Tool positioning and latching system

• US 9,416,609 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, Llc
• Original Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, Llc
• Inventors: Robertson, Michael C, Boelte, William F., Streibich, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Zakiya W
• Application Number:
  US14/143,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20150184476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/04 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/00 Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/005 with a radially-expansible cutter rotating inside the pipe, e.g. for cutting an annular window
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/123 Gas lift valves

Abstract

A system and method for positioning a tool within a tubular segment or a tubular tool, wherein the interior surface of the tubular segment or tubular tool is provided with one or more pluralities of grooves, each defining a selected profile. A downhole tool is lowered into the tubular segment or tubular tool, having a blade in communication therewith. The blade includes a plurality of protruding members thereon, which define a profile complementary to one of the selected profiles formed by one of the pluralities of grooves. A biasing member biases the blade toward the interior surface of the tubular segment or tubular tool to engage the protruding members of the blade within the complementary profile of the tubular segment or the tubular tool. The system and method further include a slip and wedge assembly usable to position a tubular segment or tubular tool within a tubular member or wellbore.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a cutting or perforating tool, the system comprising:

a first plurality of grooves disposed within an interior of a tubular member 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 cutting or perforating tool, wherein the first blade moves along an interior surface of the tubular member and 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;

a collar configured for direct attachment to an external surface of the cutting or perforating 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 surface of the tubular member to cause locking of the first complementary profile within the first selected profile,

wherein the cutting or perforating tool comprises a torch, a cutter, a perforating device, or combinations thereof, and wherein the cutting or perforating tool is selectively positioned to cut or perforate the tubular member, another tubular connected to the tubular member, a downhole tool, or combinations thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the another tubular or the downhole tool comprises a packer, a cut-to-release packer, a dual completion packer, a valve, a ball valve, a sub-surface safety valve, a flapper valve, a gas lift mandrel, a kickoff system, a shifting tool, or combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tubular member is part of a tubular string positioned within a wellbore.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first selected profile is disposed proximate to a joint within the tubular string, and wherein the cutting or perforating 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.

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

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of slips positioned about the tubular member; and

at least one wedge positioned about the tubular member, wherein the at least one wedge is adapted to move the plurality of slips radially outward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member, thereby engaging the plurality of slips against an inside surface of a wellbore or an inside surface of the another tubular.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising 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 member.

8. A method for positioning a cutting or perforating tool, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an interior of a tubular member 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;

connecting the tubular member to another tubular or downhole tool;

providing a cutting or perforating 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;

securing a collar directly to an 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;

lowering the cutting or perforating tool within the tubular member until the first complementary profile locks within the first selected profile, thereby positioning the cutting or perforating tool proximate to the first plurality of grooves; and

actuating the torch, the cutter, or the perforating device to cut or perforate at least a portion of the another tubular or downhole tool.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the another tubular or the downhole tool comprises a packer, a cut-to-release packer, a dual completion packer, a valve, a ball valve, a sub-surface safety valve, a flapper valve, a gas lift mandrel, a kickoff system, a shifting tool, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the tubular member is part of a tubular string positioned within a wellbore.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a removable member disposed on and removable from the interior surface of the tubular member, wherein the removable member comprises the first selected profile of the first plurality of grooves disposed thereon.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of actuating the torch, the cutter, or the perforating device to cut or perforate the tubular string proximate to a joint of the tubular member.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of slips positioned about the tubular member;

providing at least one wedge positioned about the tubular member;

engaging the at least one wedge with the plurality of slips;

moving the plurality of slips radially outward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and

engaging the plurality of slips with an inside surface of a wellbore or another tubular member, thereby locking the tubular member in a position against the inside surface of the wellbore or the another tubular member.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising 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, and wherein an additional selected spacing of said additional complimentary profile is different from the first selected spacing defining the first complimentary profile.

15. A system for positioning a cutting or perforating tool within a tubular member for cutting or perforating, the system comprising:

a mounting member configured for attaching directly to an external surface of a cutting or perforating 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 cutting or perforating tool, and wherein the cutting or perforating 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 cutting or perforating tool, wherein the blade comprises a plurality of protruding members, 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 cutting or perforating tool for engaging the plurality of protruding members with the plurality of grooves,

wherein the tubular member is connectable to another tubular or a downhole tool, and wherein the cutting or perforating tool is adapted to cut or perforate the another tubular or the downhole tool when engaged with the tubular member.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the another tubular or the downhole tool comprises a packer, a cut-to-release packer, a dual completion packer, a valve, a ball valve, a sub-surface safety valve, a flapper valve, a gas lift mandrel, a kickoff system, a shifting tool, or combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the tubular member is part of a tubular string positioned within a wellbore, wherein the cutting or perforating tool is positioned within the tubular string, wherein the cutting or perforating tool is adapted to cut or perforate the tubular string.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the position of the mounting member is fixedly adjustable along the length of the cutting or perforating tool.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one slip positioned about the tubular member; and

at least one wedge positioned about the tubular member, wherein the at least one wedge is adapted to move the at least one slip radially outward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member, thereby engaging the at least one slip against an inside surface of a wellbore or an inside surface of another tubular member.

20. A system for positioning a cutting or perforating tool for cutting or perforating a tubular member, the system comprising:

a tubular member adapted for attachment with another tubular member or a downhole tool, wherein the tubular member comprises at least one groove along an inside surface thereof, and

a cutting or perforating tool comprising;

a torch, a cutter, a perforating device, or combinations thereof;

a blade comprising at least one protruding member extending therefrom, wherein the at least one protruding member is adapted to lock within the at least one groove of the tubular member; and

a biasing member in communication with the blade, wherein the biasing member biases the blade against the inside surface of the tubular member for engaging the at least one protruding member with the at least one groove,

wherein the cutting or perforating tool is adapted to cut or perforate only the another tubular member or the downhole tool when the blade is engaged within the plurality of grooves of the tubular member.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the cutting or perforating tool is adjustable, whereby the torch, the cutter, or a perforating device cuts or perforates the another tubular or the downhole tool at a desired location.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the distance between a nozzle of the torch, the cutter, or the perforating device and the at least one protruding member of the blade is adjustable.