GB2121641A

GB2121641A - Measuring pipe lengths

Info

Publication number: GB2121641A
Application number: GB08312838A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Royce Glen Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-07
Filing date: 1983-05-10
Publication date: 1983-12-21
Also published as: CA1213661A; GB2121641B; GB8312838D0; NO832007L; JPS5910801A

Abstract

A hand-held, digital display instrument 26 which, when activated, automatically measures, displays and records the lengths of tubular goods, such as joints of tubing or casing. Two separate hand-held units 26, 30 are positioned at opposite ends of the joint 12 of pipe to be measured or tallied. One of the units 26 automatically transmits from an antenna arrangement a distance measuring signal 28, computes the length I1 of the joint, displays the length in feet and tenths on a digital readout, records the length on a print-out tape, and incorporates a cumulative memory register. The other unit 30, positioned at the opposite end 24 of the joint to be tallied, reflects the transmitted distance measuring signal back to the first unit 26 for the length computation. Joint lengths are tallied, one after another, and the total lengths are sequentially, automatically calculated while the cumulative totals are displayed and recorded. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Measuring pipe lengths The drilling and production of oil wells require the use of various different tubular goods, such as casing and tubing used as well casing and fluid conductors. These joints are provided with both a box end and a pin end, that is, a female and a male threaded surface located at the opposite marginal ends of the joint. The two complementary threaded members engage one another with sufficient friction to preclude one member inadvertently being unscrewed from the other. A series of connected, threaded joints, are made up to form a string of tubing which extends down the well-bore of a drilled borehole, for example.

From time to time these threaded surfaces become unduly worn, and must occasionally be renewed by reforming the threads at the box and pin ends. This always shortens the joint. Therefore, since specific lengths are often required for specific oil well applications, it is necessary that each joint, before being put to use, be tallied; and, the total length of the series of joints accurately calculated and recorded. Tallies usually are made while the joints are supported horizontally or stacked in single or in multiple layers on a set of pipe racks.

The present art of individual joint length measuring consists of employing a steel measuring tape which is hand-held by two roughnecks from the box end to the pin end to enable a pipe joint to be visually measured, and the results manually recorded and subsequently totaled on a tally sheet. This can only be done when the joints are single layers on the pipe racks. Multiple layered joints must be reduced to single layers in order that this prior art of joint measurement be practiced. The accuracy and efficiency of this time consuming method is entirely dependent on the accuracy and efficiency of the individual roughnecks or roustabouts carrying out the tallying and recording, which too often allows room for inaccuracy, error and inefficiency.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a means by which each joint length ca be tallied when the joints are stacked in either single or multiple layers. It would also be desirable for the results to be automatically computed, displayed, recorded, and totals displayed and recorded without the element of human error and inaccuracy. Such a desirable instrument is the subject of this invention.

The state of the art provides electronic transducers for measuring distance. Airplanes can electronically determine their relationship respective to a remote transmitter. Surveying instruments employ an electronic beam for accurately measuring short distances. The patents to Morrow Jr. 4,281,404; Kayem 4,241,430; and Jones 4,136,394 illustrate other distance measuring devices and techniques. Reference is made to the above known prior art for further background of the invention, and also to all of the patents found wherever the above patents may be classified in the U.S. Patent Office.

This invention relates to measuring devices and specifically to a hand-held digital instrument which, when activated, automatically measures, displays and records the lengths of tubular goods, such as tubing or casing. The desired measurement is from the box end to the pin end of a threaded pipe joint. The measurement is carried out by the employment of two separate hand-held instruments which are applied, one to the box end, the other to the pin end of a joint of pipe.

According to one embodiment of this invention, a first of the instruments is held against one end of the joint and activated to automatically transmit a distance measuring beam along a path parallel to the length of the joint.

The instrument computes the length, displays the length in feet and tenths on a digital readout, records the length on a print-out tape, and applies a cummulative memory register for calculating totals.

A second of the instruments includes a reflector antenna or a deflector, which, when held against the opposite end of the joint, deflects the transmitted distance measuring beam back to the first component where the signal is electronically treated for ascertaining accurate joint length computation.

The first instrument incorporates standard electronic digital printing calculator and logic techniques, including addition, subtraction, division and multiplication functions as well as a memory register.

In one embodiment of the invention, the instrument utilizes a light-weight, hand-held, gun type apparatus of a configuration to be powered by standard 110 voltage AC; or alternatively, is battery powered for remote or isolated use.

