WELLBORE PIPE PROTECTION DEVICE |
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申请号 | EP10770639.2 | 申请日 | 2010-10-25 | 公开(公告)号 | EP2516288B1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2015-08-19 |
申请人 | Pipe-proteq Holding B.V.; | 发明人 | LÜBBERS, Gerardus, Bernardus; | ||||
摘要 | |||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | The invention relates to a wellbore pipe protection device for protecting, in a condition mounted to a wellbore pipe end, the screw thread of the pipe end. It is remarked that the term "wellbore pipe" as referred to in the present text is meant to comprise various types of pipes used in wellbore operations, both during drilling phases and during production phases. Hence, the term "wellbore pipe" comprises various types of drill, casing and tubing pipes used in wellbores. Such protection devices serve to protect internal or outside screw threads of wellbore pipe ends against potential damage during transportation and storage of wellbore pipes. When wellbore pipes are in operation, i.e. when they are interconnected to form a pipe string, the protection devices have been removed from the pipe ends. In practice, types of wellbore pipe protection devices are known, wherein the protection device has a substantially cylindrical body provided with screw thread for co-operation with the screw thread of a wellbore pipe. For a first class of these known devices, its cylindrical body has internal screw thread that matches the outside screw thread of the corresponding wellbore pipe end. For a second class of these known devices, its cylindrical body has outside screw thread that matches the internal screw thread of the corresponding wellbore pipe end. When installing known devices of the said type, an operator screws the devices onto/into the wellbore pipe ends. When de-installing these known devices, an operator manually unscrews the devices from the pipe ends. A drawback of these known devices is, that the screwing and unscrewing of the protection devices relative to the wellbore pipes is a time consuming task. The reason is that the screwing and unscrewing involves relative movements over relatively long helical paths and with relatively high friction. Since wellbore operations typically require the handling of large numbers of wellbore pipes, the time consuming task of installing and de-installing the large numbers of protection devices has a negative influence on the speed of the operations and/or the related labour costs involved in the operations. Note, that wellbore operations normally take place in relatively unclean environments, which often leads to dirty screw threads of protection devices and of wellbore pipes. This further hampers the task of screwing and unscrewing of the protection devices. In view of the abovementioned drawbacks, some other protection devices are known which other devices are not based upon screwing and unscrewing of such device relative to the pipe's screw thread to be protected. Another device for protecting threaded ends of pipes is known from Yet another device for protecting threaded ends of pipes is known from Another thread protector is disclosed in Yet another thread protector is disclosed in It is an object of the invention to provide at least an alternative solution according to which the ease and speed of manually installing and de-installing wellbore pipe protection devices is improved, while such protection device in its mounted condition is reliably fixed to a wellbore pipe. For that purpose, the invention provides a wellbore pipe protection device according to claim 1. In the unlocked condition of the protection device, an operator is able to quickly and easily put the protection device on the wellbore pipe end as well as take off the protection device from the wellbore pipe end. This is in contrast with the abovementioned known protection device of the screwing/unscrewing type, which requires laborious screwing or unscrewing of the protection device. Protection devices according to the invention can easily and with only little friction be put on the wellbore pipe end by inserting the sleeve wall coaxially into the pipe end or, as the case may be, by sliding the sleeve wall coaxially over the pipe end. Also the removal of the protection device from a wellbore pipe is easy for a protection device according to the invention. The reason is that in the unlocked condition the sleeve wall can simply be slided out or off the pipe end coaxially. The presence of some dirt in the screw thread of the pipe end does not hamper the installing or de-installing of the protection devices, since there is no screwing or unscrewing involved. Also the manual operation of the actuating element to change the condition of the protection device between its locked condition and its unlocked condition, and vice versa, is an easy task for an operator which can be performed rapidly. It merely requires the actuating element to change the deformation state of the sleeve wall, which can easily be accomplished by a simple, short manual movement of the operator. In the locked condition the elastic material is firmly being pressed by the sleeve wall into the screw thread, which prevents the protection device from becoming detached from the pipe due to accidental external impacts that may occur during transportation and storage of wellbore pipes. It is remarked that various kinds of elastic materials, provided on the covering side of the sleeve wall, may be used, both natural and synthetic materials, such as natural or synthetic rubber. Also, the elastic material may be provided on the covering side in various shapes and distribution patterns. As compared with the abovementioned known protection devices of the screwing/unscrewing type, it is a further advantage of a protection device according to the invention that, when it is arranged for a specific diameter of a wellbore pipe end, it fits for various types and shapes of screw threads of the pipe ends. Also, for a