WO2009022912A1

WO2009022912A1 - Device and method for attaching cables to elongated members

Info

Publication number: WO2009022912A1
Application number: PCT/NO2008/000275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Magnar Tveiten; Erling Kleppa
Original assignee: Veidemann As
Priority date: 2007-08-16
Filing date: 2008-07-24
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Also published as: NO328198B1; NO20074211L

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for attaching cables (15) to elongated members (2). In one embodiment the apparatus (1) includes a manipulator arm (100) and a clamp holding device (7). The manipulator arm (100) is movable and can be operated between a staging and a connecting position, in which connecting position the clamp holding device (7) is brought in contact with the elongated member (2). As the clamp holding device (7) holds a clamp device (30), the cables (15) can be connected to the elongate member (2).

Description

Device and method for attaching cables to elongated members

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for installing elongated members and cables in a well. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for connecting and securing cables to an elongate member as the elongated members is being made up and run into a well.

Oil and gas and other minerals produced by wells drilled into the earth are conveyed through the well surface by a pipeline or string that often is called a production string or tubing. In some of these wells, particularly offshore wells, control cables are secured along the length of the production string, where the cables are used to monitor, manipulate, regulate and stimulate the flow of the petroleum fluids through the production string. The control cables may carry pressurised fluid that is used to regulate the opening and closing of subsurface valves and or other controls connected with the production string. Control cables may also be electrical lines that are used to communicate power and information between subsurface equipment and the installation(s) on the surface. Control cables may further be power lines that are used to power submersible electric pump(s) and or similar equipment. Furthermore, the control cables can also be injection lines that are used to inject treating fluids, solvents or other chemicals into the well formation and or into the petroleum fluids to be produced from the well. These control cables used for operation of such downhole equipment may be exposed for large loads through weight, motions, vibrations etc., and they must therefore be protected and supported.

It is desirable that the interior of the production tubing is kept clear for fluids or other devices, and the control cables are therefore often run into the well along an outer surface of the production tubing. The control cables are typically provided from a reel or spool placed somewhere near an opening in the rig floor, where the cable(s) together with the forming of the production tubing is inserted into the well- bore.

Most tubing used for downhole completion is joined approximately every 10 to 15 meters, the joining resulting in local increase in outer diameter of the tubing string. This will cause a constriction of the annular space between the production tubing and a casing in the area of each joint. The control cables, which may be lines, conduits, tubes etc., are relatively small diameter, continuous, thin-walled cables, can easily be damaged during their installation and operation into the well. Furthermore, the control cables used for the above-indicated purposes generally cannot support their own weight past about 75-80 meters of suspension and must therefore also be attached to the production tubing for support.

The control cables are therefore typically fixed to the production tubing along their length. This will keep the cables and the production tubing together and thereby preventing the control cables from being damaged or pulled away from the production tubing during their insertion into the well and the usage afterwards.

Control cables are typically clamped or otherwise secured to the production tubing at predetermined intervals. These predetermined intervals are often the joints be- tween two pipes forming part of the production tubing, over which joint a mechanical support is arranged. This mechanical support, a so-called collar, will consequently serve as a fixing point for the clamp - along the production tubing as the production tubing is being assembled and lowered into the well.

The process of attaching and or securing the control cables to the production tubing can for instance be done above a spider or slip bowl assembly, where the process includes supporting the production tubing, assembling the pipes together, positioning the control cable correctly adjacent the production tubing, attaching the control cable to the production tubing and then lowering the production tubing and control cables together down into the well. A similar process to the above described is shown in GB 2.345.708 A, where a control line locating apparatus is for positioning a control line next to a drill string so that a control line protector can be mounted on the drill string. The apparatus comprises: a body, a hydraulic ram mounted to the body, and a sheave mounted on the hydraulic ram for receiving the control line. In operation the control line is fed to the sheave from storage drum via the spring tensioner, the hydraulic ram moves the sheave away from the body positioning the control line adjacent the drill string. A control line protector, which comprises flexible webbing, with hook and loop fasteners, is mounted on the drill string and protects the control line from damage. Various problems have arisen in positioning the control lines to be attached and or secured to the production tubing while also allowing other apparatus, such as elevators, power tongs etc., to manipulate or operate on the production tubing without damaging the control cables. Furthermore, the attaching of the control cables to the production tubing are done manually by a team of deckhands as the tubing is run into the well bore. This result in that the personnel can be injured, being exposed for falling objects, slippery floor, power tools etc.

