Genset for top drive unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10309166-B2
Application number	US-201615258752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2015
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A system includes an accessory tool selected from a group consisting of a casing unit, a cementing unit, and a drilling unit; and a genset mounted to the accessory tool and comprising: a fluid driven motor having an inlet and an outlet for connection to a control swivel of the system; an electric generator connected to the fluid driven motor; a manifold having an inlet for connection to the control swivel and an outlet connected an accessory tool actuator; and a control unit in communication with the electric generator and the manifold and comprising a wireless data link.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a motor unit including a control swivel;
an accessory tool releasably connected to the motor unit and selected from a group consisting of a casing unit, a cementing unit, and a drilling unit, wherein the accessary tool includes one or more hydraulic passages, and the one or more hydraulic passages are connected to the control swivel when the accessory tool is connected to the motor unit; and
a genset mounted to the accessory tool and comprising:
a fluid driven motor having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the control swivel via the one or more hydraulic passages in the accessory tool;
an electric generator connected to the fluid driven motor;
a manifold having an inlet for connection to the control swivel and an outlet connected an accessory tool actuator; and
a control unit in communication with the electric generator and the manifold and comprising a wireless data link.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid driven motor is hydraulic.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fill up valve for opening and closing a bore of the accessory tool; and
a fill up valve actuator for operating the fill up valve and connected to the outlet of the manifold.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the fill up valve actuator comprises a position sensor in communication with the control unit for monitoring operation of the fill up valve actuator.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the genset further comprises a gearbox connecting the fluid driven motor to the electric generator.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the fluid driven motor is a gerotor,
the gearbox is a planetary gearbox, and
the electric generator is a permanent magnet generator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless data link comprises an antenna.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control unit further comprises at least one of:
a power converter in electrical communication with the electric generator;
a battery in electrical communication with the power converter;
a microcontroller in electrical communication with the battery;
a transmitter in electrical communication with the microcontroller and the antenna; and
a receiver in electrical communication with the microcontroller and the antenna.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control swivel is located on the motor unit of the system, the system further comprising:
a rail for connection to a drilling rig; and
the motor unit, comprising:
a drive body;
a drive motor having a stator connected to the drive body;
a trolley for connecting the drive body to the rail;
a drive ring torsionally connected to a rotor of the drive motor; and
a swivel frame connected to the drive body and the control swivel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the motor unit further comprises:
a becket for connection to a hoist of the drilling rig;
a mud swivel connected to the swivel frame; and
a down thrust bearing for supporting the drive ring for rotation relative to the drive body.

11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a unit handler locatable on or adjacent to a structure of the drilling rig and operable to retrieve the accessory tool from a rack and deliver the accessory tool to the motor unit.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the unit handler comprises:
an arm; and
a holder releasably connected to the arm and operable to carry the accessory tool.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the unit handler further comprises a pipe clamp releasably connected to the arm and operable to carry a casing joint or liner for delivery to the accessory tool.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the unit handler further comprises:
a base for mounting the unit handler to a subfloor structure of the drilling rig;
a post extending from the base to a height above a floor of the drilling rig;
a slide hinge transversely connected to the post; and
the arm connected to the slide hinge and comprising a forearm segment, an aft-arm segment, and an actuated joint connecting the arm segments.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the accessory tool is the casing unit;
the casing unit comprises a clamp comprising:
a set of grippers for engaging a surface of a casing joint; and
a clamp actuator for selectively engaging and disengaging the set of grippers with the casing joint;

the genset is mounted to the clamp; and
the accessory tool actuator is the clamp actuator.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the casing unit further comprises a stab seal connected to the clamp for engaging an inner surface of the casing joint.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the clamp comprises a position sensor in communication with the control unit for monitoring operation of the clamp actuator.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the control swivel is located on the motor unit of the system, and
the casing unit further comprises a coupling connected to the clamp and having a head with a latch profile for mating with a latch profile of the motor unit and having a plurality of fluid connectors for mating with fluid connectors of the motor unit.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the accessory tool comprises the cementing unit;
the cementing unit comprises a cementing head comprising a launcher;
the genset is mounted to the cementing head; and
the accessory tool actuator is the launcher.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the cementing head further comprises a dart detector in communication with the control unit and for monitoring launching of a plug.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the dart detector comprises:
an active transducer mounted to an outer surface of the launcher and operable to generate ultrasonic pulses;
a passive transducer mounted to the outer surface of the launcher and operable to receive the ultrasonic pulses.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the cementing head further comprises a cementing swivel for allowing rotation of a tubular string during cementing.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the cementing swivel comprises:
a housing having an inlet formed through a wall thereof for connection of a cement line;
a mandrel having a port formed through a wall thereof in fluid communication with the inlet of the housing;
a bearing for supporting rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing; and
a seal assembly for isolating the fluid communication between the inlet of the housing and the port of the mandrel.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the launcher comprises:
a launcher body connected to the mandrel of the cementing swivel;
a dart disposed in the launcher body; and
a gate having a portion extending into the launcher body for capturing the dart therein and movable to a release position allowing the dart to travel past the gate.

25. The system of claim 19 , wherein the launcher comprises a plunger movable between a capture position and a release position, wherein the launcher is operable to keep a plug retained therein in the capture position while allowing fluid flow therethrough, and to allow the fluid flow to propel the plug in the release position.

26. The system of claim 19 , wherein:
the control swivel is located on the motor unit of the system, and
the cementing unit further comprises a coupling connected to the cementing head and having a head with a latch profile for mating with a latch profile of the motor unit and havi

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Thiemann Bjoern
• Wern Frank
• Ownby John Fielding
• ZOUHAIR Aicam
• Liess Martin
• HEBEBRAND Christina Karin

Classifications

• F01C21/008

  Driving elements, brakes, couplings, transmissions specially adapted for rotary or oscillating-piston machines or engines (brakes, couplings, transmissions per se F16, B60) · CPC title

• E21B3/02

  Surface drives for rotary drilling · CPC title

• E21B33/068

  having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) · CPC title

• F01C1/103

  the two members rotating simultaneously around their respective axes · CPC title

• E21B33/14 Primary

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title