FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous handling systems. In particular, the present disclosure relates to handling systems in which a wireline conductor cable or slickline is spooled around a drum's core. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a wireline drum having cast flanges welded to a core and methods of manufacturing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

A handling system for a mast or derrick typically includes a wireline conductor cable or slickline used to raise and lower downhole tools inside the well through a lubricators' stack. The downhole tools may be suspended below a crown sheave or stuffing box sheave via a plurality of outgoing and returning portions of the wireline cable that is reeved through one or more spooling sheaves and/or redirect sheaves. Raising and lowering of the downhole tools may be controlled by rotating the drum to spool and unspool the wireline conductor cable or the slickline. Due to the reeving arrangement between the sheaves, in order to raise and lower the downhole tools at a given speed, the wireline conductor cable or the slickline may spool on and off the wireline drum at a relatively high speed. In some cases, the wireline cable or slickline may be spooled on and off the drum at speeds of about 15 to 17 mph.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a handling system including a crown sheave or stuffing box sheave arranged over a well so as to direct a line toward the well, and a wireline cable extending around the crown sheave or stuffing box sheave, the wireline cable configured for coupling to a downhole tool. The system may also include a wireline drum configured for spooling and unspooling the wireline cable to control movement of the traveling block. The wireline drum may include a core having a first diameter adapted for having the wireline cable spooled thereon. The wireline drum may also include a pair of cast flanges where each flange is arranged at an end of the core and includes a disk portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. Each flange may also include a neck extending from the disk portion toward the core.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a wireline drum configured for receiving a spooled wireline. The drum may include a core having a first diameter and configured for receiving a wireline spooled thereon. The drum may also include a pair of cast flanges, each flange arranged at an end of the core and comprising a disk portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and a neck extending from the disk portion toward the core.

The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, may also include a method of manufacturing a wireline drum. The method may include a assembling a core where the core has a first diameter and is configured for receiving a wireline spooled thereon. The method may also include casting a pair of flanges where each flange includes a disk portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and a neck extending from the disk portion. The method may also include welding each flange to the core by placing a weld between the core and each neck portion.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

