US3239004A

US3239004A - Apparatus for running equipment into and out of offshore well completions

Info

Publication number: US3239004A
Application number: US286537A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence J Coberly
Original assignee: Kobe Inc
Current assignee: Kobe Inc
Priority date: 1963-06-10
Filing date: 1963-06-10
Publication date: 1966-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-08

Description

March 8, 1966 c. J. COBERLY 3,239,004

APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELL GOMPLETIONS Filed June 10, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VENTOR.

CLARENCE J (0552M 5y ///5 ATTOEA/EYS HARE/s, Mac/, Fuses/.1. &A52A/ March 8, 1966 c, J, COBERLY 3,239,004

APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELL GOMPLETIONS F'iled June 10, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l2 20 INVENTOR. CLARENCE J COBEELY 5} HIS ATTORNEYS HARE/5; A IEChQ RussEu & KEEN March 8, 1966 c. J. COBERLY 3,239,004

APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELL COMPLETIONS 5 Sheets-Sheefi 5 Filed June 10, 1963 46 is 4*- 50 5a /44 INVENTOR CLARENCE J. COBEELY BY H/S ATTORNEYS HAEe/S, fflEcfi, FussEu. 5: KEEN United States Patent 3,239,004 APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF OFFSHORE WELL COMPLETIONS Clarence J. Coberly, San Marino, Calif., assignor to Kobe, inc, Huntington Park, Calif, a corporation of Caliornla Filed June 10, 1963, Ser. No. 286,537 9 Claims. (Cl. 166-.5)

The present invention relates in general to apparatus for running equipment of various types into and out of oil wells, and particularly completed oil wells, in locations which are either entirely inaccessible to personnel, or which do not provide normal accessibility.

For example, the invention finds particular utility in connection with submerged, offshore locations in ocean depths which do not permit the use of divers, e.g., one thousand feet or more, although the invention may, of course, be practiced in shallower water. For convenience in disclosing the invention, it will be considered herein primarily in connection with an offshore well location controlled from an onshore station. However, it will be understood that an offshore control station, e.g., a platform, island, barge, or the like, is a possible alternative that might be used in some instances, such an alternative being considered briefly herein also.

A general object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for running production equipment, servicing equipment, and the like, into and out of a submerged, offshore well from a control station spaced horizontally from the well.

Although various equipment may be run into and out of a submerged, offshore well from such control station in accordance with the invention, this disclosure will be restricted to running a free, fluid operated pump into and out of the well from a remote pumping station hydraulically as a matter of convenience.

It is contemplated that the submerged, offshore well will have installed therein a tubing system and bottom hole assembly suitable for use with a free, fluid operated pump. The well may be completed with the tubing system and the bottom hole assembly contained in a casing in the usual manner, or it may be a casingless completion having the tubing system and the bottom hole assembly cemented in place, as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,939,533, granted June 7, 1960. The tubing system may either be an open system, wherein the production fluid discharged by the pump and the spent operating fluid discharged thereby are conveyed to the well head through a common, production tubing, or it may be a closed system wherein the production fluid and the spent operating fluid are conveyed to the well head separately. In any event, one of the tubings of the tubing system in the well is a pump tubing of a size to slidably receive the free, fluid operated pump, the latter being hydraulically movable between the well head and an operating position in the bottom hole assembly in a manner which is well known in the art.

The invention further contemplates an apparatus wherein the free, fluid operated pump is circulated between the pumping station and the submerged, offshore well head through a conductor tubing lying on, or substantially on, the bottom of the ocean, or other body of water, between the pumping station and the well location. It will be understood that such conductor tubing for the pump will normally be at least approximately horizontal, whereas the pump tubing in the well will normally be approximately vertical.

A primary object of the invention is to transfer the pump, or other equipment, between the conductor tubing and the pump tubing, or other equipment tubing, by means of a tubular switch which is of a size to slidably receive the pump therein and which is movable, and preferably "ice pivotable, between a position wherein it is aligned with the conductor tubing and a position wherein it is aligned with the pump tubing.

A related object is to provide means, preferably fluid operated, for pivoting the switch between the two positions mentioned, such means being controllable from a remote point, preferably the pumping station.

