Rotating Bushing Sprayer for Oilfield Tubular Washing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual process of cleaning and doping oilfield tubulars is hazardous and inefficient, requiring manual labor to clean debris and apply thread lubricant, which slows down drilling operations and increases the risk of accidents.
Innovation Solution
An automated washing and doping mechanism that includes a rotating bushing to support and clean tubulars in a vertical orientation, combined with a sprayer to apply fluids such as water, solvent, or pipe dope radially inward onto the threads and shoulders of the tubulars, allowing for efficient and safe automation of the pipe cleaning and doping process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pipe cleaning and doping is performed, then workers can directly handle the tubulars, but the working environment becomes hazardous and the process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated washing and doping mechanism as an intermediary device between the worker and the tubulars. This mechanism includes a rotatable bushing that holds the tubular and a sprayer that applies cleaning solutions and pipe dope automatically, eliminating the need for workers to manually handle hazardous materials while maintaining the cleaning and doping functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of workers cleaning and doping tubulars with an automated mechanical system. The automated mechanism uses a rotatable bushing driven by a motor and a controlled sprayer system to perform the cleaning and doping operations, substituting human labor with automated equipment to eliminate hazards
2Ease of manufacture
If manual pipe cleaning and doping is performed, then the process can be completed, but drilling operations are slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing the cleaning and doping operations automatically and efficiently, preparing the tubulars ready for connection before they are needed at the well center. The automated mechanism ensures that tubulars are prepped in advance without delaying the drilling schedule
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining a steady supply of cleaned and doped tubulars. The automated washing and doping mechanism operates continuously or in rapid succession, ensuring that tubulars are ready as needed without interruptions to the drilling operation
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 automated mechanism significantly reduces manual labor, enhances safety by eliminating hazardous manual handling, and increases rig operational efficiency by integrating washing and doping into the workflow without prolonging drilling or tripping-in processes.
Implementation Method 1
a sprayer positioned radially outward from a central longitudinal axis through the bushing, the tubular, or both. The sprayer is configured to spray a fluid radially inward with respect to the central longitudinal axis, such that the fluid contacts threads of the tubular, a shoulder of the tubular, or both
Data Source
AI summary
A washing and doping mechanism includes a bushing that is configured to engage a tubular that is in a substantially vertical orientation. The bushing is configured to rotate, thereby causing the tubular to rotate about a central longitudinal axis of the tubular. The washing and doping mechanism also includes a sprayer configured to spray a fluid onto the tubular in the substantially vertical orientation.