GB2099043A

GB2099043A - Running and release tool

Info

Publication number: GB2099043A
Application number: GB8116068A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-26
Filing date: 1981-05-26
Publication date: 1982-12-01

Abstract

A running tool, for depositing an instrument package in a landing nipple within a well pipe line by means of a hanger having a nipple at its upper end, comprises an inner longitudinal body 11 having a collet clamp, or annular latch, 3 fast therewith at its bottom end and an annular piston 16 mounted fast therewith intermediately along its length. The tool further comprises an outer sleeve 1 which extends substantially over the length of the tool and houses the longitudinal body 11. The sleeve has an internal flange 17 which provides an abutment supporting a compression spring 30 lodged between the flange 17 and the annular piston 16. At the bottom end of the tool the sleeve 1 receives the stepped diameter portion of the collet clamp 3 with minimum clearance and under the biasing action of the spring 30, thereby providing positive clamping action of the collet clamp. When a pull is exerted on the member 4 relative to the longitudinal body 11, as will happen when a hanger fastened within the collet clamp is lodged in the landing nipple, the longitudinal body is pulled partially out of the sleeve so that the adjacent end of the sleeve clears the stepped diameter portion of the collet clamp thereby releasing the hanger nipple. The clearance between the piston 16 and the sleeve is adjusted so that oil within the tool has a restricted passage from one side of the piston 16 to the other thereby controlling the relative displacement of the two parts of the tool when a pull is exerted upon it. This prevents mechanical shock being imparted to the instrument package when the hanger is released from the tool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Release tool This invention relates to an improved release tool for landing apparatus in pipe lines especially but not exclusively in oil-well production pipes.

In order to monitor conditions at remote portions in oil well production pipes it is common practice to lower monitoring instruments down the pipe line to the desired location where they can be left until it is necessary to retrieve them.

For lowering the instruments it is known to couple the instrument to devices known as 'hangers' which are adapted to be courted to a running tool to which one end of a wire is secured.

In order to provide location for receiving and retaining 'hangers' a production pipe line will be constructed with seating nipples with which spring loaded locking keys on the hanger can engage. In practice, when the hanger has been lowered to the depth of the nipple the locking keys automatically are urged to engage cooperating recesses in the nipple thereby to be held fast in the nipple. The running tool is then disengaged from the hanger and withdrawn up the production pipe.

In one known arrangement the running tool is coupled to a hanger by shear pins, which, when the hanger has been engaged in the nipple, are sheared by pressure applied e.g. by wire line pull.

This known system has the disadvantages that joining of the instruments during the shearing operation may disturb instrument readings and the pin coupling between hanger and tool is susceptible to premature shearing in the event of sudden shocks, which, depending on how far they fall, can result in serious damage to the instruments.

The present invention is aimed at providing a release tool which can be used to locate a hanger without jarring and which cannot or is less prone to prematurely releasing a hanger in the event of experiencing a sudden shock.

The present invention provides a running tool for landing a nipple in a pipe line apparatus of the kind adapted to become locked in the nipple, the tool comprising, a first part arranged for connection to a wire line or production string; a second part adapted to releasably couple the tool to the apparatus; The two parts being moveable relative to each other, whereby the second part is actuatable by the first part to couple the tool to the apparatus or to release or permit the release of the apparatus from the tool;; the arrangement being such that, when in use of the tool apparatus is locked in a nipple, a pulling force applied to the first part will cause relative movement of the parts so as to bring the first part to a release position in which the second part is actuated to release or permit the release of the apparatus, but the application of a force in a direction opposite to that of the aforesaid pulling force can not cause said relative movement to bring the first part to a release position; and hydraulic means for regulating the rate of relative movement of the two parts.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional view of a running tool coupled to a hanger which has an instrument package secured thereto, in process of running into a nipple in an oil well production pipe; Figure 2 is a part sectional view of the running tool, hanger and instrument package arrangement in which the hanger is engaged with the nipple and the running tool has been operated so as to be uncourted from the hanger; Figure 3 is a part sectional view of the hanger and instrument package in position in the nipple; and Figure 4 is a detailed sectional elevation of the running tool of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings the running tool illustrated herein has an outer cylindrical casing 1, one 1 a end of which is screwingly engaged by a cap 2; an annular latch 3 (to be described in more detail below) extends through the mouth defined by the other end 1 b of cylinder 1.

A shaft 4 is screwingly received through a threaded central opening 5 in cap 2. End 6 of shaft 4 is of greater diameter than the threaded portion of the shaft 4 from the assembled tool.

The shaft is connected via a spang jar 7, sinker bar 8, and rope socket 9 to a running wire 10 (see Figure 2), which allows the tool to be run up and down the pipe line 11 in a manner which will be readily apparent to the skilled operator of known running tools.

Located within the cylindrical casing 1 is a solid core 11 of circular cross section which extends approximately the full length of the tool.

The outer surface of the core is stepped at 1 2 and 13. Shoulder 12 engages a complementary shoulder portion of an annular bearing member 14 fast with (e.g. integral with or welded to) the annular latch; shoulder 13 enages the end face of annular skirt 1 5 ofan annular piston 16.

The inner surface of the cylindrical casing 1 has an annular flange 17 which, when the tool is in the condition shown in Figure 4 engages with one of its side faces both the end face 1 8 of bearing member 14. The bearing member 14 is fixedly secured to the core 11 by a pin (e.g. a steel pin) 18.

The other side face of flange 17 engages a second bearing member 19 which is provided with O-rings 20, 21 to provide a hydraulic fluidtight seal between the inner surface of casing 1 and core 11.

The end portion of the core adjacent end 1 a of casing 1 has a threaded length portion for screwingly engaging a cap 22. The end face of the skirt 23 abuts the inner margin of the end face of the head of piston 1 6. A sealing ring 24 is located between the outer face of the free end of skirt 23 and the inner surface of casing 1. 0-rings 25, 26, 27 form a hydraulic fluid-tight seal between the core and the casing. The sealing ring 24 is provided with a fluid passage 28 which when the apparatus is used for running is closed by a grub screw, it will be appreciated that the grub screw can be eased or removed to allow bleeding of- hydraulic fluid during building of the tool.

It will be seen that the inner wall of casing 1, the outer surface of the core sealing rings 1 8, 24 and the end face of the skirt of cap 22 define a hydraulic fluid-tight chamber 29. A described below the overall dimensions of the chamber 29 do not vary during operation of the device but the longitudinal position of piston 1 6 therein does vary.

A compression spring 30 is arranged within the chamber 29 acting on the opposed end faces of sealing ring 19 and piston 16 so as to urge the piston 1 6 away from the sealing ring 1 9 in the direction of arrow A. The remaining space within the chamber is filled with incompressible or substantially imcompressible fluid for example an hydraulic oil.

In operation of the device the assembly comprising, in the illustrated embodiment outer casing 1, end cap 2 and shaft 4 is moveable longitudinally relative the core 11 and attached annular latch 3 and cap 22. As piston 1 6 is held between shoulder 13 of the core and end face of the skirt of piston 22 the aforesaid assembly will move longitudinally relative the piston also.

With particular reference to Figure 4 if the aforesaid assembly is caused to move in the direction of arrow A relative the core, from the position shown in Figure 4 it will be seen that flange 1 7 will drive sealing ring in the direction of piston 16 thus to reduce the volume of the chamber 29 which appears in Figure 4.Piston 16 is, however, adapted to permit restricted flow of fluid, under pressure, between the inner surface of casing 1 and the adjacent outer face of the annular head of piston 1 6. As a consequence the fluid will fill a sub-chamber 29' formed between the end face of piston 1 6 and sealing ring 24 which will move with the assembly; after the above described relative movement between the assembly and the core the tool will be in the condition shown in Figure 2. By appropriate selection of the fluid (e.g.

by reference inter alia to its viscosity) and the gap or flow passage between piston 16 and the inner surface of casing 1 it is possible to predetermine the speed of the aforesaid relative movement with respect to the force it is necessary to apply, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool, between the core and the assembly. It will also be seen that during the above-described relative movement the spring 30 is compressed.The spring 30 ensures that during running of the tool in a pipe line, with a hanger and instrument package attached thereto, the force applied to the core 11, through the weight of the hanger and instrument package, which would tend to cause relative axial movement between the core and the assembly connected to the surface by wire line, is completely resisted by the urging force of the spring applied between the piston (which transmits the force to the core) and the sealing ring 1 9 (which transmits the force to the assembly). The spring 30 will be compressed during the aforesaid relative movement and the force necessary to effect the aforesaid relative longitudinal movement will necessarily be greater than the force applied by the spring when the tool is in the condition shown in Figure 4.During operation therefore the required force for effecting relative longitudinal movement will be at least equal to the urging force of the spring plus the force necessary to cause the fluid flow, as described above, to sub-chamber 29'.

Referring in more detail to the annular latch 3 this comprises a tubular portion 31 which, as described aforesaid is fast with bearing member 14. Portion 31 is stepped thrice, at 32, 33 and 34 on its outer surface.

As seen in Figure 4 the riser face of step 32 abuts the end face of cylindrical casing 1 and the inner surface of the casing 1 lies in contact with the outer surface of the latch between steps 32 and 33.

After relative longitudinal movement between the assembly and core as aforesaid the end face of the casing is adjacent the riser of step 33, as can clearly be seen in Figure 2.

The annular latch tubular portion 31 is divided longitudinally into a number of segments, and is constructed of a material which allows these segments to flex outwardly wh n a radially outwardly directed force is applied Thereto.

Consequently, when the end face of casing 1 is adjacent the riser of step 33 and a gap is present between the outer surface of the latch between steps 33 and 34 the segments are free to flex outwardly, as they have done (in a manner to be described below) in Figure 2. The end portion of the latch tubular portion 31 is formed internally with a recess 33 for receiving the head of a fish neck of a hanger (see particularly Figure 1). The lower edge 34 of the recess if chamfered e.g. at 45 to the longitudinal axis of the tool so as to facilitate disengagement of the latch from a hanger correctly anchored in a nipple as in Figures 2 and 3.

The hanger or anchoring apparatus illustrated herein is a conventional one. My running tool is suitable for use with e.g. Model FWB and Master RZB Baker Flow Control instrument hangers.

The hanger or anchoring apparatus comprises locking dogs or latches 40 which are urged outwardly by a spring 41 to engage in the internal groove of a nipple 42. Whereupon the hanger or anchoring apparatus is secured against movement in either direction along the pipe. The running tool described herein is for use in installing a hanger or anchoring apparatus in (but not for releasing it from) a landing nipple.

An operation using the running tool described above will now be given starting from the tool in the condition shown in Figure 4. It will be understood that the instrument package and hanger have previously been screwed to each other by a thread 43. To get the hanger latched onto the tool it is necessary to effect relative movement of the assembly and the core so that the end face of the casing 1 is adjacent step 33 and the latch segments can flex as described above. This relative movement is achieved by rotating shaft 4 relative cap 2 so that it moves inwards and pushes cap 5 and thus the core 11 inwards, so, in effect, to push the latch 3 outwardly through the open end of the casing.

Shaft 4 has a hexagonal section at 45 for engagement by a spanner; the end of cap 22 is provided with a ball bearing 46 to reduce friction between the end of shaft 4 and the cap end to prevent rotation of the core.

When the latch 3 has been moved a sufficient distance beyond the end of the casing the latch segments can be moved radially outwards and the fishing neck 47 of the hanger inserted. Shaft 7 is then screwed back out and the core will follow the shaft back to its original position under the urging influence of the spring 30. As the outer surface of the latch 3 between steps 32 and 33 is engaged by the casing the segments are effectively locked against outward flexing which would permit withdrawal of the hanger fishing neck.

It will be appreciated that during this operation a sub-chamber 29' for the hydraulic fluid will successively be created and extinguished.

The tool with hanger and instrument package attached is now as illustrated in Figure 1.

The arrangement of tool, hanger and instrument package is connected by a conventional arrangement of spang jars, sinker bar and rope socket to a wire line, by which it is run down a production pipe by a conventional operating procedure (Figure 2 shows the arrangement being run down a pipe line towards nipple 42).

When the hanger reaches nipple 42 the locking dogs 40 engage therein as described above.

