EP2126277B1 - A device for a kickover tool - Google Patents

A device for a kickover tool Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2126277B1
EP2126277B1 EP08741701.0A EP08741701A EP2126277B1 EP 2126277 B1 EP2126277 B1 EP 2126277B1 EP 08741701 A EP08741701 A EP 08741701A EP 2126277 B1 EP2126277 B1 EP 2126277B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spindle holder
tool body
spindle
tool
actuator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP08741701.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2126277A4 (en
EP2126277A1 (en
Inventor
Espen Osaland
Arne Motland
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Altus Intervention AS
Original Assignee
Altus Intervention AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Altus Intervention AS filed Critical Altus Intervention AS
Publication of EP2126277A1 publication Critical patent/EP2126277A1/en
Publication of EP2126277A4 publication Critical patent/EP2126277A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2126277B1 publication Critical patent/EP2126277B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/03—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for setting the tools into, or removing the tools from, laterally offset landing nipples or pockets
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
    • E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
    • E21B43/122—Gas lift
    • E21B43/123—Gas lift valves

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a kickover tool. More particularly, it concerns a kickover tool of the type being used for the setting and pulling of a valve spindle of a gas lift valve located in a side pocket.
  • the kickover tool comprises a sideways open tool body with a spindle holder which, via at least one intermediate arm, is connected in an articulated manner to the tool body, the spindle holder being arranged so as to be able to be moved between a passive position where the spindle holder is located within the valve body, and an active position where the spindle holder is swung out from the valve body and corresponds with the gas lift valve.
  • At least a part of an actuator which is arranged so as to be able to displace the spindle holder between its passive position and its active position, is located between the tool body and the spindle holder.
  • gas lift valve During petroleum production, it is necessary to pump in gas in some reservoirs in order to achieve a so-called gas lift.
  • the gas is pumped down into the borehole and flows, via one or more gas lift valves, into the production tubing. It is common to place the gas lift valve in a side pocket so as to be able to shift the valve spindle in the gas lift valve by means of a kickover tool and simultaneously leaving a free passage for other tools past the gas lift valve.
  • a prior art kickover tool is formed as a cable tool.
  • the valve spindle is connected to the spindle holder of the kickover tool.
  • the spindle holder is rotatably connected to the tool body of the kickover tool.
  • the spindle holder including its attached valve spindle, is in its passive position within the tool body.
  • the kickover tool is displaced a little past the side pocket within which the particular gas lift valve is located. Then, the kickover tool is carefully pulled back so as to be rotated, by means of an orientation device, about its longitudinal axis into the correct direction and to be locked in the desired axial position.
  • the intermediate arm By increasing the tensile force in the cable, the intermediate arm is released and is rotated, by means of a spring force, together with the spindle holder and the valve spindle outwards from the tool body.
  • the valve spindle comes into abutment against the side pocket wall and thus causes the spindle holder to be rotated, in a spindle link, relative to the intermediate arm.
  • the spindle holder and the valve spindle assume an active position parallel to the tool body and mainly coaxial with the gas lift valve.
  • the valve spindle is displaced into the gas lift valve.
  • valve spindle is released from the kickover tool, which is pulled out from the production tubing.
  • Patent documents GB 2393468 , US 3788397 , US 3827490 and US 4976314 all describe kickover tools where the spindle holder is displaced to its final active position in two steps. During the initial first step the spindle holder is biased relative to the axial direction of the tool, and in the second step the spindle holder is coaxially aligned with the gas lift valve.
  • GB 2393468 discloses that the kickover of the spindle holder is achieved by a tension loaded spring that exerts a force in the axial direction of the tool body.
  • the three other documents disclose that the kickover of the spindle holder is achieved by a spring that exerts a force in the radial direction of the tool body.
  • the object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
  • a kickover tool in accordance with the invention and of the type being used for the setting and pulling of a valve spindle of a gas lift valve located in a side pocket comprises a sideways open tool body with a spindle holder which, via at least one intermediate arm, is connected in an articulated manner to the tool body by means of a rotatable intermediate link, the spindle holder being arranged so as to be able to be moved between a passive position where the spindle holder is located within the valve body, and an active position where the spindle holder is swung out from the valve body and corresponds with the gas lift valve, wherein the kickover tool according to the invention further comprises:
  • reference numeral 1 denotes a production tubing provided with a side pocket 2 within which a gas lift valve 4 is disposed.
  • the object of the gas lift 4 valve 4 is to regulate the gas flow between the outside and the inside of the production tubing 1.
  • a kickover tool 6 is displaced into the production tubing 1 and is located by the side pocket 2, insofar as the kickover tool 6 of fig. 1 is shown in a position within which the kickover tool 6 is prepared for displacing a valve spindle 10 into the gas lift valve 4.
  • the kickover tool 6 comprises a tool body 12 of a type known per se having the necessary components (not shown) for controlling and for localizing the kickover tool 6 in the production tubing 1.
  • the tool body 12 is sideways open.
  • An intermediate arm 16 at one end portion thereof, is rotatably connected to the tool body 12 by means of a rotatable intermediate link 18, and is connected, at the opposite end portion thereof, to a spindle holder 20 by means of a spindle link 22.
  • the spindle holder 20 is releasably connected to the valve spindle 10.
  • the actuator 24 comprises an actuator housing 26 within which a guide slot 28 is arranged and extends in the longitudinal direction of the tool body 12.
  • the actuator bar 32 is formed so as to come into sideways abutment when the kickover tool 6 is in its inactive, swung-in position. In this preferred embodiment, the actuator bar 32 thus abuts against the tool body 12, see fig. 2 .
  • the actuator housing 26 and the guide block 30 are provided with a first bore 34 and a second bore 36, respectively, the openings of the bores 34, 36 facing each other.
  • a spring 38 which is located in the bores 34, 36, is arranged to bias the guide block 30 in a direction outwards from the actuator housing 26.
  • the spindle holder 20 During displacement of the kickover tool 6 in the production tubing 1, the spindle holder 20 is in its swung-in, passive position. When the kickover tool 6 is positioned by the side pocket 2, the intermediate arm 16 is released in the manner explained in the introduction of the description.
  • the spring 38 displaces the guide block 30 and the actuator bar 32 in a direction away from the actuator housing 26, whereby the intermediate arm 16 is caused to rotate about the intermediate arm link 18.
  • the spindle holder 20 rotates about the spindle link 22 until an abutment surface 40 abuts against the intermediate arm 16, see fig. 4 .
  • the spindle holder 20 assumes a direction as shown in fig. 1 , in which the spindle holder 20 and the valve spindle 10 connected to the spindle holder 20, assume mainly a coaxial direction with the gas lift valve 4.

