Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided for stripping solids and fluids from a string used in the drilling or servicing of a well when the string is removed from the well. The apparatus can comprise two or more pivotally connected arcuate body portions that can be enclosed around the string in a clamshell fashion. The apparatus can further comprise a seal disposed therein to provide a toroidal sealing member around the string when the apparatus encloses the string. A quick release latch mechanism is provided on the apparatus for easy and quick installation on, and removal from, the string. Handles on the apparatus allow personnel to hold the apparatus in a stationary position as the string passes through the apparatus when being raised from the well. In so doing, the sealing member strips solids and fluids from the string.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/173,507 filed Apr. 28, 2009 and to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/321,009 filed Apr. 5, 2010, and hereby incorporates the same provisional applications by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is related to the field of apparatuses, in particular, hand held pipe wipers and seals for wiping fluids and solids off pipe sections of a string used in the drilling of a well, or in the servicing of a well, as the pipe sections are removed from the well, and methods of using same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As sections of pipe in a string used either on a drilling rig in the drilling of wells or on a service rig in the servicing of wells are removed from or “tripped out” of the well, they are often covered with solids and/or fluids. Before the pipe sections are put back into a storage rack or facility, it is desirable that the solids or fluids be removed or stripped off of the pipe. Known methods for removing solids or fluids from pipe sections being tripped out of a well are cumbersome and can be difficult, if not dangerous, for drilling personnel to use. 
         [0004]    Known methods for removing solids or fluids from pipe sections being tripped out of a well include the manual use of rags and gunny sacks which require the hands of drilling personnel to be in close proximity to the drilling fluid. The drilling fluid is often at high temperatures and can burn the hands of drilling personnel. The known methods can result in the wiping device being dropped down into the drill hole. 
         [0005]    It is, therefore, desirable to provide a pipe wiper and seal that can wipe or strip off solids from pipe sections being tripped out of a well that is easy to handle by personnel on the well. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An apparatus and method for stripping solids and fluids from sections of pipe on a string used in the drilling of wells or used in the servicing of wells is disclosed. For purposes of this specification and the claims contained herein, the term “string” is defined to include a drill string comprised of multiple sections of drill pipe joined together and used on a drilling rig for the drilling of wells, a string of pipe comprised of multiple sections of pipe joined together and used on a service rig for the servicing of wells, and coil tubing that is used in the directional drilling of wells in addition to the servicing of wells. For purposes of this specification and the claims contained herein, the term “rig” is defined to include both well drilling rigs and well servicing rigs as well as snubbing units, push/pull rigs, coil tubing units, and other mechanical devices used to insert or remove string from a well. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a hand held pipe wiper. The pipe wiper can be used primarily to strip off solids and fluids from a string when it is being removed from a well. The pipe wiper can be provided with handles so it can be used manually by drilling personnel. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the pipe wiper can comprise two or more portions that are hinged together so that the pipe wiper can be opened and placed around a string and then closed around the string to form a generally cylindrical body that encloses the string in a clamshell fashion. The pipe wiper can further comprise a releasable latch mechanism that can hold the pipe wiper body portions together. In this manner, the pipe wiper can easily and quickly be connected when installed on a string, and then easily and quickly disconnected and removed from the string when the string has been stripped of solids and fluids. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the pipe wiper can further comprise a flexible toroidal seal disposed in the pipe wiper body. The seal can have multiple parts, one part for each portion of the hinged body. When the pipe wiper is enclosed around a string, the seal can form a toroidal sealing member having a central opening that can fit tightly around the string. In another embodiment, the seal can be configured to flex and stretch such that the central opening can expand in diameter so that the seal can pass over a connection between sections of pipe as the string is being raised out of a well, and then contract in diameter to the pipe&#39;s diameter after the pipe connection has passed through the pipe wiper. In operation, the pipe wiper can be placed and enclosed around a string and can be held in position by drilling personnel on the rig floor by gripping the handles to ensure stabilization of the pipe wiper as the string is being raised out of the well. As the string is raised, it passes through the pipe wiper and the sealing member in the pipe wiper strips off solids and fluids from the exterior surface of the string, the solids and fluids falling onto the rig floor. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, the seal can be removably installed in the pipe wiper so as to provide a variety of seals having differently sized openings to accommodate strings of different diameters, or to be able to easily replace a damaged seal in the pipe wiper. 
         [0011]    “Handle” as used herein can include anything know in the art or yet to be developed which will allow a worker to grip the apparatus. The handle can be integrally formed into the body of the apparatus or can be attached separately. The handle can allow for increasing the distance between the hands of drilling personnel and the drilling fluid. 
