In the oilfield, fishing tools are used to remove other tools, structures, devices, etc., (“fish”) from a well. For example, a fish might be part of a drill string that has become stuck during drilling operations or may be production equipment intended to be removed from an existing well during a workover or repair operation. Generally, the fishing tool is connected to a drill string (or any other type of work string), is deployed into the well, and connects to the fish in the well. Once connected to the fish, the fishing tool and the fish are withdrawn from the well by pulling the work string out of the well.
In some situations, a fish can be lodged in the well such that it resists axial movement therein. In such cases, a jar may be employed to generate a shock force to dislodge the fish and permit the fish to be removed from the well. Generally, the jar employs a triggering mechanism that is loaded by setting at least some of the weight down on the fishing tool, which is connected to the fish. This creates potential energy which is stored in the jar and then released rapidly so that a hammer of the jar moves rapidly in an uphole direction and impacts an anvil within the jar. The impact of the hammer on the anvil is transmitted by the fishing tool to the fish. The jar can then be reloaded by again pressing downward on the fishing tool and the process repeated until the fish is free to be pulled from the well.
Embodiments of the disclosure include a fishing jar including an outer housing that is configured to connect to a work string, a mandrel positioned at least partially within the outer housing and having a fish end configured to engage a fish, the mandrel and the outer housing defining an annulus therebetween, an anvil coupled to or integral with the mandrel, a hammer coupled to or integral with the outer housing, and a triggering mechanism positioned in the annulus so as to partition the annulus into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers separated axially apart and in fluid communication via the triggering mechanism, wherein the triggering mechanism is configured to permit hydraulic fluid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber at a first rate in response to pressing the outer housing to move toward the fish end of the mandrel during a downstroke of the outer housing, until the outer housing reaches a trigger position relative to the mandrel, and permit the hydraulic fluid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber at a second rate that is greater than the first rate after the outer housing reaches the trigger position until the hammer impacts the anvil at an end of the downstroke.
Embodiments of the disclosure include a fishing assembly including a first fishing jar configured to generate a shock directed in a first direction relative to a fish. The first fishing jar includes an outer housing that is configured to connect to a work string, a mandrel positioned at least partially within the outer housing and having a fish end configured to engage a fish, an anvil coupled to or integral with the mandrel, a hammer coupled to or integral with the outer housing, and a triggering mechanism configured to generate the shock in response to the outer housing being lifted in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and relative to the mandrel, or to the mandrel being pressed in the first direction relative to the outer housing, and the outer housing being pressed in the first direction relative to the mandrel, and a second fishing jar configured to generate a shock in the second direction relative to the fish.
Embodiments of the disclosure include method for applying a shock to a fish in a well, the method including deploying a fishing jar into proximity of the fish, moving an outer housing of the fishing jar in an uphole direction relative to a mandrel of the fishing jar, the outer housing and the mandrel defining an annulus therebetween, and a triggering mechanism controling a fluid flow between a first chamber of the annulus and a second chamber of the annulus, and pressing the outer housing of the fishing jar, such that the outer housing moves in a downhole direction relative to the mandrel. The triggering mechanism permits hydraulic fluid to move from the first chamber to the second chamber at a first rate until the outer housing reaches a trigger position relative to the mandrel. The triggering mechanism permits the hydraulic fluid to move from the first chamber to the second chamber at a second rate that is higher than the first rate after the outer housing reaches the trigger position, until a hammer of the outer housing impacts an anvil of the mandrel, to generate the shock. A rate of movement of the outer housing relative to the mandrel is proportional to a rate at which the hydraulic fluid flows from the first chamber to the second chamber.
The present disclosure may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
The following disclosure describes several embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference characters (e.g., numerals) and/or letters in the various embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, e.g., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. In addition, unless otherwise provided herein, “or” statements are intended to be non-exclusive; for example, the statement “A or B” should be considered to mean “A, B, or both A and B.”
