GB2430687A - Sleeve retaining device - Google Patents

Abstract

A holding device for preventing longitudinal movement of a sleeve(s) on a substantially cylindrical body of a downhole tool is described. The holding device comprises a split ring 264, a retaining ring 260 and a circlip 238. In one embodiment, the split ring is located in a groove on the tool body and transfers a load from a sleeve to the body, without imparting a load on the retaining ring or circlip. A downhole tool and method are also described. The split ring and circlip may be held in groves 234, 236 respectively.

Description

1 Downhole oo1 3 The present invention relates to downhole tools for use 4

in the oil and gas industry and in particular, though not exclusively, to a tool including blades to condition, by 6 grooming, the inside walls of casing or liner used in a 7 well bore.

9 In a cased or lined well bore it is necessary to remove debris and other particulate matter from the inner wall 11 of the casing or liner before performing certain 12 operations in the well bore such as setting a packer or 13 running a completion. Such conditioning of the well bore 14 is generally provided by brushing or scraping the inner wall of the casing or liner. The aim being to provide a 16 smooth clean surface upon which a seal can reliably be 7me.

19 It is known in the art to provide brushes on the outer surface of a cylindrical body mounted in a work string, 21 to brush' debris from the inner wall of casing or liner 22 as the string is run or removed from the borehole. Such 23 brushes have limited application downhole as, due to the 1 wet' environment in which they must work, they are prone 2 to clogging.

4 Scrapers have also been arranged on a cylindrical body mounted in a work string. These are generally spiral 6 metal blades which scrape against the inner wall of the 7 casing or liner. They must be perfectly sized to match 8 the casing or liner in use and can damage the surface of 9 the liner or casing if grit becomes trapped between the outer edge of the blade and the inner wall of the casing 11 or liner.

13 To overcome these disadvantages, scrapers made of rubber 14 materials have been developed which reform within the casing to cover any mismatch in size and provide a 16 wiper' to the casing or liner wall. Unfortunately, 17 rubber has a limited life span as it wears quickly in 18 downhole environments.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present 21 invention to provide a downhole tool for conditioning a 22 casing or liner wall which obviates or mitigates the

23 disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a yet further object of at least one embodiment of 26 the present invention to provide a downhole tool which 27 can be used when the work string is rotated, run in or 28 pulled 5ut oft1ièielIore: - - -- - - It is a yet further object of at least one embodiment of 3]. the present invention to provide a method of forming a 32 scraper for a downhole tool.

1 According to a first aspect of the present invention 2 there is provided a dowrthole tool for conditioning a 3 casing or liner wall, the tool comprising a substantially 4 cylindrical body connectable in a work string, a sleeve located around the body, one or more blades located on 6 the sleeve, wherein each blade has a circular peripheral 7 edge distal to the sleeve and each blade is manufactured 8 from a composite material which comprises a polymeric 9 fibre.

ii. Preferably the polymeric fibre is chosen from the group 12 comprising polyaramid fibres, polyethylene fibres, 13 polypropylene fibres, polyacryl fibres, polyester fibres, 14 polyacryl fibres or poly{2, 6-diimidazo(4, 5-b4' , 5'- e]pyridinylene-l, 4(2, 5-dihydroxy)phenylene) (PIPD) 16 fibres.

18 Preferably the polyaramid fibres are produced from poly- 19 paraphenylene terephthalajnide commonly referred to by its trade name Keviar or Twaron .

22 Preferably the polyethylene fibres are those commonly 23 referred to as Dyneeina or Spectra .

Preferably the polyester fibres are those commonly 26 referred to as Diolen .

- - 28 - Preferably the - - - - -. - -.

29 ejpyridinylene-1, 4(2 S-dihydroxy)pheriylene} (PIPD) fibres are commonly referred to as N5 .

32 Composites including polymeric fibres provide a blade 33 which both has a degree of flexibility and sufficient 1 abrasion resistance to successfully knock-off' debris 2 from the casing or liner wall and cope with small 3 mismatches between the blade diameter and the inner wall 4 diameter. This allows the blades to be sized to the actual casing ID (Inner Diameter).

