WO2018213918A1 - Procédé et appareil d'alignement de tige - Google Patents
Procédé et appareil d'alignement de tige Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2018213918A1 WO2018213918A1 PCT/CA2018/000101 CA2018000101W WO2018213918A1 WO 2018213918 A1 WO2018213918 A1 WO 2018213918A1 CA 2018000101 W CA2018000101 W CA 2018000101W WO 2018213918 A1 WO2018213918 A1 WO 2018213918A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- rod
- bore
- aligning apparatus
- reciprocating rod
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 5
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims description 28
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims description 28
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000002250 progressing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 10
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229910000906 Bronze Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000035508 accumulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010974 bronze Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- KUNSUQLRTQLHQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper tin Chemical compound [Cu].[Sn] KUNSUQLRTQLHQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000012489 doughnuts Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006748 scratching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002393 scratching effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
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
- E21B19/24—Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B47/00—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps
- F04B47/02—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level
-
- 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
- E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
- E21B17/1071—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers specially adapted for pump rods, e.g. sucker rods
-
- 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
- E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
- E21B17/1078—Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes
-
- 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
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/06—Blow-out preventers, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers
-
- 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
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
- E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
- E21B43/126—Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by drives outside the borehole, e.g. by a rotary or oscillating drive
- E21B43/127—Adaptations of walking-beam pump systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B53/00—Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B23/00 or F04B39/00 - F04B47/00
- F04B53/16—Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
- F04B53/162—Adaptations of cylinders
- F04B53/164—Stoffing boxes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C13/00—Rolls, drums, discs, or the like; Bearings or mountings therefor
- F16C13/006—Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C29/00—Bearings for parts moving only linearly
- F16C29/04—Ball or roller bearings
- F16C29/045—Ball or roller bearings having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C2352/00—Apparatus for drilling
Definitions
- the present application discloses an apparatus for maintaining alignment of a rod. More particularly, in one or more embodiments, the present application relates to an apparatus for maintaining the alignment of a reciprocating rod entering and exiting a bore. Still more particularly, the present application relates to an apparatus for maintaining the alignment of a polished rod reciprocating in and out of an oil well, for example, due to the action of a pump jack.
- Downhole reciprocating pumps may be positioned in a wellbore and actuated by a rod string extending from a pump jack at the surface and downward into the wellbore.
- the rod string may be a continuous member or a plurality of sucker rods connected end- to-end, with a "polished rod" located at its surface-end.
- the rod may reciprocate in an up/down motion due to action of the pump jack, for example.
- the reciprocating motion of the rod may drive a piston or other pump mechanism to create pressure and drive fluid upward and out of the well.
- a stuffing box may be provided at the surface to create a seal around the polished rod.
- the stuffing box may include a body with seals located therein to create a seal around the moving polished rod passing therethrough in order to retain wellbore fluid pressures and prevent the leakage of wellbore fluids.
- the polished rod it is not uncommon for the polished rod to become misaligned with the axis of the bore of the stuffing box through normal usage, through damage, or through wear or stress on the system. For example, when the overhead pump jack is not perfectly centered over the stuffing box, it may pull the polished rod off-center. Moreover, the action of the pump jack may be along a radius and, as such, may not pull completely parallel to the rod at all times. Still other factors may contribute to misalignment of the rod with the stuffing box, the other mentioned devices, or other systems.
- a misaligned polished rod can cause excessive and uneven wear to one or more sides of the seals of the stuffing box. This can lead to premature wear, leakage of wellbore fluids, or even damage to the polished rod. That is, for example, if the stuffing box seals wear to the point where the polished rod contacts the metal body of the stuffing box, the polished rod itself may begin to wear or wear more quickly. Damage to the polished rod can quickly cause leaks and could also result in the rod breaking, dropping the sucker rod string downhole, or other drastic and/or dangerous conditions.
- an aligning apparatus may include a housing configured for arrangement about a reciprocating rod.
- the aligning apparatus may also include a bore extending through the housing and having a size configured to allow the reciprocating rod to pass through the bore in a reciprocating and longitudinal motion.
- the aligning apparatus may also include a plurality of rolling elements arranged along the bore and configured to guide the rod through the bore during reciprocation operations.
- a wellhead assembly may include a blowout preventer arranged at the surface of a well and a stuffing box arranged on the blowout preventer for creating a seal around a reciprocating rod entering the well.
- the wellhead assembly may also include an aligning apparatus with a housing configured for arrangement about the reciprocating rod.
- the aligning apparatus may also include a bore extending through the housing and having a size configured to allow the reciprocating rod to pass through the bore in a reciprocating and longitudinal motion.
- the aligning apparatus may also include a plurality of rolling elements arranged along the bore and configured to guide the rod through the bore during reciprocation operations.
- a pump jack may include a pivoting beam, a head arranged on the pivoting beam, a reciprocating mechanism configured to pivotally reciprocate the pivoting beam, and a reciprocating rod coupled to the head and extending into a wellbore for powering a pump to pump fluid from the wellbore.
- the pump jack may also include a stuffing box arranged at the top of the wellbore and having a bore with the reciprocating rod extending therethrough.
- the pump jack may also include an aligning device arranged at or around the stuffing box with the reciprocating rod extending therethrough and including rolling elements configured to maintain the reciprocating rod in alignment with the bore of the stuffing box.
- Figure 1 is a side view of a pump jack having a polished rod extending through a rod alignment apparatus, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 2 is a close-up view of the rod alignment apparatus of FIG. 1 in place on top of a stuffing box with a polished rod extending through the common bore, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 3A is a perspective view of a rod alignment apparatus in place on a rod, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 3B is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 3 A with the housing made transparent, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figures 3A and 3B may be collectively referred to herein as "Fig. 3" or " Figure 3".
- Figure 4 is a side view of one of the housing portions of the apparatus of Fig. 3, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 5 is a top view of the apparatus of Fig. 3, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 6A is a perspective view of a rod alignment apparatus, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 6B is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 6A with the housing made transparent, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figures 6A and 6B may be collectively referred to herein as "Fig. 6" or " Figure 6.”
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a rod alignment apparatus.
- Figure 8 is a close-up side view of one of the housing portions of the embodiment of Fig. 7, depicting an empty cavity and several coupling bores, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a wheel assembly and axle, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 10 is a close up side view of a wheel assembly secured by a clamp assembly to the housing, according to one or more embodiments.
- Figure 1 1 is a side view of an aligning apparatus in place on a hydraulic rod pumping system.
- Figure 12 is a side view of an aligning apparatus in place on a progressing cavity pump head drive.
- the present application in one or more embodiments, relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining and/or controlling the alignment of a reciprocating, rotating, or otherwise moving rod.
- the method and apparatus may include forcing the rod into alignment using a guide or a series of guides arranged on or about the rod.
- the reciprocating rod may include a polished rod portion of a pump jack system where the polished rod extends through a stuffing box into a wellbore and the rod reciprocates up and down to drive a well pump.
- the present apparatus may be provided at or around the stuffing box to force the rod into alignment with the stuffing box to limit, reduce, or avoid prematurely wearing out of the seals on the stuffing box.
- the rod may not cause as much wear as it would if it was allowed to drift toward the side. If the rod is allowed to drift to the side, it may rub more vigorously on the seals of the stuffing box and cause them to wear prematurely.
- a pump jack system 1000 including a pivoting beam 1002, a head portion 1004, and an articulation mechanism 1006.
- a bridle 1008 may extend from the head of the pump jack down to a polished rod R, which may extend further downward through an alignment apparatus 10, a stuffing box 2, and a blowout preventer 1010, and into a wellbore.
- the articulation mechanism 1006 may function to articulate the pivoting beam 1002, which may function to drive and/or pull the polished rod R into and out of the wellbore.
- the alignment apparatus 10 may function to maintain or control the alignment of the polished rod R as it reciprocates up and down through the stuffing box 2 and the other mentioned elements.
- Fig. 2 shows a close-up view of the alignment apparatus 10 in place on top of a stuffing box 2 as depicted in Fig. 1.
- the rod alignment apparatus 10 may be mounted on top of a stuffing box 2 with a pump rod, such as polished rod R, extending through the bore of the stuffing box and the bore of other aligned systems.
- the alignment apparatus may be configured to guide the polished rod into the stuffing box in a manner that centers the polished rod in the stuffing box or otherwise aligns the polished rod with an axially extending bore of the stuffing box.
- Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of an alignment apparatus 10.
- the apparatus may include a generally cylindrical main housing 20 having a longitudinal bore 30 extending therethrough for receiving a pump rod, such as a polished rod R.
- the apparatus may also include two or more wheel assemblies 50 secured in at least two corresponding cavities 32 formed in the housing 20. The wheel assemblies may be secured via a mounting means and may protrude into the bore 30 for maintaining alignment of the polished rod R.