An upper sub 106 may be coupled to the outer housing 102. The upper sub 106 may include a threaded (e.g., female or “box”) connection for connecting the tool 100 to a superposed structure, e.g., another downhole tool or a work string (e.g., a drill string). The outer housing 102 may include a lower end 108, opposite the upper sub 106, through which the mandrel 104 extends.
The mandrel 104 may include one or more cylindrical members. For example, the mandrel 104 may include an upper mandrel 110 and a lower mandrel 112, which may be connected together, end-to-end, by an intermediate connector 114 and/or one or more intervening mandrels or other structures. The mandrel 104 may include an uphole end 116, which may be positioned proximal to the upper sub 106, but separated axially apart therefrom. The mandrel 104 may also include a lower or “fish” end 118. The lower end 118 may be positioned outside of the outer housing 102 and may include a threaded (e.g., male or “pin”) connection. The lower end 118 may be configured to connect to a subjacent tool, e.g., a fishing tool that is configured to connect to a fish.
An annulus 120 may be formed radially between the mandrel 104 and the outer housing 102. A triggering mechanism 200 may be positioned at least partially within the annulus 120. The triggering mechanism 200 may be configured to control a rate of fluid flow between two chambers in the annulus 120, and thereby control a rate of relative movement between the outer housing 102 and the mandrel 104. In at least some embodiments, the triggering mechanism 200 may include part of the outer housing 102 and part of the mandrel 104, as will be described in greater detail below.
The tool 100 may further include an impact mechanism 300 that is at least partially in the annulus 120. The impact mechanism 300, as will be described in greater detail below, may include a pair of stops, one for arresting the uphole (to the left in this view) stroke of the outer housing 102 relative to the mandrel 104, and one providing a hammer and an anvil arrangement for generating the shock by rapidly moving the outer housing 102 in a downhole direction relative to the mandrel 104.
In a specific embodiment, the metering assembly 202 may include a cone 210, a metering device 212, and a bypass ring 214. The cone 210, the metering device 212, and the bypass ring 214 may reside in the annulus 120, forming a selective barrier to fluid flow between the first and second chambers 204, 206. Further, the cone 210 may be axially adjacent to the metering device 212. At least part of the bypass ring 214 may be radially between an inside diameter surface of the cone 210 and the mandrel 104 (e.g., the upper mandrel 110). The cone 210 may be configured to slide axially along a range of motion, limited by the bypass ring 214, relative to the mandrel 104, e.g., into and out of engagement with the metering device 212. The metering device 212 in turn may be axially adjacent to/engaging an end of a coupling 216 between the upper mandrel 110 and an intermediate mandrel 218 of the mandrel 104.
A float sub 220 may also be connected to or form part of the outer housing 102. The float sub 220 may include a floater piston 222 therein, which may be in fluid communication with the second chamber 206. The floater piston 222 may be configured to slide relative to the outer housing 102 and relative to the mandrel 104, e.g., in response to fluid pressure in the second chamber 206, effectively permitting the second chamber 206 to expand and contract. Accordingly, the floater piston 222 may permit the first and second chambers 204, 206 to remain fluid tight, while permitting the second chamber 206 to expand/contract, e.g., under thermal loads. However, upward pressure in the wellbore may permit the floater piston 222 to press hydraulic fluid into the first chamber 204, e.g., when the pressure in the first chamber 204 drops, as caused by the outer housing 102 moving in an uphole direction and increasing the volume of the first chamber 204.
The impact mechanism 300 also includes a stroke stop 310. The stroke stop 310 may be coupled to the outer housing 102 or integral therewith, and may be configured to move with the outer housing 102, relative to the mandrel 104. The stroke stop 310 may be configured to engage with the mandrel 104 so as to provide an end-range to uphole directed movement of the outer housing 102 relative to the mandrel 104. In an embodiment, the stroke stop 310 may engage the intermediate connector 114 that provides the anvil 304, but in other embodiments could engage another structure coupled to or forming part of the mandrel 104.
The cone 210 forms a seal with the outer housing 102 in this configuration. In particular, the cone 210 is sized to slidably engage with the outer housing 102, e.g., forming a fluid tight, metal-metal seal with the inner diameter surface of the outer housing 102. The outer housing 102 may include multiple sections having different diameters, which may affect the ability of the cone 210 to seal therewith, as will be discussed below in a third configuration. However, in this first configuration, the cone 210 engages and seals with the outer housing 102, preventing fluid flow from the second chamber 206 to the first chamber 204 radially outward of the cone 210.
As noted above, the bypass ring 214 is radially between the inside diameter surface of the cone 210 and the mandrel 104. The bypass ring 214 is fixed in place relative to the mandrel 104. Likewise, the metering device 212 is fixed in place relative to the mandrel 104. The bypass ring 214 permits the cone 210 to slide along a range of axial positions relative thereto, and thus relative to the metering device 212. Further, the bypass ring 214 permits fluid to flow radially between the cone 210 and the mandrel 104, providing a flowpath for the hydraulic fluid to flow from the second chamber 206 to the first chamber 204, as indicated by arrow 400.
In the second configuration, like the first configuration, the cone 210 forms a seal with the outer housing 102. As shown in this view, inner diameter surface of the outer housing 102 includes a first portion 500 and a second portion 502, with the first portion 500 having a smaller diameter than the second portion 502. Further, an upset 506 defines the transition between the first and second portions 502. The cone 210 may sized too small to seal with the second portion 502, and thus, once the upset 506 passes across at least a portion of the cone 210, the seal between the cone 210 and the outer housing 102 may release as the outer housing 102 reaches a “trigger position” relative to the mandrel 104 during the downstroke of the outer housing 102. However, the seal is provided in this second configuration, and the outer housing 102 has not yet reached the trigger position on its downstroke.
Accordingly, with fluid flow prevented around the outside of the cone 210, fluid is forced between the cone 210 and the bypass ring 214 during a first portion of the downstroke of the outer housing 102. This fluid is permitted to flow from the first chamber 204 to the second chamber 206 via a metered flowpath defined in the metering device 212. This metered flow rate may be referred to as a “first” flowrate for the hydraulic fluid flowing from the first chamber 204 to the second chamber 206.
The face 604 engages the axial end of the cone 210 in the second configuration, at least, as shown in
This permits a much faster movement of hydraulic fluid from the first chamber 204 to the second chamber 206, in comparison to the second configuration, and greatly reduces resistance to movement of the outer housing 102 relative to the mandrel 104 in a downhole direction. In other words, a second rate of hydraulic fluid flow is permitted, which is greater than the first rate permitted by the triggering mechanism 200 in the second configuration. Thus, the upset 506 passing by at least a portion of the cone 210 may be considered the “trigger position” for the outer housing 102 relative to the mandrel 104, as noted above. At this point, a generally constant force pressing downhole on the outer housing 102 may cause the outer housing 102 to accelerate rapidly.
After reaching the trigger position, during the continued, and now more rapidly moving, downstroke of the outer housing 102 and while the triggering mechanism 200 is in the third configuration, the hammer 302 may slide into contact with the anvil 304 at the end of the downstroke. This is illustrated in the side, cross-sectional view of the impact mechanism 300 of
In some embodiments, the tool 100 may be a modular part of a fishing assembly.
The tool 100 may be connected directly to a fish 904. In another embodiment, as shown, the tool 100 may be connected to another tool 906, either directly or via one or more intermediate components (lengths of tubular, other tools, etc.). The other tool 906 may be superposed or subjacent with respect to the tool 100, such that either tool 100, 906 may be closer than the other to the fishing tool. As an illustrative example, the other tool 906 is referred to herein as “subjacent”, but the foregoing description of other possible configurations remains applicable. In at least some embodiments, the tool 100 and/or the tool 906 may not be connected to the fish 904, but may be set down on the fish 904, e.g., stabbed into or otherwise resting on the fish 904.
