Electric Subsea Coiled Tubing Injector Apparatus

Abstract

A subsea coiled tubing injector apparatus is disclosed. The subsea coiled tubing injector apparatus includes a linear actuator and a pair of carriages coupled via the linear actuator. The linear actuator is electrically powered and is configured to apply lateral force to the carriages. The carriages are configured to move substantially laterally with respect to one another. Each carriage includes a tubing engagement assembly configured to engage tubing interposed between the carriages.

1 . A subsea coiled tubing injector apparatus comprising:
 a linear actuator; and   a pair of carriages coupled via the linear actuator;   wherein the linear actuator is electrically powered and is configured to apply lateral force to the carriages;   wherein the carriages are configured to move substantially laterally with respect to one another; and   wherein each carriage comprises a tubing engagement assembly configured to engage tubing interposed between the carriages.   
     
     
         2 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrically powered motor operatively coupled to, and configured to drive, the tubing engagement assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a frame, wherein the carriages are coupled to the frame, and wherein the carriages are configured to move substantially laterally with respect to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the carriages are pivotably coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a pressure compensator coupled to the electrically powered motor, where the pressure compensator is configured to change an internal pressure of the electrically powered motor.   
     
     
         6 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure compensator is further configured to at least substantially equalize an internal pressure of the electrically powered motor with respect to an ambient pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pressure compensator configured to change an internal pressure of the linear actuator.   
     
     
         8 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure compensator is further configured to at least substantially equalize an internal pressure of the linear actuator with respect to an ambient pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The electric coiled tubing injector apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an umbilical line coupled to one or more of the linear actuators and the electrically powered motor, where the umbilical line is configured to electrically couple one or more of the linear actuator and the electrically powered motor to a power source at location corresponding to a surface of a body of water.   
     
     
         10 . A electrically powered subsea tubing injector comprising:
 a plurality of carriages, where the carriages are linked by a plurality of actuators adapted to move the carriages, and where the actuators are electrically powered;   a chain drive assembly coupled to each carriage; and   an electrically powered chain drive motor attached to each carriage;   wherein the carriages, actuators, chain drive assembly and chain drive motors are configured to cooperate to engage and move tubing without using hydraulic power.   
     
     
         11 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a sprocket rotatably mounted on each carriage, wherein each sprocket is configured to transfer motive force the chain drive motor attached to the carriage to the chain drive assembly of the carriage.   
     
     
         12 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 10 , wherein the actuators and the chain drive motors are electrically coupled via an umbilical line to a source at location corresponding to a surface of a body of water. 
     
     
         13 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a frame, wherein the carriages are coupled to the frame, and wherein the carriages are configured to move substantially laterally with respect to one another.   
     
     
         14 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 13 , wherein the carriages are pivotably coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pressure compensator coupled to each actuator, where the pressure compensator is configured to change an internal pressure of the actuator.   
     
     
         16 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pressure compensator coupled to each chain drive motors, where the pressure compensator is configured to change an internal pressure of the chain drive motor.   
     
     
         17 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an umbilical line coupled to each actuator and each chain drive motor, where the umbilical line is configured to electrically couple the actuators and the chain drive motors to a power source at a subsea location.   
     
     
         18 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 17 , wherein the umbilical line is further configured to transmit data signals. 
     
     
         19 . The electrically powered subsea tubing injector of  claim 17 , wherein the umbilical line is further configured to transmit control signals. 
     
     
         20 . A method of injecting coiled tubing into subsea wellbore, the method comprising:
 aligning an electrically powered subsea tubing injector with a wellbore, wherein the tubing injector comprises:
 a plurality of carriages, where the carriages are linked by a plurality of actuators adapted to move the carriages, and where the actuators are electrically powered; 
 a chain drive assembly coupled to each carriage; and 
 an electrically powered chain drive motor attached to each carriage; 
 wherein the carriages, actuators, chain drive assembly and chain drive motors are configured to cooperate to engage and move tubing; 
   engaging tubing with the subsea tubing injector; and   inserting the tubing into the wellbore with the subsea tubing injector;   wherein the method is performed without using hydraulic power.