Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
  • E21B19/02—Rod or cable suspensions
  • E21B19/06—Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
  • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
  • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
  • E21B17/042—Threaded
  • E21B17/0426—Threaded with a threaded cylindrical portion, e.g. for percussion rods

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a lifting plug intended to be engaged with an elevator of an oil platform to facilitate the handling and assembly of tubular elements together so as to form a tubular column for drilling and or exploitation an oil well.
• the elevator is one of the essential equipment of an oil platform, notably described in API standards 8B and 8C.
• tubular element intended for drilling and / or the exploitation of hydrocarbon wells is meant any element of substantially tubular shape capable of being assembled with another element of substantially tubular shape, in particular by screwing, in order to constitute a train of rods intended either to drill a hydrocarbon well, or to form an underwater riser for the maintenance or the exploitation of such wells, or to casing the well, or a production column (also called tubing in English language ) involved in the operation of the well.
• the lifting plug according to the invention can also be used for lowering heavy loads into a well.
• the object of the present invention is to facilitate the addition of additional tubular elements to the drill string.
• the invention relates to the lifting plug operated by an elevator on a drilling platform and / or in the exploitation of hydrocarbon wells.
• the lifting plug is mounted on a tubular element of a stock of tubes placed horizontally.
• the tubes are assembled 3 by 3 to form sections of three tubes, which are then stored vertically.
• the lifting plug facilitates handling of the individual tubes to form the sections of three tubes.
• the lifting plug is taken in a jaw of an elevator, and this elevator then operates the displacement of the assembly formed by the lifting plug fixed on the tubular element.
• the elevator allows this new tubular element to be brought, like a section of three tubes, above a drill string already in the well.
• the new tubular element is screwed through a drill string screw table. After this screwing, the elevator allows the whole drill string to descend into the well, so that the drill string is lowered to platform height, to allow the lifting plug to be detached.
• the lifting plug When using the lifting plug, the latter must withstand tensile loads equivalent to the weight of a tube, a section of three tubes, and also to the weight of a set of rods.
• Each diameter of the tubular element corresponds to a specific lifting adhesive.
• the lifting plug must have a thread complementary to that of this tubular element.
• the larger the diameter of the tubular elements to be assembled the larger the diameter of the lifting plug.
• this lifting plug since this lifting plug must be engaged in the jaw of an elevator and withstand forces in tension or compression at the jaw, and also in tension related to the weight of the tubular element to be moved, this lifting plug is preferably made of steel and has mechanical properties allowing the required use.
• the lifting plug is for example made of low-alloy steel conforming to European standard EN10027.
• the lifting plug When the lifting plug is detached from the tubular element, it is necessary to use other handling equipment, such as a pallet truck, to move it again. Brought to the level of a new tubular element, the lifting plug is screwed into it, and only then the jaw of the elevator will be placed around the lifting plug.
• other handling equipment such as a pallet truck
• the subject of the invention is a lifting plug for lifting a tubular column in a gas and or oil exploitation well, the plug comprising a body and a thread at an axial end of this body to cooperate by screwing with a threaded portion of a tubular element of the tubular column, the body comprising a cylindrical surface capable of being disposed in a jaw of an elevator of an oil platform, the body comprising two external flanges, an upper flange and an intermediate flange, such that the cylindrical surface of the body is disposed between the two external flanges, the upper flange forming a shoulder on which the jaw of the elevator can come to bear, characterized in that the intermediate flange has a handling bore of the plug allowing the insertion across the body of a bar opening at two distinct points of the c intermediate collar.
• the handling bore may include a first orifice opening radially outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.
• the handling bore may have a second orifice opening radially outwards relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, this second orifice being diametrically opposite the first orifice.
• the upper flange may be disposed at a second end of the body of the stopper, opposite to one end of this body adjacent to the thread, relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.
• the intermediate flange can be arranged between the cylindrical surface and the thread.
• the outside diameter of the cylindrical surface can be equal to the outside diameter of the tubular element on which the lifting plug is screwed, in particular equal to the nominal outside diameter of this tubular element.
