Pumping unit bases with driven piles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11753789-B2
Application number	US-202117147693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2021
Priority date	Nov 8, 2016
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a pumping unit base and methods for operating with the pumping unit base. The pumping unit base may include a plurality of driven piles installed in the ground, and a metal platform fixedly attached to the plurality of driven piles, wherein the metal platform is positioned above the ground. The metal platform may be removed from the driven piles and reinstalled to the driven piles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for preparing a wellsite for production, comprising:
installing a plurality of driven piles into the ground proximate a wellbore, each pile having a pile end;
attaching a splice assembly on the pile end of each driven pile after each driven pile has been installed in the ground by attaching a ring of each splice assembly around an outer surface of the pile end of a respective one of the driven piles and attaching a disk of each splice assembly to a respective one the rings; and
attaching a platform to the plurality of driven piles, the platform having a plurality of tubulars extending from the platform, each tubular having a tubular end, by attaching the disk of each splice assembly on each driven pile to an outer diameter of the tubular end of a respective tubular of the plurality of tubulars connected to the platform.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a plurality of alignment blocks to each driven pile prior to attaching each ring, the alignment blocks configured to align each ring on each driven pile.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein installing the plurality of driven piles comprises:
driving each of the plurality of driven piles into the ground to a predetermined depth or until the driven pile is driven to a resistance corresponding to a target load.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein installing the plurality of driven piles further comprising:
cutting each driven pile at a level under a top surface of the ground.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein driving each of the plurality of driven piles into the ground until the driven pile is driven to the resistance corresponding to the target load comprises:
driving at least one of the plurality of driven piles to a first resistance corresponding to a first load capacity, and
driving at least one of the plurality of driven piles to a second resistance corresponding to a second load capacity different from the first load capacity.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein driving each of the plurality of driven piles comprises:
driving a first group including two or more of the plurality of driven piles to support a first load; and
driving a second group including two or more of the plurality of driven piles to support a second load different from the first load.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein attaching the platform to the plurality of driven piles comprises:
attaching a first pad of the platform to the driven piles in the first group of driven piles; and
attaching a second pad of the platform attached to the driven piles in the second group of driven piles, wherein the first pad and the second pad are connected by a connector.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein attaching the platform to the plurality of driven piles comprises:
attaching a lower-level pad of the platform to the driven piles in the first group; and
attaching an upper-level pad of the platform to the lower pad and the second group of driven piles.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform is at least one of a metal platform or a concrete pad.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing a pumping unit on to the platform.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising producing oil and gas from the wellbore with the pumping unit.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
uninstalling the pumping unit from the platform;
removing soil around the plurality of driven piles;
cutting the plurality of driven piles at a level below a top surface of the ground to remove the platform from the driven piles; and
covering the driven piles to allow an operation to be performed around the wellbore with other equipment.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reconnecting the platform to the plurality of driven piles after completion of the operation with other equipment; and
reinstalling the pumping unit to the platform.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein reconnecting the platform to the plurality of driven piles comprises:
attaching a splice assembly on the top of each driven pile by:
attaching a ring to the top of each driven pile; and
attaching a disk to each ring of each driven pile; and

attaching the platform to the plurality of driven piles includes attaching the tubular end of the respective tubular to each respective one of the disks.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the platform is at least one of a metal platform or a concrete pad.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising attaching a plurality of alignment blocks to each driven pile prior to attaching each ring, the alignment blocks configured to align each ring on each driven pile.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the ring of each splice assembly around the outer surface of the pile end of the respective one of the driven piles comprises welding an inner circumference of the ring to the outer surface of the pile end.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the disk of each splice assembly to the respective one of the rings comprises welding an outer circumference of the disk to a top surface of the ring.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the disk of each splice assembly on each driven pile to the outer diameter of the tubular end of the respective tubular of the plurality of tubulars connected to the platform welding the outer diameter of the tubular end to a top surface of the disk.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein installing the plurality of driven piles comprises arranging the plurality of driven piles in pairs to support an elongated frame of the platform.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Kadrmas Brandon Lee
• Robison Clark E
• Bradley Chuck Robert
• Binstock Jordan Gerard
• Rice Travis

Classifications

• E02D27/44 Primary

  Foundations for machines, engines or ordnance (special layout of foundations with respect to machinery to be supported F16M9/00) · CPC title

• E02D5/285

  tubular, e.g. prefabricated from sheet pile elements (sheet pile boxes E02D27/30; concrete piles with metal casings E02D5/30) · CPC title

• E02D5/523

  composed of segments · CPC title

• E02D5/526

  Connection means between pile segments · CPC title

• E02D7/02

  Placing by driving {(E02D7/18 - E02D7/24 take precedence)} · CPC title