Hydraulic tubing perforator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060233-B2
Application number	US-201315024293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2013
Priority date	Nov 1, 2013
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are presented for mechanically perforating a tubular positioned in a subterranean wellbore. A plurality of punch members are moved radially outward in response to hydraulic pressure from the tubing or other source into contact with the tubular. Retraction of the punch members is by biasing member or change in hydraulic pressure. A slip assembly, also hydraulically actuated, secures the tool in position during use.

First claim

It is claimed:

1. A method of mechanically perforating a downhole tubular positioned in a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising:
running a mechanical perforator tool into the downhole tubular in the wellbore at a selected location, an annulus defined between the perforator tool and the downhole tubular;
applying a first hydraulic pressure through a hydraulic circuit to act on at least on gripping assembly;
moving the at least on gripping assembly, in response to the first hydraulic pressure, into gripping contact with the downhole tubular;
applying a second hydraulic pressure through the hydraulic circuit to act on a plurality of punch members movably mounted in the perforator tool, wherein the second hydraulic pressure is greater than the first hydraulic pressure;
moving the plurality of punch members, in response to the second hydraulic pressure, into contact with the downhole tubular;
perforating the downhole tubular using the plurality of punch members;
reducing hydraulic pressure below the second hydraulic pressure and above the first hydraulic pressure;
moving the plurality of punch members away from the downhole tubular;
reducing hydraulic pressure below the first hydraulic pressure; and
moving the at least one gripping assembly away from the downhole tubular.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gripping assembly comprises at least one toothed slip.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gripping assembly is positioned on the perforator tool.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining at least the first hydraulic pressure to the at least one gripping assembly during operation of the plurality of punch members of the perforator tool.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising biasing the plurality of punch members towards a radially retracted position.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of punch members are mounted on a plurality of corresponding pistons mounted slidably in the perforator tool and wherein applying hydraulic pressure to the plurality of punch members comprises applying hydraulic pressure directly to the plurality of corresponding pistons.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the plurality of punch members away from the downhole tubular at least partially in response to reducing hydraulic pressure acting on the punch members.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising moving the plurality of punch members away from the downhole tubular at least partially in response to biasing the punch members.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the punch members are slidable along radial paths between radially extended positions and radially retracted positions.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subsequently moving the perforator tool to one or more new locations in the downhole tubular and perforating the downhole tubular at the one or more new locations.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an annular hydraulic pressure in the annulus between the perforator tool and the downhole tubing.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving the plurality of punch members radially inward at least partially in response to applying the annular hydraulic pressure.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising moving a plurality of bushings, corresponding to the plurality of punch members, in response to the application of annular hydraulic pressure.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying hydraulic pressure by increasing the tubing pressure in the wellbore.

15. A downhole, hydraulically actuated, mechanical perforator for perforating downhole tubulars in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation, the perforator comprising:
a tool housing;
a plurality of punch members slidably mounted in the housing for movement between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position;
a hydraulically actuable gripping assembly for grippingly engaging the downhole tubular;
a hydraulic circuit defined in the tool housing, and in hydraulic communication to actuate the plurality of punch members and the hydraulically actuable gripping assembly, wherein a first pressure in the hydraulic circuit actuates the hydraulically actuable gripping assembly and a second pressure in the hydraulic circuit actuates the plurality of punch members, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.

16. The perforator of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of biasing members positioned to bias the plurality of punch members towards the radially retracted position.

17. The perforator of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of punch members extend from a corresponding plurality of hydraulically actuated pistons, the pistons in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic circuit.

18. The perforator of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of bushings, slidably mounted in a corresponding plurality of bores defined in the tool housing, the plurality of punch members slidably positioned in the corresponding plurality of bushings.

19. The perforator of claim 18 , wherein the bushings have radially outward faces having fluid communication features for communicating annular fluid pressure to the outward faces.

20. The perforator of claim 19 , wherein the features include at least one of an annular recess or a radial groove.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Albers Robert Wayne
• Cook Jason Karl

Classifications

• E21B43/112 Primary

  Perforators with extendable perforating members, e.g. actuated by fluid means · CPC title

• E21B23/01

  for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) · CPC title