US2011289994A1PendingUtilityA1

System and method for straightening tubing

29
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 27, 2010Filed: May 27, 2010Published: Dec 1, 2011
Est. expiryMay 27, 2030(~3.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David P. SmithDoug Pipchuk
E21B 17/003E21B 19/22E21B 19/00E21B 17/1035E21B 17/206B21F 1/02
29
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A technique enables extending the useful life of tubing deployed in a wellbore. The technique involves routing a damaged or distorted tubing through a straightening device. The tubing straightening device bends and counter bends the tubing along predetermined axes as it passes through the tubing straightening device. The bending and counter bending are selected so the tubing exits the straightening device with a predetermined form.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A system for facilitating reuse of a communication line carrier, comprising:
 a chassis having a carrier tubing inlet and a carrier tubing outlet through which a carrier tubing passes;   a first wheel set having at least one adjustable wheel which is selectively positioned to bend the carrier tubing in a first Y-axis direction after the carrier tubing enters through the carrier tubing inlet;   a second wheel set having at least one adjustable wheel which is selectively positioned to bend the carrier tubing in a first X-axis direction;   a third wheel set having at least one adjustable wheel which is selectively positioned to bend the carrier tubing in a second Y-axis direction generally opposite the first Y-axis direction; and   a fourth wheel set having at least one adjustable wheel which is selectively positioned to bend the carrier tubing in a second X-axis direction generally opposite the first X-axis direction, wherein the degree of bending is selected such that the carrier tubing exiting the carrier tubing outlet is substantially straight.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier tubing inlet is sized to receive a fiber carrier tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bending force exerted on the carrier tubing by the first wheel set is greater than the bending force exerted by the third wheel set. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the bending force exerted on the carrier tubing by the second wheel set is greater than the bending force exerted by the fourth wheel set. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth wheel sets comprises three wheels in which two of the three wheels are stationary and one of the three wheels is adjustable. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one adjustable wheels is manually adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one adjustable wheels is automatically adjustable via a control system. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one adjustable wheels comprises a circumferential groove sized to receive the carrier tubing. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a shaping wheel which removes ovality from the carrier tubing. 
     
     
         10 . A method of extending the useful life of a carrier tubing, comprising:
 selecting a carrier tubing having distortions along its length;   routing the carrier tubing through a tubing straightening device; and   bending and counter bending the carrier tubing along a plurality of axes as it passes through the tubing straightening device until the carrier tubing exits the tubing straightening device with the distortions removed.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein bending and counter bending comprises bending and counter bending an optical fiber carrier tubing in both a Y-axis and a substantially perpendicular X-axis. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein bending and counter bending comprises routing the carrier tubing through a plurality of wheel sets, each wheel set having cooperating wheels positioned to apply a bending force to the carrier tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising adjusting at least one wheel of each wheel set to apply the desired bending force. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein adjusting comprises of adjusting the at least one wheel of each wheel set such that the bending force applied during bending is greater than during counter bending in each of the axes. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein bending and counter bending comprise substantially straightening the carrier tubing. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein bending and counter bending comprise reducing ovality of the carrier tubing. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 bending a tubing in directions along a first axis and along a second axis as the tubing moves through a tubing straightening device;   counter bending the tubing in directions along the first axis and along the second axis as the tubing moves through the tubing straightening device; and   selecting the amount of bending and counter bending to provide the tubing with a predetermined form upon exiting the tubing straightening device.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein bending comprises bending the tubing in directions along a Y-axis and along an X-axis perpendicular to the Y-axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein counter bending comprises counter bending the tubing with less force than applied during bending. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein counter bending comprises counter bending after first bending the tubing along both the Y-axis and the X-axis. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein bending comprises bending a fiber carrier tubing with a diameter equal to or less than 0.25 inch. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein bending comprises bending a fiber carrier tubing having a diameter equal to or less than 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising injecting the tubing into a coiled tubing string and deploying the coiled tubing string in a wellbore. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein selecting comprises providing the tubing with a reduced ovality.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2011289994A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.