Well Servicing Rig and Manifold Assembly

Abstract

A well servicing rig for communicating with a fluid source and an effluent reservoir (such as a flow back tank) has an apparatus for holding and dispensing coiled tubing. A manifold assembly is advantageously located on the rig for routing the pressurized fluid (such as nitrogen gas mixed with proppant) from the fluid source between the coiled tubing apparatus, the well and the effluent reservoir. The manifold assembly controls the flow of the fluid to perform fracturing operations, for reverse fluid circulation, for a common coiled tubing operation, for pressure testing, and the like. The assembly includes remotely controlled valves and pressure transducers for controlling the fluid flow, and chokes for diffusing fluid energy prior to entering the effluent reservoir. The rig, fluid source, effluent reservoir and a fluid pumper provide a novel method of servicing an underground formation (such as a coal bed) for natural gas.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to well servicing units, and in particular relates to a novel coiled tubing rig having a novel manifold assembly for routing and controlling fluid flow between a fluid source and an underground formation, such as a coal bed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A large assortment of various rigs and vehicles are currently required to service (namely to drill, fracture and the like) both conventional and coal bed methane wells for hydrocarbon production, such as natural gas. A term of art for “natural gas from coal” is “NGC”. Conventional fracturing (“fracing”) and stimulation of NGC formations currently requires about 13 or more vehicles / rigs for such an operation, including at least one trailer to transport numerous components of a conventional piping array to the NGC wellsite. The assembly and subsequent disassembly and transport of so many units to another wellsite upon completion of an operation is time consumin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a servicing rig for a well that can communicate with a fluid source and an effluent reservoir. The rig includes a base, a coiled tubing apparatus, and a manifold assembly for routing fluid between the source, well, and reservoir. The manifold assembly has means for controlling the flow of fluid through it for various operations. The invention also provides a method of servicing an underground formation by providing a fluid storage means, a pumping means, a coiled tubing unit, and an effluent reservoir. Additionally, a crew truck, a high-pressure injection proppant system, and other necessary equipment can be provided for the servicing process."

Problems solved by technology

The assembly and subsequent disassembly and transport of so many units to another wellsite upon completion of an operation is time consuming and highly labour intensive, and hence costly.

One particularly costly and time-consuming component of such set-up for a fracing operation is the erection of the piping array (also often referred to as a “manifold assembly”).

The large work area footprint created by such set-up is undesireable and potentially dangerous should a worker trip on such piping.

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