US20030019665A1 - Reamer tool - Google Patents
Reamer tool Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030019665A1 US20030019665A1 US09/915,007 US91500701A US2003019665A1 US 20030019665 A1 US20030019665 A1 US 20030019665A1 US 91500701 A US91500701 A US 91500701A US 2003019665 A1 US2003019665 A1 US 2003019665A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- shaft
- lock nut
- reamer
- housing section
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000012188 paraffin wax Substances 0.000 abstract description 18
- 230000035508 accumulation Effects 0.000 abstract description 17
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 abstract description 17
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 12
- 229910052788 barium Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 12
- DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N barium atom Chemical compound [Ba] DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 12
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 12
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 abstract description 12
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 abstract description 12
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 abstract description 12
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Chemical compound O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 7
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000007790 scraping Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000010426 asphalt Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000003252 repetitive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000002445 nipple Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002706 hydrostatic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- JEIPFZHSYJVQDO-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron(III) oxide Inorganic materials O=[Fe]O[Fe]=O JEIPFZHSYJVQDO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
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
- E21B37/00—Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells
-
- 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
- E21B4/00—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
- E21B4/06—Down-hole impacting means, e.g. hammers
Definitions
- This invention relates to oil well cleaning apparatus, and more particularly, to a reamer tool which can be used for scraping and removing paraffin, scale, ice, barium cement, salt, calcium and other accumulations from the inside surfaces of oil well tubing and casing.
- the tool can easily be adapted for use with a snubbing unit, cable rig, coiled tubing, cable, or electric wireline in an oil or gas well.
- the reamer tool may be operated in cooperation with a wire line typically fitted with a swivel joint, and with a load applicator such as one or more spanner jars, for alternately applying a repetitive impact load to the tool and sequentially repositioning the tool for further load application.
- Paraffin and other deposit accumulations in production tubing are frequently removed by using expensive and sometimes complicated scraping tools which may be attached to the sucker rods deployed in the well. This technique is time-consuming and expensive since the sucker rod string must first be removed, the paraffin scraper tool or tools then installed on the sucker rods, the rods and accompanying scraping tools reinserted in the well, the scraping operation completed, and the tools finally removed. Such a procedure can be prohibitively expensive in some wells and impractical in others, and the tools sometimes break and become jammed in the tubing. Furthermore, the accumulation of paraffin and asphalt in the tubing sometimes becomes too thick for removal by application of such equipment, and the tubing string must then be pulled out of the well and “burned” in order to remove the accumulated deposits.
- Another technique frequently used to remove accumulated deposits from well tubing includes pulling and disconnecting a sufficient number of sucker rods to facilitate insertion of a “hook and washer” type cleaning tool to the point of deposit accumulation, and subsequently pulling the tool out of the tubing to scrape the deposit loose. This technique is also time-consuming, and is relatively inefficient and expensive.
- an object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be used to remove deposits and accumulations of paraffin, asphalt, scale, ice, salt, calcium, barium, cement and other materials from the inside surfaces of oil well tubing and casing.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be lowered into a well tubing or casing and repetitively loaded to clear the tubing and casing.
- Yet another object of this invention is to provide a casing and tubing reamer tool which is capable of cleaning deposits in well tubing and casing, which reamer includes a housing and a threaded shaft slidably displaceable in the housing, such that sliding of the shaft in the housing rotates the housing.
- a still further object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which is capable of cleaning deposits in well tubing and casing, which reamer tool includes a housing capable of suspension in the well tubing or casing; a shaft slidably mounted in the housing; shaft threads provided on the shaft; a lock nut threadibly mounted on the shaft for removably engaging the housing; and a reset spring provided in the housing between the housing and the end of the shaft, such that displacement of the shaft in the housing causes the lock nut to engage the housing, and the lock nut rotates on the shaft threads and rotates the housing such that the housing rotates in the well bore or casing and removes paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium or other solid blockages from the well bore or casing.
- Yet another object of the invention is to provide a reamer tool for insertion in oil field casing and tubing, which reamer tool is capable of being adapted to run fishing tools in addition to removing accumulations of paraffin, scale, ice, cement, salt, calcium, barium and other material from the tubing and casing of oil and gas wells.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be easily adapted to and used on virtually any type of conventional oil or gas service application, including snubbing units and cable rigs, coiled tubing, drill string, cable, or electric wireline.
- Yet another object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be adapted with a cutlip guide to facilitate maneuvering tubing, cable, electric wireline or other objects to the center of well casing, or adapted with an overshot to facilitate dislodging and removing immobilized or inadvertently released downhole tools from the well bore or casing.
- a still further object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be used to penetrate tight segments of a well bore and is capable of extension through downhole valves for clearing the valves.
- a reamer tool which is capable of removing paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium and other accumulations from the inside surfaces of oil well pump tubing and casing and can easily be adapted for use with coiled tubing, cable or electric wireline
- reamer tool may include a housing for suspension in the well tubing or casing; a shaft slidably mounted in the housing; shaft threads provided on the shaft; a lock nut threadibly mounted on the shaft for removably engaging the housing; and a reset spring provided in the housing between the housing and the end of the shaft, such that displacement of the shaft in the housing causes the lock nut to engage the housing, rotate on the shaft threads and rotate the housing such that the housing rotates in the well bore or casing and removes paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium cement, barium or other solid blockages from the well bore or casing.
- the reamer tool can be fitted with an overshot to facilitate dislodging and removing downhole tools or other immobilized or inadvertently released objects from the well bore or casing, or with a cutlip guide to facilitate maneuvering downhole objects to the center of the well bore or casing, as needed.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an illustrative embodiment of the reamer tool of this invention
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the reamer tool illustrated in FIG. 1, with the shaft partially extended from the housing;
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3 - 3 in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating the reamer tool with the shaft in retracted configuration in the housing;
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view, also taken along 3 - 3 in FIG. 1, of the reamer tool, more particularly illustrating the shaft partially extended from the housing;
- FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of the reamer tool
- FIG. 6 is a front or rear view of the lock nut component of the reamer tool
- FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock nut illustrated in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of another illustrative embodiment of the reamer tool of this invention.
- FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the lock nut illustrated in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a blade base component of the reamer tool of this invention, in an illustrative application of the reamer tool;
- FIG. 11 is a side view of the reamer tool, with the blade base of FIG. 10 mounted on the reamer tool.
- the reamer tool 1 typically includes an elongated housing 19 having a top housing section 2 , a middle housing section 3 and a bottom housing section 4 , which are removably attached to each other, respectively, by means of cooperating threads, as hereinafter described. Removal of the top housing section 2 from the middle housing section 3 and the middle housing section 3 from the bottom housing section 4 , respectively, is typically achieved by applying a wrench (not illustrated) to wrench flats 13 , to unscrew the respective housing sections and disassemble the reamer 1 .
