Patent Publication Number: US-10767432-B1

Title: Drill alignment device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/431,177 filed Dec. 7, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to well drilling alignment devices for assisting the assembly of equipment retrieval tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During gas or oil well drilling an all-too-frequent occurrence is that drilling equipment becomes lost in the well. Because of the cost of new equipment, the time required to procure that new equipment and to set it in place, and the need to clear a well so that drilling can continue it is often advantageous to retrieve such lost equipment. The process of doing so is commonly known in the drilling industry as “fishing”. 
     A “fishing” expedition is performed by lowering one (1) or more equipment retrieval tools into the well. Equipment retrieval tools are designed to grasp or otherwise interact with the lost drilling equipment such that the equipment can be removed to enable continued drilling operations. A fishing expedition typically involves trying to couple one (1) or more retrieval tools to the lost drilling equipment, hopefully to enable both the retrieval tools and the lost drilling equipment to be removed from the well. Fishing operations should be understood as including the application of tools, equipment and techniques for the removal of junk, debris, tools and anything else left in a well bore. 
     One (1) common fishing tool is the overshot. An overshot is a well-drilling fishing tool that attaches to well tubing or pipe. An overshot is dropped down the well such that the overshot encompasses the outside walls of the drilling tube or pipe. Once the overshot is in place a basket grapple “grabs” the well tubing and allows the application of tensile forces and jarring actions such that the tubing can be pulled from the well. If the “fish” cannot be removed, a release system within the overshot allows the overshot to be disengaged and retrieved. As used herein “overshot” should be understood as having its customary meaning known to those skilled in drilling operations. 
     The assembly of fish equipment retrieval tooling is usually performed on the surface. Because of the nature of oil and gas well drilling it can be critical to perfectly align the equipment retrieval tooling to enable it to be dropped down a well to the lost equipment. Perfect alignment is easily said, but in practice it is far more difficult to accomplish in field conditions. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a system by which equipment retrieval tooling can be stabilized and carefully aligned. Preferably such alignment involves accurate vertical alignment such that a first section of the equipment retrieval tooling is vertically aligned with the second section, and then the third and subsequent sections. In addition, such as system should support proper rigging of fishing equipment as required for the well bore and equipment in issue. Such a system ideally should support safe, rapid assembly of the equipment retrieval tooling. Beneficially such a system should help reduce the chances of damage to the well, to the equipment retrieval tooling itself, and to the drilling equipment being recovered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for an overshot holding device suitable for on-site stabilizing and vertically aligning equipment retrieval tooling. That overshot holding device enables accurate vertical alignment and proper rigging of fishing equipment as required for the well bore and equipment in issue. The overshot holding device supports safe, rapid assembly of the equipment retrieval tooling while helping reduce the chances of damage to the well, to the equipment retrieval tooling itself, and to the drilling equipment being recovered. 
     A well drilling fishing equipment alignment device that is in accord with the present invention includes a base and an inner support that is connected to and that extends from the base. The inner support is configured to receive, hold, and vertically align an equipment retrieval device. Also included is an outer cover that is configured to cover and protect at least a portion of an equipment retrieval device that is connected to the inner support. 
     That base can include a base member having a top and a bottom base plate under the base member to provide a flat bottom. The base might further include a handling feature. In practice the inner support includes a vertical support member that is connected at its lower end to the base member. That vertical support member is preferably hollow and includes a lower end guide support that is configured to mate with a feature of an equipment retrieval device. Beneficially the guide support includes a perimeter lip that engages a bottom edge of an equipment retrieval device guide to form a joint. The upper perimeter lip may include a vertically orientated straight edge and a helical edge. 
     An overshot alignment structure that is in accord with the present invention includes an overshot and an overshot alignment device. The overshot alignment device includes a base and an inner support that is connected to and that vertically extends upward from the base. Also included is an outer cover. The inner support is connected to and vertically aligns the overshot while the outer cover protects at least a portion of the overshot. 
     That base can include a base member having a top and a bottom base plate under the base member to provide a flat bottom. The base might further include a handling feature. In practice the inner support includes a vertical support member that is connected at its lower end to the base member. That vertical support member is preferably hollow and includes a lower end guide support that mates with the overshot. Beneficially the guide support includes a perimeter lip that engages a bottom edge of a guide in the overshot to form a joint. The upper perimeter lip may include a vertically orientated straight edge and a helical edge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded side perspective view of an overshot holding device  10  that is in accord with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded side perspective view of the overshot holding device  10  of  FIG. 1  shown with an overshot  100 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the overshot holding device of  FIG. 2  when the overshot  100  and a protective cover  16  are installed on the overshot holding device  10 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the overshot holding device  10  of  FIG. 2  illustrating the overshot  100  being supported; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a partial sectional cut-away view of the overshot holding device  10  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  overshot holding device 
               12  base 
               14  inner support 
               16  outer cover 
               18  handling feature 
               20  base member 
               22  top surface 
               24  bottom plate 
               26  support member 
               28  lower end 
               30  support member upper end 
               32  cylindrical cover 
               34  cover lower end 
               36  cover upper end 
               38  guide support 
               40  lip 
               42  straight edge 
               44  helical edge 
               100  overshot 
               102  top sub 
               104  bowl 
               106  basket grapple 
               108  guide 
               110  cutlip guide 
               112  bottom edge 
               114  vertical straight edge 
               116  helical edge 
               163  vertical joint 
               165  helical joint 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the specifically described embodiments. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. 