Further downward movement of the hanger and tool is thereby prevented and the running down operation is stopped.

As the outer surface of the latch 3 between steps 32 and 33 is engaged by the casing the segments are effectively locked against outward flexing which would permit withdrawal of the hanger fishing neck. It will be appreciated that during this operation a sub-chamber 29' for the hydraulic fluid will successively be created and extinguished.

In order to release the hanger the wire or bind is pulled upwardly from the surface. The upwardly directed force is transmitted via shaft 4 to the above mentioned assembly. As the latch 3 engages the hanger which is set in the nipple 42 the latch 3 and, thus, the core, resists the upward pulling force; this results in relative longitudinal movement between the casing 1 and the latch 3 until they are in the relative position illustrated in Figure 2. As mentioned above the force applied to the casing 1 causing it to move relative the core is opposed both by the spring, which is progressively compressed and by the resistance to flow as the incompressible fluid between the casing and the piston to the sub-chamber 29' creating by this hanger releasing operation.The release of the hanger will therefore, as a result of the essential requirement for a predetermined quantity of fluid to flow, necessitate the application of the upwardly directed force for a predetermined length of time: in other words the release cannot be effected by the application of sudden loads of short duration e.g. shock loads, to the tool.

When the stage shown in Figure 2 has been reached the segments of the latches are free to flex outwards and lower edges 34 of the recesses 33 of the latches 3 are enabled to slip over the edges of the fishing neck, upon continued application of the force which is transmitted by spring 30 and the fluid piston arrangement to the core 11 and latch segments.

The tool can then be withdrawn up the pipe.

It will, thus, be appreciated that with the construction of running tool described above an attached hanger cannot be prematurely released by the application of a force whether sudden or prolonged, experienced by the hanger and directed in the direction of arrow A. Further, the tool does not necessitate the application of sudden loads to the tool to release it from a hanger set in a nipple, but rather the application of a force for a predetermined length of time is required to effect the release, which can ultimately be achieved without jarring of the hanger or instrument package which could cause damage thereto.

Claims (Filed on 26 May 1982) 1. A running tool for depositing an instrument package in a landing nipple within a well pipe line by means of a hanger of the type which locks into the landing nipple by means of cooperating latches, comprising a first assembly incorporating means for connecting the tool to a wire line or production string, second means including latching means for releasably holding the hanger whilst the package is being lowered into the pipe line, said first assembly being displaceable relative to the second means in a longitudinal direction and having a first longitudinal position in which it cooperates with the second means to provide positive latching of a hanger inserted in the tool and a second longitudinal position in which the latching means releases its hold on the said hanger, and biasing means for biasing the first assembly and second msans in a direction to cause said positive latching.

2. A running tool according to Claim 1, wherein the second means is arranged so as to be biased in an upwards direction when the tool is oriented in its normal working direction.

