Control line clamp installation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024271493-A1
Application number	US-202318167298-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2023
Priority date	Feb 10, 2023
Publication date	Aug 15, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An installation system for installing a control line clamp onto a tubular string includes a first load plate, a second load plate that is offset from the first load plate, the first and second load plates being configured to engage a first clamp member and a second clamp member, respectively, positioned on a tubular string, a retention lid positioner configured to couple the retention lid with the first and second clamp members, a sensor system configured to provide feedback signals representing that the first and second load plates are received around the tubular and aligned with a control line, the retention lid is positioned at a target location and aligned with the control line, and the first and second load plates are adducted together to press the first and second clamp members together, and an indication device configured to indicate a state of the installation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An installation system for installing a control line clamp onto a tubular string, comprising:
a first load plate configured to be positioned at least partially around the tubular string; a second load plate that is axially offset from the first load plate and configured to be positioned at least partially around the tubular string, the first and second load plates being configured to engage a first clamp member and a second clamp member, respectively, positioned on the tubular string; a retention lid positioner configured to receive a retention lid and position the retention lid with respect to the first and second clamp members, so as to couple the retention lid with the first and second clamp members; a sensor system configured to provide feedback signals representing that the first and second load plates are received around the tubular and aligned with a control line, the retention lid is positioned at a target location and aligned with the control line, and the first and second load plates are adducted together to press the first and second clamp members together; and an indication device configured to indicate a state of the installation system based at least in part on the feedback signals provided by the sensor system.

2 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the indication device comprises a display having indicators representing respective states of the installation system.

3 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is further configured to provide a feedback signal representing that the retention lid is positioned in the retention lid positioner.

4 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the retention lid positioner is at least partially axially between the first and second load plates, and wherein the retention lid positioner is movable laterally toward and away from the tubular string.

5 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises a pipe center sensor configured to provide a feedback signal representing that the first and second load plates are received around the tubular string and the tubular string is centered therein.

6 . The installation system of claim 5 , wherein the pipe center sensor comprises arms that pivot outwards into engagement with a contact sensor in response to the tubular string being received into the first and second load plates.

7 . The installation system of claim 1 , further comprising a control line guide that is axially adjacent to the first load plate, wherein the sensor system comprises a first control line guide sensor configured to provide a feedback signal representing that the control line is received into the control line guide.

8 . The installation system of claim 1 , further comprising a first door coupled the first load plate and a second door coupled to the second load plate, the sensor system comprising one or more load plate door sensors configured to provide a feedback signal representing that the first door is closed, the second door is closed, or both.

9 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system further comprises an axial position sensor coupled to the first load plate and configured to provide a feedback signal representing that the first load plate has engaged the first clamp member on the tubular.

10 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system further comprise a retention lid position sensor configured to provide a feedback signal representing whether the retention lid positioner has positioned the retention lid at the target location.

11 . The installation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system further comprises a clamping sensor configured to provide a feedback signal representing that the first and second load plates have adducted the first and second clamp members together to secure the first and second clamp members together and couple the retention lid thereto.

12 . The installation system of claim 1 , further comprising a pivoting connection configured to move the first load plate and the second load plate, at least, through an arc toward and away from the tubular string.

13 . The installation system of claim 12 , further comprising a lateral driver configured to move the first load plate, the second load plate laterally toward and away from the tubular string.

14 . The installation system of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to apply logic so as to control an installation comprising a plurality of steps, wherein the controller is configured to prevent one step from proceeding when manually activated unless a preceding step has been completed.

15 . The installation system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to receive the feedback signals and to generate control signals to initiate activation of actuators of the installation system in response, wherein the controller is further configured to:
cause the retention lid positioner to move laterally toward the tubular string in response to receiving:
a first feedback signal representing that a retention lid has been received into the retention lid positioner,
a second feedback signal representing that the first and second load plates are received around the tubular;
a third feedback signal representing that the control line is received into a control line guide; and
a fourth feedback signal representing that the first load plate is contacting the first clamp member; and
cause the first load plate and the second load plate to adduct together, so as to press the first and second clamp members together in response to receiving a fifth feedback signal representing that the retention lid is positioned at the target location and has received the control line.

16 . The installation system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
prevent the retention lid positioner from moving toward the tubular string until receiving the first, second, third, and fourth feedback signals; and prevent the first and second load plates from adducting together until receiving the fifth feedback signal.

17 . The installation system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a first driver configured to adduct the first and second load plates together so as to press together a first clamp member and a second clamp member, the first and second clamp members being positioned on the tubular string; a second driver configured to move the retention lid positioner laterally with respect to the tubular string; and a third driver configured to close a door of the first load plate, a door of the second load plate, or both, wherein the first, second and third drivers are operable in response to the control signals generated by the controller.

18 . A method, comprising:
receiving a control line retention lid into a retention lid positioner; moving first and second load plates of a clamp installation system into position around a tubular string and a control line that extends along the tubular string, wherein a first clamp member and a second clamp member are positioned around the tubular and at least partially axially between the first and second load plates; receiving a first feedback signal from a first sensor representing that the first and second load plates have received the tubular string and the control line; in response to receiving the first feedback signal, closing doors of the first and second load plates, such that the first and second load plates circumscribe the tubular string; at least partially in response to receiving the firs

Assignees

• Franks Int Llc

Inventors

• Begnaud Brian David
• Brown Dougal Hugo
• Gray-Stephens Malcolm

Classifications

• E21B19/08

  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

• E21B17/026

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

• F16L3/06

  with supports for wires · CPC title

• F16L3/2235

  each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base · CPC title

• E21B47/01

  Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like · CPC title