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US 10,119,348 B2Granted
Coring tools with improved reliability during core jams, and related methods
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorAudun Kvinnesland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inner barrel assembly for use with a coring tool may include a sleeve located coaxially within an inner barrel in a telescoping manner. The core barrel assembly may also include a cap located above a top end of the sleeve when the inner barrel assembly is in an initial coring position. The cap may include a skirt having a portion extending downwardly from the cap. A coring tool including an inner barrel assembly and methods of forming an inner barrel assembly are also disclosed.
Claims20
An inner barrel assembly for use with a coring tool, comprising:
- a plurality of sleeves located coaxially within an inner barrel, a first sleeve of the plurality being releasably attached to the inner barrel by a first releasable attachment, a second sleeve of the plurality being releasably attached to the first sleeve by a second releasable attachment, and located within the first sleeve;
- a cap located above a top end of the plurality of sleeves when the inner barrel assembly is in an initial coring position;
- and
- a skirt extending downwardly from the cap to a third releasable attachment with at least one sleeve of the plurality of sleeves,
- wherein the inner barrel assembly is configured for operation in at least four distinct operational states:
- a first operational state in which a core sample has not entered the coring tool, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, the second sleeve remains releasably attached to the first sleeve by the second releasable attachment, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment;
- a second operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has not jammed against the plurality of sleeves, the third releasable attachment is detached from the at least one sleeve, the cap and skirt are translated away from the at least one sleeve responsive to advancement of the core sample, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, and the second sleeve remains releasably attached to the first sleeve by the second releasable attachment;
- a third operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has jammed against the plurality of sleeves once, the second releasable attachment is detached from the first sleeve, the second sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment, and
- a fourth operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has jammed against the plurality of sleeves at least twice, the first releasable attachment is detached from the inner barrel, the first sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, the second releasable attachment is detached from the first sleeve, the second sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment.
6 more elements
A coring tool, comprising:
- an outer barrel;
- a core bit attached to a bottom end of the outer barrel;
- and
- an inner barrel assembly locatable within the outer barrel, the inner barrel assembly comprising:
- an inner barrel;
- a plurality of sleeves located coaxially within the inner barrel, a first sleeve of the plurality being releasably attached to the inner barrel by a first releasable attachment, a second sleeve of the plurality being releasably attached to the first sleeve by a second releasable attachment and located within the first sleeve;
- a cap located above a top end of the plurality of sleeves when the inner barrel assembly is in an initial coring position;
- and
- a skirt extending downwardly from the cap to a third releasable attachment with at least one sleeve of the plurality of sleeves,
- wherein the inner barrel assembly is configured for operation in at least four distinct operational states:
- a first operational state in which a core sample has not entered the coring tool, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, the second sleeve remains releasably attached to the first sleeve by the second releasable attachment, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment;
- a second operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has not jammed against the plurality of sleeves, the third releasable attachment is detached from the at least one sleeve, the cap and skirt are translated away from the at least one sleeve responsive to advancement of the core sample when the advancing core sample, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, and the second sleeve remains releasably attached to the first sleeve by the second releasable attachment;
- a third operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has jammed against the plurality of sleeves once, the second releasable attachment is detached from the first sleeve, the second sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment, and
- a fourth operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has jammed against the plurality of sleeves at least twice, the first releasable attachment is detached from the inner barrel, the first sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, the second releasable attachment is detached from the first sleeve, the second sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment.
11 more elements
A method of forming an inner barrel assembly for use with a coring tool, the method comprising:
- placing a first sleeve coaxially within an inner barrel and releasably attaching the first sleeve to the inner barrel by a first releasable attachment;
- placing a second sleeve coaxially within the first sleeve to form a plurality of sleeves and releasably attaching the second sleeve to the first sleeve by a second releasable attachment, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are configured to move in a telescoping manner relative to the inner barrel;
- providing a cap having a bottom end proximate a top end of at least one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve when the inner barrel assembly is in an initial coring position, the cap including a skirt having a portion extending downwardly from the cap;
- and
- detachably connecting the cap to the top end of the one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve utilizing a third releasable attachment, such that the inner barrel assembly is configured for operation in at least four distinct operational states:
- a first operational state in which a core sample has not entered the coring tool, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, the second sleeve remains releasably attached to the first sleeve by the second releasable attachment, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment;
- a second operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has not jammed against the plurality of sleeves, the third releasable attachment is detached from the at least one sleeve, the cap and skirt are translated away from the at least one sleeve responsive to advancement of the core sample, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, and the second sleeve remains releasably attached to the first sleeve by the second releasable attachment;
- a third operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has jammed against the plurality of sleeves once, the second releasable attachment is detached from the first sleeve, the second sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, the first sleeve remains releasably attached to the inner barrel by the first releasable attachment, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment;
- and
- a fourth operational state in which a core sample has advanced into the coring tool and has jammed against the plurality of sleeves at least twice, the first releasable attachment is detached from the inner barrel, the first sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, the second releasable attachment is detached from the first sleeve, the second sleeve is translated away from its initial position responsive to advancement of the core sample, and the cap and skirt remain releasably attached to the at least one sleeve by the third releasable attachment.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.