Tubular Friction Welding Joining Method without Rotation of the Tubulars

• US 20140191016A1
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Lehr, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 228/104
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/1205 using translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/129 specially adapted for particular articles or workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/26 Auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/06 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/10 Pipe-lines

Abstract

Tubulars are joined to each other without rotation of the tubulars. A coupling is placed between the aligned tubulars and is supported for rotation or oscillating about its longitudinal axis. The tubulars are clamped in a manner that allows a compressive force to be transmitted to the coupling as the coupling is rotated. An induction device can preheat each connection site before friction welding and/or provide heat as the connection is made and is allowed to cool down. The process can continuously create a string of casing or liner that can be run in or drilled into a wellbore.

Claims

1. A method of joining tubulars with friction welding for forming a tubular string to be delivered to a subterranean location, comprising:

aligning end walls of tubulars to be welded, each said end wall defined by an inner edge and an outer edge;

introducing a tubular segment between said tubulars, said tubular segment having opposed end walls having an inner edge and an outer edge;

bringing said tubular end walls together against opposing end walls of said segment to put said end walls under axial compressive stress; and

joining said tubular end walls to said end walls of said segment using linear movement of said segment in a direction perpendicular to an axis of said aligned tubulars;

allowing said linear movement to an extend where opposed walls as between said segment and said tubular so that an inside edge of one of said end walls moves laterally as far as an outside edge of the other of said opposed end walls;

lowering said joined ends into a borehole to extend the tubular string to the subterranean location.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

rotating said segment about a segment longitudinal axis in at least one direction.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

oscillating said segment in opposed directions.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising:

performing said oscillating about a segment longitudinal axis.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

varying axial compressive stress.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

maintaining a predetermined temperature at said ends of said tubulars with said varying compressive stress.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

sensing the temperature at one of said ends during said joining.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

adding or removing heat to said tubular segment.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

adding or removing heat to said tubular segment before or during said joining.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

using an induction heating device for said adding heat.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

mounting said tubular segment in a frame

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

using at least one motor to rotate said tubular segment in at least one direction.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising:

providing a split in said frame to facilitate removal of said frame after said joining.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

shaping said tubular end walls and mating end walls of said tubular segment.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising:

varying axial compressive stress.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

maintaining a predetermined temperature at said end walls of said tubulars with said varying compressive stress.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

sensing the temperature at one of said end walls during said joining.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

adding heat to said tubular segment.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

adding heat to said tubular segment before or during said joining.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising:

using an induction heating device for said adding heat.

22. The method of claim 3, comprising:

oscillating a longitudinal segment axis with respect to aligned axes of said ends of said tubular segments.

21. A method of joining tubulars with friction welding, comprising:

aligning end walls of tubulars to be welded, each said end wall defined by an inner edge and an outer edge;

bringing said end walls together to put said end walls under axial compressive stress; and

joining said end walls using relative movement between said end walls in a direction perpendicular to an axis of said aligned tubulars;

allowing said relative movement to an extend where an inside edge of one of said end walls moves laterally as far as an outside edge of the other of said end walls.