US3905227A

US3905227A - Wireline operated tubing detector

Info

Publication number: US3905227A
Application number: US438739A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myron M Kinley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-01
Filing date: 1974-02-01
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16

Abstract

A wireline operated tool for making an impression of the inside wall of well tubing in order to determine the extent of damage to the well tubing including wireline driver piston means for inflating an impression making yieldable sleeve into engagement with the inside tubing wall.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Y 1111 3,905,227

Kinley 1451 Sept. 16, 1975 4] WIRELINE OPERATED TUBING 1 3049.752 8/1962 .lorda et al. 73/151 x DETECTOR [76] lnventor: Myron M. Kinley, 103 Maple Ln., i y Ex miner-Jerry Myracle chickasha, ()kla 73018 Attorney, Agent, or FirmPravel & Wilson [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1974 211 Appl. NO.I 438,739 ABSTRACT A wireline operated tool for making an impression of 73/151 the inside wall of well tubing in order to determine the E21B 49/00 extent of damage to the well tubing including wireline 52 us. (:1. 1511 Int. Cl.

[58] Field of Search 73/151, 152 driver piston means for inflating an impression making yieldable sleeve into engagement with the inside tub- [56] References Cited ing wall.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,046,601 7/1962 Hubbcrt et al 73/151 x 16 D'awmg F'gures Zid SHKET 1 UP 5 PATENTS; SE? 1 a was SHEET 2 UP 5 ANCHOR Zia PATH-H SHEET3UF5 ELSE? I 6 WIRELINE OPERATED TUBING DETECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is apparatus for determining the extent of damage to the inside wall of well tubing including well pipe, casing and other underground or underwater piping.

Damage to oil well casing or other well tubing from corrosion, undue stress, abrasive action or from the operation of downhole tools in such tubing presents a critical and costly problem to the oil industry. Damaged tubing, once detected, is either replaced or patched. The actual extent of damage to tubing may be critical to determining whether to replace the tubing or simply patch it. One such device for determining the extent of damage to well casing is suggested in US. Pat. No. 3,326,293, issued to Skipper. However, the tool disclosed in Skipper is costly in time and labor to use because it is operated on a pipe string.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of the well tubing in order to determine the location and extent of damage or defects in well tubing. The wireline operated tool of the preferred embodiment of this invention includes a tubular support housing adapted for movement within a well tubing on a wireline. A yieldable memory means including an inflatable sleeve having a yieldable external surface is mounted with the tubular support housing for expansion by means of a double piston assembly into engagement with the inside wall of the well tubing. Wireline operated means are operably attached to the double piston means in order to expand the inflatable sleeve into engagement with the inside wall of the well tubing. Such expansion occurs by inflating the inflatable sleeve to a first lower pressure and then to a second higher pressure in order to cause the yieldable external surface of the sleeve to effectively engage the inside wall of the well tubing and effectively penetrate any defects or damaged areas in the well tubing wall.

The double piston means utilized in the wireline operated tool includes a first piston member operably connected to a wireline jarring tool and mounted for longitudinal movement within the tubular support housing. A second piston member is mounted for joint movement with the first piston member within the tubular support housing in order to inflate the inflatable sleeve to a first pressure. Means are provided for re leasing the first piston member from joint movement with the second piston member so that the wireline jarring tool can displace the first piston member further in order to inflate the inflatable sleeve to a second pressure higher than the first pressure. In this manner, the inflatable sleeve is pressurized to an expanded position wherein the external surface thereof effectively engages and penetrates defects and damaged portions of the inside wall of wall tubing.

In the wireline operated tool of this invention, pressure equalization means are mounted with the housing in order to equalize the pressures within and without the inflatable sleeve with the sleeve in a deflated or uninflated position. In this manner, the double piston assembly operated by the wireline jarring tool acts to raise the pressure within the inflated sleeve to a first pressure higher than the pressure external of the tool housing and includes a grooved external surface which is engaged by yieldably mounted means for holding the piston in position. within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the well tool apparatus of the preferred embodiment of this invention positioned within a well tubing for making an impression of any defects or damage to the inside wall of the well tubing;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the upper portion of the housing for the well tool with the double piston members latched for joint movement;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view of the upper housing portion of the well tool illustrating the released and inde' pendent movement of the piston rod for inflating the inflatable sleeve to a higher pressure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the universal joint portion of the well tool housing;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lower, impression making portion of the well tool housing;

FIG. 5 is a continuation of FIG. 4 illustrating the check valve means used to balance pressures within the sleeve with the pressure in the well tubing.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 with the inflatable sleeve in a deflated position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 further illustrating resiliently mounted shoe means for maintaining the position of the inner piston rod;

FIG. 8 is an assembly view of the universal joint connection of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the well too] of this invention which utilizes a single piston or pressurizing means;

FIG. 10 is a side view in section of the well tool housing of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 9 illustrating the groove arrangement for-1 maintaining the position of the single piston member; and

FIG. 11 is a side view taken along line 1 111 of FIG. 10 further illustrating the resiliently mounted ball members which are seated in the grooved piston member of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, in:particular FIGS. 1-8, a wireline operated well tool T for taking impressions of the inside wall 10 of a well tubing W is illustrated. The well tool T is illustrated suspended from a wireline 11 and hydraulic or mechanical jar 12 mounted with the wireline 11. The well tubing W represents practically any form of tubular member which may be utilized in well drilling and/or production including drilling string, casing and production tubing.

The well tool T includes an upper fishing neck portion 14 which is connected to a sub 12a of the jar 12 such that the entire tool T can be raised and lowered on a wireline 11 and actually operated with the jar 12 in a manner to be described herein. 7

The well tubing W may be subject to damage and defects in the form of holes, fractures, pits and the like.

