Cavity positioning tool and method
AssigneeCDX Gas, LLC
InventorJoseph A. Zupanick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cavity positioning tool is provided that includes a head piece adapted to receive a downhole string having a longitudinal axis. A plurality of blunt arms are coupled to the head piece. The blunt arms are operable to be radially extended outward from a first position of substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second extended position.
Claims38
A cavity positioning tool comprising:
- a head piece configured to receive a downhole string having a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of blunt arms coupled to the head piece, the blunt arms configured to contact a surface of the cavity to position the tool in the cavity without substantial cutting of the surface of the cavity;
- and
- the arms operable to be radially extended outward from a first position of substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second extended position.
A method for positioning a downhole device relative to a subsurface cavity comprising:
- coupling the device to a plurality of blunt arms, the blunt arms configured to contact a surface of the cavity to position the tool in the cavity without substantial cutting of the surface of the cavity;
- lowering the blunt arms to the cavity through a restricted passageway with the blunt arms in a substantially retracted position;
- radially extending the blunt arms outward from the retracted position to an extended position within the cavity;
- and
- resting the blunt arms in the extended position on a floor of the cavity.
A method for positioning a pump inlet in a cavity for removing fluids from a subsurface formation, comprising:
- lowering an inlet of a pump through a well bore into a cavity, the cavity extending radially from the well bore;
- radially extending within the cavity a plurality of blunt arms coupled to the pump inlet, the blunt arms configured to contact a surface of the cavity to position the tool in the cavity without substantial cutting of the surface of the cavity;
- and
- resting the arms on a floor of the cavity.
A method for degasifying a coal seam, comprising:
- lowering an inlet of a pump through a well bore into a cavity formed in a coal seam, with a rat hole below the cavity, the cavity extending radially from the well bore;
- radially extending within the cavity a plurality of blunt arms coupled to the pump inlet;
- positioning the inlet in a lower part of the cavity above the rat hole by resting the blunt arms on a floor of the cavity;
- collecting fluids in the cavity;
- removing the fluids with the pump;
- and
- recovering gas through the well bore.
A method for removing particulate laden fluid from a subterranean zone, comprising:
- lowering an inlet of a pump through a well bore into a cavity formed in a subterranean zone, the cavity extending radially from the well bore;
- radially extending within the cavity a plurality of blunt arms coupled to the pump inlet, the blunt arms configured to contact a surface of the cavity to position the tool in the cavity without substantial cutting of the surface of the cavity;
- positioning the inlet in the cavity by resting the blunt arms on a floor of the cavity;
- collecting particulate laden fluids in the cavity;
- agitating the fluid by rotating the blunt arms about a longitudinal axis of the pump;
- and,
- removing the fluids with the pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.