More particularly, an important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the pump is slidable between the pumping station and the switch through the conductor tubing and is slidable from the conductor tubing into the switch, and vice versa, when the switch is in alignment with the conductor tubing, and wherein the pump is slidable between the switch and an operating position in the well through the pump tubing and is slidable from the pump tubing into the switch, and vice versa, when the switch is in alignment with the pump tubing.

With the foregoing construction, the pump may be transferred from the conductor tubing to the pump tubing by sliding the pump into the switch when the switch is in alignment with the conductor tubing, pivoting the switch into alignment with the pump tubing, and then sliding the pump from the switch into the pump tubing. The transfer from the pump tubing to the conductor tubing may be achieved by reversing the foregoing.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sliding the pump through the conductor and pump tubings and into and out of the switch as required to achieve the desired transfer.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which includes: means for introducing fluid into the conductor tubing behind the pump to circulate it through the conductor tubing into the switch when the switch is in alignment with the conductor tubing; means for introducing fluid into the pump tubing behind the pump to circulate it through the pump tubing into the switch when the switch is in alignment with the pump tubing; and means for introducing fluid into the switch behind the pump to circulate it out of the switch and through the conductor tubing to the pumping station when the switch is in alignment with the conductor tubing, and to circulate it out of the switch and through the pump tubing into the operating position in the well when the switch is in alignment with the pump tubing.

A further object is to provide a fluid-operated, rack and pinion means for pivoting the switch between its two operating positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular switch which includes selector valve means for properly directing the fluid used to circulate the pump irrespective of the operating position in which the switch is disposed.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a semidiagrammatic view fragmentarily illustrating an offshore oil well completion which embodies the invention in conjunction with an onshore pumping station;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a well head and tubular switch combination of the invention with the tubular switch in one of its operating positions;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 3-3 and 4-4 of HG. 2, FIG. 4 being on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the tubular switch of the invention in the other of its operating positions;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along the arrowed line 77 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 is a fragmentary semidiagrammatic view illustrating an alternative, oflshore pumping station location.

General description Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an oil well completion associated with a bore 12 drilled into the ocean bottom 14 at a location seaward of the shore 16. The well or well completion 10 is intended to be produced, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, from an onshore station, e.g., a pumping station 18.

Considering the well completion 10 more specifically now, it includes a surface casing set in the upper end of the well bore 12 and having therein an inner casing 22. Production fluid may enter the inner casing in various ways. For example, the productive zone may be left uncased, where it is sufficiently consolidated to permit this, in which event the production fluid enters the inner casing 22 through its lower end. Alternatively, production fluid may enter the inner casing through perforations therein, through a perforated liner, not shown, connected to the inner casing, or the like.

As best shown in FIG. 2, connected to the upper end of the surface casing 20 is a suitable well head 24, the inner casing 22 being suspended from and sealed relative to the well head by a slip and sealing arrangement 26. Disposed in the inner casing 22 is a tubing system carried by a tubing head 32 suitably supported by the well head 24, as by being seated thereon.

In the particular construction illustrated, the tubing system 30 is a closed system composed of three

tubings

40, 42 and 44. The tubing is of a size to slidably receive a conventional fluid operated pump 46, FIG. 2, for movement therethrough between the well head 24 and an operating position in a bottom hole assembly, not shown, at the lower end of the tubing system 30. In view of this function of the tubing 40, it will be referred to as a pump tubing hereinafter. Preferably, but not necessarily, the pump tubing 40 also serves as a production tubing for conveying production fluid discharged by the pump 46, when in its operating position in the well 10, upwardly to the well head 24.

The parallel tubing 42 is a supply tubing for conveying operating fluid under pressure downwardly in the well 10 to operate the pump 46, the spent operating fluid being returned to the well head 24 through the parallel tubing 44. It will be understood that the fluid operated pump 46 is intended to be circulated hydraulically between its operating position in the well and the well head 24. A generally suitable fluid operated pump, and a bottom hole assembly suitable for use with the tubing system 30 to achieve the desired mode of operation, may be found in my Patent No. 2,589,671, granted March 18, 1952. Consequently, there is no need to specifically disclose same herein.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the pump tubing 40, which is the largest of the three

tubings

40, 42 and 44, is shown as threadedly connected to the tubing head 32. The supply and

return tubings

42 and 44 communicate at their upper ends with supply and re turn passages in the tubing head 32. The return passage is concealed in FIG. 2 by the supply passage, the latter being identified by the numeral 50. Connected to the tubing head 32 in communication with the supply and return passages are supply and