For the purposes of illustration the well tubing W in cludes three

holes

10a, 10b, and 10c and a pit 10d (FIG. 1). The holes and pit may be caused by corrosion, inherent defects in the well tubing W as well as from damage from the operation of tools therein or for any other reason. The well tool T of this invention is adapted to be lowered n the wireline 11 to a position adjacent such defects as a through 10d and to be operated to obtain an impression of the inside tubing wall 10. The tool T can be inspected after removal from the well tubing W to judge the impression.

The tool T basically includes an upper housing a, a central housing 15b (FIG. 1) and a lower housing 15c (FIG. 1). The lower housing 15c includes yieldable memory means generally designated as 16 mounted therewith for inflation into impression making engagement with the inside wall 10 of the well tubing T. The lower housing 150 is connected with the upper housing 15a through the central housing 15!) which is merely a universal joint, which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 8. The upper housing 15a includes the fishing neck portion 14 (FIG. 1) which attaches the entire tool T to the jar l2 suspended from wireline ll. Wireline actuated means generally designated as 17 is mounted within the upper housing 15a for expanding the yieldable means 16 into engagement with the inside tubing wall 10. In the expanded position, the yieldable means 16 presses a yieldable, inflatable memory means 16 into the openings such as 10a or pits such as 10d in the inside tubing wall 10, as shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the wireline actuated means including double piston means 19 is operated to deflate the yieldable memory means 16 so that the tool T can be removed from the well tubing W with impressions of the hole 10a and pit 10d temporarily set on the yieldable memory means 16.

FIGS. 2 (and 2a), 3, 4 and 5 show contiguous portions of the tool T of FIG. 1.

The upper housing 15a of the tool T is formed of two tubular or pipe sections 18a and 18b which are threadedly connected at 180 (FIG. 2). The bottom end of tubular housing section 181) terminates in closed end portion 18d which has a bore l8e therein A double piston means 19 includes a central piston rod mounted for longitudinal movement within the tubular housing sections 18a and 18b (FIG. 2). The piston rod 20 includes upper fishing neck portion 14 which is, as previously described, connected to sub 12a of the jar 12 (F IG 1 The piston rod 20 is the same diameter from top to bottom, but cylindrical sections 18a and 1812 are of different diameters. The rod 20 has mounted at lower end 200 seal means formed of 0- rings 20a and 20b which extend into slidable, sealing engagement with the inside wall 18f of the tubular housing section 18b. Thus the entire tool T is actually suspended from the wireline 11 through the piston rod 20. The double piston means 19 further includes a floating sleeve piston 21 which is mounted over the piston rod 20 for slidable movement with respect thereto. The sleevepiston 21 has mounted on inside wall 21b O-rings 21a so that the sleeve piston 21 is mounted for sealable movement as well as slidable movement with respect to the piston rod 20. In addition, O-rings 21c are mounted on the outside sleeve piston wall 21d for mounting the sleeve piston 21 for slidable, sealable movement with respect to the inside wall 18g of the tubular housing. section 18a. The portion of the tubular housing sections 18b and 18a which are sealed off by the O-rings 20a and 20b on the piston rod 20 and by the O-rings 210 on the sleeve piston 21 have a fluid such as hydraulic fluid therein. The yieldable memory means 16, which includes inflatable sleeve 16a, is mounted in fluid communication with the housing chamber H (the particular structure will be described later). The piston rod 20 in cooperation with the sleeve piston 21, operated by the wireline jar I2, acts to pressurize the housing chamber H (and thus the inflatable memory sleeve 16a) initially to a first pressure and thereafter to a second pressure higher than the first pressure in order to cause the inflatable memory sleeve 16a to effectively engage the inside tubing wall 10.

Prior to describing the operation of the piston rod 20 and sleeve piston 17 (FIG. 1) in conjunction with the wireline jar 12 for providing the stepped pressurizing of the yieldable memory means 16 (FIG. 1), the slip assembly 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described. For it is necessary to set the slip assembly 22 and thus maintain the

housing portions

15a, 15b and 156 entirely stationary with respect to the well tubing W before the jar 12 can be used to operate the piston rod 20 and sleeve piston 21 of the double piston means 17.

The slip assembly 22 firstly includes an outer sleeve section 22a having mounted thereon a plurality of springs 22b acting as centralizers for maintaining the entire tool T in substantially the center of the well tubing W. A slip section 22c having integrally formed therewith a series of slip fingers 22d is mounted for movement with the outer sleeve section 220. The slip fingers 22d may be forced outwardly into wedging engagement with the inside tubing wall 10 by insertion of the wedging element or cone 22e into the slip section 22c. The cone 22e is mounted onto the tubular housing section 1817 for movement therewith. The outer sleeve section 22a and slip section 22c are mounted about the tubular housing section 18b for movement longitudinally thereof. A slot assembly typically known as a .1 slot assembly is illustrated at 24 in FIG. 1 and is machined into the outside surface of the tubular housing section 18b. The J slot includes vertical slot paths 24a and 24b which are interconnected by substantially V- shaped

transverse slots

24c and 24d.

A stud or lug (not shown) extends radially inwardly from the inside of the sleeve section 22b and actually rides in the J slot. The vertical slot path 24a receives the sleeve lug when it is desirable to prevent the slip section 226 from being pushed outwardly into locking engagement with the inside tubing wall 10. When it is desirable to free the slip section 22c for expansion into locked engagement with the inside tubing wall 10 (and thus lock the tool T in position), the tool T is first raised upwardly to move the sleeve lug down to the bottom 24d of the slot 24 and then the tool T is driven downwardly to raise the sleeve lug into the longer vertical slot 24b. The slot 24b is longer than the slot 24a and allows the slip section 220 to be driven outwardly over the cone 22e and expanded into locked engagement with inside tubing wall 10.