It is among the objectives of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages known from prior art.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that facilitates the clamping of control cables to a production tubing at the surface of a well. One further aim with the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatic to fixing the control cables to the production tubing, without the need for an operator to be involved. Yet another aim of the present invention will be to provide an apparatus where the control cables may be attached to the tubing at predetermined intervals about the circumference of the tubing.

It is a further aim with the present invention to provide an apparatus for reducing time and effort required securing the control cables to the tubing being run into the well.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can assemble a clamp with movement in an axial direction of the clamp.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a control cable guiding system, which gather one or more control cables over a guiding wheel and lead the control cables parallel with the production tubing and towards the spider in the rig floor.

It is still an aim of the present invention to provide a cable guiding and positioning system where the control cables are guided and positioned correct according to the production tubing, as this will prevent damage of the cables. These objectives are achieved with an apparatus and a method for connecting control cables to elongated members according to the invention as defined in the enclosed independent claims, where embodiments of the invention are given in independent claims.

The present invention is intended to enable a safer and better way for connecting control cables to a production tubing by a clamp, and comprises a manipulator arm movable between a staging and a connecting position. The manipulator arm, which may be telescopic, is mounted to a base or a fundament on the rig floor. One or more hydraulic cylinders are arranged on the manipulator arm, whereby the arm can be operated between the positions. The hydraulic cylinders may further be arranged in a way to move the manipulator arm around its own axis and to lengthen or shorten it in a telescopic fashion.

The manipulator arm may also be mounted in a derrick on the rig. Preferably the manipulator arm is then mounted at a convenient height such as to allow personnel to conduct different work below the manipulator arm. In order to establish a flexible working floor on the rig, the manipulator arm may be detachably mounted on the floor or the derrick, and can therefore be removed when the clamping work is finished.

The manipulator arm comprises further a clamp holding device, in which device a clamp, comprising one or more clamp members, can be placed. The clamp holding device is comprised of two hinged halves, where these halves encircle the production tubing in order to fasten the control cable and the clamp to the production tubing. The two halves can be operated in different ways, for instance with hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, whereupon the two halves can be forced in or out of engagement with each other.

The clamp holding device preferably accommodates only one clamp at a time, but it can also be designed with a storage unit holding several clamps.

The clamp that is used to clamp the control cables to the production tubing is put together with an axial movement, and therefore one of the halves on its inside is arranged with two parallel slide bars. These two slide bars guide upper and lower clamp holding elements, where these holding elements may move independently of each other. The other of the two halves is holding the main part of the clamp; this half may also be arranged to have slide bars, but the clamp is preferably non- movable fixed in a position relative to the half. By this arrangement the clamp holding device can, when the halves are connected around the production tubing, guide the clamp elements towards each other and thereby bring the elements in a locking engagement with each other.

The control cables that are to be clamped to the production tubing may carry or conduct electrical signals, hydraulic and/or pneumatic fluid, chemicals, gases etc.

In order to guide and position the control cables correctly in the connecting process, and thereby preventing damage of the control cables, the present invention also con- cern a cable guiding and positioning system. The system is movable and controllable and comprises a frame, where guiding wheels are arranged in each end of the frame. At the rear end of the frame are arranged four guiding wheels, where these may be mounted angled relative to the frame. This results in that the control cables are gathered towards the guiding wheel in front of the frame. The frame of the guid- ing and positioning system is at its rear portion pivotally connected to a base or rig floor

By guiding the control cables in grooves in the wheels and controlling the position of these wheels, the control cables can be positioned correctly in parallel and adjacent the production tubing. The guiding and positioning system can be controlled, as the frame is telescopic and connected to at least one hydraulic cylinder.

In one other embodiment the guiding and positioning system may be designed in such a way that the four angled wheels are mounted on a frame placed on the rig floor, or mounted direct to the rig floor. The wheel that gathers the control cables may by used as a movable pulley, whereby the wheel is hung up in a drilling or work over mast by the way of cables. The control cables will then be guided horizontally in on the angled wheels, be run over these wheels and directed vertically towards the wheel that gathers the control cables. The control cables are then run over the wheel and further down towards and next to the production tubing, which they are connected to.

