Abstract:
A torque transfer arrangement includes a relatively immobile construct; a relatively mobile construct radially adjacent the relatively immobile construct; and one or more torque valve assemblies mounted to the relatively mobile construct and radially responsive to applied hydraulic pressure to contact a surface of a separate structure and transmit torque from the arrangement to the separate structure and method.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    In the hydrocarbon recovery industry, many different tubular well tools and components are run in the hole over the life of the well. These components are required to be connected to a work string and then generally released in the downhole environment and the workstring removed from the well. While there are several methods for accomplishing this result, there are infinitely more possible situations encountered in the downhole environment that need to be overcome than methods and apparatus to address them. In view of this reality, the art is always receptive to alternative configurations to assist in delivering tubular well tools into the downhole environment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A torque transfer arrangement includes a relatively immobile construct; a relatively mobile construct radially adjacent the relatively immobile construct; and one or more torque valve assemblies mounted to the relatively mobile construct and radially responsive to applied hydraulic pressure to contact a surface of a separate structure and transmit torque from the arrangement to the separate structure. 
         [0003]    A torque valve assembly includes a torque valve; and a torque button movably attached to the valve. 
         [0004]    A torque transfer arrangement includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel interconnected by a mandrel piston; a torque button carrier having one or more torque valve assemblies mounted therein disposed about the first mandrel; a hydraulically sealed annular space defined between the first mandrel and the carrier, the one or more assemblies in operable communication with the space; and a sleeve fixedly attached to the carrier and in hydraulically sealed contact with the mandrel piston, the sleeve further being fixedly attached to a deactivate piston, the sleeve, mandrel piston, second mandrel and deactivate piston defining a hydraulically sealed chamber. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a torque transfer arrangement in an unactuated position; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment in an actuated position but in the sequence to deactivate; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic cross sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a fully deactivated position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged schematic cross-section view of a pressurization check valve of the arrangement; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged schematic cross-section view of a torque valve and torque button in situ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the torque valve and torque button of  FIG. 5  removed from the arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  simultaneously, three sequential positions of the torque transfer arrangement  10  are illustrated. In  FIG. 1 , the arrangement  10  is in a position where it has been introduced to a tubular member  12 , which may be a casing or other tubular member and before actuation of the arrangement  10  to engage the tubular member  12  in a way that is effective in transferring torque from the arrangement  10  to the tubular member  12 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the arrangement  10  in a position wherein it is engaged with the casing  12  but is also in a position where that engagement is about to be removed.  FIG. 3  illustrates the arrangement  10  in a fully deactivated position. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the arrangement  10  includes a first mandrel  14  and a second mandrel  16 . It is to be understood that the terms first and second are not intended to indicate order but rather are used only to distinguish different structural features of the arrangement  10 . The two mandrels are interconnected physically and fluid conveyingly by a mandrel piston  18 . Components  14 ,  16  and  18  (a relatively immobile construct) in this embodiment are relatively fixedly connected to a remote location through a running string (not shown) such as the surface of the well while other components to be introduced hereunder are movable thereon. 
         [0014]    Disposed about the first mandrel  14  is a torque button carrier  20 . Torque button carrier  20  houses one or more torque button valves  22  which each make up a part of a torque valve button assembly  24 . The assemblies  24 , in one embodiment, are equidistantly spaced about a periphery of the carrier  20  since distribution as such will tend to center the arrangement  10  in the tubular member and thereby equally distribute stresses therearound. It is noted, however, that it is also possible to arrange the assemblies in an eccentric arrangement if desirable for a particular situation. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-section shows only two of the torque button valve assemblies  24  but one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the possible spacing of other valves in the event that the arrangement  10  constructed includes more than two assemblies  24 . The number of assemblies employed is limited only by the practicality of available space and is thus somewhat dictated by the diameter of the arrangement  10 . It is noted that with increasing number of assemblies  24 , a greater total piston surface area is available to create radially directed force and so the torque holding ability of the arrangement  10  increases proportionally with the number of assemblies  24 . 
         [0015]    In addition to the assemblies  24 , the torque button carrier  20  also houses a check valve  28  (see  FIG. 4 ) that is not visible in  FIGS. 1-3  because it is located, for this embodiment, out of the plane of the cross-section taken. The placement is for manufacturing and durability reasons and may be changed at will by a manufacturer without change of function of the arrangement  10 . 
         [0016]    The carrier  20  is movably disposed about the first mandrel  14  and fluid sealingly engaged therewith through seals  30  and  32 , which in some embodiments are O-rings. Between the seals  30  and  32  is created an annular space  34  (see also  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) through which hydraulic fluid is supplied to the one or more assemblies  24 . Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the annular space  34  through the check valve  28 . While the arrangement  10  is in the position illustrated in  FIG. 1 , pressure supplied through check valve  28  is directed through the annular space  34  to the assemblies  24 . The reaction of the assemblies to the hydraulic fluid pressure will be addressed hereunder. It should be pointed out now, however, that the positions in which the arrangement  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , are both incapable of holding the hydraulic fluid pressure in the annular space  34  as seal  32  will leak that pressure into recess  36  in mandrel  14 . 
         [0017]    The carrier  20  is connected to a sleeve  38  that is fixedly attached to the carrier  20  at interconnection  40 , which may be a threaded connection. The sleeve  38  is also fixedly interengaged with a deactivate piston  42  at interengagement  44 , which may be a threaded connection. The carrier  20 , sleeve  38  and deactivate piston  42  (a relatively mobile construct) thus move as a unit when an appropriate stimulus is present. In order to move the carrier, sleeve and piston, pressure is applied at the inside dimension  46  of the arrangement  10 . The pressure in one embodiment is applied from a surface location. Such pressure in the inside dimension of the arrangement  10  is channeled through one or more (three visible) channels  48  to a chamber  50 . The chamber  50  is fluidically sealed at each end thereof by seals  52 ,  54  and  56 . Pressure in the chamber  50  thus acts on the only volumetrically changeable surface, piston face  58 , of the chamber  50 . Upon the application of sufficient pressure in chamber  50 , the piston  42  will move in a direction away from the mandrel piston  18 , pulling sleeve  38  and consequently carrier  20  with it. In this way the arrangement  10  can be disengaged from the tubular member  12  and thereafter retrieved or otherwise as desired. Further details of this process are provided hereunder. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  a more detailed explanation of the check valve  28 , torque valve assemblies  24  and their functions are provided. The check valve  28  is disposed in a fluid conduit  60  that is connectable to a fluid pressure source (not shown) such as a hydraulic control line that may extend from a surface location. The check valve is configured to allow hydraulic fluid to flow therepast in a direction toward the annular space  34 . The valve itself includes a check valve cap  62  with a check valve o-ring  64  sealingly disposed about the cap  62 . The cap  62  is fixedly connected to a check valve stem  66  around which is disposed a check valve spring  68 . A spring retainer  70  is disposed about the spring to hold it in place. Once fluid is urged past the check valve  28  by unseating the o-ring  64  from an o-ring seat  72  with which it is sealingly engaged during times when the valve  28  is at rest, the fluid pressurizes the annular space  34 . Once a desired pressure inside annular space  34  is achieved, the valve  28  will close due to a lack of excess pressure applied to the valve from the remote location. At that point, pressure in the control line (not shown) can be reduced or eliminated, as the pressure created in the space  34  cannot escape back through the valve  28 . This is because the greater pressure in the annular space  34  urges the valve into a position where the o-ring  64  is repositioned back into sealing engagement with the o-ring seat  72  thereby preventing fluid movement out of the annular space  34 . 
         [0019]    The pressure in annular space  34  directly acts on the assembl(ies)  24 , urging them to move radially. In the illustrated embodiment, the radial movement is outwardly but it is to be appreciated that the parts hereof could be reversed to cause the actuation to move the assemblies radially inwardly if desired. Focusing on  FIGS. 5 and 6 , one of the assemblies  24  is illustrated in an enlarged view. Each of the assemblies  24  includes a torque valve  22  that comprises a valve stem  80  having a seal  82  such as an o-ring therearound to seal against a bore  84  in the torque valve carrier  20 . This seal, and others of the one or more assemblies  24 , provides a pressure tight moveable portion exposed to the pressure of the annular space  34 . Upon rising pressure in the space then, the assemblies  24  will move radially outwardly (illustrated embodiment). 
         [0020]    Additional components of the assemblies  24  include a return spring  86  disposed about the valve stem  80  and bounded by a valve cap  88 . The valve cap  88  is fixedly positioned within the bore  84  by any affixing means such as threads, press fit, adhesive, welding, brazing, etc. as the force borne thereby is only that generated by the spring  86 . The valve stem  80  includes a flange  90  that is used as a bearing surface for bearing or bushing  92 . Riding upon bearing  92  is a torque button  94 . The torque button  94  is attached to the valve stem  80  with fastener  96 , which may be a threaded fastener or other similar affixing means. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the button  94  includes an elongated opening  98  for fastener  96  to slide in during operation of the device as described in greater detail hereunder. Such sliding is assisted by the bearing  92 , which as noted could also be a type of bushing and ultimately need only reduce a coefficient of friction at an interface  100  between the button  94  and the valve stem  80 . Each torque button  94  is rotationally fixed within the carrier  20  while being radially and axially movable therein by being disposed in a respective opening  102  such as a slot in an outer surface  104  of the carrier  20 . Visible in  FIG. 5  are a lateral wall  106 , an axial wall  108  and a radially inwardly positioned wall  110  of the slot  102 . The dimensions of the slot are such that the button  94  (one embodiment of which is shown in  FIG. 6 ) is allowed to move radially and axially in at least one axial direction based upon the movements of the arrangement  10  disclosed herein. 
         [0021]    Still referring to  FIG. 5 , when pressure in the annular space  34  is sufficiently raised to overcome the spring force of spring  86 , the assembly  24  will react by moving radially outwardly until a surface  112  of the button  94  contacts an inside dimension surface  114  of the tubular member  12 . The degree of force to be generated upon the surface  114  depends upon desired torque holding capacity and the conditions (such as temperature and pressure) at the location of the intended use of the torque holding capacity. The capacity is adjusted by the pressure supplied to the annular space  34  with higher pressures yielding higher torque carrying capacity. Care should be taken not to over pressurize the annular space  34  to prevent the tubular member  12  itself failing. 
         [0022]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1-3 , operation of the arrangement  10  is described in greater detail. As noted,  FIG. 1  illustrates the arrangement within the tubular member  12  but in an unactuated condition. In other words, the annular space has not yet been provided with a pressurization. Upon pressurization of the annular space  34 , the assemblies  24  react as above stated and bring the buttons  94  into contact with the inside surface  114  of the tubular member  12 . The force will be as selected using the pressure source. Once the desired pressure is supplied to the annular space  34  and the buttons have consequently generated the desired contact force against the tubular member  12 , the arrangement  10  and the member  12  are run into the hole. When the position of the tubular member  12  is as selected by an operator and it is desired to release the tubular member, pressure is applied to an inside of the running string (not shown) which is fluidly connected to the inside dimension  46  of the arrangement  10 . This pressure as noted above will migrate to chamber  50  ultimately causing carrier  20  to move relative to the mandrel  14 . In order to prevent damage to the inside surface  114  of the tubular  12 , the buttons  94  will not move with the carrier  20  but rather will stay in place while the carrier  20  moves. This is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The reader should view the position of the torque valve  22  relative to the button  94  in  FIG. 1  and then  FIG. 2  to appreciate the movement described. When the carrier  20  reaches the position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is to be appreciated that seal  32  is very close to an edge of recess  36  and so will bleed pressure from annular space  34 . As pressure is bled from the space  34 , the spring(s)  86  of the various one or more torque valves  22  will begin to provide more force than that of the hydraulic fluid acting thereagainst. At this point, the buttons will disengage the surface  114  and the stroke of the carrier  20  can continue until complete disassociation of the button(s)  94  with the surface  114  is achieved. The arrangement is then ready to be retrieved from the hole and is as it appears in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]    It is to be understood that although the above description with regard to release of the tubular member is directed to hydraulic pressure buildup within an ID of the string, it is also possible to mechanically shift the arrangement  10  by such as a pick up and slack off sequence. 
         [0024]    While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.