apparatus for controlling a downhole device in an oil, gas or water well and method for controlling

专利摘要:
APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A BOTTOM DEVICE IN AN OIL, GAS OR WATER WELL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A BOTTOM DEVICE IN AN OIL, GAS OR WATER WELL. The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a downhole device in a well having a body with a control opening and a movable pin in the opening. The opening has a first inactive loop in which the pin can cycle between different inactive configurations, and a second active loop in which the pin can move between different configurations that correspond to the downhole device's active and inactive settings. The pin can be switched between the first and second turns, and can cycle between the different configurations inside without switching between the different turns. The opening can be provided in a piston, and the axial movement of the piston in the bore can drive the relative movement of the pin and the opening.
公开号:BR112014012894B1
申请号:R112014012894-4
申请日:2012-11-28
公开日:2021-05-25
发明作者:Krzysztof Machocki
申请人:Nxg Technologies Limited；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling downhole devices.
[0002] It is necessary to control the actions of downhole valves and other tools from the surface. Valves or other downhole tools often need to be opened and closed at different stages of the drilling, operation and maintenance of a well, so controllers to achieve remote opening and closing of the valve in the well are needed.
[0003] Activation and deactivation of downhole devices often involve steps such as dropping activation balls or deactivating the surface. A disadvantage of these methods is that the time between the release of the ball from the surface and the arrival of the ball at the designated tool location is a variable factor in the method. For very long wells, it can take, for example, up to 40 minutes to activate one tool and another 40 minutes to drop a second ball to turn the tool off. These methods also limit the number of on/off cycles that are possible, because the number of balls that can be discarded and retained in the ball catcher is limited, and once the ball catcher is full, the tool must be retrieved. to the surface and the ball catcher must be emptied before the tool can be reset.
[0004] It is also well known to control tools in the well using pressure changes transmitted through fluid in the well, which carries a sleeve axially with respect to a pin. Such arrangements are commonly called J-slot devices, as the sleeve is a slotted one with a J-shaped opening in which the pin moves. The sleeve is rotated relative to the stationary pin, which is forced to travel along the J-shaped opening. When pressure is increased, the sleeve moves downward, the pin is in a position in the opening, and the valve is opened, for example, and when the pressure is reduced, the sleeve moves up relative to the pin, which is guided to another relative position of the pin and the opening, in which the valve can be closed. The opening can be formed in a turn around the sleeve, with the two ends of the loop connected, so that the sleeve moves continuously around its axis, sequentially opening and closing the valve. The pressure acting on the sleeve can be the well pressure or it can be the control line pressure.
[0005] According to the present invention, an apparatus is provided for controlling a downhole device in an oil, gas or water well, the apparatus having a body comprising a control opening that articulates a pin, the opening of control and the pin being provided in separate parts which are movable relative to each other so that movement of the pin relative to the control opening switches the downhole device between active and inactive states, the opening having a first turn in which the pin can move between different inactive pin configurations and opening in which the device is inactive, and a separate second turn spaced around the body with respect to the first turn, and where the pin can move in the second turn between different pin and aperture settings that correspond to downhole device active and inactive settings, and where the pin can be switched between the first and second turns, and where and the pin can cycle between the different configurations within each of the first and second turns without alternating between the first and second turns.
[0006] The invention also provides a method for controlling a well device in an oil, gas or water well, the apparatus having a body comprising providing a control opening and a pin in separate relatively movable components so that the opening articulates the pin and the pin and opening are movable relative to each other, and moving the pin relative to the opening to switch the downhole device between active and inactive states, the method comprising moving the pin in a first turn of the opening where the turn defines different inactive pin configurations and opening in which the device is inactive, and moving the pin in a second turn separate from the opening spaced around the body relative to the first turn, the second turn defining different settings of the pin and opening that correspond to the active and inactive settings of the downhole device, and the method including the step of switching the pin between the first and second turns and circle the pin between the different configurations inside each of the first and second turns without alternating between the first and second turns.
[0007] Typically, the pin can remain in one of the first and second turns without alternating between them, moving between different pin configurations and opening within each turn. Typically, the pin cycles repeatedly between the two different pin and opening configurations within each turn, repeatedly moving from one to the other until alternating between turns. Typically, the pin circles from the origin of each of the first and second turns to a second position in the turn and back to the origin of the same turn. The first and second loops can be linked to third or more loops or trajectories that can have the same or different functions. In this way, such third and further turns may optionally allow circulation in the same way as the first and second turns, but since the first and second turns allow circulation, it is not necessary for the other turns or trajectories to do so.
[0008] Typically, the geometry of the opening prevents the movement of the pin within one of the turns until alternating.
[0009] Typically, each of the turns comprises a first trajectory and a second trajectory, and the second trajectory returns the pin to the starting point of the first trajectory. Typically, the pin normally moves in opposite axial directions on the two paths. Typically, the pin can be alternated between the first and second turns on the second return path. Typically, alternation is achieved by reversing the relative axial direction of movement of the pin and opening, typically by reversing the axial direction of movement of a sleeve in which the opening is formed. Typically, the toggle is achieved when the pin is in a transitional portion of the second return path, typically having passed a junction (typically a Y junction) leading to the next turn. Typically, the Y-join is inverted, and the alternation between turns is achieved when the pin is in the combined trunk of the Y, moving away from the joint between the upper connecting members of the Y. Typically, the two members of the Y are parts of different respective turns. Typically, one of the limbs (eg, the limb attached to the second loop) is in axial alignment with the trunk of the Y.
[0010] Typically, the body comprises a piston sensitive to changes in pressure in the well, and axially movable in a hole in the apparatus in response to said changes in pressure. Typically, axial movement of the piston in the bore drives the relative movement of the pin and opening.
[0011] Typically, the opening may be provided in a sleeve that moves relative to the body, and the pin may be provided in the body, but in other embodiments, the sleeve may have the pin and the opening may be provided in the body. The sleeve can typically be formed integrally with the piston. Thus, the piston can optionally support the opening, or it can be formed into a separate sleeve that is connected to the piston.
[0012] Typically, the beginning and end of the first and second trajectories, where the pins alternate between the two trajectories, are axially spaced along the sleeve/piston and/or they may optionally be circumferentially spaced, but in certain embodiments, the beginning and the ends of the first and second trajectories in each turn can be axially aligned along the axis of the body. The end point of each trajectory, corresponding to the start point of the other trajectory, is typically formed at a corner of the opening, which guides the change in the direction of movement of the pin relative to the opening, typically forming a stop that requires reversal the axial direction of movement of the pin in relation to the opening. For example, the first trajectory may start at one end of the sleeve or piston, eg the lower end, and may extend axially across the sleeve/piston (typically with a lateral or circumferential component, in addition to the axial component) to the end of the first trajectory provided in the form of an inverted V to a position which is axially spaced from the sleeve/piston from the start position of the first trajectory, eg at or near the top of the sleeve/piston. The inverted V marks the transition between the first and second trajectories. From the vertex of the inverted V, the pin is pressed to move down the second path.
[0013] Typically, the first and second trajectories have first portions that are typically linear (e.g., axial) and typically are arranged parallel to the axis (e.g., the axis of the body or sleeve and piston), and that do not drive rotation relative of pin and aperture components; and second portions, which typically also incorporate straight lengths but may also be offset away from the first portion, and then typically extend axially and circumferentially, thus driving rotation of the pin and aperture components (typically drives the sleeve/piston in relation to to the stationary pin) according to the angle of deviation of the second path in relation to the axis. In some embodiments, both the first linear portion and the second offset portion may optionally be angled with respect to the main axis of the piston/sleeve. Such embodiments may optionally have offset portions as well, but typically the second offset portions are set at a greater angle than the first linear portions to drive greater rotation of the sleeve than the linear portions. Typically, when the entire opening is angled (to a greater or lesser extent), then movement of the pin through the opening will drive the piston's continued rotation about its axis, and the degree of rotation will typically vary with the angle of the linear and offset portions of the opening in relation to the axis.
[0014] Typically, alternation is achieved when the pin is in a transition portion of the second return path. The transition portion of the second return path is typically an axial portion. Typically, the alternation is triggered by reversing the direction of movement of the pin in the axial portion of the opening. Typically, the axial transition portion is adjacent to the Y-joint in the opening, between the two turns, and typically reversing the movement of the pin in the transition portion of the opening causes the pin to move from one turn to the other.
[0015] Typically the openings comprise spaced end portions, each having blunt end paths (typically extending axially) and offset portions that normally deviate from the axis of the apparatus and the axial transition portions. Typically, at least part of the transition portion (typically the axial transition portion) of a second (return) path forms part of the first (outward) path of the adjacent turn.
[0016] Typically, the apparatus comprises alternating turns spaced circumferentially around the sleeve/piston. Typically, turns are arranged in pairs. Simple embodiments of the invention can comprise only a first and a second turn, and the pin can transition between the two turns, inactive on the first turn, and alternating between active and inactive on the other. However, in other embodiments of the invention, it is possible to have multiple pairs of first and second turns, optionally alternating in a sequence (e.g., first-second-first-second etc.) around the circumference of the sleeve or piston. Thus, in such embodiments, the pin can be idle on a first turn, change to a second turn where it can move the device between active and inactive positions, and then move to another (optionally different) first turn to stay. idle one more time before being switched to a second lap (optionally different). 2, 3, 4 or more pairs of first and second turns may optionally be provided in some embodiments. The different first turns may optionally have the same or different characteristics, but typically they all have the same idle characteristics between different sleeve/piston positions without activating the device. Likewise, different second rounds can have the same or different characteristics, and optionally more variation in characteristics can be seen in different second rounds, as these can, in some embodiments of the invention, be configured to toggle between different active states of the device, for example, a second loop can alternate between closed and 50% open, and another second loop can alternate between closed and 75% open, etc.
[0017] In certain embodiments, instead of being arranged in pairs of first and second turns, turns may be arranged in triplets, and the pin may circle from first to second to third and optionally subsequent additional turns before typically return to the first lap and repeat the cycle. The third, fourth, fifth, and subsequent loops can optionally be chosen to match the same or different device settings, for example, the second loop can alternate between, for example, closed and 50% open, and the third loop can toggle between closed and 75% open, etc., or some different state of activation compared to the second loop, after which the pin can optionally return to the first loop, or progress to another loop or series of loops that can, optionally, have a different structural characteristic, which defines the tool in different configurations that provide different functional effects on the tool being controlled. Different embodiments can optionally have different configurations in the opening transitions.
