Injector and slip bowl system

Abstract

Methods and systems for moving a tubular member in and out of a well are disclosed. An injector and slip bowl system includes an injector apparatus. The injector apparatus includes a support structure and an injector located above the support structure. The injector includes a base and a carriage extending upward from the base and coupled to the base. The injector also includes a gripper chain system mounted in the carriage. The gripper chain system includes one or more gripper chains and one or more linear beams supporting the one or more gripper chains. The injector apparatus further includes a lifting means coupled to the support structure and a slip bowl assembly coupled to the support structure and located below the injector base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An injector apparatus for moving a tubular member in and out of a well comprising:
 a support structure;   an injector located above the support structure and comprising:
 a base; 
 a carriage extending upward from the base and coupled to the base; and 
 a gripper chain system mounted in the carriage and comprising one or more gripper chains and one or more linear beams supporting the one or more gripper chains; 
   one or more hydraulic cylinders coupled to the support structure,   wherein the one or more hydraulic cylinders are operable to move the injector;   a slip bowl assembly coupled to the support structure and located below the injector base.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydraulic cylinders comprise two hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the injector. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slip bowl assembly comprises one or more slip bowls. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripper chains comprise a roller chain and a plurality of gripper blocks. 
     
     
         6 . An injector and slip bowl system for moving a tubular member in and out of a well comprising:
 an injector apparatus comprising:   a support structure;   
       an injector located above the support structure and comprising:
 a base; 
 a carriage extending upward from the base and coupled to the base; 
 a gripper chain system mounted in the carriage and comprising one or more gripper chains and one or more linear beams supporting the one or more gripper chains; 
 a lifting means coupled to the support structure; and 
 a slip bowl assembly coupled to the support structure and located below the base. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lifting means is selected from a group consisting of one or more hydraulic cylinders, an electric actuator, a chain actuator, and draw works. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the gripper chains comprise a roller chain and a plurality of gripper blocks. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the slip bowl assembly comprises one or more slip bowls. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the gripper chains engage and release the tubular member along a longitudinal central axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the gripper blocks engage and release the tubular member along a longitudinal central axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the slip bowl assembly engages and releases the tubular member along a longitudinal central axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tubular member is directed downhole through the injector. 
     
     
         14 . A method for moving a tubular member in and out of a well comprising:
 directing the tubular member downhole through an injector;
 wherein the tubular member comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, and wherein the second segment has a larger diameter than the first segment and third segment; 
 wherein the injector comprises a base, a carriage extending upward from the base and coupled to the base, a gripper chain system mounted in the carriage and comprising one or more gripper chains and one or more linear beams supporting the one or more gripper chains, a lifting means coupled to the support structure, and a slip bowl assembly coupled to the support structure and located below the base; 
 wherein the gripper chains engage the first segment of the tubular member until the injector encounters the second segment; 
   engaging the slip bowl assembly, wherein the slip bowl assembly imparts a compressive force on the first segment of the tubular member;   moving the linear beams of the injector away from one another;   wherein the movement of the linear beams disengages the tubular member from the gripper chains;   actuating the lifting means to move the injector vertically with respect to a base of the injector until the injector is positioned above the second segment of the tubular member;   moving the one or more linear beams of the injector toward one another;   wherein the movement of the linear beams causes the gripper chains to engage the third segment of the tubular member; and   disengaging the slip bowl assembly from the first segment of the tubular member.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lifting means is selected from a group consisting of one or more hydraulic cylinders, an electric actuator, a chain actuator, and draw works. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first segment and the third segment have equal diameters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gripper chains comprise a roller chain and a plurality of gripper blocks. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gripper blocks of the gripper chains engage the tubular member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular member further comprises a fourth segment with a diameter greater than the first or third segments, and further comprising the step of directing the tubular member downhole through an injector until the injector encounters the fourth segment of the tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular member is disassembled below the injector apparatus.