Releasable locking mechanism
AssigneeOneSubsea IP UK Limited
InventorJoseph Allan Nicholson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A releasable locking mechanism 20 for use in a downhole well 10 is provided. The releasable locking mechanism 20 is suitable for use in a cable termination assembly 11. The cable termination assembly 11 is coupled to a downhole apparatus 12 and is configured for coupling a cable line 13 thereto. The releasable locking mechanism 20 includes an extension tube 21 adapted to be coupled to the cable line 13, and a base assembly 23 adapted to be coupled to the cable termination assembly 11. The extension tube 21 and the base assembly 23 are adapted to releasably engage each other in such a manner that when a tensile load in the cable line 13 exceeds a predefined threshold value, the extension tube 21 and the base assembly 23 are disengaged.
Claims12
A releasable locking mechanism for use with a cable termination assembly, the cable termination assembly being coupled to a downhole apparatus and configured for coupling a cable line thereto, the releasable locking mechanism comprising:
- an extension tube adapted to be coupled to the cable line and comprising a first mating profile, and
- a base assembly adapted to be coupled to the cable termination assembly and further adapted to engage the extension tube, the base assembly comprising:
- a base adapted to be coupled to the cable termination assembly,
- a release ring mounted on the base and defining a recess,
- an end cap,
- an extendible retainer adapted to bias the end cap toward the base and adapted to permit an axial displacement of the end cap from a locking position to a release position relative to the base when a tensile load in the cable line exceeds a predefined threshold value, and
- a release collet comprising a second mating profile adapted for mating with the first mating profile,
- wherein when the end cap is held in the locking position, the release collet is restrained from displacement in an axial direction away from the base by the end cap and in a radial direction by the release ring such that the first and second mating profiles are engaged, thereby retaining the extension tube, and
- wherein when the end cap is displaced to the release position, the release collet is permitted to displace in the axial direction away from the base and expand in the radial direction at least partially into the recess of the release ring such that the first and second mating profiles are disengaged, thereby releasing the extension tube.
A method comprising:
- coupling a cable line to a downhole apparatus through a releasable locking mechanism, wherein the releasable locking mechanism comprises:
- an extension tube coupled to the cable line and comprising a first mating profile, and
- a base assembly coupled to the cable termination assembly and engaging the extension tube, the base assembly comprising:
- a base coupled to the cable termination assembly,
- a release ring mounted on the base and defining a recess,
- an end cap,
- an extendible retainer that biases the end cap toward the base and is configured to permit an axial displacement of the end cap from a locking position to a release position relative to the base when a tensile load in the cable line exceeds a predefined threshold value, and
- a release collet comprising a second mating profile adapted for mating with the first mating profile,
- wherein when the end cap is held in the locking position, the release collet is restrained from displacement in an axial direction away from the base by the end cap and in a radial direction by the release ring such that the first and second mating profiles are engaged, thereby retaining the extension tube, and
- wherein when the end cap is displaced to the release position, the release collet is permitted to displace in the axial direction away from the base and expand in the radial direction at least partially into the recess of the release ring such that the first and second mating profiles are disengaged, thereby releasing the extension tube, and
- applying a tensile load to the cable line equal to or greater than the predefined threshold value such that the cable line is disengaged from the downhole apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.