Enhanced magnetically impelled arc butt wielding (MIAB) technology
First Claim
1. An apparatus for connecting wellbore tubulars at a rig floor, comprising:
- a magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device positioned on the rig floor, the MIAB welding device including;
(i) a high frequency arc ignition device having a power unit generating an arc between facing ends of two wellbore tubulars, wherein the high frequency arc ignition device generates sparks on the order of thousands of volts that last on the order of microseconds,(ii) a magnetic field generator disposed around the facing ends and superimposing a magnetic field at the facing ends, the magnetic field generator having at least one magnet interacting with the arc, and(iii) process control circuitry programmed to control welding of the facing ends, anda force applicator compressively engaging the facing ends to form a welded joint; and
a feeding device holding the facing ends of the two wellbore tubulars at a specified distance away from one another, the feeding device including a mandrel and a gripper engaging at least one of the two wellbore tubulars.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device heats facing ends of a pair of wellbore tubulars and a force application device compressively engages the facing ends to form a welded joint. The device may be positioned on the rig floor. The MIAB welding device may include a device configured to hold facing ends of the two wellbore tubulars at a specified distance away from one another, a high frequency arc ignition device configured to generate an arc between the facing ends and to revolve the arc around the circumference of the facing ends, and a magnetic field generator configured to superimpose a magnetic field at the facing ends. The MIAB welding device may be configured to melt at least a surface of the facing ends.
12 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for connecting wellbore tubulars at a rig floor, comprising:
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a magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device positioned on the rig floor, the MIAB welding device including; (i) a high frequency arc ignition device having a power unit generating an arc between facing ends of two wellbore tubulars, wherein the high frequency arc ignition device generates sparks on the order of thousands of volts that last on the order of microseconds, (ii) a magnetic field generator disposed around the facing ends and superimposing a magnetic field at the facing ends, the magnetic field generator having at least one magnet interacting with the arc, and (iii) process control circuitry programmed to control welding of the facing ends, and a force applicator compressively engaging the facing ends to form a welded joint; and a feeding device holding the facing ends of the two wellbore tubulars at a specified distance away from one another, the feeding device including a mandrel and a gripper engaging at least one of the two wellbore tubulars. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for connecting tubulars, comprising:
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positioning a magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device on a rig floor, the MIAB welding device including (i) a high frequency arc ignition device having a power unit generating an arc between facing ends of two tubulars, wherein the high frequency arc ignition device generates sparks on the order of thousands of volts that last on the order of microseconds, (ii) a magnetic field generator disposed around the facing ends and superimposing a magnetic field at the facing ends, the magnetic field generator having at least one magnet interacting with the arc, and (iii) process control circuitry programmed to control welding of the facing ends; holding the facing ends of the two wellbore tubulars at a specified distance away from one another using a feeding device, the feeding device including a mandrel and a gripper engaging at least one of the two wellbore tubulars; heating facing ends of the two wellbore tubulars using the MIAB welding device; and compressively engaging the facing ends using a force application device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification