TOOL FOR TESTING DOWNHOLE TUBING

• US 20130104643A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wade Tokarek
• Original Assignee: Wade Tokarek
• Inventors: TOKAREK, Wade
• Granted Patent: US 9,121,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/152.54
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/008 Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/117 Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/022 Test plugs for closing off the end of a pipe

Abstract

A tool for testing a tubular has a shaft with a fluid passageway connecting a first port and one or more second ports. A sealing element seals against the tubular member. The shaft moves relative to the sealing sleeve between an open position in which the first port is in fluid communication with the second port and a closed position in which the sealing sleeve closes the first port. An anchor secures the sealing sleeve relative to the tubular member to permit the shaft to move from the open position to the closed position.

Claims

1. A tool for testing a tubular member, comprising:

a shaft having a fluid passageway connecting at least one first port and at least one second port;

a sealing element that seals against the tubular member, the shaft moving relative to the sealing element between an open position in which the at least one first port is in fluid communication with the at least one second port and a closed position in which the sealing element closes the at least one first port; and

an anchor that secures the sealing element relative to the tubular member to permit the shaft to move from the open position to the closed position.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises an inner cavity, the shaft extending into the sealing element such that, in the closed position, the at least one first fluid port is positioned within the inner cavity.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the cavity comprises a first axial stop surrounding the shaft, and the shaft comprises a second axial stop within the cavity, the second axial stop engaging the first axial stop in the open position.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the shaft comprises a third axial stop outside the inner cavity, the third axial stop engaging the first axial stop in the closed position.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the anchor is released as the shaft is moved from the closed position to the open position.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein, in the open position, the at least one first port is open above the sealing element and the at least one second port is open below the sealing element.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is a sealing sleeve.

8. A method of testing a tubular, comprising the steps of:

providing a tool comprising;

a shaft having a fluid passageway connecting at least one first port and at least one second port;

a sealing element, the shaft moving relative to the sealing element between an open position in which the at least one first port is in fluid communication with the at least one second port and a closed position in which the sealing element closes the at least one first port; and

an anchor that secures the sealing element relative to the tubular member to permit the shaft to move from the open position to the closed position;

positioning the tool in a tubular to be tested with the tool in the closed position and such that the sealing element seals against the tubular;

pumping fluid into the tubular above the tool, the fluid being retained above the tool by the sealing element;

observing to see whether the fluid is retained within the tubular; and

moving the shaft to the open position to allow the fluid to drain from above the tool through the fluid passageway.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sealing element comprises an inner cavity, the shaft extending into the sealing element such that, in the closed position, the at least one first fluid port is positioned within the inner cavity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cavity comprises a first axial stop surrounding the shaft, and the shaft comprises a second axial stop within the cavity, the second axial stop engaging the first axial stop in the open position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the shaft comprises a third axial stop outside the inner cavity, the third axial stop engaging the first axial stop in the closed position.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of releasing the anchor by moving the shaft from the closed position to the open position.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the open position, the at least one first port is open above the sealing element and the at least one second port is open below the sealing element.