[0018] Typically, the speed of movement of the pin on the first trajectory is different from the speed of the pin on the second return trajectory, typically on every turn, or at least on the second turn. Typically, the pin moves more slowly on the second trajectory of the opening than on the first trajectory. Pin movement through the first trajectory is typically as fast as possible. However, the movement of the pin through the second (return) path is optionally deliberately delayed in order to provide a greater amount of time for triggering the reversal of the direction of movement of the pin on the second path of the opening. This provides more time to trigger the transition between the two laps, which can then be performed faster and more accurately, and typically using conventional surface equipment such as surface pumps. Typically, the difference in speed between the two trajectories can be controlled by hydraulic means, for example, by providing different fluid paths for the fluid flow at the time of movement of the pin on the respective first and second trajectories. For example, the pin may move slower on the second path than the first, because the fluid forcing the pin to move on the second path may have a flow restrictor in the fluid path, while the fluid driving the pin through the The first trajectory can optionally typically move through higher capacity pathways with less resistance to fluid flow. Optionally, the fluid flow paths in each of the first and second trajectories can be structurally the same, and the speed differential is controlled by functional steps, for example, applying different pressures as the pin passes through each of the trajectories. , to move the pin more slowly through the second path than through the first.
[0019] Optionally, different portions (e.g., the offset and axial portions) of the second trajectory have different characteristics with respect to the maximum possible speed of movement of the pin in these portions, and in typical embodiments of the invention, the pin may optionally move through at least one of the offset portions of the second path faster than through the axial portion. Therefore, these differential limits on the speed of movement of the pin through the opening allow for rapid movement of the pin to the point where the transition between the two turns occurs, and then a slower, more controlled movement through the transition zone of the opening. , allowing more time (eg several minutes) to trigger surface changes to alternate the pin between adjacent turns, optionally followed by a faster movement back to the start point of the first trajectory after the pin has passed the transition point at which alternation between turns is possible.
[0020] Optionally, speed restrictors are fluid flow restrictors where the driving force moving the pin through the opening is hydraulic, but in other embodiments where the driving force for moving the pin through the opening is something else , then speed restrictors may comprise other suitable components.
[0021] Optionally, the apparatus is used to operate a valve, for example, to move a sleeve/piston in order to open or close one or more ports to allow or restrict or throttle a fluid flow, for example, in a valve of circulation. Optionally, the apparatus is used to operate a cutting tool, for example, to move a sleeve/piston in order to cause a cutting element to extend from a tool body, for example, into a milling tool such as a sub-reamer. Loops can be configured to allow the operator to circulate fluid through the tool without expanding cutters while on the first loop. The second turn can be configured to move between non-expanded and partially expanded, i.e., 50% expanded, cutter positions, and the third turn can be configured to move between non-expanded and a different configuration, eg, 100 % expanded. Embodiments of the apparatus can also be used to extend and retrieve the stabilizer blades. Many other uses of the device are possible.
[0022] It is particularly beneficial that the apparatus allows movement between different idle configurations without necessarily activating the tool it is controlling. This allows the operation of other pressure activated tools in the column independent of the apparatus controlled by embodiments of the invention. In addition, it allows a column incorporating the apparatus of the invention to be broken up and made to go to the surface to add or remove tube frames to the column without affecting the device configuration, for example, without switching the device between inactive configurations, partially or fully active, until the pin is toggled between the first and second turns at the desired time selected and controlled by the operator.
[0023] Typically, the apparatus comprises a channel that passes through a body, allowing fluid to pass through the channel after the apparatus. Optionally, the hole in the body can be aligned with the hole in a column in which the apparatus is incorporated.
[0024] Typically, the piston can be moved by fluid pressure in the bore of the body. Typically, the hole allows the transmission of fluid pressure past the apparatus in the column in order to activate other tools in the column.
[0025] Optionally, the sleeve/piston can be unbalanced by a resilient device, such as a spring, for example a helical spring, in an axial direction, and fluid pressure (or other driving force driving the movement of the pin in the opening) can act in the opposite direction, against the force of the resilient device. Therefore, the sleeve/piston can generally be biased in one direction, for example upwards, and the apparatus can optionally be activated by applying fluid pressure (or other motive force) to move the sleeve/piston downwards against the strength of the resilient device.
The various aspects of the present invention may be practiced alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art. The various aspects of the invention may optionally be provided in combination with one or more of the optional features of other aspects of the invention. Furthermore, optional features described in relation to one embodiment may typically be combined alone or together with other features, in different embodiments of the invention.
[0027] Various embodiments and aspects of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Still, other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the entire description thereof, including the figures, which illustrate a number of embodiments and exemplary aspects and implementations. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and aspects, and its various details can be modified in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the drawings and descriptions are to be considered illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Languages such as "including", "comprising", "having", "containing" or "involving", and their variations, are intended to be broad and cover the subject listed, equivalents, and additional subject not recited, and are not intended to exclude other additives, components, wholes or steps. Likewise, the term "comprising" is considered synonymous with the terms "including" or "containing" for applicable legal purposes.
[0028] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these subjects formed part of the basis of the prior art or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
[0029] In this disclosure, whenever a composition, an element or a group of elements is preceded with the transitional phrase "comprising", it is understood that the same composition, element or group of elements is also contemplated with the transitional phrases, " consisting essentially of", "consisting", "selected from the group of consisting of", "including" or "is" which precedes the recitation of the composition, element or group of elements, and vice versa.
[0030] All numerical values in this disclosure are understood to be modified by "about". All singular forms of elements, or any other components described herein are intended to include plural forms thereof, and vice versa. In the attached drawings:
[0031] Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a first circulation tool incorporating an apparatus according to the invention, in a first closed configuration in which the pin is in the first turn, and the circulation tool is closed;
[0032] Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 1, in a second closed configuration, in which the pin is still in the first turn and the circulation tool is closed again;
[0033] Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 1, in a third transitional configuration, where the pin is about to transition to the second turn;
[0034] Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 1, in the first open configuration, in which the pin is in the second turn and the circulation tool is open;
[0035] Fig. 5 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 2, with the circulation tool in the closed configuration, but in which the pin is in the second turn;
[0036] Fig. 6 is a sectional side view similar to Fig. 4, with the circulation tool in an open configuration, but in which the pin is in the second turn;
[0037] Fig. 7 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 3, in which the pin is about to switch to a first adjacent turn;
[0038] Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of the opening of the device of Fig. 1, as if the piston surface were split axially along line A-A of Fig. 9 and unrolled onto a flat surface;
[0039] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the piston of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing the division line A-A;
[0040] Fig. 10 is a side sectional view of a second circulation tool incorporating an apparatus according to the invention, in a first closed configuration, in which the pin is in the first turn, the hole pressure is low, and the circulation tool is closed;
[0041] Fig. 11 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 10, in a second closed configuration, in which the pin is still in the first turn, the hole pressure is high, and a circulation tool is closed again;
[0042] Fig. 12 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 10, in a third transitional configuration, in which the pressure is decreasing, and the pin is about to change from the first turn to the second turn ;
[0043] Fig. 13 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 10, in the first open configuration, in which the pin is in the second turn, the pressure is high, and the circulation tool is open, allowing fluid circulation;
[0044] Fig. 14 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 11, with the circulation tool in the closed configuration at low hole pressure, but in which the pin is in the second turn;
[0045] Fig. 15 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 12, where the pressure is decreasing and the pin is about to transition to an adjacent first turn;
[0046] Fig. 16 is a side sectional view of a third circulation tool incorporating an apparatus according to the invention, in a first closed configuration in which the pin is in the first turn, the hole pressure is low, and the circulation tool is closed, with the internal passage through the tool being open;
[0047] Fig. 17 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 16, in a second closed configuration, in which the pin is still in the first turn, the hole pressure is high, and a circulation tool is again closed, with the internal passage through the tool being open;
[0048] Fig. 18 is a side sectional view of the circulation tool of Fig. 16, in the first open configuration, in which the pin has moved to the second turn, the pressure is high, and the circulation tool is open, allowing fluid to circulate, and the internal passage through the tool being closed;
[0049] Fig. 19 is a side sectional view of a milling tool of a first closed configuration, in which the pin is in the first turn, the hole pressure is low, the cutter is retracted and the circulation port is closed;
[0050] Fig. 20 is a side sectional view of the tool of Fig. 19, in a second closed configuration, in which the pin is still in the first turn, the hole pressure is high, the cutter is retracted and the door circulation is closed;
[0051] Fig. 21 is a side sectional view of the tool of Fig. 19, in the first open configuration, in which the pin is in the second turn, the pressure is high, the cutter is extended, and the circulation port is open;
[0052] Fig. 22 is a side sectional view of the tool of Fig. 19, with the cutter in the closed configuration at low hole pressure, but in which the pin is in the second turn, the cutter is retracted and the port is retracted. circulation is closed;
[0053] Fig. 23 is a side sectional view of a modified milling tool, in a first closed configuration in which the pin is in the first turn, the hole pressure is low, the cutter is retracted and the circulation port it's closed;
[0054] Fig. 24 is a side sectional view of the tool of Fig. 23, in a second closed configuration, in which the pin is still in the first turn, the hole pressure is high, the cutter is retracted and the door circulation is closed;
[0055] Fig. 25 is a side sectional view of the tool of Fig. 23, in the first open configuration, in which the pin is in the second turn, the pressure is high, the cutter is extended and the circulation port is open ;
[0056] Fig. 26 is a side sectional view of the tool of Fig. 23, with the cutter in the closed configuration at low hole pressure, but in which the pin is in the second turn, with the cutter retracted to the circulation port closed;
[0057] Figs. 27-29 show three views of pistons similar to Fig. 8, showing alternative variants of apertures used in different models of pistons, usable in the device of Fig. 1;
[0058] Figs. 30a and b show a further example of a tool in a sectional and partial side view in a first inactive configuration with no pressure applied to it and the pin in the first turn (inactive);
[0059] Figs. 31a and b show similar views of the tool of Fig. 30 in a second configuration inactive under pressure, with the pin in the first turn;
[0060] Figs. 32a and b show similar views of the tool of Fig. 30 in a first active configuration, in which the tool is under pressure and the pin is in the second (active) turn; and
[0061] Figs. 33a and b show similar views where the tool is not under pressure, and the pin is on the second turn.
[0062] Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a first example of an apparatus for controlling a downhole tool according to the invention, in cross-sectional view. The apparatus of Fig. 1 comprises a control sub 1 with a body 5 having box and pin connections at its ends adapted to connect the body 5 to an oil or gas well column. The column typically may comprise a series of tubular devices connected end-to-end above and below the control apparatus 1. As shown in the Figures, in this example, the apparatus 1 is connected to the column so that the left-hand end of the body 5 is further down from the hole, and the one on the right side of body 5 is closer to the surface, but different arrangements can be adopted in other examples. The body 5 has a central hole 5b having three upwardly facing lugs, a first lug 6u adjacent an upper end, and a second lug 6l adjacent a lower extremity, and a smaller middle lug 6m. Hole 5b passes between the two ends of body 5 allowing fluid to pass through body 5. A flow tube 10 extends axially through body 5, being co-axial with the main axis of hole 5b, and having a restricted inside diameter, similar to the inside diameter of hole 5b below bottom step 6l. The outflow tube is sealed on its outer surface at the bottom of the outflow tube 10, and is typically screwed and sealed to an internal thread in the throat of the hole 5b below the lower step 6l, and at its upper end, it is held in place by a collet or metal ring that surrounds a collar 12, which typically screws into an internal thread on the inner surface of the larger diameter section of hole 5b above the first rung 6u. Therefore, the flow tube 10 is typically fixed coaxially in bore 5b. Instead of screw threads, the flow tube 10 can optionally be connected to the inner hole by means of a collet or an arrangement of metal rings. In this example, the flow tube 10 is typically mechanically screwed into the body 5 only at the bottom and is retained at the top by the collar 12, but alternatively it may be retained by a screw thread or a clamp at each or both ends.
