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Well conduit cutting and milling apparatus and method

  • US 5,265,675 A
  • Filed: 03/25/1992
  • Issued: 11/30/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for effecting sequential cutting and removal by milling of a section of well conduit and well casing wherein said well conduit is disposed in said well casing in a wellbore, said apparatus being adapted to be connected to the distal end of a tubing string for receiving pressure fluid through said tubing string, said tubing string including means for rotating said apparatus when disposed in said wellbore, said apparatus comprising:

  • a cutter unit including a body, a first pair of opposed cutting arms pivotally mounted on said body for movement between a retracted position and a working position for cutting through said well conduit, said first pair of cutting arms being interchangeable with a second pair of opposed milling arms which are pivotally mounted on said body in place of said first pair of cutter arms, said pair of milling arms each including cutting elements thereon for milling a downwardly-facing end of said well conduit whereby said apparatus is operable to remove a section of said well conduit by movement in a direction generally upward or out of said well conduit, said pair of milling arms being interchangeable with a second pair of opposed cutting arms operable to be pivotally mounted on said body for movement between retracted positions and a working position for cutting and milling a section of said well casing after removal of said section of well conduit, a first piston disposed in said body for moving said opposed pair of arms disposed on said body from said retracted position to a working position for cutting one of said well conduit and said well casing, a second piston disposed on said body and movable to a position for urging said opposed pair of arms into said working position and for holding said opposed pair of arms in said working position for cutting one of said well conduit and said well casing; and

    a first stabilizer unit connected to said cutter unit including a body and at least one pair of opposed stabilizer arms pivotally mounted on said body and movable between radially retracted and extended positions, said stabilizer arms including first bearing surfaces thereon for engagement with said well conduit for stabilizing said apparatus when said apparatus is cutting and milling said well conduit and said stabilizer arms including second bearing surfaces thereon engageable with said well casing when said apparatus is disposed in a position in said wellbore from which said well conduit has been removed; and

    a piston disposed on said body of said first stabilizer unit for urging said stabilizer arms to move from said retracted position to said extended positions, respectively.

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