Control line protection

Abstract

A control line protector for use with a tubing string, e.g. production tubing having at least one control line on an outer surface thereof is disclosed. The control line protector comprises a sleeve having a cylindrical rigid outer wall, the sleeve being locatable around the tubing string and the at least one control line, and a polymeric scaling element disposed, in use, between an inner surface of the outer wall of the sleeve and the tubing string, operable to substantially seal the space between the outer wall of the sleeve and the tubing string.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A control line protector for sealing between a blowout preventer and a tubing string having at least one control line extending in a longitudinal direction along at least part of an outer surface thereof, the control line protector comprising: a sleeve that is locatable around the tubing string and the at least one control line, the sleeve comprising (a) a cylindrical rigid outer wall; and (b) a polymeric sealing element disposed, in use, between an inner surface of the outer wall of the sleeve and the outer surface of the tubing string, operable to substantially seal the space between the outer wall of the sleeve and the tubing string, wherein the polymeric sealing element is annular in shape. 
     
     
         25 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the rigid outer wall is made from metal. 
     
     
         26 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the sleeve is made from steel. 
     
     
         27 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein a major portion of the cylindrical sleeve is of substantially uniform outer diameter. 
     
     
         28 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the sleeve is formed from a plurality of parts. 
     
     
         29 . A control line protector according to  claim 28 , wherein two or more of the parts are part-cylindrical and are hingedly connected to one another. 
     
     
         30 . A control line protector according to  claim 28 , wherein the parts are joined together by a plurality of fixing means spaced at intervals along the joint between the parts. 
     
     
         31 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the sleeve is formed from two substantially hemi-cylindrical parts. 
     
     
         32 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the sleeve is from 20 feet to 100 feet (6 m to 30 m) in length. 
     
     
         33 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the polymeric sealing element comprises an elastomer or a resin. 
     
     
         34 . A control line protector according to  claim 33  wherein the resin is injected between the outer wall of the sleeve and the tubing string and sets in situ to augment or provide the polymeric sealing element. 
     
     
         35 ). A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the inner wall of the polymeric sealing element is provided with a channel or groove in which the at least one control line may be tightly accommodated in use. 
     
     
         36 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the polymeric sealing element comprises an annular polymeric body bonded to an inner surface of the outer wall of the sleeve. 
     
     
         37 . A control line protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the polymeric sealing element comprises a plurality of discrete bodies. 
     
     
         38 . A string of tubing having at least one control line on an outer surface thereof, the tubing having fitted thereto at least one control line protector according to  claim 24 . 
     
     
         39 . A string of tubing according to  claim 38 , wherein the control line protector is concentric or eccentric with the tubing. 
     
     
         40 . A string of tubing according to  claim 38  having at least one flatpack attached thereto that extends in a longitudinal direction along at least part of the outer surface of the string of tubing. 
     
     
         41 . A string of tubing according to  claim 38 , wherein the string of tubing extends from a tubing hanger and the control line protector is positioned on the string of tubing, such that, in use, the at least one control line protector is located in a well adjacent an annular blow-out preventer. 
     
     
         42 . A string of tubing according to  claim 38 , which is fitted with two control line protectors. 
     
     
         43 . A method of opening a formation isolation valve located in a well using an opening means provided at the end of a tubing string and of sealing the annular space between the wall of the well and the tubing string using an annular blow-out preventer that is located within the well wherein:
 (a) the tubing string extends from a hanger; and   (b) a control line protector is located around a portion of the tubing string having at least one control line extending in a longitudinal direction along the outer surface thereof;   the method comprising:   (A) running the tubing string into the well so as to open the formation isolation valve; and   (B) immediately thereafter actuating the annular blow-out preventer;   wherein the control line protector comprises a sleeve having a cylindrical rigid outer wall and a polymeric sealing element disposed, in use, between an inner surface of the outer wall of the sleeve and the outer surface of the tubing string, the sealing element being annular in shape and operable to substantially seal the space between the outer wall of the sleeve and the tubing string and wherein the control line protector is arranged on the tubing string at a location below the hanger such that when the tubing string opens the formation isolation valve, the control line protector is located in the well adjacent the annular blow-out preventer and the actuated annular blow-out preventer bears against the cylindrical rigid outer wall of the sleeve.   
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43  comprising the subsequent step of stabilising the well and thereafter deactuating the annular blow-out preventer, thereby allowing the string of tubing to be run further into the well such that the hanger is landed in a landing bowl that is located within the well. 
     
     
         45 . A method of pulling a string of tubing from a well containing a hanger landing bowl at a first depth, an annular blow-out preventer at a second depth and a formation isolation valve at a third depth, the first depth being less than the second depth and the second depth being less than the third depth, the string of tubing extending downwardly from a hanger landed in the hanger landing bowl and extending through the formation isolation valve, thereby maintaining the formation isolation valve in an open position, wherein a control line extends in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion of the string of tubing and wherein a control line protector is fitted to the string of tubing, the method comprising:
 withdrawing the string of tubing from the well by an amount sufficient to lift the hanger from the hanger landing bowl whilst maintaining the formation isolation valve in the open position;   and immediately thereafter actuating the annular blow-out preventer;   wherein the control line protector comprises a sleeve having a cylindrical rigid outer wall and a polymeric sealing element disclosed, in use, between an inner surface of the outer wall of the sleeve and an outer surface of the string of tubing, the sealing element being annular in shape and operable to substantially seal the space between the outer wall of the sleeve and the string and wherein the control line protector is fitted to the string below the hanger such that when the hanger is lifted from the landing bowl and the formation isolation valve is in the open position, the control line protector is located in the well adjacent the annular blow-out preventer and the actuated annular blow-out preventer bears against the cylindrical rigid outer wail of the sleeve.   
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 45  comprising the subsequent step of stabilising the well and thereafter deactuating the annular blow-out preventer, thereby allowing the string to be pulled further from the well such that the formation isolation valve can close.