The subjacent tool 906 may provide a reverse-action jar, that is, one that includes a hammer that strikes an anvil in response to tension forces applied to the tool 906. In at least some embodiments, the subjacent tool 906 may be structured and/or otherwise configured similarly to the tool 100, but oriented in reverse, such that the cocking and triggering acts in opposition to the cocking and triggering of the tool 100. Thus, for example, cocking the tool 100 may result in triggering the tool 906, and vice versa, providing a bi-directional jar. The relative position of the tool 100 and 906 could be changed, as well, such that the tool 906 is superposed relative to the tool 100, and the tool 100 is directly connected to the fish 904. Thus, the tool 100 may be part of a modular assembly 900 in with the tools 100, 906 can be connected/disconnected and arranged in any order easily (e.g., by rotation of one relative to the other), such that the assembly 900 that can include a single direction jar or bi-directional combination of jars, at the discretion of the operator.
Specifically, the method 1000 may include connecting the tool (e.g., tool 100 or 906) with a fish lodged in a well, as at 1002. The mandrel 104 may be connected to the fish, which may prevent the mandrel 104 from moving in the well until the fish is dislodged. For example, the tool 100 may be run into a well using a work string, which may be configured to apply tension and/or compression to the tool 100 so as to move the outer housing 102 thereof.
The method 1000 may then include pulling uphole on the tool 100, e.g., applying tension thereto, as at 1004. This may cause the outer housing 102 to move in an uphole direction, away from the fish end 118 of the mandrel 104, as illustrated in
The method 1000 may then include pressing downhole on the tool 100, e.g., applying a compressive load to the tool 100, as at 1006. This may cause the outer housing 102 to move in a downhole direction, toward the fish end 118 of the mandrel 104. This is illustrated in
The method 1000 also includes triggering the tool 100 by continuing to press the tool 100 in the downhole direction, as at 1008. As discussed above with respect to
The method 1000 may then include generate a shock in the fish by causing the hammer 302 to strike the anvil 304, as at 1010. This is generally illustrated in
In some embodiments, the tool 100 may be used as part of a modular assembly 900 including at least one other tool 906, as shown in and discussed above with reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the method 1200 may include deploying the tool 100 to a position that is proximal to a fish, as at 1202. In some embodiments, the mandrel 104 (or a fishing tool connected thereto) may land on the fish, but in other embodiments, the mandrel 104 may be deployed to a position that is not to the fish.
The method 1200 may then include increasing a pressure within the tool 100 to stroke the mandrel 104 downhole and/or the outer housing 102 uphole, so as to move the tool 100 into the second configuration, as at 1204. That is, the tool 100 is moved into the configuration shown in
For example, referring to
Accordingly, by pressuring up the interior of the outer housing 102, the mandrel 104 extends in a downhole direction relative to the outer housing 102, and the tool 100 moves into the second configuration of
The mandrel 104 may then be engaged with the fish, whether in continuation of a prior engagement or by moving the tool 100 in the second configuration downhole until the fish end 118 of the mandrel 104 lands on the fish, as at 1205. In an embodiment, the method 1200 may then include pressing downhole on the tool 100, e.g., applying a compressive load to the tool 100, as at 1206. This may cause the outer housing 102 to move in a downhole direction, toward the fish end 118 of the mandrel 104. This is illustrated in
The method 1200 also includes triggering the tool 100, e.g., by continuing to press the tool 100 in the downhole direction, as at 1208. As discussed above, once the tool 100 is triggered, the rate of fluid flow between the first and second chambers 204, 206 abruptly increases. Accordingly, the outer housing 102 quickly accelerates in the downhole direction relative to the mandrel 104.
The method 1200 may then include generating a shock in the fish by causing the hammer 302 to strike the anvil 304, as at 1210. This is generally illustrated in
As used herein, the terms “inner” and “outer”; “up” and “down”; “upper” and “lower”; “upward” and “downward”; “above” and “below”; “inward” and “outward”; “uphole” and “downhole”; and other like terms as used herein refer to relative positions to one another and are not intended to denote a particular direction or spatial orientation. The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and “connecting” refer to “in direct connection with” or “in connection with via one or more intermediate elements or members.”
The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 63/302,640, which was filed on Jan. 25, 2022 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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