7 By providing a complete uninterrupted circular peripheral 8 edge to the. blade, maximum strength across the blade is 9 achieved while additionally the blade can provide a cleaning action without the need to rotate the blade 11 within the well bore.

13 Preferably the composite comprises KEVTJAR . Preferably 14 also the composite further includes carbon. Preferably also the composite includes glass fibre. Thus in the 16 preferred embodiment the blades are made from a KEVLAR 17 carbon glass composite.

19 Preferably the sleeve is adapted to rotate independently of the body. Thus the body can rotate with the work 21 string while the sleeve may remain static. This may be 22 referred to as a through rotational mandrel'.

24 Preferably the sleeve includes a plurality of bypass ports to allow fluid to pass between the sleeve and the 26 tool. More preferably there are pairs of bypass ports, 27 each bypass port of each pair being arranged on either 28 side of the one or more bladeso ôve n entry bypass 29 port and an exit bypass port respectively. This arrangement provides a bypass around the blade(s).

32 Preferably one or more channels are located on an outer 33 surface of the body. More preferably the channel(s) align 1 with the ports so bypassing fluid can travel through the 2 channel(s). This provides a flow through area to the tool 3 in use.

Alternatively one or more ports may be located through 6 the one or more blades, the ports being distal from the 7 peripheral edge of the blade(s). Thus a fluid bypass is 8 provided through the blades without interfering with the 9 360 degree grooming action on the wall of the casing/liner.

12 Preferably the sleeve includes one or more jetting ports.

13 Preferably the jetting ports include nozzles.

14 Advantageously the jetting ports are arranged adjacent the blades so that fluid bypassing the blades jets from 16 jetting ports to provide a cleaning action on the blades.

18 Preferably the blades are located between flexible 19 members. This allows additional substantially longitudinal movement of the blades and provides spacers 21 for use between the blades. This arrangement provides 22 blades which are not radially biased. The blades may 23 further be mounted on a cartridge which is located on the 24 body. This arrangement allows easy interchange of the blade configuration without the need to handle individual 26 blades. Additionally the cartridge may be radially 27 biased.

28 - - 29 Advantageously the blades may be arranged in sets of groups on the sleeve. By providing groups of blades 31 together the blades support each other to give a strength 32 equivalent to use of a thicker blade, while maintaining 33 the flexibility achieved by each narrow blade.

1 Preferably the blades have an inner circumferential edge 2 such that they form a torus, sometimes referred to as 3 do-nut' shaped. Preferably also a diameter of the blade 4 at the inner circumferential edge is greater than an outer diameter of the body at the location of the blade 6 on the body. This mismatch may provide a clearance so 7 that the blade may move radially with respect to the 8 body. The blades may therefore retract' towards the 9 tool, away from the low side of the casing/liner, jf the tool is used in horizontal or deviated casing. This can 11 protect the blades, so they don't bear the weight of the 12 tool, if a stabiljser or centraliser, preferably sized to 13 drift, is present. Advantageously, the blade may be 14 radially biased by a spring or the like against the body.

16 Preferably the tool includes one or more additional 17 sleeves. Advantageously these additional sleeves are 18 centralisers as are known in the art to assist in keeping 19 the tool centrally aligned in the casing or liner. Thus he additional sleeves may comprise a plurality of raised 21 portions on an outer surface thereof. Preferably the 22 raise portions are arranged equidistantly around the 23 outer surface of the additional sleeve(s).

Advantageously the sleeve(s) are held to the tool body by 26 one or more holding devices to prevent longitudinal 27 movement of the sleeve(s) on the tool body. Preferably 28 each sleeve abuts another sleevè or a stopon- the tool - - - 29 body. An Opposite end of a sleeve may then be held in place by the holding device. Preferably the holding 31 device comprises a split ring, a retaining ring and a 32 circlip.