- a wrench not illustrated
- top housing internal threads 5 of the top housing section 2 receive upper external threads 9 of the middle housing section 3
- lower external threads 9 a of the middle housing section 3 receive interior bottom housing threads 11 (FIG. 5) of the bottom housing section 4 in assembly of the housing 19
- the top housing section 2 is typically additionally secured to the middle housing section 3 by means of housing set screws 14 , which are threaded in respective top housing set screw apertures 15 , as illustrated in FIG. 5.
- the middle housing section 3 is typically further secured to the bottom housing section 4 by means of additional set screws 14 , which are threaded in respective bottom housing set screw apertures 17 .
- the top housing section 2 is further typically provided with a top housing collar 7 , which is capped by a top housing fishing flange 8 , provided with a top housing flange aperture 36 that opens the top housing section 2 , as illustrated in FIG. 5.
- the middle housing section 3 is provided with a middle housing aperture 37 at the top thereof, and is further provided with a middle housing shoulder 21 for receiving the bottom edge of the top housing section 2 .
- a shaft 25 is inserted in the top housing flange aperture 36 (FIG. 5) of the top housing fishing flange 8 .
- the polished shaft segment 25 a of the shaft 25 projects through the top housing flange aperture 36 (FIG. 5), through the top housing collar 7 and into the top housing cavity 12 in the interior of the top housing section 2 , and through the middle housing aperture 37 into the middle housing cavity 18 of the middle housing section 3 , as illustrated in FIG. 3.
- the shaft 25 further extends into a spring cavity 6 of the bottom housing section 4 , as illustrated in FIG. 3.
- the shaft 25 is further provided with connector threads 26 at the upper end thereof for cooperating with a wire line apparatus (not illustrated), and is provided with a connector flange 27 , located immediately beneath the connector threads 26 .
- the opposite end of the shaft 25 is fitted with shaft threads 34 , in order to accommodate a circular shaft nut 30 , provided with central interior nut threads 31 .
- the shaft threads 34 are typically provided on the shaft 25 in the same direction as the shaft threads 29 , and the shaft nut 30 is threaded to fit on the shaft threads 34 .
- One or more set screws 14 may be threaded through respective shaft nut set screw apertures 30 a to engage the shaft threads 34 (FIG. 5) of the shaft 25 and further secure the shaft nut 30 on the shaft threads 34 .
- the shaft nut 30 can be characterized by a conventional, self-locking, plastic-coated nut which is adapted for mounting on the shaft 25 according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.
- the shaft 25 is maintained in essentially vertical configuration inside the housing 19 by means of the top housing collar 7 .
- a thrust washer 22 is typically provided in the top housing cavity 12 , against the top housing collar 7 , and encircles the shaft 25 .
- a lock nut 38 provided with a pair of downwardly-extending lock nut lugs 39 , is fitted with internal lock nut threads 40 , as illustrated in FIG. 7, and is situated in the top housing cavity 12 for threadible cooperation with the shaft threads 29 of the shaft 25 .
- the lock nut 38 is free to rotatably traverse the shaft threads 29 on the shaft 25 inside the top housing cavity 12 , responsive to movement of the shaft 25 between a fully extended configuration from the housing 19 , as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the retracted position in the housing 19 , shown in FIG. 3.
- a lock nut lug seat 42 is provided in the top housing cavity 12 at the top end of the middle housing section 3 , and is fitted with at least two lug seat slots 43 , which are typically shaped to define lug seat bevels 44 , as more particularly illustrated in FIG. 5.
- the lug seat slots 43 are designed to receive the respective, downwardly-extending lock nut lugs 39 of the lock nut 38 when the lock nut 38 is seated on the lock nut lug seat 42 , as the shaft 25 is forced downwardly through top housing collar 7 , the top housing cavity 12 and the middle housing cavity 18 by operation of a downward load applied to the shaft 25 .
- the lug seat slots 43 may be slightly deeper than the length of the lock nut lugs 39 , in order to allow the lock nut 38 to contact the lock nut lug seat 42 .
- the depth of retraction or closing of the shaft 25 inside the housing 19 is limited by the shaft fishing flange 28 , provided on the shaft 25 , as illustrated.
- the shaft fishing flange 28 is typically formed integrally with the shaft 25 for maximum strength. As further illustrated in FIGS.
- a wiper ring 32 and an o-ring 33 seated in respective grooves provided in the top housing collar 7 of the top housing section 2 , encircle the polished shaft segment 25 a of the shaft 25 for wiping and sealing, respectively, the polished shaft segment 25 a as the shaft 25 reciprocates in the top housing collar 7 , which wiper ring 32 maintains the polished shaft segment 25 a free from dirt and other contaminants and thus, prevents locking or sticking of the shaft 25 in the top housing collar 7 .
- the bottom housing section 4 of the housing 19 is characterized by an internal spring cavity 6 , which communicates with a typically smaller-diameter bottom sucker rod receptacle 4 a, provided with interior receptacle threads 4 b.
- a coiled reset spring 16 is fitted in the spring cavity 6 , and rests against an annular spring shoulder 6 a of the bottom housing 4 , between the spring cavity 6 and the sucker rod receptacle 4 a. As illustrated in FIGS.
- the shaft nut 30 provided on the bottom end of the shaft 25 , impinges against the reset spring 16 , and the reset spring 16 is compressed between the shaft nut 30 and the spring shoulder 6 a when the shaft 25 is disposed in the retracted configuration in the housing 19 as illustrated in FIG. 3.
- the reset spring 16 is in the extended configuration in the spring cavity 6 when the shaft 25 is in the fully extended configuration from the housing 19 , as illustrated in FIG. 4, the purpose of which reset spring 16 will be hereinafter described.
- the sucker rod receptacle 4 a is capable of receiving the threaded male element (not illustrated) on the upper end of a sucker rod (not illustrated) in the well bore or tubing for loosening the sucker rod in the event that the sucker rod inadvertently becomes immobilized in the tubing, as hereinafter described.
- a blade base 45 such as that described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,307, can be mounted on the bottom housing section 4 of the reamer tool 1 to facilitate cleaning paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium or other material from a length or section of tubing or casing (not illustrated), as hereinafter described.
- the blade base 45 is tapered and, as illustrated in FIG. 10, includes a threaded base nipple 48 that threadibly engages the receptacle threads 4 b (FIG. 3) of the bottom housing section 4 , in the sucker rod receptacle 4 a thereof.
- the blade base 45 is typically provided with multiple, parallel longitudinal blade slots 46 , each of which receives and mounts a corresponding blade 47 which is typically heat-treated for maximum hardness and strength and configured to define a blade head 49 that mates with a base blade support 6 at the lower, tapered end of the blade base 45 .
- the blades 47 are typically removably mounted in the respective blade slots 46 by means of multiple blade bolts (not illustrated).
- a reamer tool 1 having a shaft 25 fitted with left-handed shaft threads 29 , is utilized to clean a length or section of tubing or casing (not illustrated), as follows.
- One or more spanner jars (not illustrated) are threadibly connected to the connector threads 26 of the shaft 25 , and a wire line (not illustrated) having a conventional swivel joint (not illustrated) is attached to the opposite end of the spanner jar string.
