System, apparatus, and method for installing control lines in a well

• US 6,131,664 A
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tesco Holding I, LP
• Original Assignee: Carlos A. Torres
• Inventors: Sonnier, Errol A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAY, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/404,948
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 166/381, 166/339, 166/341, 166/343, 175/85, 175/203, 175/202
• US Class Current: 166/381
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/025 Side entry subs
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/026 Arrangements for fixing cables or wirelines to the outside of downhole devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/00 Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The work surface for equipment and personnel employed in assembling the pipe is elevated above the rig floor. Personnel operating below the work surface use clamps to attach control lines to the pipe being installed in the well. The pipe-holding spiders that arc normally mounted on the rig floor are mounted on the elevated work surface. Assembling the control lines to the pipe below the work surface permits the control lines to be attached to the pipe without first traveling through the spider.

Claims

1. A method for running a well pipe into a well with control lines attached to the pipe, comprising:

securing a spider above a rig floor;

supplying the control line to the pipe at a location below the spider and above the rig floor;

securing the control line to the well pipe below the spider; and

lowering the pipe and secured control line into the well.

2. An apparatus for running well pipe into a well with control lines attached to the pipe, comprising:

a support structure for supporting a spider at a distance above a rig floor sufficient to provide an accessible work space between the support structure and the floor;

a spider supported by said support structure for holding a pipe string extending through said support structure and into said well;

a clamp between said rig floor and said spider for securing a control line to said well pipe; and

one or more control lines extending from a supply source to said clamp and along said pipe without extending through said spider.

3. A method of inserting an axially extending pipe string and one or more control lines into a well, comprising the steps of:

providing an elevated support structure over a floor opening on a rig floor whereby an access area is formed between the support structure and the rig floor;

supporting the pipe from the elevated support structure whereby the pipe extends axially through the access area and through the floor opening;

feeding, from a supply source, one or more control lines through the access area to the pipe; and

lowering the pipe and the control lines through the floor opening while feeding control lines from said supply source through said access area.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, comprising the further step of adding pipe to the pipe string above the support structure.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, comprising the further step of elevating a work area of the personnel adding pipe to the string above that of a work area of the personnel securing the control lines to the pipe.

6. A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising the step of moving a power tong away from the pipe string when the power tong is not in a working position.

7. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said control lines arc fed laterally through said access area.

8. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said control lines are fed through said access area without passing through said support structure.

9. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said one or more control lines feed through said access are intermediate the rig floor and the location where said pipe is supported from said structure.

10. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said control lines are fed through said access area by guides to orient the control lines with said pipe.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said guides are movable relative to said support structure to change the position of said control lines relative to said pipe.

12. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said guides are movable by hydraulically powered piston-cylinder assemblies.

13. A system for inserting a pipe string and one or more control lines into a well, comprising:

an elevated support floor spaced above a rig floor having a rig floor opening;

an access opening defined between said elevated support floor and said rig floor;

a pipe-holding mechanism carried by said support floor for holding a pipe string extending through said rig floor opening;

a pipe makeup area carried by said support floor for adding pipe to or removing pipe from said pipe string;

a control line supply source for supplying control line to said well;

a control line extending from said supply source to said pipe string through said access opening; and

a clamp securing said control line to said well pipe.

14. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said pipe makeup area includes a power tong.

15. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said pipe-holding mechanism comprises a slip bowl and slips.

16. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said pipe makeup area comprises a personnel work area having tools for making up and breaking out pipe connections in said pipe string.

17. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said access opening provides an area sufficiently large to permit personnel entry for manual application of a clamp and control line to said pipe string below said support floor.

18. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said control line supply source comprises a reel of control line feeding said control line directly through said access opening without extending through said elevated support floor.