Apparatus and method for transporting and deploying downhole completion components

Abstract

An apparatus ( 50 ) for transporting and deploying completion components ( 140 ) for use in extended horizontal completions includes a container ( 52 ) having first and second openings ( 54, 56 ) that are substantially orthogonally disposed relative to one another. A support member ( 90 ) is securably coupled within the container ( 52 ) proximate the second opening ( 56 ). The support member ( 90 ) has a plurality of slots ( 92 ) that receive the completion components ( 140 ) in a predetermined order through the first opening ( 54 ) when the container is in a substantially horizontal position and that at least partially supports the completion components ( 140 ) when the container is in a non horizontal position such that the completion components ( 140 ) are removable through the first and second openings ( 54, 56 ) for sequential installation downhole.

1 . An apparatus for transporting and deploying completion components, the apparatus comprising: 
 a substructure having first and second ends and including a rear wall, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls operably associated with the rear wall and a bottom wall operably associated with the rear wall and the side walls proximate the second end of the substructure;    a front panel positionable opposite the rear wall, the front panel having open and closed positions relative to the substructure;    a top panel positionable opposite the bottom wall proximate the first end of the substructure, the top panel having open and closed positions relative to the substructure; and    a support member securably positioned within the substructure proximate the first end, the support member having a plurality of slots that receive and support the completion components.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the front panel is pivotally moveable relative to at least one of the side walls to operate the front panel between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the front panel further comprises a pair of doors each of which is pivotally moveable relative to one of the side walls to operate the front panel between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the front panel is removably positionable opposite the rear wall to operate the front panel between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the top panel is removably positionable opposite the bottom wall to operate the top panel between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the top panel is pivotally moveable relative to at least one of the rear wall and the side walls to operate the top panel between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the top panel further comprises a pair of doors each of which is pivotally moveable relative to one of the side walls to operate the top panel between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising braces extending between the support member and the rear wall.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least one brace is positioned between each slot.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising insert members having slots that are positionable within the slots of the support member, the slots of the insert members being narrower than the slots of the support member.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10  wherein the insert members are slidably received within the slots of the support member.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least one set of spacers positionable within the substructure that prevent contact between adjacent completion components.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein completion components are selected from the group consisting of gravel pack screens, packers and tubulars.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for transporting and deploying completion components, the apparatus comprising: 
 a container having first and second openings substantially orthogonally disposed relative to one another; and    a support member securably coupled within the container proximate the second opening, the support member having a plurality of slots that receive the completion components when the container is in a loading position and that at least partially support the completion components when the container is in a deployment position.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein the completion components are loaded into the container through the first opening when the container is in the loading position.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein the completion components are deployed from the container at least partially through the second opening when the container is in the deployment position.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a door pivotally mounted to the container that is operable between open and closed positions to selectively permit and prevent access to the container through the first opening.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a pair of doors pivotally mounted to the container that are operable between open and closed positions to selectively permit and prevent access to the container through the first opening.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a panel removably securable to the container to selectively permit and prevent access to the container through the first opening.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a door pivotally mounted to the container that is operable between open and closed positions to selectively permit and prevent access to the container through the second opening.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a pair of doors pivotally mounted to the container that are operable between open and closed positions to selectively permit and prevent access to the container through the second opening.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a panel removably securable to the container to selectively permit and prevent access to the container through the second opening.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising braces extending between the support member and the container.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 23  wherein at least one brace is positioned between each slot.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising insert members having slots that are positionable within the slots of the support member, the slots of the insert members being narrower than the slots of the support member.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 25  wherein the insert members are slidably received within the slots of the support member.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  further comprising at least one set of spacers positionable within the container that prevent contact between adjacent completion components.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein completion components are selected from the group consisting of gravel pack screens, packers and tubulars.  
   
   
       29 . A method for transporting and deploying completion components for a completion string for completing a well comprising the steps of: 
 loading a plurality of completion components in a container in a predetermined sequence;    transporting the container to a location proximate the well; and    deploying the completion components from the container in substantially the order in which the completion string is assembled and installed downhole.    
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 29  wherein the step of loading a plurality of completion components in a container further comprises loading completion components of at least two types into the container.  
   
   
       31 . The method as recited in  claim 29  wherein the step of loading a plurality of completion components in a container further comprises loading completion components of the same type into the container.  
   
   
       32 . The method as recited in  claim 29  wherein the step of loading a plurality of completion components in a container further comprises selecting completion components from the group consisting of gravel pack screens, packers and tubulars.  
   
   
       33 . The method as recited in  claim 29  wherein the step of loading a plurality of completion components in a container further comprises loading the completion components into slots of a support member securably coupled within the container.  
   
   
       34 . The method as recited in  claim 33  further comprising the step of disposing insert members having slots within the slots of the support member before the step of loading the plurality of completion components in the container, the slots of the insert members being narrower than the slots of the support member.  
   
   
       35 . The method as recited in  claim 29  wherein the step of loading a plurality of completion components in a container further comprises loading the completion components into the container through a first opening.  
   
   
       36 . The method as recited in  claim 35  wherein the step of deploying the completion components from the container further comprises deploying the completion components from the container at least partially through a second opening that is substantially orthogonally disposed relative to the first opening.  
   
   
       37 . The method as recited in  claim 29  further comprising the step of positioning at least one set of spacers within the container that prevent contact between adjacent completion components.  
   
   
       38 . A method for transporting and deploying completion components for a completion string for completing a well comprising the steps of: 
 loading into a container completion components of at least two types;    transporting the container to a location proximate the well; and    selectively deploying the completion components from the container to assemble the completion string in substantially the order in which the completion components are deployed.    
   
   
       39 . The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of loading into a container completion components of at least two types further comprises selecting completion components from the group consisting of gravel pack screens, packers and tubulars.  
   
   
       40 . The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of loading into a container completion components of at least two types further comprises loading the completion components into slots of a support member securably coupled within the container.  
   
   
       41 . The method as recited in  claim 40  further comprising the step of disposing insert members having slots within the slots of the support member before the step of loading the plurality of completion components in the container, the slots of the insert members being narrower than the slots of the support member.  
   
   
       42 . The method as recited in  claim 38  further comprising the step of positioning at least one set of spacers within the container that prevent contact between adjacent completion components.  
   
   
       43 . The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of loading into a container completion components of at least two types further comprises loading the completion components into the container through a first opening.  
   
   
       44 . The method as recited in  claim 43  wherein the step of deploying the completion components from the container further comprises deploying the completion components from the container at least partially through a second opening that is substantially orthogonally disposed relative to the first opening.