Arc guiding, gripping and sealing device for a magnetically impelled butt welding rig

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308600-B2
Application number	US-201113274042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2011
Priority date	Oct 14, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device positioned on the rig floor heats facing ends of a pair of wellbore tubulars. After the facing ends are heated and/or melted, a force application device compressively engages the facing ends to form a welded joint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for connecting wellbore tubulars at a rig floor, comprising:
a magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device positioned on the rig floor and configured to heat facing ends of a pair of wellbore tubulars; and
a force application device configured to compressively engage the facing ends to form a welded joint.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gripping device configured to position wellbore tubulars in the MIAB welding device and to center and align the facing ends of the wellbore tubulars.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing device configured to isolate the end faces from at least one of: (i) a borehole fluid, and (ii) the atmosphere.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a gas delivery device configured to flow an inert gas to the isolated facing ends.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an arc guiding device disposed within an inner bore of the tubulars.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: (i) a machining device configured to modify at least a portion of the at least one wellbore tubular; (ii) a heater configured to apply thermal energy to the facing end of the wellbore tubulars; and (iii) an inspection device configured to evaluate a selected feature of the wellbore tubular.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the modifications include: (i) preparing surfaces for welding; and (ii) reworking a weld seam after welding.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealing device configured to isolate the end faces from at least one of: (i) a borehole fluid, and (ii) the atmosphere; and
an arc guiding device disposed within an inner bore of the tubulars.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MIAB welding device includes a process chamber in which the wellbore tubulars are received.

10. A method for connecting wellbore tubulars at a rig floor, comprising:
positioning a magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device on a rig floor;
heating facing ends of a pair of wellbore tubulars using an arc generated by the MIAB welding device; and
compressively engaging the facing ends to form a welded joint.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising isolating the end faces from at least one of: (i) a borehole fluid, and (ii) the atmosphere.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising guiding the arc using an arc guiding device disposed within an inner bore of the tubulars.

13. The method of claim 11 , modifying at least a portion of the at least one wellbore tubular using a machining device positioned within an inner bore of the tubulars.

14. An apparatus for connecting wellbore tubulars at a rig floor, comprising:
a magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device positioned on the rig floor and configured to heat facing ends of a pair of wellbore tubulars;
a feed device configured to engage a wellbore tubular and position the wellbore tubular in the MIAB welding device; and
a force application device configured to compressively engage the facing ends to form a welded joint.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the feed device includes a sealing assembly, an arc guiding device and a gripping device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sealing assembly includes at least a pair of expandable seals, the arc guiding device being positioned between the pair of seals.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the gripping device includes at least one gripping element configured to engage an inner surface of the wellbore tubular.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the arc guiding device is configured to control a radial position of an arc generated by the MIAB welding device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field that circumferentially moves an arc generated by the MIAB welding device.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a coating device configured to form a coating on an inner surface of the wellbore tubulars.

Assignees

• Hassel Thomas
• Varahram Aret
• Baer Florian
• Mitulla Sven
• Lehr Joerg
• Overmeyer Ludger Leo Josef
• Wohlgemuth Hans Lothar
• Bach Friedrich-Wilhelm
• Brouwer Dominik
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Hassel Thomas
• Varahram Aret
• Baer Florian
• Mitulla Sven
• Lehr Joerg
• Overmeyer Ludger Leo Josef
• Wohlgemuth Hans Lothar
• Bach Friedrich-Wilhelm
• Brouwer Dominik

Classifications

• B23K37/0531 Primary

  Internal pipe alignment clamps · CPC title

• B23K20/06 Primary

  by means of high energy impulses, e.g. magnetic energy · CPC title

• B23K9/08

  Arrangements or circuits for magnetic control of the arc · CPC title

• B23K37/053

  aligning cylindrical work; Clamping devices therefor · CPC title

• B23K2201/10

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic