Downhole tool catcher and method

Abstract

A downhole tool catcher which includes a bottom hole assembly formed of an inner tubular in an outer tubular, an external housing connected to the outer tubular, and a washpipe extending from the inner tubular into the external housing, the washpipe having an external shoulder located uphole of an internal shoulder on the external housing, the external shoulder and internal shoulder being configured to engage each other upon movement of the external housing in an uphole direction in relation to the washpipe. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom hole assembly includes a mud motor. According to a method of the invention, the bottom hole assembly is installed downhole at the end of a tubing string that includes the external housing, with the washpipe in the external housing, and upon failure of a joint between the outer tubular and external housing, lifting the bottom hole assembly by pulling on the external housing and engaging the external shoulder on the washpipe with the internal shoulder on the external housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.