Travel joint release devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153248-A1
Application number	US-201314403414-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2013
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A travel joint comprises an outer housing, an inner mandrel slidingly disposed within the outer housing, and a release device positioned between the outer housing and the inner mandrel. The release device is configured to selectively prevent and allow relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in response to a fluid pressure supplied to the release device from a flowbore of the outer housing or a flowbore of the inner mandrel.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A travel joint comprising:
an outer housing; an inner mandrel slidingly disposed within the outer housing; and a release device positioned between the outer housing and the inner mandrel, wherein the release device comprises:
a plurality of lugs, wherein the plurality of lugs is configured to prevent relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in a locked position and allow relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in an unlocked position;
wherein the release device is configured to selectively prevent and allow relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in response to a fluid pressure supplied to the release device from a flowbore of the outer housing or a flowbore of the inner mandrel.

2 . The travel joint of claim 1 , wherein the release device further comprises:
a sleeve configured to radially align with the plurality of lugs in the locked position and axially translate out of radial alignment with the plurality of lugs in the unlocked position, wherein the sleeve is configured to axially translate in response to the fluid pressure.

3 . The travel joint of claim 2 , further comprising an actuable device configured to maintain the sleeve in the locked position until the fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined fluid pressure.

4 . The travel joint of claim 2 , further comprising a retaining device configured to retain the sleeve in the unlocked position when the sleeve is axially translated out of radial alignment with the plurality of lugs.

5 . The travel joint of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lugs is retained within lug windows in a cage sleeve, and wherein the cage sleeve is coupled to the outer housing.

6 . The travel joint of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of lugs is configured to engage a circumferential recess on an outer surface of the inner mandrel.

7 . The travel joint of claim 2 , further comprising a hydraulically metered release device, wherein the hydraulically metered release device is configured to selectively prevent and allow relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel.

8 . The travel joint of claim 1 , wherein the release device further comprises:
a retaining sleeve configured to maintain the plurality of lugs in engagement with the outer housing and the inner mandrel in the locked position and axially translate the plurality of lugs out of engagement with the inner mandrel in the unlocked position.

9 . The travel joint of claim 8 , wherein the release device further comprises a first indicator configuration to engage a second indicator on the outer housing, wherein the first indicator is configured to translate past the second indicator in response to a fluid pressure above a threshold.

10 . The travel joint of claim 8 , wherein the retaining sleeve is coupled to a piston, and wherein the piston is configured to translate the retaining sleeve from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to the fluid pressure.

11 . The travel joint of claim 10 , where the release device further comprises a biasing member, wherein the biasing member is configured to translate the retaining sleeve from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to the fluid pressure being removed from the piston.

12 . The travel joint of claim 8 , wherein the release device is configured to reset from the unlocked position to the locked position.

13 . A travel joint comprising:
an outer housing; an inner mandrel slidingly disposed within the outer housing; and a release device positioned between the outer housing and the inner mandrel, wherein the release device comprises:
an outwardly biased locking ring, wherein the locking ring is configured to radially compress and engage the inner mandrel in a locked position and radially expand and disengage from the inner mandrel in an unlocked position;
wherein the release device is configured to selectively prevent and allow relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in response to a fluid pressure supplied to the release device from a flowbore of the outer housing or a flowbore of the inner mandrel.

14 . The travel joint of claim 13 , wherein the locking ring comprises surface features on an interior surface, and wherein the surface features are configured to engage corresponding surface features on an exterior surface of the inner mandrel when the release device is in the locked position.

15 . The travel joint of claim 13 , wherein the locking ring comprises a c-ring.

16 . The travel joint of claim 13 , wherein the release device further comprises a retaining sleeve disposed about the locking ring, wherein the retaining sleeve is configured to retain the locking ring in engagement with the inner mandrel in the locked position and axially translate to allow the locking ring to radially expand in the unlocked position.

17 . A method of releasing a travel joint comprising:
preventing relative axial movement between an outer housing and an inner mandrel in a travel joint; providing a fluid pressure to a flowbore of the outer housing or a flowbore of the inner mandrel of the release device in a locked position, wherein the release device is disposed between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in a travel joint; actuating the release device from the locked position to an unlocked position based on the fluid pressure; and allowing relative movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel when the release device is in the unlocked position.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
telescoping the inner mandrel within the outer housing; and landing a tool associated with the travel joint in a wellbore in response to the telescoping.

19 . The method of claim 17 , where actuating the release device from the locked position to the unlocked position comprises:
shifting a sleeve out of radial alignment with a plurality of lugs, wherein the plurality of lugs prevent relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel when the sleeve is radially aligned with the plurality of lugs; and radially shifting the plurality of lugs out of engagement with at least one of the outer housing or the inner mandrel.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
engaging a retaining member with the sleeve and at least one of the outer housing or the inner mandrel in response to the shifting of the sleeve; and retaining the sleeve is the shifted position when the retaining member engages both the sleeve and the at least one of the outer housing or the inner mandrel.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the release device from the locked position to the unlocked position comprises:
shifting a retaining ring in response to the fluid pressure; radially expanding a locking ring in response to shifting the retaining ring; and disengaging the locking ring from the inner mandrel when radially expanded.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein shifting the retaining ring comprises actuating an actuable device in response to the fluid pressure exceeding a threshold.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the release device from the locked position to the unlocked position comprises:
axially shifting a plurality of lugs in response to providing the fluid pressure; radially expanding the plurality of lugs after axially shifting the

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Richards William Mark
• Harms Timothy Edward

Classifications

• E21B17/07 Primary

  Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers · CPC title

• E21B17/06 Primary

  Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints · CPC title