EP-4737678-A2 - CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR A TONG ASSEMBLY POSITIONING SYSTEM

Abstract

A tong positioning system includes a positioning device configured to move a tong assembly. The positioning device includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a control attachment attachable to the positioning device. The control attachment includes a shutoff valve fluidly coupled to a hydraulic supply, a control valve block, and a control device. The control valve block includes a hydraulic input fluidly coupled to the shutoff valve, a hydraulic output fluidly coupled to a hydraulic return, a first valve fluidly coupled to the first actuator, the first valve configured to actuate the first actuator, and a second valve fluidly coupled to the second actuator, the second valve configured to actuate the second actuator. The control device is configured to control the first valve and to control the second valve to actuate the first and second actuators to move the tong assembly.

Inventors

• MIGUTIN, Alexander
• HEIDECKE, KARSTEN
• HELMS, MARTIN

Assignees

• Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20211208

Claims (9)

1. A tong positioning system, comprising: a positioning device configured to move a tong assembly, the positioning device including: a first actuator; and a second actuator; a control attachment attachable to the positioning device, the control attachment including: a shutoff valve fluidly coupled to a hydraulic supply; a control valve block including: a hydraulic input fluidly coupled to the shutoff valve; a hydraulic output fluidly coupled to a hydraulic reservoir; a first valve fluidly coupled to the first actuator, the first valve configured to actuate the first actuator; and a second valve fluidly coupled to the second actuator, the second valve configured to actuate the second actuator; a control device configured to control the first valve and to control the second valve to actuate the first and second actuators to move the tong assembly, wherein the tong assembly comprises a power tong and a backup tong.
2. The tong positioning system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to control the shutoff valve to close fluid communication between the hydraulic supply and the hydraulic input.
3. The tong positioning system of claim 1, further comprising: a third actuator configured to raise or lower the tong assembly; wherein the control attachment further includes: a compensation valve block fluidly coupled to the third actuator, the compensation valve block including one or more valves; and wherein the control valve block includes a third valve fluidly coupled to the compensation valve block.
4. The tong positioning system of claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to control the third valve and the compensation valve block to actuate the third actuator.
5. The tong positioning system of claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to activate the compensation valve block for a thread compensation operation, wherein the thread compensation operation includes allowing a hydraulic fluid to flow from the compensation valve block to the third actuator to retract the third actuator in response to the travel of the power tong relative to the back-up tong of the tong assembly during a tubular break-out operation of the tong assembly.
6. The tong positioning system of claim 3, wherein the control attachment further includes at least one of a pressure sensor or a pressure transducer configured to measure a pressure in the third actuator, and wherein the compensation valve block is configured to actuate the third actuator to compensate for a thread makeup or a thread breakout operation of the tong assembly based on the pressure measurements.
7. The tong positioning system of claim 3, wherein the positioning device includes the third actuator.
8. The tong positioning system of claim 1, further comprising: a tong-side hydraulic supply line fluidly coupled to the shutoff valve, wherein the tong-side hydraulic supply line is configured to fluidly couple the tong assembly to the hydraulic supply; and a tong-side hydraulic return line fluidly coupled to a hydraulic return line of the control attachment, wherein the hydraulic return line of the control attachment is further fluidly coupled to the hydraulic output.
9. The tong positioning system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to control the tong assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND Field Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a control attachment for a tong positioning device. Description of the Related Art Tong assemblies are used for making up or breaking out threaded connections of tubulars. Tong assemblies are heavy and expensive. Positioning devices are used to move the tong assemblies about a worksite, and the positioning device may support a tong assembly during a makeup or breakout operation. Positioning devices are themselves heavy and expensive pieces of oilfield equipment. Tong assemblies and positioning devices are often both hydraulically actuated, requiring a complex hydraulic control system to operate the positioning device to actuate the positioning device to move the tong assembly and to supply hydraulic fluid to the tong assembly. Tong assembly technology is constantly improving, resulting in, for example, new power tongs that have a higher success rate of satisfactorily making up a threaded connection. While an oilfield operator may purchase or rent a new tong assembly, the operator may not be inclined to purchase a new positioning device. Therefore, there exists a need for a control attachment that can be attached to a positioning device, such as preexisting positioning devices with older technology, which is capable of controlling the new tong assemblies while also being capable of controlling the positioning device. As a result, an oilfield operator may use the same positioning device with a new tong assembly. SUMMARY In one embodiment, a tong positioning system includes a positioning device configured to move a tong assembly. The positioning device includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a control attachment attachable to the positioning device. The control attachment includes a shutoff valve fluidly coupled to a hydraulic supply, a control valve block, and a control device. The control valve block includes a hydraulic input fluidly coupled to the shutoff valve, a hydraulic output fluidly coupled to a hydraulic return, a first valve fluidly coupled to the first actuator, the first valve configured to actuate the first actuator, and a second valve fluidly coupled to the second actuator, the second valve configured to actuate the second actuator. The control device is configured to control the first valve and to control the second valve to actuate the first and second actuators to move the tong assembly. In one embodiment, a tong positioning system includes a tong assembly, an adapter, a positioning device, and a control attachment. The adapter is configured to support the tong assembly, the adapter including a first actuator actuatable to raise or lower the tong assembly. The positioning device is configured to move the adapter and the tong assembly, the positioning device including a second actuator. The control attachment is attachable to the adapter. The control attachment including a control valve assembly, a compensation valve block, and a control device. The control valve assembly is fluidly coupled to a hydraulic supply. The control valve assembly including a hydraulic input, a first valve, and a hydraulic output. The compensation valve block fluidly is coupled to the control valve assembly and fluidly coupled to the first actuator. The control device is configured to actuate the first valve and the compensation valve block to actuate the first actuator, the control device further configured to activate the compensation valve block to actuate the compensation valve block to compensate for a thread makeup and/or a thread breakout operation with the tong assembly. In one embodiment of a method of operating a tong apparatus at a worksite, the method including installing a control attachment to a positioning device, the control attachment including a control valve assembly and a compensation valve block. The method further including actuating the control valve assembly to hydraulically actuate a first actuator of the positioning device to move the tong apparatus coupled to the positioning device to a position about an x, y axes at the worksite. The method further including actuating the control valve assembly and the compensation valve block to hydraulically actuate a second actuator to raise or lower the tong apparatus about a z-axis at the worksite. The method further including activating the compensation valve block to actuate the second actuator to compensate for a thread makeup or thread breakout operation of the tong apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, may admit to other equally