In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitting and deflecting components utilize a light-weight, hand-held, gun type apparatus, and the computation and recording portion is embodied in a separate component utilizing a standard digital printing calculator configuration and is wall, desk or otherwise mounted at a remote location.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the transmitting and deflecting components include means for being adjusted for a threads-off measurement; that is, the total length of the joint less the thread length of the pin end of the joint.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an instrument for measuring and recording joint length, wherein the instrument transmits an electronic beam which is transmitted linearly over the top of the joint, when the joints are horizontally racked in a single layer.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a pair of spaced, hand-held instruments for measuring and recording tubular pipe joints horizontally supported on a pipe rack.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a method by which joints of pipe supported horizontally can be tallied, one after another, and lengths thereof calculated so that accumulative totals are available.

Still another object of this invention is to provide method and apparatus by which successive joints of pipe adapted for use downhole in a borehole are tallied while the pipe joints are stacked above the ground in layers, one on top of another.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of method and apparatus by which the length of a joint of pipe is electronically measured while the pipe is supported horizontally on a support stand.

Another and still further object of the present invention is the provision of an instrument for measuring and recording pipe joint lengths, and which transmits a beam linearly along a path parallel to the axis of the pipe joint when the joints are horizontally racked in multiple layers.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus which is positioned at one end of a joint of pipe for transmitting an electronic beam along the length of a pipe, and a reflector is positioned at the opposite end of the pipe which reflects the beam back to its point of origin, and further including distance computing circuitry by which the length of the pipe is accurately calculated.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a method of measuring the length of pipe by transmitting a beam axially along the interior of the pipe, and employing distance measuring circuitry for determining the length of the pipe.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a method for use with apparatus fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

The present invention will be illustrated by the following description of preferred embodi ments with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of pipe joints supported on a pipe rack, with one embodiment of the present invention being illustrated in conjunction therewith; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of layered pipe joints supported on a pipe rack, with an additional embodiment of the present invention being illustrated in conjunction therewith; Figure 3 is an enlarged, isometric illustration of part of the apparatus previously seen illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, side elevational view of part of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is an end view of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of part of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 2;; Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of part of Fig. 1; Figure 8 sets forth an alternate embodiment of part of the invention which is similar to Fig.

7; and, Figure 9 is a part diagrammatical, part schematical view of circuitry made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawings sets forth the method 10 of the present invention. Numeral 1 2 broadly illustrates a joint of pipe, which can be casing, production pipe, drill pipe, and othe similar joints of pipe.

The joints of pipe are horizontally supported from pipe racks 14 and 1 6. Each pipe joint includes a box end 18 which terminates at shoulder 20, and an opposed pin end 22 which terminates at shoulder 24. L1 is the distance measured from shoulder 20 to shoulder 24, while L2 is the distance measured from shoulder 20 to the location at the pin end where the threads terminate in spaced relationship respective to shoulder 24. Stated differently, L2 equals L1 minus L3.

A first component of the invention is in the form of a transducer 26. The transducer is comprised of a transmitter for generating and transmitting an electronic signal, and further includes a receiver for receiving such signal.

The electronic signal is transmitted along a path 28, 29 which is parallel to the longitudi nal axial centerline of the pipe.

A second component of the invention is in the form of a reflector 30 which reflects or deflects or refracts the transmitted signal 28 back along the path 29, with numeral 28 broadly indicating the transmission of the sig nal from 26, to 30, and numeral 29 broadly indicating the return of the signal from 30 to 26, or vice versa.

In Fig. 2, there is seen two spaced parallel pipe racks 114, 11 6 which horizontally sup port a plurality of layered pipe joints 11 2 thereon. The indicated first person is holding the transducer 26 of the present invention in indexed relationship respective to shoulder 20 of pipe joint 11 2. The propagated electronic signal 28 passes axially through the interior 21 of pipe joint 112. A second person seen at the pin end of the joint 11 2 is holding the reflector instrument 30 respective to pin shoulder 24 such that the signal 28 is reflected back along path 29 parallel to the longitudinal axial centerline of joint 11 2 and through interior 21 thereof so that the signal is returned to the receiving antenna of transducer 26.

As seen in Figs. 3-6, the transducer 26 includes an external housing 32 which supports antennas 34 at the forward end thereof.

A data window 36 enables numerals related to pipe length to be viewed, and the numerals electronically appear therein using electronic techniques known to those skilled in the art.

The data 36 is also printed on suitable material, such as a strip of paper 38, to thereby provide a permanent record of the same date usually available at 36. Switches 40-44 control various functions of the transducer, such as power on, recall, print, and display.

The transducer includes a hand grip 48 and a trigger switch 50. When the trigger 50 is pulled, and the appropriate switch has energized the apparatus, the signal 28 is emitted from the antenna 34.

