Downhole assembly releasable connection

• US 6,712,146 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Chang, Michael, Estep, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, G M
• Application Number:
  US09/998,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 175/320, 166/65.1, 166/377, 166/242.6, 166/242.7, 166/66.4
• US Class Current: 166/377
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/06 Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints

Abstract

A disconnect assembly connecting two portions of a downhole assembly having a downhole apparatus attached to a coiled tubing string. The disconnect assembly includes a first housing connected to one portion of the downhole assembly and a second housing connected to another portion of the downhole assembly. The housings are releasably connected by a release assembly. The release assembly is coupled to a drive train on a motor by a connection transferring rotational motion into translational motion. The release assembly includes locking members having a connected position engaging both housings and a released position wherein the housings can be separated. The motor is connected to the surface by conductors extending through the coiled tubing whereby the motor may be actuated from the surface to move the release assembly between the connected and disconnected positions.

Claims

1. A disconnect for well drilling operations from the surface, comprising:

a body;

a motor disposed on said body and being selectively actuatable from the surface;

a lead screw having one end coupled to said motor;

a release plunger coupled to another end of said lead screw; and

a plurality of pins disposed about said release plunger on said body.

2. The disconnect of claim 1, further comprising:

said body having a cavity; and

said motor, lead screw, and release plunger being disposed in said cavity.

3. The disconnect of claim 2, further including a housing having internal recesses adapted to receive one end of said pins and wherein said release plunger has external grooves adapted to receive another end of said pins.

4. The disconnect of claim 3, wherein said release plunger has an longitudinally elongated slot in which is slidingly disposed a guide pin on said body.

5. The disconnect of claim 4, wherein said release plunger includes a universal coupling joining first and second portions of said plunger, said second portion being coupled to said lead screw.

6. The disconnect of claim 5, further comprising a piston disposed about said release plunger.

7. The disconnect of claim 5, further comprising:

a first seal sealingly engaging said piston and said release plunger; and

a second seal sealingly engaging said piston and said body.

8. The disconnect of claim 7, further comprising a pressure release disposed adjacent said first portion of said release plunger.

9. The disconnect of claim 7, wherein said body further comprises a fishing neck.

10. The disconnect of claim 9, further including a housing around said body, said body and housing having inter-engaging splines.

11. An electro-mechanical disconnect for a coiled tubing assembly, comprising:

a body having a cavity, said body capable of coupling to the coiled tubing;

an electric motor housed within said cavity;

a lead screw housed within said cavity, said lead screw having one end coupled to said electric motor;

a plunger housed within said cavity and coupled to another end of said lead screw, said plunger having at least one circumferential groove therearound; and

at least one pin extending radially from said plunger and capable of moving into said external circumferential groove.

12. The disconnect of claim 11, further comprising coiled tubing telescopingly engaged with and coupling to said body, said coiled tubing having at least one internal circumferential groove.

13. The disconnect of claim 11, wherein said release plunger comprises a longitudinally elongated slot receiving a plunger guide pin on said body to prevent rotation of said plunger upon movement of said lead screw.

14. A disconnect for well drilling operations, comprising:

a housing having internal grooves; and

a body disposed within said housing;

a plunger disposed in said body and having two external grooves and being capable of being moved among a drilling position, a release position, and a disengaged position;

a lead screw threadingly engaged with said plunger;

an electric motor coupled to said lead screw; and

a plurality of pins mounted on said body and engaging said plunger.

15. A method of disengaging a bottom hole assembly from coiled tubing, comprising:

actuating an electric motor via an electrical command signal;

rotating a screw that is coupled to the electric motor and is threadingly coupled to a release plunger;

axially moving the release plunger a distance sufficient to align grooves on the plunger with radially extending pins.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising continuing to axially move the release plunger until the outer ends of the radially extending pins disengage from respective grooves on the interior of the coiled tubing.

17. A method of disengaging a tool from coiled tubing, comprising:

sending an electric command signal to an electric motor in a body coupled to a section of the coiled tubing, the coiled tubing having channels on its interior;

actuating an electric motor in response to the electrical command signal;

rotating a mechanism coupled to the electric motor and to a release plunger;

preventing rotational movement of the release plunger; and

axially moving the release plunger a distance sufficient to align grooves on the plunger with the inner ends of radially extending pins.