Method to determine connector leaks during testing
AssigneePetrotechnologies, Inc.
InventorDavid Levy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for evaluating the leak tightness of a connector, or multiple connectors. The method uses an administrative server having a library of pressure and temperature information on various connectors, as well as the ability to report pressure and temperature data to a network as uncorrected and corrected responses. The method uses a data logger for recording pressure and temperature readings and also reporting corrected and uncorrected responses using one or more equations to shorten the test time by at least 50 percent or to about 5 minutes or less. The method uses a test pump for applying pressure to a connector to generate a corrected pressure which indicates leaks when the corrected pressure changes.
Claims21
A method for evaluating leak tightness of at least one connector for control conduits usable with field completions, well drilling, or combinations thereof, comprising:
- a. using an administrative server comprising an administrative processor and administrative data storage to form a library of pressure and temperature information on connectors and equations, in an administrative dynamic information database, computer instructions for producing a report of recorded pressures and temperatures and corrected pressures and pressure decay rates, and computer instructions to transmit the report of recorded pressures and corrected pressures and computed pressure decay rates using at least one network;
- b. forming a library of pressure and temperature information on connectors and at least one equation in an administrative dynamic information database in an administrative data storage of an administrative server further comprising an administrative processor;
- c. using a data logger for testing a connector, wherein the data logger is in communication with the administrative server, wherein the data logger comprises a data logger housing for supporting a display, wherein the display is connected to a data logger processor with data logger data storage, at least one USB port, a power supply, and a parallel port;
- and wherein the data logger data storage stores at least one equation from the administrative server that produces a pressure decay rate for the connector at a defined pressure over time for a defined temperature, and wherein the data logger data storage further comprises computer instructions for:
- (i) instructing the data logger processor to record pressure readings from the connector;
- (ii) instructing the data logger processor to record temperature readings from the connector;
- (iii) instructing the data logger processor to generate a report of an uncorrected response using the recorded pressure readings and recorded temperatures readings;
- and
- (iv) instructing the data logger processor to generate a report of a corrected response using the recorded pressure and temperature readings and the equation;
- d. using a test pump in communication with the data logger to apply a pressure of at least 10,000 psi and flowing pressurized test fluid from a reservoir of test fluid to the connector;
- and, applying a test pressure to the connector exceeding a desired corrected response pressure with the test pump, isolating the test pump, recording pressure and temperature readings into the data logger data storage, presenting the pressure and temperature readings on the display of the data logger, processing the recorded pressure and temperature readings by the data logger processor using at least one equation and producing a corrected pressure, displaying the corrected pressure, and when the corrected pressure changes, initiating an alarm indicating a leak between the connector and the control conduit and completing the test within 5 minutes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.