Wireline cycle life counter

• US 5,278,549 A
• Filed: 05/01/1992
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James R. Crawford
• Original Assignee: James R. Crawford
• Inventors: Crawford, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US07/876,926
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 73/15, 73/1.5, 175/45, 340/853.1, 340/853.2, 340/854.1, 340/854.2, 340/854.9, 340/855.2, 364/422, 367/33, 367/69
• US Class Current: 340/853.2
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/22 Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 13/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices covered by groups G01V1/00 – G01V11/00

Abstract

A wireline monitor performs the following tasks:

it gives an alarm at a predetermined percentage of cycle life and can give a reading of the percentage of cycle life at any point on the wire;

an alarm sounds when the weight on the wire exceeds the rated weight;

it logs well head pressure;

it monitors the location of the end of the wireline to prevent a blow-out-preventer (b.o.p.) valve from closing and cutting the wireline and to prevent the wireline from being pulled off of a wireline tool when it reaches the top of the hole; and

it can shut down the wireline unit in response to any of the measurements which it is making.

Claims

1. Apparatus including a wireline monitor/controller for monitoring and controlling a wireline unit including a wireline connected to the wireline unit, the wireline having an upper end, a lower end, a rated weight, and having a wireline tool attached to its lower end, the wireline being run down a well bore during a wireline job, the well bore having an upper end, the monitor/controller comprising:

(a) first alarm means for giving an alarm at a predetermined percentage of cycle life of the wireline;

(b) display means to give a reading of the percentage of cycle life at any point on the wire;

(c) second alarm means for indicating when the weight on the wire exceeds the rated weight of the wire;

(d) logging means for logging well head pressure in the well bore;

(e) monitoring means for monitoring the location of the lower end of the wireline to prevent a blow-out-preventer valve from closing and cutting the wireline and to prevent a wireline tool from being pulled off of the lower end of the wireline when the lower end of the wireline reaches the upper end of the well bore;

(f) velocity monitoring means for monitoring the velocity of the wireline; and

(g) shut-down means for shutting down the wireline unit in response to any of the measurements which the monitor/controller makes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

modem means for linking the wireline monitor/controller with a computer at a location remote from the wireline job.

3. Apparatus including a wireline monitor/controller for monitoring and controlling a wireline unit including a wireline connected to the wireline unit, the wireline having an upper end, a lower end, a rated weight, and having a wireline tool attached to its lower end, the wireline being run down a well bore during a wireline job, the well bore having an upper end,

(a) the monitor/controller comprising:

a monitor for monitoring the location of the lower end of the wireline to prevent a blow-out-preventer valve from closing and cutting the wireline and to prevent a wireline tool from being pulled off of the lower end of the wireline when the lower end of the wireline reaches the upper end of the well bore;

(b) the apparatus further comprising first alarm means for giving an alarm at a predetermined percentage of cycle life of the wireline.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

modem means for linking the wireline monitor/controller with a computer at a location remote from the wireline job.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

display means to give a reading of the percentage of cycle life of the wireline at any point on the wire.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

alarm means for indicating when the weight on the wire exceeds the rated weight of the wire.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

logging means for logging well head pressure in the well bore.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

velocity monitoring means for monitoring the velocity of the wireline.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

shut-down means for shutting down the wireline unit in response to any of the measurements which the monitor/controller makes.

10. Apparatus including a wireline monitor/controller for monitoring and controlling a wireline unit including a wireline connected to the wireline unit, the wireline having an upper end, a lower end, a rated weight, and having a wireline tool attached to its lower end, the wireline being run down a well bore during a wireline job, the well bore having an upper end, the monitor/controller comprising:

alarm means for indicating when the weight on the wire exceeds the rated weight of the wire.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

modem means for linking the wireline monitor/controller with a computer at a location remote from the wireline job.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

alarm means for giving an alarm at a predetermined percentage of cycle life of the wireline.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

display means to give a reading of the percentage of cycle life of the wireline at any point on the wire.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

logging means for logging well head pressure in the well bore.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

velocity monitoring means for monitoring the velocity of the wireline.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

shut-down means for shutting down the wireline unit in response to any of the measurements which the monitor/controller makes.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring the location of the lower end of the wireline to prevent a blow-out-preventer valve from closing and cutting the wireline and to prevent a wireline tool from being pulled off of the lower end of the wireline when the lower end of the wireline reaches the upper end of the well bore.