Rope socket
OwnerAaron Breaux, Keith Fry +1inventors
InventorsAaron Breaux, Keith Fry, Lance Fry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved rope socket for downhole operations, capable of separating within the wellbore to permit removal of upper components and attached wireline, while lower components including an uphole-facing fishing neck remain attached to a tool string or fish within the wellbore. Also, an improved drop bar for actuating a release mechanism of the improved rope socket. The improved drop bar includes wheel assemblies having integrated axles to provide a stronger axle capable of offset placement along the circumference of the drop bar.
Claims16
A rope socket, comprising:
- a first subassembly comprising:
- a cavity,
- at least one opening in a wall surrounding the cavity,
- a moveable release plunger comprising a continuous longitudinal wireline passage therethrough, and at least substantially disposed within the cavity and comprising at least one indent formed in an external sidewall thereof;
- and
- at least one wireline connection mechanism disposed in a lower portion of the first subassembly beneath the moveable release plunger;
- a second subassembly comprising an internal fishing neck and configured to accept the lower portion of the first subassembly;
- and
- at least one lug at least partially disposed within the opening in the wall surrounding the cavity, the at least one lug moveable between a first position protruding into the internal fishing neck, and a second position that does not substantially protrude into the internal fishing neck.
A method of separating a wireline from a tool string within a wellbore, comprising:
- operatively connecting an actuating device to the wireline;
- lowering the actuating device into the wellbore;
- actuating a separation mechanism of a rope socket with the actuating device, the rope socket comprising an upper subassembly at least partially nested in a lower subassembly and having at least one wireline connection mechanism disposed in a lower nested portion of the upper subassembly;
- and
- removing the actuating device and separated upper subassembly of the rope socket from the wellbore via the wireline, leaving a separated lower subassembly of the rope socket connected to the tool string, the separated lower subassembly comprising an uphole-facing internal fishing neck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.