1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a downhole tool. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a weight setting indicator for a downhole tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common to employ more than one string of casing in a wellbore. In this respect, a first string of casing is set in the wellbore when the well is drilled to a first designated depth. The first string of casing is hung from the surface, and then cement is circulated into the annulus behind the casing. The well is then drilled to a second designated depth, and a second string of casing, or liner, is run into the well. The second string is set at a depth, such that the upper portion of the second string of casing overlaps with the lower portion of the upper string of casing. The second “liner” string is then fixed or “hung” off of the inner surface of the upper string of casing. Afterwards, the liner string is also cemented. This process is typically repeated with additional liner strings until the well has been drilled to total depth. In this manner, wells are typically formed with two or more strings of casing of an ever-decreasing diameter.
The process of hanging a liner off of a string of surface casing or other upper casing string involves the use of a liner hanger. The traditional liner hanger uses surface weight to set a liner top packer. This downward movement typically seals the packer's element and/or seal mechanism. Liner top packers are typically located thousands of feet downhole below the surface in the wellbore. In many cases the wellbore has a vertical section and a horizontal section. The liner top packer may be located in the horizontal section of the wellbore, and thus the liner top packer may have a horizontal position. The horizontal position of the liner top packer can result in a corkscrewing effect, called “slack off” on the drill pipe and the running string of the drill pipe. Due to “slack off” the downhole packer may or may not actually be seeing the same amount of weight downhole as being applied at the surface. There is a need for a downhole packer weight indicator to verify that the desired packer setting weight was applied to the packer
The present invention generally relates to a weight setting indicator which is used to indicate that an applied force to a tool achieved or exceeded a predetermined amount. In one aspect, a packer actuator for use with a packer is provided. The packer actuator includes a body. The packer actuator further includes a dog assembly disposed on the body. The dog assembly is configured to set the packer when a force is applied to the packer actuator. The packer actuator also includes a setting indicator that is disposed between the dog assembly and a portion of the body. The setting indicator is configured to move from a pre-set position to a post-set position when the force is applied to the packer actuator, wherein the setting indicator is plastically deformed in the post-set position.
In another aspect, a method of setting a packer in a wellbore using a packer actuator is provided. The method includes the steps of positioning the packer and the packer actuator in the wellbore, the packer actuator having a setting indicator. The method further includes the step of setting the packer by applying a force to the packer actuator. The method also includes the step of plastically deforming the setting indicator as a result of applying the force to the packer actuator.
In a further aspect, a setting indicator for use with a packer actuator is provided. The setting indicator includes a base. The setting indicator further includes a protrusion on the base. The protrusion having a first height relative to the base in a pre-set position and a second smaller height relative to the base in a post-set position. The protrusion is plastically deformed in the post-set position.
In one aspect, a packer actuator for use with a packer is provided. The packer actuator includes a body. The packer actuator further includes a dog assembly disposed on the body. The dog assembly is configured to set the packer when a force is applied to the packer actuator. The packer actuator also includes a setting indicator disposed between the dog assembly and a portion of the body. The setting indicator includes a first ring member that is separated from a second ring member at a first distance when the setting indicator is in a pre-set position and at a second distance when the setting indicator is in a post-set position. The second distance is different than the first distance. The setting indicator is configured to move from the pre-set position to the post-set position when the force is applied to the packer actuator.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The present invention generally relates to a weight setting indicator which, is used to indicate that an applied force to a tool exceeded a predetermined amount. The weight setting indicator will be described herein in relation to packer that is used in the wellbore. It is to be understood, however, that the weight setting indicator may also be used with other downhole tools without departing from principles of the present invention. To better understand the novelty of weight setting indicator of the present invention and the methods of use thereof, reference is hereafter made to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
The dog assembly 175 includes dogs 110 that are movable between a retracted position (
As shown in
To set the packer, a force (i.e., surface weight) from the workstring is applied to the packer actuator 100 in the direction indicted by direction arrow 150. The force is transferred from the dogs 110 in the dog assembly 175 of the packer actuator 100 to the PBR 10. The force causes the PBR 10 to move in the direction indicted by direction arrow 150, and the movement of the PBR 10 sets the packer. At substantially the same time, the weight setting indicator 200 is compressed between the first end 155 of the support assembly 125 of the dog assembly 175 and the first side 160 of the recess 135. The weight setting indicator 200 is configured to plastically deform when it is compressed. The weight setting indicator 200 is shown in the post-set position in
As shown in
In another embodiment, a weight setting indicator (not shown) is disposed between the end 170 of the support assembly 125 and the second side 165 of the recess 135. The weight setting indicator may be attached to the end 170 and the second side 165 by a connection member or an adhesive. The weight setting indicator has a first length in a pre-set position and a second greater length in a post-set position. The weight setting indicator is configured to elongate (stretch or expand) when the dog assembly 175 moves in the recess 135. Specifically, as the end 170 of the support assembly 125 moves apart from the second side 165 of the recess 135 (compare
The weight setting indicator 250 includes a plurality of profiles 280 that are formed in a base 265. The profiles 280 extend from the base 265 at a first height when the weight setting indicator 250 is in the pre-set position, and a second smaller height when the weight setting indicator 250 is in the post-set position. The profiles 280 are designed to collapse when the weight setting indicator 250 moves from the pre-set position to the post-set position. Thus, the weight setting indicator 250 may be used to verify that the desired packer setting weight was applied to the packer. Each profile 280 creates a cavity 285 in the weight setting indicator 200. The cavity 285 has a first volume when the weight setting indicator 250 is in the pre-set position and a second smaller volume when the weight setting indicator 250 is in the post-set position. The profiles 280 may extend around the entire circumference of the weight setting indicator 250. In another embodiment, profiles 260 may be attached to the base 265 by a connection member, an adhesive or welding. Similar to the profiles 280, the profiles 260 are designed to collapse when the weight setting indicator 250 moves from the pre-set position to the post-set position. A cavity 270 is formed between the profile 260 and the base 265. The cavity 270 has a first volume when the weight setting indicator 250 is in the pre-set position and a second smaller volume when the weight setting indicator 250 is in the post-set position. The profiles 260 may extend around the entire circumference of the weight setting indicator 250.
