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US 2011/0226468 A1Published application
Offset joint for downhole tools
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsTimothy Joseph Johnson, Phillip Paul Hnatiuk
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsTimothy Joseph Johnson, Phillip Paul Hnatiuk
Estimating the term…
A variable offset joint is provided for downhole tools, including a first downhole member, a second downhole member, and at least one intermediate element pivotally coupled at a first end to the first downhole member and at a second end to the second downhole member. The variable offset joint further includes a coupler member adapted to maintain a predetermined lateral offset between the first and second downhole members. The coupler member further includes a zone of weakness adapted to fracture when a tensile force applied thereto exceeds a predetermined threshold. In one example, a plurality of intermediate elements are each pivotally coupled to the first and second downhole members. In another example, the coupler member extends between at least two of the plurality of intermediate elements. In another example, adjusting a length of the coupler member selectively adjusts the predetermined lateral offset.
A variable offset joint for downhole tools, including:
The variable offset joint of claim 11, further including at least one electrical coupler provided to each the first and second downhole members, at least one wire extending between the electrical couplers for communicating electrical current therebetween, and a sealed tubing enclosing the at least one wire and extending between the electrical couplers of the first and second downhole members.
A variable offset joint for downhole tools, including:
A variable offset joint for downhole tools, including:
The variable offset tool of 16, wherein the coupler member includes a frangible neck sized to fracture when mechanical stress applied thereto exceeds a predetermined threshold that is based upon a tensile force of about 2,500 to about 8,000 pounds.
The variable offset tool of 16, wherein the at least one intermediate element includes a plurality of intermediate elements adapted to maintain the first downhole member generally parallel with the second downhole member, the coupler member extending between at least two of the plurality of intermediate elements to maintain the predetermined lateral offset between the first and second downhole members.
The variable offset tool of 16, wherein the coupler member extends between the at least one intermediate element and at least one of the first and second downhole members to maintain the predetermined lateral offset between the first and second downhole members.
The variable offset tool of 16, wherein the length of the coupler member is selectively adjusted by replacing the coupler member with a different coupler member having a different length, the different coupler member being adapted to irreversibly reduce the lateral offset between the first and second downhole members when a tensile force applied thereto exceeds another predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.