Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/AU658923B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-09-17 15:30:45
Document Index: 109423648

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 13', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 13', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'arts 13', 'art 14', 'art 13', 'art 14', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 14']

AU658923B2 - Lock mandrel for downhole assemblies - Google Patents
AU658923B2
AU658923B2 AU24673/92A AU2467392A AU658923B2 AU 658923 B2 AU658923 B2 AU 658923B2 AU 24673/92 A AU24673/92 A AU 24673/92A AU 2467392 A AU2467392 A AU 2467392A AU 658923 B2 AU658923 B2 AU 658923B2
AU24673/92A
AU2467392A (en
1993-04-05 Publication of AU2467392A publication Critical patent/AU2467392A/en
1995-05-04 Application granted granted Critical
1995-05-04 Publication of AU658923B2 publication Critical patent/AU658923B2/en
OFI DATE 05/04/93 APPLN. ID 24671/92 AOJP DATE 10/06/93 PCT NUMBER PCT/GB92/L 1 524 lIIIII IDIIIII lll1 11 11 !I li IAU921124673 111 AU9224673 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNUKR IHb PA I NI CUUPtKA IIUN I KA I Y (PCT) (51) International Pate't Classification 5 (11) International Publication Number: WO 93/05266 E21B 23/02 Al (43) International Publication Date: 18 March 1993 (18.03.93) (21) International Application Number: PCT/GB92/01524 (81) Designated States: AU, CA, NO, US, European patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, (22) International Filing Date: 19 August 1992 (19.08.92) MC, NL, SE).
Priority data: Published 91!8408.5 28 August 1991 (28.08.91) GB With international search report.
With amended claims and statement.
(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): PETRO- LINE WIRELINE SERVICES LIMITED [GB/GB]; Howe Moss Terrace, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Aberdeen AB2 OGR 6 (72) Inventor; and Inventor/Applicant (for US only) McHARDY, Colin [GB/ GB]; 53 Gordon Place, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8RB (GB).
(74) Agent: FITZPATRICKS; 4 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 IRS (GB).
(54)Title: LOCK MANDREL FOR DOWNHOLE ASSEMBLIES (57) Abstract A locking mandrel is provided for use in downhole assemblies and comprises a cylindrical body (12) having an annular series of openings (20) in which locking keys (21) are movably positioned, the keys (21) being biassed radially inwardly, and an inner mandrel (13, 14) for moving the keys (21) from a withdrawn primed condition to an extended set position. Additionally the body (12) includes a series of movable no-go members (22) below the keys (21) which are extended in said primed condition so as to be engageable with a no-go ring
2 on a downhole tubing string to axially arrest the body. The outer surface of the inner mandrel (13, 14) is suitably profiled, and the arrangement is such that with the no-go members (22) engaging the no-go ring, the inner mandrel (13, 14) is movable relative to the body (12) preferably after a shear member (15) between the body and the mandrel has fractured, to shift the keys (21) radially to the set position where the keys (21) engage on a receiving formation (RI) of the tubing string, and after this setting to cause the no-go member (22) to move radially inwardly and free from the no-go ring
2 Any axial load is then taken substantially fully through the keys (21).
-1- LOCK MANDREL FOR DOWNHOLE ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to a lock mandrel for downhole assemblies, i.e, lock mandrels with flow control accessories for use in oil and water/gas well operations.
The assembly is run in and positioned in the well at the pre-determined setting depth by engaging a restriction in the tubing known as the 'no-go'. For this purpose, the assembly has a no-go shoulder. In some constructions the assembly is supported by the no-go shoulder, but in others the engagement of the shoulder in the no go causes a shear pin to shear and allows lock-out keys or 'dogs' to engage a profile in the tubing and lock the assembly in position. In such constructions the no-go shoulder is deformable to provide for initial positive positioning before the keys lock out at which stage the shoulder then 'disappears'. After use, a new no-go shoulder has to be located on the assembly.