Whenever it is necessary to release the slip assembly 22, the tool T is lifted upwardly to move the sleeve lug into connecting slot portion 240, then the tool T is driven downwardly to return the lug to vertical slot 24athus removing the slip section 220 from locked engagement with the inside tubing wall T and limiting slip assemblies 'as' 22 are basically well known and are commercially available. For example, one such commercially available slip assembly is illustrated in the 1970-1971 Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services on page 3813 thereof, which discloses a retrievable packer tool having a reciprocating type slip release assembly with a .I slot similar to that discussed herein. I

After the slip assembly 22 is set such that the upper housing a including the tubular housing sections 18a and 18b are held stationary by the slip assembly 22, the wireline jar 12 can be. operated toactuate the piston rod and sleeve piston 21 to provide stepped pressurization of the housing chamber H and thus of the yieldable memory sleeve 16a.

A releasable latch means 23 is mounted with the piston rod 20 for releasably engaging the sleeve piston 21 for joint movement througha first stroke. The releasable latch means 23 releases at the end of ,the first stroke of the

piston members

20 and 21 to allow independent movement of the piston rod 20 through a sec- 0nd stroke. Joint movement of the rod piston 20'and sleeve piston 21 through the first stroke causes pressurization of the housing chamber H and the memory sleeve 16a to a first pressure and, separate, independent, further downward movement of the piston rod 20 after release by the release means 23 causes pressurization of the housing chamber H and the memory sleeve 16a to a second pressure higher than the first pressure.

The latch means 23 includes a latch arm 23a pivotally mounted on a pin 23d within a recess 20d in the piston rod 20. The latch arm 23a is urged outwardly against the inside wall 21b of the sleeve piston 21 by a leaf spring 23d mounted by any suitable means such as the screw 23d within the recess 20a. The leaf spring 23 thus acts to continually and resiliently urge the latch arm 23a to a pivoted position radially outwardly of the piston rod 20. The latch arm 23a includes a slot 236 formed by a downwardly facing face 23 side face 23;; and upwardly facing face 231;. The sleeve piston 21 has an annular recess 21d at thelower end thereof. The recess includes an upwardly facing shoulder 21e which is adapted to engage the downwardly facing face 23f of the latch arm 23a.- The upwardly facing latch arm face 23h is positioned to engage the bottom rim 21f of the sleeve piston 21. The latch arm 23a is pivotal between the engaged position illustrated in FIG. 2 and the released position illustrated in FIG. 2a.- In the engaged position of FIG. 2 the downwardly facing face 23f of the latch arm engages the upwardly facing shoulder 23e of the annular recess 21d in the sleeve piston 21 such that the piston rod 20' and sleeve piston .21 move downwardly simultaneously. When the piston rod 20 is being moved upwardly,'the upwardly facing latch arm recess face 23h engages the bottom rim 21f of the sleeve piston 21 to caus'e'upward, joint movement of the sleeve piston 21 'with the piston rod 20. Thus, whenever the jar l2 is driving the piston rod downwardly or upwardly and the latch means arm 23a is in the position of FIG..

2, the latch arm 23a acts to operatively engage the sleeve piston 21 for jointmove'rnent with the piston 1 1 Whenever the latch'arm 23a is in the released position of FIG.2'1, the'pisto nrod- 20 is freed for separate 1 bythe jar 12 from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG.. 2a, the latch member 23a is pushed inwardly due to the smaller inner diameter of the tubing section 18b. As the piston rod 20 is driven downwardly by the 5 jar 12, the latch arm 23a is thus'pivoted inwardly until it is confined to the recess 20d and released from engagement with any portion of the sleeve piston 21. Thus, the piston rod 20 is freed for downward movement independently of the sleeve piston 21 after the latch member 23a is pushed into the piston rod recess 2011. As a corollary, the leaf spring 23c serves to continually urge the latch arm 23a outwardly and, whenever the piston rod 20 is jarred or moved upwardly from the position of FIG. 2a to the position of FIG. 2, the leaf spring 23c acts to push the latch arm 23 radially outwardly until thelatch arm recess 23e is engaging the sleeve member 20. Thereafter, the latch arm 23a acts to engage the piston rod 20 for joint, upward movement to the position of FIG..2 and to a further upward position if necessary.

Downward movement jointly of the sleeve piston and the piston rod by the jar 12 causes pressurization of the fluid in the housing chamber H and thus in the inflatable memory sleeve 16a to a first pressure, which is equal to the force delivered by the jar 12 divided by combined area of the sleeve piston bottom rim 21 f and the bottom end or face 20f of the piston rod 20. The jar 12 acts to move the sleeve piston 21 and the piston rod 20 downwardly together until the release arm 23 is pivoted inwardly by engagement with the inside wall 18f of the tubing housing section 18b. After the latch arm 23a is moved inwardly, the piston rod 20 is freed for further downward movement independently of the sleeve piston 21. Further movement of the piston rod 20 downwardly causes the pressurization of the fluid in the housing chamber H and thus in the inflatable memory sleeve 16a to a second pressure higher than the first pressure. The second pressure is higher since the area 40 acting upon the hydraulic fluid in housing chamber 22 is reduced to the area of the bottom face 20]" alone.

