INSTALLATION OF TUBULAR STRINGS WITH LINES SECURED
THERETO IN SUBTERRANEAN WELLS
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized
and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean
well and, in an example described below, more particularly
provides for installation of tubular strings with lines
secured thereto in wells.
BACKGROUND
It would be advantageous to be able to quickly,
reliably and economically attach lines to a tubular string
as it is being lowered into a well. This would enable the
tubular string and the lines to be conveniently installed
together, without significantly impeding the installation of
either of these. Such an attachment system should also
preferably protect the lines during installation.
SUMMARY
In the disclosure below, an attachment system and
method are provided which bring improvements to the art of
securing lines to tubular strings. One example is described
below in which a support protects a line within a recess
formed in the support. Another example is described below
in which the line is retained in the recess by a rotatable
clip.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides to the
art a system which attaches at least one line to a tubular
string. The system can include at least one clip pivotably
secured on one side of a recess. At least one structure is
positioned on an opposite side of the recess. Rotation of
the clip into engagement with the structure secures the line
in the recess.
In another aspect, a method of attaching at least one
line to a tubular string is provided by the disclosure. The
method can include securing the line to a support on the
tubular string as the tubular string is being conveyed into
a wellbore. The securing step further includes rotating at
least one clip into engagement with at least one structure,
thereby preventing removal of the line from a recess formed
in the support.
These and other features, advantages and benefits will
become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon
careful consideration of the detailed description of
representative examples below and the accompanying drawings,
in which similar elements are indicated in the various
figures using the same reference numbers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic partially cross-sectional view of
a well system and associated method which can embody
principles of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged scale elevational view
of a line attachment system which can embody principles of
this disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged scale elevational view
of a clip which may be used in the attachment system.
FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged scale plan view of the
clip.
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the clip engaged
with a structure in a support of the attachment system.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
attachment system, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
attachment system, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of a well screen
joint in the attachment system.
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the well
screen joint, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Representatively illustrated in FIG. 1 is a well system
10 and associated method which can embody principles of this
disclosure. As depicted in FIG. 1 , a tubular string 12 is
being conveyed into a wellbore 14. As the tubular string 12
is being lowered into the wellbore 14, a cable 16 comprising
one or more lines (e.g., hydraulic or electrical lines,
optical waveguides, etc.) is attached to the exterior of the
tubular string, such as, by unrolling the cable from a reel
or spool 18 at the surface and securing the cable to
exteriors of well screens 22 interconnected as part of the
tubular string.
At this point it should be understood that the system
10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely one example of a wide
variety of different systems that can embody principles of
this disclosure. For example, although the wellbore 14 is
depicted in FIG. 1 as being cased, the wellbore could be
uncased or open hole in other systems. As another example,
the cable 16 is not necessarily unrolled from a reel 18 at
the surface, and the cable is not necessarily attached to an
exterior surface of a well screen 22, in systems which
utilize the principles of this disclosure. Those principles
are not limited at all to any of the details of any of the
examples shown in the drawings and otherwise described in
this specification.
Although not visible in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 2), a line
attachment system 20 is used to secure the cable 16 to the
tubular string 12 as it enters the wellbore 14. The line
attachment system 20 preferably provides for quick,
efficient and convenient attachment of the cable 16 to the
tubular string 12.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 2 , an enlarged scale
view of a section of the tubular string 12 (including a part
of one of the well screens 22) is representatively
illustrated. In this view, it can be seen that the line
attachment system 20 includes clips 24 which extend
laterally over the cable 16 to secure it to an exterior of
the well screen 22.
As described more fully below, the clip 24 is pivotably
attached to a support 26 on one side of a channel or
longitudinal recess 28 formed in the support. The clip 24
engages an opening or other structure 30 on an opposite side
of the recess 28.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 3 , an enlarged scale
view of the clip 2 4 apart from the remainder of the system
2 0 is representatively illustrated. In this view, it can be
seen that the clip 2 4 includes an elongated eye 3 2 for
receiving a pivot pin, resilient locking fingers 3 4 , and a
body 3 6 extending between the eye and the locking fingers.