Disadvantages of the deformable no-go shoulder are not only that they have of necessity to be replaced after use, but also a deformed shoulder can become struck and therefore difficult to remove.
premature shear.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided locking mandrel apparatus for use in downhole assemblies, said locking mandrel being located in a S 25 becrrounding casing means of a downhole assembly and comprising a cylindrical body which in use is disposed upright, a plurality of radial openings in said body, locking keys p:\wpdocs~dys\spe e\24 673\9 2 -lalocated in said openings, biasing means to move said locking keys radially to locate in an aperture means of said surrounding casing means so as to place the mandrel in a locked or set condition, inner mandrel means adapted for axial movement relative to said body, said casing means additionally including receiving means defining a no-go location, a plurality of radially movable no-go members, said no-go members being biased in a radial direction, said inner mandrel means having a profiled external surface for reaction with said locking keys and the no-go members such that, in an initial primed condition of the mandrel, the inner mandrel means positions the no-go members in an extended condition radially outward beyond the outer surface of said body for engagement with said receiving means while allowing the locking keys to be retained within said outer surface of the body, movement of the inner mandrel means in a first axial direction from said primed condition when the no-go members are at the no-go locatioa causing the locking keys to be moved radially by said biasing means beyond the outer surface of the body for reception in said aperture means and then causing the no-go members to retract within the outer surface of the cylindrical body free from said receiving means, wherein the cylindrical body is fashioned to provide a plurality of flexible fingers which are integral with and permanently attached to said cylindrical body, said fingers constituting said no-go members, each of said fingers having one end free and the other end integral with the cylindrical body, said fingers being adapted for controlled movement by said inner mandrel means whereby said free ends of the fingers are moved selectively relative to the outer surface of the cylindrical body between said no-go location and a position ooo• free of the receiving means, said free ends of the fingers being adapted for engagement :with the receiving means in the no-go location, 25 Preferably, the inner mandrel is formed of first and second parts whereby the lock ooo mandrel can be retrieved by raising the first part so that the profile thereon allows radially iward withdrawal of the locking keys while the second part continues to allow the no-go members to remain withdrawn.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking mandrel for use in downhole assemblies, said lock mandrel being located in surrounding casing means of a downhole assembly and comprising a cylindrical body which in use 7 is disposed upright, a plurality of radial openings in said bod,, locking keys located in S S. ~p:\wpdocs\dys\specte\24673\92 -2said openings, biasing means to move said locking keys radially to locate in an aperture means of said surrounding casing means so as to place the mandrel in a locked or set condition, inner mandrel means adapted for axial movement relative to said body, said casing means additionally including receiving means defining a no-go location, a plurality of radially movable no-go members, said no-go members being biased in a radial direction, said inner mandrel means having a profiled external surface for reaction with said locking keys and the no-go members such that, in an initial primed condition of the apparatus, the inner mandrel means positions the no-go members in an extended condition radially outward beyond the outer surface of said body for engagement with said receiving means while allowing the locking keys to be retained within said outer surface of the body, movement of the inner mandrel means in a first axial direction from said primed condition when the no-go member s are at the no-go location causing the locking keys to be moved radially by said biasing means, beyond the outer surface of the body for reception in said aperture means and then causing the no-go members to retract within the outer surface of the cylindrical body from said receiving means, wherein the cylindrical body is fashioned to provide a plurality of flexible fingers which are integral with and permanently attached to said cylindrical body, saia fingers constituting said no-go members, each of said fingers having one end free and the other end integral with the cylindrical body, said fingers being adapted for controlled movement by said inner S20 mandrel means whereby said free ends of the fingers are moved selectively relative to the *se o 0oo o 0°0 outer surface of the cylindrical body between said no-go location and a position free of said receiving means, said free ends of the fingers being adapted for engagement with the 600 *receiving means in the no-go location, the inner mandrel means comprising upper and
lower overlying parts which are relatively movable apart, said upper part being profiled 25 to maintain the locking keys in the aperture means in said locked condition while said t o:o lower part is profiled to permit the non-go members to move into engagement with the receiving means and also to free from said receiving means, whereby the locking mandrel can be retrieved by raising the upper part to permit radial inward withdrawal of the locking keys while the lower part remains in a position permitting the no-go members to 0 be free of said receiving means.