         [0012]    Broadly stated, a hand held pipe wiper is provided for stripping off solids and fluids from a string in the drilling or servicing of a well, comprising: two or more arcuate body portions pivotally connected together and configured to form a cylindrical body when enclosed around the string; a latch mechanism disposed on one or more body portions, the latch mechanism configured to releasably connect the arcuate body portions together to form the cylindrical body; one or more handles disposed on the arcuate body portions; and a sealing member disposed in the cylindrical body, the sealing member configured to form a toroidal seal around the string when the cylindrical body is enclosed around the string whereby the sealing member strips solids and fluids off of the string when the string passes through the pipe wiper. 
         [0013]    Broadly stated, a sealing member is provided which can be removably received by an apparatus having two or more arcuate body portions pivotally connected together and configured to form a cylindrical body when closed together for stripping off solids and fluids from a string used in the drilling or servicing of a well, the sealing member comprising: a plurality of seal portions having a top face and a bottom face, one seal portion for each arcuate body portion; and the seal portions configured to form an opening that forms a toroidal seal around the string when the cylindrical body is enclosed around the string whereby the sealing member strips solids and fluids off of the string when the string passes through the apparatus. 
         [0014]    Broadly stated, a method is provided for stripping off solids and fluids from a string being removed from a well, the method comprising the steps of: providing a hand held pipe wiper, comprising: two or more arcuate body portions pivotally connected together and configured to form a cylindrical body when enclosed around the string, a latch mechanism disposed on one or more body portions, the latch mechanism configured to releasably connect the arcuate body portions together to form the cylindrical body, one or more handles disposed on the arcuate body portions, and a sealing member disposed in the cylindrical body, the sealing member configured to form a toroidal seal around the string when the cylindrical body is enclosed around the string whereby the sealing member strips solids and fluids off of the string when the string passes through the pipe wiper; enclosing the pipe wiper around the string whereby the sealing member has formed the toroidal seal around the string; and holding the pipe wiper in position while the string is being raised out of the well whereby the sealing element strips off solids and fluids from the string. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view depicting a pipe wiper; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view depicting the pipe wiper of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-section view depicting the pipe wiper of  FIG. 2  along section lines A-A; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view depicting the pipe wiper of  FIG. 1  installed on a string being raised; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view depicting a sealing member for a pipe wiper; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view depicting the sealing member of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view depicting the sealing member of  FIG. 5  along section lines B-B; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view depicting a female seal half of the sealing member of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view depicting the female seal half of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a side cross-section view depicting the female seal half of  FIG. 8  along section lines C-C; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view depicting a male seal half of the sealing member of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view depicting the male seal half of  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a side cross-section view depicting the male seal half of  FIG. 11  along section lines D-D. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of pipe wiper  10  is shown. In this embodiment, pipe wiper  10  can comprise body  12  consisting of arcuate or semi-circular body halves  14  and  16  that are pivotally connected together with hinge  18 . When body halves  14  and  16  are closed together to meet at seam  19 , body  12  defines interior  11  through which a string can be placed and pass through. While this embodiment comprises two semi-circular body halves  14  and  16  to form cylindrical or tubular body  12 , it should be understood that three or more arcuate body portions pivotally connected together can be used to form body  12 . In other embodiments of pipe wiper  10 , body  12  can have a cross-sectional shape that is not circular, such shapes including: triangular, square, rectangular, oval and polygonal cross-sectional shapes. For the purposes of this specification and the claims contained herein, the terms “arcuate”, “semi-circular”, “cylindrical”, “tubular” and any other like terms are hereby defined to include both circular and non-circular cross-sectional shapes of body  12  and parts therefor, including a sealing member that is disposed in body  12  and discussed in further detail below. 
