Tool positioning and latching system

• US 9,945,197 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• 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:
  US15/237,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• 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 within a tubular member, the system comprising:

a collar configured to directly attach to the cutting or perforating tool;

a first blade attached to the collar, 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 a first selected profile disposed on or within an interior surface of the tubular member; 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, wherein the first selected profile comprises a set of grooves.

6. 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.

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 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. The system of claim 1, wherein a location of the attachment of the collar to the cutting or perforating tool may be adjusted.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of slips positioned about the tubular; 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 member.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking of the first complementary profile within the first selected profile anchors the cutting or perforating tool at a desired position, prevents movement of the cutting or perforating tool, or combinations thereof.

11. A method for positioning a cutting or perforating tool within a tubular member of a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

securing a collar directly to the cutting or perforating tool, wherein the collar is directly or indirectly attached to a first blade comprising a first plurality of protruding members that define a first complementary profile configured to lock within a first selected profile disposed within the tubular member;

lowering the cutting or perforating tool and the secured collar into the tubular member;

biasing the first blade in an outward direction from the cutting or perforating tool while the cutting or perforating tool is lowered to a location proximate to the first selected profile;

locking the first complementary profile of the first blade within the first selected profile; and

actuating the cutting or perforating tool to cut or perforate at least a portion of the tubular member, another tubular connected to the tubular member, a downhole tool, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cutting or perforating tool comprises a torch, a cutter, a perforating device, or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, before locking into the first selected profile, sliding the first blade passed another selected profile without locking the first blade into the another selected profile.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising

retrieving the cutting or perforating tool from the wellbore;

and

replacing the first blade with 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 second complementary profile, and wherein the second complementary profile is different from the first complimentary profile.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of securing a removable member to an interior surface of the tubular member, wherein the removable member comprises the first selected profile of first plurality of grooves disposed thereon.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps 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.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising clocking in a desired direction to position the cutting or perforating tool at a desired angle from an original position.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising anchoring the cutting or perforating tool, preventing movement of the cutting or perforating tool, or combinations thereof.

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

a mounting member configured to directly attach to a cutting or perforating tool, wherein the mounting member 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 directly or indirectly attached to the mounting member, wherein the blade comprises a plurality of protruding members that 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.

20. The system of claim 19, 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.

21. The system of claim 19, 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.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the position of the mounting member is fixedly adjustable along the length of the cutting or perforating tool.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the biasing member biases the blade in a desired direction to position the cutting or perforating tool at a desired angle from an original position.

24. The system of claim 19, 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.