Fastening system for fastening a cable to a tube

Abstract

A fastening system for fastening a cable to a pipe of a tubular column for oil and gas, energy or storage applications, the fastening system comprising: - a first ring configured to abut against the pipe; - a second ring configured to abut against the pipe; - a central body arranged between the first ring and the second ring along a longitudinal axis and blocking a relative displacement between them along the longitudinal axis, wherein the fastening system further comprises a cable fastening mechanism having an outer housing for fastening the cable, the outer housing having an opening for receiving the cable in the outer housing through the opening, the opening of the outer housing being arranged on an outer surface of the fastening system, the outer surface pointing outwardly with respect to an inner housing of the fastening system, the inner housing being configured to accommodate the pipe.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastening system for a metal pipe for use in a tubular string for oil and gas, energy or storage applications, such as operating a hydrocarbon well, geothermal capture or carbon capture.

[0002] The present invention particularly relates to a fastening system for fastening at least one cable to a pipe in a tubular hydrocarbon string. The present invention also relates to a metal pipe equipped with such a fastening system. BACKGROUND

[0003] A tubular hydrocarbon string or work string generally consists of a plurality of pipes attached together. More particularly, a tubular hydrocarbon string for a hydrocarbon well or similar well generally comprises one tubing string and a plurality of casing strings. The tubing string consists of a plurality of completion pipes housed within a casing string. The casing string consists of a plurality of casings arranged within a borehole of the well. The casings have a larger diameter cross section than the completion pipes and surround said completion pipes. In the lower part of the casing string, the casings are also referred to as liners.

[0004] During drilling, production and / or workover operations, the casing string is required to maintain wellbore stability, prevent water sand contamination and control well pressure.

[0005] The casings and completion pipes are made of steel and can be made according to API standards, such as API Standard Specification 5CT or 5CRA for standard casing and tubing, but are not limited thereto. For example, the steel is one of the L80, P110 or Q125 grade standards.

[0006] Two pipes of a pipe string can be attached by a threaded joint or connection. A typical threaded joint for connecting a first pipe to a second pipe can include a pin end, also referred to as a male threaded portion, formed on an outer peripheral surface of the first pipe, and a box end, also referred to as a female threaded portion, formed on an inner peripheral surface of the second pipe. The threaded portions cooperate to attach the first pipe to the second pipe, thereby forming a threaded joint.

[0007] Another type of threaded joint can include a coupling box for attaching a first pipe and a second pipe. Each of the first pipe and the second pipe has a pin end, also referred to as a male threaded portion, formed on an outer peripheral surface of the pipe at both ends thereof. A coupling box having an inner bore with a female threaded portion formed on an inner periphery of the bore at both ends thereof is mounted on the first pipe by cooperation between the male threaded portion of one end of the first pipe and the female threaded portion of the first end of the coupling box. With this arrangement, the assembly of the first pipe and the coupling box has a first end with a male threaded portion and a second end with a female threaded portion formed by the second end of the coupling box. The second pipe can be attached to the first pipe by one of the male threaded portion of the second pipe and the female threaded portion of the second end of the coupling box.

[0008] Such threaded tubular connections are subjected to various combinations of stresses that can vary in intensity or direction, such as axial tension, axial compression, internal pressure bending forces, torsion forces, etc. The threaded tubular connections are therefore generally designed to support those stresses, to withstand breakage and to provide a tight seal.

[0009] The solidity of a series of pipes therefore generally depends on the absence of wear on the components or parts forming the threaded connection or joint. Devices for protecting the threaded parts of a pipe having a male threaded part and a female threaded part have therefore been proposed.

[0010] For on-site operations, it is necessary to remove the protection device before installing the pipe into the well. Preferably, the protection device is removed at the last stage before installing the pipe into the well. These operations are particularly time-consuming and require particular attention from the operator who must also manage the pipe. The installation process of the string is therefore made more complex by the use of the protection device and the weak points of the pipe are not protected during the installation of the string.

[0011] Furthermore, a stabbing guide is generally used when installing the male threaded part of a second pipe into the female threaded part of a first pipe or of a coupling box. Such a stabbing guide is positioned by the operator before inserting the end of the second pipe into the end of the first pipe or of the coupling box, then it is removed before screwing the second pipe into the first pipe or into the coupling box. This operation also increases the operating time of the installation of the string.

[0012] Furthermore, the tubular hydrocarbon strings can be installed onshore of a drilling rig at sea and they can be used to support electrical cables to power submersible equipment, such as pumps, safety valves and other downhole equipment. Tools called clamps are generally used to house such electrical cables. These clamps are generally installed on the pipes, in particular on the coupling boxes, and generally require several operators and heavy tools for installation. The installation of such clamps on all the coupling boxes of the string is therefore time-consuming on the rig, leading to expensive operations.

[0013] In addition, during installation, it is necessary to obtain a good alignment of the cables from one pipe to another. Indeed, there is a problem of the cables rolling up around the pipes as the string is lowered. Indeed, the length of the tubular string can be very large, up to several kilometers, so that when the cables roll up on the pipes, the weight and length of the cables increase, thus providing more and more weight on the pipes. For example, under normal conditions, a cable has a weight of 5 kg over a length of 12 meters, and the tubular string can reach 3 Km or more. This excess weight can be a source of instability of the entire string, in addition to being an unnecessary and costly resource. Another consequence is the creation of more risk of cable pull-out or cable tear. The reason why this rolling up can occur is that when the clamping device is installed to secure the cable, the latter is slack and can be pulled to the left or to the right beyond an acceptable tolerance of about 20 degrees. Thus, when the cable is installed incorrectly, the clamping device must be disassembled and the operation must be repeated completely and correctly, thus greatly increasing the overall installation time of the string.

[0014] Thus, there is a need to reduce the installation time of the string, also called "critical path activity". Indeed, considering the high cost of renting a drilling rig for a day, the critical path activity is today about 200 seconds per pipe, which leads to an expensive installation operation.

[0015] US2016 / 047174 discloses a downhole clamping system comprising a first clamping member having a first body with a first outer surface and a first inner annular surface configured to engage with a downhole pipe. One or more lugs extend radially outwardly from the first outer surface, and a first clamping finger extends radially outwardly from the first outer surface. A second clamping member is disposed adjacent to the first clamping member.

[0016] US5379836 discloses a clamp for use with a completion or production tubing string deployed in an oil, gas or water well. In particular, a clamp comprising first and second clamping elements for clamping around the tubing string, each element hinged to one another on one side and provided with releasable fastening means on the opposite side, and a cover hinged to the first element on one side and provided with releasable fastening means for releasably fastening it to the other side of the first element, the outer surface of the first element and the inner surface of the cover being provided with shaped formations.

[0017] US2006 / 006640 discloses a pipe coupling assembly and method for protecting control lines, wherein shoulder modifications are made on the pipe to prevent breakage of the control line protector clamp which ensures that the power and / or service lines are securely held when the cover is closed onto the first element.

[0018] WO2010 / 107322 discloses a riser clamp consisting of several components, designed to carry a plurality of fluid tubes in parallel and spaced apart from a surface coated steel riser, the riser being designed to be deployed into the sea for communication between a wellhead on the seabed and a surface vessel, said riser clamp being designed for frictional, non-rotatable fixation to the surface coated riser and further provided with a plurality of tube seats, said tube seats carrying respective fluid tubes.

[0019] US10197190 discloses improvements in protection devices and more particularly improvements in wire protection devices for protecting wires along tubing and couplings in a tubing string. SUMMARY

[0020] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0021] It is a particular object of the present invention to improve the field operation, in particular the ease and speed of operation, in order to reduce the time required for the process of installing the tubes of the string on the rig.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is also an object of the present invention to provide an easy and fast alignment of the end of the tube. It is also an object of the present invention to improve the protection of the coupling box portion of the tube for forming a threaded joint during the installation process of the tube.

[0023] The present invention provides a fastening system for fastening a wire to a tube of a tubular string for oil and gas, energy or storage applications, the fastening system comprising:

[0024] a support surface pointing inward, said support surface defining an inner housing for the tube, and an outer surface pointing outward relative to the support surface,

[0025] a tube fixation mechanism having an open state and a closed state, the tube fixation mechanism being configured to fix the fastening system to the tube in the closed state of the fixation mechanism, the tube being accommodated in the inner housing in the closed state of the tube fixation mechanism, said fixation mechanism being movable relative to the tube in the open state of the fixation mechanism;

[0026] a wire fastening mechanism having an outer housing for fastening the wire, said outer housing having an opening for receiving the wire in the outer housing through said opening, the opening of the outer housing being arranged on the outer surface.

[0027] Due to these features, the cable can be easily and quickly fastened to the pipe on site. In fact, due to the opening of the outer housing being arranged on the outer surface of the fastening system, the cable can be accommodated in the outer housing of the cable fastening mechanism without removing the fastening system of the pipe, even in case the pipe is accommodated in the inner housing. Thus, the fastening system can be pre-installed on the pipe, e.g. during pipe manufacturing or during any step between pipe manufacturing and installing the pipe in the well, and the cable can be fastened on site without removing the fastening system from the pipe. Due to the fastening system can be pre-installed on the pipe before installing the pipe into the well and the cable can be fastened to the pipe without removing the fastening system of the pipe, there is no need to remove the pipe on site and / or to accommodate the pipe in the inner housing of the fastening system on site and the time needed for fastening the cable to the pipe on site is very short.

[0028] Such a fastening system can comprise one or more of the following features.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the outer housing is a groove. According to one embodiment, the outer housing extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. According to one embodiment, the outer housing has a “U” shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the opening comprises a first side portion, a central portion and a second side portion. According to one embodiment, the central portion extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. According to one embodiment, the central portion points away from the longitudinal axis. According to one embodiment, the first side portion and / or the second side portion extends radially. In other words, in case the outer housing is formed by a groove, such a groove extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, its opening side points away from the longitudinal axis and its two opposite ends along the longitudinal axis are opened and form the first and second opening sides of the opening.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the support surface is switchable between an open position and a closed position, the pipe fixing mechanism being configured to switch the support surface between the open position and the closed position, the support surface being configured to abut against the pipe in order to fix the fastening system to the pipe in the closed position.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the support surface is configured to be in the open position in the open state of the pipe fixing mechanism and in the closed position in the closed state of the pipe fixing mechanism.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the support surface comprises a first portion and a second portion, the distance between the first portion and the second portion being shortest in the closed position compared to said distance in the open position. Thus, these portions of the support surface can clamp the pipe in order to fix the fastening system to the pipe.

[0034] According to an embodiment, the support surface is at least partly deformable. In an embodiment, the first portion of the support surface and / or the second portion of the support surface has a different shape in the closed position and in the open position. According to an embodiment, the first portion of the support surface and / or the second portion of the support surface has a larger radius of curvature in the open position than in the closed position.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the tube fixation mechanism comprises a cam mechanism; the cam mechanism comprises a first cam surface and a second cam surface, the cam mechanism being configured to change the distance between the first portion of the support surface and the second portion of the support surface. Due to the cam mechanism, the support surface can easily be switched between the closed position and the open position.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the tube fixation mechanism comprises a band, the band defining an open ring having a first end and a second end, the distance between the first end and the second end being different in the closed position of the support surface and in the open position of the support surface. Such a band is easy to manufacture and can easily be deformed to grip the tube. Such a deformable band can be made in one piece or in multiple pieces that are joined together, for example by spacers, such as links, hinges or metal rings, such as chain links, joined together in a circumferential direction.

[0037] The band is configured such that a change in the distance between the first end and the second end of the band changes the distance between the first portion of the support surface and the second portion of the support surface. This change in the distance between the first end and the second end of the band can be measured linearly in a circumferential direction, the distance being increased or decreased for switching the support surface from the open position to the closed position. For example, decreasing the circumferential distance between the first end and the second end of the band can tighten the band around the tube and bring the first portion of the support surface and the second portion of the support surface against the tube.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the band is made of a metal material, for example stainless steel, for example in the form of a metal sheet.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the inner side of the band comprises the first portion and the second portion of the support surface. However, the support surface with the first and second portions can be manufactured in different ways. For example, the tube fixation mechanism can comprise two legs that are rotationally mounted to each other, each leg having a respective portion of the support surface, the tube fixation mechanism being configured to prevent rotation of the position of the legs in the closed or open state.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the fastening system comprises a central body comprising a locking lever, a first end of the band being anchored to the central body, a second end of the band being coupled to the locking lever, the locking lever being rotatably mounted on the central body, a first cam surface being arranged on the central body, a second cam surface being arranged on the locking lever. According to an embodiment, the cam mechanism is configured such that a rotation of the locking lever relative to the central body changes the distance between the first end of the band and the second end of the band.

[0041] Thanks to these features, the distance between the first end and the second end can be easily and quickly modified. Indeed, this distance can be modified and thus the fastening system fixed to the pipe can also be modified, since the locking lever is simply rotated by the cam mechanism.

[0042] According to an embodiment, in the open state of the pipe fixing mechanism and in the case where the pipe is housed in the inner housing, the fastening system is rotatably mobile around the pipe and is limited in radial displacement relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe by the abutment of the bearing surface on the pipe.

[0043] Thanks to these features, it is possible to turn the fastening system around the pipe without removing the pipe from the inner housing. Thus, it is possible to modify the circumferential orientation of the opening of the outer housing without removing the pipe from the inner housing. By modifying the circumferential orientation of the opening of the outer housing, it is possible to arrange the position of said opening according to the position of the cable relative to the pipe, thus, when the pipe is inserted into the well, the fastening system can be circumferentially oriented to receive the cable within the orientation angle tolerance of the cable on the pipe, whatever the position of the cable around the pipe.

[0044] However, thanks to other embodiments of the fastening system, it is possible to modify the circumferential orientation of the opening of the outer housing. For example, according to an embodiment, the cable fastening mechanism can be mobile around the inner housing relative to the bearing surface. Thus, when the fastening mechanism is turned relative to the pipe and the bearing surface, the pipe can be fixed and held in the inner housing by the pipe fixing mechanism to arrange the opening in the required orientation in the circumferential direction. Thus, even if the fastening system is pre-installed on the pipe, the orientation of the cable fastening mechanism on such a pre-installed fastening system is not important, the fastening system can fasten the cable on the pipe within the required cable angular orientation tolerance by modifying the orientation of the cable fastening mechanism.

[0045] According to different embodiments, the cable fastening mechanism can fasten the cable in the outer housing. For example, according to one embodiment, the cable fastening mechanism comprises a lid which is movable relative to the outer housing between a locked position and an unlocked position, the opening of the outer housing being free in the unlocked position of the lid to allow the cable to be inserted into the outer housing through the opening, the lid closing the outer housing in the locked position such that the cable is fastened to the fastening system when the cable is housed in the outer housing and the lid is in the locked position.

[0046] Thanks to such a lid, the cable can be housed in the outer housing in the unlocked position of the lid and can be fastened in the outer housing by moving the lid from the unlocked position to the locked position of the lid.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the lid in the locked position closes the outer housing by partially covering the opening, for example by covering a central portion of the opening and leaving a first side portion and a second side portion of the opening free. This partial closing of the opening allows the housing of a long cable in the outer housing, the long cable being fastened in the outer housing by the lid, closing the central portion and allowing the passage of the outer housing through the two side portions of the opening.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the outer housing comprises at least one clamp for fastening the cable. According to one embodiment, the lid and the outer housing are configured to radially clamp the cable in the outer housing, for example by pressing the cable between the lid and the bottom of the outer housing. According to one embodiment, the clamp comprises a bar or a clip which presses the cable in the circumferential direction. According to one embodiment, the lid is a thin sheet of metal covering the cable for radially retaining the cable in the outer housing, for example a thin sheet of metal having a radial thickness of from 0.5 to 5 mm.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the locking lever forms the lid. Thanks to this feature, a simple rotation of the locking lever relative to the central body both fixes the fastening system on the pipe and closes the outer housing to fasten the cable in the same rotation movement. Moreover, such a locking lever allows the closure of the outer housing and the fixing of the fastener without the use of tools, simply by manually rotating the locking lever.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the cable fastening mechanism has a plurality of outer housings, each outer housing being configured to fasten a cable, the outer housings having an opening for receiving the cable in the outer housing through the opening, the opening of the outer housings being arranged on the outer surface. Thanks to such a plurality of outer housings, the fastening system can fasten the cable on the pipe within the required cable angular orientation tolerance without the need for modification or limited modification of the orientation of the cable fastening mechanism.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the opening of the outer side housing is circumferentially distributed over the outer surface.

[0052] According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a fastening system for fastening a cable to a pipe of a tubular column for oil and gas, energy or storage applications, the fastening system comprising:

[0053] - a support surface and an outer surface, the support surface pointing inwardly, the support surface defining an inner side housing for the pipe, the outer surface pointing outwardly relative to the support surface,

[0054] - a pipe fixing mechanism having an open state and a closed state, the pipe fixing mechanism being configured to fix the fastening system to the pipe in the closed state of the pipe fixing mechanism, the pipe being accommodated in the inner side housing in said closed state of the pipe fixing mechanism, the pipe fixing mechanism being movable relative to the pipe in the open state of the pipe fixing mechanism; the pipe fixing mechanism comprising a band, the band extending along a longitudinal axis, the band extending radially, the band extending around the pipe, the band forming the support surface.

[0055] - a cable fastening mechanism having an outer side housing for fastening the cable, the outer side housing having an opening for receiving the cable within the outer side housing through said opening, the opening of the outer side housing being arranged on the outer surface.

[0056] Such a band can easily be deformed around the pipe. Thus, due to the band forming the support surface, said support surface can be deformable, thus allowing said support surface to over-extend around the pipe. Due to the over- extension, the band can accommodate pipes of different sizes, thus the fastening mechanism can be used and reused on pipes of different sizes when needed.

[0057] Moreover, such a deformable band can easily be tightened around the pipe in order to bring the support surface against the pipe. Thus, the fixing mechanism can easily and quickly fix the fastening system to the pipe by simply tightening the band around the pipe.

[0058] Such a fastening system can comprise one or more of the above or below features.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the pipe fixing mechanism is movable relative to the pipe when the pipe is accommodated in the inner side housing in the open state of the pipe fixing mechanism.

[0060] Due to these features, the pipe fixing mechanism in the open state can be turned around the pipe without removing the pipe from the inner housing. Thus, the orientation of the fastening system relative to the pipe can be modified without removing the fastening system from the pipe. Thus, the fastening mechanism can be pre-installed on the pipe and the orientation of the pipe around the fastening system is changed when the pipe is installed in the well in order to arrange the cable in front of the opening without removing the fastening system from the pipe. Thus, the orientation of the fastening system and in particular the opening of the fastening mechanism can be quickly and easily modified on site.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the band of the pipe fixing mechanism extends circumferentially, i.e. orthogonally, around the pipe having a circular cross section, the band forming the support surface.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the band is extendable around the pipe when the band is pulled towards the pipe.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the pipe fixing mechanism comprises a central body. According to one embodiment, the band has a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the central body, the second end being movably mounted on the central body relative to the central body between a closed position and a remote position.

[0064] Due to this configuration between the band and the central body, the band and the central body are fixed together by only one side for each of them, the second side of the band being movable relative to the central body, the fastening system can be easily loaded or removed axially on the pipe, the fastening system encircling the pipe, for example the opening band.

[0065] Due to the pipe fixing mechanism, it is conceivable to pre-install the fastening mechanism before all the drilling operations, thus transporting the pipe already loaded with the fastening mechanism and significantly saving the amount of time required to handle the object during the drilling operations.

[0066] The term "fixed" defines a coupling between two items or features, limiting or preventing movement according to a particular direction. For example, an object can be rotatably mounted on another object and turn around its axis of rotation, but its relative position along other axes remains unchanged.

[0067] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the band has a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the central body, the first end and the second end facing in opposite directions.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the second end is movably mounted on the central body relative to the central body between a closed position and a remote position, directly or indirectly.

[0069] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the first end of the band comprises a first end sleeve which houses a first shaft which secures the central body to the band.

[0070] Thanks to these features, the band is coupled to the central body. Thanks to the ends, the band can accommodate attachment or connection elements, such as the first end sleeve, which can be coupled with other elements, such as the central body. The central body remains movable with respect to the band thanks to the first shaft, which is pivotable when it is housed within the sleeve of the band and the central body.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the second end of the band comprises a second end sleeve which houses a second shaft.

[0072] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the second shaft is coupled to the central body.

[0073] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the central body comprises a locking mechanism configured to bring the second end of the band and the central body close to each other in a closed state.

[0074] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the locking mechanism comprises a locking lever pivotably mounted on the central body, the locking lever being configured to rotate between an open state and a closed state.

[0075] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the locking mechanism comprises a locking lever pivotably mounted on the central body, the locking lever being configured to rotate between an open state and a closed state, in the open state the locking lever being radially distant from the central body.

[0076] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the locking lever is pivotably mounted on a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube securing mechanism.

[0077] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the locking mechanism comprises a pre-tightening screw which, in the closed state, locks the rotation axis and the shaft together.

[0078] Thanks to the locking mechanism, the securing mechanism can be easily removed by opening the locking lever, for example manually or remotely using a mechanical device, when needed.

[0079] Thanks to the locking mechanism, the fastening system can be closed to prevent any longitudinal or rotational movement of the fastening system towards the tube.

[0080] Due to the locking lever, the second end of the band, as a free end, can be brought closer to the other free end of the central body due to the cam mechanism. In the closing operation, the cam mechanism provided by the locking lever will increase the tension on the band by the contact of the bearing surface pulling the band against the pipe, thus enabling the entire fastening system to be fixed firmly to the pipe and preventing all rotational movements of the fastening system. According to one embodiment, the cam mechanism is replaced by a crank mechanism that increases the tension on the band by pulling the band onto the pipe with the rotation of the crank.

[0081] In the opening operation, the cam mechanism provided by the locking lever will release the tension of the band, thus enabling a gap to be created that allows the manual rotation of the fastening system around the pipe, for example, to adjust it to the desired position.

[0082] Due to the pre-tightening screw, the second end of the band is locked onto the remaining free end of the central body. The pre-tightening screw enables the band to be pulled towards the central body due to the cam mechanism in the closing operation.

[0083] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the central body comprises at least a first end sleeve configured to accommodate the shaft.

[0084] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the outer housing of the cable fastening mechanism comprises at least one longitudinal groove parallel to the longitudinal axis that can accommodate at least one cable.

[0085] Due to the cable fastening mechanism according to the invention, it is now possible to envisage pre-installing the entire device on the pipe before reaching the rig operating area. In fact, the invention gets rid of all the difficulties of predicting where the cable area that the clamping device will face will end, as it only needs to loosen the fastening mechanism to adjust it in the correct direction towards the cable and easily close it. Such a pre-installation saves a significant amount of time, thus greatly reducing the critical path activities.

[0086] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the locking lever comprises an inner surface facing the outer surface of the central body and the pipe in the closed state, the inner surface comprising a plurality of teeth designed to grip the cable.

[0087] Due to the plurality of teeth, it is easier to grip the cable in the closing operation of the locking lever, thus preventing the cable from slipping out and enabling the cable to be attached directly within the longitudinal groove.

[0088] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the cable fastening mechanism comprises a holding mechanism configured to hold the locking lever in the closed state.

[0089] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the retaining mechanism comprises a retaining lever pivotably mounted on the central body, the retaining lever being longitudinally rotatable between a closed state and an open state.

[0090] Due to the retaining lever, the locking lever is completely blocked, thus providing additional security by preventing the locking lever from unlocking itself during use within the column. The retaining lever can also provide additional strength to complete the closing of the locking lever in the closing operation.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a fastening system for fastening a cable to a pipe of a tubular column for oil and gas, energy or storage applications, the fastening system comprising:

[0092] - a first ring,

[0093] - a second ring,

[0094] - a central body arranged between the first ring and the second ring along a longitudinal axis,

[0095] wherein:

[0096] the first ring has a lifting surface directed towards the second ring, the lifting surface extending radially, the lifting surface being configured to abut against the pipe to lift the pipe and to block displacement of the first ring along the longitudinal axis towards the second ring,

[0097] the second ring has an abutment surface directed towards the first ring, the abutment surface extending radially, the abutment surface being configured to abut against the pipe to block displacement of the second ring along the longitudinal axis towards the first ring,

[0098] the central body has a first longitudinal end portion having a first blocking mechanism configured to couple the first end portion to the first ring so as to block displacement of the first ring along the longitudinal axis away from the second ring relative to the central body, and a second longitudinal end portion having a second blocking mechanism configured to couple the second end portion to the second ring so as to block displacement of the second ring along the longitudinal axis away from the first ring relative to the central body,

[0099] the fastening system further comprises a cable fastening mechanism having an outer housing for securing the cable, the outer housing having an opening for receiving the cable in the outer housing through the opening, the opening of the outer housing being arranged on an outer surface of the fastening system, the outer surface being directed outwardly relative to an inner housing of the fastening system, the inner housing being configured to house the pipe.

[0100] Due to these features, the fastening system can be used to hoist the pipe or even the string of pipes to install the pipe or string of pipes in the well. More particularly, the hoisting surface of the fastening system can cooperate with a corresponding surface of the pipe, for example a shoulder surface formed by a coupling box of the pipe.

[0101] Moreover, due to the second ring, the fastening system can act as a protector of the threaded part of the pipe if the fastening system is pre-installed on the pipe before the pipe is installed in the well.