Landscapes

  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
  • Gripping On Spindles (AREA)
  • Mechanically-Actuated Valves (AREA)

Description

  • This invention relates to a kickover tool. More particularly, it concerns a kickover tool of the type being used for the setting and pulling of a valve spindle of a gas lift valve located in a side pocket. The kickover tool comprises a sideways open tool body with a spindle holder which, via at least one intermediate arm, is connected in an articulated manner to the tool body, the spindle holder being arranged so as to be able to be moved between a passive position where the spindle holder is located within the valve body, and an active position where the spindle holder is swung out from the valve body and corresponds with the gas lift valve. At least a part of an actuator, which is arranged so as to be able to displace the spindle holder between its passive position and its active position, is located between the tool body and the spindle holder.
  • During petroleum production, it is necessary to pump in gas in some reservoirs in order to achieve a so-called gas lift. The gas is pumped down into the borehole and flows, via one or more gas lift valves, into the production tubing. It is common to place the gas lift valve in a side pocket so as to be able to shift the valve spindle in the gas lift valve by means of a kickover tool and simultaneously leaving a free passage for other tools past the gas lift valve.
  • Oftentimes, a prior art kickover tool is formed as a cable tool. When a valve spindle is to be set, the valve spindle is connected to the spindle holder of the kickover tool. By means of an intermediate arm, the spindle holder is rotatably connected to the tool body of the kickover tool.
  • During displacement of the kickover tool down into the well, the spindle holder, including its attached valve spindle, is in its passive position within the tool body. The kickover tool is displaced a little past the side pocket within which the particular gas lift valve is located. Then, the kickover tool is carefully pulled back so as to be rotated, by means of an orientation device, about its longitudinal axis into the correct direction and to be locked in the desired axial position.
  • By increasing the tensile force in the cable, the intermediate arm is released and is rotated, by means of a spring force, together with the spindle holder and the valve spindle outwards from the tool body. The valve spindle comes into abutment against the side pocket wall and thus causes the spindle holder to be rotated, in a spindle link, relative to the intermediate arm.
  • Thereby, the spindle holder and the valve spindle assume an active position parallel to the tool body and mainly coaxial with the gas lift valve. By displacing the kickover tool inwards into the production tubing, the valve spindle is displaced into the gas lift valve.
  • Then, the valve spindle is released from the kickover tool, which is pulled out from the production tubing.
  • It has been proven, however, that the spindle holder, subsequent to the release of the intermediate arm, does not assume the desired active position but remains in an intermediate position. Thereby, the direction of the valve spindle does not correspond with the direction of the gas lift valve, whereby the setting of the valve spindle fails. It is assumed that the cause oftentimes may be that of an unsuitable design of the spring arranged to rotate the intermediate arm outwards. The problem is considerably greater in deviated wells within which the direction of the gas lift valve is not vertical.
  • Patent documents GB 2393468 , US 3788397 , US 3827490 and US 4976314 all describe kickover tools where the spindle holder is displaced to its final active position in two steps. During the initial first step the spindle holder is biased relative to the axial direction of the tool, and in the second step the spindle holder is coaxially aligned with the gas lift valve. GB 2393468 discloses that the kickover of the spindle holder is achieved by a tension loaded spring that exerts a force in the axial direction of the tool body. The three other documents disclose that the kickover of the spindle holder is achieved by a spring that exerts a force in the radial direction of the tool body.
  • The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
  • The object is achieved in accordance with the invention and by virtue of the features disclosed in the following description and in the subsequent claims.
  • A kickover tool in accordance with the invention and of the type being used for the setting and pulling of a valve spindle of a gas lift valve located in a side pocket comprises a sideways open tool body with a spindle holder which, via at least one intermediate arm, is connected in an articulated manner to the tool body by means of a rotatable intermediate link, the spindle holder being arranged so as to be able to be moved between a passive position where the spindle holder is located within the valve body, and an active position where the spindle holder is swung out from the valve body and corresponds with the gas lift valve, wherein the kickover tool according to the invention further comprises:
    • an actuator housing within which a guide slot is arranged and extends in a longitudinal direction of the tool body;
    • a displaceable guide block fitting complementary into the guide slot;
    • an actuator bar having an end portion connected in an articulated manner to the guide block and having an opposite end portion connected in an articulated manner to the intermediate arm; and
