Tong Assembly Positioning for Threaded Connection Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for making-up and breaking-out threaded connections in tubular strings are inefficient and require significant human intervention, leading to suboptimal alignment and increased operational time.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing sensors and a control system to automatically adjust the position of a tong assembly relative to a threaded connection, ensuring precise alignment between rotary and backup clamps, thereby reducing the need for manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual intervention is used for tong assembly positioning, then operational flexibility is maintained, but alignment accuracy and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to automatically detect the threaded connection position and the control system automatically adjusts the tong assembly positioning, enabling the system to serve itself without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by achieving high alignment accuracy through self-service automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated system using sensors and control mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining or improving alignment accuracy, directly resolving the technical contradiction.
2Productivity
If automated positioning is implemented, then operational speed and efficiency improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves multiple functions: it processes sensor data, determines threaded connection positions, controls tong assembly positioning, and monitors operational parameters. This multi-functionality justifies the system complexity by delivering significant productivity improvements through integrated automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the tong assembly positioning mechanism. This intermediary coordinates the automated positioning process, managing the complexity while enabling high-speed operational efficiency through systematic control.
3Reliability
If precise alignment is achieved through automation, then make-up and break-out safety improve, but initial setup and implementation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning adjustments automatically before the make-up and break-out operations begin. This preliminary automated alignment ensures safety during operations, and while setup time increases initially, the automated nature reduces ongoing operational time and improves overall efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for positioning a tong assembly relative to a tubular can include a sensor attached to the tong assembly, a control system that processes data received from the sensor and thereby identifies a location of the tong assembly relative to an end of the tubular, and at least one actuator controlled by the control system and configured to displace the tong assembly. A method of positioning a tong assembly relative to a tubular can include obtaining an image of an end of the tubular with a camera attached to a tong assembly, processing the image, thereby identifying a location of the tong assembly relative to the tubular end, comparing the identified location with a desired location of the tong assembly relative to the tubular end, and displacing the tong assembly, thereby reducing a difference between the desired location and the identified location.