[0063] The flow tube 10 defines a ring between the outer surface of the flow tube 10 and the inner surface of the hole 5b within the body 5. Inside the ring, a spring 7 is provided at the bottom of the tool. Spring 7 hits the bottom on the upward facing surface of the smallest step 6l. Typically, spring 7 is held in compression by a piston 20 configured within the ring above spring 7, and which surrounds the upper portion of flow tube 10. Compression of spring 7 between the upwardly facing surface of lower step 6l the downwardly facing surface of piston 20 pushes piston 20 upwards into the annular space, compressing it against the underside of collar 12. The force of spring 7 is typically chosen to be relatively weak in its expanded configuration shown in Fig. 1, and the spring force is designed to allow the fluid pressure in the ring above the piston 20 to overcome the force of the spring 7 and allow the piston 20 to move axially within the ring, as will be described below. Piston 20 is typically sealed on its inner and outer faces to ensure that it moves with the force of fluid within the ring, preventing the passage of fluid. The sliding movement of the piston within the ring to compress the spring typically exhausts the fluid below the piston through an exhaust opening 8, which helps to prevent the piston from blocking.
[0064] The body has a series of circumferentially spaced circulation ports 30, which are arranged in the same axial position, but in different circumferential positions around the body 5. These are axially aligned with ports 11 passing through the tube wall flow rate 10. The circulation ports 30 extend through the wall of the body 5, and allow fluid communication between the bore 5b of the body, and the outer surface of the body 5 in certain circumstances. However, in the position shown in Fig. 1, the inner surface of the ports 30 (and the outer surface of the ports 11) is occluded by the piston 20, which is sealed above and below the axial position of the ports 11, 30, thereby preventing fluid communication between bore 5b and that outside the body when piston 20 is in the position shown in Fig. 1.
[0065] The piston 20 has a set of circumferentially spaced ports 25, which have the same circumferential spacing as the circulation ports 30 in the body 5. The flow tube 10 also has a series of ports 11 spaced around its circumference. In other examples, the circumferential spacing pattern of ports 11 in flowtube 10 may be the same or different from the spacing pattern of ports 30 in body 5. In this example, ports 11 are aligned with ports 30. However, the axial position of ports 11 on flow tube 10 is such that ports 25 on piston 20 only line up axially with ports 11 when the lower face of piston 20 reaches the bottom of shoulder 6m. Ports 25 on piston 20 are disposed similarly to a common axial location on the piston. Movement of piston 20 to slide down bore 5b to compress the springs therefore brings ports 25 on piston 20 into axial alignment with ports 30 of body 5, and ports 11 through flow tube 10, which opens the flow path for fluid communication between the bore 5b of the body 5, and the outer surface of the body.
[0066] The movement of piston 20 within bore 5b is regulated by a pin and opening arrangement, limiting the extent of axial movement of piston 20 within bore 5b, and guiding piston rotation around its axis. The piston 20 is in the form of a sleeve having an axial bore, and in this example, the control opening is formed in the outer surface of the piston. The pin and opening arrangement is shown in Fig. 8. In this example, the pin 40 is inserted through a threaded hole that passes laterally through the side wall of the body 5, and extends into the hole for a short distance, sufficient to pivot opening 50 and to hold pin 40 within opening 50 as piston 20 moves up and down. The opening 50 is typically provided on the outer surface of the piston 20. In alternative examples, the opening may be provided on a separate sleeve that may be separately connected to the piston, or alternatively the piston may be provided with a pin, which extends laterally to out into an inwardly facing opening provided in the inner surface of the hole, or over a separate sleeve connected with the hole. The pin and slot arrangement can be provided in the sub 1 of the apparatus, but this is not essential, and the pin and slot arrangement can be provided in a separate component.
[0067] The opening 50 in sub 1 has at least two turns, that is, the opening has a first turn that allows the pin 40 to move between different configurations that define two different closed configurations of the piston 20, where the ports 25 through of the piston are not aligned with ports 30 through body 5 and ports 11 through flow tube 10, and fluid communication does not take place, and a second turn, in which pins 40 circulate between two different positions in opening 50 corresponding to different configurations of piston 20 in which fluid flow through ports 30 is allowed or not allowed. Pin 40 can be toggled between the two turns at a time chosen by the operator as will now be described, but it also allows for a repeated cycle between the two settings on each turn without necessarily switching between the two turns until the operator chooses to do so. Therefore, the device can be cycled between the different inactive configurations where, in both configurations, the outer doors 30 are closed and no fluid communication takes place through them; but at a time of the operator's choice, the arrangement of the pins and opening can be alternated to follow the pin through the second turn, and allow the opening and closing of the outer doors 30.
[0068] The fluid pressure in bore 5b is communicated to piston 20 through an axial port 12p passing in an axial direction through collar 12, thus providing a fluid communication path between bore 5b and the ring between the tube of flow 10 and the inner surface of the hole 5b. The inner and outer surfaces of piston 20 are sealed above and below ports 25. Therefore, pressure changes in bore 5b are transmitted to the upper face of piston 20 through port 12p, thus causing axial sliding movement of piston 20 in response to pressure changes, for example, to compress spring 7 when the pressure is high enough to overcome the spring force. The rotation of the piston about the flow tube 10 is governed by the restriction of the pin 40 within the opening 50, which protrudes the piston.
[0069] Fig. 1 shows the home position of control sub 1, in which hole 5b is not pressurized, and spring 7 is pushing piston 20 up to the ring against the lower end of collar 12. restraining piston 20 against future axial movement is typically supported by collar 12; although pin 40 as shown in Fig. 1 is at the lower end of opening 50 on the outer surface of piston 20, typically, the length of opening 50 is designed so that the force holding piston 20 is maintained by the wire holding the collar. 12 in place of the inner bore of the body 5, and the pin 40 can be rated simply to guide the rotation of the piston 20, rather than also needing to hold the piston 20 against axial movement when the pressure is high. Typically, spring force is relatively weak (approximately 300ftlb at minimum compression and 1000ftlb at maximum compression). As pressure is increased within bore 5b, fluid pressure is communicated through port 12p, which pushes piston 20 down into the ring as shown in Fig. 2.
[0070] As best seen with reference to Fig. 8, pin 40 starts at point P1 in Fig. 8, at the lower end of a blunt-end axial portion of opening 50. if down relative to the stationary pin 40, the pin 40 axially follows the blunt end of the axial portion upwards and enters a offset portion 1d which causes the clockwise rotation of the piston 20 relative to the stationary pin 40, as well as the pin runs counterclockwise through the offset portion. An additional axial portion for rotation, but directs the axial movement of the piston 20 until the opening 50 enters an additional offset portion 1d' this time going in a clockwise direction towards an additional blunt end axial portion of the opening, a which ends at position P2, which corresponds to the position of opening 40 shown in Fig. 2. The course of pin 40 from the first axial blind-end hole, through the first counterclockwise deviation 1d, through the first axial transition to the the second clockwise offset path 1d' and finally leading to the second axial blind-end hole at P2 is the first path of the first turn of the opening 50.
[0071] In the position shown in Fig. 2, pin 40 went to the upper end of the first trajectory of the first turn, ending in position P2 shown in Fig. 8. In this position, the piston is secured against further axial upward movement . Therefore, ports 25 do not come into alignment with ports 11, 30, and fluid circulation cannot take place. As the fluid pressure is reduced in hole 5b, for example, by decreasing the activity of the pumps on the surface, the force of the spring 7 is eventually able to overcome the fluid pressure and force the piston 20 back up the ring, from so that pin 40 begins to move opening 50 downwards. Starting from position P2, with pin 40 in opening 50, as shown in Fig. 2, pin 40 follows down the axial blind-end opening, but it does not enter the branched section of the first path 1d' and instead enters a branched section 2d of the second path or the return path of the first lap. The second (or return) trajectory of the first turn comprises a first 2d offset section extending counterclockwise, an axial section and a second 2d offset section returning clockwise and converging with the axial blind-end portion corresponding to the first trajectory at P1, where pin 40 started its course in Fig. 1. As long as piston 20 continues to move upward so that pin continuously tracks down the second return trajectory, pin 40 will circle from returns to the starting position at P1, ready for another cycle through the first path. Sub 1 can cycle repeatedly in this way within the two loop paths, pressing up and down for any number of cycles desired without activating the tool. This is useful as it is usually necessary to stop pumps on the surface from time to time, for example when making a column connection, to add another tube support, or to remove one. Therefore, with the apparatus according to the present example, the pumps can be turned on and off on the surface to add or remove any number of lengths of tube to the column without affecting the activation or deactivation of the tool controlled by sub 1, because the pin it is simply circled within the two loop paths, where both ends of the opening correspond to inactive tool settings.
[0072] The first and second trajectories described above constitute the first turn, and allow pin 40 to circle through the first turn as many times as necessary to make multiple connections or break them on the surface, without activating or deactivating the background tool of well controlled by sub 1.
[0073] When sub 1 is ready to open circulation ports 30, pin 40 is circled through the first trajectory from position P1 to P2 as shown in the transition between Figs. 1 and 2, and on the second or return path of the first turn, the pin is alternated from the first turn to the second turn. This is done on the second trajectory of the first turn, and particularly, in this example, when pin 40 has emerged from the first offset part of the second path, and before it has left the second offset path, to re-enter the first axial path corresponding to the starting position P1. At some point in this transition area P3 between the end of the first offset portion and the end of the second offset portion, the direction of movement of the sleeve/piston is typically reversed by connecting or adjusting the pumps on the surface, for example by increasing their level of activity to cause piston 20 to change axial direction within the ring. At this point P3, instead of moving down the second path in the transition area between the end of the first offset part and the end of the second offset part, the piston 20 starts to move down in the ring, and the pin 40 correspondingly moves the opening transition portion 50 upwards. On top of the axial portion of the second trajectory, the second trajectory branches into a Y-join, a portion of which branches to form the first portion offset from the second trajectory in the first turn, and the other part (which is typically axially aligned with the axial portion) leads to the second turn. Due to the geometry of the opening, when the pin 40 is moving up the transition portion, it goes on the second turn, and does not return to the offset part 2d of the second trajectory of the first turn. Therefore, pin 40 goes through a section offset from the second turn to position P4, at the end of a longer axial path corresponding to the position of sub 1 shown in Fig. 4. The longer axial path in P4 allows for a displacement axial length of piston 20 down the ring until it rests on the middle 6m step, which forms a piston stop shoulder at which point piston 20 can no longer move axially downward. At the same point, pin 40 is located at position P4, and is at or near the top of the opening, as shown in Fig. 4, but the reaction force against fluid pressure is normally supported by the 6m step rather than being completely held by pin 40 (although it might be). In this P4 position, ports 11, 25, and 30 are axially aligned, thus allowing fluid communication between the interior hole of the flow tube, through the flow tube ports 11, piston ports 25, and through the ports of the body 30, to the outside of the tool, as shown in Fig. 4. Optionally, ports 11 can also be circumferentially aligned with ports 25 and 30, but this is not essential. This allows fluid to be circulated from hole 5b above control sub 1 through the ports in order to circulate the fluid at high pressures, which is useful for keeping debris in circulation, thus enabling them to be retrieved back to the surface. Circulation thus continues at high pressure allowing the circulation sub embodying the invention to hold, for example, drill cuts and other debris in the ring between the exterior of the body 5 and the interior surface of the well in suspension and helping to wash it away. them back to the surface.