[0102] Hence, such a fastening system can provide the above-mentioned advantages, for example with respect to easy and fast use on the rig to fasten the cable to the pipe, and can also be used to hoist the pipe to install it in the well and to protect the pipe during transportation and displacement of the pipe on the rig. Moreover, due to the structure of the fastening system, i.e. two separate rings and a central body, each part of the fastening system can be manufactured using a material that is specifically suited for its main function. For example, the first ring can be manufactured using a material that has resistance and mechanical strength properties, allowing to hoist the entire string of pipes in the well, while the central body and the second ring can be manufactured with a lighter material.

[0103] Such a fastening system can comprise one or more of the above-mentioned features and / or one or more of the following features.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the second ring comprises a guiding surface, said guiding surface being directed opposite to said first ring, said guiding surface tapering with respect to the longitudinal axis, such that a first longitudinal end of the guiding surface has a large diameter and a second longitudinal end of the guiding surface has a small diameter, the second longitudinal end of the guiding surface being arranged between the first end of the guiding surface and the first ring along the longitudinal axis.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the small diameter is configured to be radially outwardly offset with respect to the inner diameter of the pipe, for example with respect to the internal thread of the pipe.

[0106] Due to these features, the second ring can act as a guiding ring for guiding the insertion of a further pipe into the pipe on which the fastening system is installed. In other words, as mentioned above, the fastening system provides the function of clamping the cable to the pipe, but also hoists the pipe or string of pipes and further guides the insertion of a further pipe into the pipe on which the fastening system is installed. Hence, the material used to manufacture such a second ring can be chosen according to the function of guiding the insertion of a second pipe into the pipe on which the fastening system is installed.

[0107] According to one embodiment, the first ring has a first inner surface for encircling the first portion of the tube, the second ring has a second inner surface for encircling the second portion of the tube, the central body has a third inner surface for pointing towards a third portion of the tube, the third portion of the tube being arranged along the longitudinal axis of the tube between the first portion of the tube and the second portion of the tube, the first, second and third inner surfaces forming an inner side housing for the tube. According to one embodiment, the first inner surface and / or the second inner surface and / or the third inner surface comprises gripping reliefs, such as teeth or ribs. Such gripping reliefs respectively abut against the first portion of the tube, the second portion of the tube or the third portion of the tube in order to prevent or limit the rotation of said inner surfaces relative to the tube.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the second ring comprises an inner shoulder forming an abutment surface, the inner shoulder extending radially inwardly from the second inner surface. Thus, the second inner surface allows a good insertion of the second ring on the end of the tube, while such an inner shoulder prevents the displacement of the second ring towards the first ring by abutting on the end of the tube with said inner shoulder.

[0109] According to one embodiment, the second ring comprises a central inner surface arranged along the longitudinal axis between the second inner surface and the guiding surface, the central inner surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis and joining the inner shoulder and the guiding surface. Thanks to these features, the second ring has a longitudinal thickness, thereby providing a good mechanical resistance in particular with respect to the inner shoulder and the guiding surface.

[0110] According to one embodiment, the third inner surface is radially outwardly offset relative to the inner diameter of the lifting surface. Such a third inner surface is for example for encircling the third portion of the tube formed by the coupling box and thus has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the main tube.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the outer surface is arranged on the central body. For the first ring and the second ring, the material used to manufacture the central body can be chosen according to the associated function of fastening the cable on the tube, thus having a mechanical resistance sufficient to support the weight or the rigidity, the size and the elasticity of the cable, thereby allowing the deformation of the outer side housing to receive the cable in the outer side housing, but the elastic properties and the size of the outer side housing allowing to clamp the cable when it is contained in the outer side housing.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the fastening system further comprises a tube fixing mechanism having an open state and a closed state, the tube fixing mechanism being configured to fix the fastening system on a tube in the closed state of the fixing mechanism, the tube being contained in the inner side housing of the fastening system in the closed state of the tube fixing mechanism, the fixing mechanism being movable relative to the tube in the open state of the fixing mechanism.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the tube fixing mechanism comprises a band extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, the band having an inner surface forming a support surface for abutting against the tube, the band having a first end and a second end movable relative to each other to vary the inner diameter of the band.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the central body is rotationally movable relative to the first ring and / or the second ring around the longitudinal axis. According to one embodiment, the first ring comprises a first outer lateral groove extending circumferentially, the second ring comprises a second outer lateral groove extending circumferentially, the first blocking mechanism comprises a first hook housed in the first outer lateral groove, the second blocking mechanism comprises a second hook housed in the second outer lateral groove. Thanks to these features, the blocking mechanisms block the displacement relative to the rings along the longitudinal axis of the central body.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the first outer lateral groove comprises a first main abutment surface and a second main abutment surface, the first main abutment surface facing circumferentially the second main abutment surface, the first hook being arranged circumferentially between the first main abutment surface and the second main abutment surface.

[0116] According to one embodiment, the second outer lateral groove comprises a first secondary abutment surface and a second secondary abutment surface, the first secondary abutment surface facing circumferentially the second secondary abutment surface, the second hook being arranged circumferentially between the first secondary abutment surface and the second secondary abutment surface.

[0117] The invention also provides a column partial kit comprising a tube and a fastening system as described above, wherein the tube is housed in the inner housing of the fastening system, the tube fixing mechanism is in the closed state, the cable fixing mechanism is fixed to the tube.

[0118] Thanks to the tube fixing mechanism and the cable fixing mechanism, the critical path activity or installation time of the tube is significantly reduced, for example by about 3 to 5 seconds, which leads to a significant reduction in the cost of the installation operation.

[0119] Thanks to the above features, the invention makes it possible to group different functions in the same system, with a tube fixing mechanism capable of fixing the fastening system to the tube and a cable fixing mechanism capable of clamping a cable to be fastened to the tube, where the two functions can be used separately or in combination.

[0120] Thanks to these features, the invention also provides protection of the tube when installed on said tube. Indeed, such a fastening system provides a function of isolating for example a male or female threaded tubular element from the outside environment and protects the tube against impact damage when it falls. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0121] The present invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features, and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of multiple specific embodiments of the present invention, given by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0122] Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of a fastening system for mounting on a pipe.

[0123] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the fastening system of Figure 1 mounted on a pipe in a closed state of the securing mechanism.

[0124] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the fastening system of Figure 1 mounted on a pipe from a different perspective than Figure 2 .

[0125] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening system of Figure 2 or 3 mounted on a pipe in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe.

[0126] Figure 5 is a detailed view of Figure 4 showing the cooperation between the first longitudinal end of the central body of the fastening system, the first ring of the fastening system and the pipe.

[0127] Figure 6 is a detailed view of Figure 4 showing the cooperation between the second longitudinal end of the central body of the fastening system, the second ring of the fastening system and the pipe.

[0128] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening system of mounted on a pipe in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and in an open state of the securing mechanism.

[0129] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening system of

[0130] or 3 mounted on a pipe in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and in a closed state of the securing mechanism. Figure 9 Figure 2 is a detailed view of the retaining rod of the fastening system of or 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0131] In the following description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "vertical", "front", "rear", "left" and "right" are defined according to the usual orthogonal reference frame shown in the drawings, which comprises:

[0132] the longitudinal axis X, the horizontal of the front view and from left to right;

[0133] - a transverse axis Y, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and extending from the back to the front of the front view; and

[0134] - a vertical axis Z, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X and to the transverse axis Y.

[0135] Furthermore, in the description and claims, the terms "outboard" or "inboard" and the orientations "axial" and "radial" shall be used to designate the elements of the fastening system or of the pipe according to the definitions given in the description. The longitudinal axis X determines the "axial" orientation. The "radial" orientation is directed orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X. The "circumferential" orientation is directed orthogonally to the rotation axis X and orthogonally to the radial direction, i.e. orthogonally radially. The terms "outboard" or "inboard" are used to define the orientation or the relative position of one component with respect to another component, with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The component close to or facing said axis refers to the inboard or inner component, as opposed to the outboard or outer component positioned at the periphery radially or facing away from the longitudinal axis X.

[0136] Figure 1 A fastening system 1 for fastening a cable 5 to a pipe 2 is shown. The pipe 2 has a longitudinal axis Al parallel to the longitudinal axis X defined previously, as Figure 1 shown.

[0137] The fastening system 1 comprises a pipe fixing mechanism 6, a support surface 3, a cable fastening mechanism 9, a first ring 12 and a second ring 13 (which will be further detailed in the description).

[0138] The pipe fixing mechanism 6 comprises a band 101 extending orthogonally radially so as to partially encircle the pipe in the shown embodiment. The band 101 also extends radially around the pipe 2, defining a thickness of the band 101. The band 101 also extends longitudinally parallel to the axis Al, defining a width of the band 101. The band 101 partially forms the support surface 3 of the fastening system 1.

[0139] The band 101 can be deformable and allows the band 101 and thus the support surface 3 to overextend around the pipe 2. Due to the overextension, the band 101 can accommodate different sizes of pipes 2, so that the fastening system 1 can be used and reused on different sizes of pipes 2 when needed.

[0140] The band 101 also comprises a first end 103 and a second end 105, which face in opposite directions when the band 101 encircles the pipe in the circumferential direction. These ends 103 and 105 comprise a first end sleeve 104 and a second end sleeve 106, respectively. Each sleeve 104 and 106 can be continuous, meaning that the sleeve does not comprise any type of interruption; or discontinuous, meaning that the sleeve can allow interruptions, such as a hole between the two ends of the same sleeve. In the shown embodiment, the sleeves 104 and 106 are continuous. Figure 1In the case of the embodiment shown, the first end sleeve 104 and the second end sleeve 106 are discontinuous. The sleeves can be made in many embodiments, for example in Figure 1 In the case of the embodiment shown, the first end sleeve 104 and the second end sleeve 106 are discontinuous. The sleeves can be made in many embodiments, for example in

[0141] The fastening system 1 comprises a central body 102 which completes the encircling of the tube 2, for example of the open band. The central body 102 comprises a first end sleeve 108 parallel to the longitudinal axis Al.

[0142] The first end sleeve 104 of the band 101 and the first end sleeve 108 of the central body 102 both house a first shaft 111. This configuration enables the band 101 and the central body 102 to be linked to one another while still allowing a certain degree of mobility. Indeed, the central body 102 remains mobile with respect to the band 101 thanks to the first shaft 111, which is pivotable when it is housed in the sleeves 104 and 108 of the band 101 and of the central body 102.

[0143] A second shaft 112 parallel to the longitudinal axis Al is housed in the second end sleeve 106 of the second end 105 of the band 101. The second shaft 112 comprises a through hole 116.

[0144] The tube fixing mechanism 6 comprises a locking mechanism 110 configured to bring the second end 105 of the band 101 and the central body 102 close to one another in the closed state of the locking mechanism 110.

[0145] The locking mechanism 110 comprises a locking lever 109, for example in Figure 1 The locking lever 109 is pivotably mounted on the central body 102 and is configured to rotate between an open state in which it is radially distant from the central body and a closed state. More particularly, the locking lever 109 is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft 114 comprising a cavity 117. The locking lever 109 and the rotating shaft 114 are both housed on the central body 102. Such a cavity can be, for example, a through hole or a blind slot as shown.

[0146] The rotating shaft 114 has its own axis of rotation A2 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis Al. As will be described below, this axis of rotation is mounted for translational movement with respect to the central body.

[0147] The locking mechanism 110 comprises a pre-tightening screw 115 which can pass through the through hole 116 of the second shaft 112 and the cavity 117 of the rotating shaft 114, so as to lock the rotating shaft 114 and the second shaft 112 together in the closed state.

[0148] The locking lever 109 has a curved portion 141, which, as explained below, is a portion that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis A2, so that when the locking lever 109 is rotated around the longitudinal rotation axis A2 of the rotation shaft 114, the rotation shaft 114 is moved with respect to the central body 102. When the pre-tightening screw 115 is slid into the respective cavity 117 and through-hole 116, it is connected with said shafts 112 and 114, thereby bringing the second end of the band towards the second free end (T2) of the central body 102. This is also explained below in Figure 7 and 8 .

[0149] Thanks to the locking mechanism 110, the fastening system 1 can be easily removed when needed, by manually or remotely opening the locking lever 109.

[0150] Thanks to the locking mechanism 110, the fastening system 1 can be closed to prevent any longitudinal or rotational movement of said fastening system 1 with respect to the pipe.

[0151] Thanks to the locking lever 109, the second end 105 of the band 101, which is a free end, can be brought close to the other free end of the central body thanks to a cam mechanism as explained below.

[0152] In the closing operation, the cam mechanism provided by the locking lever 109 will increase the tension on the band 101 by contact of the bearing surface 3, pulling said band 101 against the pipe 2, thereby enabling the entire fastening system 1 to be firmly fixed to the pipe 2 and preventing all rotational movement of said fastening system 1.

[0153] In the opening operation, the cam mechanism provided by the locking lever 109 will release the tension of the band 101, thereby enabling a clearance to be created, which allows the fastening system 1 to be manually rotated around the pipe 2, for example to adjust it to the desired position.

[0154] Thanks to the pre-tightening screw 115, the second end 105 of the band 101 is locked to the central body 102. Said pre-tightening screw 115 enables the band 101 to be pulled towards the central body 102 in the closing operation thanks to the cam mechanism.

[0155] The cable fastening mechanism 9 comprises an outer housing 8 comprising at least one longitudinal recess 120 parallel to the longitudinal axis Al, said longitudinal recess 120 being able to accommodate at least one cable 5.

[0156] Thanks to the cable fastening mechanism 9 according to the invention, it is now possible to envisage the pre-installation of the entire fastening system 1 on the pipe 2 before reaching the rig operating area. Indeed, the invention eliminates all the difficulties of predicting where the area where the cable fastening mechanism will face will end, as it only requires loosening the pipe securing mechanism 6 to adjust it in the right direction towards the cable and easily close it. Such a pre-installation saves a significant amount of time, thus greatly reducing the critical path activities.

[0157] The locking lever 109 comprises an inner surface 133 facing the outer surface of the central body 102 and the pipe 2 in the closed state, said inner surface 133 comprising a gripping surface 134 designed to grip the cable 5.

[0158] Thanks to the gripping surface 134, it is easier to grip the cable 5 during the closing operation of the locking lever 109, preventing the cable 5 from slipping away and enabling the cable 5 to be directly attached within the longitudinal groove. For example, the gripping surface 134 can be a plurality of teeth.

[0159] Thanks to the pipe securing mechanism 6 and the cable fastening mechanism 9, no tools are required to secure the fastening system 1 on the pipe 1 and no tools are required to grip the cable 5, thus significantly reducing the critical path activities or installation time of the pipe 2, for example about 3 to 5 seconds, which leads to a significant cost reduction of the installation operation.

[0160] Thanks to these features, the invention is able to gather different functions in the same fastening system 1, with a pipe securing mechanism 6 able to secure the fastening system on the pipe 2 and a cable fastening mechanism 9 able to grip the cable 5, where both functions can be used separately or in combination.

[0161] Thanks to these features, the invention also provides protection of the pipe 2 when installed on said pipe 2. Indeed, such a fastening system 1 provides the function of isolating for example a male or female threaded tubular element from the external environment and protects the pipe 2 from impact damage when it falls.

[0162] Figure 2 The fastening system 1 is shown in an assembled view and in the closed state. Figure 1 In this chosen perspective, the layout between the second end 105 of the band 101 and the second free end (T2) of the central body 102, secured together thanks to the pre-tightening screw 115, is shown. The pre-tightening screw 115 locks the second end sleeve 106 through the through hole 116 and the rotating shaft 114 through the cavity 117 together. Thus, the second end sleeve 106 and the rotating shaft 114 are remotely secured together as they do not have direct contact between them.

[0163] Figure 3 The fastening system 1 is shown in an assembled view and in the closed state. Figure 2Another perspective of the fastening system 1. In this selected perspective, the arrangement between the first end sleeve 104 of the belt 101 and the first end sleeve 108 of the central body 102 is shown, both end sleeves accommodating the same first shaft 111. Therefore, the shaft 111 slides within both the first end sleeve 104 of the belt 101 and the first end sleeve 108 of the central body. In this configuration, when the belt 101 and the central body 102 are tightly connected, there is no distance separating the belt and the central body.

[0164] A retaining mechanism 118 housed on the central body 102 is also shown. The retaining mechanism 118 includes a retaining rod 119 that provides reinforcement to hold the locking lever 109 in the closed position. Further details regarding the retaining mechanism 118 will be provided in [reference needed]. Figure 8 and 9 Further description.

[0165] The following reference Figures 4 to 6 Describe the fit between the central body 102, the first ring 12, the second ring 13, and the tube.

[0166] like Figure 4 As shown in Figure 5, the outer surface 22 of the tube 2 includes an outer shoulder 23. This outer shoulder 23 extends radially, such that the tube 2 has a main outer diameter D1 for the main portion 24 of the tube 2 and an end outer diameter D2 for the end portion 25 of the tube 2, the end portion 25 of the tube 2 including an internal threaded portion for receiving an externally threaded portion of another tube. The main outer diameter D1 of the tube 2 is smaller than the end outer diameter D2 of the tube 2.

