Systems, tools and methods for high power laser surface decommissioning and downhole welding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399269-B2
Application number	US-201414213212-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Aug 2, 2012
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

There are provided using high power laser systems for performing decommissioning welding and repair of structures in boreholes, off-shore, and other remote and hazardous locations. In a particular embodiment the laser system is a Class I system.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A high power laser tool for deployment in a tubular to be cut, the tool comprising:
a. a first assembly, and a second assembly;
b. a spar having a length and mechanically and rotationally associating the second assembly and the first assembly, thereby defining a distance between the second assembly and the first assembly; and, whereby the second assembly is rotatable with respect to the first assembly;
c. the second assembly comprising a housing, the housing comprising an optics assembly in optical communication with a high power optical fiber and a laser beam exit port, wherein the optics assembly defines a laser beam path exiting the housing through the laser beam exit port; and,
d. the first assembly comprising a means for rotating the spar and an engagement device, wherein upon deployment of the tool the first assembly is capable engaging the tubular and rotating the spar and the second assembly to cut the tubular with a laser beam at a predetermined depth.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the engagement device comprises a wedge.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the engagement device comprises a centering device.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the high power optical fiber extends through the first assembly and is located within the spar.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is in optical communication with the optical slip ring.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is in optical communication with the optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is located within the spar.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the spar is at least about 5 feet long.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the spar is at least about 15 feet long.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the spar is at least about 20 feet long.

11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the engagement device comprises a centering device and wherein the spar is at least about 10 feet long.

12. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the spar is at least about 10 feet long.

13. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the high power optical fiber extends through the first assembly and is located within the spar and wherein the spar is at least about 10 feet long.

14. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is in optical communication with the optical slip ring and wherein the spar is at least about 10 feet long.

15. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the length of the spar is adjustable, whereby the distance between the first assembly and the second assembly can be changed.

16. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less.

17. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the engagement device comprises a wedge.

18. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring.

19. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the high power optical fiber extends through the first assembly and is located within the spar.

20. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is in optical communication with the optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is located within the spar.

21. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the engagement device comprises a centering device and wherein the spar is at least about 10 feet long.

22. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the spar is at least about 10 feet long.

23. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less and wherein the length of the spar is adjustable, whereby the distance between between the first assembly and the second assembly can be changed.

24. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a DC electric motor, a pneumatic motor, a step motor, a gear box, a torsional device and a transmission.

25. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a hand crank, a gearbox, a transmission and a belt drive, and wherein the engagement device comprises a centering device.

26. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a DC electric motor, a pneumatic motor, a step motor, a gear box, a torsional device and a transmission, and wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring.

27. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a hand crank, a gearbox, a transmission and a belt drive, and wherein the first assembly comprises an optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is in optical communication with the optical slip ring and wherein the high power optical fiber is located within the spar.

28. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a DC electric motor, a pneumatic motor, a step motor, a gear box, a torsional device and a transmission, and wherein the spar is at least about 5 feet long.

29. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a motor, an electric motor, a hand crank, a gearbox, a chain drive, a gear drive, a transmission and a belt drive, and wherein the length of the spar is adjustable, whereby the distance between the first assembly and the second assembly can be changed.

30. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the spar comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a motor, an electric motor, a hand crank, a gearbox, a chain drive, a gear drive, a transmission and a belt drive, and wherein the tool as deployed during normal operation has an accessible emission limit of 2.0×10 −3 k 1 k 2 Wcm −2 sr −1 radiance or less.

31. The

Assignees

• Zediker Mark S
• Grubb Daryl L
• Faircloth Brian O
• Havlinek Kenneth L
• Marshall Scott A
• Foro Energy Inc

Inventors

• Zediker Mark S
• Grubb Daryl L
• Faircloth Brian O
• Havlinek Kenneth L
• Marshall Scott A

Classifications

• B23K26/282 Primary

  of tube sections · CPC title

• B23K26/106

  inside the workpiece · CPC title

• B23K26/38

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• E21B23/00

  Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) · CPC title

• E21B29/00

  Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground · CPC title