Device for transmitting data and power

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transmitting data and / or power from a drive shaft (3) of a top drive (2) to a top drive (2) of a drilling rig, a drilling system for horizontal drilling, or a cleanout winch, by means of an annular rotary coupling (14), said device comprising a first ring (15) and a second ring (16) to which cables (17, 21, 30) for transmitting power and / or data are connected. One of the two rings (15, 16) is connected to the rotating part and the other of the two rings is connected to the non-rotating part. The rings (15, 16) define an enclosed region in which the transmission means (29, 31) are arranged. At least one annular gap, in which a labyrinth seal (27, 28) is arranged, is located between the rings (15, 16).

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR DATA AND POWER TRANSMISSION

[0002] The invention relates to a device for data and / or power transmission from a rotating part, for example a drive shaft of a power rotary head, to a non-rotating part, for example the power rotary head, a drilling rig for horizontal drilling or a treatment winch.

[0003] The invention further relates to a drive train of a drilling rig, a drilling rig for horizontal drilling or a treatment winch with a power rotary head and a rotating drive shaft on which an annular rotary coupling for transmitting data and / or power from a non-rotating part to the drive shaft is mounted.

[0004] Drilling rigs are used to drill for oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water, for example. Such drilling rigs usually have a tower on which a power rotary head (English: "Top Drive") is mounted on a carriage so that it can rotate but is movable in the vertical direction on a vertical guide of the tower. Drilling rigs for horizontal drilling (HDD - "Horizontal Directional Drilling") are also known. These also have a power rotary head which is mounted on a carriage so that it can rotate but is movable in an inclined direction on a guide of a corresponding frame. The drill rod is mounted on this power rotary head, with the drill head or drill bit at the lower end. The drill rod consists of a large number of drill pipes, with additional drill pipes being successively screwed to the upper end of the drill rod as the depth of the borehole increases.The topmost drill pipe is screwed to a drive shaft of the power rotary head. Drive motors in the power rotary head drive the drive shaft, which in turn rotates the drill rod and the drill head. To mount or screw another drill pipe onto the drive shaft, a device usually referred to as a "pipe handler" is used. This device is attached to an adapter via which the pipe handler is mounted on the power rotary head and can be pivoted out of the axis of rotation relative to the power rotary head and rotated about the axis of rotation. The pipe handler grips another drill pipe to be screwed onto the drill rod, brings it to the drive shaft, holds it during mounting or screwing to the drive shaft and, if necessary, also rotates it relative to the power rotary head. When dismantling a drill pipe, the process is similar but in reverse with the pipe handler.

[0005] Workover rigs are used for maintenance work on existing conveyor systems, for example to carry out maintenance or repairs. They can also have a fixed and a rotating part, between which data and / or power transmission should be possible.

[0006] The device according to the invention can therefore be used not only in drilling rigs, but also in treatment winches or similar devices, without this requiring further special mention, even if the following description only refers to drilling rigs.

[0007] A key element in modern oil, natural gas, and geothermal drilling is data acquisition during the drilling process. Furthermore, it is a great advantage if electrical loads in the pipe system can be controlled and continuously supplied with power via the drill rod.

[0008] One possibility of establishing a galvanic connection between the individual drill pipes, which on the one hand enables data transmission and control and on the other hand a high-performance power supply, is known from WO 2010 / 141969 A. However, efficient power and / or data transmission requires that the pipe system is also galvanically or inductively connected to the corresponding system devices or controls of the drilling rig on the surface. In order to enable data transmission and / or power supply from and into the borehole via a cabled pipe system, a device (rotary joint) known for example from WO 2021 / 213798 A1 is required, via which data transmission can take place during the rotation of the pipe system, for example a drill string or a production tubing string, and on the other hand consumers can be supplied with power underground.This rotary joint is installed in the pipe handler area. Data is transmitted from the wired pipe system to the rotating part of the rotary joint, and from there via the non-rotating part and a cable to the drilling rig's control system. It is also possible to transmit data wirelessly from the rotary joint to the control system. The transmission of power and data to the pipe system or its consumers and their control system occurs in the opposite direction.

[0009] Any electrical transmission of data or energy in drilling and production facilities is subject to the strictest safety regulations due to the risk of explosion. In the device known from WO 2021 / 213798 A1, sealing rings are used to seal the inner area in which the slip ring is arranged. These sealing rings are mounted on one of the rings and slide on the other ring. While this basically satisfies the safety regulations on the one hand, there is the problem that the abrasion of the sliding contacts creates dust that is harmful to the sealing rings and promotes their wear, so the device must be maintained regularly, which is generally a regular expense with sliding or contacting seals.

[0010] The invention is therefore based on the object of avoiding this problem.

