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
  • E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
  • E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
  • E21B34/14—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools
• • 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
  • E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
  • E21B29/002—Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe
  • E21B29/005—Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe with a radially-expansible cutter rotating inside the pipe, e.g. for cutting an annular window
• • 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
  • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
  • E21B23/06—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for setting packers
• • 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
  • E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
  • E21B29/002—Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/128—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure
  • E21B33/1285—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure by fluid pressure
• • 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
  • E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
  • E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
  • E21B34/10—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• • 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
  • E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
  • E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
  • E21B34/12—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by movement of casings or tubings
• • 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
  • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
  • E21B2200/04—Ball valves

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a downhole tool for utilizing drill pipe string pressure and flow for actuating an annular piston sleeve to actuate a tool component.
• the tool component is a packer or a cutter assembly.
• the tool is used for cutting a casing or for setting a packer in the casing, or a combination of cutting a casing and setting a packer above the cut in order to test formation integrity, or rather the possibility of circulating fluid through the cut made in the casing when the toolstring annulus is closed, in order to indicate that the severed-off casing section is more or less free to be pulled out of hole.
• the invention may be used for utilizing drill pipe string pressure and flow for shutting a ball valve element in the tool in order to exert a pressure in the toolstring above the closed ball valve so as for setting a spear, setting an anchor in a casing above the severed-off casing section, and actuating a jack on said anchor in order to utilize an elevated pressure to jack free the severed-off casing section the stroke length of the jack, and, if required, to repeat the anchor-and-jack operation until the entire toolstring with the severed-off casing section may be pulled out of hole, i.e. out of the well.
• the casing pipe recovery process may comprise the following steps:
• a bridge plug and a cement plug is formed below the desired cut.
• the cutter tool is activated by a drop ball and pressure is set in order to move a piston to extend its knives, and the casing is rotation cut.
• the spear is activated by a new ball dropped and tension is set on the drill pipe string to test whether the cut off casing section is free.
• the casing is pulled out of hole.
• the background art casing cutting and pulling process is slow and allows only short sections to be cut at a time.
• Once a ball is dropped to activate the cutter tool or spear the ball drop may usually not be undone, drilling fluid will be trapped above the ball, and one has to pull the drill pipe string in a wet condition out of hole, which is an undesirable mud-spilling experience on the drilling deck.
• N020191033 describes a drill pipe string conveyed casing cutter tool comprising with casing cutter knife arms rotatable on pivot axles, the knife arms retractable into recesses in the main body. It has a spring-loaded piston sleeve with central bore axially arranged in the main body.
• the piston sleeve is provided with a ball valve actuated by a translation of a piston sleeve so as for shutting said central bore so as for when pressure is set from surface through said drill pipe string and said ball valve thus is closed, said piston will move and actuate said knife arms to a cutting position, for rotation cutting an inner wall of a casing when said drill pipe string is rotated. It has a lateral passage for circulation when the ball valve is closed.
• US3971438 describes in col. 6 lines 6 to 31 a ball valve with a cap, and in a cosed position the cap has an opening/port where fluid can flow through the cap port to equalize pressure across the ball valve.
• GB2544136 describes a circulation subasembly comprising a ball valve, a piston, and a seleee with adjustable stroke stoppers, arranged to be electromechanicaly controled to stop the piston sleeves at three seectable positons for : ball valve in a flow through condition, ball valve in partial bypass condition, and ball valve to closed position.
• a problem of the prior art is to provide a tool which may actuate to extend the knives of the cutter tool or to set the packer above the cut, or a combination of the two, without having to drop a ball in order to actuate the knives or the packer. It is further difficult to test whether there is circulation, or sufficient circulation capacity in the casing annulus of the severed-off casing, i.e. whether the severed-off casing is probably free, or needs washing through the cut, before trying to pull it out of hole.
