Hydraulic Spider Guide Plate Centering for Variable Tubular Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic spiders in the oil and gas industry risk damage when tubulars are not properly centered during make-up or break-out operations, leading to potential misalignment and improper gripping.
Innovation Solution
A tubular centering system comprising a hydraulic spider and centralizers with adjustable guide plates, controlled by hydraulic actuation, ensures precise centering of tubulars by allowing for customizable extension and retraction based on tubular diameter through a pin and slot mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed centering mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different tubular diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate is made movable between retracted and extended positions through a hydraulic piston, allowing the centering mechanism to dynamically adjust to different tubular diameters. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same device to adapt to various sizes without requiring multiple fixed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the guide plate (from retracted to extended position) to adapt to different tubular diameters. By varying the extension position of the guide plate, the mechanism can accommodate different size parameters of tubulars while maintaining the same basic structure.
2Reliability
If the guide plate is always extended to ensure centering, then centering is effective, but the mechanism cannot disengage from the tubular
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate transitions from a static extended position to a dynamic system that can move between retracted and extended positions. This allows the mechanism to reliably center the tubular when needed (extended position) and easily disengage when not needed (retracted position), combining both reliability and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate is positioned in the extended state before the tubular engagement is needed, ensuring centering is already in place when the tubular arrives. This preliminary centering action ensures reliable alignment without requiring the guide plate to remain permanently extended.
3Measurement precision
If manual centering adjustment is used, then the device is simple, but centering precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A hydraulic piston is used to actuate the guide plate between retracted and extended positions, providing precise and controlled movement. This hydraulic actuation ensures accurate centering positioning without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms, achieving high precision through fluid power control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents damage to hydraulic spiders by ensuring uniform gripping and alignment of tubulars, enhancing operational safety and efficiency in drilling and workover operations.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic piston positioned within the housing and configured to actuate the guide plate between the retracted position and the extended position
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular centralizer including a housing, a guide plate, and a pin. The housing has a plurality of adjustment pin holes. The guide plate is at least partially disposed within the housing and movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The guide plate includes a plurality of adjustment pin slots. The pin is positioned in a first adjustment pin hole of the plurality of adjustment pin holes, and in a first adjustment pin slot of the guide plate. A length of the first adjustment pin slot within which the pin is positioned sets a limit of the extended position and the retracted position of the guide plate.