U.S. patent application number 12/684917 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-14 for cleaning device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated. Invention is credited to Paul Connell, John P. Davis.
Application Number | 20110168383 12/684917 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44257618 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110168383 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; John P. ; et
al. |
July 14, 2011 |
Cleaning Device
Abstract
A cleaning device for use in subterranean fluid production which
includes a tool mandrel and a retaining sleeve surrounding the tool
mandrel. One or more C-ring-style support rings are used to support
and bias cleaning members, such as scraper blades, into contact
with the interior radial surface of a retaining sleeve.
Inventors: |
Davis; John P.; (Cypress,
TX) ; Connell; Paul; (Spring, TX) |
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
44257618 |
Appl. No.: |
12/684917 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 37/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/173 |
International
Class: |
E21B 37/00 20060101
E21B037/00 |
Claims
1. A cleaning device for use in subterranean fluid production
comprising: a tool mandrel; a retaining sleeve radially surrounding
the tool mandrel and radially rotatable about the mandrel, the
retainer sleeve having a sleeve body with a window disposed through
the sleeve body; and at least one cleaning member disposed within
the window of the retainer sleeve, the cleaning member having a
base portion and a working portion; and a support ring that
radially surrounds the tool mandrel, the support ring having an
annular ring body with an axial separation thereof, the support
ring biasing the cleaning member radially outwardly such that the
working portion is urged radially outwardly through the window.
2. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the support ring has a
shape-memory to help bias the cleaning member outwardly.
3. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the
working member is biased against an interior radial surface of the
retainer sleeve.
4. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein there are multiple
support rings and multiple support rings support and bias a single
cleaning member.
5. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein a single support ring
supports and biases multiple cleaning members.
6. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning member
comprises a scraper blade.
7. The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a stabilizer
radially surrounding the tool mandrel.
8. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the support ring deflects
radially inwardly in response to an obstruction in a surrounding
wellbore.
9. A cleaning device for use in subterranean fluid production
comprising: a tool mandrel; a retaining sleeve radially surrounding
the tool mandrel and radially rotatable about the mandrel, the
retainer sleeve having a sleeve body with a plurality of windows
disposed through the sleeve body; and a plurality of cleaning
members, each cleaning member disposed within one of the windows of
the retainer sleeve, the cleaning members each having a base
portion and a working portion; and a support ring that radially
surrounds the tool mandrel, the support ring having an annular ring
body with an axial separation thereof, the support ring biasing at
least one of the cleaning members radially outwardly such that the
working portion is urged radially outwardly through the window
within which it is disposed.
10. The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the cleaning members
comprise scraper blades.
11. The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the support rings each
have shape memory to help bias the cleaning members outwardly.
12. The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the base portion of each
working member is biased against an interior radial surface of the
retainer sleeve.
13. The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein a single support ring
supports and biases multiple cleaning members.
14. The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein there are multiple
support rings and wherein multiple support rings support and bias a
single cleaning member.
15. The cleaning device of claim 9 further comprising a stabilizer
radially surrounding the tool mandrel.
16. The cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the support ring
deflects inwardly in response to an obstruction in a surrounding
wellbore.
17. A cleaning device for use in subterranean fluid production
comprising: a tool mandrel; a retaining sleeve radially surrounding
the tool mandrel and radially rotatable about the mandrel, the
retainer sleeve having a sleeve body with a window disposed through
the sleeve body; and at least one cleaning member disposed within
the window of the retainer sleeve, the cleaning member having a
base portion and a working portion; a support ring that radially
surrounds the tool mandrel, the support ring having an annular ring
body with an axial separation thereof, the support ring biasing the
cleaning member radially outwardly such that the working portion is
urged radially outwardly through the window; and a stabilizer
radially surrounding the tool mandrel.
18. The cleaning device of claim 17 wherein each of the at least
one cleaning member comprises a scraper blade.
19. The cleaning device of claim 17 wherein a single support ring
supports and biases multiple cleaning members.
20. The cleaning device of claim 17 wherein there are multiple
support rings and wherein multiple support rings support and bias a
single cleaning member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates generally to systems and methods for
cleaning the interior of tubular members. In particular aspects,
the invention relates to methods and devices for scraping wellbore
casing.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Wellbore cleaning devices include casing scrapers and
brushing devices. These mechanisms are used to remove mud, cement
sheath, perforation burrs, rust, scale, paraffin, and other debris
from the internal surface of wellbore casing. The casing scraper or
brush is typically attached to a drill string for operation. The
drill string and cleaning device are then disposed within the
casing members to be scraped, and rotated.
[0005] Typical casing scrapers include a central scraping body and
one or more scraping blades that extend radially outwardly
therefrom. Conventional casing scrapers generally fall into one of
two categories: rotating and non-rotating. With a rotating scraper,
the scraping body and the scraping blades are securely affixed to
each other so that both rotate with the drill string. In
applications where the drill string is rotated for long periods of
time, rotating scrapers can cause serious wear and damage to the
interior surface of casing. With a non-rotating scraper, only the
scraping body rotates with the drill string. The scraper blades are
not affixed to the central scraping body, but are urged radially
outwardly from it by compression springs in order to provide a
force for removal of debris. An example of this type of arrangement
is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,141 issued to Tulloch et al.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention provides methods and devices for cleaning the
interior of tubular members, such as casing members. Exemplary
non-rotating tubular cleaning devices are described which include a
unitary central tool mandrel with a surrounding retainer sleeve
which a sleeve body with one or more windows disposed laterally
through the body. The exemplary cleaning devices also include one
or more cleaning members, such as scraper blades. A working portion
of each cleaning member extends from the radial interior of the
retainer sleeve through a window and radially outside of the
retainer sleeve.