• the nominal outside diameter is considered according to usage, at a distance from the threaded ends of this tubular element, called “nominal pipe body outer diameter” in English.
• the body can be hollow and emerging through its two longitudinal ends. This arrangement reduces the handling weight of the lifting plug and facilitates the circulation of sludge if necessary.
• a distance between a shoulder of the upper flange and an annular surface of the intermediate flange facing this shoulder may be greater than an axial length of the thread, in particular at least 1.5 times greater than this axial length of the thread.
• the lifting plug can be made in one piece, in particular obtained by machining a billet.
• the thread can be formed on the outer periphery of an outer surface of the body.
• FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective an embodiment of a lifting plug according to the invention
• FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lifting plug according to Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lifting plug according to Figure 2 retained in a tubular element and engaged in an elevator.
• Figure 1 shows schematically an oil platform during the installation of a column 1, also called drill string 1, in a well 2.
• a start of drill string is retained in the well 2 by retention means, such as 'a blocking table 3.
• the well 2 including during the deep insertion of the drill string, is fed by a flow of descending sludge 4 inside the drill string and rising 5 between the drill string and of the well walls.
• the oil platform is equipped with means allowing the progressive addition of the tubular elements from the stock 6 to the column 1.
• the platform notably includes a screwing wrench 7 making it possible to rotate a tubular element so as to obtain its screwing on the rod train 1 retained by the blocking table 3.
• the invention relates to a lifting plug 10 operated by an elevator 11 of the platform.
• the lifting plug is mounted on a tubular element 8 of the stock 6, and once engaged on this tubular element 8, the elevator 11 comes to cooperate with this lifting plug 10 for movement of the tubular element to the right of column 1 in formation.
• the tubular element 8 can also be called rod 8, or tube 8.
• the lifting plug 10 comprises a hollow tubular body 12 of longitudinal axis X.
• the body 12 is preferably made of steel.
• the tubular body 12 is provided on a portion of its outer periphery with a thread 13.
• the lifting plug is intended to cooperate by screwing with a tubular element 8 which would have a threaded end around its inner periphery.
• the tubular element 8 is for example a rod having a male thread at one end oriented towards the ground, and provided at its other end with a female thread. This is called a column with integral joints.
• the tubular element may be an assembly composed of a rod having a male thread at one end oriented towards the ground and provided at its other end with another male thread, itself already screwed into a sleeve provided respectively with female threads at both ends of its inner circumference.
• a T&C type joint column formed from the association of a rod and a sleeve.
• the body 12 may alternatively be provided with a thread on its inner periphery, to cooperate with a male threaded end of a tubular element.
• the body 12 has an axis of revolution X.
• the body 12 comprises a frustoconical portion 26 of which protrudes the thread 13.
• the surface 26 is not frustoconical but cylindrical, the thread 13 then emerging from this cylindrical surface.
• the surface 26 is defined by an envelope surface passing through the thread bottoms of the thread 13.
• the thread 13 is machined.
• the body 12 has, in line with the thread 13, an internal cylindrical surface 40 of constant internal diameter along the axis X, in order to guarantee the critical sections of the connection formed between the plug and a rod to which it is screwed.
• the lifting plug can be useful for lifting a column 1 made up of several tens, even hundreds, of rods, the connection thus formed between the lifting plug and the tube 8 must make it possible to hold these loads.
• the internal diameter of the internal surface 40 is equal to the internal diameter observed at the level of the threaded portion of the tube 8.
• the tube 8 has an internal connection diameter Y, with manufacturing tolerances of more a1 and / or less b1, then the internal diameter of the cylindrical surface 40 will be machined according to the same tolerances as those of the tube, namely with a internal diameter between Y - b1 and Y + a1.
• the internal diameter of the cylindrical surface 40 will be less than or equal to Y, so that the internal diameter of the cylindrical surface 40 will be for example between Y-b1 and Y.
• the body 12 comprises an upper collar 14 and an intermediate collar 15 extending respectively radially outward on either side of a tubular portion 16.