protection device according to the invention being arranged for such a specific diameter, it is possible to modify shapes and distribution patterns of the elastic material provided on its covering side. Thus, the shapes and distribution patterns of the elastic material can each time be chosen to be optimally tailored for specific ones of the various types and shapes of screw threads of the pipe ends. Another drawback of the abovementioned known protection devices of the screwing/unscrewing type is that screwing and unscrewing of these known devices relative to the pipe ends adversely effects the lubrication present in the screw threads of the pipe ends. That is: by such screwing and unscrewing, lubrication substances are more or less removed from the said screw threads. It is a further advantage of a protection device according to the invention that such adverse effect is avoided since for a protection device according to the invention there is no screwing or unscrewing involved. As compared with the abovementioned pipe thread protector known from Such a handgrip is very easy to operate, it does not require complex or precise operation. Such ease of operation is highly desirable in the typically rough working environment in which operators have to install or de-install large numbers of protection devices. For installing a protection device according to the invention, an operator may simply pick-up the device (e.g. from a stock, from the floor, etc.) by grasping the handgrip with only a single hand. Still holding the device in that single hand, the operator may simply place the device into/over the pipe end, then push onto the handgrip and subsequently rotate the handgrip into said rotation position in which said slidability of the actuating element is blocked. Because of this blocking, the device is reliably fixed to the pipe. In fact, the combined manoevers comprising said picking-up, said placing, said pushing and said rotating may be performed in a single, smooth, continuous, on-going movement of only a single hand of the operator, which is very fast and does not require any specific tool or equipment. By using both hands, an operator is even able to quickly install two different devices simultaneously onto ends of two different pipes. Conversely, it will be clear that also the removal of the protection device from a wellbore pipe is correspondingly easy and fast. All that is needed is: grasp the handgrip with one hand, rotate it, withdraw it to bring the device in its unlocked condition, withdraw it a little further to take the device off from the pipe end, and put the device away. Again, the combined manoevers comprising said grasping, said rotating, said withdrawings and said putting away may be performed in a single, smooth, continuous, on-going movement of only a single hand of the operator, which is very fast and does not require any specific tool or equipment. By using both hands, an operator is even able to de-install two different devices simultaneously from ends of two different pipes. Therefore, as compared to existing thread protection devices, the improvements in ease and speed of installing and de-installing a device according to the invention are astonishing, while there is no sacrifice as to the reliability of the device. Specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. In a preferable embodiment, the covering sleeve and the actuating element are manually undetachable relative to one another. Thus, the covering sleeve and the actuating element of each protection device remain inseparable for users such as wellbore pipe operators and other persons handling the protection devices during their transportation and storage. As a result, extra work for reconnecting these parts is prevented. In another preferable embodiment, elastic sealing material is filling up the slits in the sleeve wall. Such elastic material prevents undesired substances to penetrate, via the slits in the sleeve wall, into the the screw thread of the pipe end. In yet another preferable embodiment, at least part of the elastic material is elastic material of at least one O-ring extending coaxially relative to the sleeve wall. Applying one or more of such O-rings is effective, simple and cheap. Preferably, the sleeve wall comprises at least one annular groove in which the at least one O-ring is received. Thus, an effective and simple solution is provided that prevents such an O-ring from moving in axial direction relative to the sleeve wall. In one class of embodiments of a protection device according to the invention, the protection device is arranged for protecting outside screw thread of a wellbore pipe end. For this other class the covering side of the sleeve wall is the side of the sleeve wall facing towards the central axis of the sleeve wall for covering, in the mounted condition, the outside screw thread when the sleeve wall is coaxially slid over the pipe end. In another class of embodiments of a protection device according to the invention, the protection device is arranged for protecting internal screw thread of a wellbore pipe end. For this class the covering side of the sleeve wall is the side of the sleeve wall facing away from the central axis of the sleeve wall for covering, in the mounted condition, the internal screw thread when the sleeve wall is coaxially inserted into the pipe end. In a preferable embodiment of the last mentioned class of embodiments of a protection device according to the invention, an elastic sealing disc is retained by the actuating element at a side of the covering sleeve facing away from the handgrip, which sealing disc extends substantially coaxially with the covering sleeve and substantially transverse to said axial direction. Such a sealing disc prevents undesired substances present in the interior of the wellbore pipe to penetrate into the internal screw thread of the pipe end. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the schematic figures in the enclosed drawing.