The locking fingers 3 4 each have shoulders 3 8 formed thereon
for preventing removal of the fingers from the opening or
structure 3 0 .
Referring additionally now to FIG. 4 , a plan view of
the clip 2 4 is representatively illustrated. In this view,
it can be seen that the clip 2 4 includes three locking
fingers 3 4 .
Engagement between the locking fingers 3 4 and the
opening or structure 3 0 prevents one end of the clip 2 4 from
being detached from the support 2 6 on one side of the recess
2 8 . The other end of the clip 2 4 is pivotably attached on
an opposite side of the recess 2 8 . Thus, when the locking
fingers 3 4 are engaged with the structure 3 0 , the body 3 6 of
the clip 2 4 prevents removal of the cable 1 6 from the recess
2 8 .
Although the "male" structure of this locking
engagement (the locking fingers 3 4 ) is depicted as being on
the clip 2 4 , and the "female" part of this locking
engagement (the opening) is depicted as being on the support
2 6 , it will be appreciated that the male and female
structures could be reversed, other types of structures
(whether or not they are male or female) could be used,
etc., in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 5 , the manner in
which the clip 2 4 and support 2 6 operate to secure the cable
1 6 to the exterior of the well screen 2 2 is representatively
illustrated. Note that the clip 24 has been rotated about a
pivot pin 40, so that the body 36 overlies the cable 16,
thereby preventing removal of the cable from the recess 28,
and the locking fingers 34 have been pushed into the
structure 30.
The cable 16 is now securely attached to the well
screen 22, and is protected within the recess 28, so that it
will not be damaged during conveyance and installation in
the wellbore 14. It will be appreciated that the procedure
for securing the cable 16 is quite easily accomplished --
involving merely rotation of the clip 24 over the cable 16
and snapping the fingers 34 into the structure 30. Thus,
the operation can be performed quickly, efficiently,
accurately, conveniently, and without significantly impeding
the installation of the tubular string 12 in the wellbore
14.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional
view of the attachment system 20 is representatively
illustrated. In this view, the manner in which the body 36
of the clip 24 retains the cable 16 in the recess 28 can be
seen. Preferably, the body 36 is configured so that it
applies a biasing force to the cable 16 when the locking
fingers 34 are engaged with the structure 30.
In this view, it may also be seen that the well screen
22 in this example includes an outer shroud 42, an
intermediate layer 44, a filter layer 46 (e.g., wire wraps),
a drainage layer 48 (e.g., longitudinally extending rods)
and a base pipe 50. The well screen 22 operates to filter
debris (sand, fines, etc.) from fluid passing through the
shroud 42, layers 44, 46, 48 and into a flow passage 52
extending through the base pipe 50 and the remainder of the
tubular string 12. Of course, other types of well screens
(e.g., sintered, wire mesh, prepacked, expanded, etc.), any
number or type of layers may be used, etc., in keeping with
the principles of this disclosure.
The cable 16, as depicted in FIG. 6 , includes several
lines 16a-c. The lines 16a-c can include any number
(including one) or combination of lines, such as, electrical
lines, hydraulic lines, fiber optic lines (or other optical
waveguides), or any other types of lines.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 7 , a cross-sectional
view of the well screen 22 and attachment system 20 is
representatively illustrated. In this view, the manner in
which the support 26 is attached to the well screen 22 can
be seen.
Note that the support 26 is in this example welded to
an outer surface of the outer shroud 42. However, in other
examples, the support 26 could be formed as part of the
shroud 42, the support could be otherwise attached to the
shroud, the support could be attached to, or part of,
another component of the well screen 22, etc.