In yet another embodiment of the invention the wheel that gathers the control cables may be connected to a manipulator arm which is mounted on a rig or derrick, and where the manipulator arm will be able to position the control cables adjacent the production tubing. The angled wheels are here again placed on the rig floor, beneath the gathering wheel. The manipulator may be controllable in one or several directions. The control cables will also in this embodiment be lead horizontally in to the wheels placed on the rig floor, after which they are raised to vertical position before they are guided over the gathering wheel and down towards the production tubing. By controlling the manipulator arm, the control cables can be positioned parallel and adjacent the production tubing.

Although only the principles for positioning and guiding of the control cables are outlined above a person skilled in the art will know how this can be done. According to the invention a method is presented, where the method involves fixing clamp members in each of the hinged halves of the clamp holding device. When the clamp members are fixed in the clamp holding device, the manipulator arm is then moved from a staging position to a connecting position adjacent the production tubing. An operator can control the manipulator arm or this can be done automatically; when the manipulator arm is in its staging position, a control cable guiding device will gather one or more control cables over a guiding wheel and lead the control cables parallel with the production tubing and towards the spider in the rig floor. Now the control cables are ready to be clamped to the production tubing and therefore the manipulator arm is moved to a connecting position where the two hinged halves of the clamp holding device are closed around the production tubing and the control cables. When the two halves are entirely closed, the clamp holding members are moved towards each other in a longitudinal direction of the halves in order to bring the clamp members in engagement. In order to relocate the manipulator arm away from the production tubing, the two halves are brought out of engagement from each other and the manipulator arm may be moved back to the staging position.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred non-limiting embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an apparatus used to facilitate the clamping of a control cable to a production tubing, where the details of the holding device also is illustrated,

Fig. 2 A-B illustrates a control cable guiding system according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 A-B illustrates the control cable guiding system according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 4 shows a clamp that is used in accordance with the present invention. .

Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of an apparatus 1 that is used to facilitate the clamping of at least one control cable (not shown) to a production tubing 2. The apparatus 1 comprises a lower arm 3 and an upper telescopic arm 4, where a hydraulic cylinder 5 connects the two arms to each other. This cylinder 5 is used to control the height of the telescopic arm 4, while a telescopic cylinder 6 arranged on the top of the telescopic arm 4 will be used to lengthen or shorten the telescopic arm 4 that is to control the position of the telescopic arm 4. The two arms 3, 4 and the hydraulic cylinders 5, 6 together forms a manipulator arm 100, which can be controlled by an operator or it can be programmed to carry out a desired operation.

On its end that is not connected to the lower arm 4 of the apparatus, the telescopic arm 4 is connected to a clamp holding device 7. The connection between the tele- scopic arm 4 and the clamp holding device 7 can be of a type where the clamp holding device 7 can be angled and/or pivoted relative to the production tubing 2. This will result in that the clamp holding device 7 always can be adjusted correctly in relation to the production tubing, thereby securing a correct and safe clamping of one or more control cables 15 (not shown) to the production tubing 2. The clamp holding device 7 comprises two halves 8 that are hinged to each other. This can be done over the entire axially length of the halves 8, or it can be done in one or several points. The halves 8 are only hinged to each other at one side, by which they can be opened and closed. The two halves 8 will on each of their ends have an inwardly arranged flange 11, where these flanges 11 will have complemen- tary inner surfaces to the production tubing 2 and one or more control cables 15 that are arranged around the production tubing, when they are put together. This result in that the flanges 11 on theirs side facing the production tubing 2 are shaped with a large recess corresponding to the outer surface of the production tubing 2, and further smaller grooves in the surface of the recess, where these grooves are used to accommodate control cables 15.

Since the clamp device 30 that is to be used with the apparatus 1 is locked by moving the clamp members 31, 34 relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of the clamp device 30, one of the halves 8 of the clamp holding device 7 has on its inside arranged two parallel slide bars 10. The slide bars 10 are with suitable means connected to the protrusions 11. On these slide bars 10 are arranged an upper and lower clamp holding elements 12, where these elements can be moved independently to and from each other. The other half 8 of the clamp holding device 7 has also a clamp holding element 12 arranged on its inside, but this element 12 is fixed. The upper and lower clamp holding elements 12 are operated by two independently acting hydraulic cylinders (not shown).