As seen in Fig. 7, the reflector body 52 is provided with a hand grip 54 and trigger switch 56 in a manner similar to the before described transducer 26. The reflector element 58 is mounted at the upper end of the body and includes the illustrated forward face 66 which reflects the signal 28 back along the path 29. Switch 60 energizes the reflector device 30, while light 62 is illuminated to indicate that signal 28 is being received by face 66 of the device so that the second person knows that the measurement is complete and to move the apparatus 30 to the next adjacent pipe to be measured.

Indexing face 64 abuttingly engages the shoulder 24 of the pin end of the pipe, and orients the forward face 66 along path 29.

The face 66 of the reflector 58 is indexed respective to the shoulder 24 of the pipe. The face 66 can equally well be indexed respective to the opposed end 25 of the threaded pin end, when the threads are of standard length and can be relied upon for uniformity of length.

In Fig. 8 the hand-held reflector apparatus 80 is provided with a suitable handle 82. The face 86 of reflector antenna 58 is aligned with the end 88 of threads 22 of the pin end.

Face 84 of the housing 80 abuttingly engages the shoulder of the pin end. Shaft 90 is slidably received by the housing and continues at 92 where the free end thereof is enlarged into a suitable knob 94. Friction lock 96 releasably engages the shaft 90, 92 so that it does not move respective to the housing 80 until released by lock 96.

In measuring the length of the pipe L2, the reflector antenna 86 is aligned at 88, thereby subtracting the distance L3 from the distance L1 so that the indicia at 36 and 38 is related to the length L2, which is the effective length provided by the joint when the joint is tightly made up respective to the next adjacent joint of pipe.

In Fig. 9, numeral 68 broadly indicates transmitting circuitry by which the signal 28 is generated and transmitted from antenna 34. Numeral 70 is an appropriate receiver circuitry connected to one component of antenna 34 and is especially made for receiving the return signal 29. Numeral 72 schematically indicates integrating and logic circuitry by which the signals 28 and 29, which have been treated at 68 and 70, are further treated to provide the calculator circuitry 74 with suitable electronic signals for printout, calculation, and control.

Looking again to Fig. 2, wherein there is disclosed another embodiment of the invention at numeral 76 which illustrates a wall or desk mounted apparatus having the functions illustrated by numerals 36, 46, and 38 of Fig.

3. The apparatus 76 is connected by suitable circuitry 78 to the transducer 26.

The operation of the first embodiment is carried out with the pipe supported in a single layer on a pipe rack, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The first person at the box end of the pipe holds the transducer so that the face 33 thereof abuttingly engages the shoulder 20 of the box end. Inasmuch as the first person at the box end can visually see the second person at the pin end, the first person knows when the second person is properly prepared for the trigger 50 to be pulled, so that the beam 28 is emitted from the transducer 26 and travels parallel respective to the pipe, strikes the antenna 58 of the reflector, and is rebounded at 29 back to the receiving antenna of the transducer. The circuitry, such as exemplified by Fig. 9, calculates the length L1 of the pipe. This length appears in viewing window 36. At the same time, this length is printed out on paper 38.When subsequent measurements are made, they each sequentially appear in window 36 and they are sequentially added to the memory circuitry and tallied on paper 38. Accordingly, paper 38 will have indicia thereon related to the individual lengths of the pipe as well as the accumulated lengths of the pipe.

In some intances, the length L3 of the threads of the pin end are constant and always made up the same amount with an adjacent pipe joint. In this instance the transducer circuitry can be programmed at 46 so that the length of the pin threads are auto matically subtracted from each of the measurements Ll,thereby providing measure ment L2, which is a "threads-off" measure ment; or the effective length that a joint contributes to a pipe string.

However, in some instances, it is preferable to visually account for the length L3 on each of the pin ends, in the illustrated manner of Fig. 8. In this instance, the face 84 of the housing 80 of the reflector abuttingly engages the shoulder 24 of the pipe joint. Antenna 86 is adjusted along the length of the joint by utilizing enlargement 94 in order to slide shaft 90 fore and aft until the face 86 is properly aligned with the end 88 of the threads. Friction fastener 96 prevents inadvertent movement of the shaft.

In instances where the pipe joints are stacked in layers, in the illustrated manner of Fig. 2, it is advantageous to transmit the signal down the interior of the pipe in order to obtain a clear path for projection of the electronic signal. In this instance, the face 33 of the housing 32 abuttingly engages the shoulder 20 of the box end of the pipe such that the antenna 34 is aligned more or less along the axial centerline of the pipe. The trigger switch 50 is actuated, transmitting beam 80 from antenna 34 down to the reflector 58 of the apparatus 30. The apparatus 30 is positioned respective to the pin end such that shoulder 24 abuttingly engages the face 60 of the housing 52. This places the antenna 58 within the pipe and more or less axially aligned with the axial centerline of the tubing.

