U.S. patent application number 12/570840 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-31 for torque resistant coupling for oilwell toolstring.
This patent application is currently assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tommie Dunn, Larry Grigar, Kerry Hamilton, Steven Henderson, Rebecca A. Santiago.
Application Number | 20110073325 12/570840 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43779022 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110073325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Henderson; Steven ; et
al. |
March 31, 2011 |
TORQUE RESISTANT COUPLING FOR OILWELL TOOLSTRING
Abstract
A downhole oilwell toolstring having an adapter having a male
threaded portion, a longitudinally extending tubular female housing
having a female threaded portion on an inner surface of the
housing, a first end located proximate to the female threaded
portion, a second end located distal to the female threaded
portion, and a recessed groove extending around the circumference
of the interior surface of the female housing at a location between
the first end the female threaded portion. The adapter has a first
end that is distal from the threaded portion and a second end that
is proximate to the threaded portion, and a recessed groove
extending around the outer circumference of the adapter at a
location between the threaded portion and the first end of the
adapter. The female housing is connected with the male adapter by
way of the female threaded portion and the male threaded portion
engaging one another. A ring is located in the recessed groove in
the adapter and the recessed groove in the female housing.
Inventors: |
Henderson; Steven; (Katy,
TX) ; Grigar; Larry; (East Bernard, TX) ;
Dunn; Tommie; (Wharton, TX) ; Hamilton; Kerry;
(Manvel, TX) ; Santiago; Rebecca A.; (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION
SUGAR LAND
TX
|
Family ID: |
43779022 |
Appl. No.: |
12/570840 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/382 ;
166/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 17/043
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/382 ;
166/70 |
International
Class: |
E21B 23/00 20060101
E21B023/00; E21B 33/068 20060101 E21B033/068 |
Claims
1. A downhole oilwell toolstring, comprising: an adapter having a
male threaded portion; a longitudinally extending tubular female
housing having a female threaded portion on an inner surface of the
housing, a first end and a second end, a recessed groove extending
around the circumference of the inner surface of the female housing
at a location between the first end the female threaded portion;
the adapter having a first end and a second end, a recessed groove
extending around the outer circumference of the adapter at a
location between the threaded portion and the first end of the
adapter; the female housing being connected with the male adapter
by way of the female threaded portion and the male threaded portion
engaging one another; a ring located in the recessed groove in the
adapter and the recessed groove in the female housing.
2. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the first
end of the female housing comprises a flat end portion, and an
angled portion connects the flat end portion with the interior
surface of the female housing thereby defining a bevel portion.
3. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the ring has
a circular cross section.
4. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the ring has
a rectangular cross section.
5. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the groove
connects with the interior surface of the female housing by way of
an angled portion.
6. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the groove
in the adapter has a semi-circular cross section.
7. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the groove
in the female housing has a semi-circular cross section.
8. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 1, wherein the housing
is a housing of a perforating gun, the perforating gun comprising
at least one shaped charge.
9. A downhole oilwell toolstring, comprising: an adapter having a
male threaded portion; a longitudinally extending tubular female
housing having a female threaded portion on an inner surface of the
housing, a first end and a second end, a recessed groove extending
around the circumference of the interior surface of the female
housing at a location between the first end the female threaded
portion; the adapter having a first end and a second end, a raised
portion located around the outer circumference of the adapter at a
location between the threaded portion and the first end of the
adapter; the female housing being connected with the male adapter
by way of the female threaded portion and the male threaded portion
engaging one another; the raised portion being located in the
recessed groove in the female housing.
10. A method of connecting tools in a toolstring in a downhole
oilwell, the toolstring comprising an adapter having a male
threaded portion; a longitudinally extending tubular female housing
having a female threaded portion on an inner surface of the
housing, a first end and a second end, a recessed groove extending
around the circumference of the interior surface of the female
housing at a location between the first and the female threaded
portion; the adapter having a first end and a second end, a
recessed groove extending around the outer circumference of the
adapter at a location between the threaded portion and the first
end of the adapter; a ring being located in the recessed groove in
the adapter; the method comprising: connecting the female housing
with the male adapter by screwing the female threaded portion onto
the male threaded portion so that the ring located in the recessed
groove in the adapter is compressed until the groove in the female
housing is located over the ring and the ring moves into the
recessed groove in the female housing.
11. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the first
end of the female housing comprises a flat end portion, and an
angled portion connects the flat end portion with the interior
surface of the female housing thereby defining a bevel portion.
12. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the ring
has a circular cross section.
13. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the ring
has a rectangular cross section.
14. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the groove
connects with the interior surface of the female housing by way of
an angled portion.
15. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the groove
in the adapter has a semi-circular cross section.
16. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the groove
in the female housing has a semi-circular cross section.