- Housing 20 can comprise a first housing portion 22 and a second housing portion 24 which can removably couple with each other to form housing 20.
- housing 20 can comprise first and second portions 22,24 coupled together via a plurality of corresponding first and second coupling bores 25,26 extending through the first and second portions 22,24, respectively, and a plurality of coupling fasteners 28 (Fig. 7).
- first and second coupling bores 25,26 may be internally threaded for engagement with coupling fasteners 28, which are threaded bolts.
- one of the bores may be threaded and the other bore smooth to draw the portions together.
- housing 20 can be a one-piece housing such as the embodiment shown in Fig. 6.
- the housing can be integral with surrounding or adjacent elements such as integral with a stuffing box, for example, where the housing is formed or molded with the stuffing box housing.
- the housing may be secured to adjacent elements in the wellhead and not necessarily integral therewith.
- the housing has been described as generally cylindrical, a rectangular, triangular, or other shaped housing may be provided.
- the number of sides may correspond to the number of wheel assemblies such that a flat side is provided for mounting and/or adjusting the wheel assembly. Still other housing shapes may be used.
- Housing 20 may be removably attached to a stuffing box and other wellhead components via any means known in the art such as a threaded engagement, a flange, welding, clamping over a portion of other wellhead components such as a stuffing box, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the housing may be furnished with a cylindrical protrusion that gets fed through the stuffing cap bore. The housing may then be secured with a U-shaped field-compatible threaded retainer, for example. Still other securing mechanisms may include bolts or a retainer ring (i.e., snap ring).
- FIGs. 3-6 show wheel assemblies 50 comprising a wheel 54 and one or more bearings 52 located inside each of the cavities 32 and secured therein using mounting means, such as a fastener, spindle, axle, and/or shaft 60.
- Each wheel 54 may be sized such that it protrudes into bore 30 through aperture 34 and contacts rod R to maintain the alignment of rod R with the bore of the stuffing box.
- Wheels 54 may have a concave or grooved profile or contour 56 for better engagement with rod R.
- Wheel assemblies 50 may be mounted in their respective cavities 32 by installing bearing 52 inside wheel 54 and locating the wheel assembly 50 inside the cavity 32.
- the common axis of the wheel 54 and bearing 52 may be aligned with the axis of a mounting bore 36 extending from the exterior surface of the housing 20 and into the housing and the cavity 32 and across the cavity (i.e. continued on opposite side of cavity).
- a shaft 60 such as a shoulder bolt, may be inserted through the mounting bore 36 and bearing 52 to secure the wheel assembly 50 to housing 20.
- snap rings 53 can be installed on the shaft 60 on either side of the wheel 54 to maintain the position of the bearing and wheel along the fastener.
- a portion of mounting bore 36 may be internally threaded
- shaft 60 may be a shoulder bolt comprising a threaded portion engaging with the inner threads of the mounting bore 36 and a smooth portion for mounting the wheel assembly 50.
- Mounting means can be shafts/fasteners such as a shoulder bolt upon which the wheel assemblies 50 rotate, or clamp assemblies each comprising an axle upon which a wheel assembly 50 rotates and clamps for securing the axle to the housing 20.
- the wheel 54 may be mounted on a shaft 60 that is arranged generally tangentially to and spaced away from the circumference of the rod such that the rotation plane of the wheel is generally perpendicular to the surface of the rod.
- the shaft 60 may be spaced from the surface of the rod R a distance substantially equal to the radius of the wheel such that the wheel contacts the surface of the rod. As shown in Fig.
- FIG. 5 several wheel assemblies may be provided about the housing creating a wheel bore within the housing that is slightly smaller than the bore 30 and approximately equal to the diameter of the rod diameter.
- At least two cavities 32 for receiving at least two wheel assemblies 50 can be circumferentially spaced about the housing 20. Still other numbers such as three, four, or other numbers of cavities and wheel assemblies may be provided. Cavities 32 may be in communication with the longitudinal bore 30 via apertures 34 located in the cavities 32 (Fig. 7). In the depicted embodiments, three equidistant cavities 32,32,32, are circumferentially spaced about housing 20.
- the mounting means used to secure wheel assemblies 50 to housing 20 can be a clamp assembly comprising an axle or shaft 100, one or more clamps 1 10, and clamp fasteners 1 12.
- the cavities 32 of housing 20 can be sized and shaped to receive the wheel assemblies 50 and clamps 1 10.
- two clamps 1 10, 1 10 are used to secure each wheel assembly 50 to housing 20.
