Apparatus and Method for Unsticking a Downhole Tool

• US 20080308279A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Meehan, Richard, Zazovsky, Alexander F., Hill, Bunker M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/381
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/035 controlling differential pipe sticking
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A downhole tool is provided including apparatus for unsticking the tool from the wall or a borehole. The tool may include a housing defining a longitudinal axis and a sleeve coupled to the housing and mounted for rotation relative to the housing, the sleeve having an exterior surface including at least one projection extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis. A transmission mechanism may be coupled to and adapted to rotate the sleeve, and a motor may be coupled to the transmission mechanism. A method for unsticking the downhole tool by rotating a sleeve is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A downhole tool comprising:

a housing defining a longitudinal axis;

a sleeve coupled to the housing and mounted for rotation relative to the housing, the sleeve having an exterior surface including at least one projection extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis;

a transmission mechanism coupled to and adapted to rotate the sleeve; and

a motor coupled to the transmission mechanism.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the sleeve exterior surface has a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the housing.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the sleeve exterior surface has three projections.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the sleeve rotates about a center of rotation, and in which the center of rotation is substantially coincident with the housing longitudinal axis.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the tool comprises a wireline tool.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the sleeve is mounted on a mandrel that is sealed from the housing, thereby to provide a self-contained module.

7. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the transmission mechanism comprises a gear having teeth adapted to operatively engage splines formed on an internal surface of the sleeve.

8. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the housing comprises an additional projection extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis.

9. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the at least one projection is fixed against movement in a radial direction.

10. The downhole tool of claim 1, in which the at least one projection is movable in the radial direction between retracted and extended positions.

11. The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the motor for controlling rotational speed of the motor.

12. A downhole tool comprising:

a cylindrical housing defining a cross-sectional area and defining a longitudinal axis;

a sleeve coupled to substantially coaxial with the housing and mounted for rotation relative to the housing, the sleeve having an exterior surface defining a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical housing, the sleeve exterior surface including at least one projection extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis;

a transmission mechanism coupled to and adapted to rotate the sleeve; and

a motor coupled to the transmission mechanism.

13. The downhole tool of claim 12, in which the tool comprises a wireline tool.

14. The downhole tool of claim 12, in which the housing comprises an additional projection extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis.

15. The downhole tool of claim 12, in which the at least one projection is fixed against movement in a radial direction.

16. The downhole tool of claim 12, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the motor for controlling rotational speed of the motor.

17. A method of disengaging a tool housing from a wellbore wall, the method comprising:

providing a rotatable sleeve that is coupled to the tool housing, the sleeve including a projection extending radially outwardly from the sleeve;

generating relative rotation of the tool housing and the sleeve so that the projection engages the wellbore wall; and

further rotating the sleeve so that the projection pushes the wellbore wall to generate a release force directed radially inwardly and away from the wellbore wall, thereby to roll the tool out of contact with the wellbore wall.

18. The method of claim 17, in which the rotatable sleeve includes three projections.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising extending the projection from a retracted position to an extended position prior to further rotating the sleeve.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising measuring a sticking force applied to the tool and adjusting a rotational speed of the sleeve according to the measured sticking force.