Method and apparatus for coiling a continuous rod

Abstract

A coupling for use with a continuous rod and a reel, and a method of using the coupling to coil a continuous rod on the reel. The coupling includes a threaded box portion for threadedly connecting with an uphole pin end of the continuous rod. The coupling includes a connector for securing the coupling to the reel. Once secured to the reel by the coupling, the continuous rod can be coiled around the reel by rotation of the reel. In an example application, the connector may include a ring for securing the coupling to an outside guide pin of a collapsible service reel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of coiling a continuous rod onto a reel, the method comprising:
 threadedly connecting a coupling to an uphole pin end of the continuous rod;   securing the coupling to the reel; and   rotating the reel to coil the continuous rod onto the reel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reel comprises a service reel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the service reel comprises a collapsible service reel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein securing the coupling to the collapsible service reel comprises securing the coupling to a guide member extending from an arm of the collapsible service reel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein securing the coupling to the guide member comprises engaging a closed connector portion of the coupling with the guide member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein securing the coupling to the service reel comprises securing the coupling to a first guide member extending from an arm of the service reel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein securing the coupling to the first guide member comprises placing a ring connector portion of the coupling over the first guide member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the service reel comprises a plurality of paired inside guide members and outside guide members; 
 each pair of guide members extends from a separate arm of the service reel; and 
 the first guide member comprises an outside guide member. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein securing the coupling to the reel comprises engaging a closed connector portion of the coupling with an open connection point of the reel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein securing the coupling to the reel comprises engaging an open connector portion of the coupling with a closed connection point of the reel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein securing the coupling to the reel comprises engaging an open connector portion of the coupling with an open connection point of the reel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the coupling and the pin end each comprises American Petroleum Institute (“API”) standard rod threading. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the API standard rod threading is ¾″, ⅞″, 1″, 1 ⅛″, or 1 ¼″ rod threading. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the coupling is configured to separate under application of a failure force, separating the continuous rod from the reel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the coupling comprises a first portion reversibly connected with a second portion by a connection configured to separate under application of the failure force; 
 threadedly connecting the coupling to the uphole pin end of the continuous rod comprises connecting the first portion with the uphole pin end of the continuous rod; and 
 securing the coupling to the reel comprises connecting the second portion with the reel. 
 
     
     
         16 . A coupling for securing a continuous rod to a reel, the coupling comprising:
 a body;   a threaded box defined in the body for receiving a threaded pin end of the continuous rod; and   a connector extending from the body for connecting the coupling to the reel.   
     
     
         17 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the connector comprises a closed connector for securing the coupling to an open connection point on the reel. 
     
     
         18 . The coupling of  claim 16  further comprising a movable joint between the body and the connector. 
     
     
         19 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the connector extends from the body in a fixed relationship with respect to the body. 
     
     
         20 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the connector comprises an open connector for securing the coupling to a closed connection point on the reel or to an open connection point on the reel. 
     
     
         21 . The coupling of  claim 20  comprising a cover for reversibly closing an open portion of the open connector. 
     
     
         22 . The coupling of  claim 21  wherein the cover is engaged with the coupling by a pivot for pivoting between an open position with the open portion of the open connector exposed and a closed position with the open portion of the open connector covered. 
     
     
         23 . The coupling of  claim 21  wherein the cover is slidably received within the body for translating into the body to open the open connector and emerging from the body to close the open connector. 
     
     
         24 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the threaded box comprises American Petroleum Institute (“API”) standard rod threading. 
     
     
         25 . The coupling of  claim 24  wherein the API standard rod threading is ¾″, ⅞″, 1″, 1 ⅛″, or 1 ¼″ rod threading. 
     
     
         26 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the body comprises an elongate body extending between a first end and a second end, and the threaded box portion is defined on the first end. 
     
     
         27 . The coupling of  claim 26  wherein the connector is located on the body proximate the second end. 
     
     
         28 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the body comprises an angled portion between a the threaded box portion and the connector for offsetting the threaded box portion from the connector by an angle. 
     
     
         29 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein the body comprises:
 a first portion; and 
 a second portion reversibly connected with the first portion by a connection; 
 wherein: 
 the threaded box end is defined in the first portion; 
 the connector extends from the second portion; and 
 the connection fails, disconnecting the first portion from the second portion, under application of force, equal to or greater than a failure force, to the connection. 
 
     
     
         30 . The coupling of  claim 29  wherein the connection comprises a shear pin connecting the first portion with the second portion for shearing and disconnecting the first portion from the second portion, under application of the failure force. 
     
     
         31 . The coupling of  claim 30  wherein:
 the connection comprises a connection pin received within a connection box dimensioned to receive the connection pin; and 
 the shear pin is received within the connection pin and the connection box. 
 
     
     
         32 . The coupling of  claim 31  wherein the connection pin extends from the first portion and the connection box is defined in the second portion. 
     
     
         33 . The coupling of  claim 31  wherein the connection box is defined in the first portion and the connection pin extends from the second portion. 
     
     
         34 . A system for coiling a continuous rod comprising:
 a reel for coiling the continuous rod, the reel comprising a connection point;   a coupling for securing a continuous rod to the connection point, the coupling comprising:   a body;   a threaded box defined in the body for receiving a threaded pin end of the continuous rod; and   a connector extending from the body for connecting the coupling to the connection point.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the reel is a service reel. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the reel is a transport reel. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the connection point comprises an open connection point and the connector comprises an open connector or a closed connector. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the connection point comprises a closed connection point and the connector comprises an open connector. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34  wherein:
 the body comprises:
 a first portion; and 
 a second portion reversibly connected with the first portion by a connection; 
 
 the threaded box end is defined in the first portion; 
 the connector extends from the second portion; and 
 the connection fails, disconnecting the first portion from the second portion, under application of force, equal to or greater than a failure force, to the connection. 
 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the threaded box comprises American Petroleum Institute (“API”) standard rod threading. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the API standard rod threading is ¾″, ⅞″, 1″, 1 ⅛″, or 1 ¼″ rod threading.