PLUG REMOVAL TOOL AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20200132240A1
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Trifol, Hugues, Dezaphix, Matthieu
• Granted Patent: US 11,530,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/061 for pipes or pipe-couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/002 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 33/00 Hand tools not covered by any other group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1108 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring

Abstract

A plug removal tool may include a mount for attaching the plug removal tool to a structure and a plug nut. Additionally, the plug removal tool may include at least one rigid arm extending between the mount and the plug nut. Further, the at least one arm may have at least one translational degree of movement and at least one rotational degree of movement.

Claims

1. A plug removal tool, comprising:

a mount for attaching the plug removal tool to a structure;

a plug nut; and

at least one rigid arm extending between the mount and the plug nut, the at least one arm having at least one translational degree of movement and at least one rotational degree of movement.

2. The plug removal tool of claim 1, wherein:

the mount comprises a mounting bracket that comprises a first swivel joint;

the at least one rigid arm comprises;

a first arm extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the first swivel joint;

a second arm slidably attached to the first arm between the first end and the second end;

a second swivel joint connected to a distal end of the second arm and attached to the plug nut.

3. The plug removal tool of claim 1, further comprising a hand-wheel attached to the plug nut, wherein the hand-wheel is configured to rotate the plug nut.

4. The plug removal tool of claim 2, further comprising a second mounting bracket to removably attach the plug nut to the second swivel joint.

5. The plug removal tool of claim 4, wherein the second swivel joint has an axis of rotation about which the second mounting bracket rotates.

6. The plug removal tool of claim 2, further comprising at least one bearing configured to allow a sliding movement of the second arm with respect to the first arm.

7. The plug removal tool of claim 2, wherein the first swivel joint has an axis of rotation about which the first arm rotates.

8. The plug removal tool of claim 7, wherein the second swivel joint has an axis of rotation, parallel to the axis of rotation of the first swivel joint, about which the second mounting bracket rotates.

9. A method for removing a filter in a fluid conduit, comprising:

removing a plug nut from an opening of the fluid conduit;

supporting the plug nut with a plug removal tool, thereby defining a limited movement of the plug nut while removed from the opening; and

removing the filter through the opening of the fluid conduit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the removing of the plug nut comprises rotating a hand-wheel attached to the plug nut to unscrew the plug nut from the opening.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sliding an arm of the plug removal tool to correspond with an axial movement of the plug nut.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising rotating an arm of the plug removal tool to have the plug nut in non-operation position.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the rotating of the arm comprises rotating the arm about an axis of rotation of a swivel joint attached to an end of the arm.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotating the plug nut 90 degrees from the opening.

15. A system, comprising:

a modular skid having a fluid conduit, wherein the fluid conduit has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and

at least one plug removal tool removably attached to the modular skid, wherein the plug removal tool comprises;

a mounting bracket that comprises a first swivel joint;

a first arm extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the first swivel joint;

a second arm slidably attached to the first arm between the first end and the second end;

a second swivel joint connected to a distal end of the second arm; and

a plug nut attached to the second swivel joint,

wherein the plug removal tool is configured to remove or insert the plug nut from an opening of the fluid conduit.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one filter in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, wherein the filter is configured to filter a fluid flowing through the fluid conduit, and wherein the filter is accessed through the opening of the fluid conduit.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the modular skid is a plug and trash catcher skid and the filter is disposed in a pot attached to the fluid conduit, wherein the opening is at an end of the pot.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plug removal tool is mounted on top of the pot.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one filter extractor removably attached to the modular skid, wherein the filter extractor is configured to remove a filter when the plug removal tool has removed the plug nut from the opening.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second swivel joints have parallel axes of rotation