- the reamer tool 1 is then lifted by means of the wire line into position for insertion in the tubing or casing such that the weight of the housing 19 , in combination with the upward biasing effect of the reset spring 16 against the shaft 25 , facilitates fill extension of the shaft 25 from the housing 19 , as illustrated in FIG. 4.
- the lock nut 38 supported on the shaft 25 by means of the shaft threads 29 , is initially in the uppermost position in the top housing cavity 12 , against the thrust washer 22 .
- the lock nut 38 then rotates on the shaft 25 as it downwardly traverses the shaft threads 29 by pull of gravity, until the lock nut lugs 39 of the lock nut 38 engage the lock nut lug seats 42 of the housing 19 .
- the reamer tool 1 , spanner jar or jars, and wire line are then lowered into the casing or tubing string until the reamer tool 1 is prevented from further penetration by an accumulation or deposit of paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium or other material in the casing or tubing string.
- the wire line and spanner jar assembly are lifted in conventional fashion until the spanner jars are raised to maximum position above the reamer tool 1 , after which the spanner jars are allowed to drop and impact on the connector flange 27 of the shaft 25 .
- a shaft 25 having right-handed shaft threads 29 and a cooperating lock nut 38 can be installed in the reamer tool 1 to replace the shaft 25 and lock nut 38 having left-handed threads, as heretofore described. This replacement causes the housing 19 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when the reamer tool 1 is operated as described above.
- the reamer tool 1 of this invention can also function as a fishing tool runner by removing the blade base 45 from the bottom housing section 4 to expose the sucker rod receptacle 4 a to receive an “overshot” having a male fitting adapted for threadible cooperation with the sucker rod receptacle 4 a.
- a wire line and fishing tool (not illustrated) can be suspended from the overshot to effect fishing operations, and the rotational motion of the reamer tool 1 responsive to hammer jar impact can be used to free immobilized tubing, casing, tools and the like, in the hole.
- a conventional bailer (not illustrated) can be attached to the sucker rod receptacle 4 a to facilitate cutting salt, calcium, cement, barium, paraffin, ice, scale or other accumulations and removing the accumulations from the well bore in a single operation.
- the reamer tool 1 of this invention can perform many of the functions which otherwise require high-cost equipment, at a fraction of the cost and time.
- the reamer tool 1 is capable of cutting and removing virtually any type of accumulation or deposit in an oil well tubing and casing, including salt, calcium, cement, barium, hard paraffin, ice plugs, scale and asphalt, in non-exclusive particular.
- a conventional bailer (not illustrated) on the reamer tool 1 , as heretofore described, both the cutting and bailing functions of the reamer tool 1 can be performed at the same time, thus significantly decreasing the time required for the cutting and excavating operations.
- the reamer tool 1 can be used to penetrate tight segments or areas in tubing string or well casing.
- a cutlip guide (not illustrated) can be fitted on the bottom end of the reamer tool 1 for maneuvering downhole tools or other objects to the center of the well bore or casing by operation of the reamer tool 1 .
- the reamer tool 1 can be adapted to and used on virtually any type of ice application, including coiled tubing, snubbing units, cable rigs and electric wirelines, in non-exclusive particular, and can further be used to clear downhole valves clogged with deposit accumulations.
- the lock nut 38 has multiple lock nut lugs 39 which are upwardly-extending from the lock nut 38 in the top housing cavity 12 .
- multiple, congruent lock nut lug seats 42 each having a lug seat bevel 44 (FIG. 5) and separated by lug seat slots 43 (FIG. 5), extend downwardly from the top housing section 2 , into the top housing cavity 12 and above the upwardly-extending lock nut lugs 39 of the lock nut 38 .
- a thrust washer 22 is typically seated on a washer seat 3 a inside the top housing cavity 12 .
- the lock nut 38 engaging the shaftthreads 29 of the shaft 25 , is situated to travel downwardly through the top housing cavity 12 with the shaft 25 upon application of a repetitive impact load to the connector flange 27 of the shaft 25 , until the lock nut 38 engages the thrust washer 22 .
- the shaft 25 Upon subsequent upward pressure applied to the shaft 25 by operation of the wire line (not illustrated, attached to the connector threads 26 of the shaft 25 ), the shaft 25 , assisted by the compressed reset spring 16 , initially moves upwardly with respect to the housing 19 , through the middle housing cavity 18 , top housing cavity 12 and top housing collar 7 .
- the lock nut 38 travels upwardly with the shaft 25 through the top housing cavity 12 , until the lock nut lugs 39 of the lock nut 38 register with and are seated in the respective lock nut lug seats 42 of the top housing section 2 .
- Continued upward and non-rotating movement of the shaft 25 through the top housing collar 7 causes the shaft threads 29 to progressively engage and rotate the interior lock nut threads 40 (FIG. 7) of the lock nut 38 and facilitate rotation of the lock nut 38 on the shaft 25 and consequently, rotation of the housing 19 .
- the reamer tool 62 can be used to dislodge and remove a sucker rod (not illustrated) threadibly attached to the reamer tool 62 at the sucker rod receptacle 4 a of the bottom housing section 4 of the housing 19 , for example.
- the spanner jar assembly (not illustrated) is again lifted by means of the wire line, and is again caused to impact on the connector flange 27 , thus effecting additional rotation of the housing 19 upon removal of the inpact load from the connector flange 27 , as needed.
- the pitch of the shaft threads 29 is 1 ⁇ 2 inch under circumstances where the shaft threads 29 are doublelead threads.
- the term “double-lead” is used to characterize shaft threads 29 which begin at points on the shaft 25 which are 180 degrees apart.
- the double-lead shaft threads 29 serve to more efficiently permit the lock nut 38 to freely rotate inside the top housing cavity 12 when the shaft 25 is displaced in the reamer housing 19 and the lock nut lugs 39 engage the lug seat slots 43 , to rotate the reamer housing 19 .
- the shaft threads 29 of the shaft 25 and the lock nut threads 40 of the lock nut 38 can be either right-handed or left-handed, depending on the desired direction of rotation of the reamer housing 19 during application of the reamer tool 1 .
- the reamer housing 19 of the reamer tool 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 rotates in the counterclockwise direction upon downward movement of the shaft 25 in the reamer housing 19
- the reamer housing 19 of the reamer tool 62 illustrated in FIG. 8 rotates in the clockwise direction upon upward movement of the shaft 25 in the reamer housing 19 .
- 3 and 4 can be adapted to rotate downwardly in the clockwise direction or downwardly in the counterclockwise direction, depending upon whether the shaft threads 29 are left-handed or right-handed, respectively, whereas the reamer housing 19 of the reamer tool 62 illustrated in FIG. 8 can be adapted to rotate upwardly in the clockwise direction or upwardly in the counterclockwise direction, depending upon whether the shaft threads 29 are right-handed or left-handed, respectively.