[0074] When circulation operations are complete, and circulation is ceased, the pumps are turned off (or otherwise adjusted) at the surface, and the spring force returns piston 20 to the position of Fig. 5 by movement of the pin along the second (or return) trajectory of the second turn. The second (or return) trajectory of the second turn is essentially identical in structure and function to the second (or return) trajectory of the first turn, except that the spring returns piston 20 so that pin 40 moves to idle position P5 as shown in Fig. 8 and as shown in Fig. 5, but the longer blunt end axial portion of the opening 50 (visible in Fig. 5. in contrast to the short opening in Fig. 1) allows the tool to alternate the circulation as desired, by increasing the pressure to move the pin 40 to the position P4, as shown in Fig. 8 corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 4, where the pin 40 is at the end of the long axial portion of the opening in P4, and the ports are aligned, allowing fluid to circulate through the tool wall. Like the first round, the second round allows for numerous cycles of inactivation and activation according to the activation and deactivation of the surface pumps, while the pin circles in the second round. This pressure increase seen in the control sub hole 5b cycles between the sequential active and inactive settings shown in Figs. 4 and 5 (which correspond to positions P4 and P5 in Fig. 8) as often as desired, without moving the tool in any other configuration, and without the pin leaving the second turn until the operator wishes. When circulation operations have been completed, and there is no more circulation to be performed, pin 40 can be circled to position P4 corresponding to Fig. 4, before starting on the return (or second) path of the second turn. As with the first turn, there is a transition zone P6 between the ends of the first and second sections deviated from the return path, so that when pin 40 reaches the ends of the first and second sections deviated from the return path, and before As it reaches the end of the second offset section, the direction of movement of piston 20 can be reversed by adjusting the surface pumps, causing pin 40 to follow the opposite direction in transition zone P6 shown in Fig. 8, back in the opposite direction to introduce the first trajectory of the next round, eventually ending up at the end of the short blind-end hole at P2' shown in Fig. 8. The control sub is then effectively back to position P2 shown in Fig. . 2, but has circled from the first lap, through the second lap and has now entered a subsequent (first) lap, and the pin can go back to position P1' where the next lap that m ove the piston back to the position shown in Fig. 1 (but moved through a cycle) ready to start additional operations from the beginning.
[0075] Figs. 10-15 show another example 101 of the control sub of Figures 1-9, with similar parts that will be referenced with the same reference numerals but increased by 100, and parts that are shared with the previous example will not be described in details here, but the reader is referred to the foregoing disclosure for an illustration of the structure and function of the corresponding parts of the present example. In the second example of Figs. 10-15, piston 120, pin 140, opening 50, body 105, spring 107, collar 112, ports 111, 125 and 130 are all typically the same as those described above. The second example differs in flow tube 110 and collar 112, which have an optional feature that controls the speed of movement of the pin through the transition portion, typically allowing more time to alternate paths.
[0076] The flow tube has a set of circumferentially arranged small ports 116 arranged in a ring that passes through the wall of the flow tube 110 near the upper end of the flow tube 110. The precise axial distance of the small port ring 116 is typically selected in accordance with the passage of pin 140 after joining the first and second turns of opening 50, at the beginning of the axial section of the second trajectory of opening 50, as will be explained below, but this distance can be varied if desired , without departing from the scope of the invention. The piston seals above and below the small port ring 116 in the position of Figure 10, and the upper ring seal on the inner face of the piston is near the upper end of the piston.
[0077] The modified collar 112 also has a port 112p to admit fluid under pressure from hole 105b, but this is provided with a one-way check valve 113, allowing fluid to pass into the ring from hole 105b , but preventing fluid outflow from the back of the ring through valve 113 in bore 105b. Typically, three 112p ports are provided, each having respective one-way valves 113. The valves typically allow high pressures and high fluid flows in the allowable direction, allowing for quick ring flooding and rapid pressure transmission to piston 120, leading to relatively few transmission losses. The collar also has, generally equidistantly spaced between adjacent ports 112p, at least one, and optionally more than one bleed valve 114, allowing fluid flow from the ring back to bore 105b. Bleed valve 114 can optionally be adjustable. The bleed valve typically has a small bore, or can be adjustable to allow only very small flows through bleed valve 114, generally much less than port 112p and check valve 113. As piston 120 is sealed in the ring on its inner and outer surfaces, fluid can only escape from the ring above the piston through bleed valve 114. Therefore, the speed at which fluid can escape through the bleed valve determines the speed at which the piston can move the ring back up after the pressure has been reduced. This movement speed, therefore, can be modified when configuring the bleed valve.
[0078] In operation, applying pressure to bore 105b drives piston 120 down the ring, moving pin 140 up the opening from position P1 to P2. The device can switch between P1 and P2 settings as previously described. The ring floods quickly due to the large bore ports 112p and the one-way valve 113 does not substantially restrict ring flooding, so the piston moves down (and the pin moves up through the first trajectory of the first turn) so relatively fast for the position shown in Fig. 2.
[0079] However, the movement of the piston back up the ring (and the downward movement of the pin back down the second (return) path of the first turn) requires the fluid in the ring above the piston to escape the ring before piston 120 moves up. Fluid in the ring cannot pass through check valves 113. When the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and pin 140 is in position P2, fluid in the ring can escape back to hole 105b through the small holes. ports 116, as well as through the bleed valve 114. The combined flow area of the small ports 116 is relatively large and the initial upward movement of the piston 120 is rapid as fluid escapes primarily through the small ports 116. higher piston seals pass the small ports 116, the pin has just passed past the Y-join between the first and second turns and is in the transition zone at P3, ready to switch from the first turn to the second turn. At this point, seals on the piston cover the small ports 116 preventing the passage of fluid through the small ports 116 so that fluid in the ring can only escape through the small bore bleed valve 114 in the collar 112. small bore purge valve is much slower than the flow through small bores 116 and ports 112p, and ports 112p are closed by check valves 113 so that piston 120 moves very slowly through the transition P3, and the pin therefore remains in transition zone P3 for a longer period, which can be adjusted by manipulating the pressure difference, and setting the bleed valve. Typical configurations may allow the pin to remain in the transition zone of the second trajectory (return) at position P3 for, for example, 15 seconds to 2 minutes or more, depending on the characteristics of the bleed valve 114 and the pressure differential. Surface pumps can be stopped, if desired, and column changes can be made as described above, by circling the pin repeatedly on the first idle spin.
[0080] The alternation between turns normally only occurs when the operator decides. For alternating turns, the operator typically increases the flow rates, causing the pin to travel to the P2 position, and the operator then reduces (or completely cuts off) surface pump pressure for approximately 15 seconds to 2 minutes for allow the pin to travel to transition zone P3 and then while the pin is still in transition zone P3, the operator again increases flow to move the pin to position P4. The ring floods with well fluid passing through large bore check valves 113 and ports 112p to drive piston 120 under the ring (and pin 140 over opening 50) to position P4, which can be done quickly as a result of larger flow areas from ports 112p and check valves 113. Therefore, the second example allows the operator to manipulate the transition phase timing with greater control. The other operations in this example are similar to the operations described above for the previous example. Any drill string activity while the pumps are off typically takes longer than the 15s to 2 minute transition time for the pin to return through transition zone P3 to position P1. This allows drill string changes to add or remove pipe supports to be performed while the pin continues to circle within the two paths of the first turn. Typically adding a drill pipe support to the drill string will take more than 2 minutes.
Figs. 16-18 show a modified example 201 of the control sub 101 of Figs. 10-15, with similar parts, which will be referred to with the same reference numbers, but increased by 100, and parts that are shared with the previous examples will not be described in detail here, but the reader is referred to the previous examples for a illustration of the structure and function of the corresponding parts of this example. In the third example of Figures 16-18, piston 220, pin 240, opening 50, body 205, spring 207, collar 212, ports 211, 225 and 230 are typically the same as those described above.
[0082] The flowtube 210 has the same arrangement of small ports 216 with piston seals above and below the ring of small ports 216.
[0083] The modified collar 212 has a port 212p to admit fluid under pressure from bore 205b, with a one-way check valve 213 similar to valve 113, allowing fluid to pass into the ring from bore 205b, but preventing fluid from exiting the ring back through valve 213 in bore 205b. Typically, three ports 212p are provided, each having a respective one-way valve 213. Collar 212 also typically has equidistantly spaced between adjacent ports 212p, at least one, and optionally more than one bleed valve 214 enabling the fluid flow from the ring back to hole 205b. The bleed valve 214 is normally adjustable as previously described for the second example, and allows control over the speed at which fluid can escape through the bleed valve and thus the speed at which the piston can move back up. the ring after the pressure has been reduced, which can be adjusted by setting the bleed valve, as previously described for the previous example.
[0084] The third example illustrates how certain devices embodying the invention can generally be used to close the hole below the circulation port, and divert more of the fluid through the circulation port. The present example differs from the second example in that the lower end of spring 207 is stopped by a collet which protrudes over an upturned shoulder around a narrow throat of bore 205b. The lower end of the flow tube carries a valve tube 215, held against rotation in bore 205b by a guide pin. The valve tube 215 passes through the throat at the shoulder, and at its lower end, the valve tube 215 carries a closure device such as a tab 219 which is typically hinged to one side of the valve tube 215. The upper face of the tab 219 is adapted to seal the lower end of valve tube 215, thus closing the hole through sub 201. The lower face of tab 219 is formed to interact with the arcuate upper face of a funnel 218 which gradually curves to orient the tab closure around the pivot axis, as the tab and valve and tube axially move down bore 205b of sub 201. When valve tube has moved down bore of sub 205b, The arcuate upper surface of the funnel 218 will have guided the closure of the flap 219 along the lower end of the valve tube 215. Consequently, all fluids passing through the upper end of the outflow tube 210 are bypassed through the ports 225, 230, when they are aligned, and in this way it is possible to create more turbulent circulation conditions in the ring outside the body 205b.
[0085] The operation of this example is otherwise similar to the previous version; applying pressure to orifice 205 drives piston 220 down the ring, moving pin 240 up the opening from position P1 to P2. The device can cycle repeatedly between the P1 and P2 settings as previously described, without changing between turns until the operator is ready. The ring floods quickly due to the large bore ports 212p and the one-way valves 213 do not substantially restrict ring flooding, so the piston moves down (and the pin rises through the first trajectory of the first turn) so relatively fast for the position shown in Fig. 2.
[0086] The movement of the piston back up the ring (and the downward movement of the pin back down the second (return) path of the first turn as shown in Figure 3 requires the fluid in the ring above the piston to escape the ring before piston 220 moves up, fluid in ring cannot pass back through check valves 213. When piston is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and pin 240 is in position P2, fluid in the ring can pass to hole 205b through the small ports 216. The combined flow area of the small ports is relatively large and the initial upward movement of the piston 220 is rapid as fluid escapes through the small ports 216. When the seals from the higher pistons pass the small ports 216, the pin has just passed the Y junction between the first and second turns and is in the transition zone at P3, ready for transition (if desired) from the first turn to the second round . At this point, the piston seals cover the small ports 216 preventing the passage of fluid through the small ports 216 so that the fluid in the ring can only escape through the small bore bleed valve 214 in the collar 212. small bore purge valve is much slower than the flow through small ports 216 and ports 212p, so piston 220 moves very slowly, and pin remains in transition zone P3 for a longer period, which can be adjusted by manipulating the pressure difference, and setting the bleed valve. Typical settings may allow the pin to remain in the transition zone between the second (return) trajectory at position P3 for 15 seconds to 2 minutes (for example) or more. Surface pumps can be stopped, if desired, and column changes can be made as described above. When the operator decides, the ring can be flooded again through check valves 213 and ports 212p to drive piston 220 under the ring (and pin 240 over opening 50) to position P4, which can be done quickly as a result of the higher flow areas of ports 212p and check valves 213. Flap 219 only surrounds funnel 218 when the pin moves to the second turn and to position P4. Therefore, the third example also allows the operator to manipulate the transition phase timing with more control, and can apply more of the well pressure to the circulation ports 230 as a result of the closure of hole 205b by tab 219.
Figs. 19-22 show a milling device incorporating a fourth example 301 of a control sub, with parts similar to those described above, which will be referred to with the same reference numerals, but increased by 100, and parts that are shared with the examples above will not be described in detail here, but the reader is referred to the previous examples for an illustration of the structure and function of the corresponding parts of the present example. In the fourth example of Figures 19-22, piston 320, pin 340, opening 50, body 305, spring 307, collar 312, ports 311, 325 and 330 are typically the same as those described above. Flowtube 310 has the same arrangement of small ports 316 with piston seals above and below the ring of small ports 316. Modified collar 312 has ports 312p, check valves 313, and bleed valves 314 as previously described for the previous examples.