17. The downhole oilwell toolstring of claim 10, wherein the
housing is a housing of a perforating gun, the perforating gun
comprising at least one shaped charge.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates generally to a toolstring
for use in downhole oilwell operations, and more specifically to
designs for connecting parts of a toolstring such as adapters for a
gauge device, a propellant device and/or perforating guns that are
resistant to unlocking/unscrewing torque to each other or a carrier
such as a wireline or a coiled tubing.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are desirable fluids located underground such as water
and hydrocarbons. To reach and extract those fluids a well is
drilled into the earth. These activities can occur subsea, i.e.,
below the ocean and into the ocean floor.
[0003] Once the well is drilled, a metal casing is often placed
within the wellbore. That casing can be cemented in place. Normally
the casing is perforated in order to connect the interior of the
wellbore with the formation where the desirable fluids are located.
The fluids access the interior of the wellbore via the perforations
and are then extracted.
[0004] Perforations are generally created by a perforating gun. A
perforating gun is a tubular device having a number of shaped
charges that fire in a generally radial direction through the
casing, cement, and into the formation, thereby creating
perforations in the casing and cement, and tunnels into the
formation.
[0005] A typical shaped charge has a metal jacket or a charge case.
High explosive material is disposed inside the metal jacket. A
liner retains the explosive material in the jacket during the
period prior to detonation. A primer column provides a detonating
link between a detonating cord and the explosive.
[0006] When the shaped charge is detonated a portion of the liner
forms a jet portion. The jet is propelled away from the jacket in a
direction toward a target. Another portion of the liner is
propelled away from the jacket and forms what is known as a slug or
carrot portion of the liner. The slug or carrot portion is not
propelled to the same extent as the "jet". When the shaped charge
is used in a perforating gun, the target is normally a cased
downhole formation. Upon detonation, the jet portion of the liner
is propelled through the casing and penetrates the downhole
formation to enhance recovery of downhole hydrocarbons. The slug
portion, on the other hand, is designed to break up upon contact
with the casing.
[0007] Oftentimes a large length of wellbore requires perforating.
However, the length of most perforating guns is not sufficient for
one gun to perforate the required length of wellbore casing.
Therefore a number of guns are frequently connected to one another,
e.g., by adapters having threaded connections.
[0008] Also, after perforating and related to production, a gauge
and/or other tools are lowered on a toolstring. Also, fracturing
activities require fracturing guns to be lowered on a toolstring.
In addition, other devices often are lowered and connected in a
toolstring via an adapter/housing arrangement.
[0009] In connection with those activities, adapters can be used to
connect the various devices with the toolstring, a carrier (e.g.,
wireline, coiled tubing or production tubing) and/or with one
another depending on the setup of the toolstring.
[0010] The various tools are often connected by way of
adapters/housing having a threaded connection.
[0011] Accordingly, there exists a need to ensure that the threaded
connection does not become compromised and unscrew in downhole
operations.
SUMMARY
[0012] Embodiments in the present application relate to a downhole
oilwell toolstring having an adapter having a male threaded
portion, a longitudinally extending tubular female housing having a
female threaded portion on an inner surface of the housing, a first
end a second end, and a recessed groove extending around the
circumference of the interior surface of the female housing at a
location between the first end and the female threaded portion. The
adapter has a first end and a second end, and a recessed groove
extending around the outer circumference of the adapter at a
location between the threaded portion and the first end of the
adapter. The female housing is connected with the male adapter by
way of the female threaded portion and the male threaded portion
engaging one another. A ring is located in the recessed groove in
the adapter and the recessed groove in the female housing.
[0013] Other or alternative embodiments having fewer or additional
features will be apparent from the following description, from the
drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Certain embodiments will hereafter be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals denote like elements, and:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the design
shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an
embodiment; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an
embodiment.
[0019] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings
illustrate embodiments and are therefore not unduly limit any
present or subsequent related claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In the following description, numerous details are set forth
to provide an understanding of the various embodiments. However, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that those
embodiments presented may be practiced without many of those
details and that numerous variations or modifications from the
described embodiments may be possible. These embodiments are not
meant to unduly limit the scope of any present or subsequent
related claims.
[0021] In the specification and appended claims, the terms
"connect", "connection", "connected", "in connection with", and
"connecting" are used to mean "in direct connection with" or "in
connection with via another element"; and the term "set" is used to
mean "one element" or "more than one element". As used herein, the
terms "up" and "down", "upper" and "lower", "upwardly" and
downwardly", "upstream" and "downstream"; "above" and "below"; and
other like terms indicating relative positions above or below a
given point or element are used in this description to more clearly
described some embodiments.
[0022] Lock screws are typically used to keep items in a
toolstring, e.g., perforating guns and other equipment, from
accidentally becoming unscrewed downhole. Screws, although well
proven in use, have several issues in the manufacturing process
such as drilling and tapping screw holes in the adapter, holes in
the housing or gun holes, and potential lost parts on the rig
floor. Other issues include the time and tediousness of
installation.
[0023] According to the present application, a resistant torque
ring or lock ring can be used to keep mating members from
unscrewing by using an internal bevel to collapse the ring and
later an internal groove to allow the ring to expand in and resist
torque by limiting movement in an axial direction.
[0024] To aid in removal, an additional internal bevel can be used
to collapse the ring while unscrewing the adapter separating it
from the housing. If increased removal torque is required, the
internal bevel can be reduce or removed to the point where the ring
is sheared to release.
[0025] Locking of housings or guns with adapters is a concern for
the field due to the potential issue of them coming unscrewed
downhole. One method/design to reduce or eliminate this unscrewing
potential, which also reduces manufacturing cost, is to use a ring
shaped device to resist rotation and/or axial movement of a housing
mated to an adapter.
[0026] A groove with a ring can be placed on the male portion of
the adapter with threads beyond the sealing area and the female
housing can have an internal groove to lock in the ring beyond the
sealing area of the thread. When the housing and adapter are
screwed together, the ring will collapse and spring into the groove
of the housing when screwed in far enough. This type of
anti-rotation ring reduces or eliminates the need for screws on the
rig floor for locking the adapter together. Also, manufacturing
cost is reduced by eliminating the need for screw holes, holes in
the housing, and/or the cost of the screws.
[0027] Another type of anti-rotation device may not have a
collapsible ring but have the outer housing thin enough to expand
and trap a machined ring integrated with the adapter. The machined
ring could instead merely be a raised portion.
[0028] Along the lines noted above, FIG. 1 shows a side section
view of a downhole toolstring connecting device 1 including a
housing 2 and an adapter 3. The housing 2 has a female threaded
portion 4 on the internal surface of the housing. The female
threaded portion 4 mates with a male threaded portion 7 on the
external surface of the adapter 3.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a close-up section view of an anti-rotation
ring 6 that is located in a recessed groove 5 in the adapter 3 and
a recessed groove 8 in the housing 2. The recessed groove 5 has a
generally semi-circular cross section. The anti-rotation ring 6 can
be a complete circular ring, or an incomplete ring only
substantially forming a circular shape, i.e., with a gap. The
recessed groove 5 in the adapter extends around the circumference
of the adapter 3 and is generally circular in shape. In the case of
an incomplete ring 6, the groove 5 does not need to extend fully
around the circumference. The cross section of the groove 5 could
be other shapes, e.g., rectangular or oval. Also, the groove 5
could have a beveled edge.
[0030] The recessed groove 8 in the housing 2 extends about the
circumference of the internal surface of the housing 2. The groove
8 is shown as having a generally semi-circular profile, but could
be oval or rectangular. Also, the groove 8 can have a beveled edge
to aid in the insertion and extraction of the anti-rotation ring 6
from the groove 8.
[0031] The process of attachment of the housing 2 to the adapter 3
involves placing the housing 2 in a female position with regard to
the adapter 3. The female threaded portion 7 engages the male
threaded portion 4 and the parts are rotated with respect to one
another thereby advancing the housing 2 and the adapter 3 axially
toward one another. As the housing 2 and the adapter 3 advance
axially toward one another by rotation, a portion of the housing 2
that is adjacent to the female threaded portion 7 encounters the
anti-rotation ring 6. The force of the hosing 2 compresses the
anti-rotation ring 6 into the groove 5 so that the housing 2 can
pass over the ring 6. Once the groove 8 in the housing 2 is
properly positioned over the ring 6, the ring 6 expands and moves
into position within the groove 8. At that point, the ring 6
applies axial force to the hosing 2 in opposition to axial movement
of the housing 2 with respect to the ring 6 and/or the adapter 3,
thereby discouraging unscrewing (or further screwing) of the
threaded connection.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a design where the ring 6 has a rectangular
profile. Also, the housing 2 has an angular surface 9 connecting
with a flat surface at an end of the housing 2. A similar angular
surface 10 is adjacent to the groove 8 in the housing and can be
adapted to aid in extraction of the ring 6 from the groove 8.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows an alternate design where instead of a ring
located within a groove, a raised portion 11 is formed on the
external surface of the adapter 3 in a similar location as the
groove 5 and the ring 6 would otherwise be located. In contrast,
with this design the housing 2 is configured in such a manner,
i.e., with such a thickness, that the housing can be forced over
and onto the raised portion 11 so that the raised portion 11
interlocks with the groove 8 in the housing, thereby providing
resistance to movement in the axial direction and therefore to
rotation and unscrewing. A bevel similar to that (bevel 9) in FIG.
3 may be included to aid in passage of the housing 2 over the
raised portion 11.
[0034] Although only a few embodiments have been described in
detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily
appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially
departing from the teachings of this application. Such
modifications are intended to be included within the scope as
defined in the claims.
* * * * *