3. A running tool according to Claim 1 or Claim

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. understood that the instrument package and hanger have previously been screwed to each other by a thread 43. To get the hanger latched onto the tool it is necessary to effect relative movement of the assembly and the core so that the end face of the casing 1 is adjacent step 33 and the latch segments can flex as described above. This relative movement is achieved by rotating shaft 4 relative cap 2 so that it moves inwards and pushes cap 5 and thus the core 11 inwards, so, in effect, to push the latch 3 outwardly through the open end of the casing. Shaft 4 has a hexagonal section at 45 for engagement by a spanner; the end of cap 22 is provided with a ball bearing 46 to reduce friction between the end of shaft 4 and the cap end to prevent rotation of the core. When the latch 3 has been moved a sufficient distance beyond the end of the casing the latch segments can be moved radially outwards and the fishing neck 47 of the hanger inserted. Shaft 7 is then screwed back out and the core will follow the shaft back to its original position under the urging influence of the spring 30. As the outer surface of the latch 3 between steps 32 and 33 is engaged by the casing the segments are effectively locked against outward flexing which would permit withdrawal of the hanger fishing neck. It will be appreciated that during this operation a sub-chamber 29' for the hydraulic fluid will successively be created and extinguished. The tool with hanger and instrument package attached is now as illustrated in Figure 1. The arrangement of tool, hanger and instrument package is connected by a conventional arrangement of spang jars, sinker bar and rope socket to a wire line, by which it is run down a production pipe by a conventional operating procedure (Figure 2 shows the arrangement being run down a pipe line towards nipple 42). When the hanger reaches nipple 42 the locking dogs 40 engage therein as described above. Further downward movement of the hanger and tool is thereby prevented and the running down operation is stopped. As the outer surface of the latch 3 between steps 32 and 33 is engaged by the casing the segments are effectively locked against outward flexing which would permit withdrawal of the hanger fishing neck. It will be appreciated that during this operation a sub-chamber 29' for the hydraulic fluid will successively be created and extinguished. The tool with hanger and instrument package attached is now as illustrated in Figure 1. In order to release the hanger the wire or bind is pulled upwardly from the surface. The upwardly directed force is transmitted via shaft 4 to the above mentioned assembly. As the latch 3 engages the hanger which is set in the nipple 42 the latch 3 and, thus, the core, resists the upward pulling force; this results in relative longitudinal movement between the casing 1 and the latch 3 until they are in the relative position illustrated in Figure 2. As mentioned above the force applied to the casing 1 causing it to move relative the core is opposed both by the spring, which is progressively compressed and by the resistance to flow as the incompressible fluid between the casing and the piston to the sub-chamber 29' creating by this hanger releasing operation.The release of the hanger will therefore, as a result of the essential requirement for a predetermined quantity of fluid to flow, necessitate the application of the upwardly directed force for a predetermined length of time: in other words the release cannot be effected by the application of sudden loads of short duration e.g. shock loads, to the tool. When the stage shown in Figure 2 has been reached the segments of the latches are free to flex outwards and lower edges 34 of the recesses 33 of the latches 3 are enabled to slip over the edges of the fishing neck, upon continued application of the force which is transmitted by spring 30 and the fluid piston arrangement to the core 11 and latch segments. The tool can then be withdrawn up the pipe. It will, thus, be appreciated that with the construction of running tool described above an attached hanger cannot be prematurely released by the application of a force whether sudden or prolonged, experienced by the hanger and directed in the direction of arrow A. Further, the tool does not necessitate the application of sudden loads to the tool to release it from a hanger set in a nipple, but rather the application of a force for a predetermined length of time is required to effect the release, which can ultimately be achieved without jarring of the hanger or instrument package which could cause damage thereto. Claims (Filed on 26 May 1982)

1. A running tool for depositing an instrument package in a landing nipple within a well pipe line by means of a hanger of the type which locks into the landing nipple by means of cooperating latches, comprising a first assembly incorporating means for connecting the tool to a wire line or production string, second means including latching means for releasably holding the hanger whilst the package is being lowered into the pipe line, said first assembly being displaceable relative to the second means in a longitudinal direction and having a first longitudinal position in which it cooperates with the second means to provide positive latching of a hanger inserted in the tool and a second longitudinal position in which the latching means releases its hold on the said hanger, and biasing means for biasing the first assembly and second msans in a direction to cause said positive latching.

3. A running tool according to Claim 1 or Claim

2, wherein said first assembly includes a sleeve in which the said second means is substantially housed, said sleeve comprising an effectively closed cylinder within which a piston forming part of the second means operates, said piston being dimensioned to provide a restricted passage for fluid within the cylinder from one side of the piston to the other.

4. A running tool according to Claim 3, wherein said second means comprises a longitudinal assembly terminating at the hanger end in said latching means, and the latter comprising an annular arrangement of collet segments having a stepped diameter external cylindrical surface which cooperates with the internal cylindrical surface of the adjacent end of the said sleeve to provide locking and releasable cooperation of the latching means.

5. A running tool according to Claim 4, wherein said means for connecting a wireline or production string comprises a thread member coaxially disposed in threaded engagement in the end of said sleeve opposite to the end containing the latching means, said member having an axial end within the sleeve which engages the adjacent end of said longitudinal assembly and means for facilitating rotation about its axis whereby a mechanical force can be exerted against the longitudinal assembly causing relative displacement between the latter and the sleeve.

6. A running tool substantially as described herein and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.