[0088] The fourth example differs from previous versions in that, in addition to a circulation sub, it comprises a cutting tool which in this example is in the form of a sub reamer. The lower end of spring 307 is disembarked on an upward facing shoulder of an actuating sleeve 315 pushing a cutter 319 radially out of the body. As drive sleeve 315 moves down the bore of sub 305b, cutter 319 is moved up a ramp against the force of a retaining spring 317 to extend radially outward from body 305 and initiate cutting operations.
[0089] In operation, applying pressure to bore 305b drives piston 320 down the ring, moving pin 340 up the opening from position P1 to P2. The device can switch between P1 and P2 settings as previously described. The ring floods quickly due to the 312p large bore ports and the 313 one-way valves do not substantially restrict ring flooding so the piston moves down (and the pin rises through the first trajectory of the first turn to position P2 ) relatively quickly to the piston position shown in Figure 20.
[0090] The repeated cyclic movement of the piston back up the ring (and the downward movement of the pin back down the second (return) path of the first turn) is controlled through the small ports 316 and bleed valve 314 as described above. When the highest piston seals pass the small ports 316, the pin has just passed the Y-joint between the first and second turns and is in the transition zone at P3, ready to transition from the first turn to the second. return. At this point, the seals on the piston cover the small ports 316 preventing the passage of fluid through the small ports 316, so the fluid in the ring can only escape through the small bore bleed valve 314 in the collar 312. small bore purge valve is much slower than the flow through small bores 316 and ports 312p, so piston 320 moves slowly, and pin remains in transition zone P3 for a longer period, which can be adjusted by manipulating the pressure difference, and setting the bleed valve. Typical settings may allow the pin to remain in the transition zone of the second trajectory (return) at position P3 for 15 seconds to 2 minutes or more. Surface pumps can be stopped, if desired, and column changes can be made as described above, at a time chosen by the operator. The ring can be flooded via check valves 313 and 312p ports to drive piston 320 under the ring (and pin 340 up opening 50 to position P4) which can be done quickly as a result of the areas flow rates from ports 312p and check valves 313. The sub 305 is then in the configuration shown in Fig. 21, with reamer cutter 319 extended, and circulation ports open. Sub 305 can be deactivated as previously described for other examples by retrieving cutter 319 back into the tool body under the force of spring 317 as piston 320 moves up the ring. Therefore, the fourth example also allows the operator to manipulate the transition phase timing with greater control. Other similar examples can be constructed, which lack cutters and do not widen, but instead have expandable stabilizer elements, which maintain a predetermined radial clearance between the column and the inner surface of the well.
[0091] Figs. 23-26 show a milling device incorporating a fifth example 401 of a control sub, with parts similar to those described above, which will be referred to with the same reference numerals, but increased by 100, and parts that are shared with the examples above will not be described in detail here, but the reader is referred to the previous examples for an illustration of the structure and function of the corresponding parts of the present example. In the example of Figures 23-26, piston 420, pin 440, opening 50, body 405, spring 407, collar 412, ports 411, 425 and 430 are typically the same as those described above. The flow tube 410 has the same arrangement of small ports 416 with piston seals above and below the small port ring 416. The modified collar 412 has ports 412p, check valves 413, and bleed valves 414 as previously described for the examples above.
[0092] The fifth example differs from the fourth example in that the cutter 419 is pivotally connected to the body and moves radially outward from the body 405 by rotation about the pivot axis when the drive sleeves 415 move to under the orifice of the sub 405b. The cutter 419 is driven by a retaining spring 417 as before to return it to its initial position when the cutting operations have been completed.
[0093] In operation, applying pressure to orifice 405b drives piston 420 down the ring, moving pin 440 up the opening from position P1 to P2. The device can repeatedly switch between P1 and P2 settings as previously described, without switching between laps. The ring floods quickly due to the large bore ports 412 and the one-way valves 413 do not substantially restrict ring flooding so the piston moves down (and the pin rises through the first trajectory of the first turn to position P2 ) relatively quickly to the piston position shown in Figure 24.
[0094] The movement of the piston back up the ring (and the downward movement of the pin back down the second (return) path of the first turn) is controlled through the small ports 416 and bleed valve 414, as described previously. When the higher piston seals pass the small ports 416, the pin has just passed the Y-joint between the first and second turns and is in the transition zone at P3, ready for transition from the first turn to the second. return. At this point, the seals on the piston cover the small ports 416 preventing the passage of fluid through the small ports 416, so the fluid in the ring can only escape through the small bore bleed valve 414 in the collar 412. small bore purge valve is much slower than the flow through small bores 416 and ports 412p, so piston 420 moves slowly, and pin remains in transition zone P3 for a longer period, which It can be adjusted by manipulating the pressure difference, and setting the bleed valve. Typical configurations may allow the pin to remain in the transition zone between the second (return) trajectory at position P3 for 15 seconds to 2 minutes or more. Surface pumps can be stopped, if desired, and column changes can be made as described above. The ring can be flooded via check valves 413 and ports 412p to drive piston 420 under the ring (and pin 440 up opening 50 to position P4) which can be done quickly as a result of the areas of larger flows from ports 412p and bleed valves 413. The sub 405 is then in the configuration shown in Fig. 25, with the 419 reamer cutter extended, and the circulation ports open. Sub 405 can be deactivated as previously described for other examples by retrieving cutter 419 back into the tool body under the force of spring 417 as piston 420 moves onto the ring.
[0095] Referring now to Fig. 27, an alternative design of piston 520 is shown in plan view similar to Fig. 8. The alternative design of piston 520 has an opening 550, which is effectively the mirror image of the opening 50 shown in Figure 8, and typically functions in the same manner as the piston 20 having the opening 50 as shown in Fig. 8, except that the pistons 20 and 520 rotate in opposite directions. Other functions of piston 520 are the same as described above for other examples. Piston 520 typically incorporates a separate sleeve that is provided with ports (not shown) similar to ports 25 provided on piston 20. Typically, piston 520 does not have integral ports as a result.
[0096] Referring now to Fig. 28, this shows a view similar to Fig. 27, with an alternative design of piston 620 having a different profile of opening 650. The opening 650 has first, second and third turns L1, L2 and L3 which are similar in design to the individual first and second turns of piston 20 and which function in the same manner. The difference in sleeve 620 is that each of the turns L1, L2, L3 allow different maximum axial stroke lengths at their higher axial portions. Therefore, the pin travels different axial distances depending on which circuit is located, which allows piston 620 to select different settings of the tool it is controlling according to the alternation of the pin between turns. For example, the first L1 lap can alternate between two inactive positions. The second L2 turn can toggle between inactive and partially active (eg 50% active) tool settings. The third loop can toggle between tool inactive and fully active settings, or some other level of activity (eg 70 or 80% active). The alternation of the pin between the different turns L1, L2 and L3 is performed as previously described for the previous examples.
[0097] Although the pin is allowed to travel at increasing intervals of axial movement through different turns L1, L2 and L3, this does not necessarily correspond to increasing levels of activation possible in the tool being controlled, and, for example, L3 can allow a lower activation level than L1 or L2.
[0098] In a possible second example of operation of the arrangement of Fig. 28 used to control a reamer, the first turn could be used to switch the reamer between inactive positions. The second turn tool can be set to activate the cutter arms, and the third turn can be set to open the cutter arms according to turn 2, but for a larger radial offset.
[0099] In another possible application of the arrangement of Fig. 28, it could be used to control a combined reamer and circulation sub, where the first turn can be arranged to switch the tool between the different inactive settings, the second turn can be configured to activate the reamer only, or the circulation sub only; and the third turn can be configured to activate both the spreader and the circulation sub.
[0100] The opening 650 can be arranged to cycle through the sequence of turns L1, L2, L3 in any direction, according to the opposite directions of the openings 550 and 50, as previously described. More than three turns can be provided.
[0101] Referring now to Fig. 29, an additional alternative design of the piston 720 is disclosed having another variation of the opening 750. The opening 750 has two turns L1' and L2' (although it may have more than two turns as well. described for aperture 650). At opening 750, the linear portions of the blunt ends of turns L1' and L2' are not parallel to the X-X axis of piston 720, so the whole of opening 750 is offset at an angle with respect to the X-X axis. Therefore, the stroke of the pin in opening 750 causes continuous rotation of the piston, and the extent of rotation varies according to the angle of deviation from the X axis in each part of opening 750. The linear blunt end portions of the opening 750 in each of the turns L1' and L2' are typically parallel to each other, although this is not necessary.
[0102] Optionally, opening 750 may be arranged to cycle through the turns sequences in either direction, in accordance with the opposite directions of openings 550 and 50, as previously described. More than 2 turns can be provided on the 750 opening.
[0103] In a typical example, an apparatus according to the invention that is incorporated into a control sub in a column that typically circulates according to the first example can be operated as follows: 1. Prepare to run the tool from column in hole, surface pumps may be idle, pumping 0GPM/0PSI. The pin is normally held in position P1. 2. Run tools in the pre-drilled hole while operating surface pumps at around 100GPM, which typically equates to about 24 PSI. The pin moves to position P2. 3. Add subsequent sets of drill pipe to the surface while pumps idly pump 0 GPM/0PSI. The pin moves from position P2 to position P1 (passing through transition zone P3). Adding a set of drill tubes to the column can take approximately 2-5 minutes. 4. Continue steps 2 and 3 until the column tool reaches the required depth. 5. Drill with higher pressure from pumps on the surface, typically around 300+GPM, which equates to around 225 PSI. The displacement pin is moved to position P2 with the circulation valve closed. 6. Add another set of drill pipes to the surface, while the pumps are idle, at 0 GPM, 0PSI. The displacement pin moves from position P2 to position P1 (passing transition zone 3) again adding drill pipe set. 7. Continue steps 5 and 6 until it is necessary to activate the tool shown, eg circulation sub, sub reamer, stabilizer, etc. 8. To activate the tool by alternating between the first and second turns, increase the flow rate at the surface pumps to 100+GPM, moving the pin to position P2, corresponding to about 24+PSI, then reduce the flow to less than 60GPM on the surface, or around 9PSI, or turn off the surface pumps completely for approximately 20-50 seconds. The pin moves to the transition zone (position P3). While the displacement pin is crossing the P3 transition zone, start the pumps again with 100+GPM, 24+PSI. This causes the pin to cycle through turns and move to position P4. In this position, the pin has entered on the second turn, allowing entry to the long stroke opening and consequently the tool is activated. The circulating sub typically raises TFA, the sub- reamer may typically extend the cutting face and/or the stabilizer may typically extend the stabilizing pads. 9. If it is necessary for the tool to remain in the on position, continue drilling according to steps 5 and 6 until it is necessary to disable the presented tool. The pin will travel between position P4 and P5 corresponding to the flow. If there is a small amount of pressure on the piston, the displacement pin will shift to the P4 position. If there is no pressure on the piston, the displacement pin will return to position P5 (passing through transition zone P6). 10. To turn off the tool the same method is followed according to step 8. This time, when the pressure decreases, the pin moves from position P4 to the transition zone P6 and after increasing the flow in the system the pin will pass to position P2', which corresponds to position P2 above. 11. The tool can be activated and deactivated as often as necessary using the method described in steps 8 and 10.
[0104] As mentioned in step 8, in order to activate the tool, the pumps can be deactivated for 20-50 seconds, but this can be adjusted for different time periods. Also 60GPM with 9PSI can be adjusted if necessary. Pumping rates and pressure values can be varied within the scope of the invention.
[0105] Embodiments allow the construction of tools that alternate between high and low pressure (or on and off), where the pressure can be reduced (optionally to zero) for a specified time, after which the pressure can be increased or applied from new with the tool in the active configuration. Other embodiments allow switching between high and low pressure, where the pressure is reduced to a set value that allows switching between inactive (first) and active (second) laps.
[0106] The invention also provides a control opening for a pin and opening arrangement for a well controller, in which the opening comprises a first turn and a second turn, the first turn being configured to switch the tool between the different settings inactive, and the second loop being configured to toggle the tool between inactive and active settings.
[0107] Thus, opening embodiments provide turns in both on and off configurations, and allow toggling between turns.
