Powered sheave with wireline pushing capability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934792-B2
Application number	US-201615550554-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Methods include deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore with a conveyance apparatus by mounting a tool to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus, routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave assembly, which includes a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer surface of the sheave to accommodate the conveyance apparatus, and providing a power source for applying torque to the powered sheave. The powered sheave assembly then deploys the conveyance apparatus into the wellbore. In some cases a traction device may be disposed between the powered sheave and the wellbore to provide axial force in both directions. The conveyance apparatus is moved through a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, with the powered sheave, after the routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore with a conveyance apparatus, the method comprising:
mounting a tool to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus;
routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a plurality of grooves disposed on an outer surface thereof and extending generally in line with the conveyance apparatus to accommodate the conveyance apparatus;
providing a power source for applying torque to the powered sheave; and
providing a pushing force to the conveyance apparatus with the powered sheave assembly to deploy the conveyance apparatus and tool into the wellbore, the sheave being attached to a mount which is arranged on a pivot such that the sheave may sweep along a defined arc oriented such that each groove of the plurality of grooves is allowed to align with a fixed location so as to facilitate deployment of the conveyance apparatus down into the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting the tool to a deployment bar.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a traction device is disposed between the powered sheave and the wellbore to provide axial force in both directions.

4. The method of claim 1 where the powered sheave comprises gripping means which assist in application of force upon the conveyance apparatus to overcome pressure and friction resistance.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises multiple rollers disposed adjacent the conveyance apparatus and the sheave.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the conveyance apparatus may be wrapped on the powered sheave in its entirely.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a majority of the conveyance apparatus is spooled on a separate reel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a chain and gripper blocks disposed upon the chain for providing synchronization between the sheave and the chain.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a pair of powered rollers disposed adjacent the sheave.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a wireline cable or a slickline.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the grooves comprise a substantially helical groove disposed on the outer surface of the powered sheave assembly.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the downhole tool is deployed into a wellbore in advance of coiled tubing.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing the conveyance apparatus through a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, after the routing the conveyance apparatus around the sheave.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a conical guide disposed upon a first end of the sealing apparatus and adjacent the sheave, and wherein a gap is defined between the conical guide and the outer surface of the sheave.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein a length of the conveyance apparatus is about 100 feet.

16. A method for deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore with a conveyance apparatus, the method comprising:
mounting a tool to a distal end of a section of a spooled conveyance apparatus, wherein the conveyance apparatus is attached to a spool at a proximal end;
routing the conveyance apparatus around a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a substantially helical groove disposed on the outer surface, the helical groove being sized to accommodate the conveyance apparatus therein during rotation of the sheave;
providing a pushing force to the conveyance apparatus with the powered sheave assembly to move the conveyance apparatus through a sealing apparatus and to deploy the conveyance apparatus and tool into the wellbore, wherein the spool, the conveyance apparatus and the tool form a contiguous system; and
allowing the sheave to pivot along an arc oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the conveyance apparatus, the arc being sized to maintain alignment between a centerline of the conveyance apparatus and a centerline of the sealing apparatus as the conveyance apparatus is deployed from any of a plurality of positions along the helical groove of the sheave.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising mounting the tool to a deployment bar.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly is attached to a pivotable mount and wherein the powered sheave is driven by a drive mechanism.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises multiple rollers disposed adjacent the conveyance apparatus and the sheave.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a chain for driving the sheave and gripper blocks disposed upon the chain.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the powered sheave assembly further comprises a pair of powered rollers disposed adjacent the sheave.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a wireline cable.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the conveyance apparatus is a slickline.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the downhole tool is deployed into a wellbore in advance of coiled tubing.

25. The method of claim 16 further comprising routing the conveyance apparatus through a blowout preventer and a wellhead, after the routing the conveyance apparatus around the sheave.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a conical guide disposed upon a first end of the sealing apparatus and adjacent the sheave, and wherein a gap is defined between the conical guide and the outer surface of the sheave.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein each groove comprised in the plurality of grooves is alignable with the conical guide.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the conveyance apparatus is deployed into the wellbore by the powered sheave assembly.

29. A system comprising:
a tool mounted to a distal end of a spooled conveyance apparatus;
a powered sheave assembly comprising a sheave, wherein the sheave comprises a plurality of grooves disposed circumferentially along the outer surface to accommodate the conveyance apparatus therein during rotation of the sheave, and wherein the conveyance apparatus is routed around the sheave, the sheave being attached to a mount which is arranged on a fixed pivot such that the sheave may swing transversely to a direction of travel of the conveyance apparatus to thus allow the plurality of grooves to better align for accommodating deployment of the spooled conveyance apparatus;
a sealing apparatus, a blowout preventer, and a wellhead, through which the conveyance apparatus passes through after the conveyance apparatus is routed around the sheave; and,
a wellbore;

wherein the conveyance apparatus and the tool is deployable into the wellbore by providing a pushing force to the conveyance apparatus with the powered sheave assembly.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a conical guide disposed upon a first end of the sealing apparatus and adjacent the sheave, and wherein a gap is defined between the conical guide and the outer surface of the sheave.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each groove comprised in the plurality of grooves is alignable with the conical guid

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Shampine Rod William

Classifications

• E21B19/22 Primary

  Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)} · CPC title

• B66D3/04

  Pulley blocks or like devices in which force is applied to a rope, cable, or chain which passes over one or more pulleys, e.g. to obtain mechanical advantage (sheaves F16H55/00) · CPC title

• B66D3/20

  with driving motor, e.g. electric motor, and drum or barrel contained in a common housing · CPC title