This relates to a downhole tool with a length-adjustable connector, such as may be used for a coring tool.
When drilling, a coring tool may be used to obtain a core sample of the formation being drilled. This generally involves a coring bit that is open in the center, and a barrel behind the coring bit. The barrel receives and holds the core sample as it enters through the center of the coring bit.
Often, the barrel and the related components will be made from a different material than the coring bit and the drill string that drives the coring bit. As a result, differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion between materials can change the relative position of the coring bit and the barrel when exposed to different temperatures. While coring tools are generally designed to account for this, the temperature in any particular well may be different from the design.
According to an aspect, there is provided a length-adjustable connector for a downhole tool, comprising an outer tubular body having a first end, a second end, an inner surface that defines an inner bore, and a first locking profile accessible from the inner bore, an inner tubular body rotatably disposed within the inner bore of the outer tubular body, the inner tubular body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a second locking profile, a threaded connection between the inner surface of the outer tubular body and the outer surface of the inner tubular body, the threaded connection causing axial movement of the inner tubular body relative to the outer tubular body as the inner tubular body rotates relative to the outer tubular body, a locking sleeve having a first end that is sized to removably engage the first locking profile and a second end that is sized to removably engage the second locking profile, the locking sleeve preventing relative rotation of the outer tubular body and the inner tubular body when engaged with the first and second locking profiles, and a connector carried by the inner tubular body that extends axially away from the locking sleeve, the connector moving axially relative to the outer tubular body as the inner tubular body is rotated relative to the outer tubular body.
According to another aspect, the outer tubular body may comprise threaded connections for connecting to a downhole drill string.
According to another aspect, the locking sleeve receiver may comprise one or more axially-extending slots that engage one or more first locking keys that extend outward from the first end of the locking sleeve.
According to another aspect, the first locking profile may comprise one more axially-extending slots and the one or more first locking keys may simultaneously engage the axially-extending slots of each of the first locking profile and the locking sleeve.
According to another aspect, the locking sleeve may comprise one or more second locking keys spaced that engage the second locking profile of the inner tubular body.
According to another aspect, the second locking profile may comprise an axially extending slot in the inner surface of the inner tubular body.
According to another aspect, the inner tubular body may move between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the outer tubular body as the inner tubular body is rotated relative to the outer tubular body.
According to another aspect, the connector may be sized to be received within the inner bore of the outer tubular body in at least the retracted position.
In other aspects, the features described above may be combined together in any reasonable combination as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
A length-adjustable connector for a downhole tool, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to
Referring to
In the depicted embodiment, outer tubular body 12 has a first end 20, a second end 22 and an inner surface 24 that defines an inner bore 26. In the depicted embodiment, outer tubular body 12 is designed as a sub and is threaded at either end such that it can be installed in a downhole string, such as a drill string. Inner tubular body 14 is rotatably disposed within inner bore 26 of outer tubular body 12 and has an outer surface 28 and an inner surface 30. There is a first locking profile 32 carried by outer tubular body 12 that is accessible from inner bore 26 and a second tubular locking profile 34 on inner surface 30 of inner tubular body 14. In the depicted embodiment, first and second locking profiles 32 and 34 are axially-extending slots on the inner surface of outer tubular body 12 and inner tubular body 14, respectively. As can be seen, first locking profile 32 is shorter in length than second locking profile 34 as outer tubular body 12 is considered to be stationary, while inner tubular body 14 is intended to move axially within outer tubular body 12, and a longer locking profile allows for a wider range of locations that can be used to secure inner tubular body 14.
As noted above, locking sleeve 18 is used to hold inner and outer tubular bodies 12 and 14 in relative rotational positions. As depicted, locking sleeve 18 is a tubular body with a first end 36 that is sized and shaped to removably engage first locking profile 32 and a second end 38 that is sized and shaped to removably engage second locking profile 34. When engaged with first and second locking profiles 32 and 34, locking sleeve 18 prevents relative rotation of outer tubular body 12 and inner tubular body 14. A shown, first and second ends 36 and 38 of locking sleeve 18 are fitted with keys 39 that engage the slots of first and second locking profiles 32 and 34. As keys 39 have a constant thickness, they are able to be slid along locking profiles 32 and 34 until the desired position is received. Also, as can be seen by comparing
Outer tubular body 12 and inner tubular body 14 are connected and mounted together by threaded connection 16. Threaded connection 16 has a first set of threads 40 on inner surface 24 of outer tubular body 12 and a second, matching set of threads 42 on outer surface 28 of inner tubular body 14. When locking profiles 32 and 34 are not engaged, inner tubular body 14 is able to rotate relative to outer tubular body 12, such that threaded connection 16 causes inner tubular body 14 to move axially relative to outer tubular body 12 between a retracted and an extended position, as the case may be. By properly setting inner tubular body 14 within outer tubular body 12, length adjustable connector 10 may be set to provide a desired effective length for a tool (not shown) that may be attached to a connection point 44. Inner tubular body 14 may be rotated by any suitable wrench that engages inner tubular body 14 from either end. An example of a suitable wrench 45 is shown in
Using the structure described above, length-adjustable connector 10 may be used to adjust the position of a tool relative to outer tubular body 12, and thus to the tubing string to which outer tubular body 12 is attached. In particular, this is useful when installing a tool that is set within an outer tubing string, such as a core barrel for a coring tool. Inner tubular body 14 is provided with connection point 44 that can be connected to a desired tool. Connection point 44 extends axially away, or downstream as depicted, from locking sleeve 18 locking profile 34. As shown, outer tubular body 12 is formed from two parts, which allows the length to be changed by changing the second, or downstream, part in order to properly accommodate whatever is attached to connection point 44. As shown, in
In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2913044 | Nov 2015 | CA | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20110284208 | MacLeod | Nov 2011 | A1 |
Entry |
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“Drill Bits & Services” brochure, Halliburton, available at least as early as Mar. 24, 2015. [20 pages]. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170145759 A1 | May 2017 | US |