,T An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: pA\wpdocs\dys\specle\24673\ 92 2a Fig, I is a half sectional elevation of a lock mandrel for dowvnholq assembly according to the invention shown in the primed condition; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lock mandrel in the locked condition.
0 0 0* *0e 0 0* 0 0 4 0*0* 0000 0 0*00 *0 0 0* 00 0 00 0 0 0 0 000 0 0*0* 0e 0* 0* 00 0 00 00 0 *0*
p:\wpdocs\dys\specle\24673\92 WO 93/05266 PCTIGB92/01524 3 Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lock mandrel in the retrieval condition; and Figs. 4 and 5 show similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 for a further embodiment of the present invention.
The upper part 13 has a neck 13A which extends upwardly out of the body 12, and a shoulder 13B which locates below an internal stop face 11 near the upper end of body 12.
The lower part 14 of the inner mandrel has a profiled outer surface achieved by appropriate sizing of the outer diameter along the length of the part 14 thereby forming a short neck portion 14A at the top of part 14, then a portion 14B of slightly larger diameter which forms a step whence the diameter increases to a short third portion 14C which also forms a step, then further increases to a fourth section 14D which forms an undercut and finally the part 14 narrows in diameter to form the lower, fifth portion 14E.
A recess 14R is present between the portion 14D and the part 13C, at the portion 14C.
WO 93/05266 PCT/GB92/01524 4 The packing barrel 18 has a bottom sub 18B connected thereto. The bottom sub 18B has a ledge 19 which the lower end of the lower mandrel part 14 extends towards when it moves downwards as hereinafter described; a coil spring (not shown) may be incorporated around the lower part 14 to dampen the downward movement.
The body 10 has a plurality of windows 20 wit'ain which are located locking keys 21 biassed radially inwardly to an inner or withdrawn position in the primed condition in which the keys 21 are within the outside diameter of the body as shown in Fig. 1.
The inner surfaces of the keys 21 engage a profiled outer surface of the inner mandrel 13, 14 and in the primed position (Fig. the recess 14R at the portion 14C of the profiled surface accommodates the withdrawn keys 21.
Below the keys 21 are a plurality of no-go members in the form of upwardly directed fingers 22. They are integral at their lower ends with the body 12 and they are biassed inwardly to lie within the outside diameter of the body, as shown in (Fig. when the recess 14R is moved opposite the fingers 22. The upper end 23 of each finger has an inner surface which, when the lock mandrel is primed abuts the upper profiled surface of portion 14D of the inner mandrel, which portion 14D in the primed condition, forces the finger ends 23 radially outwards beyond the outside diameter of the body 10 as shown in (Fig. The outer surface of each finger 22 has an overhang which together form a no-go shoulder 24 to abut a no-go ring generally shown as R 2 cn the tubing string.
When the inner mandrel 13, 14 moves downwards, as hereinafter described with the fingers 22 engaging the no-go ring R 2 the profiled surface 14C runs down the inner face of the keys 21 and the profiled lower face 16 of skirt 13C pushes the keys 21 outwards and the outer surface of the skirt 13C then retains the keys extended, as illusttated in (Fig. 2).
When the inner mandrel 13, 14 moves down the body as hereinafter described, the profiled portion 14D runs down WO 93/05266 PC-r/GB92/01524 and off the inner face of the finger ends 23 and the narrower diameter portion 14C of the profiled surface of the lower mandrel part 14 allows the inward biassing or withdrawl of the fingers 22 so that the finger ends 23 locate within the outside diameter of the body 12E within recess 14R. Only when the keys 21 are set in a receiving means (indicated as R
of the downhole tubing string are the no-go fingers 22 perm itfted to free from the no-go ring
2 and move into the recess 14R.
When the lock mandrel reaches the setting depth, the no-go shoulders 24 firmly engage the tubing no-go ring (R 2 and this enables the shear pin 15 to be sheared. The inner mandrel 13, 14 is then free to move downwards within the body 12 and the profiled surfaces of the upper and lower parts 13, 14 are such as to firstly activate the keys 21 into their radially extended positions and then allow retraction of the finger ends 23. The lock mandrel is then in the locked condition, (Fig.2) being firmly held in place by engagement of the keys 21 against the profiled tubing at
1 When the inner mandrel 13, 14 moves downwards, a lock down collet 25 comes into use. The collet 25 is fixedly attached to the lower part 14 6f the inner mandrel and has downwardly extending fingers 26 which have hooked lower ends 27. These ends 27 engage below a stop surface 28 at the lower end of the packing barrel 18 and thus prevents further upward movement of the inner mandrel at least until the shear pin 17 is sheared to separate the upper part 13 from the lower part 14 which remains immovable due to the collet fingers 26.
Thus, the two-piece inner mandrel 13, 14 enables easy retrieval of the assembly. In a simple operation an upward pull causes shear pins 17 to shear so that the upper part 13 can be pulled upwards until portion 13B abuts the stop face 11 of the body 12, (Fig. Lifting of part 13 draws the WO 93/05266 PCT~GB92/0124 6 skirt 13C clear of the keys and allows them to retract, freeing the lock mandrel from engagement with the tubing profile.
As the lower part 14 of the inner mandrel is still held in its lowered position, the fingers 22 remain in their "/ithdrawn position, so the lock mandrel can be lifted up the tubing and retrieved.
Advantages of a lock mandrel as hereinbefore described are as follows: 1. There is a positive hard no-go positioning of the device by the extended fingers 22 prior to location of the lock out keys 21.
The pressure on the device from above or below is held by the lock-out keys and never by the no-go shoulder.
The sleeve has a short neck portion 31A which, in the running mode, Fig. 4 is engaged by the upper end 23 of the fingers thus providing a short gap 34 between the ledge of the inner mandrel and the top edge of the sleeve.
IW0O93/05266 PCFGB92/01524 7 The sleeve is of a low 2riction material.
When the tool has run downhole it lands on the desired no-go shoulder and downward pressure shears shear pin the inner mandrel will move downwards initially through the sleeve before the ledge 30 engages the sleeve, after which both inner mandrel and sleeve move downwards together.
The purpose of the sleeve is to prevent friction-bind of the fingers against the inner mandrel. This can happen when the tool lands on the no-go shoulder and as a consequence the pressure required to shear the shear pins can become very erratic.
The sleeve 31 removes the possibility of friction-bind and consequently a more accurate control of the pressure required to shear the shear pins In the described embodiments the no-go members are fingers 22 which, due to their length are flexible enough to allow movement of the finger ends 23. However, when the body is too short to allow for flexible fingers, the no-go members may be dogs or keys (not shown) which are movable radially to perform the same function as the finger ends 23.
1. Locking mandrel apparatus for use in downhole assemblies, said locking mandrel being located in a surrounding casing means of a downhole assembly and comprising a cylindrical body which in use is disposed upright, a plurality of radial openings in said body, locking keys located in said openings, biasing means to move said locking keys radially to locate in an aperture means of said surrounding casing means so as to place the mandrel in a locked or set condition, inner mandrel means adapted for axial movement relative to said body, said casing means additionally including receiving means defining a no-go location, a plurality of radially movable no-go members, said no-go members being biased in a radial direction, said inner mandrel means having a profiled external surface for reaction with said locking keys and the no-go members such that, in an initial primed condition of the mandrel, the inner mandrel means positions the no-go members in an. extended condition radially outward beyond the outer surface of said body for engagement with said receiving means while allowing the locking keys to be retained within said outer surface of the body, movement of the inner mandrel means in a first axial direction from said primed condition when the no-go members are at the no-go location causing the locking keys to be moved radially by said biasing means, beyond the outer surface of the body for reception in said aperture means and then causing the no-go 20 members to retract within the outer surface of the cylindrical body itree from said receiving means, wherein the cylindrical body is fashioned to provide a plurality of flexible fingers which are integral with and permanently attached to said cylindrical body, said fingers constituting said no-go members, each of said fingers having one end free and the other end integral with the cylindrical body, said fingers being adapted for 25 controlled movement by said inner mandrel means whereby said free ends of the 'fingers are moved selectively relative to the outer surface of the cylindrical body between said no-go location and a position free of the receiving means, said free ends of the fingers being adapted for engagement with the receiving means in the no-go location.
2. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said primed condition, the inner mandrel means is connected to the body by first shear means, which is caused to rupture prior to said axial movement of the inner mandrel means, from the primed Scondition. pAwpdoc\dy\specie\2+73\92 -9-
3. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein in the set condition axial !oading is taken solely through the locking keys.
4. A locking mandrel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner mandrel means additionally includes a sleeve part. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve part is movable by the inner mandrel means.
6. A locking mandrel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a lock means is provided which in the set condition prevents movement of the inner mandrel means in an axial direction opposite to said first direction.
7. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cylindrical body includes, at its lower end, a component having a ledge engageable by the inner mandrel means in said condition to prevent upward movement of the inner mandrel means.
8. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lock means comnrises flexible fingers defining collets.
9. A locking mandrel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner mandrel means includes damping means associated therewith to dampen its A -ent. 6 A locking mandre! as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 25 profiling of the inner mandrel means provides a recess for the locking keys in said primed condition, said recess serving to receive the no-go members in the set condition, the .i arrangement being such that the locking keys are placed in a set condition in said aperture means prior to said no-go members moving into said recess free of the receiving means. 666
11. A locking mandrel for use in downhole assemblies, said lock mandrel being located in surrounding casing means of a downhole assembly and comprising a cylindrical body which in use is disposed upright, a plurality of radial openings in said body, locking keys located in said openings, biasing means to move said locking keys radially to locate T p:\wpdocs\dys\spece\24673\92 in an aperture means of said surroanding casing mean; as to place the mandrel in a locked or set condition, inner mandrel means adapted, axial movement relative to said body, said casing means additionally including receiving means defining a no-go location, a plurality of radially movable no-go members, said no-go members being biased in a radial direction, said inner mandrel means having a profiled external surface for reaction with said locking keys and the no-go members such that, in an initial primed condition of the apparatus, the inner mandrel means positions the no-go members in an extended condition radially outward beyond the outer surface of said body for engagement with said receiving means while allowing the locking keys to be retained within said outer surface of the body, movement of the inner mandrel means in a first axial direction from said primed condition when the no-go members are at the no-go location causing the locking keys to be moved radially by said biasing means, beyond the outer surface of the body for reception in said aperture means and then causing the no-go members to retract within the outer surface of the cylindrical body free from said receiving means, wherein the cylindrical body is fashioned to provide a plurality of flexible fingers which are integral with and permanently attached to said cylindrical body, said fingers constituting said no-go members, each of said fingers having one end free and the other end integral with the cylindrical body, said fingers being adapted for controlled movement by said inner mandrel means whereby said free ends of 20 the fingers are moved selectively relative to the outer surface of the cylindrical body S. between said no-go location and a position free of said receiving means, said free ends ol: of the fingers being adapted for engagement with the receiving means in the no-go location, the inner mandrel means comprising upper and lower overlying parts which are relatively movable apart, said upper part being profiled to maintain the locking keys in the aperture means in said locked condition while said lower part is profiled to permit the no-go members to move into engagement with the receiving means and also to free from said receiving means, whereby the locking mandrel can be retrieved by raising the upper part to permit radial inward withdrawal of the locking keys while the lower part remains o in a position permitting the no-go members to be free of said receiving means.
12. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 11, wherein said upper and lower parts of the inner mandrel means are connected by second shear means. r a p:\wpdocs\dys\specie\24673\92 11-
13. A locking mandrel as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein said upper and lower parts are arranged telescopically, a recess means being provided between said upper and lower parts providing a first recess to receive the locking keys in the primed condition and also subsequently to receive the no-go members in said locked condition, relative movement apart of said upper and lower parts increasing the length of said recess means whereby said recess means becomes capable of receiving both the locking keys and the no-go members simultaneously to permit retrieval of the locking mandrel. Dated this 6th day of February, 1995 PETROLINE WIRELINE SERVICES LIMITED By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE @1 S S S 000 S. "S 4 S00. s 0 a S. S *S S b7naili i r$q P J p:\wpdocsdys\specde\2467J\92
AU24673/92A 1991-08-28 1992-08-19 Lock mandrel for downhole assemblies Expired AU658923B2 (en)
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