This invention relates to a method for lift testing of a reel. More particularly it concerns a method for lift testing of a reel where the reel comprises two disk- like end flanges provided with a peripheral bearing surface each, and a central mid portion connected to the end flanges, and where the reel is formed with a lifting rope attachment at the end flanges. The invention also comprises a device for performing the method.

On shipment of a long coilable object such as a pipe, a so- called umbilical or coiled tubing utilised during petroleum production, it is customary that the long object is coiled up on a reel having considerable dimensions. An object weight of several hundred tons may be in question, and a reel diameter in the order of 10 metres and a reel width of more than 5 metres .

In the following is the long coilable object referred to as "tubing" .

It is often necessary to load test the reel before approval of reels of this type may take place, for example by a classification authority, and the load test is generally carried out with a greater load than the reel will be exposed to in use. It may also be relevant to load test a reel having tubing coiled on to it and where the tubing has been stored on the reel for a long time. In this situation the reel need to be tested while the tubing is on the reel.

Prior art for load testing of relatively large reels such as the ones in question, is generally carried out by means of lifting equipment on the production site for the reel. Lifting equipment having a considerable lifting capacity is required to carry out load testing of such a reel .

The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks .

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features stated in the description below and in the following claims .

There is provided a method for lift testing of a reel, the reel comprising two disk-like end flanges provided with a pe- ripheral bearing surface each, and a central mid portion connected to the end flanges, the reel being formed with a lifting rope attachment at the end flanges, wherein the method is characterised in that it comprises:

- placing the reel in a test frame which is at least provided with reel lifting elements at at least one of the bearing surfaces abutments against the test frame, or a load bail at each of the lifting rope attachments where the load bail is provided with a bail lifting element;

- connecting the reel to the test frame by means of a re- tainer rope device;

- activating the reel lifting element or the bail lifting elements; and

- load testing the reel with the desired load.

By placing the reel in a test frame and connecting it thereto for implementing load tests, it is possible to implement load tests without having access to the lifting equipment that otherwise would be necessary. Load testing may thereby be carried out for example on a storage site for reels or in places where the reel is to be wound or unwound.

The retainer rope device may be constituted by a number of distributed first retainer ropes running from the test frame and over the central mid portion of the reel. By distributing the load over the mid portion at the same time as the reel lifting element acts against the bearing surfaces of the end flanges, the load acting against the mid portion from coiled tubing may be simulated.

A second retainer rope running from the test frame to a lifting rope attachment may constitute the retainer rope device . The lifting rope attachments are often constituted by an in relation to the mid portion concentric, cylindrical sleeve provided with an encircling groove for a lifting rope. The lifting rope attachments may thus be load tested fairly easily by activating the reel lifting elements.

A third retainer rope running from the load bail down to the lifting rope attachment may constitute the retainer rope de- vice. By activating the bail lifting elements the lifting rope attachment may be load tested with an empty reel where one or more of the first retainer ropes are fitted, or with tube coiled on the reel .

The method according to the invention may be carried out by means of a test frame comprising abutments for the bearing surfaces and also attachments for at least a number of first retainer ropes where the first retainer ropes are arranged to be able to run from the test frame and over the reel mid portion, or an attachment for a second retainer rope, the second holding-on rope being arranged to be able to run from the test frame upwardly to the lifting rope attachment. The test frame may be provided with a reel lifting element at at least one of the test frame abutments against the bearing surface to be able to apply a predetermined load to the bearing surface.

The test frame may further comprise at least one load bail at the end portion of the reel, the load bail extending upwardly to the load rope attachment and being provided with an attachment for a third retainer rope being arranged to be able to run from the load bail and down to the load rope attach- ment . The load rope attachment may thus be tested in an upward direction.

The load bail may be provided with a bail lifting element to be able to apply a force on the lifting rope attachment in an upward direction.

The test frame may be constructed from components. The various components of the test frame are typically designed to be accommodated in a standard shipping container for transport to and from the operation site. Thus the test frame may be mounted at a spool e.g. being supported in a cradle known per se.

The test frame may also constitute an integrated part of a transport and/or mounting cradle or of a drive gear for coiling tubing on and off the reel.