When the clamp members 31, 34 are placed in the clamp holding members 12 in the clamp holding device 7, the clamp members 31, 34 are hold tight against the hold- ing members 12 during the clamping operation. When the clamping operation is completed, the hinged halves 8 are separated, and the clamping members 31, 34 are released from clamp holding members 12. How this holding arrangement can be done is obvious to a skilled person in the art and is therefore not discussed here.

When the apparatus 1 is used to lock clamp members 31, 34 around the production tubing 2 and control cables 15 (not shown), an operator will first open the clamp holding device 7 and thereafter place the clamp members 31, 34 in the two halves 8. The operator will then control the manipulator arm 100 to move from a staging position towards a connection position close to the production tubing 2. In this operation the hydraulic cylinder 5 will provide for the movement and adjustment of the telescopic arm 4 (that is height adjustment), while the telescopic cylinder 6 on the telescopic arm 4 will be able to guide the clamp holding device 7 towards the production tubing 2. Meanwhile, one or more control cables 15 (not shown) are by a cable guiding system (see also figure 2 and 3) lead to a correct clamping position adjacent and parallel to the production tubing 2. The clamp holding device 7 is then brought in contact with the control cables and the production tubing 2 whereby the hinged halves 8 are locked. When locked, the operator will manipulate the clamp holding members 12 in such a way that they will be moved towards each other, thereby bringing the clamp members 31, 34 to locking. When the locking operation is done, the operator will have to reverse the above step in order to relocate the ma- nipulator arm 100 to a staging position.

In figure 2 A-B is shown a first embodiment of a movable cable guiding and positioning system 16. The cable guiding and positioning system 16 comprises a frame 17, in which frame 17 guiding wheels 18 are mounted. At the end of the frame 17 that is nearest the production tubing 2 is arranged only one guiding wheel 18, while on the opposite end of the frame 17 are mounted four guiding wheels 18. The guiding wheels 18 are all shaped with tracks or grooves (not shown), in which grooves a control cable 15 can be accommodated. The guide wheel 18 in front of the frame 17 is broader than the guiding wheels 18 on opposite end of the frame 17, as it will be shaped with at least one track or groove, where this track or groove is provided with several elongate cavities in order to receive the control cables 15 therein. Furthermore, the track or groove in the guide wheel 18 is to be placed against the outer surface of the production tubing 2, thereby being in contact with the tubing 2, when the control cables 15 is to be connected to the production tubing 2. As is to be understood, the elongate cavities can be of different sizes, thereby being able to receive control cables 15 with different size and or form. The purpose of the front guiding wheel 18 is to draw or gather the four control cables 15 together, by doing so being able to guide the control cables 15 to a correct clamping position parallel and adjacent the production tubing 2.

The guiding wheels 18 are rolling freely, but can also be arranged with braking or pushing means. The movable cable guiding and positioning system 16 extend upward from the floor of the rig. In order to control the position of the cable guiding and positioning system 16, each side of the frame 17 is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 5. Furthermore, the frame 17 is also telescopic, which will give an even more accurate positioning of the control cables 15. The length of the telescopic frame 17 is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 5 fixed to the lower and the upper part of the frame 17. This arrangement, by using several hydraulic cylinders 5, will not only be able to position the control cables 15 in a correct position against the production tubing 2, it will also be able to control the tension in the control cables 15.

Cable reels 13 are placed in the vicinity of the cable guiding and positioning system 16, and are lead as separate, horizontal cables 15 towards the guiding wheels 18 on the frame 17. By running the cables 15 over the guiding wheels 18 in the frame 17, the cables will change their direction from horizontal to vertical.

The frame 17 of the cable guiding and positioning system 16 will also be able to compensate for variations in tension due to motions of the platform is exposed to, as spring or elastic means will compensate for these motions. This compensation will provide for a constant tension in the control cables 15.

