 are retracted to
020 30-inch R, sensors 14 and 17 are actuated which shiLts main
021 valve to cause APM to rotate back to center position where
022 sensor 13 i5 actuated to cut off pilot pressure and permit main
023 valve to go to neutral and hold APM in middle position.
024 11. APM Vertical Actuator (170~
025 1. ~hen both upper and lower APM arms 166, 168 are
026 retracted to 30-inch R, sensors 14 and 17 are actuated and
027 shift main valve to cause APM to move down at the same time the
028 AP~ is rotating back to center. In full down position, sensor
029 11 is actuated to cut off pilot pressure and per~it main valve
030 to go to neutral.
031 2. After the tube is secured in both APM hands 167,
032 169 and the elevator 48 drops to the 6'-0" level sensor 24 is
033 actuated to shift main valve to cause APM to rise. At the top
034 position sensor 10 is actuated to cut off pilot pressure and
035 permit main valvé to go to neutral.
036 12. Tongs ~orizontal Actuator (271)
037 1. When the elevator 48 is at the 35'-0" level
43
001 _39_
002 sensor 29 is actuated to shift main valve to extend the
003 horizontal actuato. to the centerline of well, sensor 43 is
004 actuated which cU~ ff pilot pressure and main valve goes to
005 neutral.
006 2. After tongs 21 uncouple ~he tube and lock in open
007 position, pressure sensor 40 is actuated to shift ~ain valve to
008 retract the horizontal actuator. Then sensor 4~ cuts off pilot
009 pressure and permits main valve to go to neutral.
010 13. Tongs Vertical Actuator
021 14. Tong Rotation
022 1. When the roller 276 contacts the coupling, sensor
023 35 is actuated to shift main valve to rotate tongs 21 counter
024 clockwise. After specified number of revolutions, counter
025 actuates sensor 39 which cuts off sensor 35 and shifts main
026 valve and reverses tongs to clockwise rotation and lock tongs
027 in open position.
028 15. Centralizer (47)
029 1. When the elevator jaws 227, 22~ close to pull the
030 string, sensor 48 is actuated and shifts main valve and opens
031 centralizer jaws 249, 251. Pressure sensor cuts off pilot
032 pressure and permits main valve to go to neutral.
033 2. When the elevator 48 is at 38'-0" and the slips
034 5d are set, sensors 31 and 50 are actuated which shifts main
035 valve to close centralizer jaws 249, 2510 Pressure sensor cuts
036 off pilot pressure and main valve goes to neutral.
037 1~. Slips (50)
038 1. When elevator jaws 227, 228 close sensor 48 is
039 actuated and main valve shifts to release slip jaws 2~1, 282
llS~
001 -40-
002 2. Brake set and elevator 48 at 38'-0" level sensors
Q03 31 and 49 actuate main valve and closes slip jaws 281, 282.
004 17. Elevator Jaws
005 When elevator 48 is at 6 feet, sensor 24 actuates jaws
006 227, 228 to close. When elevator 48 is at 11 feet, sensor 27
007 actuates jaws to open.
008 18. Drawworks Clutch
009 Elevator 48 drops over coupling and closes (sensor 48) and
010 clutch engages~and raises string to 37'-6" ~sensor 30) and
011 clutch releases.
012 19. Drawworks Brake
013 1. Elevator 48 hoisting string out of hole.
014 Releases brake when slips are set (sensor 36).
015 2. Elevator sliding down joint and stops at 11'-0"
016 elevation (sensor 27) until tongs index (sensor 40) and then
017 continues down.
018 20. Back-up Arm Tongs
019 Same as operation of tongs horizontal actuator (271).
023 21. Engine Throttle
024 1. Elevator 48 at 6' (sensor 24~ and elevator jaws
025 closed (sensor 48), clutch engages and throttle adYances.
026 2. ~lutch releases at 11 feet (sensor 27) if top and
027 bottom arms 166, 168 are not back to 30-inch R (sensors 15 and
028 18).
029 3. Clutch release at 39'-6" (sensor 30) and throttle
030 goes to idle until sensor 48 again indicates that elevator ja~s
~31 are closed.
032 In the preferred form of the apparatus of the present
033 invention a single engine-driven pump system will be provided
034 to supply all operating systems. The pump system will include
035 both pneumatic and hydraulic pu~ps with reservoir systems to
036 provide basic power for driving the wheel~ and other ~ehicle
037 csntrol systems as well as the necessary sensor and actuator
~L5~3
001 -41-
002 controls. Safety requirements limit the use of electrical
003 systems around a petroleum well head and hydraulic and
004 pneumatic systems provide the needed power and dependability.
005 In the preferred form of the apparatus, a central power system
006 is provided on the rig at 35 and hydraulic drive systems are
007 supplied by that equipment to the hoist mechanism at 36.
008 While a certain preferred embodiment of the invention
009 has been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the
010 invention is not limited therato as many variations will be
011 readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention
012 is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the
013 terms of the folLowing claims.
