Patent US1042982A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3866679A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for inserting flexible pipe into wells
Assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-25
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1992-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for inserting soft flexible pipe or hose into oil and gas wells or the like under pressure. A capstan type drive mechanism is provided in combination with a pair of stuffing boxes and a reel for guiding a soft flexible pipe or hose into the well. The capstan pulls the pipe or hose from a storage reel into a sealed pressure chamber of the capstan drive mechanism and delivers it through a wiper type stuffing box into the well bore. Fluids are preferably forced through the flexible pipe as the same is moved into the well bore and directed outwardly into the well bore through a jet nozzle which serves to pull the lower end of the pipe into the well and to maintain the pipe under tension as it is injected. The capstan drive provides for positive movement of the pipe without damaging the same, while the pipe is filled with liquid to prevent its collapsing as it is moved through the capstan drive into the well. Special couplings are provided between lengths of the soft flexible pipe or hose which will pass through the stuffing boxes, capstan drive and into the well without difficulty. The capstan drive is enclosed in a toroid pressure chamber into which the soft flexible hose or pipe is moved in a tangential direction into the toroid chamber onto the capstan drive in a tangential direction from the capstan drive out of the toroid chamber into the well. The capstan drive provides for a positive movement of the pipe with a minimum of heavy equipment and without heavy hoisting equipment, and provides means for moving the flexible pipe or hose without imposing an excessive longitudinal stress on the hose as it is moved, since the pipe is supported on the capstan and is maintained in frictional contact therewith by a chain guide roller system which is adjustable to control the friction with which the hose engages the capstan. The stuffing boxes are also automatically fluid pressure adjusted to provide a positive seal with a minimum of squeeze and friction under the conditions of use to which they are exposed. The method also encompasses the washing out of sand bridges or debris plugs or the like in the well by use of the jet nozzle which automatically changes from the crawling or pulling condition to a washing condition upon engagement of a bridge or plug in the well.
Inventors
- 👤 Tibor Laky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:44
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/068; E21B33/072; E21B19/00; E21B19/22; E21B21/00; E21B21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for injecting an elongate soft flexible conduit into a well under pressure including: drive means connected to the upper end of the well in fluid communication therewith; seal means connected with the drive means in fluid communication therewith and sealing the drive means and the well bore against the escape of well fluids from the well bore through the drive means past the seal means; means in said drive means engaging said soft flexible conduit for drawing the same through the seal means into the drive means for passage from the drive means into the well bore; and fluid pressure supply means connectable with the end of said elongate flexible conduit exteriorly of the well for maintaining fluid under pressure within said conduit to prevent said conduit from collapsing as it is moved into the well against the pressure of well fluids confined in said well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for injecting an elongate soft flexible conduit into a well under pressure including: drive means connected to the upper end of the well in fluid communication therewith; seal means connected with the drive means in fluid communication therewith and sealing the drive means and the well bore against the escape of well fluids from the well bore through the drive means past the seal means; means in said drive means engaging said soft flexible conduit for drawing the same through the seal means into the drive means for passage from the drive means into the well bore; and fluid pressure supply means connectable with the end of said elongate flexible conduit exteriorly of the well for maintaining fluid under pressure within said conduit to prevent said conduit from collapsing as it is moved into the well against the pressure of well fluids confined in said well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 including: means for storing said elongate body of soft flexible conduit in a continuous connected condition for injecting through the seal means and drive means into the well.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for injecting soft flexible conduit into a well under pressure including: a first seal means connected with the upper end of the well for cOnfining well pressure therebelow in the well; an elongate soft flexible conduit having one end extending through said first seal means into the well; drive means connected with the first seal means for frictionally engaging said soft flexible conduit to move the same into the well; second seal means connected with the drive means for sealing around said flexible conduit between the drive means and the exterior atmosphere to enclose fluid pressure exteriorly of said flexible conduit in the drive means between the first and second seal means; and fluid pressure supply means connected with the other end of said flexible conduit exteriorly of the well for maintaining fluid under pressure within said conduit to prevent said conduit from collapsing as it is moved into the well against the pressure of well fluids confined in said well and to maintain circulation of fluid through said conduit as said conduit is moved into said well.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for injecting soft flexible conduit into a well under pressure including: a first seal means connected with the upper end of the well for cOnfining well pressure therebelow in the well; an elongate soft flexible conduit having one end extending through said first seal means into the well; drive means connected with the first seal means for frictionally engaging said soft flexible conduit to move the same into the well; second seal means connected with the drive means for sealing around said flexible conduit between the drive means and the exterior atmosphere to enclose fluid pressure exteriorly of said flexible conduit in the drive means between the first and second seal means; and fluid pressure supply means connected with the other end of said flexible conduit exteriorly of the well for maintaining fluid under pressure within said conduit to prevent said conduit from collapsing as it is moved into the well against the pressure of well fluids confined in said well and to maintain circulation of fluid through said conduit as said conduit is moved into said well.