Rig Mast Guide Assemblies for Tubing Buckling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well rigs face challenges in preventing tubing buckling during well operations, particularly when tubulars are snubbed into or out of a well, especially under snub loads.
Innovation Solution
An anti-buckle tubular guide system integrated into the well rig's mast, featuring multiple guide assemblies that dynamically adjust to provide lateral support to tubulars, coordinated with a top drive system to minimize unsupported tubing length and prevent buckling by opening and closing in succession with the top drive's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple guide assemblies are integrated into the mast to provide lateral support to tubulars, then tubing buckling is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly system is divided into multiple independent guide assemblies spaced along the mast, each capable of independently opening and closing. This segmentation allows the system to provide distributed lateral support along the tubular string while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide assemblies are designed to dynamically open and close in succession coordinated with top drive movement. The system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that adapts its configuration based on operational requirements, providing support only when needed and reducing complexity during non-operational states.
2Reliability
If guide assemblies open and close in succession with top drive movement to minimize unsupported tubing length, then tubing buckling is prevented, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect top drive position and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism automatically coordinates the opening and closing of guide assemblies with top drive movement, eliminating the need for manual coordination and simplifying operation while maintaining reliable buckling prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide assembly system operates autonomously by automatically opening and closing in response to top drive position changes. The system serves itself by using the top drive's own movement as the triggering mechanism, eliminating the need for separate operational coordination and reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A well rig can include a mast, and multiple guide assemblies distributed along the mast. The guide assemblies are configured to laterally support a tubular string. A method of operating a well rig can include mounting multiple guide assemblies spaced apart along a length of a mast of the well rig, and actuating each of the guide assemblies between open and closed configurations. In the open configuration the guide assembly does not laterally support a tubular string, and in the closed configuration the guide assembly laterally supports the tubular string. Another method can include mounting multiple guide assemblies spaced apart along a length of a mast of a well rig, and displacing a top drive along the mast. The guide assemblies open in succession as the top drive descends along the mast, and the guide assemblies close in succession as the top drive ascends along the mast.