IP Library Granted Patent US 8,485,269
Granted Patent B2
US 8,485,269 · App. 13/460,263 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Control line running system

Inventors: Doyle Frederic Boutwell, Jr. (Houston, TX); Karsten Heidecke (Houston, TX); Kevin Wood (Langenhagen, DE); Bernd-Georg Pietras (Wedemark, DE)
Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,485,269
App. No.
13/460,263
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control line running system includes a control line storage unit and a guiding system having a guiding device and a guide rail for guiding a control line from the control line storage unit toward a well center. The system may also include a control line manipulator assembly for moving the control line toward a tubular and a control line clamp for attaching the control line to the tubular.

Claims (48)

1. A method of securing a control line to a tubular, comprising:

providing a gripping device having a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion;

retrieving a clamp from a storage device by gripping a first clamp portion of the clamp using the first gripping portion and gripping a second clamp portion of the clamp using the second gripping portion;

moving the gripping device and the clamp toward the tubular; and

closing the first and second clamp portions around the control line and the tubular by moving the first gripping portion toward the second gripping portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising opening the clamp by moving the first gripping portion away from the second gripping portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gripping device further comprises an arm support for coupling the first gripping portion to the second gripping portion.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising moving the first gripping portion away from the second gripping portion along the arm support.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gripping device further comprises a first arm for coupling the first gripping portion to the arm support and a second arm for coupling the second gripping portion to the arm support.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising removing the clamp from a storage device by rotating the first and second arms.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising maintaining the first and second clamp portions in alignment with the tubular while rotating the first and second arms.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein gripping the clamp comprising pressing the gripping device against the clamp.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein pressing the gripping device against the clamp expands a plurality of expandable fingers on the first and second gripping portions, thereby gripping the first and second clamp portions.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the gripping device to a clamp manipulator for moving the gripping device between a clamp storage device and the tubular.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising rotating the clamp manipulator to move the gripping device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is automated.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising fastening the first and second clamp portions around the tubular and the control line using a powered tool on the gripping device.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising fastening the first and second clamp portions using a powered tool on the gripping device.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the control line adjacent the tubular to be secured by the clamp.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the clamp from the storage device by rotating the gripping device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising maintaining the first and second clamp portions in alignment with the tubular while rotating the gripping device.

18. A method of securing a control line to a tubular, comprising:

providing a gripping device to grip a clamp;

moving the gripping device and the clamp toward the tubular;

operating the gripping device to open the clamp; and

operating the gripping device to close the clamp around the control line and the tubular.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein operating the gripping device to close the clamp comprises using the gripping device to move a first portion of the clamp toward a second portion of the clamp.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein opening the clamp comprises moving a first portion of the clamp away from a second portion of the clamp.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein opening the clamp comprises separating a first portion of the clamp from a second portion of the clamp.

22. A method of securing a control line to a tubular, comprising:

providing a gripping device having a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion;

opening the clamp by moving the first gripping portion away from the second gripping portion;

gripping a first clamp portion of a clamp using the first gripping portion and gripping a second clamp portion of the clamp using the second gripping portion;

moving the gripping device and the clamp toward the tubular; and

closing the first and second clamp portions around the control line and the tubular by moving the first gripping portion toward the second gripping portion.

23. A method of securing a control line to a tubular, comprising:

providing a gripping device having a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion;

coupling the gripping device to a clamp manipulator for moving the gripping device between a clamp storage device and the tubular;

gripping a first clamp portion of a clamp using the first gripping portion and gripping a second clamp portion of the clamp using the second gripping portion;

moving the gripping device and the clamp toward the tubular; and

closing the first and second clamp portions around the control line and the tubular by moving the first gripping portion toward the second gripping portion.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising rotating the clamp manipulator to move the gripping device.

25. A method of securing a control line to a tubular, comprising:

providing a gripping device having a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion;

gripping a first clamp portion of a clamp using the first gripping portion and gripping a second clamp portion of the clamp using the second gripping portion;

moving the gripping device and the clamp toward the tubular;

closing the first and second clamp portions around the control line and the tubular by moving the first gripping portion toward the second gripping portion; and

fastening the first and second clamp portions using a powered tool on the gripping device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034526/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2012
From: BOUTWELL, DOYLE FREDERIC, JR.; HEIDECKE, KARSTEN; WOOD, KEVIN; PIETRAS, BERND-GEORG
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 028130/0879 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13169356 · Jun 27, 2011
Division 12139433 · Jun 13, 2008
Provisional Application 60944465 · Jun 15, 2007
Related Publication 20120211217A1 · Aug 23, 2012