Patent Publication Number: US-2011073323-A1

Title: Line retention arrangement and method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the downhole drilling and completion industry, numerous lines are needed to facilitate various operations in the downhole environment. Such lines include control lines, power lines, sensory lines, communication lines, etc. Routing such lines is always a concern in that they must be protected to varying degrees, must be fixed to varying degrees, etc. Since real estate is very limited for everything that must be done in the downhole environment the above noted considerations regarding lines is a complex question. In some cases the lines will be run within joints of a string whereby they are generally required to include connection that can withstand downhole conditions. In other cases, lines are run through screens where flow cutting considerations and flow area under the screens must be fielded. In other arrangements the lines are run in segments along the outside diameter of a string and covered in some way. Often such arrangements require connections and also slow the run in process as the lines are connected to the string as the string is run into the hole. 
     Line use in the downhole industry is not likely to abate in the foreseeable future and new means and methods for addressing the various issues they present are always welcomed by the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     A line retention arrangement including one or more supports; and two or more clips, each clip having a base and a cantilever portion the two or more clips being oriented oppositely to one another, each clip mounted to the one or more supports. 
     A line retention arrangement including a plurality of clips disposed along a string, the clips being spaced from one another by a distance related to a rigidity of a line to be retained thereby, the relation being dictated by the ability to bend the line sufficiently to clear a cantilever portion of a clip adjacent to a clip in which the line is already retained. 
     A method for retaining one or more lines at a string including bending the one or more lines in one direction to clear a tip of a cantilever portion of a clip extending in a first direction; urging the one or more lines under the cantilever portion of the clip; bending the line in an opposite direction to clear a tip of a next adjacent cantilever portion; and urging the one or more lines under the next adjacent cantilever portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a string having a line retention arrangement disposed thereon; and 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a clip of the arrangement. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a line retention arrangement  10  is illustrated on a portion of a string  12 . One or more lines  14  are illustrated engaged with the arrangement  10 . In the illustrated embodiment the arrangement comprises a number of clips  16  in opposed orientation, one relative to the next. It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment each clip  16  extends laterally enough to overlap the position of the adjacent clip  16 . While such is illustrated, it is to be appreciated that in other embodiments the reach of the cantilever portion does not necessarily have to be sufficient to overlap the next clip but could be shorter. This is related to the type of line that is to be retained in the arrangement. For example if the line has an aspect ratio of greater than one, only the lateral edges of the line need be captured by the cantilever portion  20 . It will be understood that the longer the overlap the greater the retaining power of the arrangement but the greater the effort required during installation of a line  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each clip  16  comprises a base  18  and a cantilever portion  20 . The base  18  is, in each embodiment, to support the cantilever portion  20  at a radial distance  22  from a mounting surface  24  of a clip support  26 . The radial distance  22  for individual embodiments is related to a thickness of a line  14  to be retained thereby. The clip  16  in some embodiments also employs a radiused corner  28  and radiused end  30  in order to reduce the likelihood of impact, getting stuck and damaging other downhole components when running. Other edges of the clips  16  can also be radiused for the same reason. 
     The base  18  of at least the clips  16  on one lateral side of the arrangement  10  are mounted to the support  26 . Mounting may be effected by welding or any other affixation method suitable for the environment and materials used. As illustrated, the support is attached to only one side of an arrangement  10 . Another support  26  with another set of oppositely facing clips  16  would be positioned adjacent the support  26  to form the arrangement  10 . Alternatively the support  26  can be wide enough to allow for sets of clips  16  oriented in both directions to be placed thereon.  FIG. 1  is illustrative of both constructions because the lines  14  cover either a single support  26  or cover a gap between a pair of supports  26 . 
     An advantage of the arrangement  10  where two supports  26  are employed instead of one is that they can be placed upon the string at whatever lateral displacement is needed for the line  14  to be retained. The single support  26  does not allow such adjustability. Moreover, because a two piece support  26  arrangement leaves a gap between the supports a thick line  14  can be retained or the clips can have a smaller radial dimension  22  to fit the same line  14  because the line will rest on the string rather than on the support  26 . The thickness of the support then will be the difference between the two arrangements. 
     The arrangement  10  is affixed to a string by welding or any other suitable affixation and substantially spans distances between other protective structures. The number of clips between other protective structures may be 2 or more, with an upper limit being set by practicality with respect to the ability to install the line  14 . More specifically, if the clips  16  are too close together, it becomes impossible to out line  14  through them from a laterally adjacent position, which will be the operation necessary in a downhole run environment. Further the number of clips  16  is related to the stiffness of the line  14  in bending. This will be more clearly understood hereunder. 
     In a downhole system that employs the arrangement  10  as hereinbefore described, the arrangement  10  will be extant or placed upon a string being readied for a run. A line  14 , exiting another protective feature, such as collar  32 , is bent in one direction a sufficient amount to clear a tip  34  of a cantilever portion  20  of one clip  16  allowing the line  14  to be slipped underneath the cantilever portion  20  and then bent back the other way until it will clear the tip  34  of the next adjacent cantilever portion  20  whereby it will be slipped under that cantilever portion. In one embodiment the bending is elastic. The method of movement of the line  14  will continue until the line  14  is under all of the cantilever portions  20  of a particular system. In view of the method for installation of the line  14  it will be clearer to the reader why the proximity of clips would vary in different situations. With a line  14  that is very flexible, more clips spaced more closely together is not only possible but needed to ensure that the line stays in place. Where a line  14  is stiffer, clips  16  will need to be farther apart since bending the line  14  back and forth will be more difficult. In addition, not as many clips would be needed in this event as the line  14  will not easily be urged out of the retained position by contact with another structure due to its own rigidity. The inventor hereof, has determined that a single clip  16  can work if the line  14  is very rigid and the distance between the adjacent other protectors  32  is not great enough to allow for deflection of the line  14 . In one embodiment, two clips in opposing directions or three clips in opposing directions will provide greater support even for a stiff line  14 . While the greater the number of clips used the greater the retention capability, the cost of the arrangement is also increased proportionally to the number of clips used. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the number of clips to that number whereby line  14  rigidity will resist deflection to less than the deflection required to dislodge the line  14  from the arrangement  10 . 
     A significant benefit of the arrangement disclosed herein is that it facilitates running lines without connections. Connections increase cost, reduce efficiency and sometimes reduce reliability. None of these properties are attributes. 
     While one or more embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.