[0011] This object is achieved with a device having the features of claim 1 and with a drive train having the features of claim 19.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] According to the invention, a labyrinth seal is used as the seal. Labyrinth seals are largely wear-free and are not affected by the abrasion of the sliding contacts. Furthermore, it has been found that the narrow gap of the labyrinth seal, in conjunction with the annular gap in which the labyrinth seal is arranged, which can also be made long and narrow, enables sufficient protection against water and foreign bodies. With suitable design and precision manufacturing, it is even possible to reliably prevent sparks from passing through the interior of the device to the outside, thus meeting the strict regulations regarding explosion safety on drilling and production facilities.

[0014] A problem that can occur with labyrinth seals in cold and humid climatic conditions is that moisture penetrates into the gap of the labyrinth seal and freezes there. If the two rings of the device according to the invention are then to be rotated against each other, on the one hand, a very high breakaway force is required and on the other hand, damage to the rings and in particular to the labyrinth seal can occur. To solve this problem, in a preferred

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, a heating device for the labyrinth seal is proposed. This heating device can be used to easily prevent the labyrinth seal from freezing.

[0016] In order to solve the power supply of the heating device in a simple manner, the heating device is arranged in a preferred development of the invention on the ring connected to the non-rotating part, which can be easily connected to an electrical power supply because it does not rotate.

[0017] In particular, if a power supply for electrical consumers is already present in the pipe system, which is conducted via the device according to the invention, the heating device can be supplied with power in a simple manner.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first ring has a circumferential groove, the second ring is at least partially received in the groove of the first ring, and there are two annular gaps between the first ring and the second ring, in each of which a labyrinth seal is arranged.

[0019] According to the invention, each labyrinth seal can have its own heating device, which is located near, preferably in the immediate vicinity of, the respective labyrinth seal. It is also possible according to the invention to use a single heating device for both labyrinth seals if the distance to the two labyrinth seals is not too great and sufficient heat conduction to the second gap is ensured. Finally, it is also possible to use a single heating device that is closer to one labyrinth seal than to the other. This embodiment is preferably used when the groove is open in a substantially horizontal, radial direction, preferably outwards, in which case it is preferred if the heating device is arranged in the region of the upper labyrinth seal in the position of use, where the risk of icing is greater than with the lower labyrinth seal.If there is a good heat-conducting connection between the heating device and the lower labyrinth seal, this can also be heated with the heating device assigned to the upper labyrinth seal.

[0020] The device according to the invention can, however, not only be used with transmission means in which one is a slip ring and the second a sliding contact, but also with inductive transmission means. With the invention, it is also possible to arrange both sliding contacts and inductive transmission means in one and the same device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the labyrinth seal has at least one groove on one ring and at least one web on the other ring which engages in the groove, the radially outer wall of the groove being lower than the radially inner wall of the groove.This embodiment of the invention offers the advantage that even if the rotary coupling is in an inclined position or if water splashes onto the labyrinth seal from the outside, no water enters the interior of the groove within the first ring through the labyrinth seal because the higher upper edge on the radially inner wall prevents this.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially outermost wall of the groove is formed by a rib whose outer surface is sloped. This shape makes it difficult for water to penetrate the labyrinth seal.

[0022] If, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the gap between the radially inner wall of the groove and the web is narrower than the gap between the radially outer wall of the groove and the web, this facilitates the drainage of water from the labyrinth seal and prevents further penetration of water.

[0023] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a flange-like projection is arranged on a radially outer wall of the web, preferably at its end. This embodiment is particularly preferred when there is a risk that the axis of the rotary coupling according to the invention will be tilted by up to 90° or more, because the projection forms a type of channel that catches penetrating water before it can penetrate further into the labyrinth seal and flow downwards in the now approximately vertical labyrinth seal and exit the labyrinth seal again.

[0024] In the invention, it is possible for the groove to be arranged on the first ring and the web to be arranged on the second ring. It is also possible for the web to be arranged on the first ring and the groove to be arranged on the second ring. If two labyrinth seals are present, both variants can also be implemented on a rotary coupling.

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which does not limit the scope of protection, with reference to the attached drawings. Therein: Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a power rotary head of a drilling rig on which a device according to the invention is arranged,

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a detail of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 3 shows a section through the device according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a partially sectioned oblique view of the device according to the invention.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a typical drive train of a drilling rig, an HDD drilling rig or a treatment winch, which has a power rotary head (“top drive”) 2 which can be moved up and down on a guide 1 of the drilling rig and which drives a drive shaft (“drill star”) 3. Below the power rotary head 2 there is mounted a so-called “pipe handler” 4, i.e. a device for handling drill pipes 5, the drive shaft 3 passes through the pipe handler 4 and does not rotate it. The pipe handler 4 ensures that the drill pipes 5 are fed from an intermediate storage area to the drive shaft 3 and that the drill pipes 5 are removed into an intermediate storage area and has rod-shaped links 6 and a gripper 7. The pipe handler 4 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the drive train and has a drive (usually a hydraulic cylinder) 8 for pivoting the links 6.

