U.S. patent application number 10/528221 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-29 for cutter for wellbore casing.
Invention is credited to David Paul Brisco, Brock Wayne Watson.
Application Number | 20060137877 10/528221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32030885 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060137877 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watson; Brock Wayne ; et
al. |
June 29, 2006 |
Cutter for wellbore casing
Abstract
A cutter for a wellbore casing is provided that includes a
rotatable tubular support, at least one cutter blade supported on
the rotatable tubular support, having a retracted position for
insertion into the wellbore casing and having an expanded position
for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing, and an actuator
for moving the cutter blade from the retracted position to the
expanded position for cutting engagement with the wellbore
casing.
Inventors: |
Watson; Brock Wayne;
(CARROLTON, TX) ; Brisco; David Paul; (Duncan,
OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP
901 MAIN STREET, SUITE 3100
DALLAS
TX
75202
US
|
Family ID: |
32030885 |
Appl. No.: |
10/528221 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
September 22, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/29858 |
371 Date: |
March 18, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60412487 |
Sep 20, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/298 ;
166/55.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 29/005 20130101;
E21B 43/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/298 ;
166/055.8 |
International
Class: |
E21B 29/00 20060101
E21B029/00 |
Claims
1. A cutter tool for a wellbore casing, comprising: a rotatable
tubular support; at least one cutter blade supported on the
rotatable tubular support, having a retracted position for
insertion into the wellbore casing and having an expanded position
for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing; and an actuator
for moving the cutter blade from the retracted position to the
expanded position for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing;
wherein the cutter blade includes an interior sliding surface and
the expander device includes a ramp surface moveable by the
actuator along the tubular support in sliding engagement with the
interior sliding surface of the cutter blade to pivot the cutter
blade between the retracted position and the expanded position.
2. The cutter tool of claim 1, further comprising an expander
device coupled to the actuator; and wherein the cutter blade is
pivotably mounted on the expander device.
3. The cutter tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutter
blade includes a plurality of cutter blades each pivotably mounted
on the expander device and each having an interior sliding surface
and wherein the expander device comprises an expander cone
supported on a mandrel portion of the tubular support and having a
plurality of ramp surfaces slidingly engaged with each interior
sliding surface of the plurality of cutter blades.
4. The cutter tool of claim 3, wherein the actuator for moving the
cutter device from the retracted position to the expanded position
further comprises an activation device for selectively activating
the actuator to move the cutter blade from the retracted position
to the expanded position for cutting engagement with the wellbore
casing.
5. The cutter tool of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a
hydraulic cylinder attached to the tubular support and coupled to
the expander device and wherein the activation device comprises an
activation dart seatable in the tubular support for directing
fluidic material into the hydraulic cylinder to cause relative
sliding movement of the expander cone on the mandrel portion of the
tubular support.
6. The cutter tool of claim 3, wherein the actuator for moving the
cutter device from the retracted position to the expanded position
further comprises means for selectively activating the actuator to
move the cutter blades from the retracted position to the expanded
position for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing and from
the expanded position to the retracted position.
7. The cutter tool of claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises a
hydraulic cylinder attached to the tubular support and coupled to
the expander device, the hydraulic cylinder having an opening
chamber for moving the cone in an axial direction for expanding the
cutter blades and having a closing cylinder for moving the expander
cone in an opposite axial direction for retracting the cutter blade
and wherein the activation device comprises a first activation dart
seatable in the tubular support for directing fluidic material into
the opening chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and a second
activation dart seatable in the tubular support for directing
fluidic material into the closing chamber of the hydraulic
cylinder.
8. The cutter tool of claim 3, wherein the expander cone has a
plurality of first cam arms each providing one of the plurality of
ramp surfaces and slidingly engaged with a separate one of the
plurality of cutter blades and further comprising a second cone
having a plurality of cam second arms each having a second ramp
surface and interleaved with the first cam arms and a plurality of
dummy blades interleaved with the plurality of cutter blades and in
sliding engagement with the second ramp surfaces provided on the
second cam arms, the dummy blades expandable and retractable with
the cutter blades and having insufficient thickness to contact the
wellbore casing when expanded.
9. The cutter tool of claim 1, wherein the cutter blade further
comprises a cutting tip secured to the cutter blade projecting
radially outward when the cutter blade is in the expanded position
for cutting engagement between the cutting tip and the wellbore
casing.
10. A casing cutting tool, comprising: an upper tubular support
member; an upper cam assembly comprising: a tubular base; and a
plurality of cam arms extending from the tubular base in a downward
longitudinal direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface;
a plurality of upper cutting segments interleaved with the cam arms
of the upper cam assembly and pivotally coupled to the upper
tubular support member; a lower tubular support member; a lower cam
assembly comprising: a tubular base; and a plurality of cam arms
extending from the tubular base in an upward longitudinal
direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface that mates
with the inclined surface of a corresponding one of the upper
cutter blade segments; wherein the cams arms of the upper cam
assembly are interleaved with and overlap the cam arms of the lower
cam assembly; and a plurality of lower non-cutting segments
interleaved with cam arms of the lower cam assembly and the upper
cutting segments, each lower non-cutting segment pivotally coupled
to the lower tubular support member and mating with the inclined
surface of a corresponding one of the cam arms of the upper cam
assembly.
11. A method for cutting a wellbore casing comprising: providing a
plurality of cutter blades supported on a rotatable tubular
support; placing the plurality of cutter blades in a retracted
position; inserting the tubular support into the wellbore casing
with the cutter blades supported in the retracted position;
actuating the cutter blades in the wellbore to expand into a
cutting position to engage with the wellbore casing by moving
corresponding ramp surfaces into engagement with the cutter blades;
and rotating the tubular support with the cutter blades supported
thereon so that the wellbore casing is cut by the rotating cutter
blades.
12. A method of radially expanding cutter blades for cutting a
wellbore casing in a wellbore, comprising: supporting the
expandable tubular member using a tubular support member and an
expandable cutter tool; injecting a fluidic material into the
tubular support member; actuating the expandable cutter tool
radially outwardly relative to the wellbore casing and into cutting
engagement with the wellbore casing using the injected fluidic
material; rotating the expandable cutter tool in cutting engagement
with the wellbore casing when the expandable cutter tool is
expanded radially outwardly relative to the wellbore casing;
continuing to rotate the expandable cuter tool in cutting
engagement with the wellbore casing until an upper portion of the
wellbore casing is severed from the wellbore casing; maintaining
the expandable cutter tool in the radially expanded position after
the upper portion of the wellbore casing is severed; and raising
the expandable cutter tool with the severed casing portion
supported thereon out of the wellbore.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein actuating the expandable cutter
tool radially outwardly relative to the wellbore casing and into
cutting engagement with the wellbore casing using the injected
fluidic material, further comprises: directing the fluidic material
from within a portion of the tubular support member to an actuator
cylinder to cause the cutting tool to slide axially on ramp
surfaces so that cutting blades are moved radially outwardly.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein actuating the expandable cutter
tool radially outwardly relative to the wellbore casing and into
cutting engagement with the wellbore casing, wherein the tubular
support member comprises: an upper tubular support member and a
lower tubular support member; and wherein actuating the expandable
cutter tool comprises displacing the upper tubular support member
relative to the lower tubular support member.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the expandable cutting tool
comprises: an upper cam assembly comprising: a tubular base; and a
plurality of cam arms extending from the tubular base in a downward
longitudinal direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface;
a plurality of upper cutting blade segments interleaved with the
cam arms of the upper cam assembly and pivotally coupled to the
upper tubular support member; a lower cam assembly comprising: a
tubular base; and a plurality of cam arms extending from the
tubular base in an upward longitudinal direction, each cam arm
defining an inclined surface that mates with the inclined surface
of a corresponding one of the upper cutter blade segments; wherein
the cams arms of the upper cam assembly are interleaved with and
overlap the cam arms of the lower cam assembly; and a plurality of
lower dummy segments interleaved with cam arms of the lower cam
assembly and the upper cutting blade segments, each lower dummy
segment pivotally coupled to the lower tubular support member and
mating with the inclined surface of a corresponding one of the cam
arms of the upper cam assembly.
16. A cutter tool for a tubular member, comprising: a rotatable
tubular support; at least one cutter blade supported on the
rotatable tubular support, having a retracted position for
insertion into the tubular member and having an expanded position
for cutting engagement with the tubular member; and an actuator
means for moving the cutter blade from the retracted position to
the expanded position for cutting engagement with the tubular
member.
17. The cutter tool of claim 16, further comprising an expander
device means coupled to the actuator means for displacing the
cutter blade outwardly; and wherein the cutter blade is pivotably
mounted on the expander device means.
18. The cutter tool of claim 17, wherein the cutter blade includes
an interior sliding surface and the expander device means includes
a ramp surface moveable by the actuator means along the tubular
support in sliding engagement with the interior sliding surface of
the cutter blade to pivot the cutter blade between the retracted
position and the expanded position.
19. The cutter tool of claim 18, wherein the at least one cutter
blade includes a plurality of cutter blades each pivotably mounted
on the expander device means and each having an interior sliding
surface and wherein the expander device means comprises an expander
cone means supported on a mandrel portion of the tubular support
and having a plurality of ramp surfaces slidingly engaged with each
interior sliding surface of the plurality of cutter blades.
20. The cutter tool of claim 19, wherein the actuator means for
moving the cutter device from the retracted position to the
expanded position further comprises an activation device means for
selectively activating the actuator means to move the cutter blade
from the retracted position to the expanded position for cutting
engagement with the tubular member.
21. The cutter tool of claim 20, wherein the actuator means
comprises a hydraulic cylinder attached to the tubular support and
coupled to the expander device means and wherein the activation
device means comprises an activation means in the tubular support
for directing fluidic material into the hydraulic cylinder to cause
relative sliding movement of the expander cone on the mandrel
portion of the tubular support.
22. The cutter tool of claim 19, wherein the actuator means for
moving the cutter device from the retracted position to the
expanded position further comprises means for selectively
activating the actuator to move the cutter blades from the
retracted position to the expanded position for cutting engagement
with the tubular member and from the expanded position to the
retracted position.
23. The cutter tool of claim 22, wherein the actuator means
comprises a hydraulic cylinder attached to the tubular support and
coupled to the expander device means, the hydraulic cylinder having
an opening chamber for moving the cone in an axial direction for
expanding the cutter blades and having a closing cylinder for
moving the expander cone in an opposite axial direction for
retracting the cutter blade and wherein the activation device means
comprises a first activation means seatable in the tubular support
for directing fluidic material into the opening chamber of the
hydraulic cylinder and a second activation means seatable in the
tubular support for directing fluidic material into the closing
chamber of the hydraulic cylinder.
24. The cutter tool of claim 19, wherein the expander cone has a
plurality of first cam arms each providing one of the plurality of
ramp surfaces and slidingly engaged with a separate one of the
plurality of cutter blades and further comprising a second cone
having a plurality of cam second arms each having a second ramp
surface and interleaved with the first cam arms and a plurality of
dummy blades interleaved with the plurality of cutter blades and in
sliding engagement with the second ramp surfaces provided on the
second cam arms, the dummy blades expandable and retractable with
the cutter blades and having insufficient thickness to contact the
tubular member when expanded.