[0167] The first ring 12 has an inner surface 14 extending circumferentially. The diameter D3 of the inner surface 14 is greater than the main outer diameter D1 of the pipe 1 and smaller than the end outer diameter D2 of the pipe. Therefore, the first ring 12 can be mounted on the main portion 24 of the pipe 2 such that the inner surface 14 surrounds the main portion 24 of the pipe 2.

[0168] The first ring 12 also includes a lifting surface 26 extending radially outward from the inner surface 14. In the installed state of the first ring 12, the lifting surface 26 faces the outer shoulder 23 of the tube 2, allowing it to abut against the outer shoulder 23. Therefore, the first ring 12 can be used to lift the tube 2, or even a complete tube column comprising multiple tubes screwed together, by abutting the outer shoulder 23 of the tube 2 with the lifting surface 26. In particular, the same first ring 12 can be installed on different tubes with different main outer diameters D1 having a diameter D3 smaller than that of the inner surface 14, as long as the end outer diameter D2 remains larger than the diameter D3 of the inner surface 14, allowing the lifting surface 26 to abut against the outer shoulder 23 of the tube 2.

[0169] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the first ring 12 further comprises a first stop wall 27 and a second stop wall 28 extending radially outwards. Each of the first stop wall 27 and the second stop wall 28 comprises a longitudinal portion and a circumferential portion. The longitudinal portion forms a longitudinal stop surface 29 which extends in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Al and which is directed oppositely to the second ring 13. The circumferential portion forms a circumferential stop surface 30 which extends radially outwards and parallel to the longitudinal axis Al. The circumferential stop surface 30 of the first stop wall 27 and the circumferential stop surface 30 of the second stop wall 28 face each other in the circumferential direction.

[0170] The second ring 13 comprises an inner surface 15 extending in the circumferential direction. The diameter of the inner surface 15 is larger than the end outer diameter D2 of the tube 2. The second ring 13 comprises an inner shoulder 31. The inner shoulder 31 extends radially from the inner surface 15 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Al. The radially inner end of the inner shoulder 31 has a diameter which is smaller than the end outer diameter D2 such that the inner shoulder 31 abuts against the end of the tube 2. Moreover, the diameter of the radially inner end of the inner shoulder 31 is larger than the inner diameter D4 of the end portion 25 of the tube 2 such that the inner shoulder 31 does not extend radially inwards beyond the inner surface of the end portion 25 of the tube 2 and does not prevent another tube from being inserted into the end portion 25 of the tube 2. Similar to the first ring 12, the second ring 13 can be mounted on different tubes 2 having different end outer diameters D2 and inner diameters D4 as long as the diameter of the inner surface 15 remains larger than the end outer diameter D2 and the diameter of the radially inner end of the inner shoulder 31 is larger than the inner diameter D4. Thus, standard sizes for the diameters of the first ring 12 and the second ring 13 can be used in order to mount the fastening mechanism 1 on different tubes having different sizes.

[0171] The second ring 13 comprises a guiding surface 32. The guiding surface 32 is tapered with respect to the longitudinal axis Al, the small diameter of which is arranged closer to the tube 2 than the large diameter of the guiding surface 32. A central inner surface 33 of the second ring 13 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis Al to radially join the radially inner end of the inner shoulder 31 to the small diameter of the guiding surface 32. Due to these features, the second ring 13 can serve as a piercing guide for inserting another tube into the end portion 25 of the tube 2.

[0172] The second ring 13 comprises a first stop wall 34 and a second stop wall 35 which are similar to the first stop wall 27 and the second stop wall 28 of the first ring 12 as described above, respectively. The first stop wall 34 and the second stop wall 35 differ from the first stop wall 27 and the second stop wall 28 in that the longitudinal stop surface 29 of the first ring 12 and the longitudinal stop surface 29 of the second ring 13 have opposite orientations along the longitudinal axis Al, the longitudinal stop surface 29 of the first ring 12 pointing away from the second ring 13, the longitudinal stop surface 29 of the second ring 13 pointing away from the first ring 12.

[0173] The central body 102 comprises a main portion 36 and two pairs of legs 37. The main portion 36 cooperates with the band 101 as described above to secure the central body 102 on the pipe 2. Each leg 37 of a first pair of legs 37 extends longitudinally from the main portion 36 of the central body 102 (from the circumferential side in the embodiment shown in the figures). The legs 37 of the first pair of legs 37 extend longitudinally from the main portion 36 towards the first ring 12 and beyond the respective longitudinal stop surface 29 of the first ring 12. The legs 37 of the second pair of legs 37 extend longitudinally from the main portion 36 towards the second ring 13 and beyond the respective longitudinal stop surface 29 of the second ring 13.

[0174] The longitudinal end of the leg 37 opposite the main portion 36 of the central body 102 comprises a lug 38. The lug 38 extends radially inwards so as to face the respective longitudinal stop surface 29 along the longitudinal axis Al.

[0175] As Figure 5 illustrated, the legs 37 of the first pair of legs 37 cooperate in abutment with the longitudinal stop surface 29 of the first ring 12 to prevent the central body 102 from moving along the longitudinal axis Al towards the second ring 13. Similarly and as Figure 6 illustrated, the legs 37 of the second pair of legs 37 cooperate in abutment with the longitudinal stop surface 29 of the second ring 13 to prevent the central body 102 from moving along the longitudinal axis Al towards the first ring 12.

[0176] In other words, the legs 37 form hooks that cooperate with the rings 12 and 13 to hold the central body 102 and the rings 12 and 13 together along the longitudinal axis Al. Moreover, when the first ring 13 is prevented from being displaced towards the second ring 13, the lifting surface 26 abuts against the outer shoulder 23 of the pipe 2, and the second ring 13 is also prevented from being displaced towards the first ring 12, the inner shoulder 31 abuts against the end portion of the pipe 2, the entire fastening device 1 is prevented from being displaced along the longitudinal axis Al when the fastening system 1 is installed on the pipe 2. Thus, the fastening system 1 can be pre-installed, for example during the manufacturing process, and will remain installed on the pipe 2 during all steps of transportation to the installation site. Also, the second ring 13 provides protection to the end of the pipe 2, for example during transportation or storage. Moreover, since the second ring 13 comprises the guiding surface 32, if the fastening system 1 is pre-installed, there is no need to install guiding means for inserting another pipe on the rig, thereby saving the corresponding installation time on the rig.

[0177] As Figures 1 to 3 illustrated, the lugs 38 of the legs 37 each face the respective circumferential stop surface 30 along the circumference. Since the circumferential stop surface 30 of each ring 12 and 13 is facing along the circumference, the rings 12 and 13 and the central body 102 are prevented from being relatively rotated around the longitudinal axis Al due to the lugs 38 abutting on the respective circumferential stop surface 30 of the first ring 12 and the second ring 13.

[0178] The longitudinal stopping surface 29 and the circumferential stopping surface 30 may be fabricated according to other embodiments. For example, the first stopping walls 27, 34 and the second stopping walls 28, 35 may be replaced by grooves or holes extending radially over the radial thickness of the rings 12, 13. Therefore, the longitudinal stopping surface 29 and the circumferential stopping surface 30 will be formed by walls defining the grooves or holes over the thickness of the rings 12, 13. Furthermore, a lug 38 will extend radially inward within the grooves or holes to mate with the longitudinal stopping surface 29 and the circumferential stopping surface 30.

[0179] The use of a first ring 12 for lifting the tube 2 or the string, a second ring 13 for guiding the insertion of another tube into the end of the tube 2, and a central body 102 including the cable fastening mechanism 9 as described above for fastening the cable 5 to the tube 2 allows for the use of materials suitable for the respective functions to be used in the manufacture of the rings 12, 13, and central body 102. For example, the first ring 12 is made of a material having sufficient mechanical resistance to resist the weight of the tube 2 or the string. Such a material for the first ring 12 is, for example, a metal with a high yield strength, for example, greater than 110 ksi. Since the primary function of the second ring is to protect the end of the tube 2 and guide the insertion of the other tube, the selected material for manufacturing the second ring 13 can be lighter than the material used for the first ring 12. Such a material for the second ring 13 is, for example, 316 stainless steel or other stainless steel. Similarly, the material used to manufacture the central body 102 can be selected according to its function, primarily fastening the cable 5, supporting the weight of the cable 5, and holding the rings 12, 13, and central body 102 together, and can therefore be, for example, made of 316 stainless steel or other stainless steel or corrosion-resistant metal.

[0180] Now refer to Figures 7 to 8 6. Describe the pipe fixing mechanism in detail. Figure 7 and 8 The fastening system 6 is shown in both the open and closed states of the fixing mechanism 6.

