Controllably releasable shifting tool
First Claim
1. A shifting tool comprising at least one collet element for engagement with an actuator and disengagement therefrom in a substantially actuator damage-free manner, said collet element comprising:
- an engagement portion for the engagement with the actuator;
a base portion for coupling to a delivery tool; and
a distinct central region coupled to said portions and of a dimensional characteristic substantially differing from that of said portions to allow for a predictable plastic deformation directed thereat to govern the disengagement upon exposure to a given load, the engagement and base portions of substantially greater resistance to such deformation than the central region.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shifting tool having a release mechanism of predictable deforming radial character. The tool may be utilized for activating any of a variety of different types of downhole actuators. Once more, due to the controlled and predictable manner of deformation employed in the release mechanism, load pulls directed at the actuator may be significant without undue concern over unintended or uncontrolled tool breakage. So, for example, a stuck actuator arm engaged with the shifting tool may be safely pulled at substantially greater loads thereby increasing the odds of dislodging. Thus, the occurrences of added follow-on interventional applications addressing stuck actuator arms may be reduced, resulting in tremendous time and cost savings.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shifting tool comprising at least one collet element for engagement with an actuator and disengagement therefrom in a substantially actuator damage-free manner, said collet element comprising:
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an engagement portion for the engagement with the actuator; a base portion for coupling to a delivery tool; and a distinct central region coupled to said portions and of a dimensional characteristic substantially differing from that of said portions to allow for a predictable plastic deformation directed thereat to govern the disengagement upon exposure to a given load, the engagement and base portions of substantially greater resistance to such deformation than the central region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A downhole assembly for disposal in a well at an oilfield, the assembly comprising:
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a substantially permanent downhole device; an actuator coupled to said device for triggering thereof; and a shifting tool for activating engagement with said actuator via an engagement portion of a collet thereof and having a distinct non-engaging controllably plastically deformable central region of the collet for governing disengagement in a substantially actuator damage-free manner upon load-based failure of the activating, the engagement portion of substantially greater resistance to such deformation than the central element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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deploying a shifting tool to a downhole location in a well; engaging an actuator at the location with an engagement portion of a collet element of the tool; and imparting a load pull on a distinct controllably plastically deformable central region of the element of the engaged tool for translation to the actuator with retained structural soundness of the element, the engagement portion of substantially greater resistance to such deformation than the central region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification