A tubing anchor is installed on a tubing string and allows the lower section of the tubing to be anchored to casing. The tubing anchor allows the tubing to be placed in tension to prevent movement during a rod lift pumping cycle. Typical tubing anchors have a diameter that is very close to the casing's inner dimension, which leaves very little annulus between the anchor and the casing. This can prevent excluded gas from the well from flowing up the wellbore to the surface.
One type of tubing anchor is a “slim” or “slimline” tubing anchor. This “slim” type of tubing anchor has a housing that is much smaller in diameter than the inner dimension of the casing. The smaller diameter housing increases the annular area to allow gas to flow past the anchor. Such a “slim” tubing anchor has two opposing cones with a single, bi-directional slip disposed between the cones. This is typically referred to as a unitary slip arrangement. The “slim” tubing anchor operates by rotating the tubing string multiple turns from the surface. The opposing cones are independently threaded to a mandrel, which contains threads in opposing directions. Rotating the tubing string causes the cones to move inward or outward from one another depending on the direction of the rotation. When the cones are moved inward, the ramps on either end of the single, bi-directional slip cause the slip to move radially outward and to bite against the casing wall. This type of “slim” tubing anchor has its limitations, such as being difficult to set in deviated sections of wells and having a unitary slip arrangement.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
An anchor catcher tool is used for supporting tubing in casing. The anchor catcher tool comprises a mandrel, a sleeve, a first cage, and a second cage. The mandrel has an end configured to couple to the tubing, and the sleeve is movably disposed on the mandrel and has first and second ends. The sleeve has first and second cone faces, which face respectively toward the first and second ends. The first and second cone faces define one or more longitudinal divisions.
The first and second cages are movably disposed on the mandrel. The first cage has one or more first slips, and the second cage has one or more second slips. The first cage defines one or more first longitudinal channels between the one or more first slips, and the second cage defines one or more second longitudinal channels between the one or more second slips. The first cage is movably engaged in a longitudinal direction with the first end of the sleeve, and the one or more first slips being configured to engage against the first cone face and being configured to engage against the casing. The second cage is movably engaged in the longitudinal direction with the second end of the sleeve, and the one or more second slips being configured to engage against the second cone face and being configured to engage against the casing.
On the sleeve, the first longitudinal slot can be disposed toward the sleeve's first end, and the second longitudinal slot can be disposed toward the sleeve's second end. The first cage is movably engaged in the first longitudinal slot of the sleeve, and the second cage is movably engaged in the second longitudinal slot of the sleeve. The first and second longitudinal slots are configured to longitudinally align the first longitudinal channels, the second longitudinal channels, and the longitudinal divisions with one another.
A method of supporting tubing in casing comprises: running a tubing anchor catcher (TAC) tool on the tubing in the casing; and setting the TAC tool in the casing at depth. Setting the TAC tool includes the steps of: moving a setting mechanism of the TAC tool from an unset condition to a set condition by manipulating a mandrel of the TAC tool with a partial turn; wedging uphole and downhole slips of the TAC tool against the casing by engaging the uphole and downhole slips against opposing cone faces of the TAC tool; and allowing for annular flow between the TAC tool and the casing by having uphole longitudinal channels between the uphole slips, downhole longitudinal channels between the downhole slips, and longitudinal divisions in the cone faces aligned with one another.
The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure.
Reciprocating pump systems, such as sucker rod pump systems, extract fluids from a well and employ a downhole pump connected to a driving source at the surface. A rod string connects the driving force at the surface to the downhole pump in the well. When operated, the driving source cyclically raises and lowers the downhole pump, and with each stroke, the downhole pump lifts well fluids toward the surface.
For example,
At the surface, for example, the pump jack 12 is driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine. A flexible wire rope bridle 13 is connected to a horsehead of the pump jack 12 and connects by a carrier bar to a polished rod 14. The polished rod 14 passes through a packing gland or stuffing box 17 on the well, and the rod string 15 of connected sucker rods hangs from the polished rod 14 through the production string 20 to the plunger 34 in the downhole pump 30.
The production tubing 20 is supported in tension in the casing 16 of the well using a tubing anchor catcher (TAC) tool 50 at the end of the production tubing 20. The TAC tool 50 installed on the production tubing 20 allows the lower tubing section to be anchored to the casing 16 and limits movement of the tubing 20 both axially and radially during a rod lift pumping cycle.
Although not depicted in
The reduced diameter and possible bends of the casing 16 can also reduce the annular space available between the TAC tool 50 and the casing 16, which can limit fluid communication. Therefore, the TAC tool 50 of the present disclosure is preferably a “slimline” tool having a reduced tool diameter to fit within casing 16 having a reduced inner diameter. Yet, the “slimline” TAC tool 50 still achieves the desired anchoring function for the production tubing 20 by using slip engagement and drag block engagement with the casing 16.
As will also be appreciated, the production tubing 20 is typically made up of sections of individual pipe joints that are threaded or coupled together with couplings 22 or the like. Should a portion of the production tubing 20 or downhole pump 30 become disengaged for whatever reason, the TAC tool 50 preferably prevents the tubing 20 from falling further downhole. Therefore, in addition to the anchoring function, the TAC tool 50 of the present disclosure provides a catching function that uses opposing slips for engaging in the casing 16 in both uphole and downhole directions. The slips in a unitary slip arrangement can also act as “catchers” because they can incorporate bi-directional teeth. However, the slip arrangement of the disclosed TAC tool 50 having separate and opposing slips for anchoring and catching is superior especially when the casing 16 has bends or irregular surfaces.
Finally, the TAC tool 50 includes longitudinal channels aligned about the exterior components of the TAC tool 50 to provide pathways or flow paths for fluid communication in the annulus 18 between the tool 50 and the casing 16. The longitudinal channels open pathways for the passage of flow in the annulus between the TAC tool 50 and the casing 16. In this way, the channels can allow excluded gas from the well to flow past the TAC tool 50, up the annulus 18, and to the surface.
Having an understanding of the TAC tool 50 and its use in supporting tubing 20 in casing 16, reference is now made to
The sleeve 80 is movably disposed (e.g., floating) on the mandrel 52 between the cages 60, 70. The sleeve 80 has first and second cone faces 83a-b, which can be disposed on a cone body 82 affixed to a sleeve body 84 of the sleeve 80. The cone faces 83a-b face in opposing directions, and the cone body 82 defines longitudinal divisions 85 between the faces 83a-b.
The first (uphole) cage 60 is movably disposed (e.g., floating) on the mandrel 52. The uphole cage 60 has one or more first slips 62 and defines one or more first longitudinal channels 65 between them. As shown here, three slips 62 may be disposed radially about the cage 60, but other numbers could be used. The uphole cage 60 is movably and longitudinally engaged with an upper end (81a;
The second (downhole) cage 70 is also movably disposed (e.g., floating) on the mandrel 52. The downhole cage 70 has one or more second slips 72 and defines one or more second longitudinal channels 75 between the second slips 72. As shown here, three slips 72 are symmetric to the other slips 62 radially disposed about the downhole cage 70, but other numbers could be used. The downhole cage 70 also includes drag elements 76, such as springs or blocks, to engage inside the casing 16.
Setting and unsetting the TAC tool 50 uses a setting mechanism 78. For example,
During setting and unsetting of the TAC tool 50 in
The longitudinal channels 65, 75 on the cages 60, 70 and the longitudinal divisions 85 on the cone body 82 are all arranged to align with one another. This alignment is maintained even though the mandrel 52 is moved and rotated a partial turn to set the TAC tool 50, as discussed below.
Looking at the TAC tool 50 in more detail,
As shown in
During the run-in condition of the TAC tool 50 in
For setting and unsetting, the mandrel 52 and the downhole cage 70 comprise a setting mechanism 78 operated by a partial turn. In the present configuration, the setting mechanism 78 is a J-slot and a pin mechanism between the mandrel 52 and the downhole cage 70. As shown here and noted previously with reference to
As shown in
Moving between the run-in and set conditions involves manipulating the mandrel 52 relative to the downhole cage 70, which is engaged with the casing 16 by the drag elements 76. Longitudinal manipulation of the mandrel 52 downhole moves the pin 79 out of the lower catch 59a (
Looking briefly at the sleeve 80,
The sleeve 80 defines one or more first longitudinal slots 86 disposed toward an upper end 81a and defines one or more second longitudinal slots 87 disposed toward a lower end 81b. As shown here in
As shown in
As arranged, the longitudinal slots 86, 87 of the sleeve 80 engaged with the pins 64, 74 of the cages 60, 70 are configured to longitudinally align the longitudinal channels 65, 75 of the cages 60, 70 and the longitudinal divisions 85 of the cone body 82 with one another. In other words, the cages 60, 70 and the sleeve 80 can move longitudinally relative to one another during the setting and unsetting of the slips 62, 72 with the cone faces 83a-b of the cone body 82, but they do not rotate relative to one another. Instead, the cages 60, 70 and the sleeve 80 are aligned longitudinally together on the mandrel 52 and can float on the mandrel 52, which can be rotated and moved longitudinally on its own.
