Method and device to clamp control lines to tubulars

• US 7,740,078 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Hollingsworth, Jimmy L., Hill, Troy F., Bedore, Timothy, Haugen, David M., Hayes, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US11/831,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20080023192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/385
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1035 for plural rods, pipes or lines, e.g. for control lines
• 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 19/16 Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints E21B19/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/165 Control or monitoring arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/20 Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/24 Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0021 Safety devices, e.g. for preventing small objects from falling into the borehole

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a control line to a tubular string. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide boom pivotable around a location adjacent the string and with a guide member at an end thereof to guide the control line. The apparatus further includes a clamp boom that is independently pivotable and includes a clamp housing at an end thereof for clamping the control line against the tubular string. The guide boom and the clamp boom each have a center line which is substantially aligned with the center line of the tubing string permitting the control line to be aligned adjacent the tubular string prior to clamping.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning a control line adjacent a tubular string, the apparatus comprising:

a control line guide assembly having a guide member configured to guide the control line; and

a clamp handling assembly having a clamp member for securing the control line to the tubular string, wherein the clamp handling assembly is movable toward the tubular string from a staging position to a clamping position to move the clamp member into engagement with the control line for securing the control line to the tubular string.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp handling assembly is movable independently of the guide assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a motive member for moving the clamp handling assembly between the staging position and the clamping position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide assembly moves along an arc that substantially intersects with a center line of the tubular string.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide assembly is configured to position the control line substantially parallel with the tubular string.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting assembly for connecting the guide assembly to a rig structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the clamp handling assembly is attached to the mounting assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp handling assembly is pivotable around a location adjacent the tubular string between the staging position and the clamping position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control line guide assembly is pivotable around substantially the same location.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp member is releasable from the clamp handling assembly after securing the control line to the tubular string.

11. A method of securing a control line to a tubular string comprising:

providing a clamp handling assembly having a clamp member releasably attached thereto;

positioning the control line adjacent the tubular string;

moving the clamp handling assembly toward the tubular string to position the clamp member adjacent the control line and tubular string;

securing the control line to the tubular string by using the clamp member; and

moving the clamp handling assembly away from the tubular string.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising moving a control line guide assembly toward the tubular string.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control line guide assembly includes a guide member configured to guide the control line to a point adjacent the tubular string.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the control line guide assembly away from the tubular string.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the clamp handling assembly and the control line guide assembly are movable independently of each other.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing the position of the control line guide assembly.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving the clamp handling assembly in response to the sensed position of the control line guide assembly.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the clamp handling assembly is attached to the control line guide assembly.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the control line guide assembly and the clamp handling assembly are moved toward the tubular string simultaneously.

20. An apparatus for securing a control line to a tubular string, the apparatus comprising:

a clamp handling boom;

a clamp member releasably attached to the clamp handling boom; and

a motive member configured to move the clamp handling boom between a staging position and a clamping position adjacent the tubular string, where the clamp member is detachable from the clamp handling boom for securing the control line to the tubular string.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the clamp handling boom moves to the clamping position when the control line is positioned proximate the tubular string.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the clamp handling boom is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a control line guide assembly having a guide member configured to position the control line proximate the tubular string.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the clamp handling boom is movable independently of the control line guide assembly.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the clamp handling boom is movable in a lateral direction and in a vertical direction.

26. An apparatus for positioning a control line adjacent a tubular string, the apparatus comprising:

a control line guide assembly having a guide member configured to guide the control line;

a clamp handling assembly having a clamp member configured to clamp the control line against the tubular string, wherein the clamp handling assembly is movable between a staging position and a clamping position, and wherein the clamp member is releasable from the clamp handling assembly after clamping the control line against the tubular string;

a motive member for moving the clamp handling assembly between the staging position and the clamping position; and

a sensor configured to determine the position of the clamp handling assembly.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an interlock system for allowing operation of a spider in response to the position of the clamp handling assembly.