Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7519508?dq=inassignee:integral+inassignee:peripherals
Timestamp: 2016-07-01 17:38:18
Document Index: 536634401

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 605', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610', 'art 610']

Patent US7519508 - Method and system for setting and analyzing tubing target pressures for tongs - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA target pressure value is determined during the learning mode. Subsequent pressure values are then compared to the target value. For example, a first connection is tightened in a conventional manner, while its pressure is monitored during the learning mode. If the tightening process went well, then...http://www.google.com/patents/US7519508?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7519508 - Method and system for setting and analyzing tubing target pressures for tongsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7519508 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/516,153Publication dateApr 14, 2009Filing dateSep 5, 2006Priority dateSep 13, 2005Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2621544A1, CA2621544C, CA2621546A1, CA2621546C, CA2621550A1, CA2621592A1, CA2621592C, CA2839478A1, CA2839478C, US7359801, US7519475, US7657376, US20070056746, US20070067107, US20070089878, US20070288169, WO2007033001A2, WO2007033001A3, WO2007033024A2, WO2007033024A3, WO2007033040A2, WO2007033040A3, WO2007033070A2, WO2007033070A3Publication number11516153, 516153, US 7519508 B2, US 7519508B2, US-B2-7519508, US7519508 B2, US7519508B2InventorsFrederic M. NewmanOriginal AssigneeKey Energy Services, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (27), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (2), Classifications (22), Legal Events (9) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and system for setting and analyzing tubing target pressures for tongs
US 7519508 B2Abstract
A target pressure value is determined during the learning mode. Subsequent pressure values are then compared to the target value. For example, a first connection is tightened in a conventional manner, while its pressure is monitored during the learning mode. If the tightening process went well, then an operator pushes a button that tells the monitor to remember how much pressure was used on the tongs to tighten the first connection. The pressure value of that first joint then becomes the target pressure value for any subsequent joints. As additional joints are tightened, the pressure applied to the tongs is monitored and compared to the first one to ensure that all the joints are as good as the first one within an allowable tolerance.
This non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/716,612, titled Interpretive Techniques Using Sensor Data, filed Sep. 13, 2005. This provisional application is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.
The current invention generally relates to assembling threaded sucker rods and tubulars of oil wells and other wells. More specifically, the invention pertains to a device that monitors and displays the pressures applied by a set of tongs to the rods and tubulars of the wells.
To provide a control and display system that adapts to various conditions at a well site where sucker rods, casing, or tubing is being tightened, it is an object of the invention to provide such a system with a learning mode wherein the system develops a target pressure value based on tightening a particular connection.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system that monitors a set of tongs tightening a string of elongated members according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
A monitor 10 for monitoring the tightening operation of a set of tongs 12 is shown in FIG. 1. Monitor 10 includes a learning mode that enables the monitor to adapt to various tongs and operating conditions. After temporarily operating in the learning mode, monitor 10 shifts to a monitoring mode. Readings taken during the monitoring mode are compared to those taken during the learning mode to determine whether any changes occurred during the tightening operation.
In step 225, an inquiry is conducted to determine if a predetermined number of strings 14 of rods 40 have been joined since the most recent setting of the target pressure. In one exemplary embodiment, the target pressure should be reevaluated and reset after every ten stands of rods 40. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination is made by the operator of the tongs 12. If the predetermined number of strings 14 have been joined, then the “YES” branch is followed to step 205 where the target pressure is reset. Otherwise, the “NO” branch is followed to step 230. In step 230, an inquiry is conducted to determine if there is a taper, or a change in the size of the rods 40, being joined to the string 14. In one exemplary embodiment, different rod or tubing sizes have different API standards that must be satisfied and thus the tongs 12 will in all likelihood require a different pressure to satisfy those standards.
If there is a taper, the “YES” branch is followed to step 205, where the target pressure setting is reset. On the other hand, if there is no taper, the “NO” branch is followed to step 235, where an evaluation of the plotted data on the display 23 is conducted to determine if the string 14 of rods 40 were properly joined to the couplings 42. The process then continues from step 235 to the END step.
In step 310, the rod 40 is disconnected from the string 14. Additional hydraulic pressure is added to the pressure relief valve 92 for the tongs 12 in step 315. In step 320, the tongs 12 are used to join the rod 40 to the string 14 at the higher hydraulic pressure. In step 325, the circumferential displacement of the rod 40 to the coupling 42 is compared to the standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (“API”). In step 320, an inquiry is conducted to determine if the proper amount of circumferential displacement has been achieved for a rod 40 of that grade and size. In one exemplary embodiment, the operator of the tongs 12 makes this determination. If the proper amount of circumferential displacement has not been achieved with the current level of hydraulic pressure being provided to the tongs 12, the “NO” branch is followed to step 310, where the rod 40 is disconnected from the coupling 42 again and additional hydraulic pressure is added to the pressure relief valve 92. Otherwise, the “YES” branch is followed to step 210 of FIG. 2.
In step 515, an inquiry is conducted to determine if the input signal 34′ of the hydraulic tong pressure at the sensor 24′ is within a predetermined amount of the recorded target pressure. In one exemplary embodiment, the circuit 20 conducts the inquiry and determines if the current hydraulic tong pressure is within five percent above or below the target hydraulic pressure, however, other percentages above or below the target pressure may be programmed into the circuit 20. If the current hydraulic pressure at the sensor 24′ is not within the predetermined amount, the “NO” branch is followed to step 520.
In step 520, an inquiry is conducted to determine if the current hydraulic pressure at the sensor 24′ has reached a maximum and is decreasing. In one exemplary embodiment, the circuit 20 is continuously monitoring the input signal 34′ from the sensor 24′ and can determine if the pressure level outputs from the sensor 24′ are trending up or down. If the pressure has not reached a maximum, the “NO” branch is followed to step 510, where the input signal 34′ from the sensor 24′ for the current hydraulic pressure is evaluated again. On the other hand, if the current hydraulic pressure has reached a maximum, the “YES” branch is followed to step 520, where the level of hydraulic pressure at the sensor 24′ is recorded from the input signal 34′ at the circuit 20 and displayed on the display screen 23. The process then continues from step 525 to step 220 of FIG. 2.
Returning to step 515, if the current hydraulic pressure at the sensor 24′ is within the predetermined range of the target pressure, the “YES” branch is followed to step 530, where the timer 25 is started. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that several types of timers can be incorporated into the design of the system and used to accomplish the timing step of this invention. In step 535, an inquiry is conducted to determine if a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the timer 25 was activated. In one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is two seconds; however, longer and shorter amounts of time are well within the scope of this invention. If the predetermined amount of time has not passed, the “NO” branch is followed back to step 535 to evaluate the timer 25 once again. Otherwise, the “YES” branch is followed to step 540.
An actual connection hydraulic pressure chart 610 has a y-axis 625 representing hydraulic pressure in pounds per square inch (“psi”) and an x-axis 620 representing time. The actual connection pressure chart 610 provides a graphical representation 635, 640, 650 of the hydraulic pressure at the sensor 24′ when the output signal 80 is generated in step 540 of FIG. 5 or when the pressure has reached a maximum, as described in step 520 of FIG. 5. As discussed previously in FIG. 5, in one exemplary embodiment, the output signal 80 is generated in step 540 if the hydraulic pressure at the sensor 24′ is within five percent of the set target pressure. In one exemplary embodiment, the graphical representations for the connection pressures plotted on the chart 610 can be different for those that are inserted at the time the output signal 80 is generated versus those that are added because a maximum has been reached. For example, for color displays, green “dots” could be placed on the chart 610 when the pressure levels are recorded and displayed at the time the output signal 80 is generated, while red dots could be placed on the chart 610 when the pressure levels are recorded and displayed based on a maximum hydraulic pressure below the target pressure setting and its tolerance, have been reached. In another example, square dots could be inserted when they are generated at the time the signal is generated, while circular dots could be placed on the chart 610 when the are generated after a maximum hydraulic pressure below the target pressure setting and its tolerance, have been reached. Those of ordinary skill in the are will recognize that other methods of distinguishing data on a chart may be used and are well within the scope of this invention.
In step 755, the actual connection hydraulic pressures in chart 610 on the display 23 that are between the time periods of target pressure setting 705 and target pressure setting 715 are selected. Counter variable Y is set equal to one in step 760. In one exemplary embodiment, counter variable Y represents the actual connection hydraulic pressure readings on the chart 610 on the display 23. In step 765, the first target pressure 705 in chart 605 is compared to the first actual connection hydraulic pressure value in chart 610. In step 770, an inquiry is conducted to determine if the first actual connection hydraulic pressure is within the predetermined range of the first target pressure setting. As discussed above, in one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined range is plus or minus five percent of the target pressure setting. If the actual connection hydraulic pressure is within the range, the “YES” branch is followed to step 775.
In step 775, an inquiry is conducted to determine if there is another actual connection hydraulic pressure between the two target pressure settings in chart 610. If so, then the “YES” branch is followed to step 780, where the counter variable Y is incremented by one. The process then returns to step 765. If there are no additional connection hydraulic pressure values, then the “NO” branch is followed to step 785, where the counter variable X is incremented by one. The process then returns to step 745. Returning to step 770, if the connection hydraulic pressure value in chart 610 is not within the predetermined range of the target pressure setting, the “NO” branch is followed to step 785, where the string of rods 40 is disconnected and removed from the well and reconnected following the proper procedure as described in FIGS. 2-5. In one exemplary embodiment, connection pressure values 725 and 730 of FIG. 7 represent values on chart 610 that are below the allowable range of the target pressure setting. The process continues from step 785 to the END step.
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