Downhole Tool Actuation having a Seat with a Fluid By-Pass

• US 20100212886A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Dahlgren, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,127,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/194
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/32 with expansible cutting tools
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/004 Indexing systems for guiding relative movement between telescoping parts of downhole tools
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/0413 using means for blocking fluid flow, e.g. drop balls or darts using balls or the like for actuating downhole valves E21B34/142

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole tool has a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular body of the tool, a reciprocating sleeve located within the bore, the sleeve has a segmented seat with a fluid by-pass; at least one seat segment is positioned by an outer diameter of the sleeve to complete the seat, and a relief formed in a wall adjacent the outer diameter of the sleeve; wherein when the seat is occupied by an obstruction only a portion of the fluid path is obstructed and fluid impinging the obstruction causes the sleeve to move in the direction of flow until the at least one segment is relieved by the relief and releases the obstruction.

Claims

1. A downhole tool, comprising;

a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular body of the tool;

a reciprocating sleeve and a guided sleeve located within the bore;

the sleeves substantially coaxial with one another;

the guided sleeve comprises at least one guide recess;

the reciprocating sleeve comprises at least one guide protrusion engaged in the guide recess;

wherein a reciprocating movement of the reciprocating sleeve causes the guide protrusion and guide recess to disengage and upon reengagement the geometry of the guide recess repositions the guided sleeve.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating sleeve comprises an extension intermediate the sleeve and the at least one guide protrusion.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide recess is disposed on an outer diameter of the guided sleeve.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating sleeve is disposed substantially exterior to the guided sleeve.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the guide recess comprises partially helical geometry.

6. The downhole tool of claim 5, wherein the at least one guide protrusion is disposed on an inside diameter of the reciprocating sleeve.

7. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the guided sleeve comprises fluid ports in communication with the fluid path in the tubular body of the tool.

8. The downhole tool of claim 7, wherein the ports in the guided sleeve are in selectable communication with fluid passages in the tool body.

9. The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein the guided sleeve comprises first and second indexed positions corresponding to fluid passages and ports in communication and fluid passages and ports separated.

10. The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein the guided sleeve comprises a plurality of indexed positions alternating between fluid passages and ports in communication and fluid passages and ports separated.

11. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the guided sleeve is rotatable more than one full revolution.

12. The downhole tool of claim 11, wherein a function of the downhole tool is activated at the first indexed position.

13. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool comprises a reamer.

14. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating sleeve and the guided sleeve are lubricated by a fluid flowing in the fluid path.

15. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating sleeve and the guided sleeve are lubricated by a fluid separated from a fluid flowing in the fluid path.

16. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises rolling bearings disposed intermediate an outer diameter of the guided sleeve and the bore of the tubular body.

17. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating sleeve is biased in a direction opposite the direction of a flow of fluid in the fluid path.

18. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating sleeve is actuated by an obstruction.

19. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the obstruction comprises a hollow sleeve with a spherical ball releasably engaged in the hollow sleeve wherein the hollow sleeve substantially blocks the fluid ports from communication with the fluid path in the tubular body of the tool.

20. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the guided sleeve comprises pins that initially position the guided sleeve with respect to the tubular body of the tool, wherein the pins shear upon actuation of the guided sleeve by a first obstruction.