The operation of the TAC tool 50 is as follows. Starting with
As shown in
Uphole movement of the mandrel 52 pulls tension on the tubing (20) and fits the pin 79 in the upper catch slot 59b to lock the TAC tool 50 as being set. The upper slips 62, being wedge against the cone faces 83a and biased by spring 66, engage (bit into) the wall of the casing 16. The engagement can counter any upward force on the TAC tool 50. Meanwhile, the lower slips 72, being wedge against the cone faces 83b, engage (bite into) the wall of the casing 16. The engagement can counter any downward force on the TAC tool 50.
All the while during these manipulations, the longitudinal slots 86, 87 of the sleeve 80 engaged with the pins 64, 74 of the cages 60, 70 keep the longitudinal channels 65, 75 of the cages 60, 70 and the longitudinal divisions 85 of the cone body 82 longitudinally aligned with one another. As the mandrel 52 is manipulated, for example, the cages 60, 70 and the sleeve 80 can move longitudinally relative to one another with the pins 64, 74 sliding in the slots 86, 87, but the cages 60, 70 and sleeve 80 do not rotate relative to one another. Instead and as noted, they are aligned longitudinally together on the mandrel 52, which can be rotated and moved longitudinally on its own. The longitudinal channels 65, 75, 85 aligned about the exterior components of the TAC tool 50 provide pathways or flow paths for fluid communication in the annulus 18 between the tool 50 and the casing 16. In this way, the longitudinal channels 65, 75, 85 can allow excluded gas from the well to flow up the annulus 18 to the surface.
The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. It will be appreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that features described above in accordance with any embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter can be utilized, either alone or in combination, with any other described feature, in any other embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter.
In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained herein, the Applicants desire all patent rights afforded by the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims include all modifications and alterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of the following claims or the equivalents thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3664417 | Conrad | May 1972 | A |
5327975 | Land | Jul 1994 | A |
9890603 | Moore et al. | Feb 2018 | B2 |
20130319683 | Aldridge | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20150041153 | Moore et al. | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20150259998 | Moore | Sep 2015 | A1 |
20170350204 | Moore | Dec 2017 | A1 |
20180100365 | Perales et al. | Apr 2018 | A1 |
20180355689 | Bringham | Dec 2018 | A1 |
20200325750 | Zachry et al. | Oct 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2890533 | Nov 2017 | CA |
Entry |
---|
Tech TAC, “Slimline Tubing Anchor Catchers,” Brochure, undated, downloaded from www.tubinghanchor.com on Jun. 9, 2020, 2 pages. |
Tech TAC, “Setting and Releasing Tubing Anchor Catcher,” Brochure, undated, downloaded from www.tubinghanchor.com on Jun. 9, 2020, 1 pg. |
Tech TAC, “Slimline Tubing Anchor Catcher,” Brochure, undated, downloaded from www.tubinghanchor.com on Jun. 9, 2020, 1 pg. |
Evolution Oil Tools, Inc., “CRTA Rotating Tubing Anchor Catcher,” Brochure, dated Sep. 2011, 2-pgs. |
Q2 Artificial Lift Services, “Q2-SLIM TAC,” Brochure, undated, downloaded from www.Q2als.com on Jun. 9, 2020, 1-pg. |
Don Nam, “Slimhole Tubing Anchor Catcher,” Brochure, file dated Oct. 26, 2020, downloaded from www.don-nan.com on Jun. 9, 2020, 2-pgs. |
Don Nam, Type B Tubing Anchor Catcher, Brochure, file dated Oct. 26, 2020, downloaded from www.don-nan.com on Jun. 9, 2020, 1-pg. |
Weatherford, “BA Tubing Anchor Catcher,” Brochure, copyright 2007, 2-pgs. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion in PCT/US2023/018120, mailed Jun. 21, 2023, 10-pgs. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20230399903 A1 | Dec 2023 | US |