• the invention is a drill pipe string conveyed ball valve tool (10, 20, 30) comprising:
• a mandrel (101, 201, 301) with a through bore (102, 202, 302) connectable to said drill pipe string and having an axially stroking main piston (103, 203, 303) and piston rod (104, 204, 304) having an axial through bore (105, 205, 305), arranged in said through bore (102, 202, 302),
• auxiliary ball valve element (106, 206, 306) having a full main bore and a restricted transverse bore (109, 209, 309), and arranged in said piston rod (104, 204, 304),
• a radial port (116, 216, 316) from said piston rod (104, 204, 304) to communicate with a tool actuator piston chamber (114, 214, 314) of said mandrel (101, 201, 301) to a tool actuator piston (113, 213, 313) arranged for actuating a tool component (111, 211, 311).
• the invention is also a method for actuating a tool component (111, 211, 311), the method comprising
• Fig. 1 illustrates a single auxiliary ball valve with nozzle - packer embodiment. It illustrates in a vertical section a drill pipe conveyed tool with an auxiliary ball valve with either a fully open bore or a transverse restricted bore is arranged to be aligned with the main bore of the tool. Please note that the cam mechanism and the axle for turning the auxiliary ball valve is shown 90 degrees out of their actual positions in order to facilitate the illustration.
• the embodiment illustrated has a packer assembly for sealing the toolstring annulus against a casing.
• the central bore 102 is the central bore of mandrel 101, varying in diameter depending on parts of 104 piston rod.
• the L0 delimiter actuated for circulation or cementing flow, in order not to move piston, in order not to actuate ball valve (106, 206).
• auxiliary ball valve 106 is not activated. Note: L0 delimiter actuated for circulation or cementing flow not to move piston.
• Fig. 2. illustrates the same tool as in Fig. 1 and shows the ball valve element 106 turned with its restricted bore (or nozzle) 109 into alignment with the main bore, and a tool actuating piston 113 is hydraulically actuated to mechanically actuate a tool component, in this case the packer assembly 111, 112.
• the ports 116, 115 are aligned, ball valve 106 is activated.
• LI delimiter is actuated in order to allow to move piston rod 104 to let close auxiliary ball valve.
• the transverse restriction 109 is shifted into the main bore 105 to allow a restricted flow.
• the turning is done e.g. using a cam mechanism 126 arranged for turning aux. ball valve 106 back and forth depending on the stroke length of the piston rod 104.
• Fig. 3 illustrates in a vertical section an embodiment of a drill pipe conveyed tool with an auxiliary ball valve as in Fig. 1, but wherein the embodiment illustrated has a knife assembly arranged for cutting a casing.
• the central bore 202 is the central bore of mandrel 201, varying in diameter depending on parts of 204 piston rod.
• Ports 216, 215 are not aligned, aux ball valve 206 is not activated.
• Fig. 4 illustrates a tool similar to the one in Fig. 2, with the main difference being that instead of the tool actuating piston actuating a packer, it actuates a knife assembly in order to cut a surrounding casing.
• the LI delimiter is actuated, which allows to move the piston to close the auxiliary ball valve 206, and to open lateral channels 216, 215 from the piston rod to the chamber 214 to actuate the knife acturator piston 213.
• the transverse restriction 209 is shifted into the main bore 205 to allow a restricted flow.
• the turning is done e.g. using a cam mechanism 226 arranged for turning aux. ball valve 206 back and forth depending on the stroke length of the piston rod 204.
• Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate a dual ball valve embodiment with main ball valve and auxiliary ball valve with nozzle and packer.
• Fig. 5 illustrates in a vertical section an embodiment of a drill pipe conveyed tool similar to the tool illustrated in Fig. 1, with the addition of a main ball valve 107, wherein both ball valves, main ball valve 107 and auxiliary ball valve 106 are in their fully open position.
• L0 stroke length delimiter is activated in order not to allow pressure nor flow to move main ball valve 106 to move to LI to close, in order to prevent e.g. cementing flow from moving the piston rod 104.
• Fig. 6 illustrates a first stroke length actuated piston length 1 of the tool of Fig. 5, wherein the auxiliary ball valve element is turned to have its restriction in the main bore, flow and pressure is increased to actuate the annular sleeve piston to actuate the packer e.g. against a casing, while allowing circulation through the tool's restriction.
