Tool string shock absorber
AssigneePES, Inc.
InventorMichael Reid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for absorbing shock downhole in a wellbore. The kinetic energy from a moving tool is absorbed to dissipate such energy, to decelerate the moving tool, or to prevent impact damage from contact between the tool and other downhole components. An actuator has an interference fit with a body such as the interior wall of a tubing section. When the moving tool actuates the actuator to move the actuator relative to the body, kinetic energy is dissipated into the body as the body elastically deforms due to the moving actuator. The amount of energy dissipated can be determined from the strength of the body, the contact dimensions between the actuator and body, and the length of moving contact between the actuator and body.
Claims15
An apparatus for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising:
- an elastically deformable body located downhole in the wellbore, wherein said body comprises a tubular member having a hollow interior defined by an interior wall surface;
- and
- an actuator engagable with the tool for moving relative to said body and for deforming said body to absorb kinetic energy from the tool.
An apparatus for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising:
- an elastically deformable body located downhole in the wellbore;
- and
- an actuator engagable with the tool for moving relative to said body and for deforming said body to absorb kinetic energy from the tool, wherein said actuator contacts said body along a selected contact surface, and wherein actuator has a dimension greater than a dimension of said body along said contact surface for deforming said body as said actuator moves relative to said body along said contact surface.
A method for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising the steps of;
- positioning an actuator in contact with an elastically deformable body;
- positioning said body downhole in the wellbore;
- positioning said actuator in a stationary position relative to the wellbore;
- and engaging said body with the moving tool to move said body relative to the stationary actuator to deform said body to absorb kinetic energy from the moving tool.
A method for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
- positioning an actuator in contact with an elastically deformable body;
- positioning said body in a stationary position downhole in the wellbore;
- and
- moving said actuator relative to said body to deform said body to absorb kinetic energy from the moving tool, wherein said actuator elastically deforms said body to absorb kinetic energy and each section of said body elastically returns to the same configuration after said actuator moves relative to said body.
A method for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
- positioning an actuator in contact with an elastically deformable body;
- determining selected dimensions of said actuator and of said body;
- determining movement between said actuator and said body necessary to absorb a selected quantity of kinetic energy;
- positioning said body in a stationary position downhole in the wellbore;
- and
- moving said actuator relative to said body to deform said body to absorb kinetic energy from the moving tool.
A method for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
- positioning an actuator in contact with an elastically deformable body;
- positioning said body in a stationary position downhole in the wellbore;
- and
- moving said actuator relative to said body to inelastically deform said body to absorb kinetic energy by permanently deforming said body.
A method for absorbing energy from a tool moving downhole in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
- positioning an actuator in contact with an elastically deformable body;
- positioning said body downhole in the wellbore;
- and
- moving said actuator relative to said body to deform said body to absorb kinetic energy from the moving tool wherein said actuator contacts said body along a contact line, and wherein said actuator uniformly deforms said body along said contact line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.