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Abstract
A reamer tool which is capable of removing paraffin scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium and other accumulations from the inside surfaces of oil well pump tubing and casing, which reamer tool may include a housing for suspension in the well tubing or casing; a shaft slidably mounted in the housing for attachment to an impact device; shaft threads provided on the shaft; a lock nut threadibly mounted on the shaft for removably engaging the housing; and a reset spring provided in the housing between the housing and the end of the shaft. Displacement of the shaft in the housing causes the lock nut to engage the housing, and the lock nut rotates on the shaft threads and rotates the housing such that the housing rotates in the well bore or casing and removes the solid blockages from the well bore or casing.
Description
- This invention relates to oil well cleaning apparatus, and more particularly, to a reamer tool which can be used for scraping and removing paraffin, scale, ice, barium cement, salt, calcium and other accumulations from the inside surfaces of oil well tubing and casing. The tool can easily be adapted for use with a snubbing unit, cable rig, coiled tubing, cable, or electric wireline in an oil or gas well. The reamer tool may be operated in cooperation with a wire line typically fitted with a swivel joint, and with a load applicator such as one or more spanner jars, for alternately applying a repetitive impact load to the tool and sequentially repositioning the tool for further load application.
- The problem of restricted flow of hydrocarbons in oil wells due to the accumulation of paraffin and other deposits on the inside wall of the tubing is one of great concern in the oil field. Paraffin accumulation sometimes occurs in a relatively short period of time and can form a tough, semi-solid deposit which severely restricts the flow of fluid in the tubing. Accumulation thickness and character vary with the type and quantity of oil and hydrocarbon fluid produced, and frequently causes severe stress in pumping apparatus and equipment, with resulting equipment failure or low operating efficiency. Typically, the accumulation of paraffin deposits in oil well production tubing occurs at a point where the hydrostatic pressures and temperatures create favorable conditions for precipitation of solid paraffin from the oil. Other deposits such as rust, scale, salt, calcium cement, barium and ice must frequently be removed from production tubing and casing, particularly in corrosive environments, and in the case of ice, in regions characterized by prolonged low temperature.
- Paraffin and other deposit accumulations in production tubing are frequently removed by using expensive and sometimes complicated scraping tools which may be attached to the sucker rods deployed in the well This technique is time-consuming and expensive since the sucker rod string must first be removed, the paraffin scraper tool or tools then installed on the sucker rods, the rods and accompanying scraping tools reinserted in the well, the scraping operation completed, and the tools finally removed. Such a procedure can be prohibitively expensive in some wells and impractical in others, and the tools sometimes break and become jammed in the tubing. Furthermore, the accumulation of paraffin and asphalt in the tubing sometimes becomes too thick for removal by application of such equipment, and the tubing string must then be pulled out of the well and “burned” in order to remove the accumulated deposits. This procedure is extremely time-consuming and expensive, and is normally used only as a last resort when conventional tools cannot be used effectively. Further, while tools which have become inadvertently stuck or jammed in the well bore or casing can be jarred loose and removed easily and inexpensively in most cases, sometimes it is necessary to apply rotational force to the jammed tool in order to dislodge and remove the the tool from the well bore or casing.
- Another technique frequently used to remove accumulated deposits from well tubing includes pulling and disconnecting a sufficient number of sucker rods to facilitate insertion of a “hook and washer” type cleaning tool to the point of deposit accumulation, and subsequently pulling the tool out of the tubing to scrape the deposit loose. This technique is also time-consuming, and is relatively inefficient and expensive.
- Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be used to remove deposits and accumulations of paraffin, asphalt, scale, ice, salt, calcium, barium, cement and other materials from the inside surfaces of oil well tubing and casing.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be lowered into a well tubing or casing and repetitively loaded to clear the tubing and casing.
- Yet another object of this invention is to provide a casing and tubing reamer tool which is capable of cleaning deposits in well tubing and casing, which reamer includes a housing and a threaded shaft slidably displaceable in the housing, such that sliding of the shaft in the housing rotates the housing.
- A still further object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which is capable of cleaning deposits in well tubing and casing, which reamer tool includes a housing capable of suspension in the well tubing or casing; a shaft slidably mounted in the housing; shaft threads provided on the shaft; a lock nut threadibly mounted on the shaft for removably engaging the housing; and a reset spring provided in the housing between the housing and the end of the shaft, such that displacement of the shaft in the housing causes the lock nut to engage the housing, and the lock nut rotates on the shaft threads and rotates the housing such that the housing rotates in the well bore or casing and removes paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium or other solid blockages from the well bore or casing.
- Yet another object of the invention is to provide a reamer tool for insertion in oil field casing and tubing, which reamer tool is capable of being adapted to run fishing tools in addition to removing accumulations of paraffin, scale, ice, cement, salt, calcium, barium and other material from the tubing and casing of oil and gas wells.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be easily adapted to and used on virtually any type of conventional oil or gas service application, including snubbing units and cable rigs, coiled tubing, drill string, cable, or electric wireline.
- Yet another object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be adapted with a cutlip guide to facilitate maneuvering tubing, cable, electric wireline or other objects to the center of well casing, or adapted with an overshot to facilitate dislodging and removing immobilized or inadvertently released downhole tools from the well bore or casing.
- A still further object of this invention is to provide a reamer tool which can be used to penetrate tight segments of a well bore and is capable of extension through downhole valves for clearing the valves.
- These and other objects of the invention are provided in a reamer tool which is capable of removing paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium and other accumulations from the inside surfaces of oil well pump tubing and casing and can easily be adapted for use with coiled tubing, cable or electric wireline, which reamer tool may include a housing for suspension in the well tubing or casing; a shaft slidably mounted in the housing; shaft threads provided on the shaft; a lock nut threadibly mounted on the shaft for removably engaging the housing; and a reset spring provided in the housing between the housing and the end of the shaft, such that displacement of the shaft in the housing causes the lock nut to engage the housing, rotate on the shaft threads and rotate the housing such that the housing rotates in the well bore or casing and removes paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium cement, barium or other solid blockages from the well bore or casing. The reamer tool can be fitted with an overshot to facilitate dislodging and removing downhole tools or other immobilized or inadvertently released objects from the well bore or casing, or with a cutlip guide to facilitate maneuvering downhole objects to the center of the well bore or casing, as needed.
- The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an illustrative embodiment of the reamer tool of this invention;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the reamer tool illustrated in FIG. 1, with the shaft partially extended from the housing;
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines3-3 in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating the reamer tool with the shaft in retracted configuration in the housing;
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view, also taken along3-3 in FIG. 1, of the reamer tool, more particularly illustrating the shaft partially extended from the housing;
- FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of the reamer tool;
- FIG. 6 is a front or rear view of the lock nut component of the reamer tool;
- FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock nut illustrated in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of another illustrative embodiment of the reamer tool of this invention;
- FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the lock nut illustrated in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a blade base component of the reamer tool of this invention, in an illustrative application of the reamer tool; and
- FIG. 11 is a side view of the reamer tool, with the blade base of FIG. 10 mounted on the reamer tool.
- Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2 and5 of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the reamer tool of this invention is generally illustrated by
reference numeral 1. Thereamer tool 1 typically includes anelongated housing 19 having atop housing section 2, amiddle housing section 3 and abottom housing section 4, which are removably attached to each other, respectively, by means of cooperating threads, as hereinafter described. Removal of thetop housing section 2 from themiddle housing section 3 and themiddle housing section 3 from thebottom housing section 4, respectively, is typically achieved by applying a wrench (not illustrated) towrench flats 13, to unscrew the respective housing sections and disassemble thereamer 1. Typically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, top housinginternal threads 5 of thetop housing section 2 receive upperexternal threads 9 of themiddle housing section 3, and lowerexternal threads 9 a of themiddle housing section 3 receive interior bottom housing threads 11 (FIG. 5) of thebottom housing section 4 in assembly of thehousing 19. Thetop housing section 2 is typically additionally secured to themiddle housing section 3 by means of housing setscrews 14, which are threaded in respective top housing setscrew apertures 15, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Similarly, themiddle housing section 3 is typically further secured to thebottom housing section 4 by means ofadditional set screws 14, which are threaded in respective bottom housing setscrew apertures 17. Thetop housing section 2 is further typically provided with atop housing collar 7, which is capped by a tophousing fishing flange 8, provided with a tophousing flange aperture 36 that opens thetop housing section 2, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Similarly, themiddle housing section 3 is provided with amiddle housing aperture 37 at the top thereof, and is further provided with amiddle housing shoulder 21 for receiving the bottom edge of thetop housing section 2. - Referring next to FIGS.3-5 of the drawings, a
shaft 25, provided with course, double-lead shaft threads 29 and an upper, polishedshaft segment 25 a, is inserted in the top housing flange aperture 36 (FIG. 5) of the tophousing fishing flange 8. As particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, thepolished shaft segment 25 a of theshaft 25 projects through the top housing flange aperture 36 (FIG. 5), through thetop housing collar 7 and into thetop housing cavity 12 in the interior of thetop housing section 2, and through themiddle housing aperture 37 into themiddle housing cavity 18 of themiddle housing section 3, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Theshaft 25 further extends into aspring cavity 6 of thebottom housing section 4, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Theshaft 25 is further provided withconnector threads 26 at the upper end thereof for cooperating with a wire line apparatus (not illustrated), and is provided with aconnector flange 27, located immediately beneath theconnector threads 26. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the opposite end of theshaft 25 is fitted withshaft threads 34, in order to accommodate acircular shaft nut 30, provided with centralinterior nut threads 31. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theshaft threads 34 are typically provided on theshaft 25 in the same direction as theshaft threads 29, and theshaft nut 30 is threaded to fit on theshaft threads 34. One or moreset screws 14 may be threaded through respective shaft nut setscrew apertures 30 a to engage the shaft threads 34 (FIG. 5) of theshaft 25 and further secure theshaft nut 30 on theshaft threads 34. Alternatively, it is understood that theshaft nut 30 can be characterized by a conventional, self-locking, plastic-coated nut which is adapted for mounting on theshaft 25 according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Theshaft 25 is maintained in essentially vertical configuration inside thehousing 19 by means of thetop housing collar 7. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, athrust washer 22 is typically provided in thetop housing cavity 12, against thetop housing collar 7, and encircles theshaft 25. Alock nut 38, provided with a pair of downwardly-extendinglock nut lugs 39, is fitted with internallock nut threads 40, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and is situated in thetop housing cavity 12 for threadible cooperation with theshaft threads 29 of theshaft 25. Thelock nut 38 is free to rotatably traverse theshaft threads 29 on theshaft 25 inside thetop housing cavity 12, responsive to movement of theshaft 25 between a fully extended configuration from thehousing 19, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the retracted position in thehousing 19, shown in FIG. 3. A locknut lug seat 42 is provided in thetop housing cavity 12 at the top end of themiddle housing section 3, and is fitted with at least twolug seat slots 43, which are typically shaped to definelug seat bevels 44, as more particularly illustrated in FIG. 5. Thelug seat slots 43 are designed to receive the respective, downwardly-extendinglock nut lugs 39 of thelock nut 38 when thelock nut 38 is seated on the locknut lug seat 42, as theshaft 25 is forced downwardly throughtop housing collar 7, thetop housing cavity 12 and themiddle housing cavity 18 by operation of a downward load applied to theshaft 25. Thelug seat slots 43 may be slightly deeper than the length of thelock nut lugs 39, in order to allow thelock nut 38 to contact the locknut lug seat 42. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings, the depth of retraction or closing of theshaft 25 inside thehousing 19 is limited by theshaft fishing flange 28, provided on theshaft 25, as illustrated. Theshaft fishing flange 28 is typically formed integrally with theshaft 25 for maximum strength. As further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, awiper ring 32 and an o-ring 33, seated in respective grooves provided in thetop housing collar 7 of thetop housing section 2, encircle thepolished shaft segment 25 a of theshaft 25 for wiping and sealing, respectively, thepolished shaft segment 25 a as theshaft 25 reciprocates in thetop housing collar 7, whichwiper ring 32 maintains thepolished shaft segment 25 a free from dirt and other contaminants and thus, prevents locking or sticking of theshaft 25 in thetop housing collar 7. - Referring next to FIGS.3-5 of the drawings, the
bottom housing section 4 of thehousing 19 is characterized by aninternal spring cavity 6, which communicates with a typically smaller-diameter bottomsucker rod receptacle 4 a, provided withinterior receptacle threads 4 b. Acoiled reset spring 16 is fitted in thespring cavity 6, and rests against anannular spring shoulder 6 a of thebottom housing 4, between thespring cavity 6 and thesucker rod receptacle 4 a. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, theshaft nut 30, provided on the bottom end of theshaft 25, impinges against thereset spring 16, and thereset spring 16 is compressed between theshaft nut 30 and thespring shoulder 6 a when theshaft 25 is disposed in the retracted configuration in thehousing 19 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Conversely, thereset spring 16 is in the extended configuration in thespring cavity 6 when theshaft 25 is in the fully extended configuration from thehousing 19, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the purpose of which resetspring 16 will be hereinafter described. In one application of thereamer 1, thesucker rod receptacle 4 a is capable of receiving the threaded male element (not illustrated) on the upper end of a sucker rod (not illustrated) in the well bore or tubing for loosening the sucker rod in the event that the sucker rod inadvertently becomes immobilized in the tubing, as hereinafter described. - Referring next to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings, a
