Apparatus and method for rotating coil tubing in a well
AssigneeOtis Engineering Corporation
InventorsPhillip S. Sizer, Don C. Cox, Malcolm N. Council
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved coil tubing injection apparatus for servicing wells by running coil tubing thereinto for circulating fluids through the well and having the ability to rotate the coil tubing for performing drilling operations. The apparatus can readily provide concurrent longitudinal and rotational movement of the coil tubing. Methods of servicing wells involving such movement of coil tubing are disclosed.
Claims39
Apparatus for injecting coil tubing into a well for performing a downhole operation which requires rotation thereof, comprising:
- a. means for injecting coil tubing into a well;
- b. quill means for surrounding said coil tubing and being movable longitudinally by said injecting means;
- c. means for releasably gripping said coil tubing, said gripping means being rotatably supported by said quill means and movable therewith;
- and
- d. means for rotating said gripping means relative to said quill means.
Apparatus for injecting coil tubing into a well for performing a downhole operation which requires rotation thereof, comprising:
- a. means for injecting coil tubing into the well;
- b. connecting means for connecting jointed pipe to the upper end of the coil tubing to extend the length thereof;
- c. tubular quill means for surrounding the pipe or coil tubing, said quill means being movable longitudinally by said injecting means;
- d. means for releasably gripping the pipe or coil tubing, said gripping means being rotatably supported by said quill means and movable therewith;
- and
- e. means for rotating said gripping means relative to said quill means.
A coil tubing injector for injecting coil tubing into a well and being capable of using a quill to allow rotating the coil tubing in the well, said injector comprising:
- frame means;
- and
- b. endless-type chain drive mechanism mounted in said frame means for driving coil tubing into and out of a well, said drive mechanism including:
- i. drive chain means including a pair of opposed endless chains disposed in a common plane and being movable toward and away from each other to grip and release coil tubing disposed therebetween,
- ii. means for moving said chain means laterally between inner gripping and outer releasing positions,
- iii. means for driving said chain means to drive the coil tubing into or out of the well, and
- iv. means defining the location of said inner and outer positions for both said coil tubing and said quill, said coil tubing and said quill being unequal in transverse dimension.
Quill means for use with a coil tubing injector to permit rotation of coil tubing or pipe about its longitudinal axis while extending into a well, comprising:
- a. elongate body means having a longitudinal bore therethrough for receiving said coil tubing or pipe, said body having an exterior surface capable of being gripped by said coil tubing injector;
- b. gripping means rotatably supported by said elongate body means for releasably gripping and holding pipe or coil tubing disposed therein;
- and
- c. means for rotating said gripping means relative to said elongate body means.
A method of servicing a well, comprising:
- a. installing a length of coil tubing in the well through use of a coil tubing injector;
- and
- b. rotating said length of coil tubing to perform a downhole operation in the well.
A method of servicing a well comprising the steps of:
- a. attaching an operational tool and a check valve to the lower end of coil tubing;
- b. running said coil tubing to a desired depth in the well through use of a coil tubing injector;
- c. supporting said coil tubing at the surface with stationary slips;
- d. severing said coil tubing at a location spaced above said stationary slips and attaching a connector to the end of the coil tubing extending from the well, the free end of said connector having means for attachment to a length of pipe;
- e. telescoping a tubular quill over the free end of the coil tubing and engaging said quill in said coil tubing injector, said quill supporting gripping means thereon;
- f. connecting a length of pipe to said connector on said coil tubing;
- g. activating said gripping means supported on said quill to grip said pipe or said coil tubing;
- h. releasing said stationary slips;
- and
- i. operating said coil tubing injector to move said quill and said coil tubing supported thereby longitudinally.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.