• This embodiment may be used for testing circulation below the set packer, e.g. through a cut made by the cutter tool.
• LI delimiter is actuated in order to allow to move piston rod 104 with auxiliary ball valve 106 to close in order to switch the restriction 109 into the main bore to restrict flow and build up pressure further.
• Ports 116, 115 are aligned to allow pressure to build up in the external piston chamber 114 in order to
• Fig. 7 illustrates a second stroke length actuated piston length L2 of the tool of Fig. 5 and 6, wherein the main ball valve 107 is allowed to close so as for providing the possiblity of excerting a further elevated pressure on the drill pipe string conveyed tool and toolstring above the closed main ball valve element 107.
• the L2 delimiter is actuated in order to allow to move piston rod 104 to close main ball valve 107.
• ports 116, 115 are not aligned, packer 112 is not activated. In this position the tool actuating piston 113 is released and returns and the packer 112 is retracted.
• the further elevated pressure in the drill pipe string may be utilized to set a spear, to set an anchor above the spear, and to actuate said anchor to jack out a casing section.
• Fig. 8 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention including a drill pipe string conveyed combination of a cutter tool and a packer tool, wherein the auxiliary ball valves of both are open (and also a main ball valve of the packer tool).
• One may run the toolstring into hole and cement through the full bore of both tools.
• the packer (111) of the ball valve tool (10) with packer assembly is shown in a passive, unengaged state. Ports (116, 115) are not aligned, the auxiliary ball valve (106) with nozzle is not actuated.
• the ball valve tool (20) has not actuated knives (212), and the auxiliary ball valve (206) is fully open while circulating in cement slurry also through the auxiliary ball valve (206).
• Fig. 9 is an illustration of the toolstring embodiment of Fig. 8 wherein pressure is increased and a piston (203) and piston rod (204) of the cutter tool (20) is allowed to stroke to a first stroke length LI in the cutter tool (20) to shift the auxiliary ball valve element's (206) restricted transverse bore (209) (relative to the main bore of the ball valve element (201)), into the main bore, which will dynamically increase the pressure above the restriction while allow flow through the auxiliary ball valve (206) restricted bore (209), displace the cutter tool piston (203) and piston rod (204) to align ports (216, 215) to increase the pressure in tool piston chamber (214) on knife actuating piston (213), see Fig. 4, and extend the knives (212) and rotation-cut the casing.
• the auiliary ball valve (106) on piston rod (104) is not allowed to stroke thus the packer (111) remains passive. Pressure and flow, see dashed line, through the cutter tool is circulated out and returns past the non-activated packer (111) of the ball valve tool (10) with packer assembly (111).
• the main ball valve (107) remains open, Please also see Fig. 6.
• Fig.10 is an illustration of a further step from the situation in Fig. 9, wherein the pressure in the drill pips string has been reduced thus the pressure on knife actuating piston (213) is reduced, thus released to allow knife (212) retraction, and the packer tool (10) set to allow a first stroke length (LI) of the piston (103) and piston rod (104), and its auxiliary ball valve (106) to shift its transverse restriction (109) 90 degrees into the main bore and dynamically increase the pressure to set the packer .
• a circulation test through the circumferential slit through the cut casing may be performed in order to indicate whether the severed-off casing section 's annulus is free, and possibly allow to wash the annulus.
• Fig. 11 illustrates a further step from the situation in Fig. 10.
• This step may be used after the situation of Fig. 10 wherein circulation in the casing annulus about the severed-off casing section is confirmed.
• the main ball valve (107) of the packer tool is closed to allow an increase of the pressure in the drill pipe string.
• a spear (30) may be set using the spear tool (30), see Fig.
• the toolstring (10, 20, 30) and the severed-off casing may be pulled out of hole. If not possible to pull out directly, one may use the increased pressure to set an anchor (40) and jack tool (50) and jack out the severed-out casing.
