Method and system for evaluating tubular makeup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10808472-B2
Application number	US-201816169682-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2018
Priority date	Oct 24, 2017
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

Methods and systems for connecting threaded tubulars are presented. One example method generally includes monitoring relative rotation between a backup tong and a tubular clamped in the backup tong to determine slippage of the backup tong.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tong assembly, comprising:
a power tong;
a backup tong; and
a rotation detection assembly attached to the backup tong, wherein the rotation detection assembly comprises:
a guide movably attached to the backup tong;
a turns sensor disposed on the guide, wherein the guide is movable relative to the backup tong to move the turns sensor between an operating position and a non-operating position; and
a first actuator disposed between the guide and the backup tong to move the guide along a horizontal direction relative to the backup tong.

2. The tong assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotation detection assembly further comprises:
a bias element positioned between the turns sensor and the guide.

3. The tong assembly of claim 2 , wherein the bias element is a spring.

4. The tong assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotation detection assembly further comprises:
a second actuator disposed between the turns sensor and the guide to move the turns sensor along a vertical direction relative to the guide.

5. The tong assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is connected to the turns sensor and the power tong.

6. A method for operating a tong assembly, comprising:
clamping a first tubular using a backup tong in the tong assembly, wherein a coupling is pre-made on the first tubular;
clamping a second tubular using a power tong in the tong assembly;
rotating the power tong to makeup or break out a connection between the coupling and the second tubular while monitoring a relative rotation between the coupling and the backup tong by detecting rotation of the coupling using a turns sensor attached to the backup tong; and
upon detection of rotation of the coupling, determining if the first tubular has slipped from the backup tong according to measurements from the turns sensor and an internal turns counter in the power tong.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
stopping the power tong upon detection of a relative rotation between the coupling and the backup tong.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
moving the turns sensor along a horizontal direction relative to the backup tong to push the turns sensor against the coupling.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
moving the turns sensor along a vertical direction along the second tubular.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
performing an operation in response to slippage between the backup tong and the first tubular when the measurement of the internal turns counter is greater than the measurement of the turns sensor.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
moving the turns sensor vertically between the coupling and the first tubular to determine whether the backup tong and the first tubular are aligned.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
measuring a first bias force exerted from a bias element while the bias element pushes the turns sensor against the first tubular;
measuring a second bias force exerted from the bias element while the bias element pushes the turns sensor against the coupling; and
determining if the difference between the first bias force and the second bias force is within a range.

13. A tong assembly, comprising:
a backup tong configured to clamp a first tubular in a stationary position;
a turns sensor attached to the backup tong to measure a relative rotation between the backup tong and the first tubular;
a horizontal actuator coupled between the backup tong and the turns sensor to move the turns sensor along a horizontal direction;
a vertical actuator coupled between the backup tong and the turns sensor to move the turns sensor along a vertical direction;
a power tong configured to clamp and rotate a second tubular relative to the first tubular to makeup or break out a connection between the first and second tubulars; and
a controller connected to the power tong and the turns sensor, wherein the controller includes instructions, when executed by a computer, for performing operations comprising:
monitoring the turns sensor to detect slippage of the backup tong with respect to a coupling pre-made on the first tubular; and
stopping the power tong upon detection of slippage of the backup tong.

14. The tong assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a bias element coupled between the turns sensor and the backup tong to push the turns sensor against the first tubular.

15. The tong assembly of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
biasing the turns sensor against the coupling pre-made on the first tubular; and
detecting slippage of the backup tong according to measurements of the turns sensor and an internal turns counter of the power tong.

16. The tong assembly of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
moving the turns sensor along the first tubular between portions of different diameters;
measuring bias forces exerted to the turns sensor at portions of the different diameters; and
determining alignment between the first tubular and the backup tong based on the measured bias forces.

17. A method for operating a tong assembly, comprising:
clamping a first tubular using a backup tong in the tong assembly, wherein a coupling is pre-made on the first tubular;
clamping a second tubular using a power tong in the tong assembly;
rotating the power tong to makeup or break out a connection between the coupling and the second tubular while monitoring a relative rotation between the coupling and the backup tong; and
moving a turns sensor vertically between the coupling and the first tubular to determine whether the backup tong and the first tubular are aligned.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
measuring a first bias force exerted from a bias element while the bias element pushes the turns sensor against the first tubular;
measuring a second bias force exerted from the bias element while the bias element pushes the turns sensor against the coupling; and
determining if the difference between the first bias force and the second bias force is within a range.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
stopping the power tong upon detection of a relative rotation between the coupling and the backup tong.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein monitoring a relative rotation between the coupling and the backup tong comprises:
detecting rotation of the coupling using the turns sensor.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Helms Martin
• Thiemann Bjoern
• Wiedecke Michael
• Ruehmann Rainer
• Geissler David
• Sachtleben Benjamin

Classifications

• B23P19/061

  for pipes or pipe-couplings · CPC title

• G01L5/24

  for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed · CPC title

• E21B21/02

  Swivel joints in hose-lines · CPC title

• E21B19/166

  Arrangements of torque limiters or torque indicators · CPC title

• E21B19/164

  motor actuated (E21B19/162 and E21B19/163 take precedence) · CPC title