• the upper collar 14 defines an edge 17 orthogonal to the axis X defining a first axial end of the body 12. According to the embodiment shown the edge 17 defines an axial end of the body 12.
• the thread 13 is machined up to a second axial end 27, opposite relative to the axis X, at the edge 17
• the body 12 has an axial length between its two axial ends 17 and 27 of the order of 800 mm, for example between 500 and 1200 mm.
• the upper flange 14 and the intermediate flange 15 are external flanges.
• the tubular portion 16 has the same inside diameter, along the axis X, from the upper flange 14 to the intermediate flange 15.
• the outside diameter of the tubular portion 16 depends on the nominal outside diameter of the tube 8. In practice if the tube has a nominal outside diameter X, with manufacturing tolerances of more a2 or less b2, then the outside diameter of the tubular portion 16 will have the same manufacturing tolerances as that of the tube 8, namely with an outside diameter between X - b2 and X + a2. Preferably, the outside diameter of the tubular portion 16 may be greater than or equal to X, in particular between X and X + a2.
• the tubular portion 16 defines an external cylindrical surface 18, such that the wall thickness of this tubular portion 16 is constant between the two flanges 14 and 15.
• the inside diameter of the tubular portion is for example constant and equal to the inside diameter observed in line with flanges 14 and 15.
• the upper flange 14 has for example an outer diameter representing at least 105% of the outer diameter of the tubular portion 16.
• the upper flange 14 has a length along the axis X of the order of 80 mm to 120 mm.
• the upper flange 14 has a surface perpendicular to the axis X, formed by the edge 17, and a shoulder 19 between a cylindrical periphery 20 of the upper flange 14 and the external cylindrical surface 18 of the tubular portion 16.
• the cylindrical periphery 20 extends between the edge 17 and the shoulder 19.
• a jaw 30 is retained by a pivot 32 in slings 31, together they form part of the elevator 11. This jaw 30 is intended to come into engagement around the tubular portion 16. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. Figure 4, this jaw 30 does not come into contact with the external cylindrical surface 18, but in contact with the shoulder 19.
• the body 12 is then manipulated by the elevator, in suspension by pressing on the jaw 30.
• the upper flange 14 is then configured to support the tensile weight of a tubular element to which it would be fixed to ensure its displacement.
• the intermediate collar 15 has for example an outside diameter representing at least 105% of the outside diameter of the tubular portion 16.
• the intermediate collar 15 has a length along the axis X of the order of 50.8 mm to 76.2 mm.
• the intermediate collar 15 has an outside diameter equivalent to that of the upper collar 14.
• the intermediate collar 15 has an axial length along the axis X less than that of the upper collar 14.
• the intermediate flange 15 has two annular surfaces 21 and 22 respectively perpendicular to the axis X connected by an intermediate cylindrical periphery 23 of the intermediate flange 15.
• the annular surface 21 is opposite the shoulder 19.
• the intermediate cylindrical periphery 23 defines the length of the intermediate flange 15 along the axis X.
• the intermediate flange 15 has a handling bore 24 having a first orifice 24a opening radially outward at the level of the intermediate cylindrical periphery 23.
• the handling bore 24 is through and also opens radially inward through another orifice 24b at the level of the internal cylindrical periphery 40.
• This handling bore is intended to receive a handling bar. Depending on the cross-section of the bar, the cross-section of the bore is adapted. In practice, in the example shown, the section of the bore 24, and therefore of the openings 24a and 24b are circular. In particular, the diameter of the orifices 24a and 24b is between 20 and 30 mm.
• the handling bore 24 has a second orifice 24c opening radially outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, this second orifice 24c being diametrically opposite the first orifice 24a.
• the handling bar is intended to pass through the body 12 through the two diametrically opposite orifices 24a and 24c, the bore 24 therefore also opens out through a fourth orifice 24d situated opposite the orifice 24b.
• This arrangement of the orifices 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d allows a better distribution of the pressure contact points between the handling bar and the body 12.