- Clamp bores 104 can extend from an inside face 33 of each of the cavities 32 into the housing 20, and can be internally threaded for receiving clamp fasteners 104 and securing the one or more clamps 1 10 to housing 20.
- a first axle groove 102 can be located on the inside face 33 of each of the cavities 32 for receiving an axle or shaft 100.
- clamps 1 10 are generally rectangular cuboid members comprising a wheel end 1 14 having a second axle groove 1 16 for cooperating with first axle groove 102 to retain an axle 100 therebetween, and a mounting end 1 18 for engaging with clamp fasteners 1 12 to secure clamps 1 10 to housing 20.
- Fastening apertures 120 located on the body of clamp 1 10 and spaced and sized to be complementary with the clamp bores 104 can extend from mounting end 1 18 to wheel end 1 14 to allow clamp fasteners 1 12 to be inserted therethrough.
- Wheel assemblies 50 may be mounted in their respective cavities 32 by installing bearing 52 inside wheel 54, inserting axle 100 through bearing 52 and positioning the wheel assembly 50 inside cavity 32 such that the axle 100 rests in the first axle groove 102.
- the one or more clamps 1 10 can then be positioned in cavity 32, such that axle 100 is sandwiched between the first axle groove 102 of the cavity 32 and the second axle groove 1 16 of the one or more clamps 1 10, and secured to body 20 by inserting clamp fasteners 1 12 through fastening apertures 120 and threading them into clamp bores 104.
- snap rings 53 can be installed on the axle 100 on either side of the wheel 54 to maintain the position of the bearing and the wheel along the axle.
- clamp assemblies and wheel assemblies may be accessible from outside the housing and, as such, may allow for removing or replacing the wheel assemblies while the aligning device remains in place.
- the above described clamp assemblies may be adjustable assemblies that may function to move the wheel assemblies inward and outward relative the housing and, as such, accommodate different size polished rods.
- a clamp fastener may function to secure the axle to an inner plate or stop and a separate adjustment screw may be provided to adjust the position of the inner plate or stop to allow the wheel assembly to move inwardly or outwardly.
- the rod aligning apparatus 10 can be installed on a stuffing box or other wellhead component by positioning the first or second housing portion 22,24 such that polished rod R resides within bore 30, and securing the other of the first or second housing portion 22,24 thereto by aligning the first and second coupling bores 25,26 and fastening coupling fasteners 28 through each of the coupling bores 24,25 to secure first and second portions 22,24 to each other.
- the aligning device may be installed without interruption or disassembly of the reciprocating rod system.
- the housing 20 can be slid onto a polished rod R while the pump jack is disconnected from the rod R such that the rod resides within bore 30.
- the wheel assemblies 50 can then be installed and secured in their respective cavities 32 in the manner described above. Alternatively or additionally, the wheel assemblies may be pre- installed.
- the apparatus 10 can be secured to the stuffing box in any manner known in the art, such as by coupling the apparatus 10 to a corresponding threaded or flanged engagement of the stuffing box. In the case of an apparatus 10 with multiple housing portions, the housing portions can be clamped over a corresponding portion of the stuffing box before being coupled together.
- the installation of the alignment apparatus may be performed in the field with new equipment, in the field as a field retrofit of existing equipment, or it may be secured to or installed in a shop setting, for example, by securing it to a stuffing box or other equipment forming other portions of the wellhead.
- aligning apparatus While a single aligning apparatus has been described, multiple aligning apparatuses may be provided along the length of the rod to address various issues associated with rod deviation.
- a second or additional aligning apparatus may be provided directly above the apparatus on the stuffing box.
- an additional aligning apparatus may be provided above the apparatus on the stuffing box, but spaced apart from it in an upward direction along the rod.
- the aligning apparatus or additional aligning apparatuses may be positioned within the wellhead such as below the stuffing box or between the stuffing box and the blowout preventer. Still other numbers and arrangements of aligning apparatuses may be provided.
- mechanisms that may provide for dynamic adjustability of the stuffing box may be provided. These devices may allow the stuffing box location, position, or orientation to be adjustable or moveable to accommodate drift in the position of the polished rod.
- the present aligning apparatus may be provided in addition and in conjunction with such devices.
- rod R reciprocates inside the bore 30 of aligning apparatus 10.
- Wheels 54 maintain the rod R in alignment with the bore of the stuffing box.
- wheels 54 rotate to reduce frictional wear of the rod R thereon.
