High Radial Expansion Anchoring Tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290081-A1
Application number	US-201315035469-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An anchoring tool is presented having radially pivoting arms which are moved from a run-in position to a set position. In the run-in position the un-articulated arms are positioned radially inward to provide a small tool outer diameter. Upon setting, the arms are pivoted radially outward into gripping engagement with a downhole tubular, such as a liner or casing. The pivot arms define a cam surface for interaction with corresponding wedges, where the cam surface allows for greater radial expansion of the arms.

First claim

1 . A method of positioning an anchoring tool in a downhole tubular positioned in a wellbore, the method comprising:
running an anchoring tool into a downhole tubular, the anchoring tool in a run-in position, wherein pivot arms pivotally mounted on the tool are disposed in a radially inward position; positioning the anchoring tool at a selected location in the downhole tubular; and setting the anchoring tool in the tubular, comprising:
moving an upper and lower body of the anchoring tool axially relative to one another;
moving wedges positioned on the upper or lower body, axially relative to corresponding pivot arms positioned on the other of the upper or lower body;
sliding a sloped contact surface defined on each wedge relative to a contact surface defined on each corresponding pivot arm; and
pivoting the pivot arms, in response to the relative sliding movement of the wedge and arm contact surfaces, radially outward and into gripping engagement with the tubular.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the anchoring tool from the set position by pivoting the pivot arms toward the run-in position.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface defined on each pivot arm further comprises: an initial contact surface and a cam surface, and further comprising: sliding the initial contact surface along the wedge contact surface; and pivoting the pivot arm radially outward to a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anchoring tool.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising: sliding the cam surface along the wedge contact surface after pivoting the arm to the first angle; and pivoting the pivot arm radially outward to a second angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anchoring tool, the second angle greater than the first angle.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first angle is the maximum angle achievable by relative sliding movement of the wedge contact surface along the initial contact surface of the pivot arm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pivot arms have gripping surfaces for gripping the tubular, the gripping surfaces selected from the group consisting of: teeth, ridges, grooves, and buttons.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein releasing the anchoring tool from the set position further comprises moving the upper and lower bodies axially away from one another.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein releasing the anchoring tool from the set position further comprises biasing the upper and lower bodies axially away from one another.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the biasing is performed by a spring, positioned in the upper or lower body, exerting force against a surface defined on the other of the upper or lower body.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the spring exerts force against a shaft movable mounted in the upper and lower bodies.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising biasing the pivot arms towards the run-in position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the biasing is performed by springs exerting force on corresponding pivot arms and urging the pivot arms radially inwardly.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after moving the upper and lower body of the anchoring tool axially relative to one another, releasably locking the upper body and lower body relative to one another in a set position.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the locking is performed by a locking mechanism selected from the group consisting of: a collet device, mating profiles, a ratchet mechanism, a snap ring, and a lock ring.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the upper and lower body of the anchoring tool axially relative to one another further comprises moving a core rod positioned in the anchoring tool, the core rod attached to the lower body.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pivot arms are housed in recesses defined in the upper or lower body.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wedges are removable mounted in recesses defined in the upper or lower body.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact surfaces of the wedges are self-lubricating.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the anchoring tool in the tubular further comprises actuating a downhole actuator to cause relative movement of the upper and lower bodies.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein running the anchoring tool into the downhole tubular further comprises running-in the tool on a conveyance selected from the group consisting of: wireline, slick line, coiled tubing, or jointed tubing.

21 . An anchoring tool for anchoring within a downhole tubular positioned in a wellbore, the tool comprising:
a tool housing having upper and lower bodies mounted for relative axial movement in relation to one another; a plurality of anchoring arms pivotally mounted to the upper or lower body, the anchoring arms pivoting between a radially inward position and a radially expanded position; and a plurality of wedges mounted to the other of the upper or lower body, each wedge corresponding to an anchoring arm and defining a contact surface for moving the corresponding anchoring arm from the radially inward position toward the radially expanded position.

22 . The anchoring tool of claim 21 further comprising a core rod positioned within the tool housing and fixedly attached during use to one of the upper or lower body.

23 . The anchoring tool of claim 22 , further comprising a selectively actuable and releasable locking mechanism interconnected between the core rod and one of the upper or lower bodies.

24 . The anchoring tool of claim 23 , wherein the locking mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a collet device, mating profiles, a ratchet mechanism, a snap ring, and a lock ring.

25 . The anchoring tool of claim 21 wherein each anchoring arm defines an initial contact surface positioned to cooperate with a corresponding wedge to rotate the anchoring arm radially outward to a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anchoring tool.

26 . The anchoring tool of claim 22 wherein each anchoring arm defines a cam surface positioned to cooperate with a corresponding wedge to rotate the anchoring arm radially outward to a second angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anchoring tool, the second angle greater than the first angle.

27 . The anchoring tool of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of wedges each define a hardened contact surface.

28 . The anchoring tool of claim 27 , wherein the wedge contact surface is made of self-lubricating material.

29 . A system for anchoring in a tubular positioned downhole in a wellbore, the system comprising:
an anchoring tool having: a housing with upper and lower bodies mounted for relative axial movement in relation to one another; a plurality of anchoring arms pivotally mounted to the upper or lower body, the anchoring arms pivoting between a radially inward position and a radially expanded position; a plurality of wedges mounted to the other of the upper or lower body, each wedge corresponding to an anchoring arm and positioned to move the corresponding anchoring arm from the radially inward position toward the radially expanded position; and an actuator operably connected to the anchoring tool to cause relative axial movement between the upper and lower bodies.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Mlcak Matthew Craig

Classifications

• E21B23/01 Primary

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