return lines

56 and 58, respectively. The supply and

return lines

56 and 58 extend along the ocean floor 14 to the onshore pumping station 18 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. At the onshore pumping station 18, the supply line 56 is connected to a suitable source of operating fluid under pressure, such as a triplex pump, not shown. The return line 58 may discharge into an operating fluid reservoir, not shown, which supplies the triplex pump. The operating fluid, as is con ventional, may be clean crude oil, although other fluids may be used.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, a conductor tubing 60 of a size to permit sliding passage of the fluid operated pump 46 therethrough extends from the pumping station 18 to the well 10. The conductor tubing 61 which may be a steel pipe laid on the ocean floor 14, is so designed that any bends therein have radii of curvature sufliciently large to permit free passage of the fluid operated pump 46 therethrough under the influence of hydraulic pressure. The conductor tubing 60 terminates at the onshore pumping station 18 in a pump head 62 which is adapted to receive the fluid operated pump 46 in a generally horizontal position when the pump is circulated out of the well 10 and to the pump head in a manner to be described hereinafter. The pump head 62 may include a suitable pump catcher 64 designed to receive and latch onto the fluid operated pump 46 when it arrives at the pumping station 18.

It will be noted that, in moving between the conductor tubing 60 and the pump tubing 40 in either direction, the fluid operated pump 46, or other equipment being circulated in or out, must turn a corner of the order of 90. To accomplish this, a tubular switch is located at the junction of the conductor tubing 60 and the pump tubing 40, this switch being capable of transferring the pump 46 from the conductor tubing to the pump tubing, and vice versa, in a manner which will now be considered.

Tubular switch 70 The tubular switch 70 includes an inner tube 72 of a length and diameter to slidably receive the entire pump 46 therein, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The switch tube 72 is connected at its inner end to a rotor 74, shown as having the form of a tapered valve plug, which is rotatable relative to the tubing head 32 about an axis perpendicular to the axes of the pump and conductor tubings 40 and 60 and intersecting the axes of these tubings at their point of intersection. The axes of the pump and conductor tubings 40 and 60 preferably intersect at an angle of substantially 90 so that, by pivoting the tubular switch 70 through this angle, the switch tube 72 may be aligned with either the pump tubing 40 or the conductor tubing 60. The switch tube 72 is shown aligned with the conductor tubing 61 in FIG. 2 and with the pump tubing 40 in FIG. 5. Thus, when the tubular switch 70 is in the position of FIG. 2, the pump 46 may slide from the conductor tubing 60 into the switch tube 72, or vice versa. Conversely, when the tubular switch 70 is in the position of FIG. 5, the pump 46 may slide from the switch tube 72 into the pump tubing 40, or vice versa. When the tubular switch 70 is in the position of FIG. 2, it rests on a horizontal support 76 extending from the tubing head 32, and when it is in the FIG. 5 position, it is partially housed by a vertical guard 78. The manner in which'the tubular switch 70 is pivoted between its two operating positions will be discussed hereinafter.

When the pump 46 is displaced into the switch tube 72 from either the pump tubing 40 or the conductor tubing 60, it engages a latch 80 at the outer end of the switch tube. The latch 80 is designed to release automatically upon application of suflicient fluid pressure to the outer end of the pump 46 when it is in the switch tube. After the pump 46 has been disengaged from the latch 80 in this manner, the pump may be circulated out of the switch tube 72 into either the pump tubing 40 or the conductor tubing 60 by fluid introduced into the outer end of the switch tube.

Considering the manner in which fluid may be introduced into the outer end of the switch tube 72 to unlatch the pump 46 and to circulate it out of the switch tube, the tubular switch includes an outer tube 82 which is spaced radially outwardly from the switch tube to provide an annular fluid passage 84 therebetween, the latter communicating with the outer end of the switch tube. The outer tube 82 of the tubular switch 70 is connected at its inner end to the rotor 74. The inner end of the annular fluid passage 84 between the switch tube 72 and the outer tube 82 communicates at its inner end with a T- shaped passage 86 in the rotor 74. Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, when the tubular switch 70 is in the FIG. 2 position, wherein the switch tube 72 is aligned with the conductor tubing 60, the T-shaped passage 86 also communicates with a passage 38 in the tubing head 32 leading to a vertical passage 90 of the same size as and aligned with the pump tubing 40. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, when the tubular switch 70 is in the FIG. 5 position, wherein the switch tube 72 is aligned with the pump tubing 4%, the T-shaped passage 86 communicates with a passage 92 in the tubing head 32 leading to a passage 94 of the same size as and aligned with the conductor tubing 60. The T-shaped passage 86 directs the fluid used to run the pump 46 in or out as required to achieve the desired result. This will now be discussed in detail.

