US5188174A — Apparatus for inserting and withdrawing coil tubi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; roller means reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; hydraulic means having a fluid pressure source and having push rams adapted to engage said roller means to move said roller means into engagement with said gripper means upon actuation of fluid pressure; said roller means including at least two sets of rollers, each set applying a variable load against said gripper means whereby said gripper means grips that portion of the tubing along said path adjacent the well with less force than that portion of the tubing along said path further away from the well.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 169 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; roller means reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; hydraulic means having a fluid pressure source and having push rams adapted to engage said roller means to move said roller means into engagement with said gripper means upon actuation of fluid pressure; said roller means including at least two sets of rollers, each set applying a variable load against said gripper means whereby said gripper means grips that portion of the tubing along said path adjacent the well with less force than that portion of the tubing along said path further away from the well.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each set of said rollers includes a yoke having said rollers rotatably mounted thereon.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 84 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said roller means includes four sets of said rollers with first, second, third, and fourth yokes wherein said first yoke has two rollers, said second yoke has three rollers, said third yoke has four rollers, and said fourth yoke has five rollers, one of said rams engaging each of said yokes with a common force from said hydraulic means, whereby a varied mechanical force is applied to said gripper means as said gripper means moves along said path.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hydraulic means includes a first hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly, a second hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly, a third piston and cylinder assembly, and a fourth piston and cylinder assembly, each of said assemblies being connected to a common fluid pressure source and each having a ram engageable with said first, second, third, and fourth yokes respectively.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly is smaller than the other assemblies.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said assemblies cause said rams to travel approximately one inch.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each said yoke includes an axle upon which is rotatably mounted one of said rollers, said race housing a double row of roller bearings engaging said axle and said one of said rollers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each said yoke includes an integral bearing race for housing bearings engageable with said rollers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each said yoke includes a plurality of guide rods slidably mounted in apertures in said frame for guiding the reciprocation of said yokes and rollers with respect to said frame.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said rods includes a return spring for returning said yokes to a retracted position with respect to said gripper means during non-actuation of said hydraulic means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said sets of rollers applies a different force on said gripper means to produce a substantially constant value of the Von Mises stress along the tubing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor members are trained over spaced apart drive sprockets and idler wheels associated with respective ones of said conveyor members and further including a power drive means for driving said drive sprockets and thus said conveyor members.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said power drive means includes a single motor with a reduction gear box and brake.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 12 further including tensioning means mounted between said frame and idler wheels for maintaining tension on said conveyor members.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor members each form a loop and said hydraulic means is disposed within said loop on said frame.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further including a cage for surrounding and protecting the apparatus.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said frame has one side hinged to said cage and further including a load sensing means mounted on an opposite side of said frame for sensing the forces exerted on the frame as tubing is injected or withdrawn from the well.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor members are trained over spaced apart drive sprockets and idler wheels associated with respective ones of said conveyor members and said sprockets and wheels are mounted on shafts which allow limited lateral movement of said gripper means as the tubing deviates from the axis of the apparatus.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor members are trained over spaced apart drive sprockets and idler wheels associated with respective ones of said conveyor members and only said sprockets have teeth engaging said conveyor members and said wheels have no teeth wherein synchronization of said conveyor members is provided only at said drive sprockets.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 151 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of rollers reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said rollers to move said rollers into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said rollers; said second surface of an individual block having a surface length at least as long as the distance between the centerlines of any two adjacent rollers.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 151 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of rollers reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said rollers to move said rollers into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said rollers; said second surface of an individual block having a surface length at least as long as the distance between the centerlines of any two adjacent rollers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second surface has a chevron shape forming a projecting point on one end and a Vshaped recess on the other end.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said blocks have mating projecting and recessive surfaces whereby adjacent blocks have their projecting surface nesting within the adjacent block's recessive surface.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said blocks include cored portions to reduce the weight of said blocks.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first surface includes an arcuate recess having a radius which approximates the radius of the tubing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said first surface is hardened.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said hinges each include inner and outer projecting ears with said apertures being disposed in said ears.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said aperture in said outer ear is circular and is sized to slidably receive one of said projecting pins of said chain and said aperture in said inner ear is oval in cross-section.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said oval aperture has its shortest width sized to slidably receive one of said projecting pins and its longest length substantially longer than the diameter of said projecting pins.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 227 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of roller members reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said roller members to move said roller members into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said roller members; said conveyor members including two strands of chains having projecting pins and each of said blocks including a pair of hinges extending laterally from each side of said blocks, each of said hinges having apertures for receiving said projecting pins so as to connect said blocks to said strands of chain, said pins having an outer circumferential surface wherein said outer circumferential surface has a portion which is coincident with said second surface whereby the pin axis is located as closely as possible to said second surface for minimizing the gaps between adjacent blocks on said conveyor members.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 227 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of roller members reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said roller members to move said roller members into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said roller members; said conveyor members including two strands of chains having projecting pins and each of said blocks including a pair of hinges extending laterally from each side of said blocks, each of said hinges having apertures for receiving said projecting pins so as to connect said blocks to said strands of chain, said pins having an outer circumferential surface wherein said outer circumferential surface has a portion which is coincident with said second surface whereby the pin axis is located as closely as possible to said second surface for minimizing the gaps between adjacent blocks on said conveyor members.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 188 words

An apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of tubing into and from a well, comprising: a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on a frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engaging the tubing by gripper blocks disposed on said conveyor members; a plurality of sets of rollers reciprocally disposed on said frame and engaging said gripper blocks. said gripper blocks having a first surface adapted for engaging the tubing and a second surface engaging said sets of rollers, said second surface of each gripper block having a length at least as long as the distance between centerlines of adjacent rollers; hydraulic means having individual rams engaging said sets of rollers to apply a force on said second surface of said gripper block; and said sets of rollers applying a variable load against said second surface of said gripper blocks whereby said gripper blocks apply less gripping force to that portion of the tubing adjacent the well as compared to the gripping force applied to that portion of the tubing adjacent the top of said frame.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 188 words

An apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of tubing into and from a well, comprising: a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on a frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engaging the tubing by gripper blocks disposed on said conveyor members; a plurality of sets of rollers reciprocally disposed on said frame and engaging said gripper blocks. said gripper blocks having a first surface adapted for engaging the tubing and a second surface engaging said sets of rollers, said second surface of each gripper block having a length at least as long as the distance between centerlines of adjacent rollers; hydraulic means having individual rams engaging said sets of rollers to apply a force on said second surface of said gripper block; and said sets of rollers applying a variable load against said second surface of said gripper blocks whereby said gripper blocks apply less gripping force to that portion of the tubing adjacent the well as compared to the gripping force applied to that portion of the tubing adjacent the top of said frame.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 233 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of roller members reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said roller members to move said roller members into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said roller members; said conveyor members including two strands of chains having projecting pins with a radius and each of said blocks including a pair of hinges extending laterally from each side of said blocks, each of said hinges having apertures for receiving said projecting pins so as to connect said blocks to said strands of chain; and said pins having a centerline wherein the distance from said centerline to said second surface is equal to or less than the pin radius whereby the pin centerline is located as closely as possible to said second surface for minimizing the gaps between adjacent blocks on said conveyor members.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 233 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of roller members reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said roller members to move said roller members into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said roller members; said conveyor members including two strands of chains having projecting pins with a radius and each of said blocks including a pair of hinges extending laterally from each side of said blocks, each of said hinges having apertures for receiving said projecting pins so as to connect said blocks to said strands of chain; and said pins having a centerline wherein the distance from said centerline to said second surface is equal to or less than the pin radius whereby the pin centerline is located as closely as possible to said second surface for minimizing the gaps between adjacent blocks on said conveyor members.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 178 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of roller members reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said roller members to move said roller members into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said rollers; each roller member forming a line contact with said second surface; adjacent blocks being nested one within another to form a gap therebetween such that said line contact always engages said second surfaces of both of said adjacent blocks as said line contact passes over any part of said gap.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 178 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members supported on said frame and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; a plurality of roller members reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; means for engaging said roller members to move said roller members into engagement with said gripper means; said gripper means including a plurality of blocks having a first surface adapted for engagement with the tubing and a second surface engaging said rollers; each roller member forming a line contact with said second surface; adjacent blocks being nested one within another to form a gap therebetween such that said line contact always engages said second surfaces of both of said adjacent blocks as said line contact passes over any part of said gap.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 162 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame supporting opposed sides; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members rotatably supported between said sides and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; roller means reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; hydraulic means having a fluid pressure source and having push rams adapted to engage said roller means to move said roller means into engagement with said gripper means upon actuation of fluid pressure; said gripper means having an engaged position for grippingly engaging the tubing and an unengaged position where said gripper means does not engage tubing; and means for retracting said gripper means approximately one inch from said engaged position to said unengaged position.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 162 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame supporting opposed sides; a pair of opposed endless flexible conveyor members rotatably supported between said sides and having opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by gripper means on said conveyor members; roller means reciprocally disposed on said frame adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; hydraulic means having a fluid pressure source and having push rams adapted to engage said roller means to move said roller means into engagement with said gripper means upon actuation of fluid pressure; said gripper means having an engaged position for grippingly engaging the tubing and an unengaged position where said gripper means does not engage tubing; and means for retracting said gripper means approximately one inch from said engaged position to said unengaged position.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 188 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame supporting opposed sides; first and second opposed endless flexible conveyor members rotatably supported between said sides, said first and second opposed endless flexible conveyor members forming first and second lops of gripper means, said opposed endless flexible conveyor members forming opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by said gripper means on said first and second conveyor members; first and second roller means reciprocally disposed on said opposed sides within said first and second loops respectively and adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; first and second hydraulic means disposed within said first and second loops respectively and between said opposed sides; said first and second hydraulic means each having a fluid pressure source and having push rams adapted to engage said first and second roller means respectively to move said first and second roller means into engagement with said gripper means upon actuation of fluid pressure.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 188 words

Apparatus for injecting and withdrawing a substantially continuous length of flexible tubing into and from a well, comprising: a frame supporting opposed sides; first and second opposed endless flexible conveyor members rotatably supported between said sides, said first and second opposed endless flexible conveyor members forming first and second lops of gripper means, said opposed endless flexible conveyor members forming opposed elongated parallel runs spaced apart to form a path for engagement of the tubing by said gripper means on said first and second conveyor members; first and second roller means reciprocally disposed on said opposed sides within said first and second loops respectively and adjacent that side of said opposed elongated parallel runs opposite said path and adapted for engagement with said gripper means; first and second hydraulic means disposed within said first and second loops respectively and between said opposed sides; said first and second hydraulic means each having a fluid pressure source and having push rams adapted to engage said first and second roller means respectively to move said first and second roller means into engagement with said gripper means upon actuation of fluid pressure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-02-23	1996-08-24	1997-02-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-02-23	2000-08-24	2001-02-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-02-23	2004-08-24	2005-02-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for inserting and withdrawing coil tubing into a well

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