Rigless well intervention apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a rigless well intervention apparatus and method for well completion, recompletion, servicing, workover and intervention. Specifically, the present invention relates to a rigless well intervention apparatus and method for performing various well completion, recompletion, servicing, workover and intervention operations that pertains to a range of products, services and techniques whether designed to be run through, or conducted within, the production tubing of an oil or gas well, or not, ranging from the ability to operate within a restricted diameter tubular with live-well intervention when the tubing is in place to the ability to drill the well.

1 . A rigless well intervention apparatus comprising:
 a substructure frame having at least a first level and a second level;   at least one first lifting device in operative association with the first level, the second level, or combinations thereof, wherein said at least one first lifting device is operative to control a distance between the first level and the second level for moving a well component associated with the first level or the second level;   a second lifting device disposed on the substructure frame for moving the well component, an additional well component, or combinations thereof;   a first strain gauge in operative association with said at least one first lifting device, wherein the first strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component associated with said at least one first lifting device; and   a second strain gauge in operative association with the second lifting device, wherein the second strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component, the additional well component, or combinations thereof, associated with the second lifting device.   
     
     
         2 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first lifting device comprises a cylinder mechanism disposed between the first level and the second level, and wherein the cylinder mechanism is operable to raise and lower the second level relative to the first level. 
     
     
         3 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second lifting device comprises an additional cylinder mechanism disposed between the first level and the second level, and wherein the additional cylinder mechanism is operable to raise and lower the second level relative to the first level 
     
     
         4 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a gripping apparatus disposed on the second level for gripping the well component, wherein the cylinder mechanism is operable to move the well component concurrent with raising and lowering the second level relative to the first level. 
     
     
         5 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second lifting device comprises a gallows type lifting device for moving the well component disposed on an upper level of the substructure frame. 
     
     
         6 . A rigless well intervention apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a plurality of levels;   a gripping apparatus disposed on a selected level of the plurality of levels for gripping a well component;   at least one cylinder mechanism in operative association with the selected level, wherein said at least one cylinder mechanism is operable to raise and lower the selected level relative to at least one other level, thereby moving the well component; and   a strain gauge in operative association with said at least one cylinder mechanism, wherein the strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component associated with said at least one cylinder mechanism.   
     
     
         7 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of levels comprises a top level above the selected level and a base level below the selected level. 
     
     
         8 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a gallows type lifting device disposed on the top level for moving the well component. 
     
     
         9 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one additional cylinder mechanism in operative association with the selected level, wherein said at least one additional cylinder mechanism is operable to raise and lower the selected level relative to said at least one other level, thereby moving the well component; and   an additional strain gauge in operative association with said at least one additional cylinder mechanism, wherein the additional strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component associated with said at least one additional cylinder mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . A rigless well intervention apparatus comprising:
 a base level;   an intermediate level above the base level, wherein the intermediate level comprises a spider elevator for gripping a well component;   a top level above the intermediate level, wherein the top level comprises a gallows type lifting device for moving the well component;   at least one cylinder mechanism in operative association with the intermediate level, wherein said at least one cylinder mechanism is operable to raise and lower the intermediate level relative to the top level, the base level, or combinations thereof, thereby moving the well component; and   a strain gauge in operative association with said at least one cylinder mechanism, wherein the strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component associated with said at least one additional cylinder mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one additional cylinder mechanism in operative association with the intermediate level, wherein said at least one additional cylinder mechanism is operable to raise and lower the intermediate level relative to said at least one other level, thereby moving the well component; and   an additional strain gauge in operative association with said at least one additional cylinder mechanism, wherein the additional strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component associated with said at least one additional cylinder mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The rigless well intervention apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an additional strain gauge in operative association with the spider elevator, the gallows type lifting device, or combinations thereof, wherein the additional strain gauge monitors a weight of the well component associated with the spider elevator, the gallows type lifting device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A rigless method for performing well operations comprising:
 providing a substructure frame comprising a plurality of levels;   providing a well component in association with a selected level of the plurality of levels;   moving the selected level relative to at least one other level, thereby moving the well component;   monitoring a weight of the well component while moving the selected level; and   modifying a rate of movement of the selected level responsive to the weight of the well component.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the well component in association with the selected level comprises gripping the well component using a gripping apparatus disposed on the selected level. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving the selected level relative to at least one other level comprises actuating at least one cylinder mechanism disposed in operative association with the selected level to raise or lower the selected level. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein monitoring the weight of the well component comprises using a strain gauge in operative association with said at least one cylinder mechanism to measure weight associated with said at least one cylinder mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . A rigless method for performing well operations comprising:
 providing a structure having a first level comprising a gripping apparatus disposed thereon, at least one cylinder mechanism in operative association with the first level, and a strain gauge in operative association with said at least one cylinder mechanism;   gripping a well component with the gripping apparatus;   actuating said at least one cylinder mechanism to move the first level relative to an additional level of the structure, thereby moving the well component;   monitoring a weight of the well component associated with said at least one cylinder mechanism using the strain gauge; and   modifying a rate of movement of the first level responsive to the weight of the well component.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the structure further comprises a second level above the first level having a gallows type lifting device disposed thereon, the method further comprising moving the well component using the gallows type lifting device, moving an additional well component using the gallows type lifting device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising monitoring a weight of the well component, the additional well component, or combinations thereof, associated with the gallows type lifting device using an additional strain gauge and modifying a rate of lifting of the gallows type lifting device responsive to the weight. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising determining a total weight using the strain gauge and the additional strain gauge and modifying the rate of movement of the first level, the rate of lifting of the gallows type lifting device, or combinations thereof, responsive to the total weight.