During movement of the piston rod 20 upwardly and downwardly, a shoe means generally designated as 25 mounted with the tubular housing section 18a engages the piston rod 20 for maintaining the relative, longitudinal position of the piston rod 20 within the tubular housing sections 18a and 18b. The shoe means 25 includes three shoe assemblies 25a positioned circumferentially about the tubular housing section 18a and extending into a resilient, holding engagement against the exterior surface 20g of the piston rod 20. The exterior surface 20g of the piston rod 20 can be specially treated such as by a spray to enhance the gripping and holding action of each of the shoe assemblies 25a. Each shoe assembly 25a includes a shoe member 25b having a convex inner face 250 for engaging the piston rod 20. The shoe member 25b is attached to a leaf spring 25d by means of i a screw 25e. The leaf spring 25d is mounted onto an exterior cylindrical housing 25f. The cylindrical housing 25f is concentrically mounted about the tubular housing section 18a by means of set ,screws 25g. The leaf springs 25d and the shoe members 25b mounted therewith extend downwardly from the sleeve housing 25f into vertical slots 1811 in the tubular housing sectionlSa. The leaf springs 25d act to resiliently urge the shoe members 25b into engagement with the piston rod 20 in order to maintain the piston rod 20 in position against the pressure of the fluid in the housing chamber H or against any other pressures acting on the tool T. However, the shoe members 25b do allow the piston rod 20 to be jarred upwardly and downwardly by the jar 12.

The universal joint housing b acts to mount the upper and lower

tool housing sections

150 and 15b for universal movement with respect to each other in order that the tool T can be moved through a well tubing W in spite of multi-directional variations therein which are caused by crooked tubing in a crooked hole. The universal housing 15b includes a universal block 260 which is attached to spaced lugs 26b and 260 which depend from the lower and portion 18d of the tubular housing section 18b. The downwardly depending lugs 26b and 26c are mounted onto the block member 26a by pins (not shown) or other suitable means which allow relative pivotal movement between the tubular housing section 18b and the block member 26a in a first plane. A connector sleeve 27 includes upwardly depending

lugs

27a and 27b which are attached to the block member 26a by

pins

270 and 27d. The connector sleeve 27 is thus mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the block member in a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane. The connector sleeve 27 is threadedly attached to a tubular coupling 28a of the bottom housing 15c.

A flexible hose 29 is mounted in the bore 18e in the lower end portion 18d of the tubular housing section 18b by means of a threadedly mounted nipple 30. The flexible hose or tubing 29 extends through an opening 26d in the block member 26a into connection with a nipple 31 which is mounted in an adaptor 32, positioned within a cavity 27e in the connector sleeve 27. The lower end portion of the connector sleeve 27 includes a passageway 27f in fluid communication with a passageway 32a in the adaptor 32. In this manner, fluid is transferable from the housing chamber H in the housing section 18b through the universal joint connection provided by block member 26a and into the tubing 33 extending into the lower housing 15c. Thus, fluid communication extends from the housing chamber H, through the universal joint connection 15b and into tube 33 of lower tool housing 15c; and, the joint 15b serves to mount the housing section 15b and 15c for universal, pivotal movement.

The adapter 32 includes fishing neck portion 32a which can be used for gripping by a fishing tool, if needed. Further, the adapter 32 is connected to the connector sleeve 27 by shear pins 32b and 32c. If necessary, the wireline can be manipulated to cause shear pins 32b and 32c to shear and allow the sleeve 27 and the remainder of the upper part of the tool T to be removed. Then, the neck portion 32a is exposed for removal of the bottom part of the tool T by a suitable fishing tool.

The coupling 28a of the lower housing 150 is threadedly connected at 28b to a lower tubular or pipe section 28b which has mounted thereon the inflatable memory sleeve 16a. A cap 280 is threadedly mounted at 28d onto the lower end of the tubular housing section 28b. The tubing 33 extends from the connector sleeve passageway 27f through the coupling 28a and the tubing sleeve 28b and terminates in a welded connection in an opening 280 in the tubular section 28b.

The yieldable memory means 16 has been defined as including an inflatable memory sleeve 16a which is mounted onto the tubular housing section 28b by means of

bands

34a and 34b. The inflatable memory sleeve 16a includes a main sleeve section 16b which may be a 4-ply nylon orother suitable fabric. The

bands

34a and 34b mount the main sleeve. section 16b in a sealed manner onto the outside of the tubular housing section 28b in order to provide a sealed. annular sleeve chamber C between the tubular housing section 28b and the inflatable sleeve section 16b'. It should be understoodthat the inflatable sleeve section 1617 can be made of any suitable fabric which is capable of providing a sealed, sleeve chamber C and is capable of being expanded and contracted between an inflated position illustrated in FIG. 4'and a deflated position as illustrated in FIG. 6. I

The inflatable sleeve section 16b has mounted? thereon a cylindrical outer section 16c of an impression bodiment of this invention, the outer sleeve section 168 is an uncured rubber which is capable of being expanded into engagement with the inside wall'10 of the well tubing for making an impression of any defects or damaged areas such as the hole and the pit 10d. A critical property of the impression making material such as uncured rubber is that the material becapable of penetrating, entering or expanding into such defects as 10a and 10d in order to make an impression thereof, which impression is at least temporarily set into the material. Referring to FIG. 6, the

impressions

35a, 35b and 350 of uncured rubber have been formed by entry of the'outer sleeve section 161' into the

