# US 10,865,613 B2 · Downhole tool assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,613 B2 - Document ID: US10865613B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/360,582 - Filed: 2019-03-21 - Published: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-21 - Assignees: Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Steven Hughes; Leonard Neatherlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865613B2 ## CPC - E21B 23/006: {"J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms} - E21B 23/02: for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing (E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence) - E21B 17/021: {Devices for subsurface connecting or disconnecting by rotation} - E21B 17/046: with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches - E21B 23/004: {Indexing systems for guiding relative movement between telescoping parts of downhole tools} - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B 23/06: for setting packers - E21B 31/00: Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells - F16L 37/248: Bayonet-type couplings - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method of latching a production tubing to a packer in a wellbore, an assembly, and a connection, of which the method includes lowering the production tubing into the wellbore, the production tubing being coupled to a first body comprising a slot and a blocking member. The production tubing is lowered until a lug on a second body contacts the blocking member, the second body being coupled to a packer. The method includes raising the production tubing relative to the packer which causes the lug to move out of contact with the blocking member, lowering the production tubing into the wellbore again until the lug contacts and removes the blocking member, and rotating the production tubing such that the lug advances into the slot, so as to latch the production tubing and the packer together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of latching a production tubing to a packer in a wellbore, the method comprising: lowering the production tubing into the wellbore, the production tubing being coupled to a first body comprising a slot and a blocking member, wherein the production tubing is lowered until a lug on a second body contacts the blocking member, the second body being coupled to a packer; raising the production tubing relative to the packer which causes the lug to move out of contact with the blocking member; lowering the production tubing into the wellbore again until the lug contacts and removes the blocking member; and rotating the production tubing such that the lug advances into the slot, so as to latch the production tubing and the packer together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is configured to block movement of the lug in the slot until the production tubing is to be latched to the packer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein raising the production tubing relative to the packer comprises raising the production tubing without rotating the production tubing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the slot in the production tubing is at least partially helical. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the slot is a J-slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the blocking member is located at an entrance to the slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting off a portion of the production tubing after the production tubing is raised relative to the packer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein cutting off the portion comprises marking a cut line before raising the production tubing, and cutting off the portion after raising the production tubing. ### Claim 9 An assembly for connecting a production tubing to a packer, the assembly comprising: a first body having a blocking member disposed in a slot; and a second body having a lug configured to engage the blocking member in the slot, wherein the first body is configured to be coupled to one of a packer and a production tubing, and wherein the second body is configured to be coupled to the other one of the packer and the production tubing, such that the first body and the second body are together configured to provide a connection between the production tubing and the packer, and wherein the blocking member is configured to block the lug from moving in the slot until the lug applies a predetermined force onto the blocking member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the blocking member is configured to block movement of the lug in the slot until the production tubing is to be latched to the packer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the blocking member is positioned such that, when the lug is in contact with the blocking member, and the second body is removable from within the first body without rotating the first body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the blocking member is configured to be removed in response to a predetermined load applied by the lug onto the blocking member, and wherein the lug of the second body is configured to be advanced into the slot by rotating the first body relative to the second body after shearing off the blocking member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the slot comprises a J-slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first body is configured to be coupled to the production tubing, and wherein the second body is configured to be coupled to the packer. ### Claim 15 An assembly for connecting a production tubing to a packer, the assembly comprising: a first body having a blocking member disposed in a slot; and a second body having a lug configured to engage the blocking member in the slot, wherein the first body is configured to be coupled to one of a packer and a production tubing, and wherein the second body is configured to be coupled to the other one of the packer and the production tubing, such that the first body and the second body are together configured to provide a connection between the production tubing and the packer, wherein the first body comprises a lower portion have an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein a slot is defined in the inner surface, and the blocking member extends inward into the slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the second body is configured to be received at least partially into the lower portion. ### Claim 17 An assembly for connecting a production tubing to a packer, the assembly comprising: a first body having a blocking member disposed in a slot; and a second body having a lug configured to engage the blocking member in the slot, wherein the first body is configured to be coupled to one of a packer and a production tubing, and wherein the second body is configured to be coupled to the other one of the packer and the production tubing, such that the first body and the second body are together configured to provide a connection between the production tubing and the packer, and wherein the blocking member comprises a post that blocks an opening of the slot. ### Claim 18 A connection for connecting together a packer and a production tubing, the connection comprising: a first body having a helical slot and a blocking member that obstructs an entrance to the slot; and a second body sized to be received into the first body and comprising a lug configured to be received into the slot, wherein the blocking member is configured to prevent the lug from entering the slot, wherein the blocking member is configured to be removed by a predetermined force applied by the lug onto the blocking member, and wherein the first body is configured to receive the lug into the slot by rotating the first body relative to the second body once the blocking member is removed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The connection of claim 18, wherein the blocking member comprises a post that extends radially into the slot, proximal to or at an entrance of the slot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The connection of claim 19, wherein the first body comprises an inner surface and an outer surface that surrounds the inner surface, wherein the slot is defined in the inner surface, and wherein the post extends inward at least partially through the slot.