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 including: means for storing a body of a plurality of connected sections of said soft flexible conduit for injection through the seal means and drive means into the well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 including: hydraulically operable means for moving said seal means into and out of sealing engagement with the soft flexible conduit passing therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 5 including: remote source of hydraulic fluid pressure; means for conducting said hydraulic fluid pressure from said source to said seal means; and means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from said source to said seal means to control the actuation of the seal means into and out of sealing engagement with the soft flexible conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 including: hydraulic power means for operating said drive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 7 including: a source of hydraulic fluid pressure; a conductor for conducting hydraulic fluid under pressure from the source to the hydraulic power means for driving said drive means; and a control means between the source of hydraulic fluid pressure and the hydraulic power means for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid from the source to the power means to control the operation of the power means and the operation of the drive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 including: hydraulically operable means for moving said seal means into and out of sealing engagement with the soft flexible conduit passing therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 including: remote source of hydraulic fluid pressure; means for conducting said hydraulic fluid pressure from said source to said seal means; and means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from said source to said seal means to control the actuation of the seal means into and out of sealing engagement with the soft flexible conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 including: hydraulic power means for said drive means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 including: a source of hydraulic fluid pressure; a conductor for conducting hydraulic fluid under pressure from the source to the hydraulic power means for driving said drive means; and a control means between the source of hydraulic fluid pressure and the hydraulic power means for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid from the source to the power means to control the operation of the power means and the operation of the drive means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 including: first hydraulic operating means for actuating said first seal means; second hydraulic operating means for actuating said second seal means, said first and second hydraulic operating means being independently operable for controlling the engagement and disengagement of said first and second seal means selectively with the soft flexible conduit passing through said seaL means; and third hydraulic means for driving said drive means for moving said soft flexible conduit through said seal means and said drive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for moving an elongate string of soft flexible conduit longitudinally of said conduit into a well against fluid pressure confined in said well, comprising: a housing connected to the well having a chamber therein with opening means opening to the well and to the exterior of the housing exteriorly of the well; a capstan member rotatably mounted in the chamber in the housing; an elongate string of soft flexible tubular conduit having one end extending into said housing chamber from the exterior of the well and around said capstan and from said chamber into the well; an annular conduit engaging surface on said capstan member for engaging the conduit to be moved; means in the housing for holding the conduit in engagement with the capstan member; means for rotating the capstan member to move the conduit longitudinally of the conduit through the housing chamber; means sealing between said conduit and said housing at said chamber opening means; and fluid pressure supply means connected with the other end of said flexible conduit exteriorly of the well for maintaining fluid under pressure within said tubular conduit at least as great as the pressure of the well fluids confined in the well exteriorly of said conduit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for moving an elongate string of soft flexible conduit longitudinally of said conduit into a well against fluid pressure confined in said well, comprising: a housing connected to the well having a chamber therein with opening means opening to the well and to the exterior of the housing exteriorly of the well; a capstan member rotatably mounted in the chamber in the housing; an elongate string of soft flexible tubular conduit having one end extending into said housing chamber from the exterior of the well and around said capstan and from said chamber into the well; an annular conduit engaging surface on said capstan member for engaging the conduit to be moved; means in the housing for holding the conduit in engagement with the capstan member; means for rotating the capstan member to move the conduit longitudinally of the conduit through the housing chamber; means sealing between said conduit and said housing at said chamber opening means; and fluid pressure supply means connected with the other end of said flexible conduit exteriorly of the well for maintaining fluid under pressure within said tubular conduit at least as great as the pressure of the well fluids confined in the well exteriorly of said conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 14 including: means for adjusting said seal means connected with said housing at said opening means in fluid communication with the chamber therein for controlling the sealing engagement thereof with the flexible conduit to be moved through said opening means by said capstan member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing opening means includes an inlet opening into said chamber of said housing and an outlet opening from said chamber of said housing; and said seal means comprising first seal means connected with said housing at said inlet opening for sealing around conduit moving through said inlet opening and second sealing means connected with said housing at said outlet opening for sealing around conduit moving through said outlet opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 16 including: first hydraulic means for actuating said first seal means; second hydraulic means for actuating said second seal means, said first and second hydraulic means being independently operable for controlling the engagement and disengagement of said first and second seal means selectively with the soft flexible conduit passing through said seal means; and hydraulic drive means for driving said capstan member for moving said soft flexible conduit through said seal means and said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 17 including: means for storing a body of a plurality of connected sections of said soft flexible conduit for injection through the seal means and housing into the well.