Tool positioning and latching system

• US 8,616,293 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCR Oil Tools, LLC (MCR Oil Tools Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, Llc
• Inventors: Robertson, Michael C., Boelte, William F., Streibich, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US12/625,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20110120731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 166/55, 166/297, 166/298, 166/301, 166/382
• US Class Current: 166/382
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/02 for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for positioning a tool within a wellbore are described herein. The interior surface of a tubular string is provided with one or more pluralities of grooves, each defining a selected profile. A tool is lowered into the tubular string, having a blade in communication therewith. The blade includes a plurality of protruding members thereon, which define a profile complementary to at least one of the selected profiles formed by one of the pluralities of grooves. A biasing member in communication with the blade continually biases the blade toward the interior surface of the tubular string to cause the profile of the blade to engage within the corresponding complementary profile of the tubular string. Positioning a tool in this manner is especially advantageous for locating a cutting tool at a precise location to sever a tubular segment at a joint, releasing tensile forces from the joint.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a tool within a wellbore, the system comprising:

a first plurality of grooves disposed within an interior of a tubular string disposed within the wellbore, wherein the first plurality of grooves defines a first selected profile, wherein the first selected profile is defined by a first selected spacing of the first plurality of grooves;

a first blade in communication with the tool, wherein the first blade comprises a first plurality of protruding members, and wherein the first plurality of protruding members define a first complementary profile configured to lock only within the first selected profile;

an additional blade interchangeable with the first blade, wherein the additional blade comprises an additional plurality of protruding members, wherein the additional plurality of protruding members define an additional complementary profile configured to lock only within an additional selected profile, wherein an additional selected spacing of said additional complimentary profile is different from the first selected spacing defining the first complimentary profile, and wherein the additional blade bypasses the first selected profile without locking within the first selected profile as the blade moves along an interior surface of a tubular string; and

a collar configured for direct attachment to an external surface of the tool;

a hinged arm, wherein the first blade and the collar are connected with the hinged arm, and wherein the first blade and the collar each comprise a single point of connection with the hinged arm; and

a biasing member in communication with the first blade, wherein the biasing member continually biases the first blade toward the interior of the tubular string to cause locking of the first complementary profile within the first selected profile, wherein the tool comprises a torch, a cutter, a perforating device, or combinations thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sub disposed within the tubular string, wherein the sub comprises the first plurality of grooves disposed therein.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an anchor secured to the tool, wherein the anchor comprises the blade disposed in communication therewith.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a removable member disposed on and removable from the interior surface of the tubular string, wherein the removable member comprises the first selected profile of the first plurality of grooves disposed thereon.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional plurality of grooves disposed within the interior of the tubular string,

wherein said at least one additional plurality of grooves defines at least one additional selected profile,

wherein said at least one additional selected profile is defined by the additional selected spacing of said at least one additional plurality of grooves,

wherein the selected spacing of said at least one additional selected profile is different from the selected spacing defining said first selected profile, and

wherein the additional complementary profile is configured to lock only with said at least one additional selected profile.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first selected profile is disposed proximate to a joint within the tubular string, and wherein the tool is oriented to cut or perforate the tubular string at the joint or proximate to the joint when the first complementary profile is locked within the first selected profile.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting member configured for attaching to an external surface of a tool, wherein the mounting member comprises a continuous band configured for fixable attachment to non-threaded surfaces of the tool.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first complementary profile is configured to lock only with the first selected profile.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tool is oriented to cut or perforate the tubular string, and wherein the tubular string comprises a drill pipe, a drill collar, a downhole tool, a tubular component, or combinations thereof.

10. A method for positioning a tool within a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an interior of a tubular string with a first plurality of grooves, wherein the first plurality of grooves defines a first selected profile, wherein the first selected profile is defined by a first selected spacing of the first plurality of grooves;

providing the tool with a first blade comprising a first plurality of protruding members, wherein the first plurality of protruding members define a first complementary profile configured to lock within the first selected profile;

providing an additional blade interchangeable with the first blade, wherein the additional blade comprises an additional plurality of protruding members, wherein the additional plurality of protruding members define an additional complementary profile configured to lock only within an additional selected profile, wherein an additional selected spacing of said additional complimentary profile is different from the first selected spacing defining the first complimentary profile;

securing a collar directly to the external surface of a torch, a cutter, or a perforating device and attaching the first blade to the collar with a hinged arm, wherein the first blade and the collar each comprise a single point of connection with the hinged arm;

biasing the first blade in an outward direction to cause locking of the first complementary profile within the first selected profile; and

