Systems and methods for aligning coiled tubing strings at a wellsite
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsMichael Rossing, William Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coiled tubing (CT) aligner for aligning a first CT string and a second CT string of a well system includes a first clamp having a central passage and positionable about the second CT string to apply a clamping force to the second CT string for locking the first clamp to the second CT string, a centralizer comprising a central passage in which the first CT string is slidably receivable, a rigid support arm connected between the first clamp and the centralizer, and a second clamp having a central passage and positionable about the first CT string to apply a clamping force to the first CT string for locking the first clamp to the first CT string.
Claims24
A coiled tubing (CT) aligner for aligning a first CT string and a second CT string of a well system, the CT aligner comprising:
- a first clamp having a central passage and positionable about the second CT string to apply a clamping force to the second CT string for locking the first clamp to the second CT string;
- a centralizer comprising a central passage in which the first CT string is slidably receivable;
- a rigid support arm connected between the first clamp and the centralizer;
- and
- a second clamp having a central passage and positionable about the first CT string to apply a clamping force to the first CT string for locking the first clamp to the first CT string.
A coiled tubing (CT) aligner for aligning a first CT string and a second CT string of a well system, the CT aligner comprising:
- a first clamp having a central passage and positionable about the second CT string to apply a clamping force to the second CT string for locking the first clamp to the second CT string;
- a second clamp having a central passage and positionable about the first CT string to apply a clamping force to the first CT string for locking the second clamp to the first CT string;
- a rigid support arm connected between the first clamp and the second clamp;
- and
- a CT tensioner comprising a flexible CT linkage connectable between the first clamp and the second clamp, and an actuator configured to selectably adjust a longitudinal length of the CT linkage to adjust tension applied to the CT linkage.
A method for aligning a coiled tubing (CT) string of a well system using a CT aligner, the method comprising:
- (a) clamping a first clamp of the CT aligner to the CT string;
- (b) slidably positioning a centralizer of the CT aligner around the CT string whereby the CT string is slidably received in a central passage of the centralizer;
- and
- (c) clamping a second clamp of the CT aligner to the CT string whereby the centralizer is positioned between the first clamp and the second clamp along the CT string.
A method for coupling a first coiled tubing (CT) string and a second coiled tubing (CT) string of a well system using a CT aligner, the method comprising:
- (a) clamping a first clamp of the CT aligner to the second CT string, wherein the first clamp comprises a first tensioner connector;
- (b) clamping a second clamp of the CT aligner to the first CT string, wherein the second clamp comprises a second tensioner connector;
- (c) connecting a CT tensioner between the first tensioner connector and the second tensioner connector, wherein the CT tensioner comprises a tensioner linkage and an actuator;
- and
- (d) operating the actuator to gradually reduce a longitudinal length of the tensioner linkage to align a lower end of the second CT string with an upper end of the first CT string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.