When the second person notes light 62 has become illuminated, he knows that the first person has completed measuring the pipe joint, and the second person can therefore commence placing the reflector device 30 on the next pipe to be measured.

The present invention provides a rapid, reliable, accurate method of measuring pipe joints supported horizontally on a pipe rack, regardless of whether the joints are layered or placed in the illustrated manner of Fig. 1. The transmitter antenna is easily positioned in indexed relationship respective to the box end of the pipe, in the manner of Figs. 1 and 2. It is possible for one to instead place the transducer 26 at the opposed end, that is, the pin end of the pipe, and to place the reflector apparatus 30 at the box end of the joint, if for some reason one wishes to proceed in a manner contrary to the above description.

Preferably, the reflector is positioned at the pin end of the pipe in indexed relationship respective to the terminal end of the pipe. An electronic signal is transmitted from the transducer antenna, and travels along a path parallel to the longitudinal axial centerline of the pipe until the signal is received and reflected by the reflector apparatus.

The reflected signal travels along a path parallel to the longitudinal axial centerline of the joint and is received at the transducer antenna. The signal is treated and analyzed by the circuitry to provide data related to the length of the pipe.

The data related to the legnth of the pipe appears as a signal in the data window. The data can be in feet, including tenths and hundredths of feet, or it can be in other visual forms such as the metric system, for example.

The data is accumulated and stored on the illustrated tape. That is, the paper strip chart indicates each measurement as well as the accumulative total of the pipe lengths. In many instances, the length of the threads is held within close tolerances and therefore are all equal in length to one another. In this instance, the apparatus can be programmed to subtract this thread length from the total measurement, thereby obtaining a "threadsoff" measurement.

Claims

1. Apparatus for measuring joints of pipe supported on a pipe rack, comprising; a transducer for generating and receiving an electronic signal, antenna means connected to said transducer and indexed respective to one end of said joint; a reflector means indexed respective to the opposed end of said joint; said antenna means and said reflector means are arranged whereby the signal transmitted by the antenna impinges on the reflector and is returned to the receiver connected at said antenna; and distance measuring circuitry for measuring the length of said signal.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 and further including logic circuitry by which the measured length of said signal is computed and recorded as indicia related to pipe length.

3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said circuitry includes an accumulative memory register for calculating the total length of the sequentially measured pipe joints.

4. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said signal is transmitted along a path within the interior of the joint and parallel to the axial centerline of the joint.

5. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said signal is transmitted along a path which lies exteriorly of the joint and parallel to the longitudinal axial centerline of the joint.

6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein there is further included means by which the threaded pin end of the joints is subtracted from the joint measurements.

7. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein means are provided by which the joint mea surement does not include the length of the threads of the pin end.

8. The apparatus of Claim 7 and further including logic circuitry by which the measured length of said signal is computed and recorded as indicia related to pipe length; and said circuitry includes an accumulative memory register for calculating the total length of the sequentially measured pipe joints.

9. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said signal is transmitted along a path within the interior of the joint and parallel to the axial centerline of the joint; and wherein there is further included means by which the threaded pin end of the joint is subtracted from the joint measurements.

10. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said signal is transmitted along a path which lies exteriorly off the joint and parallel to the longitudinal axial centerline of the joint; and wherein there is further included means by which the threaded pin end of the joint is subtracted from the joint measurements.

11. Method of measuring pipe joints supported horizontally on a pipe rack comprising the steps of:

1. positioning a transmitter antenna in indexed relationship respective to one end of said pipe;

2. positioning a reflector in indexed re lationship respective to the other end of the pipe;

3. transmitting an electronic signal from the antenna, towards said reflector, and returning said signal from said reflector back to said antenna;

4. receiving said signal at said antenna and measuring the length of said signal;

5. using the measurement of step (4) to compute the length of said pipe joint.

1 2. The method of Claim 11 and further including the steps of:

6. transmitting the signal through the pipe joint and parallel to the axial centerline of the pipe.

1 3. The method of Claim 1 2 and further including the steps of:

7. displaying the length of each pipe joint and also adding the length of each pipe joint to the accumulated total length of the measured pipe joints.

14. Apparatus for measuring the length of a tubular member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, Fig. 2 or Fig. 8 in conjunction with Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A method for measuring the length of a tubular member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 to 7, Fig. 2 or Fig. 8 in conjunction with Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.