    • a preloaded spring located in a bore of the actuator housing and in a bore of the guide block, the openings of said bores facing each other, said spring arranged to bias the guide block in the longitudinal direction of the tool body away from the actuator housing bore, such that, when the spring displaces the guide block and with it the actuator bar, the intermediate arm is caused to rotate about the intermediate link, whereby the spindle holder is displaced from its passive position to its active position, and whereby the spindle holder in its active position is coaxially aligned with the gas lift valve.
    The actuating bar may have a sideways abutment when the spindle holder assumes its passive position. In this position, the actuating bar typically abuts against the tool body. Thus, the intermediate arm is prevented from assuming a self-locking position, for example by being unintentionally rotated past the centre.
    The actuator may be controllable, insofar as it may be formed with necessary components for electrical or hydraulic control.
    Advantageously, the actuator housing of the actuator may be fixedly connected to the tool body, but an articulated coupling may be appropriate in some cases.
    There is very limited space in a kickover tool. The device according to the invention presents a relatively simple and operationally safe solution for displacement of the tool holder allowing for the actuator to be incorporated within available spaces in the kickover tool.
    In the following, an example of a preferred embodiment is described and is illustrated in the enclosed drawings, where:
    • Fig. 1 schematically shows an axial section through a production tubing within which a kickover tool is disposed;
    • Fig. 2 schematically shows, in larger scale, a cut-out segment of the kickover tool of fig. 1, the spindle holder of the kickover tool being in its passive position;
    • Fig. 3 schematically shows a section II-II of fig. 2; and
    • Fig. 4 schematically shows the kickover tool, but where the spindle holder is rotated into its active position.
  • In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a production tubing provided with a side pocket 2 within which a gas lift valve 4 is disposed. The object of the gas lift 4 valve 4 is to regulate the gas flow between the outside and the inside of the production tubing 1.
  • By means of a cable 8, a kickover tool 6 is displaced into the production tubing 1 and is located by the side pocket 2, insofar as the kickover tool 6 of fig. 1 is shown in a position within which the kickover tool 6 is prepared for displacing a valve spindle 10 into the gas lift valve 4.
  • The kickover tool 6 comprises a tool body 12 of a type known per se having the necessary components (not shown) for controlling and for localizing the kickover tool 6 in the production tubing 1.
  • At its mid portion 14, the tool body 12 is sideways open. An intermediate arm 16, at one end portion thereof, is rotatably connected to the tool body 12 by means of a rotatable intermediate link 18, and is connected, at the opposite end portion thereof, to a spindle holder 20 by means of a spindle link 22.
  • At the end portion facing away from the spindle link 22, the spindle holder 20 is releasably connected to the valve spindle 10.
  • An actuator 24, mainly located between the tool body 12 and the spindle holder 20, is connected between the tool body 12 and the intermediate arm 16. The actuator 24 comprises an actuator housing 26 within which a guide slot 28 is arranged and extends in the longitudinal direction of the tool body 12. A displaceable guide block 30, which fits in a complementary manner into the guide slot 28, is connected in an articulated manner to an actuator bar 32 having an opposite end portion connected in an articulated manner to the intermediate arm 16.
  • The actuator bar 32 is formed so as to come into sideways abutment when the kickover tool 6 is in its inactive, swung-in position. In this preferred embodiment, the actuator bar 32 thus abuts against the tool body 12, see fig. 2.
  • The actuator housing 26 and the guide block 30 are provided with a first bore 34 and a second bore 36, respectively, the openings of the bores 34, 36 facing each other.
  • A spring 38, which is located in the bores 34, 36, is arranged to bias the guide block 30 in a direction outwards from the actuator housing 26.
  • During displacement of the kickover tool 6 in the production tubing 1, the spindle holder 20 is in its swung-in, passive position. When the kickover tool 6 is positioned by the side pocket 2, the intermediate arm 16 is released in the manner explained in the introduction of the description.
  • The spring 38 displaces the guide block 30 and the actuator bar 32 in a direction away from the actuator housing 26, whereby the intermediate arm 16 is caused to rotate about the intermediate arm link 18.
  • Simultaneously, the spindle holder 20 rotates about the spindle link 22 until an abutment surface 40 abuts against the intermediate arm 16, see fig. 4.
  • In this active position, the spindle holder 20 assumes a direction as shown in fig. 1, in which the spindle holder 20 and the valve spindle 10 connected to the spindle holder 20, assume mainly a coaxial direction with the gas lift valve 4.
  • When the kickover tool 6 is to be pulled out of the production tubing 1, the force exerted by the compression spring 38 is overcome by virtue of the intermediate arm 16, upon abutment against the side pocket 2, is displaced inwardly into the tool body 12.

