Abstract:
A technique is provided to limit the number of vehicles required during a well project involving a plurality of well construction related procedures. The technique utilizes a transport vehicle able to receive a plurality of equipment modules that may be used for specific well related procedures. The modules may be interchanged with other vehicles for performance of specific procedures corresponding to specific modules.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     In many well projects, a large number of well related vehicles and equipment are used at a well site to complete various procedures related to well construction. Well projects may require, for example, cementing equipment, wireline equipment, acid injection equipment and other types of equipment for numerous potential procedures. Typically, each type of equipment is mounted on its own vehicle or set of vehicles and operated by a crew dedicated to that particular type of equipment.  
         [0002]     Preparation of the area around the wellhead often is dictated by the number and size of equipment required for a given project. Each vehicle type and corresponding crew must have sufficient room at the well site to access the well during its specific procedure. In some projects, downtime can occur while waiting for the arrival of crews to handle specific procedures in a desired sequence during the well construction project.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     In general, the present invention provides a system and method of facilitating completion of well related projects. A modular well construction approach is utilized to provide flexibility that enables a reduction in the amount of equipment and number of crews, thus creating greater efficiency in well projects. The equipment used for various procedures in well projects is constructed in modules that can be loaded on a support vehicle, such as a crane truck. The support vehicle has docking units that enable the mounting of a plurality of the equipment modules onto the vehicle for transport from one well site to another. Modules for a given procedure can be interchanged to enable performance of the specific procedure, thereby eliminating the need for a separate vehicle and crew dedicated to each procedure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of a well site with components to facilitate a well related procedure, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a vehicle having a plurality of interchangeable modules, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a another side view of the vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 2  with different modules attached, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a another side view of the vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 2  with different modules attached, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a methodology for moving the interchangeable modules to other vehicles;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a methodology for retrieving and loading modules on a transport vehicle upon completion of a given procedure, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a detailed side view of a crane vehicle that may be used with the system illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.  
         [0013]     The present invention generally relates to well projects in which various well procedures, e.g. services, are performed. Well equipment modules are used to perform multiple well related procedures, such as well construction procedures. The modules can be interchanged from one vehicle, e.g. a transport vehicle, to another vehicle, thus reducing the number of equipment carrying vehicles required for a given well project. The system also enables a reduction in the number of crew members while providing easy transportability of equipment from one well site to another.  
         [0014]     Specifically, the system and methodology comprise a transport vehicle that may be in the form of a crane truck to transport the modules between well sites. The use of individual modules and a vehicle able to transport a plurality of the modules increases the efficiency and reduces the costs incurred during many types of well construction and other well related projects.  
         [0015]     Referring generally to  FIG. 1 , a top view of a well site  20  is illustrated. In this example, a well  22  is undergoing a well procedure, e.g. a well construction procedure, and generally comprises a wellbore  24  extending downwardly from a wellhead  26  into a subterranean formation containing desired production fluids, such as hydrocarbon based fluids. In many projects, wellbore  24  is drilled into an oil bearing formation for the production of oil. Additionally, only one well  22  is illustrated, but a given project may comprise multiple wells that undergo various well related procedures. It also should be noted that certain well related procedures can be performed on new or existing wells.  
         [0016]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a modular support system  28  is used in a variety of well related projects. In this embodiment, modular system  28  comprises a support vehicle  30  that may be positioned at well site  20  for cooperation with at least one other support vehicle  32 . By way of example, support vehicle  30  comprises a road-legal transport vehicle that can be driven over the regional roads from one well site to another. Support vehicle  32  also is a road-legal vehicle utilized in well completion procedures or other well related procedures.  
         [0017]     The modular support system  28  further comprises a plurality of equipment modules, such as modules  34 ,  36  and  38 . The modules, e.g. modules  34 ,  36  and  38 , comprise equipment used in a variety of well related procedures. Previously, each type of equipment would be dedicated to a specific vehicle and operated by a specific crew. However, equipment modules  34 ,  36  and  38  are interchangeable and can be moved from one vehicle, e.g. support vehicle  30 , to another vehicle, e.g. support vehicle  32 , as needed for performing specific well related procedures. A given module typically is designed for a specific phase of the well project, e.g. cementing, acid application, logging.  
