BACKGROUND

Field

Embodiments described herein generally relate to flow skids used in the oil & gas industry. Specifically, embodiments described herein relate to removal of a plug from such flow skids.

Description of the Related Art

Modular flow skids may be useful in the process of extracting and managing wells that are drilled into the earth to retrieve one or more subterranean natural resources, including oil and gas. Such skids may be utilized both offshore and onshore. For example, modular flow skids may be used for surface well testing to assess the reservoir potential, validate well performance during cleanup and commissioning, and to allow for reservoir monitoring for better field management. A modular flow skid is a structure having a set of pipes and components (i.e., fluid conduits) through which fluid (e.g., oil, gas, water, frac fluid, and testing fluids) may flow. In addition, the flow skid may include a number of flow control devices, including chokes, valves, and plugs, and may also include a number of instruments or devices for measuring and obtaining pertinent data about the fluid flowing through the one or more pipes located in the flow control modules. Further, the modular flow skid may include screens or filters inserted within the fluid conduits of the modular flow skid. Screens or filters are used to clean, filter, and remove debris from the fluid flowing through the fluid conduits.

During operations, the screens or filters are used to filter, clean, and remove debris from the fluid flowing through the fluid conduits. Subsequently, the screens or filters need to cleaned, emptied, repaired and/or replaced from time to time. As known in the art, a filter may be a structure used to filter, clean, and remove debris from fluids flowing through fluid conduits. In order to clean, empty, and/or replace the filters, the fluid conduits are opened in order to access the filter. For example, the fluid conduit may have an opening, which is closed with a plug or insert, to access the filter within the fluid conduits. As illustrated inFIG.1, in conventional methods, a plug1, which is used to close an opening2of a flow conduit3of a modular flow skid4, is taken off the opening2using a manual hook5attached to said plug1in combination with an overhead crane or pulley6to support a weight of the plug1.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one aspect, the embodiments disclosed herein provide a plug removal tool that has a mount for attaching the plug removal tool to a structure; a plug nut; and at least one rigid arm extending between the mount and the plug nut, the at least one arm having at least one translational degree of movement and at least one rotational degree of movement.

In another aspect, the embodiments disclosed herein provide a method for removing a filter in a fluid conduit by removing a plug nut from an opening of the fluid conduit; supporting the plug nut with a plug removal tool, thereby defining a limited movement of the plug nut while removed from the opening; and removing the filter through the opening of the fluid conduit.

In another aspect, the embodiments disclosed herein provide a system with a modular skid having a fluid conduit, wherein the fluid conduit has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and at least one plug removal tool removably attached to the modular skid, wherein the plug removal tool includes a mounting bracket that comprises a first swivel joint, a first arm extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the first swivel joint, a second arm slidably attached to the first arm between the first end and the second end, a second swivel joint connected to a distal end of the second arm, and a plug nut attached to the second swivel joint, wherein the plug removal tool is configured to remove or insert the plug nut from an opening of the fluid conduit.

Other aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims

