Patent Publication Number: US-8985230-B2

Title: Resettable lock for a subterranean tool

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention is a locking device for a resettable subterranean tool that can in a single trip selectively lock a movable component to a fixed component to selectively hold a set position of the tool and selectively release the tool for removal or redeployment in a single trip. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When cutting and removing casing or tubulars, a rotary cutter is employed that is driven from the surface or downhole with a downhole motor. The cutting operation generates some debris and requires circulation of fluid for cooling and, to a lesser extent, debris removal purposes. One way to accommodate the need for circulation is to avoid sealing the tubular above the cutter as the cut is being made. In these cases also the tubular being cut can be in compression due to its own weight. Having the tubing in compression is not desirable as it can impede the cutting process making blade rotation more difficult as the cut progresses. Not actuating a seal until the cut is made (as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,895), in order to allow for circulation during the cut, leaves the well open so that if a kick occurs during the tubing cutting it becomes difficult to quickly get control of the well. Not gripping the cut casing until the cut is made, so that the cut is made with the tubular in compression, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,528. In that tool there is circulation through the tool during cutting followed by the dropping of an object into the tool to allow the tool to be pressured up, so that the spear can be set after the cut is made. 
     Sometimes the casing or tubular is cut in a region where it is cemented, so that the portion above the cut cannot be removed. In these situations another cut has to be made further up or down the casing or tubular. Some known designs are set to engage for support with body lock rings. In this case, there is but a single opportunity to deploy the tool in one trip. In the event the casing or tubular will not release, these tools have to be pulled from the wellbore and redressed for another trip. 
     While it is advantageous to have the opportunity for well control in the event of a kick, the setting of a tubular isolator has in the past presented the associated problem of blocking fluid circulation as the cut is being made. 
     Another approach to making multiple cuts is to have multiple assemblies at predetermined spacing so that different cutters can be sequentially deployed. This design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,330. It has the ability to sequentially cut and then grip two cut pieces of a tubular in a single trip, and then remove the cut segments together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,710 illustrates a hydraulically actuated grapple that puts the tubular to be cut in tension so that the cut can be made. U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,568 shows gripping the tubular after the cut. Neither of the prior two references provide any well control capability. 
     Some designs set an inflatable packer, but only after the cut is made, so that there is no well control as the cut is undertaken. Other designs are limited by being settable only one time, so that, if the casing will not release where cut, making another cut requires a trip out of the well. Some designs set a packer against the stuck portion of the tubular as the resistive force. This method puts the tubular being cut in compression and makes cutting more difficult. Some designs use a stop ring which requires advance spacing of the cutter blades to the stop ring. In essence, the stop ring is stopped by the top of a fish so that if the fish will not release when cut in that one location, the tool has to be tripped out and reconfigured for a cut at a different location. 
     The latter design is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The cutter (that is not shown) is attached at thread  10  to bottom sub  12 . Mandrel  14  connects drive hub  16  to the bottom sub  12 . Stop ring  18  stops forward travel when it lands on the top of the fish (that is also not shown). When that happens, weight is set down to engage castellations  20  with castellations  22  to rotate a cam assembly  24  such that a stop to travel of the cone  26  with respect to slips  28  can be moved out of the way. A subsequent pickup force will allow the cone  26  to go under the slips  28 , which will grab the fish and hold it in tension while the cut is made. Again, the cut location is always at a single fixed distance to the location of the stop ring  18 . 
     Some designs allow a grip in the tubular to pull tension without the use of a stop ring but they can only be set one time at one location. Some examples are U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,867,289; 2,203,011 and 2,991,834. U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,000 illustrates a multiple row cutter that is hydraulically actuated while leaving the mandrel open for circulation during cutting. 
     A more recent example of a tubular cutter is found in WO2011/031164 and uses spaced slips about a sealing element for a tubular cutting tool. It has more limited functionality than the present invention, especially with regard to cutting-in-tension and providing well control if there is a well kick. 
     While the locking feature of the invention will be described in the context of the preferred embodiment that is a rotary tubular cutter, the applications for the lock assembly goes beyond such a preferred application and are applicable to subterranean tools that are resettable that need to be locked in a set position, and that are releasable to be reset in the same trip or pulled out of the hole. In essence the lock assembly locks a moving component to a stationary one to hold the set position and the lock can be defeated and reset so that it can lock the downhole tool again at the same or a different well location without having to come out of the hole. 
     A resettable lock in the context of a downhole isolation valve is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,534. 
     In a tubular cutter embodiment of the invention there is the ability to make multiple cuts in a single trip while providing a spear that is mechanically set to grab above the cut location inside the tubular being cut. Additionally, the packer can be deployed before the cut is started, in order to provide well control and bypass-circulation through the tool during the cut, so other downhole equipment can also be operated. The tubular to be removed is engaged before the cut and put in tension while the cut is taking place. 
     In other versions the lock can be associated with a resettable packer, a ported sub with a sliding sleeve valve, screen sections with associated valve members or any other tool where movement of a movable member with respect to a stationary member occurs during the setting of the tool. The other versions of this device also possess the ability to lock their position and then release their position in a manner in which they can be locked again in the same trip or alternatively removed from the wellbore. 
     These and other features of the present invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the detailed description and the associated drawings while understanding that the full scope of the invention is to be determined from the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the preferred embodiment the lock is used in a cut and pull spear configured to obtain multiple grips in a tubular to be cut under tension. A lock feature holds the set position of the slips and seal. The lock can be defeated with an axial force that retracts a spring-loaded dog and the lock can be reset to the run-in position with the slips and seal retracted so that the assembly can be repositioned in the same trip for another cut. A cam surface prevents setting the slips and seal until it is overcome after relocation of the tool to the next desired cut location or for removal from the wellbore. The lock can be defeated either by picking up or by pressuring up on a dropped ball for an emergency release. A surface signal of the release is provided by load-biasing member or a plurality of such members that have to be overcome to release the lock. In other tools, the lock can hold a movable member in position to a stationary member for holding the set position of the tool while also being configured to release and still be capable of being redeployed in the same trip to lock a set position of the tool in the same or a new location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a prior art spear design that uses a stop ring to land on the fish; 
         FIG. 2  is a multi-setting spear that is mechanically set to allow multiple cuts in a single trip; 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment of the cut-and-pull spear with the annular seal and the bypass for the seal in the closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of  FIG. 3  with the bypass for the seal shown in the open position; 
         FIG. 5   a - 5   b  is a section view of an alternative and preferred embodiment using the releasable locking feature and shown in the run-in position; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of the lock shown in the defeated position during deployment; 
         FIG. 7  shows a detail of the stack of disc springs that are compressed to allow the lock of  FIG. 6  to achieve the locked position after the slips and sealing element are set; 
         FIG. 8  shows a cam arrangement that, during cut-and-pull spear deployment, prevents pick-up action from setting the slips and seal until rotation defeats the cam arrangement; 
         FIG. 9   a - 9   b  is a view of  FIG. 5   a - 5   b  with a pick-up and rotation to allow the slips and seal to set; 
         FIG. 10   a - 10   b  is a view of  FIG. 9   a - 9   b  with additional pick-up to set the slips and seal; 
         FIG. 11  shows the lock extended with the slips and seal set, as in  FIG. 10   a - 10   b;    
         FIG. 12   a - 12   b  shows the use of overpull to compress the disc springs and allow subsequent release of the seal and slips by setting down weight; 
         FIG. 13   a - 13   b  shows an emergency release by dropping a ball to use pressure to compress the disc springs so as to get the lock to release, so the seal and slips can be released with a set-down weight; 
