Multi-mode testing tool and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tool for use in a testing string disposed in a well bore, comprising:
- tubular housing means defining a longitudinal tool bore;
valve means disposed in said housing means, including a sleeve valve for controlling communication between said tool bore and the exterior of said housing means, and a tool bore closure valve; and
operating means adapted to selectively open and close either said sleeve valve or said tool bore closure valve while the other of said valves remains inoperative, in response to sequential changes in pressure proximate said tool insaid well bore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-mode testing tool operable as a drill pipe tester, formation tester, nitrogen displacement valve or circulation valve. Tool mode is changed responsive to pressure cycling in the well bore. A ball valve in the tool bore may also be operated by pressure cycling when the tool is in its formation tester mode. Also disclosed is a pressure responsive double-acting piston power mechanism, and a ball and slot ratchet assembly.
130 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A tool for use in a testing string disposed in a well bore, comprising:
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tubular housing means defining a longitudinal tool bore; valve means disposed in said housing means, including a sleeve valve for controlling communication between said tool bore and the exterior of said housing means, and a tool bore closure valve; and operating means adapted to selectively open and close either said sleeve valve or said tool bore closure valve while the other of said valves remains inoperative, in response to sequential changes in pressure proximate said tool insaid well bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A multi-mode testing tool for use in a well bore, comprising:
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tubular housing means having circulation ports extending through the wall thereof; tubular mandrel means defining a longitudinal tool bore longitudinally slidably disposed in said housing means and having circulation apertures extending through the wall thereof and alignable with said circulation ports through longitudinal movement of said mandrel means insaid housing means; a tool bore closure valve adapted to block said tool bore responsive to longitudinal movement of said mandrel means; and operating means adapted to effect said longitudinal mandrel means movement in response to pressure changes in said well bore, said operating means further including lost motion means to selectively disconnect said tool bore closure valve from said mandrel means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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16. The apparatus of clai:
- m 15, wherein said double-acting piston means further includes operating fluid dump means adapted to limit the travel of s id Piston means.
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23. A ratchet assembly for selectively transmitting mitting relative longitudinal movement between a first to a second element of a downhole tool, comprising:
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slot means associated with one of said elements; ball seat means associated with the other of said elements; ball means received in said ball seat means and extending into said slot means; and swivel means adapted to permit substantially unimpeded lateral movement of said ball means in said slot means. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An operating assembly for a downhole tool, comprising:
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a chamber filled with fluid; fluid biasing means at a first end of said chamber; pressure transfer means acting on said fluid at a second end of said chamber; piston sleeve means having first and second shoulder means defining a piston support surface therebetween disposed in said chamber between said ends thereof; first and second fluid pressure responsive pistons associated with said piston sleeve between said shoulder means; piston biasing means disposed between said first and second pistons; longitudinally spaced first and second piston stop means adapted to impede the respective movement of said first and second pistons; and transfer means adapted to transfer longitudinal piston sleeve movement to a tool element. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An indexing assembly for a downhole tool, comprising:
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a fluid filled chamber; pressure responsive double-acting piston means including a piston sleeve disposed in said fluid-filled chamber;
first and second shoulders on said piston sleeve;
first and second Pistons associated with said piston sleeve and adapted to seat on said first and second shoulders, respectively; and
biasing means adapted to bias said first and second pistons toward said respective first and second shoulders;
first and second longitudinally spaced piston stop means in said fluid-filled chaaber respectively associated with said first and second pistons and adapted to prevent said seating when in contact with their associated pistons; andball and slot ratchet means associated with said piston means. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A displacement valve for use in displacing fluid under pressure from the interior to the exterior of a downhole tool while preventing fluid return thereinto when said pressure is removed, comprising:
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tubular housing means having displacement ports means through the wall thereof; tubular mandrel means longitudinally slidably disposed in said housing means and having displace;
ment aperture means through the wall thereof longitudinally alignable with said displacement ports; andlongitudinally slidable check valve means disposed in an annular cavity defined between said housing means and said mandrel means and adapted, when said ports and apertures are aligned, to open communication between said ports and said apertures when said check valve means is in one longitudinal position responsive to a said pressure inside said mandrel and to move to a second longitudinal position and thereby close said communicatio and prevent said fluid return when said pressure is removed. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of operating a multi-mode downhole tool, having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough comprising:
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running said tool into a well bore on a pipe string; changing said tool between operating modes comprising a formation tester mode and a circulation mode through sequential changes of pressure in said well bore; opening and closing a bore closure valve disposed in the bore of said tool a plurality of times while said tool is in said formation tester mode responsive to sequential changes in well bore pressure without changing said tool to a different operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. An operating assembly for a downhole tool, comprising:
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a chamber filled with fluid; pressure transfer means acting on said fluid; double-acting piston means disposed in said chamber between the ends thereof; a longitudinal fluid bypass channel associated with said piston means and extending between the ends thereof; first and second check valve members associated with said fluid bypass channel; first and second valve seats respectively associated with said first and second check valve members; means adapted to bias each of said check valve members against its associated valve seat; and longitudinally spaced first and second stop means adapted to respectively push upon contact therewith said first and second check valve members away from their respective valve seats. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method of operating a multi-mode downhole tool including a drill pipe tester mode and a circulation mode and having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, comprising:
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running said tool into a well bore on a pipe string; setting said packer in said well bore below said tool to isolate the well bore above the packer from that therebelow; pressure-testing the integrity of said pipe string against a closed bore closure valve disposed in the bore of said tool while said tool is in said drill pipe tester mode; and pressure-testing the seal between said set packer and the wall of said well bore while said tool is in said drill pipe tester mode by increasing well bore pressure above said set packer without opening said bore closure valve or changing said tool to a different operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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Specification