AN EXTENSIBLE TUBING AND A METHOD OF FACILITATING TRANSFER OF FLUID
An extensible tubing and a method are for facilitating transfer of fluid between a fluid supplying device and a fluid receiving device. The extensible tubing is configured for connection to the fluid supplying device and for receiving a fluid therefrom. The extensible tubing has a housing with a first end portion and a second end portion A core is arranged inside the housing and secured thereto. A pipe is arranged between the housing and the core. The pipe is axially movable between a retracted position wherein a seal prevents fluid from passing between the core and the pipe, and an extended position wherein the seal does not prevent fluid from passing between the core and the pipe. A piston and a biasing means are for urging the pipe towards its retracted position.
1 . An extensible tubing for facilitating transfer of fluid between a fluid supplying device and a fluid receiving device, the extensible tubing comprising a first tubing portion for connection to the fluid supplying device and for receiving a fluid therefrom, and a second tubing portion for communicating the fluid to the fluid receiving device, wherein the second tubing portion comprises:
a housing having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a core arranged inside the housing and secured thereto;
a pipe arranged between the housing and the core the pipe being axially movable between a retracted position wherein at least one seal prevents fluid from passing between the core and the pipe and an extended position wherein the seal does not prevent fluid from passing between the core and the pipe;
a piston forming a part of the pipe; and
a biasing means configured for urging the pipe towards its retracted position;
wherein the pipe is movable towards its extended position upon exposure to a fluid pressure force exceeding an opposite force from the biasing means;
wherein the piston is formed by a transition zone from a larger first pipe portion having a first flow area defined between the first pipe portion and the core and a smaller second pipe portion having a second flow area defined between the second pipe portion and the core, the second flow area being smaller than the first flow area; and
wherein the at least one seal is configured for sealing between the smaller second pipe portion and the core when the pipe is closer to its retracted position than to its extended position.
2 . The extensible tubing according to claim 1 , wherein the smaller second pipe portion has a free end and wherein the seal is arranged within the smaller second pipe portion and closer to its free end than to the piston
3 . The extensible tubing according to claim 1 , wherein the seal is arranged on a portion of the core wherein the seal engages the smaller second pipe portion when the extensible tubing ( 1 ) is closer to its fully retracted position than to its fully extended position.
4 . The extensible tubing according to claim 1 , wherein the core has a free end portion pointing away from the first tubing portion, and wherein the piston is positioned on the pipe so as to extend beyond the free end portion of the core when the pipe is in its extended position.
5 . The extensible tubing according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubing portion is a separate tubing portion connected to the second tubing portion.
6 . The extensible tubing according to claim 5 , wherein the first tubing portion is connected to the second tubing portion via a flexible pipe.
7 . The extensible tubing according to claim 6 , wherein the flexible pipe is axially extensible between a retracted position and an extended position.
8 . The extensible tubing according to claim 7 , wherein the flexible pipe comprises a biasing means configured for urging the flexible pipe towards a retracted position upon exposure to an opposite tension force between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion being less than a biasing force of the biasing means.
9 . The extensible tubing according to claim 1 , wherein the extensible tubing comprises a valve for controlling fluid flow through the extensible tubing, the valve being arranged upstream of the piston of the axially movable pipe of the second tubing portion.
10 . The extensible tubing according to claim 9 , wherein the valve is arranged in the first tubing portion.
11 . The extensible tubing according to claim 9 , wherein the valve comprises a piston arrangement slidable with respect to a valve body, wherein the piston arrangement is slidable between a closed first position preventing fluid from passing the valve upon exposure to a fluid pressure being below a predetermined level, and an open second position providing fluid communication between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion upon exposure to a fluid pressure exceeding the predetermined level.
12 . The extensible tubing according to claim 11 , wherein the piston arrangement of the valve has a first piston area when the valve is in the closed first position, and an additional second piston area when the valve is in the open second position.
13 . The extensible tubing according to claim 11 , wherein the valve comprises a biasing means arranged in a chamber defined between a portion of the piston arrangement and the valve housing, and wherein characteristics of the biasing means define said predetermined level of fluid pressure.
14 . The extensible tubing according to claim 12 , wherein the piston arrangement of the valve comprises a hollow piston member provided with at least one aperture in a wall of the hollow piston member and wherein the at least one aperture is provided in a portion of said wall defined between the first piston area and the additional second piston area.
15 . The extensible tubing according to claim 9 , wherein the valve comprises a restrictor arrangement for delaying closing of the valve to allow a fluid pressure to bleed off.
16 . A method of facilitating transfer of fluid between a fluid supplying device and a fluid receiving device and a fluid receiving device, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
providing an extensible tubing according to claim 1 ;
connecting the first tubing portion of the extensible tubing to a fluid supplying device, and aligning the second tubing portion of the extensible tubing with respect to a fluid receiving device; and
supplying a pressurised fluid from the fluid supplying device to the extensible tubing and thus moving the pipe of the second tubing portion from its retracted and sealing position to its extended and open position, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the extensible tubing and into the fluid receiving device.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein supplying the pressurised fluid from the fluid supplying device to the fluid receiving device comprises supplying a balancing liquid via a top drive of a rig structure and into a top portion of a casing string during a casing running operation.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein supplying the pressurised fluid from the fluid supplying device to the fluid receiving device comprises supplying a drilling fluid to a drill string.
19 . The extensible tubing according to claim 2 , wherein the seal is arranged on a portion of the core wherein the seal engages the smaller second pipe portion when the extensible tubing is closer to its fully retracted position than to its fully extended position.
20 . The extensible tubing according to claim 2 , wherein the core has a free end portion pointing away from the first tubing portion, and wherein the piston is positioned on the pipe so as to extend beyond the free end portion of the core when the pipe is in its extended position.