blade base 45, such as that described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,307, can be mounted on thebottom housing section 4 of thereamer tool 1 to facilitate cleaning paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium or other material from a length or section of tubing or casing (not illustrated), as hereinafter described. Theblade base 45 is tapered and, as illustrated in FIG. 10, includes a threadedbase nipple 48 that threadibly engages thereceptacle threads 4 b (FIG. 3) of thebottom housing section 4, in thesucker rod receptacle 4 a thereof.Multiple set screws 14 threaded into respective set screw apertures (not illustrated) provided in thebottom housing 4 are typically caused to engage thebase nipple 48 and further secure theblade base 45 on thebottom housing section 4. As illustrated in FIG. 11, theblade base 45 is typically provided with multiple, parallellongitudinal blade slots 46, each of which receives and mounts acorresponding blade 47 which is typically heat-treated for maximum hardness and strength and configured to define ablade head 49 that mates with abase blade support 6 at the lower, tapered end of theblade base 45. Theblades 47 are typically removably mounted in therespective blade slots 46 by means of multiple blade bolts (not illustrated). - Referring again to the drawings, in typical operation, a
reamer tool 1 having ashaft 25 fitted with left-handed shaft threads 29, is utilized to clean a length or section of tubing or casing (not illustrated), as follows. One or more spanner jars (not illustrated) are threadibly connected to theconnector threads 26 of theshaft 25, and a wire line (not illustrated) having a conventional swivel joint (not illustrated) is attached to the opposite end of the spanner jar string. Thereamer tool 1 is then lifted by means of the wire line into position for insertion in the tubing or casing such that the weight of thehousing 19, in combination with the upward biasing effect of thereset spring 16 against theshaft 25, facilitates fill extension of theshaft 25 from thehousing 19, as illustrated in FIG. 4. At this point thelock nut 38, supported on theshaft 25 by means of theshaft threads 29, is initially in the uppermost position in thetop housing cavity 12, against thethrust washer 22. Thelock nut 38 then rotates on theshaft 25 as it downwardly traverses theshaft threads 29 by pull of gravity, until the lock nut lugs 39 of thelock nut 38 engage the lock nut lug seats 42 of thehousing 19. Thereamer tool 1, spanner jar or jars, and wire line are then lowered into the casing or tubing string until thereamer tool 1 is prevented from further penetration by an accumulation or deposit of paraffin, scale, ice, salt, calcium, cement, barium or other material in the casing or tubing string. At this point, the wire line and spanner jar assembly are lifted in conventional fashion until the spanner jars are raised to maximum position above thereamer tool 1, after which the spanner jars are allowed to drop and impact on theconnector flange 27 of theshaft 25. This impact initially causes theshaft 25 to downwardly traverse thetop housing cavity 12 of thetop housing section 2 and non-rotatably extend downwardly through thelock nut 38, whereupon thelock nut 38, engaging themiddle housing section 3 at the lock nut lug seats 42, rotatably traverses theshaft threads 29 of the downwardly-moving andnon-rotating shaft 25. This clockwise rotation of thelock nut 38 on theshaft threads 29 effects clockwise rotation of thehousing 19 and attachedblade base 45 with thelock nut 38 on the non-rotating and downwardly-movingshaft 25, when ashaft 25 andlock nut 38 having cooperating left-hand threads are used in thereamer 1. This rotating action of thehousing 19 andblade base 45, imparted by therotating lock nut 38, effects removal of the deposits which are adjacent to theblades 47 due to the rotation of theblade base 45 andblades 47. After the initial impact between the spanner jar or jars and theconnector flange 27 of theshaft 25, the spanner jar assembly is again lifted by means of the wire line, and is again caused to impact on theconnector flange 27, thus effecting additional rotation of thereamer tool 1 and additional contact between theblades 47 and the accumulated deposits to effect additional removal of the deposits. This repetitive 1 and dropping of the spanner jar or jars to achieve impact between the spanner jar system and theconnector flange 27 on theshaft 25 is continued until theshaft fishing flange 28 contacts the tophousing fishing flange 8, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. When this configuration of thereamer tool 1 is realized, the wire line is again placed in tension and the spanner jar or jars are lifted. Accordingly, theshaft 25 is again displaced from its retracted position in thetop housing section 2 and themiddle housing section 3, as the lock nut lugs 39 disengage thelug seat slots 43 and thelock nut 38 is displaced upwardly with theshaft 25 in thetop housing cavity 12. Upward movement of theshaft 25 in thetop housing cavity 12 and through thetop housing collar 7 is assisted by thereset spring 16, which impinges against theshaft nut 30 and tends to reset the original position of theshaft 25 and thelock nut 38 in thetop housing cavity 12. It will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings that when theshaft 25 is extended from thehousing 19 as illustrated in FIG. 4, thelock nut 38 is initially and transiently raised against thethrust washer 22 inside thetop housing collar 7 and then rotates as it downwardly traverses theshaft threads 29 by pull of gravity. At that point, the lock nut lugs 39 of thelock nut 38 engage the lock nut lug seats 42 of thehousing 19 prior to non-rotating, downward movement of theshaft 25 through thetop housing cavity 12 and thelock nut 38, as heretofore described. Any rotation of theshaft 25 with respect to the wire line is handled by means of the swivel joint, which attaches the wire line to the spanner jar system, in order to prevent the wire line from twisting. - It is understood that a
shaft 25 having right-handed shaft threads 29 and a cooperatinglock nut 38 can be installed in thereamer tool 1 to replace theshaft 25 andlock nut 38 having left-handed threads, as heretofore described. This replacement causes thehousing 19 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when thereamer tool 1 is operated as described above. - It will be further understood that the
reamer tool 1 of this invention can also function as a fishing tool runner by removing theblade base 45 from thebottom housing section 4 to expose thesucker rod receptacle 4 a to receive an “overshot” having a male fitting adapted for threadible cooperation with thesucker rod receptacle 4 a. A wire line and fishing tool (not illustrated) can be suspended from the overshot to effect fishing operations, and the rotational motion of thereamer tool 1 responsive to hammer jar impact can be used to free immobilized tubing, casing, tools and the like, in the hole. It is also understood that a conventional bailer (not illustrated) can be attached to thesucker rod receptacle 4 a to facilitate cutting salt, calcium, cement, barium, paraffin, ice, scale or other accumulations and removing the accumulations from the well bore in a single operation. - It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