lowering the tool and the first blade within the tubular string until the first complementary profile locks within the first selected profile, thereby positioning the tool proximate to the first plurality of grooves.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing the interior of the tubular string with at least one additional plurality of grooves defining at least one additional selected profile,

wherein the at least one additional selected profile is defined by the selected spacing of said at least one additional plurality of grooves, and

wherein the selected spacing of said at least one additional selected profile is different from the selected spacing defining said first selected profile;

providing the tool with the additional blade comprising a profile that is complementary to the at least one additional selected profile and configured to lock only within the at least one additional selected profile for enabling a positioning of the tool adjacent to the at least one additional selected profile;

biasing the additional blade in an outward direction to cause locking of the additional complementary profile within the additional selected profile; and

lowering the tool and the additional blade within the tubular string until the additional complementary profile passes over the first selected profile and locks within the additional selected profile, thereby positioning the tool proximate to the additional plurality of grooves.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of providing a removable member disposed on and removable from the interior surface of the tubular string, wherein the removable member comprises the first selected profile of first plurality of grooves disposed thereon.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of shearing a shearable member to remove the first complementary profile from the first selected profile.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing the interior of the tubular string with the first plurality of grooves comprises providing the tubular string with a sub comprising the first plurality of grooves disposed therein.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of lowering the tool and the first blade within the tubular string comprises positioning the tool proximate to a joint within the tubular string, wherein the step of lowering the tool and the additional blade within the tubular string comprises positioning the tool proximate to an additional joint within the tubular string.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of actuating the tool to cut or perforate the tubular string proximate to the joint or the additional joint.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of actuating the tool to cut or perforate the tubular string at or proximate to the joint comprises at least partially cutting or perforating a threaded portion of the tubular string to release torque from the joint to facilitate removal of a portion of the tubular string from the wellbore.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of actuating the torch, the cutter, or the perforating device to cut or perforate at least a portion of the tubular string, wherein the tubular string comprises a drill pipe, a drill collar, a downhole tool, a tubular component, or combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of actuating the torch, the cutter, or the perforating device to cut or perforate said at least a portion of the tubular string further comprises removing said cut or perforated at least a portion of the tubular string from the wellbore.

20. A system for adapting a tool for achieving a selected position within a wellbore, the system comprising:

a mounting member configured for attaching directly to an external surface of a tool, wherein the mounting member comprises a collar configured for direct attachment to non-threaded external surfaces, wherein substantially all of the collar is positioned concentrically about the tool, and wherein the tool comprises a torch, a cutter, a perforating device, or combinations thereof;

a blade attached to the mounting member using a hinged arm, a pivotable arm, or combinations thereof, wherein the blade and the mounting member each comprise a single point of connection with the hinged arm, wherein the mounting member retains the hinged arm and the blade in relation to the tool, wherein the blade comprises a plurality of protruding members, and wherein the plurality of protruding members define a first selected profile configured to lock within a plurality of grooves defining a first complementary profile, and wherein the plurality of grooves are positioned within a wellbore; and

a biasing member in communication with the blade, wherein the biasing member continually biases the blade away from the tool for engaging the plurality of protruding members with the plurality of grooves.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of grooves is disposed within an interior of a tubular member disposed within the wellbore, and wherein the complementary profile is defined by a selected spacing of the plurality of grooves.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the complementary profile is further defined by a depth of the plurality of grooves, an interior shape of the plurality of grooves, or combinations thereof.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising a removable member disposed on and removable from the interior surface of the tubular string, and wherein the removable member comprises the first selected profile of the first plurality of grooves disposed thereon.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

at least one additional plurality of grooves disposed within the interior of the tubular string,

wherein the at least one additional plurality of grooves defines at least one additional selected profile,

wherein the at least one additional selected profile is defined by the selected spacing of the at least one additional plurality of grooves, and

wherein the selected spacing of the at least one additional selected profile is different from the selected spacing defining the first selected profile; and

an additional blade,

wherein the additional blade comprises an additional plurality of protruding members,

wherein the additional plurality of protruding members define an additional complementary profile configured to lock only within the additional selected profile,

wherein the selected spacing of the additional complimentary profile is the same as the selected spacing defining the at least one additional selected profile, and

wherein the additional blade is configured to lock only within the at least one additional selected profile.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the position of the mounting member is fixedly adjustable along the length of the tool.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the tubular member comprises a drill pipe, a drill collar, a downhole tool, a tubular component, or combinations thereof.