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 17 including: reel means for storing a body of soft flexible conduit for injection through the seal means and housing into a well; and hydraulic power means for rotating said reel for winding and unwinding said soft flexible conduit on the reel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 19 including: an elongate body of soft flexible conduit formed of a plurality of sections joined together wound on said reel for movement into and out of a well.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 20 including: coupling means for connecting said sections of said soft flexible conduit together without rotation of said sections of conduit around their longitudinal axes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 21 wherein said coupling means includes: a first union body having means at one end for connecting it to a length of soft flexible conduit and a projecting connecting member on its opposite end having external threads thereOn; a second union body having means at one end for connecting it to a separate section of soft flexible conduit and a projecting connecting member at its opposite end having external threads thereon; said threads of said first and second connecting members being of opposite lead or hand; and a coupling sleeve ha internal threads at its opposite ends of opposite lead or hand for engagement with the threads on the projecting connecting members of the first and second union members to secure said union members together to connect the sections of soft flexible conduit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A coupling member of the character set forth in claim 22 including: means for maintaining the threads in one end of the coupling member and the threads on one of the union members in engagement until after the threads in the opposite end of the coupling member and on the other union member are disengaged.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
A coupling member of the character set forth in claim 22 wherein the threads on said first union member are of greater extent than the threads on the second union member, and the internal threads in said coupling sleeve mating with the threads on the first union member are of greater extent than the threads therein mating with the threads on the second union member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A coupling member of the character set forth in claim 22 including: seal means on each of said union members movable into coengagement to seal between said union members to provide a sealed connection between the flexible conduit sections connected to said union members.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
A coupling member of the character set forth in claim 22 wherein said projecting connecting members of said union members are provided with sealing surfaces on their ends, and said coupling sleeve is provided with seal means engageable with said sealing surfaces of said union members to confine fluids flowing through said flexible conduit against leakage from said coupling member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
129 words
A coupling member of the character set forth in claim 22 wherein each union member has a longitudinal bore therethrough and the projecting connecting member of such union members includes a cylindrical sealing surface extending beyond the threads on said connecting member and having lateral ports therein and a closed end; and said coupling sleeve has sealing means disposed to engage said projecting sealing surfaces to close the lateral ports against flow therethrough when said union members are moved apart a predetermined distance; said closed ends of said projecting members being coengageable to limit movement thereof toward each other in said coupling sleeve and to position said lateral openings in each of said sealing surfaces in flow communication with each other between the seal means of said coupling sleeve.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A coupling member of the character set forth in claim 27 including: means maintaining the threads of the sleeve in engagement with the threads of one of the union members until after the threads of the coupling sleeve have been disengaged from the threads of the other union member to permit uncoupling the sections of soft flexible conduit to which the union members are connected while the threads of said coupling sleeve remain engaged with the other of the union members, and said coupling sleeve and other union member are positioned with the lateral ports in the sealing surface of said other union member closed by said sealing means in said coupling sleeve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 20 including: means for connecting one end of said elongate body of soft flexible conduit to said reel; nozzle means on the opposite end of said flexible conduit and movable with said conduit into a well bore; means for circulating fluid through said flexible conduit from the reel to the nozzle means; means on said nozzle means providing rearwardly directed jet openings from said nozzle means to the exterior thereof for directing fluids circulated through the conduit and nozzle means rearwardly of the nozzle means to apply a force to the nozzle means To move the same and the conduit connected therewith into the well bore.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 29 including: longitudinally forwardly directed jet openings on said nozzle means for directing fluid from the flexible conduit through the nozzle means to the exterior thereof forwardly ahead of said nozzle means for utilizing said forwardly ejected fluids to dislodge and to circulate foreign matter from the well bore; and valve means in said nozzle means for selectively opening and closing said rearwardly directed jet openings and said forwardly directed jet openings.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 30 including: means on said valve means projecting from the forward end of said nozzle means engageable with bridges or other foreign matter in the well bore to move said valve means from a position directing circulating fluids through said rearwardly directed jet openings to a position directing circulating fluids from said conduit through said forwardly directed jet openings.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the seal means comprises: a housing having a bore therethrough; an elongate tubular unitary seal member in said bore; operating means positively connected with said elongate unitary seal member for longitudinally compressing and laterally expanding said seal member to position to engage said conduit extending through said housing, and for longitudinally elongating and laterally contracting said elongate unitary seal member to a position to diesngage the same from said conduit extending through said housing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
87 words