         [0018]     In the example illustrated, support vehicle  30  comprises a crane truck having a crane  40 , a cab  42  and a storage area  44  for storing a plurality of modules. The modules may be selectively released and removed from storage area  44  by crane  40  and moved into a desired position for operation of the equipment contained in the module to accomplish a specific well related procedure. For example, crane  40  can be used to move specific modules from crane truck  30  to support vehicle  32  where the module is selectively mounted to support vehicle  32  via a mounting mechanism  46 . Mounting mechanism  46  is designed to enable the easy connection and disconnection of each module  34 ,  36  and  38 . The specific modules are selected for facilitating each unique phase of well construction. For example, the series of modules may be mounted to mounting mechanism  46  in a specific sequence to facilitate the sequential phases of well construction. Mounting mechanism  46  can comprise a variety of designs, including mechanical catch and release mechanisms, fasteners, e.g. bolts, hydraulically actuated locks or other mechanisms that enable the relatively rapid mounting of the module, disconnection of the module, and mounting of a subsequent module according to the desired sequence of well construction procedures for a given project.  
         [0019]     Support vehicle  32  may comprise a variety of other features depending on the specific uses for which the vehicle is designed. For example, vehicle  32  may comprise a cab  48  and a permanent equipment area  50 . Permanent equipment area  50  may be designed to accommodate many types of equipment, including a fixed cement mixing and pumping unit to facilitate, for example, cementing of liners and other well construction procedures.  
         [0020]     In the example illustrated, modules  34 ,  36  and  38  are delivered to well site  20  by crane truck  30  and support vehicle  32 . Crane truck  30  is used to carry two modules, although the vehicle may be designed to carry other numbers of modules depending on the size and type of equipment incorporated into the interchangeable modules. Once at well site  20 , crane  40  is used to move modules  34 ,  36  and  38  to desired locations. For example, modules can be sequentially released and lifted from support vehicle  32  after completion of each procedure utilizing a specific module. Upon completion of the specific procedure, crane  40  is used to lift the next sequential module from crane truck  30  and to move that module into engagement with support vehicle  32  where it is secured by mounting mechanism  46  for use in the next sequential well related procedure. This process can be continued by interchanging modules, thereby allowing a minimal number of vehicles and crews to accomplish many well related procedures for a given well project. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , at least three interchangeable modules for three unique procedures of well construction can be carried by two support vehicles.  
         [0021]     Referring generally to  FIGS. 2-4 , examples of several configurations for vehicle  30  are illustrated. As illustrated, vehicle  30  generally comprises a crane truck having crane  40  formed of a boom  52  pivotably mounted to a vehicle chassis  54  via a crane base  56 . Various configurations of modules can be removably mounted to chassis  54  in storage area  44  via a plurality of docking units  58 . Docking units  58  can comprise a variety of designs, including mechanical catch and release mechanisms, fasteners, e.g. bolts, hydraulically actuated locks or other mechanisms that enable the relatively rapid mounting of each module, disconnection of each module, and subsequent mounting of the same or different modules for transport or later use in a given well related project.  
         [0022]     Numerous arrangements of modules can be mounted in storage area  44  depending on the procedures required for a given well project. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , crane truck  30  may be used to carry modules  34  and  36  in the form of a cement bulk module  34  and a wireline module  36 . Cement bulk module  34  is used for supplying bulk material to cement mixing and pumping equipment which is provided at the well site, and may be mounted on a vehicle, e.g. mounted in equipment area  50  of support vehicle  32 . Cement bulk module  34  comprises a bulk material holding tank  60  mounted on a support framework  62  that may be readily connected and disconnected from docking unit  58 . Instead of supplying bulk material via a separate truck, module  34  is simply lifted from vehicle  30  by crane  40  and moved to a desired position at well site  20  for carrying out the cementing procedure. For example, the cement bulk module  34  can be mounted on support vehicle  32  via mounting mechanism  46 . Upon completion of the cementing process, module  34  may be disconnected and removed from mounting mechanism  46  to enable the interchanging of module  34  with another module.  
         [0023]     Wireline module  36  comprises, for example, a wireline  64  and a wireline winch  66  for moving wireline  64  into wellbore  24 . Wireline module  36  can be used for a variety of well construction related procedures, including the logging of data from within the well. Accordingly, wireline module  36  can be released from its docking unit  58  and lifted from vehicle  30  via crane  40  for movement to a desired position of operation, e.g. mounting mechanism  46  on support vehicle  32 . Upon completion of this phase of well construction, module  36  is moved back to one of the docking units  58  on crane truck  30  or to another storage location.  