A second embodiment of the cable guiding and positioning system 16 is shown in figure 3 A and 3B, where it can be seen that the control cables 15 are drawn together over a guiding wheel rack 18, where the guiding wheel rack 18 in the shown em- bodiment comprising eight wheels arranged on top of each other, which guiding wheel rack 18 is arranged in front of the cable guiding and positioning system 16. This will result in that the control cables 15 are brought together against the cable guiding and positioning system 16, this being the same system 16 as described in figures 2A-B. Referring now to figure 4 there is shown a clamp device 30 which is to be used with the apparatus for clamping 1. The clamp device 30 serves the function of protector for one or more cables, lines and the like within a casing of an oil or gas well. The clamp 30 comprises a first member 31 in the form of two sets of end elements 32 which are connected to a longitudinal rib element 33. One second member 34 is in form of a bar, where the bar with its form will encircle the production tubing 2 at least partly and which has the same width as the end elements 32. The end elements 32 and the bar 34 cooperate to form a closed device around the production tubing 2. A recess or a groove 35 extends in a longitudinal direction through the first member 31, and is adapted to receive at least one cable or line 15 (not shown) which is suspended adjacent the production tubing 2.

The end elements 32 are shaped to at least partly enclose the production tubing 2 when the first member 31 is pressed against the production tubing 2, as the end ele- ments 32 have complementary inner surfaces to the production tubing 2.

The end elements 32 and bars 34 are arranged with corresponding locking means 36 on their ends, where these locking means 36 comprise a guiding part 37 and a ratchet part 38.

The first member 31 will be placed and fixed in one half 8 of the clamp holding de- vice 7 by an operator, while the second members 34 will be arranged in the half 8 with the movable clamp holding members 12. This arrangement will allow, when the clamp holding device 7 is closed around the production tubing 2, that the first and second members 31, 34 can be brought together with a relative movement in a longitudinally direction, in order to lock the clamp device 30 around the production tubing 2.

The apparatus for clamping 1 and the cable guiding and positioning system 16 are not shown together in the figures, except for figure 3B, but it will be obvious for a skilled in the art that these two devices 1, 16 can be placed together with each other or they can be placed opposite each other, depending how the work floor is arranged and space accessible.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purpose of explaining the various aspects of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow. Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodi- ment shown and described is exemplary, and various other substitutions, alterations and modifications, including but not limited to those alternatives specifically discussed herein, may be made in the practice of the invention without departing from its scope.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for attaching cables (15) to elongated members (2) comprising a manipulator arm (100) movable between a staging and a connecting position, means (5, 6) for moving the manipulator arm between the positions and a clamp holding assembly (7), characterized by that the clamp holding assembly (7) includes two hinged halves (8), which halves (8) are adapted to house clamp members (31, 34), which halves (8) comprises at least one slide bar (10) and a clamp holding element (12).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by that one of the halves (8) hold the main clamp device (31) in a fixed position while the other half (8) is arranged to move the clamp members (34) in its longitudinal direction in order to bring the clamp members (31, 34) in engagement.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by that an upper arm (4) on the manipulator arm (100) is telescopic.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by that the cables (15) can be control cables carrying electrical signals, hydraulic and/or pneumatic fluids, chemicals, gases etc.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by that the means for moving the manipulator arm (100) is at least one fluid operated cylinder (5, 6).

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by that the clamp holding device (7) accommodate at least one clamp device (30).

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by that the hydraulic cylinders in the clamp holding device (7) and the manipulator arm are movable independently of each other.

8. A method for attaching cables (15) to elongated members (2) characterized by that the method comprises the following steps:

-fixing clamp members (31, 34) in each of the hinged and open halves (8), -moving the manipulator arm (100) from a staging position to a connecting position adjacent the elongated member (2), -closing the halves (8) together around the elongated member (2) and one or more cables (15), -move the clamp holding elements (12) containing the clamp members (31, 34) in a longitudinal direction of the half (8) in order to bring the clamp members (31 , 34) in engagement.

9. Method according to claim 8, where the method further comprising:

-leading one or more cables (15) over guiding wheels (18) in a cable guiding and positioning system (16), where the cables (15), by controlling the cable guiding and positioning system (16), are lead from a horizontal to a vertical position parallel and adjacent the elongated member (2).

10. Method according to claim 8, where the method further comprising:

-repeat the steps in reverse order to relocate the manipulator arm (100) away from the elongated member (2).