• the sections of the orifices 24a, 24b, 24d and 24c are for example identical.
• the annular surface 21 of the intermediate flange 15 is located at a distance d1 from the shoulder 19, this distance d1 representing between 100 and 1000% of an axial length d2 of the thread 13, preferably at least 150% of the length d2 .
• this distance d1 is between 300 and 400 mm.
• This arrangement allows the jaw 30 to be left around the portion 16, in particular during the operations of unscrewing the lifting plug 10 relative to the tube 8 newly added to the drill string 1.
• the height d1 is in particular greater than or equal to the sum of the heights of an elevator jaw and the axial length d2 of the thread 13.
• the drill string is lowered, and the locking table 3 is tightly engaged around the new tube 8 added.
• the lifting plug is then at the height of this blocking table, at breast height to allow handling via a handling bar.
• the lifting plug rises axially relative to the tube 8 and to the locking table 3.
• the jaw 30 remaining suspended from the slings 31, the jaw 30 remains at a constant altitude relative to the blocking table 4.
• the lifting plug 10 rises relative to the jaw.
• the intermediate flange makes it possible to limit the axial position of the jaw 30, and thus prevents the jaw 30 left engaged around the lifting plug 10 from damaging the thread 13.
• the body 12 comprises a non-threaded annular portion 25 between the thread 13 and the intermediate flange 15.
• this non-threaded annular portion 25 is located between the thread 13 and the annular surface 22 of the intermediate flange 15.
• This portion annular non-threaded 25 gives the possibility of increasing the lifespan of the lifting plug, by providing an area of material allowing new machining of a new thread 13. This newly machined thread 13 is then closer to the flange intermediate 15.
• the lifting plug according to the invention, it is possible to engage the thread 13 in a complementary thread while the plug is retained in the jaw 30 of an elevator. Indeed, the plug being supported on the jaw, this support tolerates a rotational drive of the lifting plug relative to the jaw.
• the lifting plug is rotated manually by means of a handling bar introduced into the bore 24, this rotation allowing the thread 13 to be screwed into a threaded portion complementary to a tube to be handled or add to a tubular column.
• the thread 13 is compatible with the threaded portion of the tube to be handled, but the profile of the thread is designed recessed from that of the threaded portion so as to avoid any risk of seizure when the plug is screwed onto the tube.
• the sides, the tops and the bottoms of the thread of the thread 13 are dimensioned so as not to create interference with the threaded portion of the tube to be handled.
• the pitch of the thread 13 corresponds to that of the threaded portion of the tube to be handled.
• the lifting plug must not damage the surfaces of the threaded portion which have been designed to be brought into interference with a threaded portion complementary to a tube for the purpose of forming a train of stems.
• the threaded portion provided on the tube to be handled provides surfaces intended to form a seal, in particular metal-metal type seals
• the lifting plug is designed so that it does not have a surface in contact with such sealing surfaces.
• the lifting plug can be designed so as to have no surface radially facing such sealing surfaces.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Lift-Guide Devices, And Elevator Ropes And Cables (AREA)
• Jib Cranes (AREA)
• Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
• Types And Forms Of Lifts (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=65444168

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Family Cites Families (15)

• 2018
  • 2018-10-30 FR FR1860053A patent/FR3087818B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-10-28 BR BR112021006378A patent/BR112021006378A2/pt unknown
  • 2019-10-28 CA CA3115666A patent/CA3115666A1/fr active Pending
  • 2019-10-28 WO PCT/EP2019/079434 patent/WO2020089182A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2019-10-28 US US17/288,703 patent/US11536098B2/en active Active
  • 2019-10-28 EP EP19794557.9A patent/EP3874115B1/de active Active
  • 2019-10-28 CN CN201980071799.4A patent/CN113167104B/zh active Active
  • 2019-10-28 JP JP2021523681A patent/JP2022506357A/ja active Pending
  • 2019-10-28 MX MX2021005043A patent/MX2021005043A/es unknown
  • 2019-10-29 AR ARP190103134A patent/AR116894A1/es active IP Right Grant

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events