Subterranean tool for release of balls adjacent their intended destinations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719321-B2
Application number	US-201314019817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A subterranean tool can drop multiple objects to landing locations in a tubular string. The tool can keep at least one ball out of the fluid stream until ready for release. A dart or wiper plug can be kept in the fluid stream with an open bypass until axial mandrel movement allows release of the plug or dart. The tool is rotationally locked at a lower location for run in and then can rotationally lock at an upper location upon release of the dart or ball shifting relative rotation capabilities to different members. Axial movement that releases the dart also aligns a ball with a decreasing depth groove so that relative part rotation can cam the ball against a leaf spring detent and into the mandrel flow path.

First claim

We claim:

1. A tool for selective release of at least one object from a subterranean location to an adjacent location where said object lands to perform a borehole operation, comprising:
an outer housing with opposed connections for attachment to a tubular string and disposition at a predetermined subterranean location;
a mandrel having a passage therethrough and movably mounted with respect to said outer housing, said mandrel comprising an axial slot leading to at least one wall opening;
wherein in a first position, said mandrel is allowed to move axially without rotation relative to said outer housing;
at least one object stored in said mandrel slot, wherein said axial movement of said mandrel brings said at least one object in alignment with said opening while continuing to retain said least one object, wherein in a second position said object and mandrel rotate in tandem against a surface on said outer housing which cams said at least one object through said wall opening to travel to the adjacent location;
said mandrel extending outside said housing for remote actuation of said mandrel to position said object with respect to said wall opening for discharge therethrough.

2. A tool for selective release of at least one object from a subterranean location to an adjacent location where said object lands to perform a borehole operation, comprising:
an outer housing with opposed connections for attachment to a tubular string and disposition at a predetermined subterranean location;
a mandrel having a passage therethrough and movably mounted with respect to said outer housing, said mandrel having at least one wall opening;
at least one object initially stored outside said mandrel and selectively positioned to move through said wall opening to travel to the adjacent location;
said mandrel extending outside said housing for remote actuation of said mandrel to position said object with respect to said wall opening for discharge therethrough;
said mandrel is initially rotationally locked to said housing at a first location while free to translate axially relative to said housing.

3. The tool of claim 2 , wherein:
relative axial movement of said mandrel with respect to said housing releases said rotational locking at said first location.

4. The tool of claim 2 , wherein:
relative axial movement of said mandrel with respect to said housing aligns said wall opening with a circumferential groove in said housing that contains said object.

5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein:
said circumferential groove has a decreasing radius surface that cams said object through said wall opening on relative rotation of said mandrel with respect to said housing.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein:
said wall opening further comprises a detent to retain said object in said wall opening until said relative rotation drives said decreasing radius against said object to overcome said detent.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein:
said object comprises a sphere.

8. The tool of claim 5 , wherein:
said housing further comprises a sleeve assembly;
said circumferential groove is disposed on said sleeve assembly located about said mandrel;
said sleeve assembly initially rotationally locked to said mandrel with meshing splines.

9. The tool of claim 8 , wherein:
said mandrel selectively secured to said sleeve assembly with a shearable member for tandem axial movement until said shear member breaks when said sleeve assembly engages said housing.

10. The tool of claim 9 , wherein:
said mandrel having a travel stop that engages said sleeve assembly before said shearable member is broken with relative axial movement of said mandrel with respect to said sleeve assembly;
said travel stop pushing said sleeve assembly to rotationally lock with said housing.

11. The tool of claim 10 , wherein:
said splines release on relative movement between said mandrel and said sleeve assembly that breaks said shearable member.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein:
said sleeve assembly having engaging members adjacent an opposed end from said splines to mesh with engaging members on said housing when said travel stop brings said sleeve assembly up axially with said mandrel, said engaging members retain said sleeve assembly as said mandrel is rotated to cam said object, which further comprises a sphere, through said wall opening.

13. A tool for selective release of at least one object from a subterranean location to an adjacent location where said object lands to perform a borehole operation, comprising:
an outer housing with opposed connections for attachment to a tubular string and disposition at a predetermined subterranean location;
a mandrel having a passage therethrough and movably mounted with respect to said outer housing, said mandrel having at least one wall opening;
at least one object initially stored outside said mandrel and selectively positioned to move through said wall opening to travel to the adjacent location;
said mandrel extending outside said housing for remote actuation of said mandrel to position said object with respect to said wall opening for discharge therethrough;
said housing further comprises a sleeve assembly disposed about said mandrel;
said mandrel further comprises a second object selectively retained in said passage;
said mandrel and said sleeve assembly defining a flow bypass around said second object when said second object is supported in said mandrel passage;
said second object released from said mandrel passage by relative movement between said mandrel and said sleeve assembly.

14. The tool of claim 13 , wherein:
said second object retained by at least one pivoting support in said mandrel passage that is prevented from pivoting to release said second object until relative axial movement between said mandrel and said sleeve assembly.

15. The tool of claim 14 , wherein:
said pivoting support pivots as a result of a recess on said sleeve assembly aligning with an end of said pivoting support to allow rotation of said pivoting support.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein:
said flow bypass is defined by spaced mandrel apertures that straddle said second object;
at least one said pivoting support comprises at least two pivoting supports so that each said aperture has an adjacent pivoting support;
at least one of said pivoting supports pivots to at least partially obstruct an adjacent aperture.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein:
said second object is a dart or wiper plug or ball.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Hern Christopher R
• Ewing Daniel C
• Krueger Matthew J
• Lacombe Jason P
• Ansohn Travis J
• Cortez Steve M
• Ramon Michael

Classifications

• E21B33/16 Primary

  using plugs for isolating cement charge; Plugs therefor {(stage cementing E21B33/146; spacer compositions C09K8/424)} · CPC title

• E21B34/14

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E21B23/08

  Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems · CPC title

• E21B34/142

  unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons · CPC title