25. The cutter tool of claim 16, wherein the cutter blade further
comprises a cutting tip secured to the cutter blade projecting
radially outward when the cutter blade is in the expanded position
for cutting engagement between the cutting tip and the tubular
member.
26. A system for cutting a tubular member comprising: means for
providing a plurality of cutter blades supported on a rotatable
tubular support; means for placing the plurality of cutter blades
in a retracted position; means for inserting the tubular support
into the tubular member with the cutter blades supported in the
retracted position; means for actuating the cutter blades in the
tubular member to expand into a cutting position to engage with the
tubular member; and means for rotating the tubular support with the
cutter blades supported thereon so that the tubular member is cut
by the rotating cutter blades.
27. A system for radially expanding cutter blades for cutting a
tubular member in a preexisting structure, comprising: means for
supporting the expandable tubular member using a tubular support
member and an expandable cutter tool; means for injecting a fluidic
material into the tubular support member; and means for actuating
the expandable cutter tool radially outwardly relative to the
tubular member and into cutting engagement with the tubular member
using the injected fluidic material.
28. The system of claim 27, further comprising: means for rotating
the expandable cutter tool in cutting engagement with the tubular
member when the expandable cutter tool is expanded radially
outwardly relative to the tubular member.
29. The system of claim 28, further comprising: means for
continuing to rotate the expandable cuter tool in cutting
engagement with the tubular member until an upper portion of the
tubular member is severed from the tubular member; means for
maintaining the expandable cutter tool in the radially expanded
position after the upper portion of the tubular member is severed;
and means for raising the expandable cutter tool with the severed
tubular member portion supported thereon out of the preexisting
structure.
30. The system of claim 27, wherein means for actuating the
expandable cutter tool radially outwardly relative to the wellbore
casing and into cutting engagement with the wellbore casing using
the injected fluidic material, further comprises: means for
directing the fluidic material from within a portion of the tubular
support member to an actuator cylinder to cause the cutting tool to
slide axially on ramp surfaces so that cutting blades are moved
radially outwardly.
31. The system of claim 27, wherein means for actuating the
expandable cutter tool radially outwardly relative to the wellbore
casing and into cutting engagement with the wellbore casing,
wherein the tubular support member comprises: an upper tubular
support member and a lower tubular support member; and wherein
actuating the expandable cutter tool comprises means for displacing
the upper tubular support member relative to the lower tubular
support member.
32. A cutter tool for a tubular member, comprising: a rotatable
tubular support; a plurality of cutting elements supported on the
rotatable tubular support, having a retracted position for
insertion into the tubular member and having an expanded position
for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing; a plurality of
non-cutting elements supported on the rotatable tubular support,
having a retracted position for insertion into the tubular member
and having an expanded position; an actuator for moving the cutting
and non-cutting elements from the retracted positions to the
expanded positions; wherein the cutting elements are interleaved
with the non-cutting elements; and wherein, in the retracted
positions, the cutting elements and the non-cutting elements are
positioned away from one another in an axial direction; and wherein
in the expanded positions, the cutting elements and the non-cutting
elements are brought together in the axial direction.
33. A method of cutting a tubular member, comprising: interleaving
a plurality of cutting elements with a plurality of non-cutting
elements; positioning the cutting elements and non-cutting elements
within the tubular member; rotating and translating the cutting
elements and the non-cutting elements until the cutting elements
engage the tubular member; and rotating the cutting elements
relative to the tubular member to cut the tubular member.
34. The method of claim 33, further comprising: rotating and
translating the cutting elements and the non-cutting elements after
cutting the tubular member.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein positioning the cutting
elements and non-cutting elements within the tubular member
comprises: spacing apart the cutting elements from the non-cutting
elements in an axial direction.
36. The method of claim 33, wherein rotating and translating the
cutting elements and the non-cutting elements until the cutting
elements engage the tubular member comprises: moving the cutting
elements towards the non-cutting elements in an axial direction;
and displacing the cutting elements and the non-cutting elements
outwardly in a radial direction.
37. A system for cutting a tubular member, comprising: means for
interleaving a plurality of cutting elements with a plurality of
non-cutting elements; means for positioning the cutting elements
and non-cutting elements within the tubular member; means for
rotating and translating the cutting elements and the non-cutting
elements until the cutting elements engage the tubular member; and
means for rotating the cutting elements relative to the tubular
member to cut the tubular member.
38. The system of claim 37, further comprising: means for rotating
and translating the cutting elements and the non-cutting elements
after cutting the tubular member.
39. The system of claim 37, wherein means for positioning the
cutting elements and non-cutting elements within the tubular member
comprises: spacing apart the cutting elements from the non-cutting
elements in an axial direction.
