Downhole tool with ratcheting swivel and method
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorGregory S. Yarbro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for perforating a well includes a perforating gun 10 and a swivel 12 suspended from a wireline 50. An orientation sub 14 is provided above the gun 10 and a rotational latching mechanism 90 rotationally connects the wireline to the perforating gun in one direction, while allowing the swivel to rotationally disconnect the gun from the wireline in an opposing direction. According to the method of the invention, the gun may be lowered in the well from the wireline to a depth greater than the desired firing depth until the gun is rotated to its desired azimuthal position, and the gun then raised by the wireline to the desired firing depth with a rotational latching and swivel mechanisms maintaining the gun at its desired azimuthal position.
Claims22
A system for perforating a well, comprising:
- a perforating gun including one or more perforating charges for firing to perforate the well;
- a wireline for suspending the perforating gun in the well, the wireline including an inner sheath with an inner sheath strength and an outer sheath with an outer sheath strength differing from the inner sheath strength;
- a swivel for enabling rotation with the perforating gun with respect to a lower end of the wireline;
- and
- a rotational latching mechanism for rotating the perforating gun with the lower end of the wireline in one direction, while rotationally separating the gun from the lower end of the wireline in an opposing direction, such that tension in the wireline results in rotational torque to rotate the gun in the well, and the rotational latching mechanism separates the rotational torque from the gun in the opposing direction.
A system for positioning a tool in a well, comprising:
- a wireline for suspending the tool in the well, the wireline including an inner sheath with an inner sheath strength and an outer sheath with an outer sheath strength differing from the inner sheath strength;
- an orientation sub secured to the tool, the orientation sub including a plurality of sensors by determining the azimuthal position of the tool in the well;
- a swivel for enabling rotation with the tool with respect to a lower end of the wireline;
- a rotational latching mechanism for rotating the perforating gun with the lower end of the wireline in one direction, while rotationally separating the gun from the lower end of the wireline in an opposing direction, such that tension in the wireline results in rotational torque to rotate the gun in the well, and the rotational latching mechanism separates the rotational torque from the gun in the opposing direction;
- and
- surface equipment responsive to signals from the orientation sub, the surface equipment including a computer and a display.
A method of positioning a tool in a well, comprising:
- lowering the tool from a wireline into the well, the wireline including an inner sheath with an inner sheath strength and an outer sheath with an outer sheath strength differing from the inner sheath strength;
- providing a swivel for rotating the tool with respect to a lower end of the wireline;
- providing a rotational latching mechanism for rotating the tool with a lower end of the wireline in one direction, while rotationally separating the tool from the lower end of the wireline in an opposing direction;
- positioning the tool, the swivel, and the rotational latching mechanism at a depth in the well until varying tension in the wireline results in the tool being rotated to a desired azimuthal position;
- and
- thereafter axially moving the tool in the well with the wireline to the desired depth, with the rotational latching mechanism rotationally disconnecting the tool from the wireline as the tool moves in the well to the desired depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.