A device of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said seal means comprises: a housing having a bore therethrough; an elongate tubular unitary seal member surrounding said bore; operating means positively connected with said elongate unitary seal member for longitudinally compressing and laterally expanding said seal member to position to engage said conduit extending through said housing, and for longitudinally elongating and laterally contracting said elongate unitary seal member to a position to disengage the same from said conduit extending through said housing.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said seal means includes: a housing having a bore therethrough and means for connecting the same to said drive means in flow communication with the chamber of said drive means; an elongate tubular integral resilient seal member in said housing positively connected with said elongate tubular integral resilient seal member for longitudinally compressing and laterally expanding said seal member into said bore, and for longitudinally elongating and laterally retracting said seal member from said bore.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 32 including: pressure responsive means on said operating means for actuating said operating means by fluid pressure.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 33 including: pressure responsive means on each of said operating means for actuating the same by fluid pressure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 32 including: pressure responsive actuating means operatively connected with said operator means for actuating said operating means by fluid pressure to compress and contract said elongate tubular one-piece seal means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 34 wherein said operating means includes: pressure responsive means exposed to fluid pressure for actuating said operating means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 37 wherein fluid pressure conducting means is connected to said housing for conducting operation fluid to said pressure responsive means for actuating the same.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 35 wherein fluid pressure conducting means is connected to said housing for conducting operation fluid to said pressure responsive means for actuating the same.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for advancing a soft flexIble conduit into a well against pressure of well fluids confined therein including: a seal member connected with the upper end of the well and sealing about the flexible conduit; means for maintaining fluid under pressure in said conduit in excess of the pressure of the well fluids confined in the well exteriorly of said conduit; means for drawing the flexible conduit through the seal means into the well against the pressure in the well.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for advancing a soft flexIble conduit into a well against pressure of well fluids confined therein including: a seal member connected with the upper end of the well and sealing about the flexible conduit; means for maintaining fluid under pressure in said conduit in excess of the pressure of the well fluids confined in the well exteriorly of said conduit; means for drawing the flexible conduit through the seal means into the well against the pressure in the well.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for injecting a soft flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of well fluids confined therein including: a seal member connectable with the upper end of the well and sealing about the flexible conduit; means for circulating fluids through the conduit into the well through the entrant end of the conduit at a pressure in excess of the pressure of the well fluids; means for directing the circulated fluids from the conduit rearwardly thereof to draw the flexible conduit through the seal into the bore of the well.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for injecting a soft flexible conduit into a well against the pressure of well fluids confined therein including: a seal member connectable with the upper end of the well and sealing about the flexible conduit; means for circulating fluids through the conduit into the well through the entrant end of the conduit at a pressure in excess of the pressure of the well fluids; means for directing the circulated fluids from the conduit rearwardly thereof to draw the flexible conduit through the seal into the bore of the well.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for injecting a soft flexible conduit into the well against the pressure of well fluids confined therein including seal means connectable with the upper end of the well and having means sealing about the flexible conduit; means for circulating fluids through the flexible conduit into the well at a pressure in excess of the pressure of the well fluids; and means including means utilizing the circulating fluids for drawing the flexible conduit through the seal into the bore of the well.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for injecting a soft flexible conduit into the well against the pressure of well fluids confined therein including seal means connectable with the upper end of the well and having means sealing about the flexible conduit; means for circulating fluids through the flexible conduit into the well at a pressure in excess of the pressure of the well fluids; and means including means utilizing the circulating fluids for drawing the flexible conduit through the seal into the bore of the well.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for moving an elongate string of soft flexible conduit into a well under pressure including: seal means connected with the well and sealing about the flexible conduit to prevent escape of well fluids from the well bore; means for circulating fluid under pressure in excess of the pressure of the well fluid through said flexible conduit into the well; and drive means between the seal means and the well for drawing the soft flexible conduit through the seal means into the well and including: a housing having a chamber therein with opening means to the exterior of the housing through the seal means; a capstan drive member rotatably mounted in the chamber in the housing; an annular conduit engaging surface on said capstan member for engaging the conduit to be moved; means in the housing for holding the conduit in engagement with the capstan member; and means for rotating the capstan member to move the conduit longitudinally of the conduit through the opening means and seal means into the well bore.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for moving an elongate string of soft flexible conduit into a well under pressure including: seal means connected with the well and sealing about the flexible conduit to prevent escape of well fluids from the well bore; means for circulating fluid under pressure in excess of the pressure of the well fluid through said flexible conduit into the well; and drive means between the seal means and the well for drawing the soft flexible conduit through the seal means into the well and including: a housing having a chamber therein with opening means to the exterior of the housing through the seal means; a capstan drive member rotatably mounted in the chamber in the housing; an annular conduit engaging surface on said capstan member for engaging the conduit to be moved; means in the housing for holding the conduit in engagement with the capstan member; and means for rotating the capstan member to move the conduit longitudinally of the conduit through the opening means and seal means into the well bore.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |