Method of controlling torque applied to a tubular connection
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsGraham Ruark, Merlin Perry, Aaron Dauphine
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for controlling the torque applied to a tubular connection. In one embodiment, a method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular supported by a spider on a drilling rig includes engaging the first threaded tubular with the second threaded tubular; making up the connection by rotating the first tubular using a top drive; and controlling unwinding of the first tubular after the connection is made up.
Claims39
A method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular supported by a spider on a drilling rig, comprising:
- engaging the first threaded tubular with the second threaded tubular;
- making up the connection by rotating the first tubular using a top drive;
- and
- controlling unwinding of the first tubular after the connection is made up, wherein the unwinding of the first tubular is controlled by substantially decreasing torque exerted by the top drive on the first tubular to a second torque and maintaining the second torque for a predetermined period of time.
A method of controllably releasing stored elastic energy in a system, comprising:
- engaging a first tubular with a second tubular;
- rotating the first tubular using a top drive to connect the first tubular to the second tubular;
- after the connection is made up, controlling the release of stored elastic energy in the first tubular to maintain negative torque applied to the connection below a predetermined acceptable level;
- and
- measuring torque applied by the top drive to ensure that no negative torque is applied to the made up connection.
A method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular supported by a spider on a drilling rig, comprising:
- engaging the first threaded tubular with the second threaded tubular;
- making up the connection by rotating the first tubular using a top drive;
- and
- controlling unwinding of the first tubular after the connection is made up, wherein the unwinding of the first tubular is controlled by gradually decreasing torque exerted by the top drive on the first tubular.
A method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular supported by a spider on a drilling rig, comprising:
- engaging the first threaded tubular with the second threaded tubular;
- making up the connection by rotating the first tubular using a top drive;
- substantially decreasing a rotational speed of the top drive before the connection is completely made up;
- and
- controlling unwinding of the first tubular after the connection is made up.
A method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular supported by a spider on a drilling rig, comprising:
- engaging the first threaded tubular with the second threaded tubular;
- making up the connection by rotating the first tubular using a top drive;
- controlling unwinding of the first tubular after the connection is made up;
- and
- during rotation of the first tubular:
- measuring torque applied by the top drive;
- determining angular acceleration of at least one of the top drive and the first tubular;
- determining inertial torque of the at least one of the top drive and the first tubular using the angular acceleration;
- and
- using the inertial torque to compensate a rate of change of torque after the connection is made up.
A method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular supported by a spider on a drilling rig, comprising:
- engaging the first threaded tubular with the second threaded tubular;
- making up the connection by rotating the first tubular using a top drive;
- controlling unwinding of the first tubular after the connection is made up;
- measuring torque applied by the top drive;
- compensating the torque measurement using inertial torque of at least one of the top drive and the first tubular;
- measuring rotation of the first tubular;
- and
- compensating the rotation measurement using deflection of at least one of the top drive and first tubular.
A method of controllably releasing stored elastic energy in a system, comprising:
- engaging a first tubular with a second tubular;
- rotating the first tubular using a top drive to connect the first tubular to the second tubular;
- and
- after the connection is made up, controlling the release of stored elastic energy in the first tubular to maintain negative torque applied to the connection below a predetermined acceptable level, wherein the predetermined acceptable level is about one-half of a final make-up torque used to complete the connection.
A method of controllably releasing stored elastic energy in a system, comprising:
- engaging a first tubular with a second tubular;
- rotating the first tubular using a top drive to connect the first tubular to the second tubular;
- and
- after the connection is made up, controlling the release of stored elastic energy in the first tubular to maintain negative torque applied to the connection below a predetermined acceptable level, wherein the release of stored elastic energy is controlled by substantially decreasing torque exerted by the top drive on the first tubular to a second torque and maintaining the second torque for a predetermined period of time.
A method of controllably releasing stored elastic energy in a system, comprising:
- engaging a first tubular with a second tubular;
- rotating the first tubular using a top drive to connect the first tubular to the second tubular;
- after the connection is made up, controlling the release of stored elastic energy in the first tubular to maintain negative torque applied to the connection below a predetermined acceptable level;
- measuring torque applied by the top drive;
- determining angular acceleration of at least one of the top drive and the first tubular;
- determining inertial torque of at least one of the top drive and the first tubular using the angular acceleration;
- and
- using the inertial torque to compensate a rate of change of torque after the connection is made up.
A method of controllably releasing stored elastic energy in a system, comprising:
- engaging a first tubular with a second tubular;
- rotating the first tubular using a top drive to connect the first tubular to the second tubular;
- and
- after the connection is made up, controlling the release of stored elastic energy in the first tubular to maintain negative torque applied to the connection below a predetermined acceptable level, wherein the release of stored elastic energy is controlled by gradually decreasing torque exerted by the top drive on the first tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.