1 Preferably the holding device is located around the body 2 and abuts the sleeve. The split ring preferably rests 3 against an end of the sleeve and comprises two 4 semicircular members. The split ring bears the load of the sleeve. Preferably the retaining ring comprises a 6 circular member including a circular groove located at a 7 first end thereof. More preferably the split ring 8 locates in the groove such that the split ring is 9 retained by the retaining ring. Preferably the circlip is located at a second end of the retaining ring. The 11 circljp holds the retaining ring in place and bears no 12 load from the sleeve. By taking the load of the sleeve on 13 the split ring, this load is transferred to the body.

Preferably the tool may include an additional operating 16 portion. The additional operating portion may allow the 17 tool to provide an additional function in the casing or 18 liner. Preferably the additional operating portion is a 19 packer as is known in the art, the packer being arranged above the sleeve on the body. The tool is then a packer 21 including a sacrificial scraper mounted ahead of the 22 packer.

24 Alternatively the additional operating portion may be a cementing unit as is known in the art, the unit being 26 arranged above the sleeve on the body. Thus the tool is a 27 wiper plug wherein the blades provide a barrier between - 28 the cemènt slurry below and the -displacing -fluid. above. - According to a second aspect of the present invention 31 there is provided a holding device for preventing 32 longitudinal movement of a sleeve(s) on a substantially 1 cylindrical tool body, the device comprising a split 2 ring, a retaining ring and a circlip.

4 The holding device advantageously transfers the load of the sleeve on to the tool body. The holding device may be 6 located around the body and abuts the sleeve.

8 Preferably the split ring preferably comprises two 9 semicircular members. The split ring may rest against an end of the sleeve and bears the load of the sleeve.

12 Preferably the retaining ring comprises a circular member 13 including a circular groove located at a first end 14 thereof. More preferably the split ring locates in the groove such that the split ring is retained by the 16 retaining ring.

18 Preferably the circlip is located at a second end of the 19 retaining ring. The circlip holds the retaining ring in place and bears no load from the sleeve. By taking the 21 load of the sleeve on the split ring, this load is 22 transferred to the body.

24 According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of conditioning a casing or 26 liner in a well bore, the method comprising the steps: 28 - (a) loàaTtingorj a,ork String, a blade having a - - - 29 circular peripheral edge and made from a composite material which comprises a polymeric 31 fibre; 32 (b) inserting the work string into the well bore to 33 a position where the peripheral edge makes 1 contact with an inner wall of the casing or 2 liner; and 3 (c) moving the work string relative to the inner 4 wall to thereby move the blade relative to the wall and provide a grooming action on the wall.

7 Step (c) may be by rotation of the work string, by 8 running in the well or by pulling out of the well. In a 9 preferred method the blade may move independently of the work string.

12 Step (b) may include making 360 degree contact between 13 the peripheral edge and the inner wall.

Preferably the method may include the step of providing a 16 fluid bypass to allow fluid to bypass the peripheral 17 edge.

19 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a scraper for a 21 downhole tool, the method comprising the steps; 23 (a) providing a sheet of composite material 24 comprising a polymeric fibre; (b) instantaneously subjecting the material to 26 first water pressure from a water jet; and 27 Cc) moving the material relative to the jet to cut - 28 a profile- of a- scraper from the xna.terial whtle - - 29 maintaining the water at substantially the first pressure. 3].

32 Composite materials typically have laminated structures.

33 Preferably the material is a glass fibre/carbon/po1yrnj.

1 fibre structure. The polymeric fibre may be as described 2 for the first aspect.

4 By applying the pressure instantaneously to the material, as opposed to the traditional method of gradually 6 increasing the pressure, we have found that the water 7 does not spread between the layers a break up the 8 structure.

Preferably an abrasive such as garnet is mixed with the 11 water. Preferably the water pressure is around 50,000psi 12 for a 10mm thick sheet, from a jet of 0.8mm diameter and 13 a cutting rate of im/min.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be 16 described, by way of example only, with reference to the 17 following drawings of which: 19 Figures 1(a) and (b) are illustrative views of a body (a) arid tool(b) of a downhole tool according to an embodiment 21 of the present invention; 23 Figures 2(a) and (b) are cross-sectional views through 24 the tool of Figure 1; 26 Figures 3(a)-(h) are cross-sectional views through a 27 downhole tool according to a further embodiment of the - 28 - preerit Inventión; - - ---- - - -.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of 31 the tool of Figure 3; 1 Figures 5(a) and (b) are schematic diagrams of a holding 2 device according to an embodiment of the present 3 invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic view of a tool, according to an 6 embodiment of the present invention, operating in a well 7 bore.

9 Reference is initially made to Figure 1(b) of the drawings which illustrates a downhole tool, generally 11 indicated by reference numeral 10, according to an 12 embodiment of the present invention. Tool 10 primarily 13 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 12, best seen 14 in Figure 1(a), and a sleeve 14 on which is located six blades 16a-f.

17 The body 12 is of single piece hollow bore construction 18 and includes a threaded section 18 at a first end 20 of 19 the tool 10 and a box section 22 at a second end 24 of the tool 10. The threaded section 18 and box section 22 21 are as typically used to connect the tool to a mandrel in 22 a work string (not shown). The body 12 includes an outer 23 surface 26 on which is located a ledge 28 formed 24 circwnferentially around the body 12. Ledge 28 provides a stop on the body 12. At a central location 30 four 26 channels 32, of rectangular shape are arranged 27 longitudinally on the surface 26. Further on the surface 28 30 are arrthed tWO further citcinifererciai-gro.05.34,36 - 29 for holding split rings (not shown) and a circlip 38.

31 In order, on the body 12, are arranged from the ledge 28, 32 a number of components, each separated by bearing rings 33 40a-d so that the components are through rotational.

1 The first component is a centraljser 42a which is a 2 sleeve including longitudinally arranged raised portions 3 44. Four raised portions 44 are arranged equidistantly 4 around the centraliser 42a to evenly space the tool 10 from the wall of a casing or liner in which the tool 10 6 is inserted.

8 A middle component is the sleeve 14 on which is located a 9 blade cartridge 46. The blade cartridge 46 holds the six equally spaced blades 16a-f. Each blade is a torus of U KEVLAR /carbon/glass fibre composite, with an outer 12 diameter greater than the diameter at the raised portions 13 44 of the centraljsers 42. The material provides a 14 flexibility so that the blades 16a-f can fit within close sized casing or liner, while being strong enough to 16 scrape and remove debris as the edge 48, contacts the 17 casing or liner wall.

19 Though KEVLAR is the preferred choice of polymeric fibre, it will be appreciated that other fibres such as 21 polyarainjd fibres including poly-paraphenylene 22 terephthalamjde commonly referred to by its trade name 23 Twaron ; polyethylene fibres including those commonly 24 referred to as Dyneema or Spectra , polypropylene fibres, polyacryl fibres, polyester fibres including 26 those commonly referred to as Diolen ; polyacry]. fibres; 27 or poly{2, 6-dii!nidazo[4, 5-b4' , 5 -e]pyridjnylene-l, 4(2,5- - - - 28 dIhjdroxy)phenylene - (PIPD- fibres commonly refer.re& to 29 as M5 .

31 The blades 16 are preferably formed from sheets of the 32 composite material. Due to the layered structure of the 33 material traditional methods of gradually applying water 1 pressure from a jet to cut out the blade tend to cause 2 the structure to split and explode. This is caused by 3 the water penetrating between the layers. In the present 4 invention, a high water pressure is applied instantaneously to the structure. This has been found to 6 prevent splitting in the structure. A typical pressure 7 would be 50,000psi on up to 10mm thick structure from a 8 0.8mm diameter jet. 80 mesh garnet is added to the water 9 as an abrasive to assist in cutting. In this way a one piece blade can be cut with the preferred circumferential 11 outer edge which is uniform with no interruptions i.e a 12 circle. A further circle can be cut from the middle of 13 the blade through which the body can be inserted.

