Remote control line clamp installation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12312872-B2
Application number	US-202418430930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2024
Priority date	Feb 10, 2023
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A clamp installation system includes a clamp head configured to engage a top section and a bottom section of an axially-retained control line clamp. The clamp installation system also includes a manipulator assembly configured to bring the clamp head close to and away from a tubular string run into a well. The clamp head is configured to position the top and bottom sections of the axially-retained control line clamp on opposite axial sides of a coupling of the tubular string. The clamp head is configured to drive the top and bottom sections of the axially-retained control line clamp axially-together so as to secure the axially-retained control line clamp to the coupling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp installation system, comprising:
a clamp head configured to engage a top section and a bottom section of an axially-retained control line clamp; and
a manipulator assembly configured to bring the clamp head close to and away from a tubular string run into a well,
wherein the clamp head is configured to position the top and bottom sections of the axially-retained control line clamp on opposite axial sides of a coupling of the tubular string, and
wherein the clamp head is configured to drive the top and bottom sections of the axially-retained control line clamp axially-together so as to secure the axially-retained control line clamp to the coupling.

2. The clamp installation system of claim 1 , wherein the clamp head is a part of a clamp installation assembly coupled to the manipulator assembly, wherein the clamp installation assembly comprises a first actuator and a first arm, and wherein the first arm pivots around a first pivot axis in response to extending the first actuator.

3. The clamp installation system of claim 2 , wherein the clamp installation assembly comprises a second actuator and a second arm, wherein the second arm pivots around a second pivot axis in response to extending the second actuator, and wherein the clamp installation assembly moves toward a well center in response to pivoting the second arm about the second pivot axis.

4. The clamp installation system of claim 1 , wherein the clamp head is a part of a clamp installation assembly coupled to the manipulator assembly, wherein the clamp installation assembly comprises:
a draw actuator of a draw mechanism, the draw actuator configured to retract, which causes the draw mechanism to engage the tubular string; and
a scissor assembly configured to extend in response to the draw actuator retracting, which causes the axially-retained control line clamp to be pressed into engagement with the coupling.

5. A method, comprising:
receiving a clamp into a clamp head of a clamp installation assembly;
moving the clamp head into proximity of a tubular string having a coupling between two tubulars;
pressing the clamp into engagement with the tubular string using the clamp installation assembly, wherein the clamp comprises first and second sections that are initially separated axially apart, and wherein, when pressed into engagement with the tubular, the first and second sections are at least partially on opposite axial sides of the coupling;
driving the first and second sections of the clamp toward one another using the clamp head;
releasing the clamp from the clamp head; and
moving the clamp head away from the tubular string.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein pressing the clamp into engagement with the tubular string comprises actuating a draw actuator of a draw mechanism of the clamp installation assembly, and wherein actuating the draw actuator comprises retracting the draw actuator, which causes the draw mechanism to engage the tubular string.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein actuating the draw actuator also causes a scissor assembly of the clamp installation assembly to extend, and wherein the clamp is pressed into engagement with the coupling in response to the scissor assembly extending.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the clamp comprises a shoulder feature positioned on either end of the coupling.

9. A method for installing a clamp, the method comprising:
actuating a device into a first position, wherein a clamp installation assembly of the device faces away from a tubular string when the device is in the first position;
running the tubular string into a wellbore, wherein the tubular string is run while the device is in the first position;
deploying a control line along the tubular string using a control line manipulating arm, wherein a coupling connects adjacent tubulars of the tubular string together, and wherein the control line runs along and past the coupling;
loading the clamp into a clamp head of the clamp installation assembly;
actuating the device from the first position into a second position;
actuating the device from the second position into a third position;
moving the clamp head vertically along the tubular string to at least partially align the clamp head with the coupling;
actuating a draw actuator of a draw mechanism of the clamp installation assembly, wherein actuating the draw actuator comprises retracting the draw actuator, which causes the draw mechanism to engage the tubular string;
securing the clamp onto the coupling, wherein the clamp is secured by adducting two sections of the clamp head together; and
moving the clamp installation assembly away from the tubular string once the clamp is secured to the coupling.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the device is secured to a base of the control line manipulating arm, wherein the control line manipulator arm comprises a control line positioner which defines a channel through which the control line is received, and wherein the channel is circumferentially aligned with notches formed in the clamp to position of the control line in a circumferential direction.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the tubular string between the clamp head and a roller of the draw mechanism of the clamp installation assembly when the device is in the third position.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the device is actuated by extending a first actuator of the device, wherein a first arm of the device pivots about a first pivot axis in response to extending the first actuator, and wherein the clamp installation assembly moves in response to pivoting the first arm about the first pivot axis.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the device is actuated by extending a second actuator of the device, wherein a second arm of the device pivots about a second pivot axis in response to extending the second actuator, and wherein the clamp installation assembly moves toward a well center in response to pivoting the second arm about the second pivot axis.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising actuating the device from the third position back to the first position after the clamp installation assembly is moved away from the tubular string, wherein the device is actuated by retracting the first and second actuators, and wherein the clamp installation assembly moves until it is facing away from the tubular string in response to retracting the first and second actuators.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein moving the clamp head vertically occurs in response to actuating a vertical adjustment actuator of the clamp installation assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein actuating the draw actuator also causes a scissor assembly of the clamp installation assembly to extend, and wherein the clamp is pressed into engagement with the coupling in response to the scissor assembly extending.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the clamp is secured while the clamp is pressed into engagement with the coupling.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the clamp comprises a shoulder feature positioned on either end of the coupling.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scissor assembly is biased toward retracting by a counterweight.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein moving the clamp installation assembly comprises actuating the draw actuator, wherein actuating the draw actuator comprises extending the draw actuator, which then allows the counterweight to cause the scissor assembly to retract, and wherein the clamp head moves away from the tub

Assignees

• Franks Int Llc

Inventors

• Brown Dougal
• Dupuis Paul

Classifications

• E21B17/02

  Couplings; joints {(expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106)} · CPC title

• E21B19/08 Primary

  Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables (E21B19/22 takes precedence; automatic feed E21B44/02); Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods · CPC title

• E21B17/1057

  Centralising devices with rollers or with a relatively rotating sleeve (E21B17/1014 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L3/00

  Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets (anchors for holding pipes on or under the ground F16L1/06; noise absorbers in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports F16L55/035; arrangements specially adapted for supporting insulated bodies F16L59/12) · CPC title

• E21B17/026 Primary

  Arrangements for fixing cables or wirelines to the outside of downhole devices · CPC title