Description of manner in which pump 46 is run in and run out Considering first the manner in which the pump 46 is run into the well 10 from the onshore pumping station 18, it will be assumed that the pump has been inserted into the conductor tubing 60, upper end first, and that the pump catcher 64 has been reinstalled. The pump 46 is then circulated through the conductor tubing 60 by introducing fluid under pressure behind the pump. When this is done, of course, the tubular switch 70 is in the FIG. 2 position, wherein the switch tube 72 is aligned with the conductor tubing 60 so as to permit insertion of the pump into the switch tube for engagement with the latch 80.

Any fluid in the conductor tubing 60 ahead of the pump 46 as the pump is run in through the conductor tubing in the foregoing manner flows into the pump tubing 40 by way of the switch tube 72, the annular passage 84, the T-shaped passage 86 and the

passages

88 and 90. Such fluid flows downwardly through the pump tubing 40 to the bottom hole assembly, not shown, interconnecting the pump, supply and return

tubings

40, 42 and 44. This fluid is then returned to the well head 24 through one or both of the supply and return

tubings

42 and 44, and is returned to the onshore pumping station 18 through one or both of the supply and return

lines

56 and 58.

Once the pump 46 has entered the switch tube 72 from the conductor tubing 60 and has been latched in place in the switch tube, the tubular switch 70 is pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings to the position shown in FIG. 5 thereof, the manner in which this is done being explained hereinafter. With the tubular switch 7 in the FIG. position, additional fluid is introduced into the conductor tubing 60 at the onshore pumping station 18. Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, such fluid flows through the

passages

94 and 92 in the tubing head 32 and the T-shaped passage 86 in the rotor 74 into the inner end of the annular fluid passage 84 in the tubular switch. From the annular passage 84, the fluid introduced into the conductor tubing 60 enters the outer end of the switch tube 70 to disengage the pump 46 from the latch 80 and to circulate the pump out of the switch tube into the pump tubing 40. Ultimately, the pump 46 reaches its operating position in the bottom hole assembly, not shown, at the lower end of the tubing system 30.

When the fluid operated pump 46 reaches its operating position in the well 10, it is operated therein in the usual manner by operating fluid under high pressure supplied thereto from the onshore pumping station 18 through the supply line 56 and the supply tubing 42. The spent operating fluid is returned to the onshore pumping station 18, with the particular closed system disclosed, through the return tubing 44 and the return line 56. The well fluid discharged by the fluid operated pump 46 flows upwardly to the well head 24 through the pump tubing 40 in the particular construction illustrated. From the pump tubing 40, the production fluid flows upwardly through the vertical passage 90 into the switch tube 72 and then downwardly through the annular passage 84 around the switch tube to enter the conductor tubing 60' by way of the T-shaped passage 86 and the

passages

92 and 94. The production fluid then flows to the onshore pumping station 18 through the conductor tubing 60.

If it is desired to remove the fluid operated pump 46 for any reason, fluid under relatively low pressure is introduced into the return line 58 at the onshore pumping station 18, the supply line 56 being closed and the conductor tubing 60 being opened at the pump head 62. The fluid thus introduced through the return line 58 flows downwardly through the return tubing 44 and acts on the lower end of the pump 46 to circulate it upwardly through the pump tubing 40, and then through the passage 90 into the switch tube 72, being releasably secured in the switch tube by the latch 80. While the pump 46 is being circulated upwardly into the switch tube 72 in the foregoing manner, any fluid ahead of the pump is conveyed to the onshore pumping station 18 by way of the passage 90, the switch tube 72, the annular passage 84, the T-shaped passage 86, the

passages

92 and 94, and the conductor tubing 60.