[0108] The radial spacing of P1, P2 and other positions in the profile can typically be varied within the scope of the invention. A profile may have positions P1 and P2 that are circumferentially spaced from positions P5 and P4, for example 180 degrees, but other examples may have different spacing and/or more or less pairs of turns. For example, there may be three pairs of turns with equivalent positions spaced 60 degrees apart around the circumference of the piston. There can be a different number of profiles spaced at different angles.
[0109] In the examples presented, positions P1 and P2 are typically functionally equivalent to positions P5 and P4, but these pairs of turns do not need to have structural equivalence, and P1 and P2, for example, do not need to be in axial alignment with one another, as shown in the examples. Position P1 can optionally be shifted around the circumference with respect to position P2, which will change the shape of the profile, but does not need to change the functionality of the tool.
[0110] Figs. 30-33 show a modified example of the control sub of Figures 16-18, with similar parts, which will be referred to with the same reference numerals, but starting with "8" instead of "2", and parts that are shared with the previous examples will not be described in detail here, but the reader is referred to the previous examples for an illustration of the structure and function of the corresponding parts of the present example. In the present example of Figures 30-33, piston 820, pin 840, spring 807, collar 812, small ports 816, port 812p, one-way check valves 813, and bleed valve 814 are all generally the same as those described above, although in some versions, opening 850 may typically have each turn formed with long openings at the top end, rather than alternating short and long openings as shown in the drawings.
[0111] The 805 body is divided into an 805v valve sub attached by a pin and housing arrangement below an 805p piston sub. Valve sub 805v carries a closure member in the form of a tab 819 which closes bore 805b in a similar manner to tab 219. Tab 819 is secured to the end of a valve tube 815, and moves with the valve tube 815. Valve tube 815 is mounted to the lower end of a valve piston 816, which is co-axially mounted to the outer surface of flow tube 810, and can slide relative to flow tube 810, which is attached to the body typically via collar 812. Optionally, collar 812 may comprise an upper collar 812u and lower collar 812l, spaced along the flow tube, and typically immovably connected to the body, e.g. by welding, fixing screws, etc. Collars 812u,l typically center outflow tube 810 in bore 805b, as well as axially attached to the body. Lower collar 812l typically acts as an end stop for spring 807, which is compressed between lower collar 812l and the lower end of piston 810.
[0112] The 830 ports through the body are normally provided on the 805v valve sub. Valve piston 816 typically carries ports 825, and ports 811 on the flowtube are also loaded on valve sub 805v. Valve piston 816 slides axially along flow tube 810 to expose and cover ports 811 and allow and prevent communication through ports 830. Valve piston 816 has a piston area that has different diameters sealed so that when subject to differential pressure, they move bore 805b downwards toward tab 819. In addition, the valve piston is pushed in the same direction by a very thin valve actuator sleeve 817 (best seen in Fig. 30b) that is overlaps flow tube 810 and can slide down to push the upper end of valve tube 816.
[0113] The present example also contains an optional mechanism to limit the spring travel when the piston has moved down the ring, so that the pin essentially functions as a rotation controller, and has less axial load when approaching the ends of the rings. openings, allowing the present example to be used in high pressure scenarios without overloading the pin.
[0114] The path limiting mechanism comprises a pair of upper and lower intercalating sleeves 860u and 860l mounted on the piston 850 and on the lower part of the collar 812l respectively, which have opposing intercalating formations allow different lengths of axial travel dependent on the positions of rotations relatives of formations 860u,l. In the present example, the intercalating formations are provided by fingers of generally parallel sides and 861u 861l, although the exact shape may vary in different embodiments. Because the lower sleeve 860l is attached to the lower collar, which is attached to the body, the lower fingers 861l do not rotate and do not translate axially. However, the upper sleeve 860u is attached to the axially rotatable movable piston 850, and thus rotates and translates with the piston 850, relative to the static lower sleeve.
[0115] Thus, the upper fingers can be circumferentially aligned with the lower fingers and away from them, as shown in Fig. 30b, or circumferentially aligned and against the lower fingers, as shown in Fig. 31b, such that the finger ends limit further axial displacement, either circumferentially displaced and intercalated as shown in Figure 32b, where the maximum axial travel of sleeves 860 has been reached, or circumferentially displaced and axially spaced as shown in Figure 33b. At the two intermediate positions, the maximum axial stroke of the piston therefore depends on the relative rotational positions of the fingers 861 on the two sleeves. The relative rotational positions of the fingers when the sleeves 860 are spaced apart is not always significant; it is the rest or intercalation of the fingers when the sleeves are pressed together that is usually important, as it is this that allows or prevents the additional axial travel that activates the device.
[0116] The operation of this example is otherwise similar to the version of Fig. 16; applying pressure to the bore drives piston 820 under the ring, moving pin 840 over the opening corresponding to the previously described positions P1 and P2. The device can repeatedly switch between P1 and P2 settings as previously described, without switching between laps, until the operator is ready. The ring quickly floods due to the 812p large bore ports and the 813 one-way valves do not substantially restrict ring flooding so that the piston moves down (and the pin rises through the first trajectory of the first turn) relatively to the position shown in Fig. 31. At this stage, the fingers 861u,l are aligned and abut against each other, which limits the extent of axial travel of the piston 820, typically before the pin 840 has reached the end of the short opening. This relieves the forces acting on pin 840.
[0117] Optionally, the piston can be formed with all upper openings having the same dimensions, and the limit of travel within the opening can be defined by sleeves 860 alone.
[0118] The movement of the piston 820 back up the ring (and the downward movement of the pin back to the second (return) path of the first turn) requires that the fluid in the ring above the piston escapes the ring before the 820 piston move up. The fluid in the ring cannot pass back through the check valves 813 and, as before, the fluid in the ring is routed to the hole 805b through the small ports 816. The combined flow area of the small ports is relatively large and the movement The initial upward start of piston 820 is rapid as fluid escapes through small ports 816. When higher piston seals pass small ports 816, the pin has just passed the Y-junction between the first and second turns and is in the transition zone, ready to transition (if desired) from the first lap to the second lap. At this point, the piston seals cover the small ports 816 preventing the passage of fluid through the small ports 816, so the fluid in the ring can only escape through the small bore bleed valve 814 in the collar 812. small bore purge valve is much slower than the flow through the small ports 816 and ports 812p, so the piston 820 moves very slowly, and the pin remains in the transition zone for a longer period, which It can be adjusted by manipulating the pressure difference, and setting the bleed valve. Typical settings might allow the pin to remain in the transition zone between the second (return) trajectory for 15 seconds to 2 minutes (for example) or more. Surface pumps can be stopped, if desired, and column changes can be made as described above. While pin 840 is circling in the first (inactive) turn, the fingers are aligned as shown in Figures 30 and 31, and thus the upper fingers 861u are always spaced from the valve actuating sleeve 817 so that the valve is never actuated.
[0119] When the operator decides to alternate trajectory and activate the device, when the pin is in the transition zone, the ring can be flooded once more through check valves 813 and ports 812p to drive the piston 820 under the ring (and pin 840 up from opening 850) to the position shown in Fig. 32b, which is equivalent to position P4, which can be done quickly as a result of the higher flow areas of ports 812p and check valves 813. It is noted that as a result of the rotation of piston 820, fingers 861u on upper sleeve 860u are no longer aligned with fingers 861l on lower sleeve 860l, and so the two sets of fingers 861 can interlock, allowing the upper pins 861u engage the thin valve actuator sleeve 817, and push it down to the position shown in Fig. 32b. This slides the entire valve piston 816 and valve tube 815 down toward tab 819, which compresses a spring pushing valve piston 816 into the hole toward piston 820.
[0120] Thus, in the active position, when pressure is applied, the piston 820 moves the attached top sleeve 860u down from the outer surface of the flowtube. As the interlocking fingers on the upper sleeve slide between the fingers on the lower sleeve 860l, they engage the upper end of the thin valve actuating sleeve 817 (underlying the lower sleeve 860l). The valve actuator sleeve is connected to the valve piston 816, and as it is pushed down into the flow tube, it pushes the valve piston down the outer surface of the flow tube until a seal on the inner surface of the valve The piston rod passes under ports 811 on the flowtube, which admits high pressure of fluid pumped from the surface through the flowtube bore through ports 811 and behind the sealed area of valve piston 816. The outer surface of piston valve 816 is also sealed against the inner surface of valve sub 805v, and opening ports 811 through the flow tube creates a differential between the different diameters of the sealed inner and outer areas of valve piston 816, which is thus pushed down from bore 805b against the force of a spring which is held in compression between a step on valve piston 816 and a collar which is secured to valve body 805v. Under the force generated by the pressure differential, the valve piston 816 moves down relatively independently from the upper control piston 820, and has a stroke that is not limited to the stroke of the piston 820. When the force generated by the differential pressure reduces to below spring-compressed force, spring force returns valve piston 816 to home position, with ports 811 sealed. Optionally, upper control piston 820 can stop moving in the bore, and valve piston 816 can travel alone to close the flap and align ports 830 and 825, although in some embodiments, both pistons will typically travel together providing more force to close the flap. The ring (which is typically sealed) below the sealed area of piston valve 816 is typically at ambient pressure, and typically has a small port through the wall of valve sub 816 to connect the annular area to the outside of the tool, which reduces risk of hydraulic blockage of the valve piston. When there is no pressure in the system, valve piston 816 is typically in the closed position, shown in Figure 33a, with the spring expanded between the collar and step on valve piston 816, driving valve piston 816 against an interior shoulder. on the pin on top of the 805v valve sub that acts as a piston stop.
[0121] Once the piston valve 816 has moved down enough to align the openings 825 on the valve piston 816 and the ports 811 on the flowtube, the fluid pressure force in the hole 805b is then transferred to the 816 valve piston, and is forced down into the 805v valve sub by the large hydraulic pressure force. Therefore, the initial motive force transferred by the actuator sleeve 817 to allow the fluid pressure to support the valve piston 816 can be relatively small and the associated components can be lighter and less complex. Furthermore, the closing forces of the valve can thus be arranged to act directly on the valve piston, allowing for efficient transfer of forces and high closing forces. Typically, a small port through the valve sub wall in the piston area reduces the risk of hydraulic blockage of the valve piston 816.
[0122] The jetting ports 830 allow the re-circulation of liquid from the hole 805b at high pressures, while the hole is closed below by means of the flap, thus directing all the fluid from the hole through the jetting ports. The spacing of the blast ports from piston 820 means that opening 850 can be sealed from high pressure fluids that pass through hole 805b and out of blast ports 830, and thus there is less risk of debris entering the opening. and restrict piston movement.
[0123] When circulation operations are complete, the pumps are turned off at the surface, and the valve piston 816 returns to the closed position shown in Figure 30, under the force of a spring.
[0124] As before, tab 819 only engages funnel 818 when the pin moves to the second turn and to position P4. Therefore, this example also allows the operator to manipulate the transition phase timing with more control, and can apply more of the well pressure to the circulation ports 830 as a result of the closure of hole 805b by tab 819. In addition, piston 820 and the 850 opening can be manipulated to a lower level as its functions can be focused on controlling the operation rather than providing the driving force to operate the tool, but the device as a whole can be used in higher pressure applications like high force aspects can be handled on the valve piston which can be separated from the 820 control piston.
[0125] The present arrangement also allows for less engineering focus on the input, which typically can have both the first and second turns having physically identical shapes, but the behavior of the pin in the different turns may be governed by other factors, such as interleaving fingers below the piston.
[0126] It should be noted that the present example can operate tools other than valves (eg cutters, sub-reamers, etc. as shown in other examples presented here), and different types of valves other than flap valves as shown, and the present embodiments are shown for example only.
[0127] An advantage of certain embodiments over the J-slot and drop ball alternative is that the device can be reversibly activated and deactivated within a short period of time, eg within 1 minute. The device may be arranged to toggle between inactive settings without changing the cycle until the original round toggle procedure is initiated at the operator's discretion. Therefore, when the operator stops the surface pumps to add another set of drill pipes, the device typically remains on the same loop (usually inactive). When the operator increases the flow rate again, the device will typically cycle back within the same loop, without changing the configuration of the device being controlled.

权利要求:
Claims (18)
[0001]
1. Apparatus (1) for controlling a downhole device in an oil, gas or water well, the apparatus (1) characterized by comprising a body (5) having a shaft and a control opening (50) that articulates a pin (40), the control opening (50) and the pin (40) being provided in separate parts which are movable relative to each other, so that the movement of the pin (40) with respect to the control opening ( 50) toggles the downhole device between active and inactive states, the opening (50) having first turns in which the pin (40) can move between different inactive configurations of the pin (40) and opening (50) in which the device is inactive, and second turns spaced around the body (5) with respect to the first turns, and the pin (40) being able to move in the second turn between different configurations of the pin (40) and opening (50) that correspond the downhole device active and inactive settings, with at least one of the loops having a transition portion such that the pin (40) can be alternated between the first and second turns, and wherein the pin can cycle between the different configurations within each of the first and second turns without alternating between the first and second turns, each of the first turns having a first blind axial end portion at one end, and each of the second turns having a second blind axial end portion at the same end, of a different length from the first portion, and being that the opening (50) has alternating first and second turns circumferentially spaced around the body (5).
[0002]
2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each turn comprises a first path and a second path, whereby the pin (40) moves in opposite directions on the two paths in relation to the axis of the body (5) and the second path returns the pin (40) to the starting point of the first path.
[0003]
3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the transition portion is provided on the second path, and incorporates a joint leading to the next turn.
[0004]
Apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the joint is a Y-joint, and the alternation between turns is achieved by reversing the direction of movement of the pin (40) in relation to the opening (50) when the pin (40) is in the combined trunk of the Y-joint, moving away from the joint between the upper connecting members of the Y-joint, and the two members of the Y-joint comprising parts of different respective turns.
[0005]
5. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the first and second trajectories have linear portions and offset portions and the offset portions lead to the relative rotation of the pin (40) and opening (50) with a rotational component larger than the linear portions.
[0006]
6. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the speed of movement of the pin (40) on the first trajectory is different from the speed of the pin (40) on the second trajectory and the pin (40) ) moves slower on the second path than on the first path.
[0007]
7. Apparatus (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the difference in speed between the two trajectories is controlled by hydraulic means.
[0008]
Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a piston (20) sensitive to pressure changes in the well, and axially movable in a hole (5b) in the apparatus (1) in response to said pressure changes, and whereby the axial movement of the piston (20) in the bore drives the relative movement of the pin (40) and the opening (50).
[0009]
Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a first and a second piston (20), the first piston (20) carrying the control opening (50), the second piston (20) is movable in the body (5) with respect to the first piston (20) in response to fluid pressure to drive operation of the downhole device.
[0010]
Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it incorporates a stop mechanism to restrict the axial movement of the pin (40) inside the opening (50), with the stop mechanism restricting the relative axial movement of the pin (40) and opening (50) in a first configuration, and allows greater relative axial movement of the pin (40) and opening (50) in a second configuration of the pin (40) and opening (50), and whereby the axial movement of the pin (40) in the opening (50) is restricted before the pin (40) reaches the end of the opening.
[0011]
11. Method for controlling a downhole device in an oil, gas or water well, the method characterized by providing an apparatus (1) comprising a body (5) having a shaft and a control opening (50) and a pin (40) on separate relatively movable components so that the opening (50) pivots the pin (40) and the pin (40) and opening (50) are movable relative to each other, and move the pin (40) in relation to the opening (50) to switch the downhole device between active and inactive states, the method comprising moving the pin (40) in the first turn of the opening (50) with each of the first turns defining different configurations inactives of the pin (40) and opening (50) in which the device is inactive, and moving the pin (40) in the second turns of the opening (50), with the second (50) turns of the opening (50) being spaced apart from the around the body (5) of the first turns and each of the second turns defines different configurations of the pin (40) and opening (50) corresponding to active and inactive configurations of the downhole device, and at least one of the turns having a transition portion and the method includes the step of alternating the pin (40) between the first and second turns through the transition portion and to circulate the pin (40) between the different configurations within each of the first and second turns without alternating between the first and second turns, each of the first turns comprising a first axial end portion blunt at one end, and each of the second turns comprises a second axial end portion blunt at the same end, having a different length from the first axial portion, and wherein the opening (50) has alternating first and second turns circumferentially spaced around the body (5).
[0012]
A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the downhole device is switched from an inactive configuration to an active configuration by: a) increasing the fluid flow from the pumps to move the pin (40) to one end of the first loop; b) moving the pin (40) to a transition zone in preparation for switching the pin (40) from the first round to the second round by decreasing fluid flow from the pumps for a designated time, and c) increasing the flow of fluid from the pumps when the pin (40) is in the transition zone to move the pin (40) to the second turn, thus activating the downhole device.
[0013]
A method according to any one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that it includes alternating the pin (40) between turns by reversing the relative axial direction of movement of the pin (40) and opening (50).
[0014]
A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the transition portion incorporates a Y-joint leading between the two first and second turns, and wherein the method includes alternating between turns by reversing the direction of the movement of the pin (40) with respect to the opening (50) when the pin (40) is in a combined trunk of the Y-joint, away from the joint between the upper connecting members of the Y-joint, and the two members being of the Y-joint comprise parts of different respective turns.
[0015]
15. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it includes moving the pin (40) at different speeds on the first and second trajectories and whereby the pin (40) moves more slowly on the second trajectory than on the first trajectory.
[0016]
A method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that it includes providing a piston (20) responsive to pressure changes in the well, and moving the piston (20) axially in a bore (5b) in response to said changes pressure, whereby the axial movement of the piston (20) drives the relative movement of the pin (40) and the opening (50).
[0017]
A method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that it includes providing a first and a second piston (20), the first piston (20) carrying the control opening (50), and the second piston ( 20) is movable in the body (5) relative to the first piston (20) in response to fluid pressure and includes using the second piston (20) to drive operation of the downhole device.
[0018]
A method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that it includes providing a stop mechanism to restrict the axial movement of the pin (40) within the opening (50), restricting the relative axial movement of the pin (40) and opening (50) in a first configuration, allowing greater relative axial movement of the pin (40) and opening (50) in a second configuration of the pin (40) and opening (50), and to include restricting axial movement of the pin (40 ) in the opening (50) before the pin (40) reaches the end of the opening (50).

