Deep-well, continuous-coiled-tubing apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A system for injecting or withdrawing a fluid into or from a well is provided. The system includes an injector vehicle having a longitudinal axis and operable to position tubing into the well. The system also includes a tubing supply vehicle operable to provide the tubing to the injector vehicle for positioning in the well. In one aspect of the invention, the tubing is mounted on at least one spool, wherein the longitudinal axis of the injector vehicle is transverse to an axis of rotation of the spool and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubing supply vehicle. In a separate aspect of the invention, a spiral guide is used to transition tubing during spooling and unspooling between a plurality of empty and full spools. In yet a separate aspect of the invention, a spool is vertically adjustable to allow rotation of the spool during spooling and unspooling. A method of use is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for injecting or withdrawing a fluid into or from a well, comprising: 
 an injector vehicle operable to position a moderately flexible tubing into the well, the injector vehicle having a longitudinal center axis;    a tubing supply vehicle having a longitudinal center axis and operable to provide the moderately flexible tubing to the injector vehicle for positioning in the well, wherein the moderately flexible tubing is mounted on at least one spool, the at least one spool having an axis of rotation, wherein the longitudinal center axis of the injector vehicle is transverse to the axis of rotation of the at least one spool and transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the tubing supply vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spool includes flanges.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising roller bearings under said flanges.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said moderately flexible tubing comprises steel tubing.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one spool is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the tubing supply vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal center axis of the tubing supply vehicle is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the injector vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing supply vehicle comprises a propulsion system.  
     
     
         8 . A vehicle for supplying moderately flexible coiled tubing, comprising: 
 a bed;    a spooling assembly located on the bed, wherein the spooling assembly comprises at least one spiral guide member operable to transition spooling and unspooling of the moderately flexible coiled tubing from a first spool to an adjacent second spool of the spooling assembly, the at least one spiral guide member being positioned between the first and second spools.    
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising a longitudinal axis, and wherein the spooling assembly includes a rotational axis, the longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with the rotational axis.  
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein said longitudinal axis of the vehicle is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of an adjacent injector vehicle.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the first spool and the second spool include flanges.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising roller bearings under said flanges.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the spiral guide member includes a substantially spiral shaped path for the moderately flexible coiled tubing.  
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle comprises a propulsion system.  
     
     
         15 . A method for supplying moderately flexible tubing to a well, comprising: 
 providing (a) an injector vehicle operable to position the moderately flexible tubing into the well, the injector vehicle having a longitudinal center axis, and (b) a tubing supply vehicle having a longitudinal center axis and operable to provide the moderately flexible tubing to the injector vehicle for positioning in the well, wherein the moderately flexible tubing is mounted on at least one spool, the at least one spool having an axis of rotation, wherein the longitudinal center axis of the injector vehicle is transverse to the axis of rotation of the at least one spool and transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the tubing supply vehicle;    unspooling the moderately flexible tubing from the at least one spool;    feeding the unspooled moderately flexible tubing to the injector vehicle; and    introducing the unspooled moderately flexible tubing into the well.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of moving the at least one spool at least once during said unspooling step.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of respooling the moderately flexible tubing on to the at least one spool after said introducing step.  
     
     
         18 . A vehicle for supplying moderately flexible coiled tubing, comprising: 
 a bed;    a spooling assembly located on the bed, wherein the spooling assembly is configured to be raised and lowered relative to the bed.    
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the spooling assembly comprises a spool having a length and a height, and wherein the length exceeds the height.  
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein said spool further comprises two substantially semi-circular ends having diameters substantially equal to the height of the spool, said substantially semi-circular ends being separated by a substantially straight section having a span, wherein the length of the spool is the span of the substantially straight section plus the height of the spool.  
     
     
         21 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the spooling assembly has at least two elongated supports on each side of the spool and wherein the at least two elongated supports on each side of the spool are movably connected to one another.  
     
     
         22 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein an angle between the two movably connected, elongated supports has a first value when the spool is in a first lowered position relative to the bed and a second value when the spool is in a second raised position relative to the bed, wherein the first lowered position is lower relative to the bed than the second raised position, and wherein the first value exceeds the second value.  
     
     
         23 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the vehicle is configured as a trailer.  
     
     
         24 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , further comprising means for raising and lowering the spool.