holes

10a, 10b and 20c, respectively, in the inside well tubing wall 10. The protrusion 35d represents an impression of the pit 10d. It is noted that the yieldable material of the section l6c enters the defects sufficiently to make an impression of overall size and depth thereof. Thus the impression making material 16c acts to enter defects or holes in the well tubing wall-10 in order to makeexact impressions thereof, which may be later examined after the tool T has been raised out of the well tubing W. In this manner, the exact nature, location and extent of damage to the well tubing T can be determined. I i t Y The bottom 28c includes a first enlarged boreportion 282 and a second, smaller bore portion 28f in fluid communication with the bore portion 28e. A pressure equalization tube 36 is mounted in the tubing housing section 28b and extends downwardly into the cap bore 282. A plug 37 secures the lower end 36a of the tubing in the cap bore 28e. The plug includes O-ring seals 37a and 37b which seal off fluid communication between the tubing housing section 28b and the cap 280 except through the tube 36. A pressure-equalization means 38 is mounted in the cap bore 28e and includes a ball valve 38a which is nonnally seated against valve 'seat 38b which is formed at. the junction of the inside walls which form the cap'bores 286 and 28f. The ball valve 38ais resiliently held in the ,seated position of FIG. 5 by means of a resilient spring 380. The cap 28c has passageways 28g and 28h drilled .therethrough to provide fluid communication between-the exteriorof the cap 280 and the cap bore. 28f.'.-The.pressure. equalizing means 38 is utilized to equalize thepressure within the sleeve chamber C of the inflatable memory sleeve 160 with the pressure exterior to the tool T, that is, the pressure within the well tubing W. This is particularly important as the tool is lowered into the hole and prior to inflation of the inflatable sleeve 16a. Thus whenever the tool T is being lowered on the wireline 11 into the well tubing W, the ball valve 380 will be moved to an open, unseated position whenever the pressure within the well tubing W is greater than the pressure in the sleeve chamber 35. In this manner, the double piston means 19 is utilized to pressurize the sleeve chamber 35 and thus the inflatable memory sleeve 16a .to a first pressure greater than the pressure in the well tubing W and thereafter to a second pressure greater than the first pressure-thus eliminating any necessity of the double piston means 19 having to overcome well tubing pressure during the inflation process.

The pressure equalization means 38 is also operated in conjunction with plunger 39 as a bleed off valve for bleeding off pressure in the tool T, including pressure in the housing chamber H and the sleeve chamber C. After the tool T has been utilized with the well tubing W and suitable impressions have been made of the inside tubing wall 10, the inflatable memory sleeve 16a is deflated and the tool is removed from the well tubing and raised into a lubricator (not shown). Before removal of the tool T from the lubricator, it is desirable to bleed off the pressure within the sleeve chamber C and the housing chamber H thereby reducing the pressure in the memory sleeve 16a to atmospheric pressure. The reduction of pressure within the inflatable sleeve 16a to atmospheric pressure prevents any undesirable expansion or bursting of the inflatable sleeve upon removal of the tool T from the lubricator for inspection of the outer sleeve section 160. In order to bleed off pressure within the sleeve chamber C, the tool T is lowered downwardly until the plunger head 39a engages a closed valve located below the lubricator. Engagement of the plunger 39 upon the closed valve will cause shearing of the pin 3912 which releasably holds plunger shaft 390 in an disengaged position. Upon release of the plunger 39 by shearing of the pin 39b, the plunger shaft 390 which is mounted in cap bore 28f, is free to engage the valve ball 38a and displace the valve ball such that anypressure in the sleeve chamber C can be bled outwardly through the tubing 36, into the cap bore 28e and finally outwardly through the passageways 28f and 28g. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper end 39d of the plunger shaft 39c has a reduced diameter portion which allows the exit of fluid from the cap bore 28e into the passageways 28g and 28h.

The tubing housing section 2817 further includes bottom ports 40a and 40b located below memory sleeve 16a and

top ports

40c and 40d located above memory sleeve 16a. As the tool T is lowered through the well tubing W, the ports 40a and 40b allow the entry of any fluid in the well tubing W such that such'fluid can be moved upwardly through the tubing housing section 28b and outwardly through the

ports

40c and 40d thereby overcoming any resistance which such well tubing fluid might otherwise offer. In addition, the

ports

40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d allow the passage of fluid through the tubing housing section 28b while the memory sleeve 16a is inflated in order to prevent any pressure buildup on either side of the inflatable sleeve 16a.

An alternate form T-l of the well tool apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 9-11. In describing the tool T-l, like numbers and letters will be used to describe like parts. The basic difference between the tool T-l and the tool T is in the means for pressurizing the inflatable sleeve 16a. In FIGS. 9'1'1 a wireline actuated means in the form of single piston member 41 is attached by fishing neck portion 41a to the hydraulic or mechanical jar sub 12a. The piston member 41a extends into the tubular housing section 18a and is mounted therein for slidable movement. The piston member 41 has a piston head 41b having mounted thereon O-rings 41c and 41d which mount the piston member 41 for slidable, sealable movement withinthe housing 41a. Of course, the

slidable mounting of the piston 41 within the tubular housing section 18a provides a housing chamber H for receiving hydraulic or other fluid, which housing chamber H is in fluid communication with the sleeve chamber C for the inflatable sleeve 16a, utilizing substantially the same structure as set forth in the description of the well tool T.

Piston engaging means generally designated as 42 are mounted .on to the tubular housing section 18a for engaging the piston 41 and holding the position of the piston 41 within the housing 18a. The piston engaging means 42 includes a sleeve housing 42a mounted by a set screw 42b onto the exterior of the tubular housing section 18 1. Three leaf springs 420 are mounted onto and extend downwardly into the previously described slots 1811 in the housing section 18a. A ball 42d is attached to the interior of each of the leaf spring 42c. The leaf springs 42c are biased such that each leaf spring resiliently urges the ball 42d attached thereto into resilient engagement with exterior wall 4le of the piston member 41.

The exterior wall or surface 41:; of the piston member 41 is provided with a substantially continuous helical groove 41f of sufficient depth to receive the balls 42d. As the piston member 41 is jarred downwardly under the successive forces applied by the jar 12, the balls 42 are flipped outwardly from one groove and into another such that the balls 42 serve to maintain the piston member 41 in each successive downward position. Whenever it is desirable to move the piston member upwardly, the piston member 41 can be either jarred upwardly thus flipping the ball members 42 inwardly and outwardly of successive groove positions; or, the piston member 41 can be rotated or screwed outwardly thus utilizing the helical groove 41f as a thread.