Reference is first made to the embodiment shown in The device 1 comprises a covering sleeve 2 and an actuating element 3. The covering sleeve 2 comprises a peripheral sleeve wall 21 having a central axis 5. The side of the sleeve wall 21 facing towards the central axis 5 is a covering side 22 for covering the screw thread 8 of the pipe end 7. This covering of the screw thread takes place in the shown mounted condition, i.e. when the sleeve wall 21 is coaxially slid over the pipe end 7. The covering sleeve 2 is provided on the covering side 22 of the sleeve wall with elastic material 4. At least part of the sleeve wall 21 is flexible while the sleeve wall 21 is interrupted by slits 23 (see The said adjustability of the diameter of the sleeve wall 21 enables the said interchangeability between the locked condition and the unlocked condition in that the elastic material 4 in the locked condition is being pressed by the sleeve wall 21 into the screw thread 8 (see The actuating element 3 is slidable, relative to the covering sleeve 2, in the axial direction 5 of the covering sleeve for realizing changes in the deformation state of the sleeve wall 21 in order to realise the said interchangeability between the locked condition and the unlocked condition. In the shown example, the actuating element 3 comprises a peripheral sleeve wall 31 which is coaxially surrounding the sleeve wall 21 of the covering sleeve 2. The sleeve wall 21 of the covering sleeve 2 has an annular shaped protrusion 24 on its side 23 opposite its covering side 22. The side 32 of the sleeve wall 31 of the actuating element 3 facing towards the central axis 5 has an inclined shape relative to the central axis 5. The manual operation of the actuating element 3 can be performed by means of a handgrip 9 of the actuating element 3. When a user moves, starting off from the unlocked condition shown in For realizing the manual moveability of handgrip 9 relative to the covering sleeve 2, the handgrip 9 is fixedly connected to a cylindrical rod 59. The rod 59 is situated coaxially with the covering sleeve 2 and the actuating element 3. Axial movements of the rod 59 relative to other parts of the actuating element 3 are prevented by means of retaining rings 51. However, the rod 59 is free to rotate relative to other parts of the actuating element 3 around the axial direction. The rod 59 is received in a bush 53 of the covering sleeve 2, which bush 53 is coaxial with and fixedly connected relative to the sleeve wall 21 of the covering sleeve 2. The rod 59 has a number of pins 52 transversely protruding therefrom. These pins 52 are guidingly received in guiding slits present in the bush 53. As best seen in It is remarked that it is possible to apply additional sealing material, for example at or near the retaining rings 51 (see Reference is now made to the other embodiment shown in The device 101 comprises a covering sleeve 102 and an actuating element 103. The covering sleeve 102 comprises a peripheral sleeve wall 121 having a central axis 105. The side of the sleeve wall 121 facing away from the central axis 105 is a covering side 122 for covering the inside screw thread 108 of the pipe end 107. This covering of the screw thread takes place in the shown mounted condition, i.e. when the sleeve wall 121 is coaxially inserted into the pipe end 107. The covering sleeve 102 is provided on the covering side 122 of the sleeve wall 122 with elastic material 104. At least part of the sleeve wall 121 is flexible while the sleeve wall 121 is interrupted by slits 123 (see The said adjustability of the diameter of the sleeve wall 121 enables the said interchangeability between the locked condition and the unlocked condition in that the elastic material 104 in the locked condition is being pressed by the sleeve wall 121 into the screw thread 108 (see The actuating element 103 is slidable, relative to the covering sleeve 102, in the axial direction 105 of the covering sleeve for realizing changes in the deformation state of the sleeve wall 121 in order to realise the said interchangeability between the locked condition and the unlocked condition. In the shown example, the actuating element 103 comprises an actuating body 131 which is rotationally symmetrically situated relative to the central axis 105 and which is coaxially surrounded by the sleeve wall 121 of the covering sleeve 102. The covering sleeve 102 has, at an edge of its sleeve wall 121 being inserted furthest into the pipe end 107, an annular shaped flange 124 which is extending from that edge in a direction towards the central axis 105. This annular flange 124 surrounds a passage 125 through the covering sleeve 102, through which passage 125 the actuating body 131 of the actuating element 103 is extending. The outer peripheral side 132 of the actuating body 131 of the actuating element 103 has an inclined shape relative to the central axis 105. The manual operation of the actuating element 103 can be performed by means of a handgrip 109 of the actuating element 103. When a user moves, starting off from the unlocked condition shown in For realizing the manual moveability of handgrip 109 relative to the covering sleeve 102, an annularly shaped flange 135 of the actuating body 131 has a number of recesses 152 at its outer periphery (see In the shown example of In each of the embodiments of In each of the embodiments of In each of the embodiments of The protection devices described above can be made of various materials. The covering sleeve and/or the actuating element can for instance he manufactured from a metal or from a plastic, for example by means of injection moulding. It is possible to manufacture both the covering sleeve and the actuating element from the same material. However, it is also possible to manufacture these two parts from mutually different materials, for example the covering sleeve from a plastic and the actuating element from a metal or a metal alloy, or vice versa. In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, it is possible to apply various types of inclination, including tapered ones and curved ones, of the side 32 of the sleeve wall 31 of the actuating element 3 and of the side 132 of the actuating body 131 of the actuating element 103. Also, these inclinations may have, as compared to the examples shown in the figures, opposite angles relative to the central axes 5 and 105, in which cases the locking and unlocking directions 40, 41, 140, 141 are reversed relative to the locking directions 40, 140 and unlocking directions 41, 141 shown in the examples. Furthermore, it is possible to apply such inclinations with the same purpose in the sleeve walls of the covering sleeves, instead of or in addition to such inclinations in the actuating elements. However, other modifications, variations and alternatives are also possible. The specifications and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense. |