• Figs. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a context of an embodiment of the present invention and a method for cutting casingand testing for annulus circulation and preparing for jacking using a spear tool (30) arranged above the packer tool (10).
• the toolstring length (L) from cutter tool (20) to the anchor (40) may be 30 to 600 m, in an embodiment more preferably 50 - 400 m, and in a further embodiment 50 to 300 m.
• Fig. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the wider application of the invention using a combined cutter tool (20), a packer tool (10), a spear (30), all for operating in a first casing, combined via a space-out drill pipe string (DP) to an above anchor (40) and jack tool for use in an above, wider casing.
• the cutter tool (20) auxiliary ball valve (106) is activated and thus the cutter actuation piston (213) actuates the knives (212) , the cutter tool (20) is rotated and cuts the casing while fluid is circulated via the restricted bore (209) still allowing some flow.
• Fig. 13 illustrates a further step after the cut has been made, and cutter tool (20) is commanded so as for the knives (212) are retracted.
• the auxiliary ball valve (106) of the packer tool (10) is allowed to be stroked a first length (LI) and turn its restricted nozzle (109) into the flow; the pressure dynamically increases and is led to the sleeve piston (113) which sets the packer (111, 112) onto the casing section above the cut. Fluid is now circulated via the auxiliary ball valve (106) transverse aperture (109) and via the bore of the cutter tool (20) and via the cut to test whether there is annulus circulation. A perforation below the casing shoe may be required for testing circulation.
• Fig. 14 illustrates a further step after casing annulus circulation is confirmed.
• the packer tool is released, the toolstring is pulled up and the main ball valve (107) of the packer tool (10)
• Fig. 15 illustrates an embodiment of the invention similar to the one in Figs. 1 and 3 with two main differences: Firstly, it has a slips assembly replacing the packer assembly of Fig. 1 or the knife assembly of Fig. 3. Moreover, the tool actuating piston sleeve has been turned to work downwardly in order to compress the slips assembly towards an upwardly facing shoulder of the tool mandrel. In this way the upwardly facing shoulder of the tool mandrel will maintain its force onto the lower part of the slips assembly and thus under drill pipe string tension maintain a holding force of the slips onto a casing, even if the pressure releases. This may allow pulling on the drill pipe string and the slips maintaining the grip on the severed-off casing section and allow stroking out a jack before increasing the pressure to set the anchor and further increasing the pressure to jack loos the severed-off casing section.
• Fig. 16 shows, like Fig. 15, a single auxiliary ball valve with nozzle in a spear or anchor embodiment with DP string hold force maintenance. Flere, pressure is increased, flow is increased, auxiliary ball valve is actuated, then the channels 316 and 315 are aligned, and slips are set.
• the invention provides a drill pipe string conveyed ball valve tool (10, 20, 30) comprising:
• a mandrel 101, 201, 301 with a through bore (102, 202, 302) connectable to said drill pipe string and having an axially stroking main piston (103, 203, 303) and piston rod (104, 204, 304) having an axial through bore (105, 205, 305), arranged in said through bore (102, 202, 302), wherein
• auxiliary ball valve element (106, 206, 306) having a full main bore and a restricted transverse bore (109, 209, 309), and arranged in said piston rod (104, 204, 304), and wherein
• a radial port (116, 216, 316) from said piston rod (104, 204, 304) to communicate with a tool actuator piston chamber (114, 214, 314) of said mandrel (101, 201, 301) to a tool actuator piston (113, 213, 313) arranged for actuating a tool component (111, 211, 311).
• the stroke lengths (L1) forthe different embodiments of the packer tool , the cuttertool, and the spear tool discussed above and below may be different depending on the actual design of each tool, and could have been indicated as L1-1 , L1-2, L1-3, but we have used the simpler notation L1 .
• the stroking of said main piston may take place when a sufficient differential pressure across the piston and rod exceeds the bias force of a bias return spring (119, 219, 319) arranged for biasing the main piston (103, 203, 303) and said piston rod (104, 204, 304) towards the initial position (L0). Please notice that a flow through the central bore (105, 205, 305) creates a dynamic pressure in addition to the differential pressure.