The blades 16a-f are spaced by rubber rings 50 which 16 provide a degree of flexibility to the movement of the 17 blades 16a-f. It will be appreciated however that the 18 blades need not be equally spaced nor the rings be of 19 rubber, any material providing a degree of flexibility would be appropriate.

22 Through the rings 50 are arranged ports which include 23 nozzles 54 to jet fluid from behind the cartridge 46 onto 24 the blades 16a-f to provide a cleaning action and remove any debris or particles which have become stuck to the 26 surface of the blades 16a-f. Further the sleeve 14 is 27 made in three parts 56ab,c. The parts are screwed 28 together to foim circulàrlyarranged ports 58a,b through - - 29 which fluid can pass from the casing or liner to the channels 32 in the body 12. Ports 58a,b are large slots 31 to provide an unobstructed flow path through the tool 10 32 when the blades 16a-f are sealingly engaged to the wall 33 of the casing or liner. Thus removal of debris will 1. continue successfully even if debris builds up behind or 2 in front of a blade because it is the circumference of 3 the blade that knocks of f the debris which is independent 4 of any debris build up. The arrangement of this bypass S will be described hereinafter with reference to Figures 6 2.

8 The third and final component is a second centraljser 9 42b, identical to the first centraljser 42a. The centraljsers 42a,b stabj].jse the tool 10 within the 11 casing or liner to drift.

13 All the components are held between the ledge 28 and 14 split rings (not shown). The split rings are held within a retaining ring 60 which in turn is held by the circlip 16 38. All the components are through rotational so that 17 they can remain static while the body 12 and the mandrel 18 to which it is attached can rotate in the well bore. The 19 split ring/retainer ring 60 and circlip 38 arrangement is described hereinafter with reference to Figures 5.

22 Reference is now made to Figures 2 of the drawings which 23 shows the central portion 30 of the tool 10 of Figure 24 1(b). Like parts have been given the same reference numeral to maintain clarity. Ports 56 locate over the 26 channels 32 to provide a fluid bypass under the blades 27 16a-f. The fluid bypass is bi-directjonal and thus can 28 redirect -fl-u-id when the tooa-1.Ojs run in, pulled out or 29 if fluid is circulated or reverse circulated in the casing or liner.

32 Also shown in Figures 2 are the arrangement of the blades 33 16a-f with respect to the body 12 of the tool 10. As 1 described previously, blades 16a-f are a torus or do- 2 nut' shape having an outer peripheral edge 48 and an 3 inner circumferential edge 62. The diameter at the edge 4 62 is greater than the diameter at the surface 64 of the cartridge 46. In this way the blades 16a-f can float on 6 the sleeve 14 by being able to move perpendicularly to 7 the longitudinal axis of the tool 10. At all times, 8 however, a portion of the blade 16 remains within the 9 ring 50. The blades 16a-f float independently of each other. If the tool 10 is used in a deviated or horizontal 11 well bore, there will be a tendency for the tool 10 to 12 rest on the low side of the casing or liner. The blades 13 16 would therefore have to bear the weight of the tool 10 14 and the work string. In order to prevent this the blades or the blade cartridge float to remain concentric to the 16 casing or liner and allow the centralisers 42a,b to 17 support the weight of the tool 10.

19 Reference is now made to Figure 3 and 4 of the drawings which illustrates a downhole tool, generally indicated by 21 reference numeral 110, according to a further embodiment 22 of the present invention. Like parts to those of the 23 embodiment described in Figures 1 and 2, have been given 24 the same reference numeral with the addition of 100. Tool flO has the same components as tool 10 but they are 26 arranged differently on the body 112.

- 28 Body 112 has two ledges 66-a, b loca-ted on the ou-ter 29 surface 126. Against one ledge 66b is located a centraliser 142b which is held in place by split rings 64 31 and a retaining ring 160b. The split ring 64b is of two 32 part construction as is known in the art. The retaining 33 ring l6Obcan either screw on to the body 112 or can in 1 turi be held in place by a circlip (not, shown). From the 2 second ledge is arranged the sleeve 114 with a second 3 centraliser].42a abutted thereto. The second centra].iser 4 142a is held in place by an identical split ring 64a and retaining ring 160a arrangement as the first centraliser 6 142b.