Hydraulic actuators whereby the load may be decided by read- ing the hydraulic pressure typically constitute the lifting elements, as the pressurised area of the actuator is known. One or more of the retainer ropes may alternatively or in addition to this be provided with a load cell .

Reels of this type are often placed in a cradle where the bearing surfaces abut the cradle. A cradle may advantageously be provided with engageable wheels for turning the reel to various positions during load testing.

The method and the device according to the invention provides a solution to a long felt problem, as the load testing of relatively large reels, generally with coiled tubing, would be difficult to carry out outside the production site for such reels. The invention arranges for improved test routines and thus an improved safety during handling and transport of relatively large reels.

In the following is described an example of a preferred method and embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a test frame according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows in a slightly smaller scale the test frame of fig. 1 where a reel is placed in the test frame;

Fig. 3 shows the same as in fig. 2, but in a different test condition; and

Fig. 4 shows in a larger scale a detail from a cradle for the reel.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 indicates a test frame for a reel 2 where the test frame 1 comprises two longitudinal frame beams 4 and two lateral frame beams 6. The frame beams 4, 6 form a rectangle and are arranged to be able to lie on a not shown base.

The longitudinal frame beams 4 are adjacent their end portions provided with reel lifting elements 8 in the form of hydraulic actuators. The reel lifting elements 8 which are arranged to abut the reel 1 may by means of adapters 10 be adapted to reels 1 having different outside diameters.

The longitudinal frame beams 4 are further on their upward facing side provided with a number of spaced, first attach- ments 12.

Each of the lateral frame beams 6 are on its upward facing side provided with two other attachments 14.

A load bail extending upward from each of the lateral frame beams 6 is connected to its respective lateral frame beam 6 via bail lifting element 18. The bail lifting element 18 is arranged to be able to displace the load bail 16 vertically in relation to the lateral frame beam 6.

Each load bail 16 is on the underside of the upper portion provided with two third attachments 20.

The components 4, 6 and 16 of the test frame 1 are formed to be stowed in a standard shipping container. In use the components 4, 6 and 16 are interconnected by means of bolted connections 22. Each of the components 4, 6 and 16 are also provided with lugs 24 to be able to be lifted and positioned fairly easily during assembly and disassembly.

The reel 2, see fig. 2, comprises two disk-like end flanges 26, which are interconnected by a cylindrical mid portion 28. The end flanges 26 are formed with an exterior, peripheral bearing surface 30. The bearing surface 30 is during winding and unwinding of the reel arranged to be able to abut not shown idler wheels. A portion of the bearing surface 30 abuts a cradle 32, see fig. 4, during storage and transport.

The end portions of the reel 1 are provided with a lifting rope attachment 34 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve with an encircling groove 36. The lifting rope attachment 34 is concentric with the mid portion 28 and the end flanges 26.

When the mid portion 28 of the reel 1 is to be load tested, a number of first retainer ropes 38 are arrangedover the mid portion 28, see fig. 2, and are connected to the first attachments 12 on the two longitudinal frame beams 4.

By activating the reel lifting elements 8, the reel 1 is lifted until the first retainer ropes are tight. The mid portion 28 may thereafter be loaded with the desired load.

When the lifting rope attachment 34 is to be load tested, a second retainer rope 40 is arranged in the groove 36, see fig. 3. The reel lifting elements 8 are activated and loaded until a desired load is applied on the lifting rope attachment 34. The first retainer ropes are normally dismantled.

If the mid portion 28 and the lifting rope attachment 34 are to be tested simultaneously, a third retainer rope 42 may be arranged in the groove 36 as shown in fig. 2. By activating the bail lifting elements 18, a load is applied to the lifting rope attachment 34 via the load bail 16 and the third re- tainer rope 42.

If it is desired to turn the reel 2 to a new position, a hydraulic cylinder 44 is activated, see fig. 4, which turns a wheel frame 46 about a shaft 48 in the cradle 32. A wheel 50 in the wheel frame 46 thereby abuts the bearing surface 30 and lifts the reel 2 from the cradle 32 so that it may be turned to a new position.