Telescopic anti-buckling guide system

Abstract

A technique improves the ability to inject coiled tubing at a variety of wells. A telescopic, anti-buckling guide is designed to support the coiled tubing to prevent buckling under operating loads. The telescopic, anti-buckling guide also facilitates connection to a variety of well control stacks of different heights without requiring vertical movement of the coiled tubing injector and without the need for pressure containment members in the guide.

1 . A device to prevent buckling of coiled tubing between a coiled tubing injector head and a well control stack, comprising:
 a telescopic, anti-buckling guide having:
 an upper guide comprising a connector configured for engagement with the coiled tubing injector head, the upper guide also having a hollow interior sized for movement of coiled tubing therethrough; and 
 a lower guide telescopically engaged with the upper guide and comprising a mount configured for attachment to a stripper assembly, the lower guide also having a hollow interior through which the coiled tubing moves while being supported against buckling. 
   
   
   
       2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connector on the upper guide comprises a flange. 
   
   
       3 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mount on the lower guide comprises a mounting flange. 
   
   
       4 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the upper guide comprises an upper body portion and the lower guide comprises a lower body portion slidably engaged with the upper body portion, the upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperating to prevent buckling of coiled tubing passing therethrough. 
   
   
       5 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the upper body portion is slidably received within the lower body portion. 
   
   
       6 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower guide comprises an expanded housing having a window to provide access to the stripper assembly when connected. 
   
   
       7 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the stripper assembly coupled to the telescopic, anti-buckling guide. 
   
   
       8 . A method, comprising:
 coupling a coiled tubing injector and a well control stack with a telescopic, anti-buckling guide; and   running coiled tubing through the telescopic, anti-buckling guide such that the coiled tubing is supported against buckling.   
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising removing the coiled tubing injector from the well without lifting the coiled tubing injector vertically. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising forming a pressure seal below the telescopic, anti-buckling guide. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising forming the telescopic, anti-buckling guide with a hollow lower guide slidably engaged with a hollow upper guide. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising providing a window through a side wall of the telescopic, anti-buckling guide to provide access to a portion of the stripper assembly. 
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising:
 mounting a telescopic guide above all pressure containment equipment of a well control stack; and   connecting a coiled tubing injector to the telescopic guide at an end of the telescopic guide generally opposite the well control stack.   
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising injecting coiled tubing through the telescopic guide and into a well. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising sizing the telescopic guide to support the coiled tubing against buckling under operating loads. 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising moving the telescopic guide between well control stacks of different heights without moving the coiled tubing injector vertically. 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein mounting comprises coupling the telescopic guide to a stripper assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising removing the coiled tubing injector from the well by: disconnecting the stripper assembly from the well control stack; and lifting the stripper assembly to compress the telescopic guide without moving the coiled tubing injector vertically. 
   
   
       19 . A system, comprising:
 a well control stack positioned above the well and having a pressure containment member;   a stripper assembly coupled to the well control stack;   a telescopic guide coupled to the stripper assembly on an end generally opposite the well control stack, the telescopic guide being without pressure containment capability; and   a coiled tubing injector positioned to inject coiled tubing through the telescopic guide and into the well.   
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the telescopic guide is formed with interlocking, sliding, cylindrical tubes. 
   
   
       21 . The system as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the interior diameters of the interlocking, sliding, cylindrical tubes are selected to support the coiled tubing and to prevent it from buckling under load. 
   
   
       22 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the telescopic guide comprises an upper guide with a flange. 
   
   
       23 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the telescopic guide comprises a lower guide configured to slidably receive the upper guide, the lower guide comprising a mounting flange positioned to engage the stripper assembly. 
   
   
       24 . The system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the lower guide comprises an expanded housing having a window to provide access to the stripper assembly when connected. 
   
   
       25 . The system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the lower guide is tubular and sized to slidably receive the upper guide therein, the upper guide having a hollow interior sized to receive the coiled tubing therethrough.