Boom mounted coiled tubing guide and method for running coiled tubing

Abstract

A coiled tubing support guide for maintaining an arch in a length of coiled tubing as it is unwound from a storage reel and feed into a coiled tubing injector connected with a wellhead is mounted to an elongated support structure rather than to the coiled tubing injector. The elongated support structure bears a load created by tension placed on the coiled tubing by the reel, thereby avoiding putting a bending moment on the wellhead. In alternate embodiment, a coiled tubing injector being held by a hoist line from the elongated support structure is coupled to the elongated support structure with a bending-resistant coupling that permits relative rotation of the coiled tubing injector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for coupling a coiled tubing injector from a boom or mast for positioning the coiled tubing injector above a wellhead, comprising
 a first structure, adapted for connecting to a coiled tubing injector unit, comprising a first coupling member having an opening with a cylindrically shaped inside surface;   a second structure adapted for connecting to an end of the elongate support, the second structure comprising a second coupling member having cylindrically shaped outer diameter for positioning within, and closely fitting against, the cylindrically shaped inside surface of the opening in the first coupling member, the second coupling member having an opening through which a line may pass for connection to the first structure.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second coupling members are elongated and free to move with respect to each other, without decoupling, a predetermined distance along an along an axis that is coincident with a center axis of both the cylindrically shaped inner surface of the opening in the first coupling member and the cylindrically shaped outer surface of the second coupling member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the second structure is adapted for connecting to a sheave axle on the boom or mast. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for coupling a coiled tubing injector from an elongated support member for positioning the coiled tubing injector above a wellhead, comprising
 a first structure, adapted for connecting to a coiled tubing injector unit, comprising a first coupling member having a ring shape and an opening through which a hoist line may pass;   a second structure adapted for connecting to an end of the elongate support, the second structure comprising a second coupling member having a ring shape and an opening through which the hoist line may pass for connection to the first structure;   wherein the first and second coupling members each comprise a complementary mating surface for cooperating to allow relative rotation of the first and second coupling members around a central axis and to resist a bending at the coupling along the central axis.   
     
     
         5 . A coiled tubing injector assembly for suspending above a wellhead from a boom or mast comprising:
 a coiled tubing injector mounted within a frame;   a coiled tubing guide connected with the frame;   a bending-resistant coupling structure connecting the frame with the telescoping boom or mast, the bending-resistant coupling structure adapted for allowing relative rotation of the coiled tubing injector with respect to the boom or mast during rigging of the coiled tubing injector to the well head.   
     
     
         6 . The coiled tubing injector assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bending-resistant coupling structure is adapted for permitting permits translation movement along an axis about which the coupling permits relative rotation of the coiled tubing injector with respect to the boom or mast during rigging. 
     
     
         7 . The coiled tubing injector assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bending-resistant coupling structure comprises:
 a first structure, adapted for connecting to a coiled tubing injector unit, comprising a first coupling member having an opening with a cylindrically shaped inside surface;   a second structure adapted for connecting to an end of the elongate support, the second structure comprising a second coupling member having cylindrically shaped outer diameter for positioning within, and closely fitting against, the cylindrically shaped inside surface of the opening in the first coupling member, the second coupling member having an opening through which a line may pass for connection to the first structure.   
     
     
         8 . The coiled tubing injector assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second coupling members are elongated and free to move with respect to each other, without decoupling, along an axis that is coincident with a center axis of both the cylindrically shaped inner surface of the opening in the first coupling member and the cylindrically shaped outer surface of the second coupling member. 
     
     
         9 . The coiled tubing injector assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bending-resistant coupling comprises:
 a first structure, adapted for connecting to a coiled tubing injector unit, comprising a first coupling member having a ring shape and an opening through which a hoist line may pass;   a second structure adapted for connecting to an end of the elongate support, the second structure comprising a second coupling member having a ring shape and an opening through which the hoist line may pass for connection to the first structure;   wherein the first and second coupling members each comprise a complementary mating surface for cooperating to allow relative rotation of the first and second coupling members around a central axis and to resist a bending at the coupling along the central axis.   
     
     
         10 . The coiled tubing injector assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bending-resistant coupling is adapted for connecting to a sheave axle on the boom or mast. 
     