         [0024]     Referring generally to  FIG. 3 , another configuration of crane truck  30  is illustrated. In this embodiment, modules  34  and  38  are mounted to two docking units  58 . As discussed above, module  34  may comprise a cement bulk module, and module  38  comprises equipment dedicated to a different well related procedure. In the example illustrated, module  38  comprises an acid bulk module having an acid tank  68  for holding acid that is used in acid treatment procedures within well  22 . When an acid treatment procedure is desired, module  38  simply is released from its docking unit  58  and lifted to an appropriate operational position by crane  40 . In another example, crane truck  30  is loaded with modules  36  and  38  in the form of a wireline module, and an acid bulk module, as illustrated best in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0025]     In operation of crane truck  30  at well site  20 , individual modules are selected and utilized in specific well related procedures, as generally set forth in the flowchart of  FIG. 5 . Initially, the module, e.g. module  34 ,  36  or  38 , is released from its corresponding docking station  58 , as illustrated by block  70 . The module is then lifted from vehicle  30  by crane  40 , as illustrated by block  72 . Boom  52  of crane  40  is then used to move the module to a remote docking unit, such as mounting mechanism  46  positioned on support vehicle  32 , as illustrated by block  74 . The module is then secured in an operational position, as illustrated by block  76 . Once securely attached, the appropriate well related procedure, e.g. cementing procedure, logging procedure or acid injection procedure, associated with that specific equipment module is carried out at the well site, as illustrated by block  78 .  
         [0026]     Upon completion of the specific procedure, the module can be moved to an appropriate storage location. According to one embodiment, the module is returned to one of the docking units  58  on crane truck  30 , as illustrated by the flowchart of  FIG. 6 . Initially, the module is released from its operational position, as illustrated by block  80 . Boom  52  is then moved into position over the module, and crane  40  is used to lift the module from its operational position, e.g. mounting mechanism  46 , to make room for a subsequent equipment module, as illustrated by block  82 . The module is then moved to one of the docking units  58  located on crane truck  30 , as illustrated by block  84 . At this stage, the module can be secured to its corresponding docking unit  58  for transport to another well site, as illustrated by block  86 . It should be noted, however, that various other procedures and interchanges of modules can be accommodated by crane truck  30 . Upon completion of the well project, crane truck  30  is used to transport the plurality of modules to another location, such as another well site for additional well construction or other well related procedures.  
         [0027]     Referring generally to  FIG. 7 , a more detailed example of vehicle  30 , in the form of a crane truck, is illustrated. In this embodiment, vehicle  30  is a road-legal crane truck having chassis  54  supported on front wheels  88  and rear wheels  90 . As illustrated, rear wheels  90  are mounted on four axles. However, vehicle  30  may comprise other numbers of rear axles depending on the weight of the equipment carried as well as the regional regulations pertaining to use of vehicles on public roadways.  
         [0028]     Cab  42  may be an extended cab having an extended sleeper or storage portion  92 . The cab  42  is mounted on chassis  54 , and crane  40  also is mounted on chassis  54  via a platform  94  to which crane base  56  is secured. In this embodiment, crane base  56  is mounted towards the rear of vehicle  30  and supports boom  52  and a transport position over the stored modules during transport of the modules from one well site to another. Also, a plurality of stabilizer mechanisms  96 , such as hydraulic stabilizer arms, can be pressed against the ground to stabilize platform  94  during extension of boom  52  and movement of the modules. In the specific embodiment illustrated, storage area  44  is located on platform  94  between the crane base  56  and cab  42  and is sized to carry two modules, such as module  34  and module  36 . Additionally, crane truck  52  comprises an external control console  98  by which an operator can control crane  40  and movement of modules from and to docking units  58 . The overall design of crane truck  30  enables the movement of at least two separate equipment modules from one well site to another for use in a plurality of well procedures, thereby avoiding the need for separate vehicles and crews dedicated to each procedure type.  
         [0029]     It should be noted that modular support system  28  may be used in a variety of configurations depending on the specific well project. For example, support vehicle  32  may comprise a variety of vehicle designs, and certain projects may incorporate the use of additional support vehicles that can be used in cooperation with the multi-module crane truck illustrated and discussed above. Various types of permanently affixed equipment, either mounted on vehicles or at the well site, also can be used for a given project. The size and functionality of the modules described above can be changed or adjusted according to the requirements of specific projects.  
         [0030]     Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.