IP Library Granted Patent US 12,270,270
Granted Patent B2
US 12,270,270 · App. 17/502,255 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

System and method for cleaning and inspecting a wellhead

Inventors: Gary Firth (Houston, TX); Brian Sneed (Houston, TX); Jesus Terrones (Houston, TX)
Assignee: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
E21B33/068E21B37/04E21B47/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,270,270
App. No.
17/502,255
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tool includes a body, a cleaning system including nozzles coupled to the body and configured to spray a fluid onto an interior of a wellsite component, and an inspection system coupled to the body. The inspection system is configured to capture images, video, or both of the wellsite component that are to be used to determine whether the wellsite component is clean after being sprayed with the fluid.

Claims (43)

1. A tool, comprising:

a body defining a bore axially therein;

a cleaning system comprising nozzles coupled to the body and configured to spray a fluid onto an interior of a wellsite component; and

an inspection system coupled to the body, wherein the inspection system is configured to capture images, video, or both of the wellsite component that are to be used to determine whether the wellsite component is clean after being sprayed with the fluid, wherein the inspection system comprises a piston that separates the bore into a lower piston chamber and an upper piston chamber, and wherein body is configured to deliver the fluid into the nozzles and into the lower piston chamber but not the upper piston chamber, so as to generate a pressure differential across the piston.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the wellsite component comprises a wellhead having one or more engagement surfaces, wherein the cleaning system is configured to clean the one or more engagement surfaces, and wherein the inspection system is configured to capture the images, video, or both of the one or more engagement surfaces without removing the cleaning system from the wellhead.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the inspection system comprises:

a first camera oriented in a radial direction relative to the body and configured to capture a first portion of the images, video, or both; and

a second camera oriented in an axial direction relative to the body and configured to capture a second portion of the images, video, or both.

4. The tool of claim 3 , wherein the inspection system further comprises one or more markings that are positioned radially outward from the first camera, and wherein the one or more markings are configured to be used to determine a distance between the first camera and the wellsite component.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the inspection system comprises a transparent tube and a camera positioned in the transparent tube, and wherein a line of sight of the camera extends through the transparent tube to the wellsite component.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the inspection system comprises:

a camera housing that is movably positioned at least partially in the bore; and

a transparent portion coupled to the camera housing and movable therewith, wherein the inspection system has an extended configuration in which at least part of the transparent portion extends out of the bore and the camera is positioned to capture the images, video, or both through the transparent portion, and a retracted configuration in which the transparent portion is positioned at least partially within the bore.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein, in the retracted configuration, the transparent portion is entirely within the bore.

8. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the camera housing comprises the piston, and wherein piston is configured to move with respect to the body so as to actuate the inspection system from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration in response to the pressure differential between the upper and lower piston chambers.

9. The tool of claim 6 , further comprising a biasing member positioned in the upper piston chamber and configured to actuate the inspection system to the extended configuration.

10. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a valve assembly coupled to the body, wherein the body comprises:

a wash line extending axially in the body, wherein the valve assembly controls a fluid flow through the wash line; and

a radial port in communication with the lower piston chamber and the wash line, wherein the valve assembly in a closed position directs fluid flow from the wash line through the radial port and into the lower piston chamber, and wherein the valve assembly in an open position directs fluid flow to the nozzles.

11. The tool of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first hydraulic line in communication with the upper piston chamber; and

a second hydraulic line in communication with the lower piston chamber, wherein a difference in pressure between fluid in the first hydraulic line and fluid in the second hydraulic line generates the pressure differential across the piston.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein a second pressure differential between the first hydraulic line and the second hydraulic line actuates the inspection system from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration.

13. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the second hydraulic line penetrates the body and communicates with an axial conduit defined in the body, and wherein a radial conduit intersects the axial conduit and communicates with the lower piston chamber.

14. The tool of claim 11 , further comprising:

an interior collar positioned in the bore and at least partially defining the upper piston chamber; and

a data line in communication with the camera and extending axially through a port formed in the interior collar.

15. A method comprising:

positioning a wellhead tool in a wellhead, wherein the wellhead tool comprises:

a body defining a bore;

a cleaning system comprising nozzles coupled to the body and configured to spray a fluid onto an interior of a wellsite component; and

an inspection system coupled to the body, wherein the inspection system is configured to capture images, video, or both of the wellsite component that are to be used to determine whether the wellsite component is clean after being sprayed with the fluid, wherein the inspection system comprises a piston that separates the bore into a lower piston chamber and an upper piston chamber, and wherein body is configured to deliver the fluid into the nozzles and into the lower piston chamber but not the upper piston chamber, so as to generate a pressure differential across the piston;

cleaning the wellhead using the cleaning system of the wellhead tool;

inspecting an interior of the wellhead using the inspection system without removing the wellhead tool from within the wellhead between cleaning and inspecting;

determining that the wellhead is clean based on the captured images, video, or both; and

removing the wellhead tool from the wellhead in response to determining that the wellhead is clean.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising actuating inspection system from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration after cleaning and before inspecting, wherein the inspection system comprises a camera and a transparent tube, the camera and the transparent tube being received within the body in the retracted configuration and the camera and the transparent tube extending out of the body in the extended configuration.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein cleaning comprising pumping the fluid through the body, and wherein pumping the fluid through the body causes the inspection system to actuate from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein actuating the inspection system from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration comprises pumping a hydraulic fluid through a first hydraulic line into the body, on a first axial side of the piston, the method further comprising actuating the inspection system from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration by pumping a hydraulic fluid through a second line into the body.

19. A tool, comprising:

a body having a bore;

a cleaning system comprising nozzles coupled to the body and configured to spray a fluid onto an interior of a wellsite component; and

an inspection system with a camera that is movable at least partially in the bore, wherein the inspection system includes a piston that separates the bore into an upper piston chamber and a lower piston chamber, wherein the piston is configured to move with respect to the body so as to actuate the camera from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration in response to a pressure differential between the upper and lower piston chambers, and wherein body is configured to deliver the fluid into the nozzles and into the lower piston chamber but not the upper piston chamber, so as to generate the pressure differential.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, LLC; INNOVEX INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TERCEL OILFIELD PRODUCTS USA L.L.C.; DOWNHOLE WELL SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 070692/0509 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2024
From: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, LLC; INNOVEX INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TERCEL OILFIELD PRODUCTS USA L.L.C.; TOP-CO INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069746/0780 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 11, 2024
From: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069173/0199 →
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRADEMARK AND PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.; TERCEL OILFIELD PRODUCTS USA L.L.C.; TOP-CO INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060438/0932 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2021
From: FIRTH, GARY; SNEED, BRIAN; TERRONES, JESUS
To: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057803/0713 →