Method of Direct Hot Tapping Into A Multiple Production String Without Removing Outer Layers of Casing

Abstract

A method of hot tapping into a multiple string configuration for obtaining access to the production tubing without removing outer layers of casing by providing a multiple casing string that includes at least an outer casing and an inner casing or production string; mounting a clamp assembly around the wall of the outer casing; hot tapping a small opening through the outer casing wall to capture any pressurized fluid through the opening; cutting first and second large openings through the wall of the outer casing to access the inner casing, each opening being approximately 180 degrees from the other opening; through the first opening, drilling a small hole through the wall of the inner casing to capture any pressurized fluid through the opening in the inner casing; and inserting an anvil through the second opening to contact and stabilize the wall of the inner casing to prevent the casing from moving while the casing is drilled.

1 . A hot tapping clamp assembly comprising:
 a front clamp plate comprising:
 a first side capable of receiving a hot tapping seal assembly, 
 a second side capable of engaging with an outer surface of a pipe, and 
 an access bore extending through the first side and the second side; and 
   one or more tensioning mechanisms coupled to the front clamp plate, wherein the one or more tensioning mechanisms are capable of securing the front clamp plate to the outer surface of the pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the access bore provides access for a bore saw to drill an access hole between approximately 3¼ inches in diameter and approximately 8 inches in diameter in the pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tensioning mechanisms are coupled to the front clamp plate via one or more tensioning nuts. 
     
     
         4 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more tensioning nuts are capable of generating a clamping load between the front plate clamp and outer surface of the pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tensioning mechanisms comprise one or more of hydraulic cylinders, tensioning chains, and tensioning rods. 
     
     
         6 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the front clamp plate comprises one or more support segments for engaging with the outer surface of the pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the front clamp plate comprises one or more bolts for securing the hot tapping seal assembly to the first side of the front clamp plate. 
     
     
         8 . The hot tapping clamp assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear clamp plate comprising:
 a first side capable of receiving a rear support assembly;   a second side capable of engaging with the outer surface of the pipe; and   a rear access bore extending through the first side and the second side.   
     
     
         9 . A hot tapping seal assembly comprising:
 a plate, the plate comprising a hot tapping bore extending through the plate and at least one side capable of engaging with a hot tapping clamp assembly;   a hot tapping tubular connected to the plate through the hot tapping bore; and   a hot tapping seal coupled to the plate via the hot tapping tubular and capable of engaging with an outer surface of a pipe.   
     
     
         10 . The hot tapping seal assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a donut coupled to the at least one side of the plate and having a donut hole continuous with the hot tapping bore, wherein the donut is sized to encircle the hot tapping tubular and mate with an access bore of the hot tapping clamp assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The hot tapping seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein, via the donut, the hot tapping seal is capable of articulating about an angle perpendicular to the plate. 
     
     
         12 . The hot tapping seal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the hot tapping tubular is capable of receiving a seal extension to extend the distance between the hot tapping seal and the plate. 
     
     
         13 . The hot tapping seal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the hot tapping seal comprises a radius of curvature substantially matching a radius of curvature of the pipe. 
     
     
         14 . A hot tapping assembly comprising:
 a hot tapping clamp comprising a clamp plate, the clamp plate capable of engaging with the outer surface of a pipe and having an access bore for accessing the outer surface of the pipe; and   a hot tapping seal assembly engaged with the clamp plate, the hot tapping seal assembly comprising a hot tapping seal capable of engaging with the outer surface of the pipe through the access bore.   
     
     
         15 . The hot tapping assembly of  claim 14 , the hot tapping seal assembly further comprising a seal plate for engaging with the clamp plate, and an offset gap between the seal plate and the clamp plate when the hot tapping seal assembly and the clamp plate are engaged. 
     
     
         16 . A method of hot tapping into a pipe, the method comprising:
 mounting a hot tapping clamp assembly around an outer surface of a pipe, the hot tapping clamp assembly comprising a front clamp plate having a front access bore;   drilling, through the front access bore, an access hole in the outer surface of the pipe to access a first internal pipe;   mounting a hot tapping seal assembly to the front clamp plate, the hot tapping seal assembly comprising a hot tapping seal;   contacting, through the front access bore, the hot tapping seal to the outer surface of the first internal pipe;   hot tapping the outer surface of the first internal pipe through the hot tapping seal; and   wherein the mounting connection between the hot tapping seal assembly and the front clamp plate creates a force to cause a seal between the hot tapping seal and the outer surface of the pipe.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing the hot tapping seal assembly from the front clamp plate;   drilling, through the front access bore, an access hole in the outer surface of the first internal pipe to access a second internal pipe;   mounting a second hot tapping seal assembly to the front clamp plate, the second hot tapping seal assembly comprising a second hot tapping seal;   contacting, through the front access bore, the second hot tapping seal to an outer surface of the second internal pipe; and   hot tapping the outer surface of the second internal pipe through the second hot tapping seal.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein prior to drilling the access hole in the outer surface of the first internal pipe, the method further comprising:
 repositioning the hot tapping clamp assembly around the outer surface of the pipe;   
       and drilling, through the front access bore, a further access hole in the outer surface of the pipe to access the first internal pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein prior to drilling the access hole in the outer surface of the first internal pipe, the method further comprising:
 mounting a third hot tapping seal assembly to the front clamp plate, the third hot tapping seal assembly comprising a third hot tapping seal;   contacting, through the front access bore, the third hot tapping seal to the outer surface of the pipe; and   hot tapping the outer surface of the pipe through the third hot tapping seal.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting a seal extension into the hot tapping seal assembly to ensure the hot tapping seal substantially contacts the outer surface of the first internal pipe. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising contacting the hot tapping seal to the outer surface of the first internal pipe by articulating a hot tapping tubular that is part of the hot tapping seal assembly about an angle perpendicular to the outer surface of the first internal pipe when the internal pipe is off center. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hot tapping clamp assembly further comprises a rear clamp plate having a rear access bore, the method further comprising:
 drilling, through the rear access bore, an access hole in the outer surface of the pipe to access the first internal pipe; and   mounting a rear support assembly to the rear clamp plate, the rear support assembly comprising a support anvil.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising mounting the hot tapping seal assembly to the front clamp plate by engaging a seal plate of the hot tapping seal assembly to the front clamp plate, the seal plate and the front clamp plate comprising an offset gap. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising applying a tension force between the seal plate and the front clamp plate to cause a seal between the hot tapping seal and the outer surface of the pipe. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising contacting the hot tapping seal to the outer surface of the first internal pipe by rotating the hot tapping clamp assembly to center the internal pipe in the front access bore.