8 Sleeve 114a is made up of three parts 156a,bc. This is 9 best seen with the aid of Figure 4. Central section 156b also carries the cartridge 146 on which the blades 116 11 are mounted. In this embodiment the blades 116 are 12 mounted in two sets of three. By tightly stacking the 13 blades 116 against the rubber rings 150, each set 14 provides a strength equal to a single blade having triple the thickness but still has the flexibility afforded to 16 the thinner blades 116. And pieces 156a,c include 17 rectangular ports 158 to provide for fluid flow into the 18 channels 132. The portions 156 of the sleeve 114 are 19 further held in place by an additional split ring 64c located between the central 156b and outer 156a parts.

22 Reference is now made to Figures 5 of the drawings which 23 illustrates a holding device, generally indicated by 24 reference numeral 68, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Holding device 68 is as used in 26 the tool 10 and like parts to those in Figures 1 and 2 27 have been given the same reference numeral with the - 28 addition of 200: The device comprises- a pl-i -ring a64,- a - 29 retaining ring 260 and a circlip 238.

31 On the tool body 212 are arranged two circumferential 32 grooves 234,236. Facing the sleeve (not shown) is 33 arranged the split ring 264 in the first groove.234. The 1 split ring is made of two semi-circular portions which 2 compress against the body 112 when an inner surface 70 of 3 the retainer ring 260 is pushed against them. The 4 retainer ring 260 is held against the split ring 264 by the circlip 238 which itself locates in the second groove 6 236. It is the split ring 264 which bears the load of a 7 sleeve abutting the holding device 68. This load is 8 transferred to the body 212 through the split rings 264.

9 Thus no load appears on the circlip 238, it merely keeps the retaining ring 260 in place.

12 In use, a blade 16,116, is chosen which is equal to or 13 slightly greater than the diameter of the casing or liner 14 which requires to be groomed. The blades 16,116 are arranged on the blade cartridge 46,146 and mounted on the 16 sleeve 14,114. The sleeve 14,114 and the centralisers 17 42,142 are located on the body 12,112 and held in place 18 by the holding device 68 if used. The body 12,112 is then 19 connected to the mandrel of a work string using the box 22,122 section and threaded 18,118 section at each end 21 24,20 of the tool 10,110. The work string is run in the 22 well bore until the blades reach the location of the 23 casing or liner to be groomed. The work string is then 24 moved relative to the casing or liner and as the edges 48 contact the wall of the casing or liner, debris and 26 particles will be knocked-off'. Additionally through the 27 sealing engagement of the blades 16,116 to the wall, the 2-8 surface-of the wall wil-l be effectively wiped. clean. .. - 29 During this process fluid within the casing or liner will pass freely through the tool 10,110 by entering the ports 31 58a,158a, passing through the channels 32,132 and exiting 32 through the ports 58b,158b. It will be appreciated that 1 fluid can flow in the opposite direction through the 2 ports 58,158 also.

4 Reference is now made to Figure 6 of the drawings which illustrates a downhole tool, generally indicated by 6 reference numeral 80, including the tool 10,110 of the 7 present invention. Tool 80 has a first operating section 8 82 which contains the known components for performing a 9 function within casing or liner 84. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that section 82 may be a packer, 11 cementing tool or the like which all require to contact 12 the inner surface 86 of the casing or liner 84. The 13 second operating section 88, mounted ahead of the first 14 operating section 82, on the work string 90, is the tool 10,110 as described previously herein. In use, tool 80 16 provides a grooming function to condition the surface 86 17 ahead of operation of the section 82.

19 The principal advantage of the present invention is that it provides a downhole tool for conditioning, by 21 grooming, the inner wall of a casing or liner which 22 utilises a composite material which comprises a polymeric 23 fibre. This composite provides a flexibility and strength 24 over the prior art blade materials of metal and rubber.

