Systems and methods for downhole service tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11536107-B2
Application number	US-201816649478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Sep 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A mechanical service tool that may include one or more anchors, a cutter, a communication and control system, and one or more sensors, as well as methods for operating the mechanical service tool, are provided. The one or more anchors may extend radially from the mechanical service tool and the cutter may move relative to the mechanical service tool. The cutter may include a drilling bit. The communication and control system may obtain remote commands that control the cutter, the one or more anchors, or both. The one or more sensors may detect operational conditions of the mechanical service tool and may be operatively coupled to the communication and control system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for making cuts in a wellbore casing, the method comprising:
disposing a rotary cutter tool within the wellbore casing;
extending a plurality of centralizing arms such that each centralizing arm contacts an interior surface of the casing, thereby positioning the rotary cutter tool such that a longitudinal axis of the rotary cutter tool is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the wellbore casing;
extending one or more cutting wheels from the rotary cutter tool toward the interior surface of the casing,
wherein one or more cutting arms are coupled to each of the one or more cutting wheels, respectively, wherein the cutting arms are rotatable around a common pivot connection, wherein the common pivot connection is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rotary cutter tool; and

cutting the interior surface of the casing using the one or more cutting wheels;
wherein an axis of rotation of each cutting wheel of the one or more cutting wheels is disposed at a substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wellbore casing and at a substantially right angle with respect to a radial axis of the wellbore casing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the rotary cutter tool longitudinally parallel to the wellbore axis to produce elongated cuts or slots.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the rotary cutter tool about the longitudinal axis of the rotary cutting tool to produce an axial hole in the casing.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising continuously measuring the movement of the rotary cutter tool and operational parameters of the rotary cutter tool.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting of the interior surface of the casing is automated based on sensor feedback and on-board processing of data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the rotary cutter tool about the longitudinal axis of the rotary cutting tool to sever the casing.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the rotary cutter tool about the longitudinal axis of the rotary cutting tool to alter a thickness of a section of the casing.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of centralizing arms includes a sensor that measures the position of the centralizing arm.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cutting wheels includes a sensor that measures the rotational speed of the cutting wheel.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotary cutter tool includes a processor that controls a driving motor coupled to the one or more cutting wheels and controlled based on sensor feedback.

11. A rotary cutter tool for making cuts in a wellbore casing, comprising:
a cutting section comprising a driving motor coupled to one or more cutting wheels;
one or more cutting arms coupled to each of the one or more cutting wheels, respectively, wherein the cutting arms are rotatable around a common pivot connection,
wherein the common pivot connection is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the rotary cutter tool; and
a centralizer section coupled to the cutting section and comprising a plurality of centralizing arms, the plurality of centralizing arms including at least two opposing centralizing arms disposed such that extending both of the opposing centralizing arms to contact an inner surface of the wellbore casing positions the rotary cutter tool such that the longitudinal axis of the rotary cutter tool is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the wellbore casing,
wherein each of the one or more cutting wheels is positioned such that an axis of rotation of each cutting wheel is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and a radial axis of the wellbore casing.

12. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , wherein the rotary cutter tool is coupled to a cable that, when raised or lowered, raises or lowers the rotary cutter tool within the wellbore casing by moving in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the wellbore casing.

13. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , wherein the driving motor is coupled to the one or more cutting wheels via at least one chain.

14. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , wherein the driving motor is coupled to the one or more cutting wheels via at least one set of gears.

15. The rotary cutter tool of claim 14 , wherein the driving motor is controlled by a processor based on sensor feedback.

16. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , wherein when the one or more cutting wheels are in contact with the wellbore casing, the one or more cutting arms are disposed at an angle such that distal ends of the cutting arms are farther down the wellbore casing than proximal ends of the cutting arms.

17. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , wherein the rotary cutter tool comprises a magnet positioned to collect metal shavings generating during a cutting operation.

18. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , further comprising a processor configured to receive data from one or more sensors.

19. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor positioned to measure rotational speed of the one or more cutting wheels.

20. The rotary cutter tool of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor positioned to measure the position of the plurality of centralizing arms.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Wiesenborn Robert Kyle
• Dresel Matthew
• Gourmelon Pierre-Olivier
• Mennem Rex
• Billingham Matthew
• Sheiretov Todor
• Landsiedel Nathan
• Couble Yoann
• Dupree Wade

Classifications

• E21B29/06

  Cutting windows, e.g. directional window cutters for whipstock operations ({E21B29/005 and} E21B29/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B41/0085

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B4/06

  Down-hole impacting means, e.g. hammers (boring rams E21B11/02) · CPC title

• E21B31/107

  using impact means for releasing stuck parts, e.g. jars · CPC title