     
         11 . A method for injecting and withdrawing coiled tubing into and from a well bore, comprising:
 connecting a top half of a bending-resistant coupling to an elongated support member for positioning a coiled tubing injector over a wellhead;   connecting a bottom half of a bending-resistant coupling;   positioning a reel of coiled tubing and a coiled tubing injector unit near a wellhead; and   connecting a hoist line from the mast or boom to a lift point for lifting the bottom coupling and coiled tubing injector;   lifting with hoist line the coiled tubing injector up until the bottom coupling engages or couples with the top coupling; and   maneuvering the coiled tubing injector unit to a position over the wellhead.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bending-resistant coupling comprises:
 a first structure, adapted for connecting to a coiled tubing injector unit, comprising a first coupling member having an opening with a cylindrically shaped inside surface;   a second structure adapted for connecting to an end of the elongate support, the second structure comprising a second coupling member having cylindrically shaped outer diameter for positioning within, and closely fitting against, the cylindrically shaped inside surface of the opening in the first coupling member, the second coupling member having an opening through which a line may pass for connection to the first structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bending-resistant coupling comprises:
 a first structure, adapted for connecting to a coiled tubing injector unit, comprising a first coupling member having a ring shape and an opening through which a hoist line may pass;   a second structure adapted for connecting to an end of the elongate support, the second structure comprising a second coupling member having a ring shape and an opening through which the hoist line may pass for connection to the first structure;   wherein the first and second coupling members each comprise a complementary mating surface for cooperating to allow relative rotation of the first and second coupling members around a central axis and to resist a bending at the coupling along the central axis.   
     
     
         14 . A method for injecting and withdrawing coiled tubing into and from a well bore, comprising:
 positioning a reel of coiled tubing and a coiled tubing injector unit near a wellhead; and   placing a base, about which an elongated support structure, can pivot near the wellhead and the coiled tubing in injector;   picking up the coiled tubing injector unit with a free end of the elongated support structure, and maneuvering the coiled tubing injector unit to a position over the wellhead for connection to the wellhead;   wherein an angle formed between a line extending from the base of the elongated support structure and the wellhead, and a line between wellhead and the coiled tubing reel, is not greater than seventy degrees.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising coupling the coiled tubing injector to the free end of the elongated support structure with a bending-resistant coupling. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein coiled tubing extends between the reel and the coiled tubing injector unit, over a support guide affixed to the coiled tubing unit, during maneuvering of the injector unit, and wherein the bending-resistant coupling between the coiled tubing injector unit and the elongated support structure permits for relative rotation of the coiled tubing unit with respect to the elongated support structure, thereby allowing for the support guide to remain positioned between the reel and coiled tubing injector during maneuvering. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for supporting coiled tubing being injected into and withdrawn from a well bore, comprising a coiled tubing guide structure adapted for mounting to a head of an elongated support structure opposite the first end, for supporting coiled tubing extending between a storage reel and a coiled tubing injector when positioned over a well head, whereby a load on the coiled tubing guide induced by tension on the coiled tubing is transferred to the elongated support structure and not the wellhead via the coiled tubing injector. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the coiled tubing is injected into the well bore by a coiled tubing injector supported by the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated support structure is comprised of a boom of a crane. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated support structure is comprised of a telescoping mast. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the coiled tubing guide structure is aligned in the same vertical plane as a central axis of the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the coiled tubing guide structure is offset to one side of the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the tubing guide is comprised of a rotatable wheel. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the rotatable wheel is disposed in-line with the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the rotatable wheel is offset to one side from the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus comprising:
 a coiled tubing injector connected with a wellhead of a well;   a reel from which coiled tubing is unwound and threaded into the coiled tubing injector, over a tubing guide support structure; and   an elongated support structure for positioning the tubing guide support structure over the coiled tubing injector without affixing the coiled tubing support guide to the coiled tubing injector.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the tubing guide is supported independently of a wellhead associated with the well bore. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the coiled tubing support guide is coupled to the elongated support structure through a coupling for permitting the orientation of the coiled tubing support guide to be adjusted relative to the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         29 . A method for injecting and withdrawing coiled tubing into and from a wellhead, comprising:
 positioning a storage reel holding coiled tubing near a wellhead;   positioning a base connected to first end of an elongated support structure nearing the wellhead and positioning a second, free end, having mounted to it a coiled tubing support guide, above the wellhead;   extending the coiled tubing from the storage reel and supporting the coiled tubing using the tubing guide, the coiled tubing support guide forming an arch in the coiled tubing; and   connecting to a wellhead a coiled tubing injector, the coiled tubing from the storage reel extending over the coiled tubing support guide and into the coiled tubing injector, the elongated support structure holding the coiled tubing support guide above the coiled tubing injector without it being connected with the coiled tubing injector.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the coiled tubing injector is hanging from a line extending from the elongated support structure. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the base is positioned between the storage reel and the wellhead. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the base is positioned on an opposite side of the wellhead from the storage reel. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the base is positioned adjacent to one side of the storage reel. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising operating the coiled tubing injector to run the coiled tubing in and out of the wellhead, into a well bore, and operating the storage reel to maintain at least a predetermined tension on the coiled tubing extending between the storage reel and the coiled tubing injector.