         FIG. 14  shows the lock retracted with a sleeve as a result of compression of the disc springs shown in  FIG. 12   a - 12   b  or  13   a - 13   b;    
         FIG. 15   a - 15   b  is a set-down view with the slips and seal released just before a rotation locks the release position to allow cut-and-pull spear assembly movement and a resetting without the possibility of actuation while moving; 
         FIG. 16  shows the lock back to the run-in position when redeploying the assembly to another location in the same trip; 
         FIG. 17  is a detailed view of the lock in the run-in position before the slips and seal are actuated; 
         FIG. 18  is a view of  FIG. 17  as a dog moves in unison with a sleeve during the process of the slips and seal being set; 
         FIG. 19  is a view of  FIG. 18  with the slips and seal set and the dog extended into a deeper groove to hold their set; 
         FIG. 20  is a view of  FIG. 19  showing the pick-up force that compresses the disc springs and the sleeve shouldered out so it can push in the dog to allow release on set-down; 
         FIG. 21  is a view of  FIG. 20  showing the lock held retracted as the weight is set down to release the slips and the seal; 
         FIG. 22  is a view of  FIG. 21  showing the retaining sleeve shouldered out as weight is set down; 
         FIG. 23  is a view of  FIG. 22  showing the separation of the lock and the sleeve and the resumption of the run-in position for possible repositioning in the wellbore or removal of the associated tool; 
         FIG. 24  is an alternative lock embodiment in the run-in position; 
         FIG. 25  is the lock of  FIG. 24  with a lower end of a sleeve contacting a mandrel shoulder; 
         FIG. 26  is the lock of  FIG. 25  in a locked position, with a collet engaging a groove in a mandrel; 
         FIG. 27  is the lock of  FIG. 26  with the collet out of the groove and selectively attached to the sleeve; 
         FIG. 28  is the lock of  FIG. 27  with the upper end of the sleeve contacting a second mandrel shoulder as the collet, mounted on the sleeve, moves past the groove in the mandrel; 
         FIG. 29  is the lock of  FIG. 28  reconfigured in the run-in position of  FIG. 24 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the spear S has a bottom sub  30  to which the cutter, schematically illustrated as C, is attached for tandem rotation. An inner mandrel  32  connects the bottom sub to the drive sub  34 . An outer subassembly  36  extends from castellations  38  at the top end to the bearing  40  at the lower end. Bearing  40  is used because the bottom sub  30  will turn as a casing or tubular (not shown) is cut while sub  42  is stationary. Above the sub  42  are ports  44  covered by preferably a wire wrap screen  46 . Other filtration devices for capturing cuttings when the tubular is cut are envisioned. A debris catcher can also be located below the bottom sub  30  to channel the return fluid flowing through the cutter C and back toward the surface from the region where the cutter C is operating. A variety of known rotary cutter designs can be used with the potential need to modify them for a flow-through design to enable cuttings/debris removal. Several known debris catcher designs can be used such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,176,311; 6,276,452; 6,607,031; 7,779,901 and 7,610,957 with or without the seal  48 . While the seal  48  is preferably an annular shape that is axially compressed to a sealing position, alternative designs with a debris catcher can involve a diverter for the debris laden fluid that either does not fully seal or that seals in one direction, such as a packer cup. Alternatively, a debris catcher with a diverter can be used in conjunction with a seal, such as  48 , while operating with the bypass  50  in the open position. 
     Ports  44  lead to an annular space  50  that extends to ports  52 , which are shown as closed in  FIG. 3  because the o-rings  54  and  56  on sub  58  straddle the ports  52 . An outer mandrel  59  extends between bearings  60  and  62  and envelops the inner mandrel  32 . Outer mandrel  59  supports the seal  48 , the cone  64 , and the slips  66 . A key  68  locks the cone  64  to the outer mandrel  59 . Outer mandrel  59  only turns slightly. Slips  66  are preferably segments with multiple drive ramps such as  70  and  72  that engage similarly sloped surfaces on the cone  64  to drive out the slips  66  evenly and distribute the reaction load from them when they are set. Outer mandrel  59  has chevron seals  73  and  74  near its upper end adjacent to bearing  62  to seal against the rotating inner mandrel  32 . End cap  76  is secured to outer mandrel  59  while providing support to the bearing  62 . A key  78  in end cap  76  extends into a longitudinal groove  80  in top sub  82 . Top sub  82  is threaded at  84  to sub  58  for tandem axial movement without rotation. 