         [0029]    Body  12  can further comprise handle  20  disposed on body half  14  and handle  22  disclosed on body half  16  so as to enable a person to grasp and hold onto pipe wiper  10  when a string is raised through it. Pipe wiper  10  can further comprise latch mechanism  24  to hold body halves  14  and  16  together when pipe wiper  10  is being used. In the illustrated embodiment, latch mechanism  24  can comprise fixed hinge member  28  disposed on body half  14  that can be pivotally connected to movable latch member  30 , which, in turn, can be pivotally connected to handle  26 . Handle  26  can be further configured to engage a keeper or stay member disposed on body half  16  (not shown) to hold body halves  14  and  16  together when handle  26  is rotated towards body  12  whereby latch mechanism  24  can operate as an “over center latch.” To open pipe wiper  10 , handle  26  can be pulled and rotated away from body half  16  to disengage the keeper disposed thereon whereby handle  26  and latch member  30  can be rotated further away from body half  16  so as to enable the removal of pipe wiper  10  from a pipe section. It should be apparent that any suitable latching mechanism can be used in substitution of the illustrated latch mechanism  24  to couple body halves  14  and  16  together. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of pipe wiper  10  is shown, namely, the interior view of body half  16 . As shown in this embodiment, the interior surface of body half  16  can comprise groove  32  disposed thereon where a sealing element can be removably placed. A corresponding groove  32  can also be disposed on the interior surface of body half  14  (not shown). Groove  32  enables the easy installation and removal of sealing elements in body halves  14  and  16  so that the sealing element can be replaced when it becomes damaged or when a sealing element for a different diameter pipe is required. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , pipe wiper  10  is shown installed on pipe  36  as it is being raised through pipe wiper  10 . In this embodiment, pipe wiper  10  is shown comprised of semi-circular body halves  14  and  16  each having arcuate seal members  34  and  35  disposed therein, respectively. When pipe wiper  10  is installed around pipe  36 , as shown, seal members  34  and  35  meet at seam  40  to form opening  39  that, in turn, forms a toroidal seal around pipe  36 . Seal members  34  and  35  can be configured to be removably placed or installed in grooves  32  disposed in body halves  14  and  16 . Seal members  34  and  35  can be made of any suitable elastomeric material that enables seal members  34  and  35  to flex and stretch so as to maintain contact with the external surface of pipe  36  due to any irregularities to the cross-sectional shape of pipe  36  or to the contour of the pipe&#39;s external surface and, in addition, to allow opening  39  to expand in diameter so as to enable any joint connection between two sections of pipe to pass through seal members  34  and  35  as a joint connection can have a larger diameter than the diameter of the pipe itself. Suitable examples of the elastomeric material for seal members  34  and  35  can include natural rubber, neoprene rubber, foam rubber, silicone-based rubber, nitrile rubber and any other material that is suitable for use as a seal that can be used to strip petroleum-based substances from a string. The elastomeric material for seal members  34  and  35  can also be a low weight material which would allow seal members  34  and  35  to float on the drilling fluid if seal members  34  and  35  were dropped into well. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, seal members  34  and  35  can further comprise means for allowing opening  39  to expand and contract in diameter. In one embodiment, the means can comprise a plurality of relief cuts  38  disposed thereon to allow opening  39  to expand in diameter when a joint connection between two pipe sections are passed through pipe wiper  10 , and to contract in diameter when the joint connection has passed through pipe wiper  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, relief cuts  38  are shown as straight cuts in a radial configuration extending outwardly from opening  39 . The relief cuts  38  can be of any other suitable configuration on seal members  34  and  35  so as to allow opening  39  to expand and contract in diameter as a pipe joint connection passes through seal members  34  and  35 . 
         [0033]    In a representative embodiment, body  12 , handles  20  and  22 , and latch mechanism  24  can be made of a polymer plastic material so as to minimize the weight of pipe wiper  10  and still maintain the necessary structural strength required for a tool of this nature. However, it should be understood that other materials can be used in the construction in pipe wiper  10 , such as metal, metal alloys or any other suitable construction material. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-13 , a further embodiment of a sealing member for use with pipe wiper  10  is shown as seal insert  42 . Seal insert  42  can include a female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46 . Outer edge  48  of seal insert  42  can be configured such that seal insert  42  can be removably placed or installed in body halves  14  and  16 . Seal insert  42  can include a top face  50  and bottom face  52 . Seal grooves  56  can be used to removably place seal insert  43  into groove  32  on the interior surface of body half  16  and the interior surface of body half  14 . Groove  32  can enable the easy installation and removal of seal halves  44  and  46  in body halves  14  and  16  so that the seal insert  42  can be replaced when it becomes damaged or when a seal insert  42  for a different diameter pipe  36  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) is required. 
         [0035]    Female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46  can be made of any suitable elastomeric material that enables female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46  to flex and stretch so as to maintain contact with the external surface of pipe  36  due to any irregularities to the cross-sectional shape of pipe  36  or to the contour of the pipe&#39;s external surface and, in addition, to allow seal insert opening  54  to expand in diameter so as to enable any joint connection between two sections of pipe to pass through seal insert opening  54  as a joint connection can have a larger diameter than the diameter of the pipe  36  itself. Suitable examples of the elastomeric material for female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46  can include natural rubber, neoprene rubber, foam rubber, silicone-based rubber, nitrile rubber and combinations thereof or any other material suitable for use as a seal that can be used to strip petroleum-based produced substances from a string. The elastomeric material for female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46  can also be a low weight material which would allow female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46  to float on the drilling fluid if female seal half  44  and a male seal half  46  were dropped into well. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10 , female seal half  44  can have notch  58  for receiving a tongue disposed on seal half  46 . Referring to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , male seal half  46  can have tongue  60  that can be inserted into notch  58  so that female seal half  44  and male seal half  46  can be brought together to form seal insert  42  which, in turn, can form a toroidal seal around pipe  36  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, seal insert  42  can also include channel  62  disposed between the top face  50  and bottom face  52  of seal insert  42 . Channel  62  can allow for a pipe joint or irregularity on pipe  36  to pass through seal insert opening  54  while allowing seal insert  42  to still strip pipe  36  of solids and fluids collected on the outside surface of pipe  36 . 
         [0038]    Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.