At the end of the well screen 22, an end ring 54 abuts
the support 26 and provides a transition to the remainder of
the tubular string 12. A longitudinal recess 56 formed in
the end ring 54 is aligned with the recess 28 in the support
26 and receives the cable 16 therein. The recess 56 is
preferably inclined to provide a smooth transition in the
radial direction, due to the different diameters of the well
screen 22 and the remainder of the tubular string 12.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 8 , another
protective device 58 is used to protect the cable 16 between
two well screens 22. The protective device 58 includes a
recess 60 therein which is aligned with the recesses 28 in
the supports 26 attached to the well screens 22.
Referring additionally now to FIG. 9 , a cross-sectional
view of the protective device 58 and well screen 22 is
representatively illustrated. The protective device 58 may
be attached (e.g., by welding, bonding, integrally forming,
molding, or any other technique) directly to the base pipe
50, to the shroud 42, the support 26 and/or any other
components of the well screen 22 or tubular string 12.
It may now be fully appreciated that the above
disclosure provides significant advancements to the art of
attaching lines to tubular strings. In the example of the
system 10 and method described above, the cable 16 can be
readily attached to the tubular string 12 while it is being
installed in the wellbore 14.
The above disclosure provides to the art a system 20
which attaches at least one line 16a-c to a tubular string
12. The system 20 can include at least one clip 24
pivotably secured on one side of a recess 28, and at least
one structure 30 positioned on an opposite side of the
recess 28. Rotation of the clip 24 into engagement with the
structure 30 secures the line 16a-c in the recess 28.
The structure 30 may comprise an opening. The opening
may be formed in a support 26. The recess 28 may also be
formed in the support 26. The clip 24 can be pivotably
secured to the support 26.
The support 26 may be secured to a well screen 22. The
system 20 can also include an end ring 54 which abuts an end
of the support 26 and secures the support 26 to a base pipe
50 of the well screen 22.
The clip 24 may be rotated into engagement with the
structure 30 as the tubular string 12 is conveyed into a
wellbore 14.
Also described by the above disclosure is a method of
attaching at least one line 16a-c to a tubular string 12.
The method can include securing the line 16a-c to a support
26 on the tubular string 12 as the tubular string is being
conveyed into a wellbore 14. The securing step may comprise
rotating at least one clip 24 into engagement with at least
one structure 30, thereby preventing removal of the line
16a-c from a recess 28 formed in the support 26.
It is to be understood that the various examples
described above may be utilized in various orientations,
such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and
in various configurations, without departing from the
principles of the present disclosure. The embodiments
illustrated in the drawings are depicted and described
merely as examples of useful applications of the principles
of the disclosure, which are not limited to any specific
details of these embodiments.
Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a
careful consideration of the above description of
representative embodiments, readily appreciate that many
modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and
other changes may be made to these specific embodiments, and
such changes are within the scope of the principles of the
present disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed
description is to be clearly understood as being given by
way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope
of the present invention being limited solely by the
appended claims and their equivalents.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1 . A system which attaches at least one line to a
tubular string, the system comprising:
at least one clip pivotably secured on a first side of
a recess;
at least one structure positioned on a second side of
the recess opposite from the first side; and
wherein rotation of the clip into engagement with the
structure secures the line in the recess.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure
comprises an opening.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the opening is
formed in a support .
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the recess is
formed in the support.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the clip is
pivotably secured to the support.
6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the support is
secured to a well screen.
7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising an end
ring which abuts an end of the support and secures the
support to a base pipe of the well screen.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the clip is rotated
into engagement with the structure as the tubular string is
conveyed into a wellbore.
9 . A method of attaching at least one line to a
tubular string, the method comprising:
securing the line to a support on the tubular string as
the tubular string is being conveyed into a wellbore; and
the securing step further comprising rotating at least
one clip into engagement with at least one structure,
thereby preventing removal of the line from a recess formed
in the support.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the clip is
pivotably secured on a first side of the recess.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the structure is
positioned on a second side of the recess opposite from the
first side.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the structure
comprises an opening.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the opening is
formed in the support.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the recess is
formed in the support.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the clip is
pivotably secured to the support.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the support is
secured to a well screen.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising an end
ring which abuts an end of the support and secures the
support to a base pipe of the well screen.