Downhole tool

• US 9,611,719 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peak Completion Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Peak Completion Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hofman, Raymond, Muscroft, William Sloane
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHENER, BLAKE E
• Application Number:
  US14/086,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/006 "J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/063 Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc E21B34/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/103 with a shear pin

Abstract

A downhole tool comprising an inner sleeve with a plurality of sleeve ports and a housing positioned radially outwardly of the inner sleeve and having a plurality of housing ports, with the housing and inner sleeve partially defining a space radially therebetween. The space is occupied by a shifting sleeve. A fluid path extends between the interior flowpath of the tool and the space. A fluid control device, such as a burst disk, occupies at least portion of the fluid path. In one state, the shifting sleeve is in a first position between the housing ports and the sleeve ports to prevent fluid flow between the interior flowpath and exterior of the tool. The fluid control device may selectively permit fluid flow, and thus pressure communication, into the annular space to cause a differential pressure across the shifting sleeve. When a sufficient differential pressure is reached, the shifting sleeve is moved to a second position, which opens the communication paths through the housing and sleeve ports between the interior flowpath and exterior flowpath of the tool.

Claims

1. A downhole tool having an interior flowpath and an exterior, the tool comprising:

a nested sleeve assembly comprising a shifting sleeve, the shifting sleeve having a first position, a second position, a first end and a second end, the first end and second end each in fluid isolation from the interior flowpath and the exterior; and

an indexing assembly in communication with the shifting sleeve, the indexing assembly having, a run in position, an actuated position and at least one non-actuated position between the run in position and the actuated position;

wherein, the indexing assembly advances from a first non-actuated position to the actuated position in response to a predetermined stimulus;

further, wherein the indexing assembly prevents the shifting sleeve from moving to the second position when the indexing assembly is in the at least one non-actuated position; and

a collet assembly in communication with the shifting sleeve and the indexing assembly, wherein said collect assembly comprises a collet and a collet retainer;

wherein the collet is connected to the collet retainer and disposed between the shifting sleeve and the indexing assembly;

and further wherein the collet and collet retainer are configured to disconnect in response to movement of the indexing assembly to the actuated position.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the indexing assembly comprises

a slotted member having a slot with at least one first position, at least one intermediate position and an actuated position,

a torque pin;

and

a spring,

wherein the torque pin is engaged with the slot adjacent to the at least one first position and the spring is in communication with the slotted member and resists movement of the slotted member relative to the torque pin in at least one direction.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the nested sleeve assembly further comprises:

a housing;

an inner sleeve within the housing, the housing and inner sleeve defining a space therebetween;

a passageway connecting a flowpath with the space;

wherein, the shifting sleeve occupies at least a portion of the space such that a surface of the shifting sleeve is fluidly connectable to the flowpath through the passageway.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the nested sleeve assembly further comprises:

a passageway connecting the interior flowpath with the first end; and

a fluid control device in the passageway.

5. The downhole tool of claim 4 wherein the fluid control device comprises a burst disk.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the indexing assembly is a mechanical indexing assembly.

7. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the indexing assembly is a pressure responsive indexing assembly.

8. A method for actuating a downhole tool, the method comprising flowing a fluid into the downhole tool, the downhole tool comprising:

an interior flowpath, an exterior. a nested sleeve assembly and an indexing assembly;

the nested sleeve assembly having a shifting sleeve with a first position and a second position and a passageway;

the shifting sleeve comprising a first end and a second end, the first end and second end in fluid isolation from the interior flowpath and the exterior; and

the passageway having a fluid control device therein and connecting the interior flowpath to the first end;

the indexing assembly comprising an indexing element with a run-in position, an actuated position, and at least one non-actuated position therebetween, the indexing assembly in communication with the shifting sleeve;

a collet connected to a collet ring;

changing the fluid control device from a closed state to an opened state;

causing a first increase in pressure of the fluid in the interior flowpath to a first pressure and moving the indexing element to a first unactuated position;

causing a decrease in the pressure of the fluid in the downhole tool to move the indexing element to an actuated position;

reducing a force applied to the indexing element when the indexing element moves to the actuated position, said reducing step comprising disconnecting the collet from the collet ring.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising decreasing the pressure to a second pressure and moving the indexing element to a second non-actuated position prior to moving the indexing element to the actuated position.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising rupturing a burst disk disposed in the passageway.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising rotating the indexing element in response to movement of the indexing element from the first non-actuated position to a second unactuated position.

12. A downhole tool having an exterior, the tool comprising:

a nested sleeve assembly comprising a shifting sleeve, the shifting sleeve having a first position and a second position; and

an indexing assembly in communication with the shifting sleeve, the indexing assembly having an actuated position and at least one non-actuated position;

a collet assembly comprising a collet, a collet ring, a first internal surface and a second internal surface;

wherein the indexing assembly advances from the at least one non-actuated position to the actuated position in response to a predetermined stimulus; and

the indexing assembly prevents the nested sleeve from moving to the second position when the indexing assembly is in the at least one non-actuated position; and

the second internal surface has a diameter sufficient large to permit the collet to release from the collet ring.

13. The downhole tool of claim 12 wherein the first internal surface has a diameter configured to maintain a connection between the collet and the collet ring.

14. The downhole tool of claim 12 wherein the collet is connected to a collet sleeve and the collet ring is connect to a collet ring sleeve, the connection of the collet and the collet ring preventing the collet sleeve from overlapping with the collet ring sleeve.