Dual-configuration shear bolt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9568038-B2
Application number	US-201314383978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2013
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A dual-configuration shear bolt for coupling components of an assembly is provided. The dual-configuration shear bolt can include a body defining a chamber and a pin in the chamber. The body can include a shear portion. The pin can move between a shearing position and a non-shearing position. The pin can be retained within the shear portion by a retaining mechanism in the non-shearing position. The pin can be moved away from the shear portion to the shearing position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-configuration shear bolt comprising:
a body defining a chamber, the body having a shear portion; and
a pin positioned in the chamber, the pin being moveable between a shearing position and a non-shearing position, the pin being retained within the shear portion by a retaining mechanism in the non-shearing position, the pin being movable away from the shear portion to the shearing position for the shear bolt,
wherein the body further defines a fluid communication path to the chamber for communicating pressure for moving the pin from the non-shearing position to the shearing position.

2. The dual-configuration shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a spring positioned in the chamber adjacent to the pin, the spring being compressible in response to moving the pin from the non-shearing position to the shearing position.

3. The dual-configuration shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a compressible material positioned in the chamber adjacent to the pin, the compressible material being compressible in response to moving the pin from the non-shearing position to the shearing position.

4. The dual-configuration shear bolt of claim 3 , wherein the compressible material further comprises at least one of a liquid or a gas and further comprising a seal positioned between the pin and the liquid or the gas.

5. The dual-configuration shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises at least one of a shear pin or a retaining ring in contact with the pin for retaining the pin in the non-shearing position.

6. The dual-configuration shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the shear portion has a smaller width than another portion of the body.

7. The dual-configuration shear bolt of claim 6 , further comprising a threaded portion adjacent to the chamber and operable for fastening a first component to a second component.

8. A downhole assembly comprising:
a first component; and
a second component coupled to the first component with a dual-configuration shear bolt, the dual-configuration shear bolt comprising:
a body defining a chamber, the body having a shear portion that has a smaller width than another portion of the body; and
a pin positioned in the chamber, the pin being moveable between a shearing position and a non-shearing position, the pin being retained within the shear portion by a retaining mechanism in the non-shearing position, the pin being movable away from the shear portion to the shearing position for the shear bolt,
wherein the body further defines a fluid communication path, the downhole assembly further comprising a pressurizing device in fluid communication with the pin via the fluid communication path, the pressurizing device operable for communicating pressure to the pin for moving the pin from the non-shearing position to the shearing position.

9. The downhole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a spring positioned in the chamber adjacent to the pin, the spring compressible in response to moving the pin from the non-shearing position to the shearing position.

10. The downhole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a compressible material positioned in the chamber adjacent to the pin, the compressible material compressible in response to moving the pin from the non-shearing position to the shearing position.

11. The downhole assembly of claim 10 , wherein the compressible material further comprises at least one of a liquid or a gas and wherein the dual-configuration shear bolt further comprises a seal positioned between the pin and the liquid or the gas.

12. The downhole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises at least one of a shear pin or a retaining ring in contact with the pin for retaining the pin in the non-shearing position.

13. The downhole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first component is a whipstock and the second component comprises a milling tool.

14. The downhole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the dual-configuration shear bolt further comprises a threaded portion adjacent to the chamber and inserted into an opening of at least one of the first component or the second component.

15. A method comprising:
providing a tool, the tool comprising a first component coupled to a second component with a dual-configuration shear bolt, the dual-configuration shear bolt comprising a body and a pin positioned in a shear portion of the body that has a smaller width than another portion of the body;
moving the pin away from the shear portion by communicating pressure to the pin via a fluid communication path defined by the body;
shearing the dual-configuration shear bolt by applying a shearing force to the shear portion; and
separating the first component from the second component.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the pin further comprises compressing a spring positioned in the body adjacent to the pin.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the pin further comprises shearing at least one of a shear pin or a retaining ring in contact with the pin for retaining the pin in a non-shearing position.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Donovan Stacey Blaine

Classifications

• F16B31/021 Primary

  by means of a frangible part (F16B31/025, F16B31/028 take precedence; break members in torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/1415) · CPC title

• E21B34/063

  Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B29/06

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

• E21B7/061 Primary

  the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock · CPC title

• E21B17/06

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