US3545540A - Through-the-flowline(tfl)tool cartridge assembly - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Stoddard S. Waldron Woodland Hills, California [2| 1 Appl. No. 843,433 [22] Filed July 22, 1969 l 45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [73] Assignee North American Rockwell Corporation 1 54] THROUGH-THE-FLOWLINEtTFL) TOOL CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY 12 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl. 166/70. l66/70, 15/ l 04.06 [51] lnt.Cl.. E2Ib33/05: 80% 9/04 |50| Field of Search t. 166/70.

137/268, 242; 15/164155. 1040a A l Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorneys-William R. Lane Allan Rothenberg and Donald J.

Ellingsberg ABSTRACT: A through-the-flowline tITFL) tool cartridge assembly for rapid attachment to and removal from a production well tubing that facilitates storing and handling TFL tools, and permits storage of TF L tools in a controlled environment.

n 1| I 14!? 40 38 i 00 W; i as l i 32 i 44 so l i as f "1. g I 72 70 so v 58 i 56 i 1 E 54 1k "LIB INDICATOR mum 05c 81975 INDICATOR lNl/lz'N'I'OR. STODDARD 5. WALDRON new and improved 'rrmoucn-rnn-rtowuumm) Tool. cxnrnmcn ASSEMBLY 3 BACKGROUND or THE INVENTlQN e The drilling and completion of wells in deep ocean waters for the extensive, oil and gas deposits located under the ocean well tubing and return tothe cartridge assembly. The TFL tool can be cleaned in the cartridge assembly and a controlled environment introduced into the assembly so that the TFL tool parafin from 2 the well tubing,.t he opening or closing of a sleeve on a valve, etc. A line of well tools that can be pumped through, a flowline from a. remote location have been developed and are known as through-the-flowline ,(TFL) tools. v

TFL tools are introduced into the flowline and are forced against the. normal flow within the flowline to complete the desired tool function. When the tool operation is completed, the pressure driving the TF L toolinto the flowline is either reduced or'totally eliminated so that the normal pressure of the production fluid flowing from the well forces the TF L tool back through the flowline.

Known TFL tools do not provide for the rapid interchangebility of TFL tools or tool strings. The ease at which TFL tools or tool strings'can be inserted into a production flowline is therefore compromised andthe desired efficiency in 'a workover or maintenance operation is substantially reduced with a corresponding increase in cost for well operation.

OBJECTS Q1 THEJNVENTION Accordingly, it isan object of theinvention to provide a through-the-flowline (TlFLltool cartridge assembly. r Y

It is an object of the invention to provide a TFL tool cartridge for rapid attachment to and removal from a production well tubing. p a It is an objectof the invention to provide a TFL tool cartridge for rapid alignment and mating with the production well tubing. r q p It is an object of the inventionto provide a TFL tool cartridgethat permits prepacka'ging of TFL tools for storage and ready use. it is an object of the invention to provide a TFL tool cartridge that facilitates storing and handling TFL tools andtool strings.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a TFL tool cartridgethat that permits self-contained cleaning of a TFL tool or tool string positioned in the cartridge.

it is an object of the invention to provide a TFL tool cartridge that permitsistorage of TFL tools or tool strings in a controlled environment.

SUMMARY, OF THE INVENTION Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a through-the the internal cartridge cylinder is driven into the production well tubing by a suitable high pressure fluid that passes into an annular volume developed between the-external and internal cartridge cylinders, through suitable flow ports connectingthe annular volume with the inner volume developed by the inner cylinder and within which the TFL tool is stored, to drive the TFL tool from the inner cylinder. Suitable valves arranged in the production well tubing permit the TFLtool to pass intsi the cartridge can be removed and stored with the TFL tool under a controlled environment where necessary. V

While the specification'concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which may be regarded'as the invention, the organization and method of operation, together with further objects, features,

and the attendingadvantages thereof, may best be understood when the following descriptionis read in connection with the accompanying drawing. l

aararnsscair'rrouorras DRAWING The figure is an elevation, partly sectional and partly broken away, of one embodiment of the through-the-flowline (TFL) tool cartridge assembly of the invention in an operating position.

DESCRIPTION OF Tl-lElNVENTlON anoutput production flowline .24 connected through a conventional valve 26 to a remote collection station (not shown).

The through-the-flowline (TFL) tool cartridge assembly 30 of my invention is adapted for removable attachment to the production tubing extension 18. The'cartridge assembly. 30

has an external cartridge cylinder 32 that is closed at one end by acap member 34 secured to the external cylinder by welding, bolts, or the like. An internal cartridge cylinder 36 is positionedwithin the volume defined by the external cartridge cylinder 32 and preferably maintained in a generally concentrically oriented, radially spacedapart relationship with the external cartridge cylinder by one or more similar support pins or member 38. The inner end 40 of the internal cartridge cylinder 36 is secured to the cap member 34. The inner end 40 of the internal cartridge cylinder 36 has a plurality of similar ports 42 circumferentially spaced around the inner cartridge cylinder end. a r

' The telescoped arrangement of the external cartridge cylinder 32 and the internal cartridge cylinder 36 develops an annular volume or chamber 44' therlebet'ween which is in fluid communication with the internal volume by the internal cartridge cylinder 36 through the similar ports 42. The internal cartridge cylinder 36 has an outer or stinger end 50thatextends axially beyond the lip end 52 ofthe external cartridge cylinder 32 and is adapted to be positioned within the production tubing extension 18 as illustrated. A flow restrictor assembly-formed by a slip ring 54, a captive and yieldable seal 56, and backup ring 58-is carriedby the outer end 50 of the internal cylinder 36. The flow restrictorassembly engages the inner wall surface 60 of the production tubing extension 18 in,

a fluidtight engagement when a threaded pipe union collar 64, captured by the lip end 52 of the external cartridge cylinder 32, is coupled to a threaded'lip end 66 of the production tubing extension 18 which seats the stinger end 50 of the inner cartridge cylinder 36 within the production tubing extension.

A pipe 70, connected to the production tubing extension 18 through a valve 72, is place in fluid communication'with he internal volume 46 through ports 42 when valve 72 is selectively opened.

Operatively, production fluid from the well 10 normally passes through the output production flowline 24 when valve 20 is closed and valve 26 is open. The TFL cartridge assembly 30 of my invention, which contains a tool or tool string 76 as shown by the dashed lines, is connected to the production tubing extension 18. Valve-26 is adjusted to a reduced production fluid flow condition or is closed and valve 20 the high pressure fluid passes from the pipe 70 into' the annular volume between the external and internal cartridge cylinders 32 and 36, respectively, through the similar ports 42, and into the internal volume 46 where the fluid drives the TFL tool or tool string 76 from its normal position in the loaded cartridge assembly 30 through the production tubing extension 18 into the production flowline 16 to accomplish the desired maintenance or workover operation to be performed by the TFL tool in the well 10. When the TFL tool 76 has accomplished the desired operation, the high pressure fluid passing into the internal volume 46 is decreased or shut off so that the normal pressure of the production fluid flowing from the well drives the TFL tool or tool string 76 back through v the flowline 16 into the cartridge assembly 30.

A. suitable spring 80 positioned within the internal cartridge cylinder 36 absorbs the high homing impact of the tool 76. It is contemplated that suitable check valves or other shock absorber arrangements can be used to slow down or absorb the kinetic energy of the TF L tool 76 so that damage to the cartridge assembly 30 is'prevented.

A conventional indicator system 84 with homing indicator switch 86 senses the passage of the TFL tool or tool string 76 f through the production tubingextension l8-and triggers a A suitable signal which is processed to indicate when the TFL ,tool has returned to the cartridge assembly 30. Should the in- .dicator system 84 signal that the TF L tool or tool string 76 has not returned to the'cartrid ge assembly 30, production valve, 26 can be closed completely, if this has not already been accomplished, thus increasing the production fluid pressure on the TF L tool-and forcing the TF].. tool home into the cartridge assembly 30; x v

. After the TFL tool or tool string 76 has returned to the cartridge assembly 30, valves '72 and 20 are closed so that the cartridge assembly 30 canbe removed from the production tub ing extension 18 and another cartridge-assembly positioned a thereon. If the Well maintenance workover has been tridge assembly 30-to purge the cartridge assembly; the cartridge assembly 30 is then removed, capped, and stored for later use. The TFL tool 76 loaded in the cartridge assembly can be stored in a controlled environment which is less deteri- Iorating to critical parts of the TFL tool or of the cartridge asvsembly, such as resilient seals that may be used, particularly the TFL tool. In theTFL tool cartridge assembly 30 of my invention, a

number of TFL tools or tool strings of different configurations necessary for workover or maintenance operations can be positioned in an equal number of cartridge assemblies for ready installation on production tubing extensions. Additional TFL tool strings can be assembled prior to actual use and installed in separate cartridge assemblies which are readily ac-' cessible for easy and quick handling at the time of use at the production well site. I

As will be evidenced from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction as illustrated, and it is contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims shall cover the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a well production system wherein a production valve connected to the well permits through-the-flowline (TFL) tools to pass into and out of the well and wherein a well production tubing extension connected to the well has valve controlled pipe for the selective passage of a fluid into or out of the tubingextension, the combination with the well production tubing extension of a removable cartridgeassembly that houses a TFL tool, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a. first and second telescoped and radially-spaced cylinders;

b. an annular chamber developed between said spaced apart cylinders in fluid communication with the valve controlled pipe; 7

c. an inner chamber developed within said second cylinder and adapted to receive the TFL tool;

d. said first and second cylinders having adjacent first ends suitably closed in a fluid tight relationship;

e. port means connecting said annular and inner chambers in fluid communication;

f. a stinger end of said second cylinder extending outwardly from said first cylinder and adapted for insertion into the well production tubing extension; and

g. connector seal means adapted to selectively engage the well production tubing extension in a fluidtight engagement so that the TFL tool is driven from and received into said inner chamber by the selective introduction and the selective; bypassing of a fluid through the valve control pipe in fluid communication with said annular chamber.

2. The cartridge assembly of claim 1 in which said conne'ctor seal means includes: g

a. cylinder connector means engaging said firstcylinder and removably connecting the cartridge assembly to the well production tubing extension; and I b. seal means connected to said stinger end sealing said annular chamber between said port means and the valve controlled pipe of the well production tubing extension.

3. The cartridge assembly ofclaim 2 in which saidconnector means is a captive collar carried by a second end of said first cylinder.

4. The cartridge assembly of claim 2 in which said seal meansis a captive resilient ring juxtaposed between a pair of ring members. v

5. The cartridge assembly of claim 1 in which a shock absorber means is positioned within said inner chamber to absorb the kinetic energy of the TFL tool received into said inner chamber. i t

6. The cartridge assembly of claim 1 in which a cap member is connected to said first end of said first cylinder closing said first end in a fluidtight arrangement.

7. The cartridge assembly of claim 6 in which said first end of said second cylinder is connected to said cap member closing said first end of saidv second cylinder in a fluidtight arrangement. I

8. The cartridge assembly of claim 7 in which said port means is suitably formed in said second cylinder adjacent said first end of said second cylinder.

9. A through-the-flowline (TFL) tool cartridge assembly for a TFL tool, the cartridge assembly comprising:

a. first and second telescoped and radially-spaced cylinders;

b. an annular chamber developedbetween said spaced apart cylinders;

c. an inner chamber developed within said second cylinder and adapted to receive the TFL tool;

d. said first and second cylinders having adjacent first ends suitably closed in a fluidtight relationship;

e. port means connecting said annular and inner chambers" in fluid communication;

f. a stinger end of said second cylinder extending outwardly from said first cylinder; and

g. connector seal means connected to said stinger end selectively sealing said annular chamber so that the TFL tool is driven from and received into said inner chamber by the selective introduction and the selective bypassing of a high pressure fluid through said port means connecting said annular chamber and said inner chamber .in fluid communication.

10. A method of pumping through-the-f lowline (TFL) tools into and out of a well through a we ll production tubing extension, the method comprising: j

a. positioning a TFL tool in a cartridge assembly adapted for removable connection to the well production tubing extension;

b. connecting the cartridge assembly to the well production tubing extension; v 1

c. sealing the cartridge assembly in a fluidtight engagement with the well production tubing extension;

d. driving the TF L tool from the cartridge assembly into the well for a selected tool operation;

e. receiving the TFL tool into the cartridge assembly from the well after the selected tool operation; and

f. removing the cartridge assembly with the TFL tool from

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