# US 12,110,766 B2 · Downhole cleaning tool and method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,110,766 B2
- Document ID: US12110766B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/040,158
- Filed: 2021-08-06
- Published: 2023-11-16
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-07
- Assignees: Coretrax Globl Limited
- Applicants: Coretrax Global Limited
- Inventors: Thilo Rahn; Scott Benzie; Ryan Low; Rafael Villa De Santana; Andrew Churchill
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110766B2

## CPC

- E21B 37/04: operated by fluid pressure, e.g. free-piston scrapers
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A downhole cleaning tool (120) for use in a drilled bore, such as an oil and gas well (100). The tool (120) comprises a tubular body (130) defining an internal bore (136) and at least one radially extending blade (148) defining a pocket (152) having sides and a base. A cam-activated radially extendable cleaning element (154) is mounted in the pocket (152) and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. Multiple pockets (152) and cleaning elements (154) may be provided. The activating cam may be in the form of a pipe, which may be a single unitary part or may be in multiple parts. The parts of the multiple-part pipe may be axially spaced and may activate the cleaning elements in a staggered or sequential manner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A downhole tool comprising;
a tubular body defining an internal bore permitting passage of fluid therethrough;
first and second actuating members located in the bore; the first and second actuating members including cam members and being axially movable relative to the body;
first and second actuatable members mounted on the body, the first and second actuatable members including cam followers and being radially movable relative to the body, the cam follower of the first actuatable member cooperating with the cam member of the first actuating member and the cam follower of the second actuatable member cooperating with the cam member of the second actuating member, and
an occluding member,
the occluding member being translatable into engagement with the first actuating member to occlude the body bore and permit creation of a fluid-generated force for axially translating the first actuating member whereby the cam member of the first actuating member and the cam follower of the first actuatable member cooperate to radially translate the first actuatable member, and then further translating the first actuating member into engagement with the second actuating member and then further axially translating the second actuating member whereby the cam member of the second actuating member and the cam follower of the second actuatable member cooperate to radially translate the second actuatable member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, further comprising a third actuating member and wherein the second actuating member is translatable into engagement with the third actuating member for translating the third actuating member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein the first actuating member and the second actuating member comprise sleeves.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein the first actuating member and the second actuating member are initially releasably retained relative to the body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein the first actuating member and the second actuating member are initially releasably retained relative to the body by shear couplings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein opposing surfaces of the first actuating member and the second actuating member are initially axially spaced apart.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein the first actuating member is located axially above the second actuating member in the body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, further comprising a stop for the first and second actuating members.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein the first actuating member and the second actuating member comprise a coupling arrangement whereby the first and second actuating members are coupled together to prevent axial separation of the members.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second actuatable members comprise cleaning elements.

### Claim 11

A method of actuating a downhole tool, the method comprising:
translating an occluding member into a first actuating member located in a body of a downhole tool;
creating a fluid-generated force across the occluding member to translate the first actuating member axially through the body whereby a cam member of the first actuating member cooperates with a cam follower of a first actuatable member and radially translates the first actuatable member;
further translating the first actuating member axially through the body to engage a second actuating member located in the body; and
utilising the fluid-generated force to translate the second actuating member axially through the body whereby a cam member of the second actuating member cooperates with a cam follower of a second actuatable member and radially translates the second actuatable member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising creating a fluid-generated force across the occluding member and translating the first and second actuating members through the body to engage a third actuating member and utilising the fluid-generated force to translate the third actuating member through the body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising initially retaining at least one of the first actuating member and the second actuating member relative to the body, and releasing the retained actuating member to permit translation of the released retaining member through the body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising rotating the tool in a bore.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the actuatable members comprise cleaning elements, and the cleaning elements are radially translated into contact with a surrounding surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising engaging at least one of the first and second actuating members with a stop to limit further translation of the actuating members.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling the first and second actuating members together to limit axial separation of the members.
