Releasable retrieving tool with lug and slot connection
AssigneeVangaard Downhole Inc.
InventorJeff D. Schryver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methodologies for recovering equipment from a subterranean wellbore are provided, the apparatus operative to both disconnect uphole equipment from downhole equipment that has become lodged in the wellbore, salvaging the uphole equipment, and then to reconnect with the downhole equipment to fish the equipment from the wellbore. More specifically, the apparatus and methodologies comprise a modified fishing tool having two tubular portions that can be easily and efficiently be disconnected and reconnected with one another.
Claims17
An apparatus for use in retrieving equipment from of a subterranean wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing tubular, the housing tubular forming a central bore having an inner surface providing a plurality of lugs protruding from and longitudinally spaced along the inner surface, the housing tubular having a lower end, the lower end of the housing tubular forming axially extending splines;
- a second inner fishing tubular, the fishing tubular having an outer surface forming a plurality of slots corresponding with the plurality of lugs, the fishing tubular having a lower end, the lower end of the fishing tubular forming grooves,
- a shear mechanism interconnecting the housing tubular and the fishing tubular,
- wherein, when the fishing tubular is slidably received within the central bore of the housing tubular,
- the plurality of lugs correspond to and interconnect with the plurality of slots to releasably connect the housing tubular and the fishing tubular, and to transmit axial load and rotational forces between the housing tubular and the fishing tubular;
- the axially extending splines correspond to and interconnect with the grooves to transmit torque in either a right-hand or left-hand direction of rotation, and the shear mechanism is configured to maintain the interconnection between the housing tubular and the fishing tubular and to shear upon application of a predetermined force to permit separation of the housing tubular from the fishing tubular.
A method of retrieving equipment from a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising:
- providing at least one apparatus for retrieving the equipment, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing tubular releasably connected and rotatable with a second fishing tubular, the first housing tubular forming a central bore having an inner surface providing a plurality of lugs protruding from and longitudinally spaced along the inner surface and having a lower end forming axially extending splines for interconnecting with corresponding grooves of the second fishing tubular, the second fishing tubular having an outer surface forming a plurality of slots corresponding with the plurality of lugs, and a shear mechanism interconnecting the first housing tubular and the second fishing tubular;
- lowering the apparatus into the wellbore,
- interconnecting the first housing tubular and the second fishing tubular downhole by engaging the plurality of lugs with the plurality of slots to releasably connect the first housing tubular and the second fishing tubular and to transmit axial load and rotational forces therebetween, and by interconnecting the axially extending splines with the corresponding grooves to transmit torque in either a right-hand or left-hand direction of rotation;
- disconnecting the first housing tubular from the second fishing tubular by rotatably disengaging the first housing tubular from the second fishing tubular and removing the first housing tubular from the wellbore;
- and
- reconnecting the first housing tubular with the second fishing tubular by lowering the first housing tubular into the wellbore and rotatably reengaging the plurality of lugs with the plurality of slots and interconnecting the axially extending splines with the corresponding grooves for removal of the apparatus and for retrieving the equipment from the wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.