reamer tool 1 of this invention can perform many of the functions which otherwise require high-cost equipment, at a fraction of the cost and time. Thereamer tool 1 is capable of cutting and removing virtually any type of accumulation or deposit in an oil well tubing and casing, including salt, calcium, cement, barium, hard paraffin, ice plugs, scale and asphalt, in non-exclusive particular. Additionally, by fitting a conventional bailer (not illustrated) on thereamer tool 1, as heretofore described, both the cutting and bailing functions of thereamer tool 1 can be performed at the same time, thus significantly decreasing the time required for the cutting and excavating operations. By fitting thereamer tool 1 with the blade base 45 (FIG. 11), thereamer tool 1 can be used to penetrate tight segments or areas in tubing string or well casing. A cutlip guide (not illustrated) can be fitted on the bottom end of thereamer tool 1 for maneuvering downhole tools or other objects to the center of the well bore or casing by operation of thereamer tool 1. Thereamer tool 1 can be adapted to and used on virtually any type of ice application, including coiled tubing, snubbing units, cable rigs and electric wirelines, in non-exclusive particular, and can further be used to clear downhole valves clogged with deposit accumulations. - Referring next to FIG. 8 of the drawings, in another embodiment of the reamer tool, generally illustrated by
reference numeral 62, thelock nut 38 has multiple lock nut lugs 39 which are upwardly-extending from thelock nut 38 in thetop housing cavity 12. Accordingly, multiple, congruent lock nut lug seats 42, each having a lug seat bevel 44 (FIG. 5) and separated by lug seat slots 43 (FIG. 5), extend downwardly from thetop housing section 2, into thetop housing cavity 12 and above the upwardly-extending lock nut lugs 39 of thelock nut 38. Athrust washer 22 is typically seated on awasher seat 3 a inside thetop housing cavity 12. Accordingly, thelock nut 38, engaging theshaftthreads 29 of theshaft 25, is situated to travel downwardly through thetop housing cavity 12 with theshaft 25 upon application of a repetitive impact load to theconnector flange 27 of theshaft 25, until thelock nut 38 engages thethrust washer 22. Upon subsequent upward pressure applied to theshaft 25 by operation of the wire line (not illustrated, attached to theconnector threads 26 of the shaft 25), theshaft 25, assisted by thecompressed reset spring 16, initially moves upwardly with respect to thehousing 19, through themiddle housing cavity 18,top housing cavity 12 andtop housing collar 7. Thelock nut 38 travels upwardly with theshaft 25 through thetop housing cavity 12, until the lock nut lugs 39 of thelock nut 38 register with and are seated in the respective lock nut lug seats 42 of thetop housing section 2. Continued upward and non-rotating movement of theshaft 25 through thetop housing collar 7 causes theshaft threads 29 to progressively engage and rotate the interior lock nut threads 40 (FIG. 7) of thelock nut 38 and facilitate rotation of thelock nut 38 on theshaft 25 and consequently, rotation of thehousing 19. Accordingly, thereamer tool 62 can be used to dislodge and remove a sucker rod (not illustrated) threadibly attached to thereamer tool 62 at thesucker rod receptacle 4 a of thebottom housing section 4 of thehousing 19, for example. After full extension of theshaft 25 from thehousing 19, the spanner jar assembly (not illustrated) is again lifted by means of the wire line, and is again caused to impact on theconnector flange 27, thus effecting additional rotation of thehousing 19 upon removal of the inpact load from theconnector flange 27, as needed. - Referring again to FIGS. 3, 4 and8 of the drawings, the pitch of the
shaft threads 29 is ½ inch under circumstances where theshaft threads 29 are doublelead threads. The term “double-lead” is used to characterizeshaft threads 29 which begin at points on theshaft 25 which are 180 degrees apart. The double-lead shaft threads 29 serve to more efficiently permit thelock nut 38 to freely rotate inside thetop housing cavity 12 when theshaft 25 is displaced in thereamer housing 19 and the lock nut lugs 39 engage thelug seat slots 43, to rotate thereamer housing 19. It is understood that theshaft threads 29 of theshaft 25 and thelock nut threads 40 of thelock nut 38 can be either right-handed or left-handed, depending on the desired direction of rotation of thereamer housing 19 during application of thereamer tool 1. For example, when theshaft threads 29 of theshaft 25 and thelock nut threads 40 of thelock nut 38 are right-handed, thereamer housing 19 of thereamer tool 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 rotates in the counterclockwise direction upon downward movement of theshaft 25 in thereamer housing 19, whereas thereamer housing 19 of thereamer tool 62 illustrated in FIG. 8 rotates in the clockwise direction upon upward movement of theshaft 25 in thereamer housing 19. Conversely, when theshaft threads 29 of theshaft 25 and thelock nut threads 40 of thelock nut 38 are left-handed, thereamer housing 19 of thereamer 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 rotates in the clockwise direction upon downward movement of theshaft 25 in thereamer housing 19, whereas thereamer housing 19 of thereamer tool 62 illustrated in FIG. 8 rotates in the counterclockwise direction upon upward movement of theshaft 25 in thereamer housing 19. Therefore, depending upon the desired application, thereamer housing 19 of thereamer tool 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be adapted to rotate downwardly in the clockwise direction or downwardly in the counterclockwise direction, depending upon whether theshaft threads 29 are left-handed or right-handed, respectively, whereas thereamer housing 19 of thereamer tool 62 illustrated in FIG. 8 can be adapted to rotate upwardly in the clockwise direction or upwardly in the counterclockwise direction, depending upon whether theshaft threads 29 are right-handed or left-handed, respectively. - While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (20)
1. A reamer for use with an impact device in oil well tubing and casing, said reamer comprising:
a housing;
an elongated shaft slidably disposed between a first position and a second position in said housing, said shaft having shaft threads;
a lock nut threadibly engaging said shaft threads on said shaft for removably engaging said housing;
a reset spring provided in said housing adjacent to said shaft for biasing said shaft in said first position;
wherein said lock nut engages said housing, said shaft is rotatably stationary in said housing, said lock nut rotates on said shaft and said lock nut rotates said housing as said shaft is slidably displaced in a first direction between said first position and said second position in said housing by operation of the impact device; and
wherein said lock nut disengages said housing and rotation of said housing is terminated as said shaft is slidably displaced in a second direction between said first position and said second position in said housing by operation of the impact device.
2. The reamer of claim 1 comprising a plurality of lock nut lug seats provided on said housing and a plurality of lock nut lugs provided on said lock nut for removably engaging said plurality of lock nut lug seats, respectively.
3. The reamer of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a top housing section, a middle housing section attached to said top housing section and a bottom housing section attached to said middle housing section.
4. The reamer of claim 3 comprising a plurality of lock nut lug seats provided on said housing and a plurality of lock nut lugs provided on said lock nut for removably engaging said plurality of lock nut lug seats, respectively.
5. The reamer of claim 1 comprising a shaft nut provided on said shaft for engaging said reset spring.
6. The reamer of claim 5 comprising a plurality of lock nut lug seats provided on said housing and a plurality of lock nut lugs provided on said lock nut for removably engaging said plurality of lock nut lug seats, respectively.
7. The reamer of claim 5 wherein said housing comprises a top housing section, a middle housing section attached to said top housing section and a bottom housing section attached to said middle housing section.
8. The reamer of claim 7 comprising a plurality of lock nut lug seats provided on said housing and a plurality of lock nut lugs provided on said lock nut for removably engaging said plurality of lock nut lug seats, respectively.