- bearings 52 seize, wheels 54 continue to maintain rod R in alignment by acting as bushings.
- rod R may tend to exert more wear on to one of the wheels 54 compared to the others.
- aligning apparatus 10 can be rotated about rod R by loosening coupling fasteners 28 sufficiently to allow apparatus 10 to be rotated.
- Apparatus 10 can then be rotated such that rod R will wear on another wheel 54, for example by rotating the aligning apparatus 120 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.
- the range or degree of rotation may be any selected degree and while 120 degrees may be suitable for a system of three wheel assemblies, other degrees may be selected based on the number of wheel assemblies and the desired rotation for exposing a less worn wheel assembly to a higher wear condition and removing a highly worn wheel from the higher wear condition.
- the housing 20 can be rotated by tightening or loosening the threaded engagement until the desired degree of rotation is achieved, or by removing the flange bolts, rotating the housing 20, and reinstalling the flange bolts.
- the wheel assembly 50 can easily be removed from the housing 20 without removing the apparatus 10 from the wellhead.
- the fastener 60 of the respective wheel assembly 50 can be loosened and removed to allow the wheel assembly 50 to be removed from its respective cavity 32.
- clamp fasteners 1 12 and clamp 1 10 can be removed to free the wheel assembly 50 and axle 100.
- a new wheel 54 and/or bearing 52 can then be provided to replace the worn wheel 54 and/or bearing 52, and the wheel assembly 50 can be re-secured to the housing 20 in the manner described above.
- the aligning device may be used with a hydraulic rod pumping system 2000.
- the aligning device 10 may be provided along a polished rod R as the rod enters/exits the stuffing box.
- the aligning device 10 may function to maintain the rod in alignment with the bore of the stuffing box.
- the aligning device may be arranged on top of the stuffing box or it may be arranged at other locations throughout the wellhead. As another example, FIG.
- the aligning device 10 shows the aligning device 10 in place on top of a progressing cavity pump drive head 3000 and may be suitable for use during installation of the pump system or during servicing of wells with a progressing cavity pump. For example, during a "flush by" job where the rod string is pulled upward through the well to remove sand or other solid accumulations, the aligning device may be used to maintain the alignment of the polished rod during this operation.
- aligning apparatus 10 has been described as including wheels or wheel assemblies around the circumference of the polished rod R, other aligning mechanisms may also be provided.
- a static, low friction element may be provided rather than a mechanical rolling element, for example.
- a low friction bushing or series of surrounding bumpers may be provided within the housing of the aligning device.
- a similarly structured assembly may be provided with a supporting axle, but in lieu of a wheel, a low friction slide or bumper may be provided.
- the low friction bumper assembly may have the advantage over donut shaped bushings in that one or more bumpers may be replaced similar to the wheels and, as such, maintenance may be performed without disassembly of the system.
- rotating or rolling elements may be provided other than isolate wheels or wheel assemblies.
- one or more linear bearings may be arranged on an inner surface of the housing along the bore for guiding the polished rod.
- a customized cage with a series of ball bearings arranged in the cage may also be used.
- wheels or rollers may be used.
- the rollers may be cylindrical, spherical, or conical, for example.
- needle bearings could also be used. Still other types of rotating or rolling elements may be used.
- the rolling or rotating elements may include one or more materials selected from metals, coated materials, Teflon, plastic, other materials, or a combination of materials.
- the material selected may include a hardness that is less than that of the polished rod to avoid marring, scratching, or otherwise wearing on the polished rod.
- the wheels or the surface of the wheels may include bronze or other relatively soft metals.
- the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
- an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed.
- the exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained.
