Downhole oil well tool running and pulling with hydraulic release using deformable ball valving member

• US 5,695,009 A
• Filed: 10/31/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonoma Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sonoma Corporation
• Inventors: Hipp, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US08/550,866
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 166/237, 166/238, 166/239, 166/196, 166/386, 166/120, 166/141, 166/155, 166/328
• US Class Current: 166/196
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/06 Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/10 Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/142 unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons

Abstract

A downhole oil well pulling and running tool provides a releasable tool body that can be used to release a workstring such as a coiled tubing string from a tool assembly and to reattach if desired. To reestablish circulations (the ability to pump fluid down the workstring and up the annulus of the well) after detachment by increasing the pressure across a seated ball to a predetermined pressure that forces the ball through the seat into a ball cage. The cage is sized and shaped to carry a plurality of the ball valving members so that the unlatching and relatching procedure may be repeated as many times as desired until the ball cage is filled. Also providing a delay or timing system that will allow debris to pass thru the tool without a release.

Claims

1. A downhole oil well pulling and running tool comprising:

a) an elongated tool body having an upper end portion with means thereon for forming a connection with a workstring;

b) the tool body comprising a main body portion that is tubular, having upper and lower end portions, said main body having a bore;

c) an elongated generally tubular piston slidable within the main body bore;

d) a piston lock for locking the piston in a first running position;

e) the piston having a valve seat portion;

f) a deformable ball valving member for forming a closure with the valve seat, the valving member being a separate ball member that can be dropped into the tool bore from the well surface area via the workstring, the ball valving member, the tool body, the bore of the main body, and the workstring being so configured that the ball valving member can be transmitted from the well surface area to the valve seat via the workstring and tool body bore;

g) a cage member disposed below the valve seat;

h) a channel that extends between the valve seat and the cage member;

i) passage means for transporting the ball valving member from the seat to the cage member, wherein the ball valving member is sized to fit the seat forming a seal therewith, and wherein the ball valving member is deformable to conform to the passage means during transport to the cage member.

2. The tool apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ball valving member is plastic.

3. The tool apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ball valving member is polymeric.

4. The tool apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool body has means thereon for forming a connection with a drill or workstring having a flow bore, and wherein the connection enables fluid communication between the workstring bore and main body bore.

5. The tool apparatus of claim 1 wherein the passage has a restricted diameter portion that is smaller than the diameter of the ball valving member.

6. The tool apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piston lock comprises in part a spring.

7. The tool apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piston locking means includes a shear pin that forms a connection between the main body and piston.

8. The tool apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spring for biasing the piston towards an upper position.

9. A downhole oil well pulling and running tool comprising:

a) an elongated tool body having an upper end portion with means thereon for forming a connection with a workstring;

b) the tool body comprising a main body portion that is tubular, having upper and lower end portions, said main body having a bore;

c) an elongated generally tubular piston slidable within the main body bore between running and releasing positions and having an upper end with a valve seat;

d) a piston lock for locking the piston in a first running position;

e) the piston having a valve seat portion, the piston being movable between running and releasing positions;

f) a ball valving member that can be dropped into the tool bore from the well surface area via the workstring the ball valving member forming a closure when seated upon the valve seat; and

g) a timer for slowing travel of the piston from the running to the releasing position, said timer including a fluid chamber and an orifice, wherein fluid must flow from the chamber through the orifice before the releasing position is reached.

10. The tool apparatus of claim 9 wherein the ball valving member is deformable.

11. The tool apparatus of claim 9 wherein the ball valving member is not deformable.

12. The tool apparatus of claim 9 wherein the tool body has means thereon for forming a connection with a workstring having a workstring flow bore, and wherein the connection enables fluid communication between the workstring flow bore and main body bore.

13. The tool apparatus of claim 9 wherein the orifice includes a restricted diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the valve seat.

14. The tool apparatus of claim 9 wherein the piston locking means comprises in part a spring.

15. The tool apparatus of claim 9 wherein the piston locking means includes a shear pin that forms a connection between the main body and piston.

16. The tool apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a spring for biasing the piston towards an upper position.

17. The tool apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a sleeve disposed beneath the piston, and said piston carries said orifice.

18. The tool apparatus of claim 17 wherein the sleeve is spaced from the tool body, said fluid chamber being in between said sleeve and said tool body.

19. The tool apparatus of claim 18 wherein the sleeve is affixed at its upper end to said piston for travel therewith.

20. The tool apparatus of claim 19 wherein said spring surrounds said sleeve.

21. A downhole oil well pulling and running tool comprising:

a) an elongated tool body having an upper end portion with a connector for forming a connection with a workstring;

b) the tool body comprising a main body portion that is tubular, having upper and lower end portions, said main body having a bore;

c) an elongated generally tubular piston slidable within the main body bore;

d) a piston lock for locking the piston in a first running position;

e) the piston having a valve seat portion;

f) a deformable ball valving member for forming a closure with the valve seat, the valving member being a separate ball member that can be dropped into the tool bore from the well surface area via the workstring;

g) a cage member disposed below the valve seat;

h) a channel that extends between the valve seat and the cage member; and

i) a passage for transporting the ball valving member from the seat to the cage member, wherein the ball valving member is sized to fit the seat forming a seal therewith, and wherein the ball valving member is deformable to conform to the passage during transport to the cage member.

22. A downhole oil well pulling and running tool comprising:

a) an elongated tool body having an upper end portion with means thereon for forming a connection with a workstring;

b) the tool body comprising a main body portion that is tubular, having upper and lower end portions, said main body having a bore;

c) an elongated generally tubular piston slidable within the main body bore between running and releasing positions and having an upper end with a valve seat;

d) a piston lock for locking the piston in a first running position;

e) the piston having a valve seat portion, the piston being movable between running and releasing positions;

f) a ball valving member that can be dropped into the tool bore from the well surface area via the workstring, the ball valving member forming a closure seated upon the valve seat; and

g) a timer for slowing travel of the piston from the running to the releasing position.

23. A downhole oil well pulling and running tool comprising:

a) an elongated tool body having an upper end portion with a connector for forming a connection with a workstring;

b) the tool body comprising a main body portion that is tubular, having upper and lower end portions, said main body having a bore;

c) an elongated piston slideable within the tool body main bore;

d) the piston having a valve seat;

e) a cage member disposed below the valve seat;

f) a passage that connects the valve seat and cage member;

f) a deformable ball valving member that can be dropped into the main body bore from the well surface; and

g) means for transporting the ball valving member from the valve seat to the cage wherein the ball valving member is deformable to conform to the passage of the piston when the ball valving member is transported to the cage member.

24. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a timer for delaying the piston member from running to the releasing position.

25. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 23 wherein the ball valving member is plastic.

26. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 23 wherein the ball valving member is polymeric.

27. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 23 wherein the piston includes a lock for locking the piston in a first running position.

28. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 27 wherein the lock includes a spring.

29. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 23 wherein the piston includes a lock that comprises a shear pin for forming a connection between the main body and the piston.

30. The downhole oil well pulling and running tool apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a spring for biasing the piston towards an upper position.