9. A reamer for use with a wire line and impact device in oil well tubing and casing, said reamer comprising:
a housing having an upper housing end and a lower housing end;
a plurality of lock nut lug seats provided in said housing between said upper housing end and said lower housing end;
an elongated shaft slidably disposed in said housing, said shaft having an upper shaft end for attachment to the wire line, a lower shaft end spaced from said upper shaft end and shaft threads between said lower shaft end and said upper shaft end;
a lock nut threadibly engaging said shaft threads above said plurality of lock nut lug seats, said lock nut having a plurality of lock nut lugs for removably engaging said plurality of lock nut lug seats, respectively;
a reset spring provided in said housing, said reset spring interposed between said housing and said lower shaft end of said shaft;
wherein said shaft is slidably and non-rotatably displaced downwardly against said reset spring in said housing, said lock nut lugs of said lock nut engage said lock nut lug seats of said housing, said lock nut rotates on said shaft, and said lock nut rotates said housing when a load is applied to said shaft by operation of the impact device; and
wherein said reset spring slidably displaces said shaft upwardly in said housing, said lock nut lugs of said lock nut disengage said lock nut lug seats of said housing, and rotation of said housing is terminated when the load is removed from the shaft by operation of the impact device.
10. The reamer of claim 9 comprising a wiper ring provided in said housing and encircling said shaft for cleaning said shaft.
11. The reamer of claim 9 wherein said housing comprises a top housing section, a middle housing section attached to said top housing section and a bottom housing section attached to said middle housing section.
12. The reamer of claim 11 comprising a wiper ring provided in said housing and encircling said shaft for cleaning said shaft.
13. The reamer of claim 9 comprising a shaft nut provided on said shaft for engaging said reset spring.
14. The reamer of claim 13 comprising a wiper ring provided in said housing and encircling said shaft for cleaning said shaft.
15. The reamer of claim 13 wherein said housing comprises a top housing section, a middle housing section attached to said top housing section and a bottom housing section attached to said middle housing section.
16. The reamer of claim 15 comprising a wiper ring provided in said housing and encircling said shaft for cleaning said shaft.
17. A reamer for use with a wire line and impact device in oil well tubing and casing, said reamer comprising:
a housing having an upper housing end and a lower housing end;
a plurality of lock nut lug seats provided in said housing between said upper housing end and said lower housing end;
an elongated shaft slidably disposed in said housing, said shaft having an upper shaft end for attachment to the wire line, a lower shaft end spaced from said upper shaft end and shaft threads between said lower shaft end and said upper shaft end;
a lock nut threadibly engaging said shaft threads beneath said plurality of lock nut lug seats, said lock nut having a plurality of lock nut lugs for removably engaging said plurality of lock nut lug seats;
a reset spring provided in said housing, said reset spring interposed between said housing and said lower shaft end of said shaft;
wherein said shaft and said shaft nut are displaced downwardly in said housing away from said plurality of lock nut lug seats when a load is applied to said shaft by operation of the impact device; and
wherein said reset spring slidably and non-rotatably displaces said shaft upwardly in said housing, said lock nut lugs of said lock nut engage said lock nut lug seats of said housing, said lock nut rotates on said shaft, and said lock nut rotates said housing when a load is released from said shaft by operation of the impact device.
18. The reamer of claim 17 wherein said housing comprises a top housing section, a middle housing section attached to said top housing section and a bottom housing section attached to said middle housing section.
19. The reamer of claim 17 comprising a shaft nut provided on said shaft for engaging said reset spring.
20. The reamer of claim 19 wherein said housing comprises a top housing section, a middle housing section attached to said top housing section and a bottom housing section attached to said middle housing section.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/915,007 US20030019665A1 (en) | 2001-07-26 | 2001-07-26 | Reamer tool |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/915,007 US20030019665A1 (en) | 2001-07-26 | 2001-07-26 | Reamer tool |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20030019665A1 true US20030019665A1 (en) | 2003-01-30 |
Family
ID=25435078
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/915,007 Abandoned US20030019665A1 (en) | 2001-07-26 | 2001-07-26 | Reamer tool |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20030019665A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
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US20040072511A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-04-15 | Launius William E. | Hub conditioning and alignment tool |
US20050169721A1 (en) * | 2004-02-03 | 2005-08-04 | Northern Tool Sales & Service Co. | Reamer and method for reaming |
US20100034491A1 (en) * | 2008-08-06 | 2010-02-11 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | System, method and apparatus for scale resistant radial bearing for downhole rotating tool components and assemblies |
CN102352751A (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2012-02-15 | 攀钢集团冶金工程技术有限公司 | Ashlar lifting machine |
US20140150798A1 (en) * | 2011-07-08 | 2014-06-05 | Resmed Limited | Swivel elbow and connector assembly for patient interface systems |
WO2015077694A1 (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2015-05-28 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Seal assembly for wellbore tool |
US10018016B2 (en) | 2014-07-18 | 2018-07-10 | Advanced Wireline Technologies, Llc | Wireline fluid blasting tool and method |
CN112031648A (en) * | 2020-08-19 | 2020-12-04 | 安徽伟基基础工程有限公司 | Reaming device for soft soil foundation construction |
US11268327B2 (en) * | 2020-01-22 | 2022-03-08 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Wellbore conditioning with a reamer on a wireline |
-
2001
- 2001-07-26 US US09/915,007 patent/US20030019665A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20040072511A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-04-15 | Launius William E. | Hub conditioning and alignment tool |
US6969312B2 (en) | 2002-09-16 | 2005-11-29 | Derby Worx, Inc. | Hub conditioning and alignment tool |
US20050169721A1 (en) * | 2004-02-03 | 2005-08-04 | Northern Tool Sales & Service Co. | Reamer and method for reaming |
US7207752B2 (en) | 2004-02-03 | 2007-04-24 | Star Cutter Company | Reamer and method for reaming |
US20100034491A1 (en) * | 2008-08-06 | 2010-02-11 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | System, method and apparatus for scale resistant radial bearing for downhole rotating tool components and assemblies |
US7909090B2 (en) | 2008-08-06 | 2011-03-22 | Baker Hugbes Incorporated | System, method and apparatus for scale resistant radial bearing for downhole rotating tool components and assemblies |
US20140150798A1 (en) * | 2011-07-08 | 2014-06-05 | Resmed Limited | Swivel elbow and connector assembly for patient interface systems |
CN102352751A (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2012-02-15 | 攀钢集团冶金工程技术有限公司 | Ashlar lifting machine |
WO2015077694A1 (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2015-05-28 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Seal assembly for wellbore tool |
CN105683486A (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2016-06-15 | 哈利伯顿能源服务公司 | Seal assembly for wellbore tool |
GB2535047A (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2016-08-10 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Seal assembly for wellbore tool |
AU2014352725B2 (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2017-05-25 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Seal assembly for wellbore tool |
GB2535047B (en) * | 2013-11-25 | 2017-10-04 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Seal assembly for wellbore tool |
US10018016B2 (en) | 2014-07-18 | 2018-07-10 | Advanced Wireline Technologies, Llc | Wireline fluid blasting tool and method |
US11268327B2 (en) * | 2020-01-22 | 2022-03-08 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Wellbore conditioning with a reamer on a wireline |
CN112031648A (en) * | 2020-08-19 | 2020-12-04 | 安徽伟基基础工程有限公司 | Reaming device for soft soil foundation construction |
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