# US 9,435,195 B2 · Wireline apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,195 B2 - Document ID: US9435195B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/119,983 - Filed: 2012-05-24 - Published: 2014-06-26 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-24 - Assignees: Paradigm Technology Services B.V. - Applicants: Jan Arie Aldo Huizer - Inventors: Jan Arie Aldo Huizer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435195B2 ## CPC - B66D 1/40: Control devices - E21B 19/22: Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)} - E21B 23/14: for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells - E21B 47/04: Measuring depth or liquid level - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - F16H 55/52: Pulleys or friction discs of adjustable construction - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A wireline apparatus comprises a sheave for accommodating a wireline and a sheave mounting configured for coupling to a wireline stuffing box. The apparatus includes a sensor for measuring at least one of wireline tension and deployed wireline length at the sheave. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireline sheave apparatus comprising: a sheave for accommodating a wireline; a sheave mounting configured for coupling to a wireline stuffing box, the sheave being mounted on the sheave mounting; and a sensor for measuring wireline tension, wherein the sheave mounting comprises a frame which includes a first frame part and a second frame part, the first and second frame parts being arranged such that tension on the wireless tends to cause the first and second frame parts to pivot relative to one another; and wherein the sensor is provided between the first and second frame parts so as to measure parameters indicative of forces acting on the wireline. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including a sensor for measuring both wireline tension and wireline length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a transmitter for relaying information gathered by the sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, including a wireline control unit configured to receive and process said information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wireline control unit is configured to record or display gathered information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transmitter is configured to relay information wirelessly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, configured for measuring wireline speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for transmitting signals from pressure sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with pressure sensors in a lubricator assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, configured for measuring at least one of stuffing box pressure and well pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including a swivel for coupling to the stuffing box. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including the stuffing box or a lubricator string. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, configured such that wireline extending between the sheave and the stuffing box is axially aligned with the wireline passing through the stuffing box. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including a lubricator string including pressure sensors for providing at least one of well pressure and stuffing box hydraulic pressure information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including a wireline. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that wireline used in combination with the apparatus experiences less than eleven bending cycles between a wireline reel and a lubricator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheave is configured to guide wireline from a bottom hay pulley into the top of a lubricator and into a well. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, configured such that the sheave contact angle with the wireline is maintained substantially constant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheave contact angle is maintained at or around 180 degrees. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including wireline guides for maintaining a desired sheave contact angle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireline guides comprise rollers. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheave serves as a wireline length measuring wheel and has a calibrated outer diameter. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheave includes a wire retaining arrangement to ensure that the wireline is maintained in contact with the sheave. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the wire retaining arrangement comprises spring-mounted rollers. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame provides mounting for the sensors. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge which is mounted on the frame and is configurable to measure wireline tension. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, comprising a load pin, wherein the strain gauge is arranged to measure strain on the load pin, and wherein the load pin is arranged to prevent the first and second frame parts from pivoting relative to one another so that the strain measured by the strain guage on the load pin indicates wireline tension. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, including dual independent strain gauges. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, comprising a hydraulic load cell mounted on the frame. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including one or more sensors configured to measure one or more of sheave rotation and sheave rotation direction. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said sensors include at least one of a mechanical counter, encoder and electromagnetic speed sensor. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including a wireline unit and wherein the wireline unit is configured to process signals received from the sensors to provide depth figures which are accurate for the diameter of wireline being used, without requiring replacement of the sheave wheel. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a correction is achieved electronically using wireline length information and wireline diameter information. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an electronics module for processing information from the sensor. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the module is mounted on a sheave mounting bracket. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the module houses one or more of sensor amplifiers, power supply, batteries, transmitters and antenna. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including an independent power source. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, including a power source configured to be recharged through rotation of the sheave. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the power source comprises a battery arranged to be charged by a generator in an encoder and an energy harvesting module. ### Claim 41 A wireline work method comprising: mounting a sheave on a sheave mounting comprising a frame which includes a first frame part and a second frame part, the first and second frame parts being arranged such that tension on the wireless tends to cause the first and second frame parts to pivot relative to one another; coupling the sheave mounting to a wireline stuffing box; passing wireline around the sheave; providing a sensor between the first and second frame parts; and using the sensor to measure parameters indicative of forces acting on the wireline. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising transmitting the measured information to a wireline control unit. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, comprising transmitting the information wirelessly. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, comprising transmitting the information at radio frequencies. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, comprising communicating with pressure sensors in a lubricator assembly and transmitting information gathered by the pressure sensors with the measured information. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, comprising measuring at least one of well pressure and stuffing box hydraulic pressure. ### Claim 47 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising using the sheave as a wireline length measuring wheel. ### Claim 48 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising pressing the wireline against the sheave. ### Claim 49 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising measuring wireline speed at the sheave. ### Claim 50 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising measuring forces between stuffing box sheave assembly parts to measure parameters indicative of forces acting on the wireline. ### Claim 51 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein a sheave contact angle with the wireline is maintained substantially constant to facilitate provision of accurate wireline tension information. ### Claim 52 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising measuring one or more of sheave rotation and sheave rotation direction. ### Claim 53 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising displaying and recording wireline depth and tension on an electronic display in an associated wireline unit. ### Claim 54 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising processing signals received from the sensors to provide depth figures which are compensated for the diameter of wireline being used. ### Claim 55 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising recharging a power source through rotation of the sheave. ### Claim 56 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, comprising running wireline between a wireline reel and a lubricator, wherein the wireline experiences less than eleven bending cycles between the wireline reel and the lubricator. ### Claim 57 A wireline sheave apparatus comprising: a sheave for accommodating a wireline; a sheave mounting configured for coupling to a wireline stuffing box, the sheave being mounted on the sheave mounting; and a sensor for measuring at least one of wireline tension and deployed wireline length at the sheave; wherein the sheave is frame-mounted on a sheave mounting frame; wherein the sheave mounting frame provides mounting for the sensor; wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge which is mounted on the frame and is configurable to measure wireless tension; and wherein parts of the frame are arranged to pivot relative to one another and tension on the wireline tends to cause the parts to pivot, such that a strain gauge on a load pin preventing the parts from pivoting indicates wireline tension. ### Claim 58 A wireline sheave apparatus comprising: a sheave for accommodating a wireline; a sheave mounting configured for coupling to a wireline stuffing box, the sheave being mounted on the sheave mounting; and a sensor for measuring at least one of wireline tension and deployed wireline length at the sheave; and an electronics module for processing information from the sensor, wherein the module is mounted on a sheave mounting bracket. ### Claim 59 A wireline sheave apparatus comprising: a sheave for accommodating a wireline; a sheave mounting configured for coupling to a wireline stuffing box, the sheave being mounted on a sheave mounting; a sensor for measuring at least one of wireless tension and deployed wireline length at the sheave; and a power source configured to be recharged through rotation of the sheave; wherein the power source comprises a battery arranged to be charged by a generator in an encoder and an energy harvesting module.