26 A further advantage of the present invention is that it 27 provides a dowrihole tool wherein the individual blades 28 provide 360 dégxee coerage so that the too-i can be used - 29 when run in or pulled out of a well bore. Further fluid bypass is provided to maintain fluid circulation in the 31 well bore.

1 A yet further advantage of the present invention is in 2 the provision of a method for cutting the composite 3 material to form a blade.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 6 various modifications may be made to the invention 7 hereindescribed without departing from the scope thereof.

8 For example, any number of sleeve including the blades 9 may be mounted on a body. Additionally, the blades could be fixed to the sleeve i.e. not floating, but be non- 11 concentric with the work string, either individually or 12 together. It will also be appreciated that while the 13 blades in the Figures are shown as individual circular 14 discs, a strip of composite arranged in a spiral around the sleeve could also be used, thereby reducing the need 16 for the separate by pass.

Claims (1)

1 CLAIMS 3 1. A holding device for preventing longitudinal 4 movement of a

sleeve(s) on a substantially cylindrical body of a downhole tool, the holding 6 device comprising a split ring, a retaining ring and 7 a circlip.

9 2. The holding device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the split ring is held within the retaining ring which 11 in turn is held by the circlip.

13 3. The holding device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 14 wherein the holding device is adapted to be located around the body and abut the sleeve.

17 4. The holding device as claimed in any preceding Claim 18 wherein the holding device is adapted to transfer a 19 load from the sleeve onto the tool body.

21 5. The holding device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 22 wherein the split ring is adapted to rest against an 23 end of the sleeve and bear the load from the sleeve.

6. The holding device as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 26 5 wherein the load of the sleeve is transferred to 27 the body by the split ring.

28 - - - - - 29 7. The holding device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the split ring is adapted to be located in a 31 first circumferential groove in the tool body.

1 8. The holding device as claimed in any preceding Claim 2 wherein the split ring comprises two semicircular 3 members.

9. The holding device as claimed in any preceding Claim 6 wherein the retaining ring comprises a circular 7 member including a circular groove located at a 8 first end thereof.

10. The holding device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the 11 split ring locates in the groove such that the split 12 ring is retained by the retaining ring.

14 11. The holding device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein circlip holds the retaining ring in place 16 and bears no load from the sleeve.

18 12. The holding device as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 19 11 wherein the circlip is located at a second end of the retaining ring.

22 13. The holding device as claimed in any preceding Claim 23 wherein the retainer ring is held against the split 24 ring by the circlip, and the circlip is adapted to locate in a second groove in the tool body.

27 14. A downhole tool comprising a substantially -- 2.8--------.cyLindricaLbody, slev.s,..anaholding.de.vicefor -- 29 preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the body, the holding device comprising a split 31 ring, a retaining ring and a circlip.

1 15. The downhole tool as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the 2 holding device transfers a load from the sleeve onto 3 the tool body.

16. The downhole tool as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the 6 split ring rests against an end of the sleeve and 7 bears the load from the sleeve.

9 17. The downhole tool as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the load of the sleeve is transferred to the body by the 11 split ring.

13 18. The downhole tool as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 14 17 wherein the split ring is received in a first circumferential groove in the tool body.

17 19. The downhole tool as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 18 18 wherein the split ring is made of two semi- 19 circular portions which compress against the body when an inner surface of the retainer ring is pushed 21 against them.

23 20. The downhole tool as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 24 19 wherein the retainer ring is held against the split ring by the circlip, and the circlip is 26 located in a second groove in the tool body.

28 21. A method of forming a holding device fQr preventing.

29 longitudinal movement of a sleeve(s) on a substantially cylindrical body of a downhole tool, 31 the method comprising the steps of: 32 Locating a split ring in a first groove on a 33 substantially cylindrical body; 1 - Locating a retaining ring over the split ring; 2 - Locating a circlip in a second groove on the 3 substantially cylindrical body to hold the 4 retaining ring against the split ring.