• the bias return spring force holds the piston and rod in the initial position (L0) when cementing through the axial through bore (105, 205, 305) of the main piston and piston rod, and also during washing fluid circulation after cementing.
• an electromechanical unit 118, 218, 318) arranged for adjusting a stroke length control mechanism (108, 208, 308) for selectively allowing said different stroke lengths (L0, L1), respectively. If this is set to stroke length (L0) the main piston (103, 203, 303) and piston rod (104, 204, 304) will not start moving beyond (L0) which normally is the fully retracted position.
• the stroke length control mechanism may in its simplest embodiment be exploiting different levels of pressure required to overcome the bias force of the bias return spring (119, 219, 319).
• the piston rod fluid port (116, 216, 316) is arranged above / proximally relative to said auxiliary ball valve element (106, 206, 306).
• the mandrel fluid port (115, 215, 315) is unaligned with said piston rod's (104, 204, 304) fluid port (116, 216, 316) when said piston rod (104, 204, 314) in the initial piston stroke length (L0).
• This is an additional advantage when cementing and washing, and the ports (115, 116, 215, 216, 315, 316) are closed during cementing in order to avoid blocking and cement leakage into the piston cylinder.
• the tool further comprises an electromechanical unit (118, 218, 318) arranged for adjusting a stroke length control mechanism (108, 208, 308) for selectively allowing said different stroke lengths (L0, L1), respectively.
• the different stroke length mechanisms may be made up of purely mechanical index mechanisms which are set and unset using pressure pulses such as for first activating the auxiliary ball valve (206) controlling the knife assembly , then the auxiliary ball valve mechanism (106) controlling the packer assembly, and subsequently the auxiliary ball valve mechanism (306) controlling the spear slips assembly.
• such a stroke length control mechanism comprises an actuator of said electromechanical unit (118) arranged for shifting abutment such as protrusions in or out of engagement with corresponding abutments of the piston rod (104, 204, such as illustrated by "L0 delimiter”, “L1 delimiter” in Figs. 1 , 2, 3, 4, and further by “L2 delimiter” in Figs. 5, 6, 7.
• the tool further comprises a bias return spring (119, 219, 319) arranged for biasing the main piston (103, 203, 303) and said piston rod (104, 204, 304) towards the initial position (L0).
• the tool further comprising a tool actuator piston bias spring (120, 220) arranged for returning said tool actuator piston (113, 213, 313) when pressure in said piston chamber (114, 214) is released below a given pressure level.
• the release pressure level for the tool actuator piston bias spring (120, 220, 320) is similar to the pressure required for moving the main piston (103, 203, 303) and the piston rod (104, 204, 304) to the first stroke length (L1) where the radial port (116, 216, 316) from said piston rod (104, 204, 304) is aligned with the mandrel port (115, 215, 315) to communicate with the tool actuator piston chamber (114, 214, 314).
• the actuated auxiliary ball valve (106, 206, 306) will close and present only the transversely arranged flow restriction bore (109, 209, 309) to the flow in the piston rod bore (105, 205, 305), and the dynamic pressure will increase so as for actuating the tool actuator piston (113, 213, 313), further actuating the tool component (111 , 211 , 311) such as the knife assembly (211) or the packer assembly (111).
• the tool's electromechanical unit (118, 218, 318) is arranged for being remote controlled by a signal.
• said signal is sent from the surface.
• the signal may be in the form of comprising a drill pipe string rotational signal pattern and / or a pressure signal pattern.
• the signal may be in the form of an electrical signal or an optical signal if using so-called "wired pipe”.
• the electromechanical unit (118, 218, 318) is arranged for receiving the signal via a sensor, and for providing a control signal for a motor (110, 210,
• An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that one is not dependent on dropping a ball to activate the tool, and this saves otherwise very long circulation-in time for the ball, and particularly that one avoids the problem of otherwise very difficult undoing of a ball, and further one avoids the presence of a necessarily narrower ball seat for receiving a ball.
• a particular rotation pattern such as an otherwise unusual continuous rotation pattern of e.g. 60 RPM on the drill pipe string for e.g. two minutes /120 s
• the control electronics will listen for similar specific distinct signal series of 60 RPM after new delays of 1 minute and 4 minutes, after 2 minutes and 4 minutes, and after 1 minute and 3 minutes:
• Such RPM time signals may be combined with pressure signals also sensed by the electromechanical unit (118).
• said electromechanical unit (118) is arranged distally / downhole relative to said auxiliary ball valve (106).
• the stroke length control mechanism (108, 208, 308) and the electromechanical unit (118, 218, 318) are arranged downhole from at least the main ball valve element (107, 207, 307).
• Any port (116, 206, 316) in the piston rod (104, 204, 304) above the main ball valve element would represent an undesired weakening of the piston rod under high tension.
• auxiliary ball valve element (106) may be arranged above the stroke length control mechanism (108, 208, 308), but it may also be placed below or beyond the stroke length control mechanism (108) because the axial force generated on the auxiliary ball valve element (106) is usually used for setting the packer (112) or knife assembly (211), and the axial tensile strength of the piston rod (104, 204, 304) is not as high as above the main ball valve element (107, 207, 307).
• Piston (113) is for packer assembly (111) and packer element ( 112) In an embodiment of the invention it further comprises a packer assembly (111) comprising a packer element (112) arranged around the mandrel (101) proximally/above the auxiliary ball valve element (106),
• the dynamically increased pressure above the auxiliary ball valve may be directed to actuate the piston (113) to compress the packer assembly with the packer (112) above the auxiliary ball valve.
• the valve tool of the invention may be used with a cutter tool arranged with the valve tool:
• auxiliary ball valve (106) Activate the auxiliary ball valve (106) and increase flow to exert pressure at the packer (112) while communicating pressure to below the packer.
• Piston (213) is for knives assembly (211) and knives (212)
• the tool (20) comprises a knife assembly (211) comprising knives (212) arranged about the mandrel (201) proximally/above the auxiliary ball valve element (206), please see Fig. 3 and 4,
• a significant advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that one may continue to circulate fluid through the auxiliary ball valve aperture (209) during the cutting process in order to lubricate and cool the cutter tool and for circulating out swarf if necessary.
• the tool is a spear tool (30) comprising - a slips assembly (311) comprising slips (312) arranged about the mandrel (301) proximally/above the auxiliary ball valve element (306),
• An increased pressure and circulation on the auxiliary ball valve (306) may be directed to activate slips of the spear tool (30) in order to set the spear slips (312) while cutting the casing in order to sufficiently stabilizing the cutter tool to the intended axial position for making the cut. This is useful if the cutting operation is conducted from a heaving vessel or rig.
• the spear tool may be set by actuating the auxiliary ball valve (312) but hold maintained using pull up on the drill pipe string.
• An advantage of having the tool actuating piston (313) arranged above the slips assembly (311) is that pressure may be set to engage and hold the slips (312) toward the casing, while pull on the drill pipe string will further force the slips (312) against the casing, which will increase the holding force and may allow increasing the pulling force on the drill pipe string.
• a further advantage of having the tool actuating piston (313) arranged above the slips assembly (311) is that if one maintains the pulling force on the drill pipe string while releasing the pressure (accidentally or for some other reason), the shoulder of the mandrel body will still pull on the slips assembly and maintain the hold and pulling force on the casing.
• the spear tool (30) may be swivelled in order to allow setting the slips and hold while operating the below cutter tool (10).
• a significant advantage of the above tools (10, 20, 30) is that we do not need to have drag blocks in order to operate the slips tool or packer tool.
• Main ball valve element (107, 207, 307)
• the drill pipe string conveyed ball valve tool (10, 20, 30)- further comprises a main ball valve element (107, 207, 307) having a full main bore and a transverse closed position, and - said main piston (103, 203, 303) and said piston rod (104, 204, 304) further having a second stroke length (L2), arranged for allowing said main ball valve element (107, 207, 307) to turn to a closed position.
• said initial stroke length (L0) is also arranged for allowing fully open both said main ball valve elements (107, 207, 307) and said auxiliary ball valve elements (106, 206, 306).
• said electromechanical unit (118, 218, 318) is further arranged for adjusting said stroke length control mechanism (108, 208, 308) for selectively allowing said second stroke length (L2).
• mandrel fluid port (115, 215, 315) is unaligned with the piston rod's (104, 204, 304) fluid port (116, 216, 316) when said piston rod (104, 204,
• An advantage of this arrangement allows for moving the main piston (103, 203, 303) and the piston rod (104, 204, 304) past the first stroke length (L1) to the second stroke length where the radial port (116, 216, 316) from said piston rod (104, 204, 304) is no longer aligned with the mandrel port (115, 215, 315) , no longer communicating with the tool actuator piston chamber (114, 214, 314).
• auxiliary ball valve element (106, 206, 306) is arranged below said main ball valve element (107, 207, 307). such as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.
• the main piston is at the proximal end of the piston rod (104, 204, 304).
• the cutter tool embodiment (30) comprises a main ball valve element (307) in addition to the main ball valve
• the main ball valve (107, 207, 307) is arranged above /proximally relative to said piston rod fluid port (116, 216, 316).
• An advantage of this embodiment is that the aperture forming the port (116, 216, 316) in the rod (104, 204, 304) which otherwise would form a weakening of said rod (104, 204, 304), is thus arranged distally relative to the pressure and force acting on the main ball valve (107, 207, 307).
• This is important when the main ball valve (107, 207, 307) shall be subject to a high pressure in it s closed state when the packer tool (10) is used for closing the main bore (102, 202, 302) so as for setting pressure for setting slips above the packer tool and for setting an an anchor for a jack in an above wider casing and jacking a cut-off section of the casing.
• the invention provides a method for actuating a tool component (111 , 211 , 311)
• the method comprises
• said main piston (103, 203, 303) and said piston rod (104, 204, 304) being at said initial stroke length (L0) with said auxiliary ball valve element (106, 206, 306) fully open before running in, otherwise it must be set fully open at a later stage,
• the tool component (111 , 211 , 311) may be different tool components such as a packer assembly, a knife assembly, or a slips assembly.
• the piston rod (104, 204, 304) strokes to the first stroke length (L1) the restriction (109, 209, 309) will dynamically increase the pressure above itself due to the restriction (109, 209, 309) in the flow so as to increase the pressure on the tool actuator piston (113, 213, 313) if the flow is generally maintained, or increased.
• it comprises, after running said ball valve tool (10, 20, 30) into said well to a desired depth in said first casing and having set said auxiliary ball valve element (106, 206, 306) fully open, circulating in cement into said casing below said ball valve tool (10, 20, 30).
• This may be done before or after making a cut with the cutter tool.
• one may test the packer (111) pressure integrity itself in the casing before making a cut, in order to verify its sealing effect in the casing, and release the packer from the casing.
• One may also advantageously activate the knives (211) and cut the casing and retract the knives (211).
• the packer (111) is then set to close the return path in the tool annulus and pressure may be set to test whether there is communication via the cut (7) in the inner casing, via the inner casing annulus, which may indicate that the severed-off section of the casing above the cut is free for being pulled. Please see Fig. 10 or Fig. 13. Then one may pull out the "fish", the severed-off casing section above the cut.
• said spear tool is the spear tool (30), and comprises:
• the method comprises:
• An advantage of using a pressure activated anchor (40) and pressure-actuated jack tool (50) in the work string is that combined with the spear tool, the packer tool (10) and the cutter tool (20), please see Fig. 12, 13, and 14, one may conduct the entire operation of cutting the casing, testing if the casing section is free, and if not free, pulling the spear to the top in the cut-off section (please see Fig. 14) , closing the main ball valve of the packer tool (10), further pressurizing to set the spear and the anchor, and further pressurizing to actuate the jack tool to rip out the stuck cut-off casing section forcefully.

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