Permanent or removable positioning apparatus and method for downhole tool operations

• US 10,465,500 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, Llc
• Original Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, Llc
• Inventors: Robertson, Michael C., Boelte, William F., Streibich, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Runyan, Ronald R
• Application Number:
  US15/864,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20180195379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes

Abstract

A system and method for positioning a tool within a wellbore, wherein the interior surface of a positioning apparatus includes one or more pluralities of grooves, each defining a selected profile. A tool is lowered into the positioning apparatus, having a blade in communication therewith. The blade includes a plurality of protruding members, which define a profile complementary to at least one of the selected profiles formed by one of the pluralities of positioning apparatus grooves. A biasing member in communication with the blade can continually bias the blade toward the interior surface of the positioning apparatus to cause the profile of the blade to engage within the corresponding complementary profile of the positioning apparatus. Positioning a tool in this manner is advantageous for locating cutting tools at a precise location to sever a joint, perforate casing or stack multiple tool operations at a fixed, targeted point within a wellbore.

Claims

1. A tool positioning apparatus for positioning a downhole tool within a wellbore, comprising:

an anchor assembly inserted within an interior surface of the wellbore and comprising an inner diameter having a selected profile comprising a plurality of grooves formed therein for selective engagement with a discrete complementary profile of the downhole tool, wherein the discrete complementary profile comprises one or more protruding members for selective engagement with the selected profile when the downhole tool is inserted into the anchor assembly, wherein each of the grooves of the plurality of grooves comprises a no-go shoulder configured to prevent movement of the downhole tool in one direction and permit movement of the downhole tool in a second direction, wherein the selected profile comprises a biased member configured to clock the complementary profile in a selective azimuthal direction and position, wherein the selected profile comprises a space between two of the plurality of grooves, and a size of the space varies around the inner diameter of the anchor assembly;

one or more slips configured to engage the interior surface of the wellbore or a conduit after completion processes have taken place within the wellbore; and

a mandrel engaged with the anchor assembly, wherein the mandrel comprises a plurality of cones extending therefrom, wherein the plurality of cones comprises a first cone facing a first end of the tool positioning apparatus and a second cone facing a second end of the tool positioning apparatus to force the one or more slips against the interior surface in response to a compression force, and wherein the tool positioning apparatus is removable from the interior surface of the wellbore or the conduit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member disposed about the mandrel between the first cone and the second cone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mandrel is further engaged with the anchor assembly using a threaded engagement.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mandrel, the anchor assembly, or combinations thereof, further comprise at least one magnetic member, and wherein said at least one magnetic member further secures the tool to the anchor assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mandrel, the anchor assembly, or combinations thereof, further comprise at least one chemical element for providing chemical fixation between the tool and the anchor assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor assembly further comprises a chamfered end for facilitating alignment and penetration of an object through the tool positioning apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the no-go shoulders of the plurality of grooves prevents upward movement of the tool and permits downward movement of the tool.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves comprises multiple female profiles, and wherein each female profile is adapted for engagement with a discrete corresponding male profile.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected profile and the discrete complementary profile comprise a selected depth of the grooves in the plurality of grooves, a selected interior shape of the grooves in the plurality of grooves, or combinations thereof, to differentiate the discrete complementary profile from a different complementary profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool functions after completion processes to perform:

jet drilling, fracturing, cement squeezing, gauge integration, or combinations thereof.

11. A method for positioning a tool positioning apparatus, comprising the steps of:

lowering the tool positioning apparatus within an interior surface of a wellbore or a conduit after completion processes have taken place within the wellbore, wherein the tool positioning apparatus comprises an anchor assembly and a mandrel having a plurality of cones extending therefrom, wherein the plurality of cones comprises a first cone and a second cone, wherein the anchor assembly further comprises an inner diameter having a selected profile comprising a plurality of grooves formed therein for selective engagement with a discrete complementary profile comprising one or more protruding members of a tool, wherein each of the grooves in the plurality of grooves comprises a no-go shoulder configured to prevent movement of the tool in one direction and permit movement of the tool in a second direction;

compressing one or more slips with the plurality of cones to cause the one or more slips to engage the interior surface of the wellbore or the conduit;

lowering the tool into the tool positioning apparatus and clocking the tool into a selective azimuthal direction and position using a biased member of the anchor assembly for selective engagement of the discrete complementary profile of the tool with the selected profile of the anchor assembly, wherein the selected profile comprises a space between two of the plurality of grooves, and a size of the space varies around the inner diameter of the anchor assembly; and

removing the tool positioning apparatus from the interior surface of the wellbore or the conduit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the tool positioning apparatus into association with the tool comprises engaging the plurality of grooves of the selected profile formed on the inner diameter of the anchor assembly with the protruding members of the discrete complementary profile of the tool.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of threadably engaging the mandrel with the anchor assembly.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said inner diameter of the anchor assembly, an inner diameter of the mandrel, or combinations thereof, comprises a plurality of female profiles, wherein each female profile is adapted for engagement with a discrete complementary male profile, and wherein the step of providing the tool positioning apparatus into association with the tool comprises providing the tool with a respective discrete complementary male profile corresponding to one of the female profiles.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a sealing member about the mandrel between the first cone and the second cone.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the no-go shoulders of the plurality of grooves prevents upward movement of the tool and permits downward movement of the tool.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein engagement of the discrete complementary profile of the tool with the selected profile of the anchor assembly comprises engaging a selected depth of the grooves in the plurality of grooves, a selected interior shape of the grooves in the plurality of grooves, or combinations thereof, to differentiate the discrete complementary profile from a different complementary profile.