United States Patent c191
`McLeod
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,632,183
`Dec. 30, 1986
`
`[54]
`
`[76]
`
`INSERTION DRIVE SYSTEM FOR TREE
`SAVERS
`Inventor: Roderick D. McLeod, 5104 125th St.,
`Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6H
`3V5
`[21] Appl. No.: 678,253
`[22] Filed:
`Dec. 5, 1984
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jan. 9, 1984 [CA] Canada ................................... 444889
`[51]
`Int. Cl,4 .............................................. F21B 19/00
`[52] U.S. Cl ......................................... 166/77; 166/80;
`254/29 R
`[58] Field of Search .................... 166/85, 80, 77, 77.5,
`166/379; 175/162, 170; 254/29 R, 29 A, 30, 31,
`103, DIG. 2; 74/89.15, 424."8 R; 100/290
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`131,746 10/1872 Dubois .............................. 254/29 R
`703,251 6/1902 Haire ..................................... 254/30
`1,498,062 6/1924 Albaugh ........................... 254/29 R
`1,895,132 1/1933 Minor .................................... 166/77
`
`[56]
`
`1,984,230 12/1934 Otis ................................... 166/77 X
`2,455,736 12/1948 Conley ............................ 252/263 X
`2,983,159 5/1961 Zeligowsky et al. .......... 74/89.15 X
`3.757.858 9/1973 Davis et al ............................ 166n7
`3,911,810 10/1975 Standbridge ........................ 100/290
`4,387,635 6/1983 Abbestam et al. .................. 100/214
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1094945 5/1978 Canada .................................... 43/26
`Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink
`Assistant Examiner-David J. Bagnell
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hubbard, Thurman, Turner
`& Tucker
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An insertion drive system for a well head tree saver
`includes a pair of parallel, spaced beams, a lower one of
`which is attached to the tree. High pressure tubing is
`held by the upper beam and is inserted into or with(cid:173)
`drawn from the tree by motor driven mechanical jack
`assemblies which lower or raise the upper beam relative
`to the lower beam. Manual operation of the jack assem(cid:173)
`blies is also provided.
`
`5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures
`
`GREENE’S ENERGY 1004
`
`000001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1986
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`4,632,183
`
`C\J
`
`(!) -LL.
`
`.
`(!) -LL.
`
`000002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1986
`
`Sheet2 of3
`
`4,632,183
`
`46
`
`46
`
`26
`
`44
`
`14
`
`--~
`60 \!
`'
`. >! I <--19
`-I I ..
`i ~22
`! i
`
`18
`
`24
`
`FIG. 3
`
`000003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1986
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`4,632,183
`
`146
`
`148
`
`146
`
`148
`
`144
`
`FIG. 4
`
`000004
`
`

`

`1
`
`4,632,183
`
`25
`
`INSERTION DRIVE SYSTEM FOR TREE SAVERS
`
`2
`Referring to FIG. 1, the casing head 10 has a master
`valve 12 secured to the upper end thereof. As shown in
`FIG. 1, the master valve 12 is in a closed position and a
`mandrel tube 14 with a nipple 16 on the lower end
`This invention relates to what is commonly known in
`the art as well head christmas trees and in particular to 5 thereof is about to be inserted into the casing head 10.
`an insertion drive system for a tree saver.
`As shown in FIG. 2, the valve 12 is opened and the
`Drive systems for inserting high pressure tubing for
`drive system of the present invention lowers the man-
`example through a master valve or set of valves of a
`drel tube 14 and its nipple 16 down through the valve
`christmas tree into the area of the casing head, are well
`apparatus. Turning to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the
`known, one example being shown in Canadian Pat. No. 10 drive system according to the invention includes a first
`1,094,945. Typically, the drive system includes one or a
`or lower beam 18 is rigidly attached to a sleeve 20 of the
`pair of hydraulic rams one end of which is secured to
`apparatus. An adapter 21 is secured to the wellhead
`the casing head, the other end forming a part of the
`valve tree at flange 23, and nut 25 secures the tree saver
`insertion mechanism. While the existing, hydraulic
`to the adapter 21. One, two or any multiple of offset
`drive systems generally function in a satisfactory man- 15 precision screws 22 (two being illustrated) are rigidly
`ner, there are several draw backs to these existing sys-
`secured to the beam 18 such as by nuts 24.