- the use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
- an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is "substantially free of " or "generally free of : an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
L'invention concerne un appareil d'alignement pouvant comprendre un boîtier configuré pour être agencé autour d'une tige animée d'un mouvement de va-et-vient, un alésage s'étendant à travers le boîtier et présentant une taille configurée pour permettre à la tige animée d'un mouvement de va-et-vient de passer à travers l'alésage selon un mouvement de va-et-vient et longitudinal, et une pluralité d'éléments de roulement agencés le long de l'alésage et configurés pour guider la tige à travers l'alésage pendant des opérations de va-et-vient, le boîtier comprenant une pluralité de parties et étant configuré pour un retrait latéral de la tige animée d'un mouvement de va-et-vient. L'invention concerne également un ensemble tête de puits comprenant un appareil d'alignement et/ou un vérin de pompe comportant un appareil d'alignement.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201762511452P | 2017-05-26 | 2017-05-26 | |
US62/511,452 | 2017-05-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2018213918A1 true WO2018213918A1 (fr) | 2018-11-29 |
Family
ID=64395112
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CA2018/000101 WO2018213918A1 (fr) | 2017-05-26 | 2018-05-25 | Procédé et appareil d'alignement de tige |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20190040696A1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2018213918A1 (fr) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10900313B2 (en) | 2016-07-26 | 2021-01-26 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Method and apparatus for production well pressure containment for blowout |
US10920887B2 (en) | 2016-02-10 | 2021-02-16 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Anti-extrusion seal arrangement and ram-style blowout preventer |
US10941628B2 (en) | 2017-09-25 | 2021-03-09 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Adjustable blowout preventer and methods of use |
US11035198B2 (en) | 2017-01-16 | 2021-06-15 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Multifunction blowout preventer |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2544718A1 (fr) * | 2005-05-02 | 2006-11-02 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Dispositif de finissage et de guidage |
US20090056930A1 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2009-03-05 | Frank's Casing Crew & Rental Tools, Inc. | Adjustable Pipe Guide For Use With An Elevator and/or A Spider |
US20130341045A1 (en) * | 2012-06-21 | 2013-12-26 | Complete Production Services, Inc. | Guide attachment for use with drive systems |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6688389B2 (en) * | 2001-10-12 | 2004-02-10 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Apparatus and method for locating joints in coiled tubing operations |
AU2003247022A1 (en) * | 2002-06-28 | 2004-01-19 | Vetco Aibel As | An assembly and a method for intervention of a subsea well |
GB0415223D0 (en) * | 2004-07-07 | 2004-08-11 | Sensornet Ltd | Intervention rod |
US7124815B2 (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2006-10-24 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Tubing injector for variable diameter tubing |
EA201291135A1 (ru) * | 2010-04-30 | 2013-05-30 | Ойл Лифт Текнолоджи Инк. | Система привода насоса с непрерывной штангой |
US20110278515A1 (en) * | 2010-05-14 | 2011-11-17 | Express Energy Services Operating Lp | Pushing or Pulling Device |
US8950491B2 (en) * | 2012-01-06 | 2015-02-10 | Odessa Separator, Inc. | Downhole assembly for treating wellbore components, and method for treating a wellbore |
US8899314B2 (en) * | 2012-02-06 | 2014-12-02 | Brightling Equipment Ltd. | Stuffing box |
US20150047858A1 (en) * | 2013-08-16 | 2015-02-19 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Methods And Systems For Deploying Cable Into A Well |
EP3039221A4 (fr) * | 2013-11-19 | 2017-04-26 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Système d'injecteur et de cuve de glissement |
US20170146007A1 (en) * | 2015-11-20 | 2017-05-25 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Operational control of wellsite pumping unit with displacement determination |
US9903193B2 (en) * | 2016-04-22 | 2018-02-27 | Kelvin Inc. | Systems and methods for sucker rod pump jack visualizations and analytics |
-
2018
- 2018-05-25 WO PCT/CA2018/000101 patent/WO2018213918A1/fr active Application Filing
- 2018-05-25 US US15/989,877 patent/US20190040696A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2544718A1 (fr) * | 2005-05-02 | 2006-11-02 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Dispositif de finissage et de guidage |
US20090056930A1 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2009-03-05 | Frank's Casing Crew & Rental Tools, Inc. | Adjustable Pipe Guide For Use With An Elevator and/or A Spider |
US20130341045A1 (en) * | 2012-06-21 | 2013-12-26 | Complete Production Services, Inc. | Guide attachment for use with drive systems |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10920887B2 (en) | 2016-02-10 | 2021-02-16 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Anti-extrusion seal arrangement and ram-style blowout preventer |
US10900313B2 (en) | 2016-07-26 | 2021-01-26 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Method and apparatus for production well pressure containment for blowout |
US11035198B2 (en) | 2017-01-16 | 2021-06-15 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Multifunction blowout preventer |
US10941628B2 (en) | 2017-09-25 | 2021-03-09 | Dreco Energy Services Ulc | Adjustable blowout preventer and methods of use |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20190040696A1 (en) | 2019-02-07 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20190040696A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for rod alignment | |
CA2727534C (fr) | Ameliorations d'ensembles d'etancheite de pompe | |
AU2013202744B2 (en) | Improvements relating to pump seal assemblies |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 18806866 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
32PN | Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established |
Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 112(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A DATED 26.02.2020) |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 18806866 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |