Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. The system and method relate in general to wellbore cables. 
     Wellbore spooled devices, such as logging cables, slickline cables, coiled tubing and the like, are typically wound upon a spool or drum to form a drum assembly and installed adjacent a wellbore for performing an operation in the wellbore such as, but not limited to, logging operations or the like. On occasion, the drum assembly may need to be changed for a different drum assembly (such as one with a longer or shorter cable or the like). This changeover may be an extremely difficult and time-consuming operation comprising a number of steps in order to disconnect the drum assembly from equipment adjacent the wellbore and maneuver the drum assembly to be in position for removal with a crane or other suitable lifting device. The changeover may be further complicated by the location of the wellbore, such as on offshore platforms, rigs, and the like and environmental conditions associated with the location of the wellbore such as, but not limited to, sea waves, wind, and cold temperatures. 
     In logging operations, it is not uncommon to change the drum from the logging unit few times during a job. Before being able to move the drum, numerous other systems may need to be dismounted or installed. In prior art drum assemblies, the above-mentioned components must be individually disassembled in order to allow the drum assembly to be removed from its mounting location and replaced with another drum assembly. Such individual disassembly steps may be disadvantageously time-consuming. In addition to the large number of operations to be achieved before the drum may be changed, the weight and the conditions offshore may make the operation time consuming and difficult during heavy or inclement weather. 
     It is desirable to improve the operation of oilfield surface equipment such as drum assemblies. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of a system for removably mounting a drum to a winch assembly comprises a drum assembly, a frame defining at least a portion of a mounting base for the drum, at least one connector for connecting the drum assembly to the mounting base, a lifting apparatus releasably attached to the drum assembly, and at least one guide member releasably attached to the frame and engaging with the lifting apparatus for directing the drum assembly away from the frame when the drum assembly is removed therefrom. The system may further comprise a conveyance spooled upon the drum. The spooled conveyance may comprise a wireline cable. The spooled conveyance may comprise coiled tubing. 
     The drum assembly may be releasably coupled to a prime mover. The prime mover may comprise a motor coupled to the drum assembly via a chain and sprocket connection. The motor may comprise a hydraulic pump and motor assembly. The motor may be coupled to the chain and sprocket connection via a transmission. The at least one guide member may define a track for directing the drum assembly during removal. The lifting apparatus may comprise at least one wheel for engaging with the track of the guide member when the drum assembly is removed. The at least one connector may comprise a container connector. 
     An embodiment of a method for removing a drum assembly from a mounting location comprises disconnecting the drum assembly from a mounting base, mounting a lifting apparatus to the drum assembly, attaching a guide member to the mounting location, and removing the drum assembly from the mounting location with a lifting device attached to the lifting apparatus, the lifting apparatus engaging with the guide member to limit movement of the drum assembly when lifting. 
     The method may further comprise a conveyance spooled on the drum assembly. The spooled device may comprise a wireline cable. The method may further comprise disconnecting the drum assembly from a prime mover. The prime mover may comprise a hydraulic pump and motor assembly. The prime mover may comprise an electric motor driving a hydraulic motor. The method may further comprise installing a second drum assembly at the mounting location and connecting the second drum assembly to a prime mover. The method may further comprise disposing a spooled device on the drum assembly, disposing the spooled device within a wellbore, and performing at least one well servicing operation with the spooled device disposed in the wellbore. The at least one guide member may define a track for directing the drum assembly during removal and the lifting apparatus may comprise at least one wheel for engaging with the track when the drum assembly is removed. 
     The drum assembly advantageously makes the loading and unloading, of a heavy drum assembly quick and safe in harsh conditions, such as offshore conditions and the like. A skid supporting the drum and most of the components related to its functioning in operation may be installed or removed as a single assembly with minimum of apparatus or fasteners to be dismounted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIGS. 1 through 4  are schematic side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a drum assembly in various stages of installation. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective schematic view of an embodiment of a drum assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of components of an embodiment of a drum assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drum assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a drum assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a drum assembly adjacent a wellbore. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a drum assembly is indicated generally at  100 . The drum assembly  100  comprises a drum  102  which is operable to have a spooled device  103  wound thereupon such as, but not limited to, a logging cable, a slickline cable, and coiled tubing. The drum  102  comprises a spool  104  and a pair of opposed flanges  106 . The drum  102  is attached to a mounting location, indicated generally at  108  of a mounting base  109 , such as an offshore oil rig or the like. The mounting location  108  and mounting base  109  may further comprise a frame assembly  110  disposed above the mounting location  108 . 
     A sprocket  112  (best seen in  FIG. 8 ) may be mounted on an exterior surface of one of the flanges  106  and is attached, via a chain assembly  114  or the like, to a prime mover  116 , such as an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a combination thereof, or the like through a transmission  117 , for rotating the drum  102  during a well servicing operation with the spooled device  103 , wherein the spooled device  103  is lowered and raised into a wellbore (not shown). In an embodiment, the prime mover  116  is directly connected to the drum  102  such as by the sprocket  112  and chain assembly  114  or the like. Such a well servicing operation performed by the spooled device  103  may comprise, but is not limited to, a logging operation, conducted by a tool  118  attached to an end of the cable  103  lowered into the wellbore  120 , a perforating operation, a completion operation, a stimulation operation, or other well servicing operation or operations, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     The chain assembly  114  may be a heavy-duty chain or the like having links that engage with spindles on the sprocket  112  and on the transmission  117  of the prime mover  116 , thus providing a direct drive of the drum assembly  100  for lowering and raising the spooled device  103  into and out of the wellbore  120 . The chain assembly  114  may be protected by a cover  115 , best seen in  FIG. 4 , or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a connection  122  between the chain assembly  114  and the drum sprocket  112 . The connection  122  may be of a quick connect and disconnect type and may comprise, but is not limited to, a bolted disc, a clutch, a splined shaft, a keyed shaft, an elastic rubber coupling, or similar quick connect and quick disconnect connection. The connection  122  advantageously allows the prime mover  116  and transmission  117  to remain connected to the mounting base  109  when the drum assembly  100  is removed from the mounting location  108 . The connection  122  may further be mechanically assisted, such as by a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, a hydraulic motor, an electric motor or the like, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The ability for the connection  122  to be quickly connected and disconnected may advantageously reduce the number and complexity of steps required to change the drum assembly  100  during a change-out operation, discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the drum assembly further comprises a plurality of connectors  124  between the drum assembly  100  and the mounting location  108 . The connectors  124  may be of a quick connect and quick disconnect type and may comprise, but are not limited to, those connectors utilized for intermodal containers or the like including those manufactured by the Tandemloc Corporation, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A lifting apparatus  126 , best seen in  FIG. 2 , is operable to be attached to the drum  102 , such as by a threaded connection to the flanges  106  or by any suitable connection. The lifting apparatus  126  allows a crane (not shown) or similar lifting device to move the drum assembly  100  to and from the mounting location  108  (after the connectors  124  have been disconnected) during a change-out operation, discussed in more detail below. The drum  102  may comprise a predetermined location thereon for mounting the lifting apparatus  126 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown at least one guide member  128  adapted to be attached to the frame assembly  110  adjacent the mounting location  108 . The guide member  128  engages with the lifting apparatus  126  when the drum assembly  100  is removed from the mounting location  108  to prevent the drum assembly  100  from swinging or otherwise moving until it is fully outside of the frame assembly  110  of the mounting base  109 . Such a guide member  128  may be especially advantageous when the drum assembly  100  is mounted on an offshore oil platform, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The guide member  128  may define a track  130  and the lifting apparatus  126  may have wheels  132  for engaging with the track  130  when the drum assembly  100  is removed from the mounting location  108 . A portion of the guide member  128  may be substantially vertical or parallel with the frame assembly  110  and a portion of the guide member may be substantially horizontal, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     In a change-out operation, when the drum assembly  100  is to be changed with another drum assembly  100 , the prime mover  116  is de-energized, and the guide member or members  128  are attached to the frame assembly  110  and the lifting apparatus  126  is attached to the drum  102 . The connection  122  between the chain assembly  114  and the sprocket  112  is disconnected, and the connectors  124  between the drum assembly  100  and the mounting location  108  are disconnected. The lifting apparatus  126  is attached to a winch or the like and lifts the disconnected drum assembly  100  from the mounting location  108 . The wheels  132  engage with the guide members  128  and provide a predetermined path for moving the drum assembly  100  away from the frame assembly  110  and mounting location  108 . After the drum assembly  100  is clear of the frame assembly  110 , it is placed in a preferably secure location, the lifting apparatus  126  is detached from the drum  102  and attached to another drum  100 . The other drum assembly  100  is installed utilizing the same above-mentioned steps in a reversed order to attach the drum assembly  100  to the mounting location  108  and the chain assembly  114 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Embodiments of the drum assembly  100  ease the swap of drums  102 , regardless of whether a spooled device  103  such as a logging cable, is disposed on the drum  102  for those assemblies  100  disposed either onshore or offshore. The drum assembly  100  will drastically reduce the time needed to dismount and/or install a drum, such as the drum  102 , and therefore will reduce the rig-up time for logging operations, advantageously allowing for increased efficiency at the job site. 
     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood as referring to the power set (the set of all subsets) of the respective range of values. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below. 
     The preceding description has been presented with reference to presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, and scope of this invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as pertaining only to the precise structures described and shown in the accompanying drawings, but rather should be read as consistent with and as support for the following claims, which are to have their fullest and fairest scope.

Technology Category: 7