After the pump 46 has been latched in the switch tube 72 in the foregoing manner, the tubular switch 70 is returned to its FIG. 2 position, wherein the switch tube 72 is aligned with the conductor tubing 60. The introduction of circulating fluid into the return line 58 at the pumping station 18 is continued, such circulating fluid flowing downwardly through the return tubing 44 and upwardly through the pump tubing 40 into the

passages

90 and 88 in the tubing head 32. The rotor 74 is now in a position to cause the T-shaped passage 86 to connect the passage 88 to the inner end of the annular passage 84. Consequently, the circulating fluid flows through the annular passage 84 into the outer end of the switch tube 72, disengaging the pump 46 from the latch and circulating the pump out of the switch tube and into the conductor tubing 60. Ultimately, the pump 46 reaches the onshore pumping station 18, to be engaged by the pump catcher 64.

Thus, the tubular switch 70 provides a simple and effective way of running the pump 46, or other equipment, into and out of the well 10 despite its remote location from the onshore pumping station 18. More particularly, the tubular switch 70 provides a simple and effective way of enabling the pump 46 to make the approximately 90 turn required at the well head 24.

Pivoting means for tubular switch 70 The invention provides means 100 controllable from a remote point, preferably the onshore pumping station 18, for pivoting the tubular switch 70 from either of its operating positions to the other as required in running the fluid operated pump 46 in and out. The pivoting means 100 comprises a fluid-operated rack-and-pinion means which includes a pinion, or pinion segment, 102 suitably connected to the rotor 74, as shown in FIG. 3, and meshed with a rack 104 connected to a piston 106 reciprocable in a cylinder 108 carried by the tubing head 32 in alignment with the rack 104. It will be apparent that if the piston 106 is displaced to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the rack 104 and the pinion segment 102 cooperate to pivot the tubular switch 70 from its FIG. 5 position to its FIG. 2 position. Conversely, displacement of the piston 106 to the left results in pivoting of the tubular switch 70 from its FIG. 2

position to its FIG. position. This fluid-operated rackand-pinion arrangement provides a very simple means for pivoting the tubular switch 70 from either of its operating positions to the other.

The piston 106 and the cylinder 108 constitute a hydraulic motor 110 which is controlled by a piston type, differential area, four-way selector valve 112. This selector valve may be controlled from the onshore pumping station 18 in a manner which will now be described.

In the construction illustrated, the selector valve 112 is mounted on one side of the cylinder 108 and includes a housing 114 containing a valve spool 116 having a piston 118 at one end, all as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The valve spool 116 is normally biased into the position shown in FIG. 4 by a compression spring 120 located in a spring chamber 122 in the housing 114, the spring 120 being seated against the housing at one end and against the piston 118 at its other end. The spring chamber 122 is placed in constant communication with a source of relatively low fluid pressure by means of a line 124. This line may, for example, be connected to the conductor tubing 60, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the fluid pressure in the conductor tubing being at all times at a relatively low value. This relatively low pressure, of course, acts on one side of the selector-valve piston 118.

A control line 126 is adapted to apply to the other side of the piston 118 a fluid pressure sufliciently high to overcome the force of the spring 120 and the fluid pressure in the spring chamber 122, whereby to shift the valve spool 116, downwardly as viewed in FIG. 4, to a second operating position thereof. The control line 126 may, for example, lead to the onshore pumping station 18.

When the valve spool 116 is in the operating position shown in FIG. 4, it connects a high pressure fluid line 128, which may originate at the onshore pumping station 18, to a passage 130 leading to the left end of the cylinder 108, as viewed in the drawings. At the same time, the valve spool 116 connects the low pressure line 124 to a passage 132 leading to the right end of the cylinder 108. Under these conditions, the piston 106 is displaced to ward the right, as viewed in the drawings, to pivot the tubular switch 70 into its FIG. 2 position, wherein the switch tube 72 is aligned with the conductor tubing 60.

When the valve spool 116 is shifted to its other operating position by fluid pressure supplied through the control line 126, it connects the high pressure line 128 to the passage 132 leading to the right end of the cylinder 108, and connects the low pressure line 124 to the passage 130 leading to the left end of the cylinder, this latter connection being by way of a passage 134. The result is to displace the piston 106 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, from the FIG. 2 position to the FIG. 5 position, thereby pivoting the tubular switch 70 from the FIG. 2 position to the FIG. 5 position.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the tubular switch 70 may be pivoted from one of its operating positions to the other simply by applying fluid pressure through the control line 126, or by terminating the application of such fluid pressure, as the case may be.

Access to pump tubing 40 Occasionally it maybe necessary to have access to the interior of the pump tubing 40, as for the purpose of removing and replacing the usual standing valve, not shown, carried by the bottom hole assembly, not shown, at the lower end of the tubing system 30, it being understood that the fluid operated pump 46 is seated on such standing valve when it is in its operating position.

