Hydraulic Pressure Testing System, And Method Of Testing Tubular Products

A method of pressure-testing a tubular product at a well site, comprising:

• securing a hydrotest tool into a bore of the tubular product;
• providing a fluid pumping system comprising a fluid reservoir, a pump and a controller;
• providing a user interface in electrical communication with the controller;
• placing the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the hydrotest tool by means of a first fluid hose;
• setting a pressure test value (PT) for the controller;
• setting a pressure threshold value (T) for the controller;
• setting a pressure hold value as a test time (TT) for the controller;
• and
• activating operation of the pump by initiating a Start function associated with the user interface, wherein:
• test fluid is pumped from the fluid reservoir, through the first fluid hose and into the production tubing,
• when pressure in the first fluid hose reaches (T), the controller (i) sends a signal to the pump to discontinue pumping, (ii) sends a signal to a diverter valve to divert test fluid back to the pump, or (iii) both, and
• when pressure in the first fluid hose reaches (PT), the controller sends a signal to the pump to hold pressure at (PT) during the test time (TT).

A pressure-test system for a tubular product, comprising:

• a human-machine interface;
• a controller;
• a fluid reservoir configured to contain a test fluid;
• a first fluid hose having a first end configured to receive the test fluid from the fluid reservoir, and a second end configured to deliver test fluid to a pressure head in a hydrotest tool and into the tubular product;
• a fluid pump configured to move test fluid along the first fluid hose;
• and
• a transducer configured to send signals to the controller indicative of pressure within the first fluid hose, in real time, for pressure testing of the tubular product;
• and wherein the human-machine interface offers a first switch placing the controller in an Auto Mode, wherein the controller is programmed to:
• (i) store a pressure threshold value (T) such that when pressure in the first fluid hose reaches (T), the controller sends a signal to discontinue pumping through the first fluid hose;
• and
• (ii) store a separate pressure test value (PT) such when pressure in the first fluid hose reaches (PT), the controller sends a signal to the pump to hold pressure at (PT) for a pre-set test time (TT);
• and the human-machine interface offers a second switch placing the pressure-test system in a Manual Mode that interrupts the Auto Mode and causes the pump to stop pumping, allowing the operator to manually control pump operation.

A method of pressure-testing a tubular product, comprising:

• securing a hydrotest tool into a bore of the tubular product;
• providing a user interface in electrical communication with a controller;
• setting a pressure test value (PT) for the controller;
• setting a pressure hold value as a test time (TT) for the controller;
• setting a pressure differential (Δx) for the controller;
• activating a fluid pump to pump test fluid into the hydrotest tool until the pressure test value (PT) is reached;
• holding pressure in a bore of the tubular product;
• and
• using the controller, sending a signal to discontinue the pumping after determining that the tubular product has passed or failed a pressure test.

A hydrotest truck for conducting pressure tests on production tubing, comprising

• a fluid reservoir configured to contain a test fluid;
• a first fluid hose having a first end configured to receive the test fluid from the fluid reservoir, and a second end configured to deliver test fluid to a pressure head in a hydrotest tool into a tubular product;
• a fluid pump configured to move test fluid along the first fluid hose;
• a human-machine interface;
• a controller;
• and
• a transducer configured to send signals to the controller indicative of pressure within the first fluid hose, in real time, for pressure testing of the tubular product;
• and wherein the human-machine interface offers a first switch placing the controller in an Auto Mode, wherein the controller is programmed to:
• (i) store a pressure threshold value (T) such that when pressure in the first fluid hose reaches (T), the controller sends a signal to discontinue pumping fluid through the first fluid hose;
• and
• (ii) store a separate pressure test value (PT) such when pressure in the first fluid hose reaches (PT), the controller sends a signal to the pump to hold pressure at (PT) for a pre-set test time (TT);
• and the human-machine interface offers a second switch placing the pressure-test system in a Manual Mode that interrupts the Auto Mode and causes the pump to stop pumping, allowing the operator to manually control pump operation.