Claims (4)

  1. A kickover tool (6) of the type being used for the setting and pulling of a valve spindle (10) of a gas lift valve (4) located in a side pocket (2), in which the kickover tool (6) comprises a sideways open tool body (12) with a spindle holder (20) which, via at least one intermediate arm (16), is connected in an articulated manner to the tool body (12) by means of a rotatable intermediate link (18), the spindle holder (20) being arranged so as to be able to be moved between a passive position where the spindle holder (20) is located within the tool body (12), and an active position where the spindle holder (20) is swung out from the tool body (12) and corresponds with the gas lift valve (4), wherein the kickover tool further comprises:
    - an actuator housing (26) within which a guide slot (28) is arranged and extends in a longitudinal direction of the tool body (12);
    - a displaceable guide block (30) fitting complementary into the guide slot (28);
    - an actuator bar (32) having an end portion connected in an articulated manner to the guide block (30) and having an opposite end portion connected in an articulated manner to the intermediate arm (16); and
    - a preloaded spring (38) located in a bore (34) of the actuator housing (26) and in a bore (36) of the guide block (30), the openings of said bores (34, 36) facing each other, said spring (38) arranged to bias the guide block (30) in the longitudinal direction of the tool body (12) away from the actuator housing bore (34), such that,
    when the spring (38) displaces the guide block (30) and with it the actuator bar (32), the intermediate arm (16) is caused to rotate about the intermediate link (18), whereby the spindle holder (20) is displaced from its passive position to its active position, and whereby the spindle holder (20) in its active position is coaxially aligned with the gas lift valve (4).
  2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator bar (32) have a sideways abutment when the spindle holder (20) assumes its passive position.
  3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuator bar (32) abuts against the tool body (12).
  4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (24) is controllable by means of electrical or hydraulic energy.
EP08741701.0A 2007-03-26 2008-03-17 A device for a kickover tool Active EP2126277B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20071563A NO328403B1 (en) 2007-03-26 2007-03-26 Device by estimate tool
PCT/NO2008/000102 WO2008118022A1 (en) 2007-03-26 2008-03-17 A device for a kickover tool

