Downhole slot cutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9932802-B2
Application number	US-201615056749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Dec 27, 2012
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a downhole slot cutter. The downhole slot cutter a housing of the downhole slot cutter configured to be inserted into a tubular positioned within a wellbore, and a plurality of dies supported by the housing, wherein the plurality of dies is configured to extend radially outward from the housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A downhole slot cutter, comprising:
a housing configured to be inserted into a tubular positioned within a wellbore;
a die configured to extend along an actuation path that extends radially outward from the housing via an opening of the housing, wherein the die is configured to puncture an inner surface of the tubular;
a main portion of the die at least partially disclosed within the opening of the housing;
a die guide of the die extending circumferentially outward from the main portion relative to a central axis of the main portion, wherein the central axis of the main portion extends along the actuation path;
a cutting portion of the die extending from the main portion along the actuation path, wherein the cutting portion comprises a smooth, semi-circular outer radial surface and a substantially constant width, and wherein the substantially constant width is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the housing; and
a mandrel configured to be displaced in the housing along the central axis of the housing, such that the mandrel contacts a rear surface of the die and directs the die radially outward from the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the die guide is configured to coordinate with the opening in the housing to guide the die radially outward and generally horizontal relative to the central axis of the housing.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the die comprises an arcuate disk.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of dies disposed in a plurality of openings spaced equidistantly about the housing.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of dies disposed in a plurality of openings spaced in a staggered arrangement, a tiered arrangement, or an offset arrangement about the housing.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising a hydraulic system configured to actuate the mandrel.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the main portion of the die is a generally quadrilateral prism.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the main portion comprises a curved outer-facing surface.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the die guide extends circumferentially outward from a lateral side of the main portion between a rear surface of the main portion and the curved outer-facing surface.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the die guide is generally centered with respect to the lateral side.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the die guide is a generally rectangular prism.

12. A method, comprising:
positioning a slot cutter into a first position relative to a tubular positioned within a wellbore;
displacing a mandrel into a housing of the slot cutter in a first direction along a central axis of the housing;
directing a die radially outward from the housing of the slot cutter and into the tubular via displacement of the mandrel;
engaging a cutting portion of the die with the tubular, wherein the cutting portion comprises a smooth, semi-circular outer radial surface and a substantially constant width, and wherein the substantially constant width is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the housing;
puncturing the tubular with the cutting portion to form a slice of the tubular; and
displacing the mandrel in the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction along a central axis of the housing such that the die retracts radially inward toward the housing.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
positioning the slot cutter in a second position relative to the tubular positioned within the wellbore;
displacing the mandrel into the housing in the first direction along the central axis of the housing;
directing the die radially outward from the housing of the slot cutter and into the tubular via displacement of the mandrel;
engaging the cutting portion of the die with the tubular; and
puncturing the tubular with the cutting portion to form an additional slice of the tubular.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
displacing the mandrel in the housing in the second direction along the central axis of the housing such that the die retracts inward toward the housing; and
removing the slot cutter from within the tubular positioned within the wellbore.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein displacing the mandrel into the housing of the slot cutter in the first direction along the central axis of the housing comprises supplying a hydraulic pressure to the mandrel, and wherein displacing the mandrel in the housing in the second direction along the central axis of the housing comprises releasing the hydraulic pressure to the mandrel.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein supplying the hydraulic pressure to the mandrel comprises pumping a working fluid toward a hydraulic pressure intensifier configured to feed high pressure working fluid toward a hydraulic cylinder to displace the mandrel.

17. A system, comprising:
a slot cutter configured to be disposed within a tubular positioned within a wellbore;
a mandrel configured to extend through a housing of the slot cutter in a first direction along a central axis of the housing;
a die comprising a main portion and a cutting portion, wherein the die is configured to engage the mandrel at a rear surface of the main portion and configured to extend radially outward when the mandrel displaces at least a portion of the die in the housing;
a die guide extending laterally outward from the main portion of the die, wherein the die guide is configured to guide the die radially outward and level relative to the central axis of the housing as the mandrel displaces at least the portion of the die in the housing and wherein the cutting portion of the die is configured to engage with and cut the tubular in an extended orientation of the die.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the die guide is configured to retain the die in engagement with the housing.

19. The system of claim 17 , comprising a plurality of dies arranged to contact the tubular in different locations.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of dies are spaced equidistantly about a circumference of the tubular.

Assignees

• Tesco Corp
• Nabors Drilling Tech Usa Inc

Inventors

• Nikiforuk Kevin James

Classifications

• E21B43/112 Primary

  Perforators with extendable perforating members, e.g. actuated by fluid means · CPC title

• E21B29/002

  Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe · CPC title