40. The system of claim 37, wherein means for rotating and
translating the cutting elements and the non-cutting elements until
the cutting elements engage the tubular member comprises: means for
moving the cutting elements towards the non-cutting elements in an
axial direction; and means for displacing the cutting elements and
the non-cutting elements outwardly in a radial direction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is the National Stage patent
application for PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US2003/029858, attorney docket number 25791.112.02, filed on 22
Sep. 2003, which claimed the benefit of the filing dates of (1)
U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/412,487, attorney
docket no 25791.112, filed on Sep. 20, 2003, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
utility patent application serial number______, attorney docket
number 25791.104.02, filed on______, which was the National Stage
application for PCT application serial number PCT/US2003/014153,
attorney docket number 25791.104.02, filed on May 6, 2003, which
claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/380,147, attorney docket number 25791.104,
filed on May 6, 2002, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S.
utility patent application Ser. No. 10/507,567, attorney docket
number 25791.95.03, filed on Sept. 13, 2004, which was the National
Stage application for PCT application serial number
PCT/US2003/004837, attorney docket number 25791.95.02, filed on
Feb. 19, 2003, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/363,829, attorney docket
number 25791.95, filed on Mar. 13, 2002, which was a
continuation-in-part of both of: (1) U.S. utility patent
application Ser. No. 10/495,347, attorney docket number
25791.87.05, filed on May 12, 2004, which was filed as the National
Stage application for PCT application serial number
PCT/US2002/036157, attorney docket number 25791.87.02, filed on
Nov. 12, 2002, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 60/338,996, attorney docket number
25791.87, filed on Nov. 12, 2001; and (2) U.S. utility patent
application Ser. No. 10/495,344, attorney docket number
25791.88.05, filed on May 12, 2004, which was filed as the National
Stage application for PCT application serial number
PCT/US2002/036267, attorney docket number 25791.88.02, filed on
Nov. 12, 2002, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 60/339,013, attorney docket number
25791.88, filed on Nov. 12, 2001, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] The present application is related to the following: (1)
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, attorney docket no.
25791.03.02, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, (2) U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/510,913, attorney docket no. 25791.7.02, filed on Feb.
23, 2000, (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, attorney
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24, 2000, (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, attorney
docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on Jun. 7, 2000, (9) U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/559,122, attorney docket no. 25791.23.02,
filed on Apr. 26, 2000, (10) PCT patent application Ser. No.
PCT/US00/18635, attorney docket no. 25791.25.02, filed on Jul. 9,
2000, (11) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/162,671,
attorney docket no. 25791.27, filed on Nov. 1, 1999, (12) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/154,047, attorney docket
no. 25791.29, filed on Sep. 16, 1999, (13) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/159,082, attorney docket no. 25791.34,
filed on Oct. 12, 1999, (14) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/159,039, attorney docket no. 25791.36, filed on Oct.
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(16) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/212,359,
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provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/165,228, attorney docket
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(21) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/237,334,
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(34) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/380,147,
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provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/387,486, attorney docket
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(44) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/412,544,
attorney docket no. 25791.121, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (45) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/412,187, attorney docket
no. 25791.128, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (46) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/412,187, attorney docket no. 25791.127,
filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (47) U.S. provisional patent application
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20, 2002, and (48) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/412,488, attorney docket no. 25791.114, filed on Sep. 20, 2002,
the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to oil and gas exploration,
and in particular to forming and repairing wellbore casings to
facilitate oil and gas exploration.
[0005] Conventionally, when a wellbore is created, a number of
casings are installed in the borehole to prevent collapse of the
borehole wall and to prevent undesired outflow of drilling fluid
into the formation or inflow of fluid from the formation into the
borehole. The borehole is drilled in intervals whereby a casing
which is to be installed in a lower borehole interval is lowered
through a previously installed casing of an upper borehole
interval. As a consequence of this procedure the casing of the
lower interval is of smaller diameter than the casing of the upper
interval. Thus, the casings are in a nested arrangement with casing
diameters decreasing in downward direction. Cement annuli are
provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the borehole
wall to seal the casings from the borehole wall. As a consequence
of this nested arrangement a relatively large borehole diameter is
required at the upper part of the wellbore. Such a large borehole
diameter involves increased costs due to heavy casing handling
equipment, large drill bits and increased volumes of drilling fluid
and drill cuttings. Moreover, increased drilling rig time is
involved due to required cement pumping, cement hardening, required
equipment changes due to large variations in hole diameters drilled
in the course of the well, and the large volume of cuttings drilled
and removed.
[0006] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the limitations of the existing procedures for forming and/or
repairing wellbore casings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a cutter
for an expandable wellbore casing is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of a casing cutter tool in a wellbore casing, with the
cutter tool in a retracted non-cutting configuration and at a
location in the wellbore casing below an overlapping joint between
an expanded upper casing section and a partially expanded lower
section that are joined together at an overlapping joint in a
nested arrangement to form a mono diameter wellbore casing
according to one aspect of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of the casing cutter tool of FIG. 1 in an expanded
cutting configuration according to one embodiment of the
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of the casing cutter tool of FIG. 2 with an actuation
device shown in a configuration for expanding cutter blades
radially outward into a cutting position.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of the casing cutter tool of FIGS. 1-3 raised to a
location in the expanded portion of the lower wellbore casing for
engaging with an unexpanded portion of the lower casing that
projects above the overlapping joint of the upper and lower
wellbore casing sections.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of the casing cutter tool of FIGS. 1-4 further raised
in the wellbore casing and rotated with radially projecting cutter
blades engaged with the unexpanded portion of the lower casing.
[0013] FIG. 6 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of a casing cutter tool of FIGS. 1-5 with radially
projecting cutter blades severing the unexpanded portion of the
lower casing and with the severed portion supported by the cutter
tool for lifting it out of the wellbore.
[0014] FIG. 7 shows a schematic fragmentary cross sectional
illustration of a casing cutter tool with an actuation device shown
in a configuration for retracting cutter blades radially inward
into a non-cutting position.
[0015] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section through an exemplary embodiment
of the expander device for a cutter tool with cutter blades of the
cutter tool in an expanded cutting position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate several illustrative embodiment of a
cutter tool 10 in a wellbore 12 for forming a mono diameter
wellbore casing 14 and the method of using the cutter tool 10. In
several alternative embodiments, the invention is implemented using
the methods and/or apparatus disclosed one or more of the
following: (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139,
attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, (2) U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, attorney docket no.
25791.7.02, filed on Feb. 23, 2000, (3) U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/502,350, attorney docket no. 25791.8.02, filed on Feb.
10, 2000, (4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,113, (5) U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/523,460, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on Mar.
10, 2000, (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, attorney
docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on Feb. 24, 2000, (7) U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/511,941, attorney docket no. 25791.16.02,
filed on Feb. 24, 2000, (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on Jun. 7, 2000,
(9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, attorney docket
no. 25791.23.02, filed on Apr. 26, 2000, (10) PCT patent
application Ser. No. PCT/US00/18635, attorney docket no.
25791.25.02, filed on Jul. 9, 2000, (11) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/162,671, attorney docket no. 25791.27,
filed on Nov. 1, 1999, (12) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/154,047, attorney docket no. 25791.29, filed on Sep.
16, 1999, (13) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/159,082, attorney docket no. 25791.34, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(14) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,039,
attorney docket no. 25791.36, filed on Oct. 12, 1999, (15) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,033, attorney docket
no. 25791.37, filed on Oct. 12, 1999, (16) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/212,359, attorney docket no. 25791.38,
filed on Jun. 19, 2000, (17) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/165,228, attorney docket no. 25791.39, filed on Nov.
12, 1999, (18) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/221,443, attorney docket no. 25791.45, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(19) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,645,
attorney docket no. 25791.46, filed on Jul. 28, 2000, (20) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/233,638, attorney docket
no. 25791.47, filed on Sep. 18, 2000, (21) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/237,334, attorney docket no. 25791.48,
filed on Oct. 2, 2000, (22) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/270,007, attorney docket no. 25791.50, filed on Feb.
20, 2001, (23) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/262,434, attorney docket no. 25791.51, filed on Jan. 17, 2001,
(24) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/259,486,
attorney docket no. 25791.52, filed on Jan. 3, 2001, (25) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/303,740, attorney docket
no. 25791.61, filed on Jul. 6, 2001, (26) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/313,453, attorney docket no. 25791.59,
filed on Aug. 20, 2001, (27) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/317,985, attorney docket no. 25791.67, filed on Sep. 6,
2001, (28) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/3318,386, attorney docket no. 25791.67.02, filed on Sep. 10,
2001, (29) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/969,922,
attorney docket no. 25791.69, filed on Oct. 3, 2001, (30) U.S.
utility patent application Ser. No. 10/016,467, attorney docket no.
25791.70, filed on Dec. 10, 2001, (31) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/343,674, attorney docket no. 25791.68,
filed on Dec. 27, 2001, (32) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/346,309, attorney docket no 25791.92, filed on Jan. 7,
2002, (33) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/372,048,
attorney docket no. 25791.93, filed on Apr. 12, 2002, (34) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/380,147, attorney docket
no. 25791.104, filed on May 6, 2002, (35) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/387,486, attorney docket no. 25791.107,
filed on Jun. 10, 2002, (36) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/387,961, attorney docket no. 25791.108, filed on Jun.
12, 2002, (37) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/391,703, attorney docket no. 25791.90, filed on Jun. 26, 2002,
(38) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/397,284,
attorney docket no. 25791.106, filed on Jul. 19, 2002, (39) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/398,061, attorney docket
no. 25791.110, filed on Jul. 24, 2002, (40) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/405,610, attorney docket no. 25791.119,
filed on Aug. 23, 2002, (41) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/405,394, attorney docket no. 25791.120, filed on Aug.
23, 2002, (42) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/412,177, attorney docket no. 25791.117, filed on Sep. 20, 2002,
(43) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/412,653,
attorney docket no. 25791.118, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (44) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/412,544, attorney docket
no. 25791.121, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (45) U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/412,187, attorney docket no. 25791.128,
filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (46) U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/412,187, attorney docket no. 25791.127, filed on Sep.
20, 2002, (47) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/412,542, attorney docket no. 25791.102, filed on Sep. 20, 2002,
and (48) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/412,488,
attorney docket no. 25791.114, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a casing cutter tool 10 in a wellbore casing 14
in a wellbore 12. The cutter tool 10 in a retracted non-cutting
configuration and at a location in the wellbore casing 14 below an
overlapping joint 16 between an expanded upper casing section 18
and a partially expanded lower section 20. The expanded upper
casing section 18 and the partially expanded lower section 20 are
in a nested arrangement. The lower section 20 has been expanded
into a bell portion 22 formed in the upper expanded section 18 of
the wellbore casing 14, thereby forming the overlap joint 16 in
preparation for cladding to seal together the upper and lower
casing sections 18 and 20. In certain situations, as shown, either
purposefully or accidentally, the lower section 16 of casing 14 has
an extra portion 24 extending upward into the upper casing section
18 a distance greater than is required for forming an adequate
joint 16. The bell portion 22 may be preformed, before the lower
casing section 20 is expanded, or may be formed at the same time as
the lower casing section 20 is expanded. Where the upper casing
section 18 is not previously expanded to form a bell portion 22,
expanding the lower section 20 at an overlapping joint 16 would
require a significant amount of force and work to expand both the
lower casing section 20 and the upper casing section 18 at the same
time. Where the expanded bell portion 22 has been previously formed
in the upper casing section 18, the subsequent expansion of the
lower casing section 20 does not require significantly more force
at the joint 16. Thus, a preformed bell portion 22 facilitates the
process. Whether or not the bell portion 22 is pre-formed or formed
upon expansion of the lower section 20, it has been found by
applicants by providing the cutter tool 10 of the present
invention, the expansion of the lower casing section 20 may be
terminated after a sufficient length of overlapping joint 16 is
formed. This will leave an extra unexpanded portion 24. The cutter
tool 10 of the present invention is useful to cut off and remove
the unexpanded extra portion 24 of the lower casing section 20.
Time and effort need not be expended to expand the extra portion 24
of the lower section 20. Time and effort to carefully calculate and
position each next lower section is also saved by simply choosing
to always leave a sufficient extra length for the extra portion,
knowing that it can be conveniently removed with the cutter tool 10
of the present invention.
[0018] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the cutter tool 10
is a modular device including a tubular support 28 that can be
attached at a conventional upper coupling 30 axially aligned with a
conventional drill pipe or other portion of a down hole string (not
shown). Similarly other conventional tools, other conventional
expansion tools or other tubular expansion tools as described in
patents and co-pending patent applications incorporated above by
reference, may be connected at a conventional lower coupling 32. In
the illustrated embodiment of the cutter tool 10, cutter blades 34
are expandably attached circumferentially space around the tubular
support 28. An expander device 36 is attached to the tubular
support for selectively moving the cutter blades 34 to expand or to
retract.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation of the
expander device 36 is shown for expanding the cutter blades 34 from
a non-cutting position with the cutter blades 34 retracted radially
inwardly (as shown in FIG. 1) to a cutting position with the cutter
blades 34 expanded radially outwardly (as shown in FIG. 2).
Conventional mechanisms for radially expanding tools from a shaft
or tubular member may be used to cause cutter blades 34 to move to
and from the cutting position. Dummy blades 37 (hidden from view in
FIGS. 1-6) are provided positioned circumferentially around the
tubular support 28 and interleaved with the cutter blades 34. In
the illustrated embodiment, the cutter blades 34 are pivotably
attached to the cutter tool 10 at a pivot connection 38 and the
dummy blades are pivotably attached at a pivot connection 39. The
expander device 36 includes a ramp surface 40 for sliding
engagement with an interior surface 42 of each of the cutter blades
34. An upper expander cone 44 is provided having a plurality of
ramp surfaces 40 for sliding engagement with the interior surfaces
42 of each of the circumferentially spaced cutter blades 34. A
torsional force transmitter device 46 is provided to transmit
rotational forces between the tubular support 28 and the cutter
blades 34. The interleave dummy blades also facilitate maintaining
the proper orientation of the cutter blades 34 and transmission of
rotational forces there between. The expander cone 44 is supported
for axial sliding on a mandrel portion 48 of the tubular support 28
and is axially movable relative to the cutter blades 34. An
actuator 50 is provided that is selectively activateable to move
the expander cone 44 axially along the mandrel portion 48 so that
each ramp surface 40 is moved in ramping engagement with the
interior surfaces 42 of each blade 34. It will be understood that
the actuator 50 may be a conventional device for actuating relative
axial motion between sliding portions of down hole tools. The
relative axial movement causes cutting tips 52 of the cutter blades
34 to pivot radially outward to the cutting position. In the
cutting position, the cutting tips 52 of the plurality of cutter
blades 34, will define a cutting diameter D that is smaller than
the expanded inside diameter ID2 of the lower casing 20 and larger
than the unexpanded inside diameter ID1 of the extra portion 24 of
the lower casing 20.
[0020] In the illustrative embodiment, shown in greater detail in
FIG. 3, the actuator 50 includes a hydraulic device coupled to the
expander cone 44 to move the ramp surfaces 40 relative to the
cutter blades 34. When the actuator 50 is activated to "open", the
cutter blades 34 are moved to the cutting position and when the
actuator 50 is activated to "close", the cutter blades 34 are
retracted position to the non-cutting position. The actuator 50 has
a cylinder 54 and an opening piston 56 coupled to a sliding sleeve
58 that slides relative to the mandrel 48 and engages the expander
cone 44. A divider ring 60 is secured to the mandrel 48 for sliding
within the cylinder 54 and forms an opening chamber 62 on one side
of the divider ring 60, toward the opening piston 56, and a closing
chamber 64 on the other side of the divider ring 60, toward a
closing piston 66. The closing piston 66 is coupled to the sliding
sleeve 58 that engages the expander cone 44 and slides relative to
the mandrel 48. An opening port 68 extends between the opening
chamber 62 and an up-stream fluid passage 70 through the interior
of the mandrel 48. A closing port 72 extends between the closing
chamber 64 and a downstream fluid passage 74 in the interior of the
mandrel 48.
[0021] An activation device 76 is provided, for example, the
activation device may include an opening dart 76A, that is ported
to direct fluidic material 78 into and out of the opening and
closing chambers 62 and 64. The opening dart 76 provides and entry
fluidic passage 80 that is in fluid communication with the upstream
fluid passage 72, and seats at seat 82 within the upstream fluid
passage 72 axially aligned with the opening port 68 and an annulus
84 to provide a path for fluidic material 78 into the opening
camber 62, regardless of the rotational orientation of the opening
dart 76A. An exit fluidic passage 86 is also provided in the
opening dart 76A. When the opening dart seats at seat 82, the
fluidic passage 86 becomes aligned with the closing port 72 and an
annulus 88 for allowing fluidic material 78 to escape from the
closing chamber 64, and into the down stream passage 74 in the
interior of the mandrel 48. Thus, a differential pressure results
and the opening piston 56 is moved. Movement of the opening piston
56 causes the sliding sleeve 58 to slide, thereby causing the ramp
surfaces 40 to move under and along the interior surfaces 42 of the
cutter blades 34. The cutter blades 34 are thus pivoted outwardly
thereby moving the cutting tips 52 radially outward to a cutting
position. It will be understood based upon the present disclosure
that a conventional actuating device for selectively directing
fluidic material in a down hole tool may be used as an alternative
to the illustrated activation device 76. It will also be understood
that a conventional device for otherwise selectively actuating the
cutter blades 34 to expand may also be used as an alternative to
the actuator 50 without departing form certain aspects of the
invention.
[0022] With reference also to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cutter tool 10
with radially expanded cutter blades 34 is moved axially upward
toward a transition area 90 between the lower casing section 20 and
the extra casing portion 24. The cutter tool 10 is also rotated
within the casing 14. Rotational force is transmitted to the cutter
blades 34 and the cutting tips 52 engage with the transition area
90 between the expanded lower casing portion 20 and unexpanded
extra casing portion 24.
[0023] In FIG. 6, the lower casing 20 is completely severed from
the extra portion 24. The extra portion 24 is supported by the
radially expanded tips 52 of the cutter blades 34 and is lifted up
and removed from the wellbore.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the cutter tool 10 activated
by a closing dart 76B to retract the cutter blades 34 to a
non-cutting position. In situations where the cutter tool 10 needs
to be withdrawn from the wellbore casing 14, after it was
previously actuated to the cutting position, the opening dart 76A
can be blown out with increased fluid pressure and a closing dart
76B can be injected to seat at seat 82. The closing dart 76B
provides a relief passage 92 axially aligned with the opening port
68 and annulus 84 to permit escape of fluidic material from the
opening chamber 62 so that pressure therein is reduced. Also, a
closing passage 94 is aligned with the closing port 72 and annulus
88 to provide fluidic material 78 into the closing chamber 64 so
that pressure therein is increased. The closing piston 66 is thus
actuated by the differential pressure to move the sliding sleeve 58
to retract the cone 44 and thereby allow the cutter blades 34 to
retract radially inward to a non-cutting position.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section through an exemplary embodiment
of the expander device 36 with cutter blades 34 in the expanded
condition. The interior surface 42 of the cutter blades 34 are
supported by ramp surfaces 40 of lower cam arms 44a of the expander
cone 44. Dummy blades 37 are interleaved with the cutter blades 34
and supported on a upper expander cone 96 with upper cam arms 98.
The cutter blades are pivoted, at pivot point 38, outwardly so that
cutting tips 52 are at a diameter for cutting the extra casing
section 24 (not shown in FIG. 8) as described above. Rotational
force is transmitted to the expander device 36 with torsional force
transmitter device 46, shown as messing teeth 46a formed at an
upper end of upper expander cone 44. The rotation is transferred
down the tool to the actuator and sliding sleeve 58 and to any
other devices connected below, through another torsional force
transmitter device 98 as with meshing teeth 98a.
[0026] Thus what has been disclosed in the several exemplary
embodiments is a cutter tool for a wellbore casing including a
rotatable tubular support, at least one cutter blade supported on
the rotatable tubular support, the cutter blade having a retracted
position for insertion into the wellbore casing and an expanded
position for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing and an
actuator for moving the cutter blade from the retracted position to
the expanded position for cutting engagement with the wellbore
casing.
[0027] In one embodiment, the cutter tool further includes an
expander device coupled to the actuator and the cutter blade is
pivotably mounted on the expander device.
[0028] In another embodiment, the cutter blade includes an interior
sliding surface and an expander device includes a ramp surface
moveable by the actuator along the tubular support in sliding
engagement with the interior sliding surface of the cutter blade to
pivot the cutter blade between the retracted position and the
expanded position.
[0029] In another embodiment, the cutter tool includes a plurality
of cutter blades each pivotably mounted on a expander device and
each having an interior sliding surface and wherein the expander
device includes an expander cone supported on a mandrel portion of
the tubular support and the expander device having a plurality of
ramp surfaces slidingly engaged with each interior sliding surface
of the plurality of cutter blades.
[0030] In another embodiment of the cutter tool, the actuator for
moving the cutter device from the retracted position to the
expanded position includes an activation device for selectively
activating the actuator to move the cutter blades from the
retracted position to the expanded position for cutting engagement
with the wellbore casing.
[0031] In another embodiment the actuator includes a hydraulic
cylinder attached to the tubular support and coupled to the
expander device and wherein the activation device comprises an
activation dart seatable within a fluid passage through the cutter
tool for directing fluidic material into the hydraulic cylinder to
cause relative sliding movement of the expander cone on the mandrel
portion of the tubular support.
[0032] In another embodiment the actuator for moving the cutter
device from the retracted position to the expanded position further
includes means for selectively activating the actuator to move the
cutter blades from the retracted position to the expanded position
for cutting engagement with the wellbore casing and from the
expanded position to the retracted position.
[0033] In another embodiment the actuator includes a hydraulic
cylinder attached to the tubular support and coupled to the
expander device, the hydraulic cylinder having an opening chamber
for moving the cone in an axial direction for expanding the cutter
blades and having a closing cylinder for moving the expander cone
in an opposite axial direction for retracting the cutter blade and
wherein the activation device comprises a first activation dart
seatable in the tubular support for directing fluidic material into
the opening chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and a second
activation dart seatable in the tubular support for directing
fluidic material into the closing chamber of the hydraulic
cylinder.
[0034] In another embodiment the expander cone has a plurality of
first cam arms each providing one a plurality of ramp surfaces each
slidingly engaged with a separate one of a plurality of cutter
blades and further comprising a second cone having a plurality of
cam second arms each having a second ramp surface and interleaved
with the first cam arms and a plurality of dummy blades interleaved
with the plurality of cutter blades and in sliding engagement with
the second ramp surfaces provided on the second cam arms, and
wherein the dummy blades are expandable and retractable with the
cutter blades and have insufficient thickness to contact the
wellbore casing when expanded.
[0035] In another embodiment the cutter blade further includes a
cutting tip secured to the cutter blade projecting radially outward
when the cutter blade is in the expanded position for cutting
engagement between the cutting tip and the wellbore casing .
[0036] In another embodiment the casing cutting tool includes an
upper cam assembly further including a tubular base and a plurality
of cam arms extending from the tubular base in a downward
longitudinal direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface,
a plurality of upper cutting blade segments interleaved with the
cam arms of the upper cam assembly and pivotally coupled to the
upper tubular support member, a lower cam assembly comprising, a
tubular base, and a plurality of cam arms extending from the
tubular base in an upward longitudinal direction, each cam arm
defining an inclined surface that mates with the inclined surface
of a corresponding one of the upper cutter blade segments, wherein
the cams arms of the upper cam assembly are interleaved with and
overlap the cam arms of the lower cam assembly; and a plurality of
lower dummy segments interleaved with cam arms of the lower cam
assembly, each lower dummy segment pivotally coupled to the lower
tubular support member and mating with the inclined surface of a
corresponding one of the cam arms of the upper cam assembly.
[0037] One embodiment of a method for cutting a wellbore casing
includes providing a plurality of cutter blades supported on a
rotatable tubular support, placing the plurality of cutter blades
in a retracted position, inserting the tubular support into the
wellbore casing with the cutter blades supported in the retracted
position, actuating the cutter blades in the wellbore to expand
into a cutting position engage with the wellbore casing, and
rotating the tubular support with the cutter blades supported
thereon so that the wellbore casing is cut by the rotating cutter
blades.
[0038] In another embodiment a method of radially expanding cutter
blades for cutting a wellbore casing in a wellbore is disclosed
including supporting the expandable tubular member using a tubular
support member and an expandable cutter tool, injecting a fluidic
material into the tubular support member, actuating the expandable
cutter tool radially outwardly relative to the wellbore casing an
into cutting engagement with the wellbore casing using the injected
fluidic material.
[0039] In another embodiment a method of radially expanding cutter
blades for cutting a wellbore casing in a wellbore further includes
rotating the expandable cutter tool in cutting engagement with the
wellbore casing when the expandable cutter tool is expanded
radially outwardly relative to the wellbore casing.
[0040] In another embodiment, a method of radially expanding cutter
blades for cutting a wellbore casing in a wellbore further includes
continuing to rotate the expandable cuter tool in cutting
engagement with the wellbore casing until an upper portion of the
wellbore casing is severed from the wellbore casing, maintaining
the expandable cutter tool in the radially expanded position after
the upper portion of the wellbore casing is severed, and raising
the expandable cutter tool with the severed casing portion
supported thereon out of the wellbore.
[0041] In another embodiment a method of radially expanding cutter
blades for cutting a wellbore casing in a wellbore is disclosed,
wherein actuating the expandable cutter tool radially outwardly
relative to the wellbore casing and into cutting engagement with
the wellbore casing using the injected fluidic material, further
includes directing the fluidic material from within a portion of
the tubular support member to an actuator cylinder to cause the
cutting tool to slide axially on ramp surfaces so that the cutting
blades are moved radially outwardly.
[0042] Another embodiment of a method of radially expanding cutter
blades for cutting a wellbore casing in a wellbore is disclosed,
wherein actuating the expandable cutter tool radially outwardly
relative the wellbore casing and into cutting engagement with the
wellbore casing, wherein the tubular support member includes an
upper tubular support member and a lower tubular support member;
and wherein actuating the expandable cutter tool comprises
displacing the upper tubular member relative to the lower tubular
support member.
[0043] A further embodiment of a method of radially expanding
cutter blades for cutting a wellbore casing in a wellbore is
disclosed is disclosed, wherein the expandable cutting tool
includes an upper cam assembly including a tubular base, and a
plurality of cam arms extending from the tubular base in a downward
longitudinal direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface,
a plurality of upper cutting blade segments interleaved with the
cam arms of the upper cam assembly and pivotally coupled to the
upper tubular support member, a lower cam assembly including a
tubular base; and a plurality of cam arms extending from the
tubular base in an upward longitudinal direction, each cam arm
defining an inclined surface that mates with the inclined surface
of a corresponding one of the upper cutter blade segments, wherein
the cams arms of the upper cam assembly are interleaved with and
overlap the cam arms of the lower cam assembly, and a plurality of
lower dummy segments interleaved with cam arms of the lower cam
assembly, each lower dummy segment pivotally coupled to the lower
tubular support member and mating with the inclined surface of a
corresponding one of the cam arms of the upper cam assembly.
[0044] It is understood that variations may be made in the
foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For
example, the teachings of the present illustrative embodiments may
be used to provide a cutter for a wellbore casing, a pipeline, or a
structural support.
[0045] In several alternative embodiments, a expander device 36 for
expansion and/or retraction of the cutter blades 34 is described, a
conventional rotary expander device, a conventional compliant
expansion device and/or a conventional hydroforming expansion
device may used instead of, or in combination with, the expander
device 36 for expansion and/or retraction of the cutter blades
34.
[0046] In several alternative embodiments, one or more of the
conventional commercially available expander devices available from
Weatherford International, Baker Hughes, Halliburton Energy
Services, Schlumberger, and/or Enventure Global Technology may be
used instead of, or in combination with, the expander device 36 for
expansion and/or retraction of the cutter blades 34.
[0047] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, a wide range of modification, changes and
substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In some
instances, some features of the present invention may be employed
without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it
is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in
a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
* * * * *