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2126277A1 EP2126277A1 (en) 2009-12-02
EP2126277A4 EP2126277A4 (en) 2013-04-10
EP2126277B1 true EP2126277B1 (en) 2018-10-17

Family

ID=39788699

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08741701.0A Active EP2126277B1 (en) 2007-03-26 2008-03-17 A device for a kickover tool

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2126277B1 (en)
DK (1) DK2126277T3 (en)
NO (1) NO328403B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008118022A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO333413B1 (en) * 2009-12-07 2013-06-03 Petroleum Technology Co As Downhole estimation tool
GB201017309D0 (en) * 2010-10-14 2010-11-24 Wireline Engineering Ltd Improved downhole apparatus
NO342890B1 (en) 2017-03-29 2018-08-27 Petroleum Technology Co As Well component with deflector surface

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3827490A (en) 1968-05-01 1974-08-06 Camco Inc Apparatus for installing and removing flow valves
US3788397A (en) * 1972-10-24 1974-01-29 Camco Inc Kickover tool
US4976314A (en) 1988-02-03 1990-12-11 Crawford William B T-slot mandrel and kickover tool
US6845817B2 (en) 2002-09-27 2005-01-25 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Kick over tool for side pocket mandrel

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008118022A1 (en) 2008-10-02
NO20071563L (en) 2008-09-29
EP2126277A4 (en) 2013-04-10
EP2126277A1 (en) 2009-12-02
DK2126277T3 (en) 2019-01-07
NO328403B1 (en) 2010-02-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7281451B2 (en) Tong
US7635029B2 (en) Downhole electrical-to-hydraulic conversion module for well completions
CA2563092C (en) Flow switchable check valve
RU2243361C2 (en) Hydraulic distributor (variants) and system for distributing working liquid (variants), used for actuating well implements
AU2018300577B2 (en) Well tool device for opening and closing a fluid bore in a well
US6227299B1 (en) Flapper valve with biasing flapper closure assembly
WO2010129631A1 (en) Multiple-positioning mechanical shifting system and method
EP2872728B1 (en) Downhole tool and method
US8555962B2 (en) Downhole tool unit
CA2407252C (en) Bypass valve
EP3483386B1 (en) Downhole tool method and device
US9494015B2 (en) Dual closure system for well system
US20150300124A1 (en) Surface Controlled Downhole Valve with Supplemental Spring Closing Force for Ultra Deep Wells
EP2699761B1 (en) Ball valve safety plug
EP2126277B1 (en) A device for a kickover tool
US7967075B2 (en) High angle water flood kickover tool
EP3656968B1 (en) Tool coupler with sliding coupling members for top drive
CA2917754C (en) Methods and systems for orienting in a wellbore
CA2664978A1 (en) Tong
EP3724441B1 (en) Wellbore tool coupling mechanism
US9416623B2 (en) Pressure dependent wellbore lock actuator mechanism
CA2814571C (en) Improved downhole apparatus
MXPA06007125A (en) Hydraulically releaseable inflation tool for permanent bridge plug

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20090903

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20130313

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: E21B 43/12 20060101ALI20130307BHEP

Ipc: E21B 23/03 20060101AFI20130307BHEP

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: ALTUS INTERVENTION AS

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20170711

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20180615

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602008057448

Country of ref document: DE

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1054250

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20181115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

Effective date: 20190104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20181017

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1054250

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20181017

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190117

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190217

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190117

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190217

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190118

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602008057448

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20190718

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602008057448

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190317

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20190331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190331

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190331

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190317

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20191001

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190331

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190317

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181017

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20080317

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230524

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20240320

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20240220

Year of fee payment: 17