[0028] A so-called "saver sub" 9, which serves as a wearing part for screwing on the drill pipes 5, can be screwed onto the lower end of the drive shaft 3 of the power rotary head 2. Furthermore, a blowout preventer (if necessary an upper inner blowout preventer 11 and a lower inner blowout preventer 12) can be arranged on the drive shaft 3, which serves to close the hollow drive shaft 3 in the event of a blowout. The above-mentioned components can, but do not have to, be present on the drive shaft 3. In order to ensure data transmission to and from the borehole and, if necessary, a power supply to consumers in the borehole, the drill pipes are cabled and have a coupling at both ends, as described, for example, in WO 2010 / 141969 A.However, the invention is not limited to such a coupling, but can also comprise other forms of couplings, in particular inductive couplings.

[0029] The cable connection leads from the upper end 13 of the uppermost drill pipe 5 via such a coupling into the saver sub 9 (if present) and into the rotating drive shaft 3. From there, the connection must be continued to essentially stationary, i.e., non-rotating, system components, for which purpose a rotary coupling 14 is arranged on the drive shaft 3.

[0030] The rotary coupling 14 has a first ring 15 and a second ring 16. The first ring 15 is connected to the rotating drive shaft 3 and rotates with it. The second ring 16 does not rotate and is connected, for example, via chains or rods 20 to the pipe handler 4 or the power rotary head 2. In the embodiment shown, two cables 17 lead from the first ring 15 into the saver sub 9 and in this to the drill pipe 5, but could also lead into any other component of the drive train, e.g. the lower inner blowout preventer 12. The cables 17 lead via connecting devices 18 into the first ring 15 and to galvanic or inductive transmission means or contact arrangements arranged there.

[0031] The second ring 16, which essentially forms the stator and is mounted on the system so that it cannot be rotated or can only be rotated to a small extent, also has a connecting device 19, via which a cable 21, which is connected to the electrical surface equipment, is connected to the second ring 16 and to the galvanic or inductive counter contacts in the rotary coupling 14. Instead of a cable 21, a wireless data transmission device could of course also be used. However, if power is also to be fed into the borehole for consumers, a cable connection is of course necessary.

[0032] The rotary coupling 14 can be fastened, for example, to the lower blowout preventer 12 by means of a clamping device 22, wherein the clamping device 22 is firmly connected to the first ring 15.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rotary coupling 14 consists of an upper part 23 and a lower part 24 which are firmly connected to one another via a connecting piece 25 and which form the first ring 15. Between the upper part 23 and the lower part 24, a groove 26 which is open radially outwards and in which the second ring 16 is received is formed. The second ring 16 closes off the groove 26 to the outside, so that a substantially closed region is formed. Radially inwards, the second ring 16 is supported on the connecting piece 25 via a bearing 48.

[0034] In the interior of the groove 26, a slip ring 29 is arranged on the second ring 16, which is contacted by a sliding contact 31 that is spring-mounted in one of the connecting devices 18. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, two connecting devices 18 with sliding contacts 31 accommodated therein are provided, although only one sliding contact 31 or more than two sliding contacts 31 may be provided.

[0035] The slip ring 29 is connected via a cable 30 and electrical terminals 32 to the cable 21, which is attached to the second ring 16 by means of the connecting device 19. As an alternative or in addition to the galvanic connection means formed by the slip ring 29 and the sliding contacts 31, the rotary coupling according to the invention can also comprise inductive transmission means, which, however, are not shown in the drawings.

[0036] In order to prevent the penetration of water and dust into the interior of the groove 26 between the upper part 23 and the lower part 24, labyrinth seals 27 and 28 are provided which meet the safety requirements required in this context (for example IP 44 or IP 54).

[0037] In the embodiment shown, the labyrinth seals 27, 28 have at least one groove 33, 34 on one ring 15, 16 and at least one web 35, 36 on the other ring 15, 16, which engages in the groove 33, 34. Specifically, in the embodiment shown, in the upper labyrinth seal 27, the groove 33 is arranged on the second ring 16, and in the lower labyrinth seal 28, the groove 34 is arranged on the lower part 24 of the first ring 15. Accordingly, in the upper labyrinth seal 27, the web 35 is arranged on the upper part 23 of the first ring 15, and in the lower labyrinth seal 28, the web 36 is arranged on the second ring 16.

[0038] Each groove 33, 34 has a radially inner wall 37 and a radially outer wall 38, with the inner wall 37 being higher than the outer wall 38. As a result, water penetrating into the groove 33 or 34 cannot rise far enough to penetrate into the interior of the groove 26, but instead flows outward again.

[0039] In order to further impede the penetration of water into the labyrinth seal in 27, 28, an outer surface 42 is designed to slope downwards on a rib 39, 41 which forms the radially outer wall 38 of the respective groove 33, 34. Between the radially inner wall 37 of the respective groove 27, 28 and the web 35, 36 there is a gap 43 which is narrower than the gap 44 between the radially outer wall 38 of the groove and the web 35, 36. This facilitates the drainage of water from the labyrinth seal 27, 28 and prevents further penetration of water into the groove 26.

[0040] The wider gap 44 is particularly advantageous because a flange-like projection 45 can be arranged on the radially outer wall of the web, preferably at its end. If the axis of the rotary coupling according to the invention is tilted by up to 90° or more, the projection 45 forms a type of channel that catches any penetrating water before it can penetrate further into the labyrinth seal and flow downwards in the now approximately vertical labyrinth seal and exit the labyrinth seal again.

[0041] Next to the upper groove 33, on the opposite side of the web 35, there is another groove 46 in which a heating element 47 is located. This heating element can prevent water from freezing in the labyrinth seal 27. If the heating element 47 heats strongly enough and the heat conduction within the second ring 16 is good enough, the lower labyrinth seal 28 can also be heated.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device for data and / or power transmission from a rotating part, for example a drive shaft (3) of a power rotary head (2), to a non-rotating part, for example the power rotary head (2), a drilling rig, a drilling rig for horizontal drilling, or a treatment winch, comprising an annular rotary coupling (14) having a first ring (15) and a second ring (16), to which cables (17, 21, 30) and / or wireless data transmission devices for power and / or data transmission are connected, wherein one of the two rings (15, 16) is connected to the rotating part and the other of the two rings is connected to the non-rotating part, wherein a first transmission means (31) for data and / or power is arranged on the first ring (15) and a second transmission means (29) for data and / or power, which cooperates with the first transmission means (31), is arranged on the second ring (16).wherein the first ring (15) and the second ring (16) delimit a substantially closed region in which the first and second transmission means (29, 31) are arranged, and wherein between the first ring (15) and the second ring (16) there is at least one annular gap in which a seal is arranged which seals the substantially closed region (26) between the first ring (15) and the second ring (16) to the outside, characterized in that the seal is a labyrinth seal (27, 28).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a heating device (47) for the labyrinth seal (27, 28).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating device (47) is arranged on the ring (16) connected to the non-rotating part.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first ring (15) has a circumferential groove (26), that the second ring (16) is at least partially received in the groove (26) of the first ring (15), and that between the first ring (15) and the second ring (16) there are two annular gaps which are arranged on opposite sides of the second ring (16) and in each of which a labyrinth seal (27, 28) is arranged.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the groove (26) is open in a radial direction, preferably outwards.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the labyrinth seal (27, 28) is arranged on the outer edge of the annular gap.

7. Device according to claim 2 and claim 4, characterized in that the heating device (47) is arranged in the region of the upper labyrinth seal (27) in the position of use.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one pair of transmission means is provided, one of which is a slip ring (29) and the second of which is a sliding contact (31).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one pair of inductive transmission means is provided.

10. Device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the transmission means (29, 31) are accommodated in a region of the groove (26) lying within the seals (27, 28).

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that on the ring (15) connected to the rotating part there is a transmission means arranged thereon (31) connected connection (18) for a cable (17) leading to the rotating part is arranged and / or that on the ring (16) connected to the non-rotating part there is arranged a connection (19) for a cable (21) leading to the non-rotating part, said connection being connected to the transmission means (29) arranged thereon.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the ring (16) connected to the non-rotating part has a holder (20) with which it is mounted on the non-rotating part.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the labyrinth seal (27, 28) has at least one groove (33, 34) on one ring (15, 16) and at least one web (35, 36) on the other ring (15, 16) which engages in the groove (33, 34), and that the radially inner wall (37) of the groove (33, 34) is higher than the radially outer wall (38) of the groove (33, 34).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the radially outer wall (38) of the groove (33, 34) is formed by a rib (39, 41) whose outer surface (42) is designed to be sloping.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the gap (43) between the radially inner wall (37) of the groove (33, 34) and the web (35, 36) is narrower than the gap (44) between the radially outer wall (38) of the groove (33, 34) and the web (35, 16. Device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that a flange-like projection (45) is arranged on a radially outer wall of the web (35, 36), preferably at its end.

17. Device according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the groove (34) is arranged on the first ring (15) and the web (36) is arranged on the second ring (16).

18. Device according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the web (35) is arranged on the first ring (15) and the groove (33) is arranged on the second ring (16).

19. Drive train of a drilling rig, a drilling rig for horizontal drilling or a treatment winch with a power rotary head (2) and a rotating drive shaft (3) on which an annular rotary coupling (14) for transmitting data and / or power from a non-rotating part to the drive shaft (3) is mounted, characterized in that the drive train has a device according to one of claims 1 to 18.

Images