Method and apparatus for installing control lines in a well

• US 6,889,772 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank's International LLC (Frank's International N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Frank's International, Inc. (Frank's International N.V.)
• Inventors: Buytaert, Jean, Spadoni, Luciano, Sinclair, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/278,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 166/380, 166/77.51, 166/77.52, 166/77.53, 166/85.1, 166/381, 175/52, 175/162, 175/189, 175/202
• US Class Current: 166/381
• 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 are provided for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The pipe-holding spider that is normally mounted on the rig floor is supportably retained in a vertically movable retainer. The retainer is adapted for controllably elevating the spider above the rig floor when the pipe slips within the spider are not engaged with the outer surface of the pipe string, thereby providing personnel access to a portion of the length of the pipe string below the elevated spider and above the rig floor. Personnel are provided with access to the pipe string for applying a fastener to secure the control line to the pipe string.

Claims

1. An apparatus for installing a control line and a pipe string in a well, comprising:

a retainer for reciprocating a spider, wherein the spider cast reciprocate without movement of an elevator for supporting the pipe string.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of members for supporting the retainer in a raised position above a rig floor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a means of raising the spider to its raised position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a gap is created for providing access to at least a portion of the pipe string beneath the spider in its raised position and above the rig floor for securing the control line to the pipe string.

5. An apparatus for installing a control line and pipe string in well comprising a jack for controllably elevating a spider to a raised position above a rig floor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of members for supporting the spider above the rig floor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further wherein the spider engages the pipe string by radially inwardly movement of a plurality of pipe slips.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the spider is not engaged with the pipe string when the spider is supported by the jack in the raised position.

9. A method of installing control line and a pipe string in a well, comprising:

transferring support of the pipe string from a spider to an elevator; and

reciprocating the spider between a floor position and a raised position while the pipe string is supported by the elevator.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising disengaging the spider from the pipe string prior to raising the spider to its raised position.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the spider is not engaged with the pipe string during the step of reciprocating.

12. A method of installing control line and pipe in a well, comprising:

transferring support of the pipe from a spider to an elevator; and

controllably raising the spider to a raised position above a rig floor while the pipe is supported by the elevator.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising supporting a pipe string with an elevator, wherein the spider is supportable in its raised position only when the pipe string is supported by the elevator.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising lowering the spider to the rig floor.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising reengaging the spider with the pipe string.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising raising the spider to the raised position only when the spider is disengaged from the pipe string.

17. A method for securing a control line to a pipe string being run into a well comprising:

transferring support of the pipe string from a spider to an elevator;

raising the spider above a rig floor;

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

securing the control line to the pipe string below the spider and above the rig floor; and

lowering the pipe string and the control line into the well.

18. An apparatus for installing a control line secured to a pipe string being run into a well, comprising:

a controllably reciprocating retainer for supporting a spider at a raised position above a rig floor to create a gap between the spider and the rig floor;

wherein a fastener is used to secure the control line to the pipe string in a portion of the pipe string adjacent to the gap.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the spider is adapted for supporting the pipe string only in a lowered position.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the spider is adapted to reciprocate about a stationary portion of the pipe string above the rig floor.

21. A method of securing a control line to a pipe string being installed in a well comprising the steps of:

supporting a spider in a retainer;

elevating the retainer above a rig floor to form a gap between the retainer and the rig floor;

supporting the pipe string with an elevator whereby the pipe string extends axially through the gap and through an opening in the rig floor into a well;

providing a control line to the pipe string gap formed between the elevated retainer and the rig floor;

securing the control line to a portion of the pipe string adjacent to the gap; and

lowering the pipe string and the control line through the rig floor opening and into the well.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of securing the retainer in its raised position to prevent inadvertent lowering of the retainer into the gap.

23. An apparatus for installing a control line and a pipe string in a well, comprising:

a retainer for reciprocating a spider between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein the apparatus is adapted for supporting the pipe string only in the lowered position.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the retainer comprises a means for reciprocating the spider about a stationary portion of the pipe string that is above a drill rig floor.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising at least one support for supporting the retainer in the raised position above the drill rig floor.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a means for raising the spider to the raised position when the spider is not supporting the pipe string.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the retainer is adapted to provide an access to at least a portion of the pipe string between the drill rig floor and the spider in the raised position for securing the control line to the pipe string.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means mounted to the retainer for aligning the control line along the portion of the pipe string in the access.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the retainer comprises means for reciprocating the spider between a lowered position and one or more raised positions.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the retainer is integral with the spider.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the retainer supportably receives the spider.

32. A method for securing a control line to a pipe string being run into a well, comprising:

transferring support of the pipe sting from a spider;

raising the spider from a lowered position to a raised position above a drill rig floor;

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

lowering the pipe string and the control line into the well.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising;

transferring support of the pipe string to the spider.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

securing the control line to the pipe string below the spider and above the drill rig floor.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein support of the pipe string is transferred from the spider to an elevator.