[0007] At least one annular support member with an axial
separation, i.e., a C-ring, is disposed radially within the
retainer sleeve and supports the one or more cleaning members
outwardly against the interior radial surface of the retainer
sleeve. The C-ring support ring preferably has a shape memory that
causes the C-ring cleaning member support ring to bias the cleaning
member against the interior radial surface of the retainer sleeve.
During operation, if the cleaning member contacts an obstruction in
a surrounding wellbore, the support ring can deflect inwardly due
to the axial separation.
[0008] The construction of scraper devices in accordance with the
present invention permit these tools to have improved strength and
resistance to axial and torsional forces within the work string
within which the scraper device is used. The threaded connection of
the tool mandrel to other components in a tool string largely
governs the strength of the tool overall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The advantages and further aspects of the invention will be
readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate
like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the
drawing and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary
scraper device constructed in accordance with the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a view of the retaining sleeve, cleaning members
and support ring portions of the scraper device, shown in an
"unrolled" fashion.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side, one-quarter cross-sectional view
of the scraper device shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an external, isometric view of cleaning members
and an exemplary support ring used in the scraper device shown in
FIGS. 1-3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view taken along lines
5-5 in FIG. 1 and illustrating radial inward retraction of the
support ring.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side, one-quarter cross-sectional view of an
alternative embodiment for a scraper device constructed in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an exemplary wellbore scraper device 10
that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The
scraper device 10 is useful for incorporation into a wellbore work
string and disposed within a wellbore, as is known in the art. The
scraper device 10 includes a generally cylindrical tool mandrel,
generally indicated at 12. The tool mandrel 12 defines a central
flowbore 14 along its length. The upper end of the tool mandrel 12
preferably includes a box-type threaded connection 16 so that the
scraper device 10 may be secured to other portions of a wellbore
work string (not shown). The lower end of the tool mandrel 12
includes a pin-type threaded connection 18.
[0017] Preferably, the tool mandrel 12 is made up of an upper sub
19 and a lower sub 20 which are affixed together by a threaded
connection 22. The tool mandrel 12 presents an outer radial surface
24 having a number of different diameter portions. There is an
upper, enlarged-diameter portion 26, a middle, reduced-diameter
portion, generally shown at 28, and a lower, enlarged-diameter
portion 30.
[0018] A retainer sleeve 32 radially surrounds the tool mandrel 12.
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retainer sleeve 32 has a
generally cylindrically-shaped body 34 and presents a number of
windows 36 disposed through the sleeve body 34.
[0019] A cleaning member support ring 38 is disposed around the
reduced-diameter portion 28 of the tool mandrel 12 and located
inside of the retainer sleeve 32. An exemplary support ring 38 is
depicted apart from the other components of the scraper device 10
in FIG. 4. The support ring 38 includes a generally annular ring
body 40 having an axial separation 42 along its length from
end-to-end (see FIG. 4) in the manner of a C-ring. The ring body 40
presents a radially outward surface 44 from which a plurality of
cleaning members in the form of scraper blades 46 project. The
scraper blades 46 may be components that are separate from the ring
body 40 or, alternatively, they may be affixed to or integrally
formed with the ring body 40. As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the
scraper blades 46 include an enlarged base portion 45 and a working
portion 47 that extends radially outwardly from the base portion
45. In this embodiment, a single support ring 38 supports and
biases a plurality of scraper blades 46 outwardly.
[0020] When the support ring 38 is disposed radially inside of the
retainer sleeve 32, the working portions 47 of the scraper blades
46 extend through the windows 36 of the retainer sleeve 32 and
extend radially outwardly beyond the retainer sleeve 32, as can be
seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The windows 36 of the retainer sleeve 32 and
the scraper blades 46 of the scraper ring 38 are shaped in a
complimentary manner to each other. The scraper ring body 40 has a
shape memory that causes the ring body 40 to urge the base portions
45 of the scraper blades 46 radially outwardly against the interior
surface 48 of the retainer sleeve 32. The ring body 40 preferably
loosely surrounds the reduced-diameter portion 28 of the tool
mandrel 12 so that it is easily rotatable about the tool mandrel 12
during use.
[0021] Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that stabilizers
50, 52, of a type known in the art, are also disposed radially
around the tool mandrel 12. The stabilizers 50, 52 function to
centralize the scraper device 10 within a surrounding wellbore
during operation. The stabilizers 50, 52 are rotatable upon the
tool mandrel 12 by virtue of bearings 54 which are disposed between
the stabilizers and the mandrel 12. Annular needle-type roller
bearings may be used or other suitable bearings, such as
full-compliment roller bearings or bushings.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the ring body
40 can be deflected inwardly when one or more of the scraper blades
46 is contacted by an obstruction 56 in a surrounding wellbore. By
virtue of the separation 42 in the ring body 40, the outer radial
surface 44 of the ring body 40 can be moved inwardly away from the
surrounding retainer sleeve 32 as indicated by deflection space 58
in FIG. 5.
[0023] FIG. 6 depicts an alternative scraper device 10' which is
also constructed in accordance with the present invention. The
scraper device 10' is constructed in the same manner as the
cleaning device 10 except where otherwise indicated. In the
exemplary cleaning device 10' each of the scraper blades 46 is
urged against the interior surface 48 of the retainer sleeve 32 by
multiple support rings 38a, 38b and 38c, each having a C-ring
configuration.
[0024] It is noted that brushes, magnets or other cleaning members
might be used in place of scraper blades to create a cleaning
device in accordance with the present invention. It can be seen
that the present invention provides a cleaning device that is
useful for cleaning tubular members and wellbores that are often
used in subterranean fluid production, such as the production of
hydrocarbons.
[0025] The foregoing description is directed to particular
embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of
illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one
skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the
embodiment set forth above are possible without departing from the
scope and the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *