# US 2014/0151019 A1 · Magnetic Key for Operating a Multi-Position Downhole Tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151019 A1 - Document ID: US20140151019A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/173,816 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-17 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: John C. Gano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151019A1 ## CPC - E21B 23/00: Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B 23/02: for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing (E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence) - E21B 23/08: Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems - E21B 34/066: {electrically actuated} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string comprises a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string, a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing, a plurality of magnetic pins, and a corresponding plurality of springs. A sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, and the plurality of pins comprise a locked position and an unlocked position whereby in the locked position at least one pin spans the sliding line to prevent the sliding member from sliding with respect to the housing and in the unlocked position no pins span the sliding line. The plurality of springs biases the pins towards the locked position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A key for use in a downhole wellbore tubular string having at least one downhole tool, comprising: a body operable to fit in a bore of the wellbore tubular string; a plurality of magnets, each having at least one pole directed radially outward; wherein the plurality of magnets are located and oriented with respect to the body to form a magnetic pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a seal operable to seal the bore of the wellbore tubular string when the body is in place in the wellbore tubular string. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The key of claim 2, wherein the seal is configured to provide a pressure differential across the body and allow fluid pressure to provide longitudinal movement of the key in the wellbore tubular string. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The key of claim 2, wherein the seal is operable to shear upon application of a shearing force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The key of claim 4, wherein the seal is configured to allow fluid flow around the body when the seal is sheared. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, further comprising an activator located on the nose of the body operable to configure the plurality of magnets into a second magnetic pattern. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The key of claim 6, wherein the activator is configured to actuate in response to engaging a feature within the bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The key of claim 6, wherein the second magnetic pattern comprises a different longitudinal spacing of the plurality of magnets as compared to a longitudinal spacing of the plurality of magnets in the magnetic pattern. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The key of claim 6, wherein the second magnetic pattern comprises a different circumferential pattern of the plurality of magnets as compared to a circumferential pattern of the plurality of magnets in the magnetic pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are configured to interact with one or more magnetic pins within a plurality of downhole tools. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are located on the body to align with corresponding magnetic pins within the downhole tool when the key is located in longitudinal proximity to the downhole tool, and wherein the plurality of magnets are magnetically oriented to magnetically interact with corresponding pins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The key of claim 11, wherein magnetic interaction comprises one of the following: magnetic attraction, magnetic repulsion, or a combination of magnetic attraction and magnetic repulsion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the location of the plurality of magnets comprises one of the following: longitudinal spacing, circumferential spacing, or a combination of longitudinal and circumferential spacing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a dart. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed longitudinally within the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed circumferentially within the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a non-ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The key of claim 17, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises one or more of: copper, aluminum, a composite material, titanium, poly-ether-ether ketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene, a carbon-carbon composite, a phenolic compound, fiber glass, or any combination thereof ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, further comprising a downhole tractor, wherein the body is coupled to the downhole tractor, and wherein the downhole tractor is configured to convey the body into the bore. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The key of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are configured to be ready by an electronic reader within the downhole tool when the key is located in longitudinal proximity to the downhole tool, and wherein the electronic reader is configured to selectively perform an action based on reading the magnetic pattern of the plurality of magnets.