OPERATION AND USE OF THE WIRELINE ACTUATED WELL TOOLS T AND T-l Before running the wireline tool T downhole in the well tubing W, it may be necessary to first locate the leaks, if any in the well tubing, so that the tool T can be lowered to the proper location for use. Several procedures can be utilized to determine the actual location of a particular leak. For example, if the well tubing W is production tubing positioned within casing, a packer can be lowered into the production tubing to the approximate location of the leak. .Then the casing pressure can be lowered down while maintaining the production tubing pressure. If the casing pressure does not thereafter build back up, then the packer has been inflated into engagement with the leak in the production tubing and the location of the leak is pinpointed. If the packer has not covered the leak, the casing pressure will build backup again and the packer is relocated until the leak is discovered. After the supposedly leaking area in the well tubing has been located, the well tool T is placed in the lubricator and, with the lubricator pressurized to at leastthe pressure level of the well tubing W the wireline is operated to run the tool T downhole into the well tubing W. Of course, either of the tools T or H can be used as a locator tool simply by making successive impressions of locations in too] tubing T and noting the depth thereof.

' When the tool T has been lowered to the desired depth or location, desired reached, the slip assembly 22 is operated by reciprocation of the tool T to cause theslip elements 22d to expand into engagement with the well tubing wall 10. In this manner, the entire housing including

housing portions

15a, 15b, and 150 are locked in a stationary position with the respect to the well tubing W.

The mechanical or hydraulic jar is then operated to jar down by successive blows the piston rod and the sleeve piston 21, which are locked for joint movement by the latch means 23. Successive blows by the jar 12 move the piston rod 20 and sleeve piston 21 longitudinally through the tubular housing section 18a until the piston rod 20 enters the tubular housing section 18b. The joint movement of the piston rod 20 and the sleeve piston 21 pressurizes the fluid in the housing chamber H and thus in the inflatable sleeve chamber C to a first pressure, which is equal to the force applied by the jar 12 divided by the combined area of the bottom face 20f of the piston rod 20 and the bottom rim 21T of the sleeve piston 21.

Further operation of the jar 12 acts to drive the piston rod 20 further into the lower tubular housing section 18b. As the latch arm 23a enters the housing section 18b, the latch arm is pivoted inwardly out. of engagement with the sleeve piston thereby releasing the sleeve piston 20 from further movement with the piston rod 21. Further jarring thus moves the piston rod 20 further into the sleeve housing section 18b thereby pressurizing the sleeve chamber 35 of the inflatable sleeve 16a to a second pressure. This second pressure is higher than the first pressure since the second pressure is equal to the force applied by the hydraulic jar divided by the area of the piston face 20f only, which is a smaller area than the combined area of the piston face 20f and the annular bottom rim 21f of the sleeve piston 21. In this manner, the hydraulic jar 12 in conjunction with the double piston means 17 serves to pressurize the inflatable sleeve 16a to a first pressure and thereafter to a second pressure higher than the first pressure. This allows substantial expansion of the sleeve section 160 into an impression making engagement with the inside well tubing wall 10. The uncured rubber section 16c attached to the inflatable sleeve section 16b is thus forced into engagement with the inside well tubing wall 10 such that the yieldable material thereof is forced to enter and make impressions of holes such as 10a or defects such as 10d in the well tubing wall 10.

After the impressions, which may appear as the nodules 35a35d in FIG. 6, are formed, thejar 12 is actuated to jar up the piston rod 20. Movement of the piston rod 20 upwardly and outwardly of the tubular housing section 18b releases or deflates the inflatable sleeve 16a from the second higher pressure to the first pressure. As the piston rod 20 is moved outwardly of the top of the housing section 18b, the leaf spring 23c serves to push the latch arm 23 outwardly into the annular recess 21d in the sleeve piston 21 such that the the upwardly facing latch recess shoulder 23h is aligned to engage the bottom rim 21f of the sleeve piston. Thereafter, further upward movement of the piston rod 20 is joint and simultaneous with further upward movement of the sleeve piston 21 and continues until the pressure in the inflatable sleeve chambers C and housing chamber H is reduced to.the pressure in the well tubing W. The pressure in housing chamber H and sleeve chamber C with the memory sleeve 16a is equal to the pressure in well tubing Wthis is due to the resiliently mounted check valve 38a. At this point, the inflatable sleeve 16a has been completely deflated and the tool T is ready for removal, subject to release of the slip assembly 23. The slip assembly 22 is released by reciprocation of the entire tool T such that the cone 222 is moved outwardly of the slip housing 220 and the slip finger lid is returned to a radiallyinward position out of engagement with the well tubing inside wall 10. The tool T is then raised out of the well tubing W and into the lubricator, which is not shown. Typically, the pressure in the lubricator is equal to or greater than the pressure in the downhole well tubing and must be released before the lubricator can be opened and the tool T therein can be removed.

The pressure in the lubricator is thus bled off. But before the lubricator pressure is bled off, the tool T is lowered downwardly until plunger head 39a engages a closed valve located below the lubricator. The sudden lowering or dropping of the entire tool T onto the blowout preventor rams causes the plunger shaft 39 to be released from the shear pin 39b and thus move upwardly and displace the ball valve 38a so that the fluid in the housing chamber H and the sleeve chamber C is bled outwardly through the tubing 36, the cap bores 282 and 28f and the passageways 28g and 2811. In this manner, the pressure within the tool T and in particular within the inflatable sleeve 16a is reduced to atmospheric pressure at the same time that the pressure in the lubricator is reduced to atmospheric pressure! This prevents thr bursting of the inflatable sleeve pressure. a when the tool T is removed from the lubricator. The tool T is removed from the lubricator and the external surface of the impression making material is inspected to determine the location of the nodules such as 35a and 35d and their size. In this manner, the exact location and depth of pits, holes, cracks or other defects or damaged areas in the well tubing W may be exactly determined. After such leaks and other defects have been located and the extent of the damage exactly determined, the decision is then made as to what type of patch or replacement procedures will be used to repair the well tubing W.