The profiles 260, 280 (in the collapsed state) may be used as a visual indicator that that the desired packer setting weight was applied to the packer, as discussed herein. In addition, profiles 260, 280 (in the collapsed state) may be used as a visual indicator that the desired packer setting weight was uniformly applied to the packer. For instance, if each profile 260, 280 extends from the base 265 at substantially the same height in the post-set position, then the desired packer setting weight was uniformly applied to the packer. However, if several profiles 260, 280 extend from the base 265 at a different height relative to the height of other profiles 260. 280 in the post-set position, then the desired packer setting weight may not have been uniformly applied to the packer. In other words, the pattern of deformation of the profiles 260, 280 may be used to determine if the desired packer setting weight has been uniformly applied to the packer or not uniformly applied to the packer.
The ring members 305, 315 are connected by releasable members 325, such as shear screws. The releasable members 325 are configured to fail when the compressive forces reach a threshold value. The threshold value force for the releasable members 325 in the weight setting indicator 300 corresponds to the desired value of the force required to set the packer. As shown, the weight setting indicator 300 has a height B1, when the weight setting indicator 300 in the pre-set position and a height B2, when the weight setting indicator 300 in the post-set position. In comparing
In one embodiment, a packer actuator for use with a packer is provided. The packer actuator includes a body. The packer actuator further includes a dog assembly disposed on the body. The dog assembly is configured to set the packer when a force is applied to the packer actuator. The packer actuator also includes a setting indicator that is disposed between the dog assembly and a portion of the body. The setting indicator is configured to move from a pre-set position to a post-set position when the force is applied to the packer actuator, wherein the setting indicator is plastically deformed in the post-set position.
In one or more embodiments, the setting indicator is a ring member having a base and a protrusion that extends from the base.
In one or more embodiments, the protrusion has a first height relative to the base in the pre-set position and a second smaller height relative to the base in the post-set position.
In one or more embodiments, the profile creates a cavity in the base of the weight setting indicator.
In one or more embodiments, the cavity has a first volume in the pre-set position and a second smaller volume in the post-set position.
In one or more embodiments, the profile is disposed along the circumference of the base.
In one or more embodiments, the setting indicator is a ring member having a base and a plurality of protrusions disposed around the circumference of the base.
In one or more embodiments, the protrusions have a first height relative to the base in the pre-set position and a second smaller height relative to the base in the post-set position.
In one or more embodiments, the dog assembly and the setting indicator are disposed in a recess formed in the body.
In one embodiment, a method of setting a packer in a wellbore using a packer actuator is provided. The method includes the steps of positioning the packer and the packer actuator in the wellbore, the packer actuator having a setting indicator. The method further includes the step of setting the packer by applying a force to the packer actuator. The method also includes the step of plastically deforming the setting indicator as a result of applying the force to the packer actuator.
In one or more embodiments, the setting indicator is activated by moving the setting indicator from a pre-set position to a post-set position.
In one embodiment, a setting indicator for use with a packer actuator is provided. The setting indicator includes a base. The setting indicator further includes a protrusion on the base. The protrusion having a first height relative to the base in a pre-set position and a second smaller height relative to the base in a post-set position. The protrusion is plastically deformed in the post-set position.
In one or more embodiments, a second protrusion and a third protrusion are disposed on the base.
In one or more embodiments, the amount of plastic deformation of each protrusion indicates the uniformity of force applied to the setting indicator.
In one or more embodiments, the protrusion is formed in the base.
In one or more embodiments, the protrusion is attached to the base.
In one embodiment, a packer actuator for use with a packer is provided. The packer actuator includes a body. The packer actuator further includes a dog assembly disposed on the body. The dog assembly is configured to set the packer when a force is applied to the packer actuator. The packer actuator also includes a setting indicator disposed between the dog assembly and a portion of the body. The setting indicator includes a first ring member that is separated from a second ring member at a first distance when the setting indicator is in a pre-set position and at a second distance when the setting indicator is in a post-set position. The second distance is different than the first distance. The setting indicator is configured to move from the pre-set position to the post-set position when the force is applied to the packer actuator.
In one or more embodiments, the first ring member is connected to the second ring member by a releasable connection when the setting indicator is in the post-set position.
In one or more embodiments, the second distance is smaller than the first distance.
In one or more embodiments, the second distance is larger than the first distance.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5015132 | Turner et al. | May 1991 | A |
5245417 | Hibi et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5487632 | Hood et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
5813458 | Smith et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
6241023 | Krauss et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
8069943 | Takahashi | Dec 2011 | B2 |
20030155159 | Slack et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3142432 | May 1983 | DE |
1006452 | Oct 1965 | GB |
2107018 | Apr 1983 | GB |
2321919 | Aug 1998 | GB |
Entry |
---|
Search Report and Written Opinion, dated Feb. 25, 2015, for International Application No. PCT/US2014/022531. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140262349 A1 | Sep 2014 | US |