For the foregoing purpose, the tubular switch 70 is provided at its outer end with a gate valve which, as will be explained, may be opened with the tubular switch 70 is in its FIG. 5 or vertical position. When the gate valve 140 is opened under these conditions, the latch 80 can be removed from a boat or barge on the surface above the well location 10, as by means of a wire line, not shown. This accomplished, a standingvalve retrieving tool, not shown, on a wire line, not shown, may be run in through the gate valve 140, the switch tube 72, the passage 90 and the pump tubing 40 to retrieve the standing valve from the bottom hole assembly at the lower end of the tubing system 30. Various other remedial operations may be carried out in a similar manner.

It will be understood that, in addition to the gate valve 140, the tubular switch 70 may carry at its outer end other equipment, shown fragmentarily and designated by the numeral 142, for guiding into position and securing and scaling in place the lower end of a conductor tube, not shown, suspended from a boat or barge floating on the surface. With such a procedure, contamination of the ocean waters by oil in the tubing system 30 may be prevented.

Considering the manner in which the gate valve 140 may be actuated, a control line 144 extends from the onshore pumping station 18 to the tubing head 32 and communicates with a passage 146, FIG. 6, in the tubing head. When the tubular switch 70 is in its upright or FIG. 5 position, the passage 146 communicates with a passage 148 in the rotor 74. (As shown in FIG. 3, when the tubular switch 70 is in its horizontal or FIG. 2 position, the passage 148 in the rotor 74 is out of communication with the passage 146 from the control line 144).

When it is desired to open the gate valve 140 with the tubular switch 70 in its upright position, pressure is applied to the control line 144 from the onshore pumping station 18, such pressure being applied to the gate valve through a line 150 communicating with the passage 148. The gate valve 140 is preferably spring biased toward its closed position in a manner not specifically shown. Application of pressure to the gate valve 140 through the control line 144 in the manner described results in opening of this valve, the valve re-closing upon relaxation of the applied pressure.

Ofishore control station Instead of controlling the well 10 from the onshore station 18 in the manner hereinbefore described, it may be controlled from an olfshore station 160. The offshore control station is shown in FIG. 8 as including a platform 162 suitably erected on the ocean bottom 14. In this case, the platform 162 is provided with a pump head 164 which is oriented vertically, so as to permit reception and insertion of the fluid operated pump 46 in a generally vertical position. To enable the pump 46 to turn the corner between the generally horizontal conductor tubing 60 and a generally vertical conductor tubing 166 leading to the pump head 164, a tubular switch 170 similar to the tubular switch 70 is used. The tubular V switch 170 transfers the pump 46 between the conductor tubings 60 and 166 in much the same manner as the tubular switch 70 transfers the pump between the conductor tubing 60 and the pump tubing 40. It will be noted that both the horizontal and vertical orientations of the tubular switch 170 must be reversed relative to the tubular switch 70. It will also be noted that, in running the pump 46 in which this arrangement, the pump must be inserted into the pump head 164 lower end first. Conversely, as hereinbefore pointed out, with the horizontally oriented pump head 64, the pump 46 must be inserted upper end first.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodimcnts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said station;

(c) supporting structure at said well and connected to said equipment and conductor tubings;

(d) a tubular switch mounted on said supporting structure and movable between a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said conductor tubing and a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said equipment tubing;

(e) said equipment being slidable between said station and said switch through said conductor tubing and being slidable between said switch and an operating position in said well through said equipment tubing;

(f) said equipment being slidable from said conductor tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing; and

g) said equipment being slidable from said equipment tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing.

2. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said station;

(d) a tubular switch mounted on said supporting structure and pivotable between a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said conductor tubing and a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said equipment tubing;

(g) said equipment being slidable from said equipment tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing.

3. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said station;

() supporting structure at said well and connected to said equipment and conductor tubings;

(e) means for pivoting said switch between said positions;

(f) said equipment being slidable between said station and said switch through said conductor tubing and being slidable between said switch and an operating position in said well through said equipment tubing;

(g) said equipment being slidable from said conductor tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing; and

(h) said equipment being slidable from said equipment tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said 10 switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing. 7 4. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well,

the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said Well and said station;

(e) means for pivoting said switch between said positions;

(g) said equipment being slidable from said conductor tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing;

(h) said equipment being slidable from said equipment tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing; and

(i) means for sliding said equipment through said tubings and into and out of said switch.

5. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said station;

(d) a tubular switch mounted on said supporting structure and povotable between a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said conductor tubing and a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said equipment tubing;

(e) means for pivoting said switch between said positions;

(h) said equipment being slidable from said equipment tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing;

(i) means for introducing fluid into said conductor tubing behind said equipment to circulate it through said conductor tubing into said switch when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing;

(j) means for introducing fluid into said equipment tubing behind said equipment to circulate it through said equipment tubing into said switch when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing; and

(k) means for introducing fluid into said switch behind said equipment to circulate it out of said switch and through said conductor tubing to said station when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing, and to circulate it out of said switch and through said equipment tubing into said operating position in the well when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said equipment tubing.

6. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said Well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said station;

() supporting structure at said well and connected to said equipment and conductor tubings; (d) a tubular switch mounted on said supporting structure and pivotable between a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said conductor tubing and a position wherein it is coaxially aligned with said equipment tubing;

(e) fluid operated means for pivoting said switch between said positions;

g) said equipment being slidable from said conductor tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing;

(i) fluid operated means for sliding said equipment through said tubings and into and out of said switch.

7. In an apparatus for running equipment into and out of a well from a station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) an equipment tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said station;

(e) fluid operated, rack and pinion means for pivoting said switch between said positions;

(f) said equipment being slidable between said station and said switch through said conductor tubing and being slidable between said switch and an operating position in said Well through said equipment tubing; 3

8. In an apparatus for running a pump into and out of a well from a control station spaced horizontally from the well, the combination of:

(a) a pump tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said control station;

(0) supporting structure at said well and connected to said pump and conductor tubings;

(d) a tubular switch mounted on said supporting structure and movable between coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing and coaxial alignment with said pump tubing;

(e) said pump being slidable between said control station and said switch through said conductor tubing and being slidable between said switch and an operating position in said well through said pump tubing;

(f) said pump being slidable from said conductor tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing; and

(g) said pump being slidable from said pump tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said pump tubing.

9. In an apparatus for running a pump into and out of a well from a control station spaced horizontally from the Well, the combination of:

(a) a pump tubing set in said well;

(b) a conductor tubing extending between said well and said control station;

(c) supporting structure at said well and connected to said pump and conductor tubings;

(e) means for moving said switch between coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing and coaxial alignment with said pump tubing;

(f) said pump being slidable between said control station and said switch through said conductor tubing and being slidable between said switch and an operating position in said Well through said pump tubing;

(g) said pump being slidable from said conductor tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said conductor tubing;

(h) said pump being slidable from said pump tubing into said switch, and vice versa, when said switch is in coaxial alignment with said pump tubing; and

(i) means for sliding said pump through said tubings and into and out of said switch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR RUNNING EQUIPMENT INTO AND OUT OF A WELL FROM A STATION SPACED HORIZONTALLY FROM THE WELL, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) AN EQUIPMENT TUBING SET IN SAID WELL; (B) A CONDUCTOR TUBING EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID WELL AND SAID STATION; (C) SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AT SAID WELL AND CONNECTED TO SAID EQUIPMENT AND CONDUCTOR TUBINGS; (D) A TUBULAR SWITCH MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A POSITION WHEREIN IT IS COAXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID CONDUCTOR TUBING AND A POSITION WHEREIN IT IS COAXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID EQUIPMENT TUBING; (E) SAID EQUIPMENT BEING SLIDABLE BETWEEN SAID STATION AND SAID SWITCH THROUGH SAID CONDUCTOR TUBING AND BEING SLIDABLE BETWEEN SAID SWITCH AND AN OPERATING POSITION IN SAID WELL THROUGH SAID EQUIPMENT TUBING; (F) SAID EQUIPMENT BEING SLIDABLE FROM SAID CONDUCTOR TUBING INTO SAID SWITCH, AND VICE VERSA, WHEN SAID SWITCH IS IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CONDUCTOR TUBING; AND (G) SAID EQUIPMENT BEING SLIDABLE FROM SAID EQUIPMENT TUBING INTO SAID SWITCH, AND VICE VERSA, WHEN SAID SWITCH IS IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID EQUIPMENT TUBING.