[0181] like Figure 7 As shown, the belt 101 circumferentially surrounds the tube 2 from the first end 103 to the second end 105. As described above, the first shaft 111 is accommodated both in the first end sleeve 104 of the first end 103 of the belt 101 and in the first end sleeve 108 of the central body 102, such that the first end 103 of the belt 101 is pivotally mounted on the central body 102 and fixed to the central body 102 in both the circumferential and radial directions.

[0182] The second end 105 of the belt 101 is coupled to the locking lever 109 due to the pre-tightening screw 115 and the rotational shaft on which the locking lever 109 is mounted. A first end portion 136 of the pre-tightening screw 115 passes through the through hole 116 in the second shaft 112 accommodated in the second end sleeve 106 between the two portions of the second end sleeve 106 of the belt 101. The head 137 of the pre-tightening screw 115 is arranged on the side of the second shaft 112 opposite the central body 102. The head 137 has a larger size than the through hole 116 in the second shaft 112, so that when the pre-tightening screw 115 is pulled towards the central body 102, the head 137 of the pre-tightening screw 115 abuts against the second shaft 112. The pre-tightening screw 115 passes through a passage 138 in the central body 102. A second end portion 139 of the pre-tightening screw 115 opposite the head 137 is threaded. The cavity 117 of the rotational shaft 114 is also threaded. The second end portion 139 of the pre-tightening screw 115 is screwed into the threaded cavity 117 of the rotational shaft 114 accommodated in the locking lever 109. Thus, by screwing the pre-tightening screw 115 substantially into the rotational shaft 114, the head 137 of the pre-tightening screw 115 and thus the second end 105 of the belt 101 can be adjusted relative to the central body 102 in the closed or away position.

[0183] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the securing mechanism 9 comprises a cam mechanism. The cam mechanism comprises a first cam surface 121 arranged on the locking lever 109 and a second cam surface 122 arranged on the central body 102.

[0184] The first cam surface 121 has a flat portion 140 and a curved portion 141. The curved portion is configured as a curvature such that the flat portion 140 is closer to the rotational axis A2 of the rotational shaft 114 on which the locking lever 109 is mounted than the curved portion 141. In other words, the shortest distance between the curved portion 141 and the rotational axis A2 is at a junction portion between the flat portion 140 and the curved portion 141.

[0185] The second cam surface 122 is flat and extends radially. In Figure 7 and 8 In the embodiment shown, the central body 102 comprises a flange 142 extending radially outwards along the longitudinal axis Al. The flange 142 comprises the passage 138 for the pre-tightening screw 115 and forms the second cam surface 122.

[0186] As Figure 7As shown, in the open state of the fixing mechanism 6, the locking lever 109 is open, and the flat portion 140 of the first cam surface 121 abuts against the second cam surface 122. Therefore, the flange 142 is close to the rotation shaft 114, and the head 137 of the preload screw 115 is away from the center body 102. When the head 137 is away from the center body 102, the belt 101 is slack, and the center body 102 can rotate around the tube 2. Furthermore, in the open state of the locking lever 109, the locking lever 109 extends primarily radially, causing it to move away from the opening 10 of the outer housing 8 of the cable fastening mechanism 9, which is empty, allowing the cable 5 to be pulled within the outer housing 8.

[0187] In order to move the fixed mechanism 6 from Figure 7 The open state shown has been switched to Figure 8 In the closed state, the locking lever 109 rotates about its axis of rotation toward the opening 10 of the outer housing 8. During this rotation, the first cam surface 121 and the second cam surface 122 engage by switching the portion of the first cam surface 121 abutting the second cam surface 122 from the planar portion 140 of the first cam surface 121 to the curved portion 141 of the first cam surface 121. When the curved portion 141 of the first cam surface 121 engages with the second cam surface 122, the rotation shaft 114 is removed from the flange 142 of the central body 102. By removing the rotation shaft 114 from the flange 142, the head 137 of the preload screw 115, and thus the second end 105 of the belt 101, is pulled closer to the central body 102. When the belt 101 is circumferentially wrapped around the tube 2 and the first end 103 of the belt 101 is circumferentially fixed to the central body 102, this displacement of the second end 105 of the belt 101 tightens the belt 101 onto the tube 2, causing the belt 101 to abut against the tube 2 and apply force to the tube 2, thereby preventing the belt 101 and the central body 102 from rotating on the tube 2. In other words, closing the locking lever 109 brings the second end 105 of the belt 101 closer to the central body 102 and tightens the belt 101 around the tube 2, thereby securing the fastening system 1 to the tube.

[0188] Due to such a fixation mechanism 6, the fastening system 1 can be easily locked or unlocked while rotating around the pipe 2. Indeed, by simply opening the locking lever 109, the fixation mechanism 6 can be easily switched from a closed state in which it is fixed to the pipe 2 by the fastening system 1 to an open state in which the fixation mechanism 1 can rotate around the pipe 2. Moreover, when in the open state, the fastening system 1 is still encircling the pipe 2, and due to the band 101 being joined at both extremities 103, 105 to opposite sides of the central body 102, the fastening system 1 can only rotate around the pipe 2 and cannot be radially removed from the pipe 2. As mentioned above, due to the central body 102 being blocked along the longitudinal axis Al by the first and second rings 12, 13, the fastening system 1 is also blocked along the longitudinal axis Al. Thus, while the fastening system 1 remains on the pipe 2, it can easily rotate around the pipe 2 in order to change the orientation of the opening 10 of the outer shell 8.

[0189] Moreover, during such a rotation from the open position to the closed position, the locking lever 109 is turned down to cover the opening 10 of the outer shell 8, the locking lever 109 forming a lid for the outer shell 8 to block the cable 5 within the outer shell 8. In the closed state of the fixation mechanism 6, the locking lever 109 mainly extends in the circumferential direction and covers the central body 102 and the outer shell 8.

[0190] During the installation of the pre-tightening screw 115, the pre-tightening screw 115 is screwed in the cavity 117 such that the distance around the pipe 2 between the first shaft 111 and the first cam surface 121, which is defined by the circumferential length of the band 101 and the pre-tightening screw 115, is the shortest compared to the distance of the same portion around the pipe 2 between the first shaft 111 and the radially outward extremity of the second cam surface 122, said distance comprising a circumferential component and a radial component. Due to these features, the locking lever 109 cannot be radially removed from the central body, and the first cam surface 121 remains in contact with the second cam surface 122 even during the rotation of the locking lever 109. In order to further maintain the locking lever 109 radially joined to the central body, the second cam surface can slightly taper towards the locking lever 109, thereby increasing the difference between the above-mentioned distances. In another embodiment, the passage 138 in the flange 42 is a window through which the pre-tightening screw 115 passes and is thus blocked from radially exiting by abutting on the upper part of the flange 142 delimiting said window. In another embodiment, the central body can have a slotted housing for accommodating and guiding the displacement of the two longitudinally opposite ends of the rotating shaft 114.

[0191] In Figure 7 and 8In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 8 of the cable securing mechanism 9 comprises two grooves 39. The grooves 39 are arranged on the outer surface 4 of the central body 102 and each groove can accommodate one or more cables 5. Each groove 39 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis Al. Each groove 39 comprises an opening with a first longitudinal side portion 40, a central portion 41 and a second longitudinal side portion 42. The central portion 41 extends longitudinally from the first longitudinal side portion 40 to the second longitudinal side portion 42. The opening of the groove 39 forms the opening 10 of the outer housing 8. In other words, each groove 39 has a "U"-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Al, the bottom of which is formed by the outer surface 4 of the central body 102 and the two sides of which are formed by side walls 43 in turn. These side walls 43 extend mainly radially outwards and parallel to the longitudinal axis Al. The side walls 43 can be continuous or discontinuous. In the illustrated embodiment, the side walls 43 are discontinuous and formed by the legs 38 and the locking lever 109. Figure 7 and 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the central body 102 comprises a rib 44 which extends continuously and longitudinally from the outer surface 4. This rib 44 forms a respective first side wall 39 for each of the two grooves 39, said rib 44 separating the two grooves 39. This rib 44 comprises an outer recess 45 for receiving the locking lever 109 without preventing its rotation. The other side walls 43 are discontinuous and formed by the legs 38 and the locking lever 109.

[0192] The outer housing 8 formed by one or more such grooves 39 has an opening 10 which is radially accessible to the cable or cables 5 to be pulled into the outer housing 8. Moreover, such a groove 39 with the first longitudinal side portion 40 and the second longitudinal side portion 42 having openings can accommodate a long cable 5, the cable 5 being pulled into the groove 39 through the central portion 41 of the opening and the long cable 5 extending through the first longitudinal side portion 40 and the second longitudinal side portion 42. Thus, when the locking lever 109 is turned down to switch the tube securing mechanism 6 into the closed state, the locking lever 109 prevents the long cable 5 in the groove 39 by covering the central portion 41 of the opening 10, while the cable 5 still passes through the first longitudinal side portion 40 and the second longitudinal side portion 42.

[0193] The groove 39 can have a shortest radial depth compared to the diameter of the cable 5, so that the locking lever 109 clamps the cable 5 in the groove 39, thereby keeping the cable 5 in place in both the radial direction and the longitudinal direction. The groove 39 and / or the locking lever 109 can also have gripping surfaces, such as teeth or ribs, thereby clamping the cable 5 in the groove 39. The outer housing 8 can also have deformable clips (not shown) for clamping the cable 5 in the outer housing 8.

[0194] The cable securing mechanism 9 can have different embodiments for retaining the cable 5 in the outer housing 8. For example, the lid can be separate from the locking lever 109, such that the main function of the locking lever 109 is to tighten the strap 101 on the tube, while a separate lid (not shown) that is rotatably mounted on the central body 102 can be used to close the outer housing 8.

[0195] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7 and 8 The securing system comprises a retaining lever 119. The retaining lever 119 is pivotably mounted on the central body 102 on the same side of the first end 103 of the strap 101. The retaining lever 119 is in rotational movement around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Al. The retaining lever 119 is switchable between a first position, in which it does not interfere with the rotation of the locking lever 109, and a second position, in which it covers the end 46 of the locking lever 109 opposite the rotation axis 114. The retaining lever 119 extends mainly orthogonally in the open position shown in Figure 7 while it is parallel to the longitudinal axis Al in the closed position shown in Figure 8

[0196] The end 46 of the locking lever 109 comprises a recess 47 that is offset radially inwards relative to the main part of the locking lever 109 that forms a lid for the outer housing 8 when the locking lever covers the opening 10. The retaining lever 119 covers the recess 47 in the closed position of the locking lever 109 and in the closed position of the retaining lever 119, such that the locking lever 109 cannot be opened without first opening the retaining lever 119. Due to this retaining lever 119, the locking lever 109 can easily be kept in the closed position.

[0197] As shown in Figure 8 ​As shown in Fig. 9, the inner surface 48 of the retaining bar 119 is curved. The curvature of this inner surface 48 is such that the retaining bar 119 has a thin radial thickness towards the locking bar 109 and a large thickness opposite the locking bar 109. When the retaining bar 119 is turned from its open position to its closed position, the inner surface 48 with the thin portion of the retaining bar 119 first comes into contact with the outer surface of the recess 47 of the locking bar 109. Then, by further closing the retaining bar 119, the recess 47 of the locking bar 109 is pulled radially towards the central body 102 by the inner surface 48, since the thickness of the retaining bar 119 increases due to the curvature of the inner surface 48 when the retaining bar 119 is placed in the closed position. Such a curved inner surface 48 provides an easy way to close the locking bar 109, since closing the retaining bar 119 exerts an increasing force on the recess 47 of the locking bar 109, thereby pulling said locking bar 109 towards the central body 102. In order to keep the cooperation of the retaining bar 119 and the locking bar 109 in the closed position, the retaining bar has a locking surface 49, which extends parallel to the outer surface of the recess 47 of the locking bar 109 when the retaining bar 119 covers the recess 47, so as to abut against the recess without exerting a force having a circumferential component.

[0198] According to one embodiment, the retaining bar 119 can be pivotably mounted on the central body 102 using a slot hole 50. In the closed state of the retaining bar 119, such a slot hole 50 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis Al in the closed position of the retaining bar 119. Thus, in said closed position of the retaining bar 119, the retaining bar 119 is translatable along the longitudinal axis Al from a first closed position, in which the retaining bar 119 is free to rotate about its axis of rotation to move from the closed position to the open position, to a locked position, in which the rotation of the retaining bar 119 about its axis of rotation is locked and held in the closed position, i.e. cannot be switched to the open position. In said locked position, the retaining bar 119 can be prevented from rotating due to, for example, a locking surface of the retaining bar 119 abutting on a corresponding locking surface on the central body 102, said locking surface being offset along the longitudinal axis Al in the first closed position to allow the retaining bar 119 to rotate.

[0199] The use of the verb "comprise" or "to comprise", or any other variant thereof, is used in its non-exclusive sense, such that it specifies the presence of the stated elements or steps but does not preclude the presence of additional elements or steps. The use of indefinite articles "a" or "an" with reference to an element or step does not exclude the presence of more than one of such element or step unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0200] In the claims, any reference signs placed between two consecutive dashes do not delimit a range of values, but rather represent a reference to a single piece of art that conversely is identified by the reference sign placed immediately before such two consecutive dashes.

Claims

1. A fastening system for fastening a cable to a pipe of a tubular column for oil and gas, energy or storage applications, the fastening system comprising: - a first ring, - a second ring, - a central body arranged between the first ring and the second ring along a longitudinal axis, wherein: the first ring has a lifting surface directed towards the second ring, the lifting surface extending radially, the lifting surface being configured to abut against the pipe to lift the pipe and to prevent displacement of the first ring along the longitudinal axis towards the second ring, the second ring has an abutment surface directed towards the first ring, the abutment surface extending radially, the abutment surface being configured to abut against the pipe so as to prevent displacement of the second ring along the longitudinal axis towards the first ring, the central body has a first longitudinal end portion with a first prevention mechanism configured to bind the first longitudinal end portion to the first ring so as to prevent displacement of the first ring along the longitudinal axis away from the second ring relative to the central body, and a second longitudinal end portion with a second prevention mechanism configured to bind the second longitudinal end portion to the second ring so as to prevent displacement of the second ring along the longitudinal axis away from the first ring relative to the central body, the fastening system further comprises a cable fastening mechanism having an outer housing for fastening the cable, the outer housing having an opening for receiving the cable in the outer housing through the opening, the opening of the outer housing being arranged on an outer surface of the fastening system, the outer surface being directed outwardly relative to an inner housing of the fastening system, the inner housing being configured to house the pipe; wherein the second ring comprises a guiding surface directed opposite to the first ring, the guiding surface tapering relative to the longitudinal axis so as to have a first longitudinal end portion of the guiding surface with a large diameter and a second longitudinal end portion of the guiding surface with a small diameter, the second longitudinal end portion of the guiding surface being arranged between the first longitudinal end portion of the guiding surface and the first ring along the longitudinal axis, the small diameter being configured to be radially outwardly offset relative to an inner diameter of the pipe; wherein the first ring comprises a first outer groove, the second ring comprises a second outer groove, the first prevention mechanism comprises a first hook accommodated in the first outer groove, and the second prevention mechanism comprises a second hook accommodated in the second outer groove.

2. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein, The first ring has a first inner surface for encircling the first portion of the tube, the second ring has a second inner surface for encircling the second portion of the tube, the central body has a third inner surface for pointing towards a third portion of the tube, the third portion of the tube being arranged along the longitudinal axis of the tube between the first portion of the tube and the second portion of the tube, the first inner surface, the second inner surface and the third inner surface forming the inner housing for the tube.

3. The fastening system of claim 2, wherein, The second ring comprises an inner shoulder forming the abutment surface, the inner shoulder extending radially inwardly from the second inner surface.

4. The fastening system of claim 3, wherein, The second ring comprises a central inner surface arranged along the longitudinal axis between the second inner surface and the guide surface, the central inner surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis and joining the inner shoulder and the guide surface.

5. The fastening system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The third inner surface is radially outwardly offset relative to an inner diameter of the lifting surface.

6. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The outer surface is arranged on the central body.

7. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a tube securing mechanism having an open state and a closed state, the tube securing mechanism being configured to secure the fastening system on the tube in the closed state of the tube securing mechanism, the tube being accommodated in the inner housing of the fastening system in the closed state of the tube securing mechanism, the tube securing mechanism being movable relative to the tube in the open state of the tube securing mechanism.

8. The fastening system of claim 7, wherein, The tube securing mechanism comprises a band extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, the band having an inner surface forming a bearing surface for abutting against the tube, the band having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being movable relative to each other so as to vary an inner diameter of the band.

9. The fastening system of claim 8, wherein, The first outer recess comprises a first primary abutment surface and a second primary abutment surface, the first primary abutment surface facing the second primary abutment surface circumferentially, the first hook being arranged circumferentially between the first primary abutment surface and the second primary abutment surface, and wherein the second outer recess comprises a first secondary abutment surface and a second secondary abutment surface, the first secondary abutment surface facing the second secondary abutment surface circumferentially, the second hook being arranged circumferentially between the first secondary abutment surface and the second secondary abutment surface.

10. Column section kit comprising a pipe and a fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The tube is accommodated in the inner housing of the fastening system, the tube securing mechanism is in a closed state, and the cable securing mechanism is secured to the tube.

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