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同族专利:

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公开号 | 公开日

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CN104053854A|2014-09-17|

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RU2014125943A|2016-01-27|

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HK1201310A1|2015-08-28|

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AU2012343563C1|2017-07-20|

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CA2856979C|2019-11-26|

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WO2013079929A3|2014-04-17|

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AU2012343563A1|2014-06-26|

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US9683434B2|2017-06-20|

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AU2012343563B2|2017-04-06|

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BR112014012894A2|2017-06-13|

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EP2785957A2|2014-10-08|

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US20140318806A1|2014-10-30|

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CN104053854B|2017-10-13|

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RU2587657C2|2016-06-20|

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MX350085B|2017-08-24|

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GB201120448D0|2012-01-11|

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MX2014006419A|2015-02-10|

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EP2785957B1|2018-09-12|

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CA2856979A1|2013-06-06|

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WO2013079929A2|2013-06-06|

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法律状态:
2018-12-04| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

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2019-03-26| B25A| Requested transfer of rights approved|Owner name: NXG TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (GB) |

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2019-12-31| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|

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2021-03-09| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-05-25| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 28/11/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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GBGB1120448.4A|GB201120448D0|2011-11-28|2011-11-28|Apparatus and method|

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GB1120448.4|2011-11-28|

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PCT/GB2012/052928|WO2013079929A2|2011-11-28|2012-11-28|Apparatus and method for controlling a downhole device|

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