Hydraulically driven fishing jars

A fishing jar for use in a well, for engaging a stuck object in the well, the jar comprising:

• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and a hammer anvil interface, the housing adapted to be carried by a string of conduit;
• a mandrel carried in the housing, the mandrel and the housing being axially moveable relative to each other, the mandrel having a hammer anvil interface that is positioned for cooperative engagement with the hammer anvil interface of the housing;
• a piston member carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and the mandrel;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston member when the piston member has moved toward the firing member a selected distance, and wherein after the piston member engages the firing member, the firing member applies a restrictive load against movement of the piston member in an opposite direction;
• a directional valve in the housing adapted to direct a flow of a fluid being pumped down the conduit to move the piston member in the opposite direction, wherein once the pressure of the fluid on the piston member reaches a sufficient level due to the restrictive load, the housing and mandrel will move relative to each other to a cocked position, separating their respective hammer anvil interfaces from each other and adapted to elastically deform the conduit in the well, thereby storing energy;
• wherein
• once the housing and the mandrel reach the cocked position, the firing member subsequently releases the piston member, which is adapted to allow the energy stored in the conduit to rapidly move the hammer anvil interfaces of the housing and the mandrel into engagement with each other;
• and
• a control valve in the housing that is adapted to operate in response to tension being applied to the housing by pulling on the conduit to direct fluid being pumped down the conduit to the directional valve.

A fishing assembly for use in a well, comprising:

• a string of tubing for lowering into the well;
• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and a hammer surface, the housing having an upper end carried by the string of tubing;
• a chamber in the housing having an entry port in communication with an interior of the string of tubing;
• a mandrel carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and having a lower end adapted to be engaged with a stuck object in the well, the mandrel having an anvil thereon that is positioned for impact by the hammer surface of the housing;
• a piston carried in the chamber for stroking movement relative to the housing and the mandrel in upper and lower directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and having a piston extension extending below and movable with the piston;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston extension when the piston has moved downward in the housing to a selected lower point along a stroke of the piston, the firing member applying a restrictive load to upward movement of the piston extension and piston after engagement;
• a directional valve in communication with the entry port, having a first position for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing into the chamber on the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction to cause the piston extension to engage the firing member, and a second position occurring after the piston extension has engaged the firing member, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing into the chamber on the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction, wherein once the pressure of the fluid on the lower side of the piston reaches a sufficient level, the housing will move downward relative to the mandrel to stretch the string of tubing, thereby storing energy;
• the firing member subsequently releasing the piston extension at a selected upper point along the stroke, which allows the stored energy of the string of tubing to rapidly move the housing upward, causing its hammer surface to strike the anvil;
• and wherein
• the directional valve subsequently directs the flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to move the piston back downward to return the piston extension back into engagement with the firing member.

A fishing assembly for use in a well, comprising:

• a string of tubing for lowering into the well;
• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and a hammer surface, the housing having an upper end connected to the string of tubing;
• a mandrel carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and having a lower end adapted to be engaged with a stuck object in the well, the mandrel having an anvil thereon that is positioned for impact by the hammer surface of the housing;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing and the mandrel in upper and lower directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and having a piston extension extending below and movable with the piston;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston extension when the piston has moved downward in the housing to a selected lower point along a stroke of the piston, the firing member applying a restrictive load to upward movement of the piston extension and piston after engagement;
• a directional valve in the housing, having a first position for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction to cause the piston extension to engage the firing member, and a second position occurring after the piston extension has engaged the firing member, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the lower side ofthe piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction, wherein once the pressure of the fluid on the lower side of the piston reaches a sufficient level, the housing will move downward relative to the mandrel to stretch the string of tubing, thereby storing energy;
• the firing member subsequently releasing the piston extension at a selected upper point along the stroke, which allows the stored energy of the string of tubing to rapidly move the housing upward, causing its hammer surface to strike the anvil;
• wherein
• the directional valve subsequently directs the flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to move the piston back downward to return the piston extension back into engagement with the firing member;
• wherein the firing member comprises:
• a firing pin in engagement with the mandrel and being movable between upper and lower positions relative to the mandrel, the firing pin having a sidewall with a protuberance;
• a spring between the firing pin and the mandrel that urges the firing pin to a neutral position between the upper and lower positions;
• and wherein
• the piston extension telescopingly engages the firing pin and has a protuberance that slides past and interferingly engages the protuberance on the firing pin at the lower point along the stroke to cause the firing pin to move upward to the upper position with the piston extension, creating the restrictive load when at the upper position, and wherein the protuberance on the piston extension will slide by the protuberance on the firing pin when the upper point along the stroke is reached.

