GAUGE CARRIER FOR INCORPORATION INTO TUBING FOR FLOW-TESTING OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION WELLS

Abstract: A gauge carrier comprises a tubular body (3), and upper and lower subs (2, 13). The subs (2, 13) are releasably and sealingly secured to the upper and lower ends of the body (3) and are incorporated into tubing (1, 16). The subs (2, 13) provide openings therethrough coaxial with the openings in the tubing (1, 16) but offset to one side of the axis of the body (3). In one embodiment a partition wall (7) is movably within the body (3) and can be latched in a position where it provides limited communication between a first space freely communicating with the openings in the subs (2, 13) and a second space in which gauges (8) can be releasably retained. The wall (7) can also be unlatched so that the gauges (8) can be retrieved through the openings in the subs (2, 13). In a simpler version the wall is in the form of an apertured tube mounted within the body between the openings in the subs.

Description: - 1 - Gauge carrier for incorporation into tubing for -fi°y i§sting_gf_gil_and_gas_exQlorat on_welLs_ Descri.gti.on This invention relates to a gauge carrier for incorporation into tubing for flow-testing of oil and gas exploration wells. Gauge carriers with a straight through flow path which_ allows equipment to pass through, at present have the gauges mounted externally of the tubing and the tubing has parts therein so that the gauges can test the pressure and temperature of the flow within the tubirag. Disadvantages of such an arrangement are that the gauges are prone to various forms of shocks and damage, there is the possibility of leakage through the parts and of clogging of the parts. An object of the invention is to obviate or mitigate such disadvantages. According to the invention there is provided a gauge carrier for incorporation into tubing for flow-testing of oil and gas exploration wells, the carrier comprising a tubular body, upper and lower subs releasably and sealingly secured to the upper and lower ends of the body, the subs being adapted at their " ends remote from the body to be incorporated into tubing and to provide openings therethrough coaxial with the openings in the tubing but offset to one side of the axis of the body, a partition wall mounted within the body and dividing the interior of the body into a first space freely communicating with the openings in the subs, and a second space in limited communication with the first space, in which second space are mounted spring-biassed holders for releasably retaining gauges within the second space. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows the upper end of a gauge carrier in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 shows the lower end of the gauge carrier in Fig. 1 in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a section on line 111-111 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows the upper end of another gauge carrier in longitudinal section; Fig. 5 shows the lower end of the gauge carrier in Fig. 4 in longitudinal section; and Fig. 6 is a section on line VI-VI in Fig. 5. In Fig. 1 there is shown an upper tubing connector 1 screwed into an upper sub 2 which is itself screwed into a tubular body 3. The upper sub 2 has an inwardly opening recess 4 having parallel walls slidably receiving therebetween a latching retainer 5 having a stem 6 biassed by a compresssion spring received in a cylindrical recess in the sub 2. The connector 1 and upper sub 2 have coaxial openings therethrough. The opening in the connector 1 is coaxial therewith but the opening in the sub 2 is offset to one side of the axis of body 3. The interior of the body 3 is divided by a curved partition wall 7 into a first space freely communicating with the coaxial openings referred to above. The wall 7 is releasably retained by its upper end by means of a slot in the retainer 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the wall 7 does not completely close-off the interior of the body 3 but provides limited communication between the said first space and a second space for containing gauges 8 which may be arranged in tandem. At the upper end of the second space the spacer has a recess 9 receiving a compression spring biassing an upper holder 10 for the gauges 8. As shown in Fig. 2 the lower end of the carrier is similar to the upper end shown in Fig. 1 except that the spring-biassed retainer 5 is replaced by a hinged retainer 11 swingably received in a recess 12 in the lower sub 13. The lower end of the wall 7 is tightly retained in a slot in the retainer 11 which is itself recessed at 14 to receive a compression spring biassing a lower holder 15. A lower tubing connector is shown at 16. In use, the gauges are protected from shocks and damage, the springs protecting the gauges from vertical shocks. In order to project the gauges from horizontal shocks rubber cushioning may be placed around the installed g ' auges. In order to retrieve the gauges 8 without the need to retrieve the carrier as a whole, a tool may be lowered through the tubing t.o engage a shoulder 17 on the retainer 11 and thereby lift the retainer so that the upper end of the wall 7 is released and can swing into the aligned openings. On releasing the upper end of the wall 7 the gauges 8 are also released ready for removal by another tool lowered through the tubing. In Fig. 4 there is shown the upper tubing connector 1 screwed into an upper sub 18 which is itself screwed into the tubular body 3. A spacer sub 19 is received within the body 3 and abuts the sub 18. The connector 1, upper sub 18 and spacer sub 19 have coaxial openings theret rough. The opening in the connector 1 is coaxial therewith but the openings in the subs 18 and 19 are offset to one side of the axis of the body 3. The interior of the body 3 is divided by a tube 20 into a first space within the tube 20 freely communicating and aligned with the coaxial openings referred to above. The tube 20 is inserted at its upper end into an enlargement of the opening in the spacer sub 19. The tube 20 is apertured at 21 to provide limited communication between the said first space and a second space for containing gauges 8. At the upper end of the second space the spacer sub 19 has a recess 22 receiving a compression spring biassing an upper holder 23 for the gauges 8. As shown in Fig. 5 the lower end of the carrier is similar to the upper end shown in Fig. 4 except that there is no spacer corresponding to the spacer sub 19. Thus " the lower end of the tube 20 is inserted into an enlargement of the opening in a lower sub 24 which is recessed at 25 to receive a compression spring biassing a lower holder 26. The lower tubing connector is shown at 16. As shown, a single gauge 8 or a number of gauges in tandem may be arranged in the said second space between a single recess 22 in the spacer sub 19 and a single recess 25 in the lower sub 24. It will be understood, however that the crescent-shaped cross-section of the second space, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, can accommodate more gauges or rows of gauges and that to this end a plurality of recesses could be provided in each of the subs 19 and 24.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. A gauge carrier for incorporation into tubing for flow-testing of oil and gas exploration wells, the carrier comprising a tubular body (3), upper and lower subs (2 and 13, 18 and 24) releasably and sealingly secured to the upper and lower ends of the body (3), the subs (2 and 13, 18 and 24) being adapted at their ends remote from the body (3) to be incorporated into tubing (1, 1-6) and to provide openings therethrough coaxial with the openings in the tubing (1, 16) but offset to one side of the axis of the body (3) a partition wall (7, 20) mounted within the body (3) and dividing the interior of * the body (3) into a first space freely communicating with the openings in the subs (2 and 13, 18 and 24), and a second space in limited communication with the first space, in whic.h second space are mounted spring-biassed holders (10 and 15, 23, 26) for releasably retaining gauges (8) within the second space . 2. A gauge carrier according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (7) is movably mounted with in the body (3) and a latching retainer (5) is co-operably with the partition wall (7) and operable by means of a tool introduced through the openings in the subs (2, 13) to release the wall (7) from a latched postion where it provides the limited communication between the first space and the second space, to an unlatched position where the wall ( 7 ) permits access to the gauges (8) for retrieval thereof through the openings in the subs (2, 13) 3. A gauge carrier according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is in the form of an internal apertured tube ( 20 ) mounted within the body (3) between the opening in the subs (18, 24) and. dividing the interior of the body ( 3 ) into the first space within the tube (20) and the second space outside the tube (20).

Inventors: WIERZBA PATRICKS WILLARD, WIERZBA, PATRICKS, WILLARD
Applicants: WIERZBA PATRICKS WILLARD, WIERZBA, PATRICKS, WILLARD
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E21B47
IPC codes: E21B23, E21B47, E21B49