# US 11,441,583 B2 · Hydraulic thruster > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,583 B2 - Document ID: US11441583B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/377,344 - Filed: 2021-07-15 - Published: 2022-01-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-15 - Assignees: Coretrax Americas Ltd. - Applicants: Mohawk Energy Ltd. - Inventors: Tyler Whitney; Alessandro Caccialupi; Scott Benzie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441583B2 ## CPC - F15B 15/1404: {in clusters, e.g. multiple cylinders in one block} - F15B 15/18: Combined units comprising both motor and pump - E21B 23/0412: {characterised by pressure chambers, e.g. vacuum chambers} - E21B 23/0419: {using down-hole motor and pump arrangements for generating hydraulic pressure} - E21B 23/042: {using a single piston or multiple mechanically interconnected pistons} - F15B 11/0365: {Tandem constructions} - F15B 11/20: controlling several interacting or sequentially-operating members - F15B 2211/7056: Tandem cylinders - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A hydraulic thruster system for providing an axial force. In one embodiment, the system comprises a pump, a motor for driving the pump, and a hydraulic thruster comprising: a cylinder comprising a plurality of cylinder pistons; a shaft comprising a plurality of shaft pistons; a plurality of first pressure chambers; and a plurality of second pressure chambers, wherein the plurality of shaft pistons are positioned inside the cylinder, between the cylinder pistons to form the plurality of first and a second pressure chambers, wherein the shaft further comprises a first fluid passage connected to the pump and to the first pressure chambers, and a second fluid passage connected to the pump and to the second pressure chambers, and wherein the pump may pump fluid into the first pressure chambers and suction fluid from the second pressure chambers providing an axial force between the shaft and the cylinder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic thruster system for providing an axial force, comprising: a motor; a pump, wherein the pump is driven by the motor; and a hydraulic thruster comprising: a cylinder comprising a plurality of cylinder pistons; a shaft comprising a plurality of shaft pistons; a plurality of first pressure chambers; a plurality of second pressure chambers; and a fluid disposed within the plurality of first pressure chambers, within the plurality of second pressure chambers, or partially within both the plurality of first pressure chambers and the plurality of second pressure chambers, wherein the plurality of shaft pistons are disposed within the cylinder, between the plurality of cylinder pistons to form the plurality of first and second pressure chambers, wherein the shaft further comprises a fluid passage connecting the plurality of first pressure chambers to the plurality of second pressure chambers, wherein the fluid is pumped between the plurality of first pressure chambers and the plurality of second pressure chambers through the fluid passage via the pump, and wherein the pump or the pump and motor comprise a recess in which to receive the shaft upon axial displacement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic thruster system is disposed on a wireline. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic thruster system is coupled to a downhole tool assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 3, wherein the downhole tool assembly is an expansion system comprising an expansion device, a patch, and an anchor/sealing element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 4, wherein the shaft is coupled to the expansion device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, further comprising: cylinder-piston sealing elements respectively disposed between the plurality of cylinder pistons and an outer surface of the shaft; and shaft-piston sealing elements respectively disposed between the plurality of shaft pistons and an inner surface of the cylinder, wherein the cylinder-piston sealing elements and the shaft-piston sealing elements provide pressure tight seals for the plurality of first pressure chambers and the plurality of second pressure chambers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is suctioned from the plurality of first pressure chambers and pumped into the plurality of second pressure chambers via the pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is suctioned from the plurality of second pressure chambers and pumped into the plurality of first pressure chambers via the pump. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, wherein the shaft is axially displaced by the pumped fluid relative to the cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hydraulic thruster system of claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a disconnect device. ### Claim 11 A method for providing an axial force to a downhole tool assembly, comprising: (A) coupling a hydraulic thruster system comprising a motor, a pump, and a hydraulic thruster to the downhole tool assembly, wherein a shaft disposed within the hydraulic thruster is connected to at least a portion of the downhole tool assembly; (B) pumping a fluid from a plurality of first pressure chambers disposed within the hydraulic thruster into a plurality of second pressure chambers disposed within the hydraulic thruster via the pump and motor, wherein the fluid passes through a first and second fluid passage disposed within the shaft; (C) allowing the transfer of fluid to axially displace the shaft and the portion of the downhole tool assembly to which the shaft is connected. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic thruster system and the downhole tool assembly are disposed on a wireline. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the downhole tool assembly is an expansion system comprising an expansion device, a patch, and an anchor/sealing element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first pressure chambers and the plurality of second chambers are formed between a cylinder and the shaft of the hydraulic thruster via a plurality of cylinder pistons disposed on an inner surface of the cylinder, and a plurality of shaft pistons disposed on an outer surface of the shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first pressure chambers and the plurality of second chambers comprise pressure tight seals accomplished via cylinder-piston sealing elements respectively disposed between the plurality of cylinder pistons and the outer surface of the shaft, and shaft-piston sealing elements respectively disposed between the plurality of shaft pistons and the inner surface of the cylinder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the shaft further comprises a disconnect device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the pump or the pump and motor comprise a recess in which to receive the shaft upon axial displacement. ### Claim 18 A hydraulic thruster system for providing an axial force, comprising: a motor; a pump, wherein the pump is driven by the motor; and a hydraulic thruster comprising: a cylinder comprising-a two cylinder pistons; a shaft comprising a shaft piston; a first pressure chamber; a second pressure chamber; and a fluid disposed within the first pressure chamber, within the second pressure chamber, or partially within both the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, wherein the shaft piston is disposed within the cylinder, between the two of cylinder pistons to form the first and second pressure chambers, wherein the shaft further comprises a fluid passage connecting the first pressure chamber to the second pressure chamber, wherein the fluid is pumped between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber through the fluid passage via the pump, and wherein the pump or the pump and motor comprise a recess in which to receive the shaft upon axial displacement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hydraulic thruster system according to claim 18, wherein the second pressure chamber comprises a compensation piston providing pressure equalization due to temperature and/or hydrostatic pressure changes.