The well tool T-1 (FIG. 9) is operated in a manner identical to the operation of the well tool T except that the jar 12 operates to drive the single piston member 41 (FIG. 10) downwardly within the housing section (FIG. 10) to pressurize the sleeve chamber C (FIG. 4) and inflate the inflatable sleeve 16a (FIG. 4) into engagement with the inside well tubing wall 10 at a single pressure higher than the well tubing T.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well asin the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

I claim:

l. A wireline operated tool-for obtaining the'impression of the inside wall of--well tubing,1 comprising:

A tubular supporthousing adaptedfor-positioning within a well tubing on awirelin'e', r t yieldable memory means mounted Withsaid tubular support housing, said-yieldable memory. means being inflatable into engagement with-the-in side wall of said well tubingfor making. impressions of any damaged areasor defects i'n saidinside wall caused'by corrosionor other meansy 5 wireline actuated means for expanding saidyieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining such impressions and for-thereafter deflating saidmemory m'a'ns for removal of ated means including: V g i double piston means mounted for movement longitudinally withiri said tubular sup'porthousing for pressurizing said'yie'ldable memorymeans to a first pressure and then to asecond- 'pressure higher than said firstpressure to cause said yi eldable memory'hieans to effectively enter defects said tool from said well tubing, said'wirelineactuor damaged areas in said inside wall to obtain impressions thereof.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1.,whereinz} said yieldable memory ineans includes an inflatable sleeve mounted on said tubular support housing in fluid communication with said double piston means; and

said yieldable means having a yieldable external surface for engaging the inside wall of said well tubing for entering any defects or damaged areas therein for making impressions thereof.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, including:

pressure equalization means mounted with said housing for substantially equalizing the pressure in said inflatable sleeve prior to inflation with the pressure outside of said tool.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

said tubular support housing having means for equal-- i'zing well fluid pressure above and below said tubular support housing in said well tubing. 5. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising:

a tubular support housing adapted for positioningwithin a well tubing on a wireline;

yieldable memory means mounted with said tubular support housing, said yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing for making impressions of a first piston member adapted for connection to a wireline jarring tool, said first piston member being mounted for movement within and longitudinally of said tubular support housing; and

a second piston member being mounted for joint movement with said first piston member for inflating said yieldable memory means to a first pressure. 6 The structure set forth in claim 5, including:

means for releasing said first piston member from r joint movement with said second piston member,

" 1 saidfirst piston member being further movable within said tubular support housing for pressurizing v saidryieldable memorymeans to a second pressure higher than said first pressure. 7,1 Thestructure set forth in claim 5, wherein said wireline actuated rneansincludes: v said first piston member is a rod mounted for longitudinal movement through a firsthousing section of said tubular support housing; i I said second, piston member being a cyclindilical sleeve piston positioned about said rod for slidable, sealable .rnovementbetween saidrod and said first housing section. v g, I i 8 The structure set forth in claim 7, including: said tubular support housing including a, second housing section; and. a rel ea'sable latch is mounted with said rod for releasing said rod and said sleeve piston from joint movement for slidable, sealable movement of said rod with in second. housing section. r -9. The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said yieldable. memory-means is an inflatable sleeve mounted with said tubular support housing such that a sealed sleeve char'nberis formed; and said first and second piston members and said tubular support housing having seal means mounted therewith to provide a sealed housing chamber within said housing in said fluid communication with sleeve chamber whereby the entry of fluid under pressure from said housing chamber into said sleeve chamber causes inflation of said inflatable sleeve. 10. The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said first piston member and said housing including means'maintaining the longitudinal position of said first piston member in said housing. 1 l. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising:

a tubular support housing adapted for positioning within a well tubing on a wireline; yieldable memory means mounted with said tubular support housing, said yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing for making impressions of any damaged areas or defects in said inside wall caused by corrosion or other means;

wireline actuated means for expanding said yieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining such impressions and for thereafter deflating said memory means for removal of said tool from said well tubing;

said wireline actuated means includes piston means mounted within said tubular support housing for slidable, sealable movement with respect thereto to form a sealed housing chamber in said housing, said sealed chamber having fluid therein;

said yieldable memory means including an inflatable sleeve sealably mounted with said tubular support housing, said inflatable sleeve and said housing forming a sleeve chamber in fluid communication with said housing chamber; and

said piston means being connected to a wireline jarring tool for driving said piston means further into said housing for inflating said sleeve into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said piston means includes a piston member mounted in said housing for slidable, scalable movement longitudinally thereof; and

said piston member having a grooved external sur' face; and

said housing having mounted therewith yieldable means for engaging said grooves in external surface of said piston member for holding the position of said piston member in said housing.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12, including:

said grooved external piston surface is formed by a substantially continuous helical groove whereby said piston member can be withdrawn from said housing by rotating said piston member with respect to said housing.

14. The structure set forth in claim 11, including:

pressure relief means mounted with said housing for allowing pressure in said sleeve chamber to bleed off.

15. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising:

a tubular support housing adapted for positioning within a well tubing on a wireline;

yieldable memory means'mounted with said tubular support housing. said, yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall-of said well tubing for making impressions of any damaged areas or defects in said inside wall caused by corrosion or other means;

wireline actuated means for expanding said yieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining suchimpressions and for thereafter deflating said memory means for removal of said tool from said well tubing;

said yicldable memory means includes an inflatable sleeve sealably mounted with said housing such that a sleeve chamber is formed between said housing and said inflatable sleeve; and i pressure relief means mounted with said housing for relieving the pressure in said sleeve chamber.

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, whereinz' said pressure relief means includes a spring-loaded check valve and a releasable plunger mounted with said housing for opening said check valve, said plunger being releasably held in position by a shear pin;

Claims

1. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising: A tubular support housing adapted for positioning within a well tubing on a wireline; yieldable memory means mounted with said tubular support housing, said yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing for making impressions of any damaged areas or defects in said inside wall caused by corrosion or other means; wireline actuated means for expanding said yieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining such impressions and for thereafter deflating said memory means for removal of said tool from said well tubing, said wireline actuated means including: double piston means mounted for movement longitudinally within said tubular support housing for pressurizing said yieldable memory means to a first pressure and then to a second pressure higher than said first pressure to cause said yieldable memory means to effectively enter defects or damaged areas in said inside wall to obtain impressions thereof.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said yieldable memory means includes an inflatable sleeve mounted on said tubular support housing in fluid communication with said double piston means; and said yieldable means having a yieldable external surface for engaging the inside wall of said well tubing for entering any defects or damaged areas therein for making impressions thereof.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, including: pressure equalization means mounted with said housing for substantially equalizing the pressure in said inflatable sleeve prior to inflation with the pressure outside of said tool.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said tubular support housing having means for equalizing well fluid pressure above and below said tubular support housing in said well tubing.

5. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising: a tubular support housing adapted for positioning within a well tubing on a wireline; yieldable memory means mounted with said tubular support housing, said yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing for making impressions of any damaged areas or defects in said inside wall caused by corrosion or other means; wireline actuated means for expanding said yieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining such impressions and for thereafter deflating said memory means for removal of said tool from said well tubing, said wireline actuated means including: a first piston member adapted for connection to a wireline jarring tool, said first piston member being mounted for movement within and longitudinally of said tubular support housing; and a second piston member being mounted for joint movement with said first piston member for inflating said yieldable memory means to a first pressure.

6. The sTructure set forth in claim 5, including: means for releasing said first piston member from joint movement with said second piston member, said first piston member being further movable within said tubular support housing for pressurizing said yieldable memory means to a second pressure higher than said first pressure.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said wireline actuated means includes: said first piston member is a rod mounted for longitudinal movement through a first housing section of said tubular support housing; said second piston member being a cyclindrical sleeve piston positioned about said rod for slidable, sealable movement between said rod and said first housing section.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, including: said tubular support housing including a second housing section; and a releasable latch is mounted with said rod for releasing said rod and said sleeve piston from joint movement for slidable, sealable movement of said rod with in second housing section.

9. The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said yieldable memory means is an inflatable sleeve mounted with said tubular support housing such that a sealed sleeve chamber is formed; and said first and second piston members and said tubular support housing having seal means mounted therewith to provide a sealed housing chamber within said housing in said fluid communication with sleeve chamber whereby the entry of fluid under pressure from said housing chamber into said sleeve chamber causes inflation of said inflatable sleeve.

10. The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said first piston member and said housing including means maintaining the longitudinal position of said first piston member in said housing.

11. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising: a tubular support housing adapted for positioning within a well tubing on a wireline; yieldable memory means mounted with said tubular support housing, said yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing for making impressions of any damaged areas or defects in said inside wall caused by corrosion or other means; wireline actuated means for expanding said yieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining such impressions and for thereafter deflating said memory means for removal of said tool from said well tubing; said wireline actuated means includes piston means mounted within said tubular support housing for slidable, sealable movement with respect thereto to form a sealed housing chamber in said housing, said sealed chamber having fluid therein; said yieldable memory means including an inflatable sleeve sealably mounted with said tubular support housing, said inflatable sleeve and said housing forming a sleeve chamber in fluid communication with said housing chamber; and said piston means being connected to a wireline jarring tool for driving said piston means further into said housing for inflating said sleeve into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11, wherein: said piston means includes a piston member mounted in said housing for slidable, sealable movement longitudinally thereof; and said piston member having a grooved external surface; and said housing having mounted therewith yieldable means for engaging said grooves in external surface of said piston member for holding the position of said piston member in said housing.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12, including: said grooved external piston surface is formed by a substantially continuous helical groove whereby said piston member can be withdrawn from said housing by rotating said piston member with respect to said housing.

14. The structure set forth in claim 11, including: pressure relief means mounted with said housing for allowing pressuRe in said sleeve chamber to bleed off.

15. A wireline operated tool for obtaining the impression of the inside wall of well tubing, comprising: a tubular support housing adapted for positioning within a well tubing on a wireline; yieldable memory means mounted with said tubular support housing, said yieldable memory means being inflatable into engagement with the inside wall of said well tubing for making impressions of any damaged areas or defects in said inside wall caused by corrosion or other means; wireline actuated means for expanding said yieldable memory means into engagement with said inside wall for obtaining such impressions and for thereafter deflating said memory means for removal of said tool from said well tubing; said yieldable memory means includes an inflatable sleeve sealably mounted with said housing such that a sleeve chamber is formed between said housing and said inflatable sleeve; and pressure relief means mounted with said housing for relieving the pressure in said sleeve chamber.

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, wherein: said pressure relief means includes a spring-loaded check valve and a releasable plunger mounted with said housing for opening said check valve, said plunger being releasably held in position by a shear pin.