     The terms “a” and “an” as used herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a well fishing equipment alignment device in the form of an overshot holding device  10 . The overshot holding device  10  is configured to support, hold and protect a vertically orientated overshot  100  which is to be dropped down a well bore to fish for lost drilling equipment. As an example, the overshot holding device  10  may be designed to hold a Bowen™ Series 150 overshot  100 . Of course, the overshot holding devices  10  may be used with other types or styles of overshots  100  or with another well fishing tool. 
     A key to well fishing operations is understanding the dimensions and nature of the fish that is to be removed, the wellbore conditions, the various tools and applicable techniques that can be employed and the process by which the recovered fish will be handled on surface. However, proper alignment of the fishing tools (overshot  100 ) is a critical parameter if fishing is to be successful. Usually an accurate vertical alignment is required. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  present exploded side perspective views of an overshot holding device  10  that provides accurate vertical alignment of an overshot  100 . The overshot holding device  10  includes a base  12 , an inner support  14  and an outer cover  16 . The inner support  14  provides a vertical structure that is at least partially received within an overshot  100  (see  FIGS. 2-5  for views of an overshot  100  on the inner support  14 ). The main purpose of the inner support  14  is to accurately vertically support the overshot  100  during assembly of a fishing equipment tooling assembly that includes the overshot  100 .  FIG. 3  shows the overshot  100  covered by the outer cover  16  that protects the overshot  100  once it is connected to the inner support  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the base  12  includes both a base member  20  having a top surface  22  and a bottom plate  24  having a flat bottom that is attached under the base member  20 . The bottom plate  24  is configured to be supported on an approximately flat surface such as the ground, a drilling pad or the like. While the base member  20  is shown as a square plate it should be understood that the base member  20  may take any suitable shape and/or dimensions required to support the inner support  14 , the overshot  100  and the outer cover  16 . Thus, the bottom plate  24  supports the overall structure on a flat surface while the base member  20  is configured as required to mate with the inner support  14  and the overshot  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows the base  12  with optionally included handling features  18 . The handling features  18  allow the overshot holding device  10  and the connected overshot  100  to be moved or otherwise transported between different locations. The handling feature  18  beneficially takes the form of a lifting eye bolt or hoist ring that is connected to the base member  20  and which extends from the top surface  22 .  FIGS. 2-5  show the base  12  without a handling feature  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , as noted the inner support  14  extends upward from the base  12 . The inner support  14  includes a vertically extending support member  26  that is connected at its lower end to the base member  20  and which extends upward to an upper end  30 . In practice the support member  26  will usually be disposed at or near the center of the base member  20 . To reduce weight the support member  26  is beneficially a hollow tube or pipe. 
     Referring primarily to  FIGS. 1-3 , the outer cover  16  fits over the overshot  100  when the overshot  100  is connected to the inner support  14 . The outer cover  16  includes a cylindrical cover  32  that protects the overshot  100 . The cylindrical cover  32  has a cover lower end  34  and an opposed cover upper end  36 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a typical overshot  100  having a top sub  102 , a connected bowl  104  and a guide  108 . As previously noted the overshot  100  is used in to remove an article (not shown) from within a well bore (also not shown). To that end the top sub  102  is configured to connect (e.g., thread onto) an extension sections as required to move the overshot  100  down a well bore. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 , the support member  26  has a guide support  38  that is disposed at or near its lower end  28 . The guide support  38  is configured to engage and mate with the guide  108  of the overshot  100  when the support member  26  is fully inserted into the overshot  100  (best shown in  FIG. 5 ). The guide support  38  itself includes an upper perimeter lip  40  that engages the bottom edge  112  of the guide  108  at the entry to a cutlip guide  110 . The lip  40  includes a straight edge  42  (e.g., generally parallel to a center axis of the inner support  14 ) and a helical edge  44 . 
     The lip  40  matches the shape or configuration of the bottom edge  112  of the overshot  100  that is being used. As an example, the bottom edge  112  includes a vertical straight edge  114  and a helical edge  116 . 
       FIG. 4  best illustrates the overshot  100  when it is connected to and supported by the inner support  14 . Upon full insertion of the support member  26  within the overshot  100  the straight edge  42  engages the vertical straight edge  114  along a vertical joint  163  and the helical edge  44  mates with the helical edge  116  to form a helical joint  165 . In this configuration the overshot  100  is supported in the upright position while the vertical joint  163  prevents rotation of the overshot  100  on the support member  26 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 , the bowl  104  houses a basket grapple  106  and/or another type of gripping mechanisms. The guide  108  is designed to guide the overshot  100  through a well bore. In an illustrative example the guide  108  forms the cutlip guide  110  with the bottom edge  112  having the vertical straight edge  114  and a helical edge  116  which respectively form the vertical joint  163  and the helical joint  165 . The specific features and operation of the overshot  100  are known to those skilled in the art and need not be further described. 
       FIG. 5  is a partial schematic cut-away view of the device  10  illustrating the overshot  100  connected to and supported by the inner support  14  and covered by the outer cover  16 . As illustrated, the support member  26  is at least partially received within the overshot  100 . The support member  26  has an outer diameter that is less than but close to the inner diameter of the overshot  100 . The support member  26  is received and engaged by the basket grapple  106  when inserted into the overshot  100 . The outer diameter of the guide support  38  is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the overshot  100 . The inner diameter of the cylindrical cover  32  is larger than but close to that of the outer diameter of the guide support  38  and the overshot  100 . 
     The overshot holding device  10  provides various benefits and advantages including support of the overshot  100  in the upright (e.g., vertical) position, which allows more efficient assembly of fishing equipment while reducing the possibility of injury to a laborer or damage to the overshot  100 . The overshot holding device  10  also provides a safe and secure means to store the overshot  100  in the upright position during non-use. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.