Electronically controlled reel system for oilfield operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494880-B2
Application number	US-201615285187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2016
Priority date	Oct 5, 2015
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A system and method for electronically controlling a reel system for oilfield operations. The electronically controlled reel system for oilfield operations comprises a reel, and an electronic control system in communication with the reel to electronically control rotation of the reel. The method of controlling a reel for an oilfield operation comprises receiving a command from an electronic control system; and supplying an electrical control signal to the reel based on the command to control rotation of the reel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronically controlled reel system for oilfield operations, comprising:
at least two reels;
a first motor coupled to a first controller and configured to rotate a first reel;
a second motor coupled to a second controller and configured to rotate a second reel; and
a control system in communication with the first and the second controllers,
wherein the first controller is configured for receiving a first signal from a first sensor and switching operation of the first motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation in response to the first signal, wherein the normal mode of operation comprises driving the first reel with variable torque and the tensioning mode of operation comprises driving the first reel with constant torque,
wherein the second controller is configured for receiving a second signal from a second sensor; and switching operation of the second motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation in response to the second signal, wherein the normal mode of operation comprises driving the second reel with variable torque and the tensioning mode of operation comprises driving the second reel with constant torque,
wherein the control system controls operations of the first and the second controllers according to a programmed protocol to drive the at least two reels at separate or synchronous rotational rates or directions.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second motors are electric motors.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second motors are pneumatic motors.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second controller is configured to change operation of the second motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a parameter indicative of a reel condition and transmit a signal to the first controller wherein the first controller is configured to control the first motor in response to the signal.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the parameter indicative of the reel condition comprises at least one of a reel pressure, a reel tension, a reel speed, an extension length of a cable, a rotational frequency of the first motor, and a horsepower of the motor.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising a local control panel configured to receive a command to control the first motor.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of a speed sensor, a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, a load cell.

9. A method of controlling a reel system for an oilfield operation, comprising:
receiving a first signal from a first sensor with a first controller;
switching operation of a first motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation in response to the first signal with the first controller, wherein the normal mode of operation comprises driving a first reel with variable torque and the tensioning mode of operation comprises driving the first reel with constant torque,
receiving a second signal from a second sensor with a second controller; and
switching operation of a second motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation in response to the second signal with the second controller, wherein the normal mode of operation comprises driving a second reel with variable torque and the tensioning mode of operation comprises driving the second reel with constant torque,
wherein a control system is in communication with the first and the second controllers to controls operations of the first and the second controllers according to a programmed protocol to drive the first and second reels at separate or synchronous rotational rates or directions.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein switching the operation of the first motor comprises controlling a solenoid valve.

11. The method of claim 9 , comprising receiving a command to switch the operation of the first motor from a user interface coupled to the first controller.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein switching the operation of the first and the second motors comprises controlling the first controller and the second controller with the control system.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first signal from the first sensor is indicative of at least one of a reel pressure, a reel tension, a reel speed, an extension length of a cable, a rotational frequency of the first motor, and a horsepower of the first motor.

14. A system of electronically controlling reels to deploy one or more umbilicals to a drilling equipment, comprising:
a first reel system, comprising:
a first motor configured to rotate a first reel; and
a first controller configured to control operation of the first motor;

a second reel system, comprising:
a second motor configured to rotate a second reel; and
a second controller configured to control operation of the second motor;

wherein the first controller is configured for receiving a first signal from a first sensor and switching operation of the first motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation in response to the first signal, wherein the normal mode of operation comprises driving the first reel with variable torque and the tensioning mode of operation comprises driving the first reel with constant torque,
wherein the second controller is configured for receiving a second signal from a second sensor; and switching operation of the second motor between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation in response to the second signal, wherein the normal mode of operation comprises driving the second reel with variable torque and the tensioning mode of operation comprises driving the second reel with constant torque,

and
a computer system communicatively coupled to the first reel system and the second reel system to control rotation of the first reel and the second reel according to a programmed protocol to drive the first and second reels at separate or synchronous rotational rates or directions thereby unspooling the one or more umbilicals.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first sensor is configured to measure a first parameter indicative of a reel condition of the first reel, wherein the first controller and the computer system control rotation of the first reel in response to the first parameter.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second sensor is configured to measure a second parameter indicative of a reel condition of the second reel, wherein the second controller and the computer system control the rotation of the second reel in response to the second parameter.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Blair Justin
• Cooper Nathan

Classifications

• B65H75/4484 Primary

  Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors · CPC title

• B65H75/425

  attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel · CPC title

• B65H75/4486

  Electric motors · CPC title

• E21B19/008 Primary

  Winding units, specially adapted for drilling operations · CPC title

• B65H2701/34

  electric cords or electric power cables · CPC title