`terns. For example, hydraulic cylinders do not always
`A second, upper beam 26 is spaced from and located
`move equally which can cause bending of piston rods
`parallel with the lower beam 18 and the upper beam 26
`and high pressure tubing. Hydraulic cylinders also have
`securely retains the mandrel tube high pressure tubing
`seals which can leak and cause movement problems and 20 14, top remote valve 28 and a pair of jack assemblies 30
`sometimes complete failure of the system. A break in a
`and 32 secured to the upper beam. As illustrated, a
`hydraulic cylinder line can be catastrophic and the high
`motor means 34 which can be operated hydraulically,
`pressure tube to be inserted in the casing head can be
`pneumatically or electrically, is secured to the drive of
`blown out of the christmas tree. Loss of hydraulic
`one of the jack assemblies, 30 by means of an adaptor 35,
`power renders a hydraulic cylinder inoperational and
`a shaft 36 taking the drive to the second jack assembly
`hydraulic systems in general are prone to catching fire,
`32.
`if anything leaks while flames are present.
`A female screw gear 38 is mounted in a housing 40 by
`The drive systems according to the present invention
`means of bearings 42 and engages the threads of shafts
`provide substantial improvements in the art and incor- 30 22, gear 38 being rotated by the motor means 34. A
`manually operated crank 44 can be used to actuate the
`porate mechanical screw jack assemblies to move the
`insertion system into or out of the christmas tree appara-
`device if motor failure should occur.
`tus. The screw jack assemblies advance precisely as
`In operation, the motor means 34 drives the female
`they are supplied with a rotary cranking motion and as
`screw gear 38 on the surface of the shaft 22. Because the
`they have no seal or pressures involved in their opera- 35 screw 38 is restrained from moving out of its housing
`40, the housing and beam 26 move downwardly. The
`tion, they are inherently safe. Moreover, screw jacks
`are self-locking if the motive force used to operate them
`shaft 36 transmits the rotational movement to the sec-
`ceases to function and such loss of motor power can be
`ond jack assembly 32 causing the beam 26 to move
`overcome through the use of manual means such as a
`downward with equal force on both sides, the mandrel
`hand crank. Further, screw jack arrangements can be 40 tube 14 being lowered into the christmas tree valve
`operated by pneumatic, electric or hydraulic motors in
`assembly as a result.
`If power to the motor means 34 should fail, the man-
`unsafe conditions.
`According to a broad aspect, the present invention
`ual crank 44 can be used to operate the jack assemblies.
`relates to a drive system for inserting tubing or the like
`The upper ends of the threaded shaft 22 are provided
`into a well head tree, the system comprising a first beam 45 with tubular covers 46 for protection.
`In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the threaded shafts 22
`attached to the christmas tree, the second beam parallel
`to and spaced above the first beam, means securing the
`are stationary, the drive means being mounted on the
`tubing to the second, upper beam and a pair of mechani-
`upper beam and actuation of the motor means serving to
`lower the upper beam and the assembly it carries. In the
`cal jack assemblies interconnecting the beams and
`means for actuating the assemblies for moving the sec- 50 embodiment of FIG. 4, the threaded shafts are free to
`ond, upper beam toward the first, lower beam.
`rotate, the drive means being secured to the lower
`The invention is illustrated by way of example in the
`beam.
`accompanying drawings in which:
`Turning now to FIG. 4, lower beam 118 is again
`FIG.1 is a sectional view ofa well casing head show-
`secured to a sleeve 120 that is mounted on an adaptor
`ing a typical christmas tree master valve;
`55 121 by nut 125, adapter 121 being secured to flange 123
`FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a
`of the wellhead valve tree. The upper beam 126 is
`spaced above and parallel to the lower beam. The jack.
`nipple being inserted into the tree arrangement;
`FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partly in section, of one
`assemblies 130 and 132 are secured to the bottom sur-
`embodiment of the drive system according to the inven-
`face of the lower beam 118 and connected to motor
`·
`tion; and
`60 means 134 by way of an adaptor 135. The shafts 122 are
`FIG. 4 is an elevation view also partly in section of
`free to rotate in the beams 118 and 126, the latter includ-
`another embodiment of the invention.
`ing captive nuts 148 rigidly secured thereto and thread-
`By inserting high pressure tubing or a mandrel and
`ably engaging the outer surface of the shaft 122. As in
`pack-off nipple, as shown is FIG. 1, through the master
`the previous embodiment, the upper beam 126 carries
`valve or set of valves into the area of the casing head, 65 the upper valve 128 and the mandrel tubing 114. Valve
`28 or 128 can be located away from the tree saver and
`fluids etc. are allowed to be pumped through an upper,
`remote valve, through the christmas tree without con-
`a flexible steel line, not shown, can connect the valve to
`tacting the internal parts thereof.
`the top of the tree saver.
`
`000005
`
`

`

`10
`
`3
`The female screw gear 138 is secured to the lower
`end of the shaft 122 by means of a key 150 and pin 152.
`Accordingly, the threaded shafts 122 are secured to
`beams 118 but are free to rotate.
`As motor means 134 rotates the shafts 122 the interac- 5
`tion between the upper ends of the shafts and the cap(cid:173)
`tive nuts 148 cause the upper beam 126 and its support(cid:173)
`ing apparatus to move downwardly to insert the tube
`114 through the christmas tree.
`In either embodiment, once the tube 114 has been
`lowered to its desired position· a lock ring 60 threadably
`engages a screw collar 62 to lock the tree saver mandrel
`tube 114 in place. Flexible sleeves 19, 119 may be used
`on the shafts 22, 122 respectively to inhibit the ingress of 15
`moisture, dirt, etc.
`While a pair of jack assemblies has been illustrated in
`these embodiments a single jack system is possible but
`would prove to be very cumbersome.
`Therefore, while the invention has been described in 20
`connection with specific embodiments thereof and in a
`specific use, various modifications will occur to those
`skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and
`scope of the invention as set forth in the appended
`claims.
`The terms and expressions used in this specification
`are so used as terms of description and not of limitation.
`There is no intention in the use of such terms and ex(cid:173)
`pressions to exclude any equivalence of the features
`shown and described or portions thereof. It is recog- 30
`nized that various modifications are possible within the
`scope of the invention claimed.
`The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu(cid:173)
`sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as 35
`follows:
`~· A drive system for inserting a mandrel tube into a
`well head tree saver, said system comprising:
`a pair of spaced beam members including a first,
`lower beam member adapted to be mounted onto 40
`said tree saver and through which said mandrel
`tube is to be inserted;
`a second, upper beam member parallel to and spaced
`above said first lower beam member;
`a pair of mechanical jack assemblies interconnecting 45
`said upper and lower beam members and compris(cid:173)
`ing a pair of parallel threaded shafts, one adjacent
`
`4
`each end of said beam members and extending
`therebetween;
`means on one of said beam members engaging the
`threads on said shafts;
`an interconnected, double gear drive means, one en(cid:173)
`gaging each of said jack assemblies, for moving
`said upper beam member relative to said lower
`beam member;
`said mandrel tube being secured in said upper beam
`member and adapted to be driven into or out of said
`lower beam member and said tree saver in response
`to movement of said upper beam member by said
`jack assemblies; and
`means on the upper and lower beam members for
`releasably locking the mandrel tube in place when
`said upper beam member has been moved to its
`lower position by said drive means.
`2. A drive system according to claim 1 including
`motor means engaging and actuating said intercon(cid:173)
`nected, double gear drive means and crank means en(cid:173)
`gaging said interconnected double gear drive means for
`manual operation thereof.
`3. A drive system according to claim 1 wherein said
`parallel threaded shafts are stationary, the lower ends
`25 thereof being secured against rotation in said first, lower
`beam member, said drive means being secured to the
`second, upper beam member whereby actuation thereof
`causes said upper beam member to travel along said
`stationary threaded shafts toward or away from said
`lower beam member.
`4. A drive system according to claim 1 wherein said
`jack assemblies and drive means are mounted on the
`lower beam member; said threaded shafts of said assem-
`blies being rotatable by said drive means and having
`their lower ends engaged by said double gear drive
`means; and captive nuts in the upper beam member
`threadably engaged by said shafts whereby actuation of
`the drive means rotates said shafts and moves the upper
`beam member toward or away from the lower beam
`member.
`5. A drive system according to claim 1 wherein said
`releasable locking means comprises a threaded collar
`secured to one of said beam members and a rotatable nut
`mounted on said other beam member; said collar and
`nut being concentrically located with and surrounding
`
`4,632,183
`
`said mandrel tube. • • • • •
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`000006
`
`