A fishing assembly for use in a well, comprising:

• a string of tubing for lowering into the well;
• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and a hammer surface, the housing having an upper end connected to the string of tubing;
• a mandrel carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and having a lower end adapted to be engaged with a stuck object in the well, the mandrel having an anvil thereon that is positioned for impact by the hammer surface of the housing;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing and the mandrel in upper and lower directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and having a piston extension extending below and movable with the piston;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston extension when the piston has moved downward in the housing to a selected lower point along a stroke of the piston, the firing member applying a restrictive load to upward movement of the piston extension and piston after engagement;
• a directional valve in the housing, having a first position for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction to cause the piston extension to engage the firing member, and a second position occurring after the piston extension has engaged the firing member, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction, wherein once the pressure of the fluid on the lower side of the piston reaches a sufficient level, the housing will move downward relative to the mandrel to stretch the string of tubing, thereby storing energy;
• the firing member subsequently releasing the piston extension at a selected upper point along the stroke, which allows the stored energy of the string of tubing to rapidly move the housing upward, causing its hammer surface to strike the anvil;
• wherein
• the directional valve subsequently directs the flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to move the piston back downward to return the piston extension back into engagement with the firing member;
• wherein a lower recess is located in the housing at the lower point along the stroke and an upper recess is located in the housing at the upper point along the stroke, and wherein the firing member comprises:
• a firing pin in engagement with the mandrel and being movable between upper and lower positions relative to the mandrel, the firing pin having a sidewall with an external rib;
• a spring between the firing pin and the mandrel that urges the firing pin to a neutral position between the upper and lower positions;
• and wherein
• the piston extension slides over the firing pin and has a plurality of pins that are radially movable, slide past and interferingly engage the rib on the firing pin at the lower recess to cause the firing pin to move upward to the upper position with upward movement of the piston extension, compressing the spring and creating the restrictive load when at the upper position, and wherein the pins on the piston extension slide by the rib on the firing pin when at the upper recess.

A fishing assembly for use in a well, comprising:

• a string of tubing for lowering into the well;
• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and a hammer surface, the housing having an upper end connected to the string of tubing;
• a mandrel carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and having a lower end adapted to be engaged with a stuck object in the well, the mandrel having an anvil thereon that is positioned for impact by the hammer surface of the housing;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing and the mandrel in upper and lower directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and having a piston extension extending below and movable with the piston;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston extension when the piston has moved downward in the housing to a selected lower point along a stroke of the piston, the firing member applying a restrictive load to upward movement of the piston extension and piston after engagement;
• a directional valve in the housing, having a first position for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction to cause the piston extension to engage the firing member, and a second position occurring after the piston extension has engaged the firing member, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the lower side ofthe piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction, wherein once the pressure of the fluid on the lower side of the piston reaches a sufficient level, the housing will move downward relative to the mandrel to stretch the string of tubing, thereby storing energy;
• the firing member subsequently releasing the piston extension at a selected upper point along the stroke, which allows the stored energy ofthe string of tubing to rapidly move the housing upward, causing its hammer surface to strike the anvil;
• wherein
• the directional valve subsequently directs the flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to move the piston back downward to return the piston extension back into engagement with the firing member;
• wherein the fishing assembly further comprises:
• a control valve in the housing that operates in response to tension being applied to the housing by pulling on the string of tubing to direct fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the directional valve.

A fishing assembly for use in a well, comprising:

• a string of tubing for lowering into the well;
• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and an upward facing hammer surface and a downward facing hammer surface, the housing having an upper end connected to the string of tubing;
• a mandrel carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and having a lower end adapted to be engaged with a stuck object in the well, the mandrel having an anvil thereon with a downward facing anvil surface that is positioned for impact by the upward facing hammer surface of the housing and an upward facing anvil surface that is positioned for impact by the downward facing hammer surface of the housing;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing and the mandrel in upper and lower directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and having a piston extension extending below and movable with the piston;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston extension when the piston has moved downward in the housing to a selected lower point along a stroke of the piston, the firing member applying a restrictive load to upward movement of the piston extension and piston after engagement;
• a directional valve in the housing, having a first position for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction to cause the piston extension to engage the firing member, and a second position occurring after the piston extension has engaged the firing member, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction, wherein once the pressure of the fluid on the lower side of the piston reaches a sufficient level, the housing will move downward relative to the mandrel to stretch the string of tubing, thereby storing energy;
• the firing member subsequently releasing the piston extension at a selected upper point along the stroke, which allows the stored energy of the string of tubing to rapidly move the housing upward, causing its upward facing hammer surface to strike the downward facing anvil surface;
• wherein
• the directional valve subsequently directs the flow of fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to move the piston back downward to return the piston extension back into engagement with the firing member;
• a control valve in the housing that operates in response to compression being applied to the housing by weight of the string of tubing to direct fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to the directional valve to move the piston from a lower position upward to engage the piston extension with the firing member at the upper point along the stroke;
• wherein
• the directional valve in the housing subsequently directs fluid being pumped down the string of tubing to move the piston back downward and move the housing upward relative to the mandrel, applying further compression to the string of tubing to store energy;
• and wherein
• firing member subsequently releases the piston extension at the lower point along the stroke, causing the stored energy to move the housing downward rapidly to deliver the upward facing anvil surface a blow with the downward facing hammer surface.

In a fishing assembly for use in a well, the fishing assembly having a string of conduit and a device for engaging a stuck object in the well, the improvement comprising:

• a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and a hammer anvil interface;
• a mandrel carried in the housing, the mandrel and the housing being axially moveable relative to each other, the mandrel having a hammer anvil interface that is positioned for cooperative engagement with the hammer anvil interface of the housing;
• a piston member having a piston carried in the housing for axial movement relative to the housing and the mandrel;
• a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston member when the piston member has moved toward the firing member a selected distance, and wherein after the piston member engages the firing member, the firing member applies a restrictive load against movement of the piston member in an opposite direction;
• upper and lower partitions in the housing that define a chamber containing the piston, the chamber and the piston defining an upper trapped fluid portion between the piston and the upper partition, and a lower trapped fluid portion between the piston and the lower partition, the chamber having an entry port in communication with an interior of the conduit;
• a shuttle valve mounted in the piston in communication with the entry port of the chamber, having a first position operable in response to pressure increase in the upper trapped fluid portion of the chamber for directing a flow of fluid being pumped down the conduit to the chamber on an upper side of the piston, moving the piston downward, and a second position operable in response to pressure increase in the lower trapped fluid portion of the chamber, for directing the flow of fluid being pumped down the conduit to the chamber on a lower side of the piston to move the piston upward;
• wherein
• once the pressure of the fluid operating against the piston reaches a sufficient level, the housing and mandrel will move relative to each other to a cocked position, separating their respective hammer anvil interfaces from each other and elastically deforming the conduit in the well, thereby storing energy;
• and wherein
• once the housing and the mandrel reach the cocked position, the firing member subsequently releases the piston member, which allows the energy stored in the conduit to rapidly move the hammer anvil interfaces of the housing and the mandrel into engagement with each other.

A method of jarring a stuck object in a well, comprising:

• (a) providing a jar assembly with a housing with a hammer anvil interface;
• (b) mounting in the housing a mandrel, a piston member, and a firing member in the housing that is engageable by the piston member, the mandrel having a hammer anvil interface;
• (c) securing the jar assembly to a string of conduit, lowering the jar into the well and engaging the stuck object with the jar assembly;
• (d) applying tension to the conduit to stretch the conduit and pumping fluid down the conduit, causing the piston member to move to an engaged position with the firing member;
• then
• (e) directing the fluid being pumped down the conduit to cause the piston member to move in an opposite direction, and resisting the movement of the piston member in the opposite direction by restrictive engagement with the firing member, causing the housing and mandrel to move to a cocked position and further stretching the conduit in the well, thereby storing energy;
• then
• (f) releasing the piston member from restrictive engagement with the firing member, allowing the energy stored in the conduit to rapidly move the housing and the mandrel to an extended position, causing the hammer anvil interfaces to strike each other to deliver a jarring shock to the stuck object.

In a well having a string of conduit, a well tool, the improvement comprising:

• a tubular housing carried by the conduit, the housing having a longitudinal axis having a chamber with an entry section for receiving well fluid pumped down the conduit;
• a piston carried in the chamber for stroking movement relative to the housing in upward and downward directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and a directional passage that communicates fluid in the chamber between the upper and lower sides;
• a central shaft extending axially from the piston in the first direction, the shaft having an entry flow passage that communicates with the entry section to receive the fluid being pumped down the conduit, the entry flow passage leading to the directional passage;
• the chamber being defined by upper and lower partitions in the housing, the chamber having an upper portion between the piston and the upper partition, and a lower portion between the piston and the lower partition;
• and
• a shuttle valve mounted in the directional passage and traveling with the piston, the shuttle valve having a first position operable in response to pressure increase in the upper portion of the chamber as the piston nears the upper partition for directing the flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage from the conduit to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction, and a second position operable in response to pressure increase in the lower portion of the chamber as the piston nears the lower partition, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage from the conduit to the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction.

A well tool, comprising:

• a string of conduit;
• a tubular housing carried by the string of conduit, the housing having a longitudinal axis having an entry section for receiving well fluid pumped down the conduit;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing in upward and downward directions,-the piston having upper and lower sides and a directional passage that communicates between the upper and lower sides;
• a central shaft extending axially from the piston in the first direction, the shaft having an entry flow passage that communicates with the entry section to receive the fluid being pumped down the conduit, the entry flow passage leading to the directional passage;
• upper and lower partitions in the housing that define a chamber containing the piston, the chamber having an upper portion between the piston and the upper partition, and a lower portion between the piston and the lower partition;
• a shuttle valve mounted in the directional passage and traveling with the piston, the shuttle valve having a first position operable in response to pressure increase in the upper portion of the chamber as the piston nears the upper partition for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction, and a second position operable in response to pressure increase in the lower portion of the chamber as the piston nears the lower partition, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage to the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction;
• an exhaust passage extending through the shaft for communicating fluid therein exterior of the housing;
• a lower vent passage between the shaft and the exhaust passage for venting fluid from the lower portion of the chamber while the directional valve is in the first position;
• an upper vent passage between the shaft and the exhaust passage for venting fluid from the upper portion of the chamber while the directional valve is in the second position;
• and wherein
• the upper and lower partitions and the piston define an upper and lower trapped fluid areas that exist while the piston is near the upper and lower partitions, respectively, the upper and lower trapped fluid areas being blocked from communication with the upper and lower vents so as to allow said pressure increases.

A well tool, comprising:

• a string of conduit;
• a tubular housing carried by the string of conduit, the housing having a longitudinal axis having an entry section for receiving well fluid pumped down the conduit;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing in upward and downward directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and a directional passage that communicates between the upper and lower sides;
• a central shaft extending axially from the piston in the first direction, the shaft having an entry flow passage that communicates with the entry section to receive the fluid being pumped down the conduit, the entry flow passage leading to the directional passage;
• upper and lower partitions in the housing that define a chamber containing the piston, the chamber having an upper portion between the piston and the upper partition, and a lower portion between the piston and the lower partition;
• a shuttle valve mounted in the directional passage and traveling with the piston, the shuttle valve having a first position operable in response to pressure increase in the upper portion of the chamber as the piston nears the upper partition for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction, and a second position operable in response to pressure increase in the lower portion of the chamber as the piston nears the lower partition, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage to the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction;
• a control valve in the entry section of the housing that controls flow to the entry passage in the shaft, the control valve being movable between an upper position when selected tension is applied the housing to- a neutral position when the selected tension is removed, one of the positions of the control valve opening the passage of fluid to the entry passage, the other position closing the flow of fluid to the entry passage.

A well tool, comprising:

• a string of conduit;
• a tubular housing carried by the string of conduit, the housing having a longitudinal axis having an entry section for receiving well fluid pumped down the conduit;
• a piston carried in the housing for stroking movement relative to the housing in upward and downward directions, the piston having upper and lower sides and a directional passage that communicates between the upper and lower sides;
• a central shaft extending axially from the piston in the first direction, the shaft having an entry flow passage that communicates with the entry section to receive the fluid being pumped down the conduit, the entry flow passage leading to the directional passage;
• upper and lower partitions in the housing that define a chamber containing the piston, the chamber having an upper portion between the piston and the upper partition, and a lower portion between the piston and the lower partition;
• a shuttle valve mounted in the directional passage and traveling with the piston, the shuttle valve having a first position operable in response to pressure increase in the upper portion of the chamber as the piston nears the upper partition for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage to the upper side of the piston, moving the piston in the downward direction, and a second position operable in response to pressure increase in the lower portion of the chamber as the piston nears the lower partition, for directing flow of fluid being pumped down the entry passage to the lower side of the piston to cause movement of the piston in the upward direction;
• and
• a control valve in the entry section of the housing that controls flow to the entry passage in the shaft, the control valve being movable between an upper position when selected tension is applied the housing to a neutral position when the selected tension is removed, and to a lower position when compression is applied to the housing, the tension and compression positions ofthe control valve opening the flow of fluid to the entry passage, and the neutral position closing the flow of fluid to the entry passage.