     Upper drag block segments  86  and lower drag block segments  88  hold the outer non-rotating assembly fixed against an applied force so that mechanical manipulation of the inner mandrel  32  can actuate the spear S as will be subsequently described. In between the spaced drag block segments  86  is an automatic nut  90  feature that consists of a series of spaced segments that have a thread pattern facing and selectively engaging with a thread  92  on the inner mandrel  32 . The automatic nut  90  is a ratchet type device such that when the inner mandrel  32  is rotated to the right, the segments of the automatic nut  90  simply ratchet over the thread  92 . However, if the inner mandrel  32  is rotated to the left, the automatic nut  90  engages the threads  92 . The top sub  82  and sub  58 , being constrained by the key  78  from rotation, and wind up moving axially so that the o-ring seals  54  and  56  no longer straddle ports  52  (now shown in the open position in  FIG. 4 ). Simply setting down weight on the inner mandrel  32  will reclose the ports  52  in the event of a well kick. 
     In order to set the slips  66  and the seal  48 , weight is set down during deployment so that the castellations  94  engage the castellations  38  and the drive sub  34  is turned to the right about 40 degrees. Using a combination lock/j-slot mechanism  96 , these movements enable, upon subsequent application of pick-up force, movement of the cone  64  under the slips  66 . Continued pulling force compresses the seal  48  against the surrounding tubular to be cut. At this point, the relative motion between the outer mandrel  59  and the cone  64  are selectively locked. By turning inner mandrel  32  to the right while picking up, the tensile force on inner mandrel  32  can be maintained when cutting. By picking up and turning inner mandrel  32  to the left, the ports  52  can be opened before cutting. When ports  52  are open, the automatic nut  90  is no longer affected by right-hand rotation of inner mandrel  32 . In the event of a well kick, the ports  52  are closed by setting down weight, but the slips  66  and the seal  48  remain set even with the weight being applied. Eventually, the slips  66  and seal  48  can be released by a set-down force that will pull the cone  64  out from under the slips  66  allowing the seal  48  to grow axially while retracting radially. The spear S can be reset in other locations inside the surrounding tubular any number of times and at any number of locations. 
     It should be noted that in  FIG. 2 , the seal  48  is not used and neither is the annular space  50 . In this configuration, a single row of drag blocks  98  is used. The other operations remain the same. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the spear S offers several unique and independent advantages. It allows for setting and cutting (in tension) at multiple locations within the tubular, while retaining an ability to circulate through the inner mandrel  32  to power the cutter C and/or to remove cuttings. The tool has the facility to filter cuttings and prevent them from reaching a blowout preventer where they could cause damage. In the  FIGS. 3 and 4  configuration, the cuttings can be filtered using the screen  46  leading to the ports  44 , with the seal  48  set so that the return flow is fully directed to the screen  46 . In another embodiment, such as  FIG. 2 , a junk or debris catcher can be incorporated at the lower end. Such a device would likely have a flow diverter to direct cuttings into the device where they could be retained and screened. The clean fluid could be returned to the annular space above the diverter for the trip to the surface. Another advantage of the spear S is the ability to have the annulus selectively sealed with seal  48 . Doing so gives the functionality of closing the bypass  50  quickly to mitigate the effects of a well kick. In this embodiment, closing the ports  52  is accomplished by applying set-down weight. Note that not all jobs will require the bypass  50  around the seal  48  to be open during the cutting. 
       FIGS. 5-16  illustrate an alternative and preferred embodiment of the present invention. The tool is broken down into 11 sections sequentially numbered in  FIG. 5   a - 5   b . Section  1  is a j-slot assembly  203  that interacts with the top sub  201  by selective engagement of pins  250  in slot  252 . Section  2  moves with section  1  and is a sleeve  206  that can be raised to move spaced seals  254  and  256  away from port  258  in sleeve  209 . Section  3  is a housing for drag blocks  212  and has an internal travel stop  260  on cam  215  that has to be cleared by rotating cam  215 . As sections  1  and  2  are rotated with a surface string (not shown), the drag blocks  212  hold section  3  stationary. This is shown in more detail in  FIG. 8 . Section  4  is the housing for the locking dogs  216  (shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 ) that can spring out into groove  262  to lock the set position of the slips  220  and the seal  223 ,  225 , and  226 . Sections  5  and  6  are respectively the housings for the slips  220  and the seals  223 ,  225 , and  226 . Section  7  contains the inlet for fluid bypass and a screen  227  that allows fluid to bypass the seals  223 ,  225 , and  226  and enter the upper annulus when port  258  is actuated open in section  2 . Section  8  is the housing for the stack of disc springs  229  that get compressed when a pick-up force is applied at top sub  201 , allowing the dogs  216  to be pushed out of groove  262  by sleeve  219 . This can be better seen by comparing  FIGS. 11 and 14 . Section  9  is a roller bearing housing for bearing  205 . Section  10  allows an emergency release by dropping a ball  264  that, when pressure is applied, shifts seat  232  to expose ports  266  to compress the disc springs  229  and release the dogs  216 . This is shown in  FIG. 13   b . Finally, section  11  is a thrust bearing  233  which facilitates the rotation of the bottom sub  234  against the stationary piston chamber  231 . 
     The tool is designed so the drag blocks  211  on section  3  will drag inside the casing to be cut. The drag blocks hold section  3  in place so the outer mandrel  209  can be rotated a ¼ turn. Setting down weight on the top sub  201  will align the top sub lugs  250  with the axial portion of the groove  252  in j-slot sub  203 . Right-hand rotation from the top sub  201  is transferred into j-slot sub  203  which is attached to the circulation sub  206 . The circulation sub  206  is rotationally locked to the outer mandrel  209 . Outer mandrel  209  has a cam  215  (shown in enlarged detail in  FIG. 8 ) which is also rotationally locked to outer mandrel  209 . Right-hand rotation causes the cam  215  to rotate while the lug sub  214 , which is attached to the drag sub  210 , does not move because the drag block  211  rubs on the (unshown) surrounding tubular. With the lug sub  214  aligned with the cam  215  after rotation of cam  215  in the direction of arrow  268 , the outer mandrel  209  is allowed to move up because surface  260  no longer acts as a travel stop for lug sub  214 . This is shown in  FIG. 8 . When the outer mandrel  209  moves up and thrust bearing  233  contacts piston housing  231 , the components below the slip  220  will start to move up while components above the slip  220  stay in place because of the upper and lower drag blocks  211 . Once the slip  220  is supported by the cone  221 , continued pull-up will set the slip  220  in the casing (not shown) and cause the packing elements  223 - 226  to set. Additional pull-up will compress the disc springs  229  enough to let the locking dog  216  open (as shown by comparing  FIGS. 6 and 11 ). With the locking dog  216  in the open position, the tool is locked in position and force can be applied in compression and tension without fear of release of the slips  220  or the seal assembly  223 - 226 . This can be useful if jars (not shown) are deployed above the tubing cutter and need to be re-cocked by setting down weight. 
     Moving the inner mandrel section  201 ,  202 , and  234  up causes the thrust bearing  233  to come in contact with the piston housing  231 , and continuous rotation to the right with tension allows the use of a cutter C below to cut casing. The circulation/latch section  206 ,  258  can be opened, if needed, by lowering the inner mandrel section  201 ,  202 , and  234  into the j-slot  203 , rotating left ¼ turn, and lifting up (see  FIG. 12   a - 12   b ). With the circulation sub  206 ,  258  open, fluids can be circulated back to the surface by bypassing the set seal assembly  223 - 225  through screen  227  where debris from the cut is filtered. 
     To release the tool, the locking dog  216  has to be relaxed. This is accomplished with overpull to overcome the disc springs  229 . The dog sleeve  219  (see  FIGS. 6 ,  11 , and  14 ) stops when it hits the shoulder  270  (see  FIG. 20 ) of the lug sub  214 . However, the dog  216  and outer mandrel  209  will continue up. This continued movement will cause the dog  216  to collapse under the dog sleeve  219 . When the inner mandrel section  201 ,  202 , and  234  is moved down, it contacts the circulation j-slot  203  which moves down and contacts the outer mandrel top sub  204 , moving the outer mandrel  209  down, with the dog  216  trapped under the dog sleeve  219 , thus allowing the dog  216  to pass the groove  262  (compare  FIGS. 20-23 ). The outer mandrel section  206  will continue down until the circulation port  258  is closed. While the outer mandrel section  206  is moving down, the dog sleeve  219  will bottom out on the internal shoulder  272  of the dog housing  218 . This will let the locking dog  216  come out from under the dog sleeve  219  and be ready to come out into groove  262  when the tool is set again (see  FIG. 23 ). Referring to  FIGS. 17-23 , one can see that in the run-in position of  FIG. 17 , the sleeve  219  is releasably secured to the outer mandrel  209  by a first lock  274  that can be a spring-loaded sphere or a cammed c-ring or some other structure that retains parts together up to a predetermined applied force and then releases. Other structures can be a disc spring or a stack thereof. As a pick-up force is applied to set the slips  220 , the sleeve  219  is still retained by the first lock  274  for tandem movement with outer mandrel  209 , so that the dog  216  can be sprung out into groove  262  to hold the set of the slips and the seal. When section  201 ,  202 , and  234  is further raised up for a release of the slips and seal by compressing the disc spring stack  229 , the sleeve  219  hits stop  270  (see  FIG. 20 ) and the dogs  216  are pushed under sleeve  219  and out of groove  262 . In the course of that action, the spring-loaded ball first lock  274 , or equivalent, releases its grip (shown schematically in  FIG. 20 ). In  FIG. 21 , the sleeve  219  now moves in tandem with outer mandrel  209  because a second lock (not shown) holds them together until the sleeve engages internal shoulder  272 . At this point, the dogs  216  have moved below the groove  262 , and further downward movement of the dogs  216  occurs relative to the sleeve  219  which is stopped by internal shoulder  272 . As a result, the dogs  216  again can be biased outward while spaced apart from the sleeve  219  as first lock  274  again selectively attaches sleeve  219  to outer mandrel  209  (shown in  FIG. 23 ).  FIG. 23  and the run-in position of  FIG. 17  are the same. 
     The lock system in  FIGS. 17-23  can be used for a variety of tools that are resettable downhole. The advantages are that the lock sets and unsets with an axial force, without the need for rotation. It employs a surface signal of overpull, such as the compression of the disc spring stack, to retract the dog under the shifting dog sleeve and hold it retracted as axial movement allows the dog to be shifted clear of the locking grove. Further axial movement allows the dogs to again resume the run-in position for the next engagement of the tool into the set position. As a result, picking up will set the tool and selectively lock it. Further picking-up with a surface signal releases the lock. Subsequent downward axial movement will reset the lock into the initial free position. The further picking up can be accomplished by a pulling force from the surface or by an alternative release, such as by dropping a ball on a seat and pressuring a piston to create the axial movement (as will be explained below). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the axial trigger movements can also be reversed or can be a combination of up and down movements. The fact that there is no rotation is a plus, especially in deviated wellbores. The selectively locking-in of the set allows other operations, such as the delivery of jarring blows, to take place without fear of losing the set position. The lock fixates a movable component, such as  209 , to a stationary component, such as  218 , to hold the set position with the capability to release the components to allow the tool to be unset and re-cocked while in the unlocked position allowing the lock to function again in the same trip with the tool either repositioned in the borehole or still at the same location. Optionally, the tool can simply be removed from the borehole after the lock is unlocked and the tool moves to the released position from the formerly locked set position. 
     The same resettable locking mechanism can be achieved through the use of a collet in place of dogs, as shown in  FIGS. 24-29 . In  FIG. 24 , a collet  300 , mounted to a stationary component that is not shown, is supported in a pre-bent state by a movable component  302 , such as the outer mandrel of the cut-and-pull spear, and is held to a sliding sleeve  314  by one of two selective locks  304  or  306 . In  FIG. 24 , which is the run-in position, the lock  306  holds the sleeve  314  to the collet  300 . When the moveable component  302  is pulled in the direction of arrow  303  (as to set the slips and seal), the collet  300  snaps into a groove  308  in the moveable component  302 , as shown in  FIG. 26 , and prevents movable component  302  movement in the reverse direction as indicated by arrow  310 . This is the locked position of the anchor and is shown in  FIG. 26 . Further pulling of the moveable component  302  in the direction of arrow  303  shoulders the sliding sleeve  314  against the moveable component  302  at shoulder  312 , thereby releasing the first selective lock  306  between the collet  300  and the sliding sleeve  314 . The movement also allows the collet  300  to move out of the groove  308  and onto the sliding sleeve  314 , engaging a second selective lock  304  to secure sleeve  314  to the collet  300 . This movement requires a certain threshold of force due to the bending of the collet  300 , which serves as the surface signal that the lock has been overcome. 
     Pushing the moveable component  302  in the direction of arrow  316  then allows the collet  300  to return to the  FIG. 24  position, because the collet  300  remains mounted on sleeve  314  until the sleeve  314  engages groove  308  at surface  318 . At that point the lock  306  again secures the sleeve  314  to the collet  300 . Continuing movement of the movable member  302  then returns the collet  300  to the run-in position shown in  FIG. 24 , which is the same as  FIG. 29 . The process can be repeated to again lock the collet  300  to the moveable component  302 . The described configuration can be easily reversed so that the collet  300  is supported by the stationary part, which is not shown, and mounted to the moveable component  302 . 
     Continuing now with the release procedure for the tubular cutter C, continued push-down with the inner mandrel section  201 ,  202 , and  234  without the dog  216  catching on the slip housing  218  will allow the slip  220  and packing elements  223 - 225  to relax, and the tool can be moved up and down the casing, as needed. For the tool to move up freely, the inner mandrel section  201 ,  202 , and  234  will need to be rotated ¼ turn to the left while pushing down to re-engage the cam  215  with the lug sub  214  (as shown in  FIG. 8 , which is the view before the ¼ turn of rotation). 
       FIG. 13   a - 13   b  shows a secondary release method to release at surface or to release in the event that applying a pulling force followed by setting down fails to release the slips  220 . Shown in  FIG. 13   a - 13   b  is a ball  264  landing on seat  232 . This figure also shows the seat  232  in a position after it has been shifted to expose port  266 . Applied pressure then reaches the piston  230  which then compresses the disc springs  229 , thus simulating the same effect as a pick-up force on the string. The dogs  216  will be retracted so that a subsequent set-down force will extend the slips and seal assembly for a release. Subsequently, a ¼ turn left will re-latch the tool so that it will not re-engage the surrounding tubular as it is repositioned for another cut or removed from the wellbore. 
     The above description is illustrative of the preferred embodiment and many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention whose scope is to be determined from the literal and equivalent scope of the claims below.