Automatic Coiled Tubing Injector Chain Management System

Abstract

The present application pertains to an injector chain control system for a coiled tubing unit. The system may comprise real time data received from sensors monitoring depth, pressure, force and other aspects of the well bore. The amount of hydraulic, electric, or pneumatic pressure allocated to the chain system may control both tension and traction system using the pressure as an indicator or trigger for the electronic feeding of information. A return feedback of the chain system may preset operating limits provided by well profile depths, pressures, temperatures, and/or composition of well contents in fluid, gaseous, and/or solid based. An injector chain system with or without a chain lubrication system may have a chain which is lubricated via an automated or manual system which can be triggered via a predetermined chain footage travel or timed interval, based on factors such a traction and/or tension pressure.

1 . An injector chain control system for a coiled tubing unit; comprised of:
 one or more sensors to monitor one or more of depth, pressure, and force of the well bore and transmit real time data to a processor;   a chain system to control tension and an optional traction system, wherein the amount of a hydraulic, an electric, or a pneumatic pressure allocated to the chain system uses force, pressure, or both;   wherein the chain system is configured to employ operating limits based on one or more of a well profile depth, a pressure, a temperature, and a composition of well content;   an optional chain lubrication system wherein the chain lubrication system is configured to lubricate the chain system based on one or more of a predetermined chain footage travel, a timed interval, a traction pressure, or a tension pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The injector chain control system of  claim 1  wherein a pressure change is triggered based on one or more of the predetermined chain footage travel, the timed interval, the traction pressure, or the tension pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The injector chain control system of  claim 1  wherein the traction pressure, the tension pressure, or both is based on an adjusted injector data. 
     
     
         4 . The injector chain control system of  claim 3  wherein the adjusted injector data is based on one more of real time data from a well, an equipment degradation formula, an equipment degradation percentage, a coiled tubing attrition or a combination thereof 
     
     
         5 . The injector chain control system of  claim 4  wherein the real time data comprises injector data from previous jobs, from current exposure, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The injector chain control system of  claim 1  wherein a loadcell data is provided to the processor in a form comprising hydraulic data, electric data , pneumatic data, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The injector chain control system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured such that a force is maintained from changing a range of values based on immediate changes in traction pressure to sustain a preset curve of change in tension pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The injector chain control system of  claim 1  further wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is configured to measure a chain length as a wear function, a chain length in an overloaded condition, or both, and wherein the system is configured to provide feedback for a logic device to indicate a maximum chain load, a maximum chain wear life, or both based upon an expected change in chain length.