# US 2009/0260822 A1 · Backoff sub and method for remotely backing off a target joint

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- Number: US 2009/0260822 A1
- Document ID: US20090260822A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/104,185
- Filed: 2008-04-16
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16
- Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated
- Inventors: CARL W. STOESZ; TERRY R. BUSSEAR
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260822A1

## CPC

- E21B 31/1075: {using explosives}
- E21B 17/06: Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A backoff sub includes a housing; and a backoff facilitator at least partially within the housing and capable of adding energy to a system within which the sub is disposable and method.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A backoff sub comprising:
a housing; and
a backoff facilitator at least partially within the housing and capable of adding energy to a system within which the sub is disposable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator is individually addressable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator includes an explosive.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator includes a spark gap tool.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator includes a piezoelectric stack.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator includes a low pressure chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator includes an acoustic generator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backoff facilitator includes a linear actuator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 8 wherein the linear actuator is an explosive charge.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 9 wherein the explosive charge is disposed within a compartment of the housing that is volumetrically expandable.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 8 wherein the linear actuator is in operable communication with a driving torque mass.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 11 wherein the driving torque mass is interactive with one or more torque drive reaction pins.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 12 wherein the one or more torque drive reaction pins translate linear motion of the driving torque mass to rotary motion in a direction capable of backing off the backoff sub.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 11 wherein the driving torque mass includes a castellated end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 14 wherein the castellated end includes one or more angular faces.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 15 wherein the one or more angular faces are oriented to face counterclockwise.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 8 wherein the housing further comprises a spin collar.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spin collar is rotatable relative to the housing in one direction only.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The backoff sub as claimed in claim 8 wherein the backoff sub includes one or more fluid ports capable of delivering pressurized fluid to a thread interface.

### Claim 20

A well system comprising:
a string having a plurality of joints at least one of the joints being addressable from a remote location; and
one or more backoff subs each disposed at one of the plurality of joints and capable of producing one or more of a jarring action and a backoff torque action.

### Claim 21

A method for managing a stuck string in a wellbore comprising:
determining a freepoint of the string;
addressing a backoff sub nearest and uphole of the determined freepoint; and
activating a backoff facilitator in the backoff sub.