Control System for Winch and Capstan

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016229672-A1
Application number	US-201615015006-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 3, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A winch controller for a hoisting apparatus for a wireline operation operates as a closed loop controller. The winch controller is adapted to control a winch or, if included, a winch and a capstan in a coordinated manner. The winch controller may utilize process variables including the tension of the cable between the winch and the capstan. The controller is coupled to a power pack adapted to power the winch and capstan. The power pack and controller are configured such that the capstan may be selectively removed from the system when it is not needed.

First claim

1 . A hoisting apparatus comprising:
a winch, the winch including a drum adapted to extend or retract a cable wrapped therearound; a capstan, the capstan including one or more pulleys engaged with the cable and adapted to move the cable by a corresponding rotation of the pulleys; a tension sensor adapted to measure the tension of the cable; one or more sensors adapted to measure one or more process variables; a power pack adapted to drive the winch and the capstan; and a winch control system adapted to control the power pack at least partially in response to a command signal, readings collected by the tension sensor, and the one or more process variables such that the movements of the winch and capstan are coordinated.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winch control system operates as a closed loop controller in response to one or more process variables including the tension of the cable.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the command signals comprise one or more of a desired speed and direction to move the cable, a desired cable tension, a threshold tension for the cable, a stop command, a pressure limit for a hydraulic system, a current limit for an electrical system, or a temperature limit for a component of the power pack, winch, or capstan.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winch and capstan are coordinated such that the tension of the cable extending from the winch to the capstan is generally stable.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tension sensor is a cable mounted tension device.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tension sensor is positioned between the winch and the capstan.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tension sensor is positioned between the capstan and a downhole tool coupled to the cable and positioned within a wellbore.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capstan is selectively removable and the power pack and winch control system are adapted to operate the winch with the capstan disconnected.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winch and capstan are each driven by the power pack by an electric connection, hydraulic connection, or by a mechanical linkage.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the winch and capstan are each driven by a hydraulic motor, each hydraulic motor powered by a hydraulic pump in the power pack, the hydraulic motors coupled to the hydraulic pumps by one or more hydraulic lines, each hydraulic pump powered by a prime mover in the power pack.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a single prime mover is used to drive the winch and the capstan.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the winch control system is further adapted to control the power pack at least partially in response to readings collected by one or more additional sensors wherein the additional sensors comprise one or more of additional tension sensors, a cable position measuring device, a pressure sensor coupled to a hydraulic pump, a speed controller coupled to a hydraulic pump, or a hydraulic oil temperature sensor.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the power pack comprises a single prime mover, the prime mover adapted to power each hydraulic pump.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the process variables comprise one or more of prime mover speed, prime mover torque, prime mover instantaneous power, generator speed, generator power, wireline tool power consumption, generator hydraulic motor pressures, pre-charge pressure, pump speeds, pump pressures, cable tension, or hydraulic oil temperature.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a state observer, the state observer adapted to determine a state vector, the state vector calculated at least partially in response to the observed process variables, the winch control system adapted to use the state vector to coordinate movement of the winch and capstan.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the state observer is adapted to further receive additional data comprising auxiliary system loads.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein auxiliary system loads comprise at least one of a generator, spooling arm, or downhole tool power draw.

18 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the winch control system is adapted to control winch speed, capstan speed, winch hydraulic pressure, capstan hydraulic pressure, a brake coupled to the winch, or a brake coupled to the capstan.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the winch control system provides output signals to the power pack in the form of voltage or PWM signals.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a current sensor adapted to measure the current of the output signals of the winch control system, wherein the current detected by the current sensor is used to at least partially determine the movements of the winch and capstan.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Breard Stephane Michel
• Georget Stephane
• Delanez Aurelien

Classifications

• B66D1/08

  incorporating fluid motors · CPC title

• B66D1/505 Primary

  electrical · CPC title

• B66D1/76

  having auxiliary drums or barrels for storing the ropes or cables · CPC title

• E21B19/02

  Rod or cable suspensions · CPC title

• E21B19/084

  with flexible drawing means, e.g. cables · CPC title