In the resource recovery industry, downhole tools can be used in a wellbore for various reasons. A downhole tool can include a component which is manufactured to specifications that are based on an evaluation of the formation and/or fluids within the wellbore. In general, tool construction requires parts that are built to these specifications. When the evaluation changes, the tool must be disassembled and reassembled with the correct parts, costing manufacture time and cost. There is therefore a need to be able to change tool specifications without disassembly of the tool.
In an aspect, a nozzle assembly for a downhole tool is disclosed herein. The nozzle assembly includes an orifice in a housing of the downhole tool, the orifice having a housing groove, a nozzle insertable into the orifice, the nozzle including a nozzle groove, and a release member having a first portion and a second portion, the release member securing the nozzle to the housing by disposing the first portion in the housing groove and the second portion in the nozzle groove; wherein the first portion is removable from the second portion upon applying a force to the nozzle above a release threshold.
In another aspect, a downhole tool is disclosed herein. The downhole tool includes a housing having an orifice formed therein, the orifice having a housing groove, a nozzle insertable into the orifice, the nozzle including a nozzle groove, and a release member having a first portion and a second portion, the release member securing the nozzle to the housing by having the first portion disposed in the housing groove and the second portion disposed in the nozzle groove; wherein the first portion is removable from the second portion upon applying a force to the nozzle above a release threshold.
In yet another aspect, a nozzle is disclosed herein. The nozzle includes a body having an outlet end, a nozzle groove on a surface of the body for receiving a release member to secure the nozzle within a housing, and a seal groove for isolating the nozzle groove from an environment at the outlet end.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
A housing groove 210 is formed at the inner wall 206 of the orifice 202. The housing groove 210 extends circumferentially around the inner wall 206 and extends away from the nozzle assembly axis 205 into the housing 104. The housing groove 210 is located at a selected distance radially inward from an outer diameter surface 215 of the housing 104 in order to protect the housing groove 210 and anything in the housing groove 210 from the downhole environment such as erosion due to fluid flowing through the nozzle 204. The nozzle 204 includes a nozzle groove 212 formed circumferentially in the outer surface 208 of the nozzle 204. The nozzle groove 212 extends radially inward from the outer surface 208. The nozzle 204 is secured within the orifice 202 by a release member 214 that is disposed in both the housing groove 210 and the nozzle groove 212. The location of the housing groove 210 in the housing 104 (i.e., away from the outer diameter surface 215) therefore protects the release member 214 from the downhole environment when the tool 100 is downhole.
Referring back to
While the tool is discussed herein as securing a nozzle within an orifice using a release member to form a nozzle assembly, the release member can be used to secure any suitable device or member within the housing or within a tool.
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: A nozzle assembly for a downhole tool. The nozzle assembly includes an orifice in a housing of the downhole tool, the orifice having a housing groove, a nozzle insertable into the orifice, the nozzle including a nozzle groove, and a release member having a first portion and a second portion, the release member securing the nozzle to the housing by disposing the first portion in the housing groove and the second portion in the nozzle groove. The first portion is removable from the second portion upon applying a force to the nozzle above a release threshold.
Embodiment 2. The nozzle assembly of any prior embodiment, wherein the orifice includes a cylindrical inner wall and the nozzle comprises a cylindrical body, wherein an outer diameter of the cylindrical body is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the inner wall.
Embodiment 3. The nozzle assembly of any prior embodiment, wherein the nozzle groove extends circumferentially around an outer surface of the cylindrical body and the housing groove extends circumferentially around the inner wall of the orifice.
Embodiment 4. The nozzle assembly of any prior embodiment, wherein applying the force to the nozzle above the release threshold detaches the nozzle from the housing.
Embodiment 5. The nozzle assembly of any prior embodiment, wherein the release member is a retainer ring, the first portion is an outer ring portion including a gap along its circumference and the second portion includes a tab extending radially inward from the outer ring portion.
Embodiment 6. The nozzle assembly of any prior embodiment, wherein the release member is one of: (i) a garter spring; and (ii) an O-ring.
Embodiment 7. The nozzle assembly of any prior embodiment, wherein the housing groove is at a location radially inward from an outer surface of the downhole tool to protect the release member from a downhole environment.
Embodiment 8. A downhole tool. The downhole tool includes a housing having an orifice formed therein, the orifice having a housing groove, a nozzle insertable into the orifice, the nozzle including a nozzle groove, and a release member having a first portion and a second portion, the release member securing the nozzle to the housing by having the first portion disposed in the housing groove and the second portion disposed in the nozzle groove. The first portion is removable from the second portion upon applying a force to the nozzle above a release threshold.
Embodiment 9. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein the orifice includes a cylindrical inner wall and the nozzle comprises a cylindrical body, wherein an outer diameter of the cylindrical body is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the inner wall.
Embodiment 10. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein the nozzle groove extends circumferentially around an outer surface of the cylindrical body and the housing groove extends circumferentially around the inner wall of the orifice.
Embodiment 11. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein applying the force to the nozzle above the release threshold detaches the nozzle from the housing.
Embodiment 12. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein the release member is a retainer ring, the first portion is an outer ring portion including a gap along its circumference and the second portion includes a tab extending radially inward from the outer ring portion.
Embodiment 13. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein the release member is one of: (i) a garter spring; and (ii) an O-ring.
Embodiment 14. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein the housing groove is at a location radially inward from an outer surface of the downhole tool to protect the release member from a downhole environment.
Embodiment 15. The downhole tool of any prior embodiment, wherein the downhole tool is one of: (i) a valve; (ii) a drill bit; and (iii) a sleeve.
Embodiment 16. A nozzle. The nozzle includes a body having an outlet end, a nozzle groove on a surface of the body for receiving a release member to secure the nozzle within a housing, and a seal groove for preventing flow between the body and the housing.
Embodiment 17. The nozzle of any prior embodiment, further comprising an O-ring disposed in the seal groove to form a seal between the nozzle and the housing to isolate the nozzle groove from the outlet end.
Embodiment 18. The nozzle of any prior embodiment, wherein the body is cylindrical and nozzle groove and seal groove extend circumferentially around the surface of the body.
Embodiment 19. The nozzle of any prior embodiment, wherein a longitudinal force applied above the release threshold of the release member allows the nozzle to be removed from the housing.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/148,478 filed Feb. 11, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220268130 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63148478 | Feb 2021 | US |