U.S. patent number 3,724,540 [Application Number 05/144,517] was granted by the patent office on 1973-04-03 for apparatus for disengaging well tools from borehole walls.
Invention is credited to Harold J. Urbanosky, Frank R. Whitten.
United States Patent |
3,724,540 |
Urbanosky , et al. |
April 3, 1973 |
APPARATUS FOR DISENGAGING WELL TOOLS FROM BOREHOLE WALLS
Abstract
In the several representative embodiments of the invention
disclosed herein, outstanding too-disengaging members are uniquely
arranged on a typical testing tool including a fluid-sampling
member which is adapted for selective engagement with a borehole
wall to obtain samples of connate fluids from earth formations
adjacent to the borehole. These tool-disengaging members are
cooperatively arranged to space the tool body away from the
mudcaked borehole wall for minimizing the surface area contacting
the wall so as to reduce the possibility of the tool becoming
tightly stuck against the borehole wall by differential pressure as
fluid samples are taken. Various arrangements of these unique
tool-disengaging members are disclosed whereby these members are
also cooperatively moved in relation to the borehole wall in
response to selected movement of the tool body for readily
disengaging the tool from the wall when it is to be moved away from
its testing position.
Inventors: |
Urbanosky; Harold J. (Pearland,
TX), Whitten; Frank R. (Houston, TX) |
Family
ID: |
22508947 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/144,517 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/100;
166/241.5; 166/243 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
49/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
49/00 (20060101); E21B 49/10 (20060101); E21b
033/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/100,241,243
;175/4.52 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Champion; Marvin A.
Assistant Examiner: Ebel; Jack E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A well tool adapted for suspension in a borehole and comprising:
a body member; means on said body member including a laterally
extendible wall-engaging member adapted for selective movement
between a retracted position adjacent to one side of said body
member and an extended position spaced outwardly a selected lateral
distance therefrom; and tool-disengaging means projecting laterally
outwardly from one of said members for spacing said one member away
from a borehole wall while said tool is stationary in a borehole,
said tool-disengaging means being cooperatively arranged to move
relative to said one member in a generally longitudinal plane in
response to generally longitudinal movement of said tool after said
wall-engaging member has been retracted for disengaging said tool
from sticking engagement with a borehole wall.
2. The well tool of claim 1 wherein said tool-disengaging means
include at least one movable member having an outstanding
wall-engaging portion, means pivotally mounting said movable member
along one side of said tool for generally longitudinal pivotal
movement between spaced positions, and means normally biasing said
movable member toward one of its said positions so that generally
longitudinal movement of said tool in one direction will pivot said
movable member in the opposite direction toward the other of its
said positions for disengaging said outstanding wall-engaging
portion from sticking engagement with a borehole wall.
3. The well tool of claim 2 wherein said means pivotally mounting
said movable member include a lost-motion connection cooperatively
arranged between said movable member and said tool for maintaining
said outstanding wall-engaging portion at a substantially uniform
lateral distance away from said body as said movable member pivots
between its said positions.
4. The well tool of claim 1 wherein said tool-disengaging means
include at least one substantially circular rotatable member, and
means rotatably mounting said rotatable member along one side of
said tool for rotation in a generally longitudinal plane so that
generally longitudinal movement of said well tool will rotate said
rotatable member for disengaging said rotatable member from
sticking engagement with a borehole wall.
5. The well tool of claim 1 wherein said tool-disengaging means
include first and second movable members respectively having
outstanding wall-engaging portions, first and second means
pivotally mounting said movable members respectively at
longitudinally spaced locations along the outward side of said one
member for pivotal movements between spaced upper and lower
positions in said plane, and first and second means normally
biasing said movable members respectively toward one of their said
positions so that generally longitudinal movement of said tool in
one direction will pivot said movable members in the opposite
direction toward the other of their said positions for disengaging
said wall-engaging portions from sticking engagement with a
borehole wall.
6. The well tool of claim 5 wherein said first and second means
pivotally mounting said movable members respectively include a
lost-motion connection between said one member and said movable
members cooperatively arranged for maintaining their said
outstanding wall-engaging portions at a substantially uniform
lateral spacing away from said one member as said movable members
pivot between their said positions.
7. The well tool of claim 1 wherein said tool-disengaging means
include first and second substantially circular rotatable members,
and first and second means rotatably mounting said rotatable
members at longitudinally spaced locations along one side of said
one member for rotation in said plane so that generally
longitudinal movement of said tool will rotate said rotatable
members for disengaging said rotatable members from sticking
engagement with a borehole wall.
8. The well tool of claim 1 wherein said one member is said
wall-engaging member.
9. The well tool of claim 1 wherein said one member is said body
member, and said tool-disengaging means project laterally outwardly
from said one side of said body member a distance less than said
selected lateral distance so that upon retraction of said
wall-engaging member said tool-disengaging means will be engaged
with a borehole wall to space said body member therefrom.
10. A well tool adapted for suspension in a borehole and
comprising: a body; means on said body including a laterally
extendible pad adapted for selective movements between a retracted
position adjacent to one side of said body and an extended position
spaced outwardly a selected lateral distance therefrom; and
tool-disengaging means including first and second movable members
respectively having outstanding wall-engaging surfaces projecting
from said one body side a lesser distance than said selected
distance, first and second pivot means respectively coupling said
movable members to said body at longitudinally spaced locations
along said one body side above and below said extendible pad for
pivotal movements in a longitudinal plane between upwardly directed
and downwardly directed positions, and first and second biasing
means cooperatively arranged between said body and said first and
second movable members respectively to normally bias said movable
members toward one of their respective said positions for placing
said wall-engaging surfaces into contact with a borehole wall upon
retraction of said extendible pad to a still-lesser distance than
said lesser distance and to thereafter yield in response to
generally longitudinal movement of said body in one direction for
allowing said movable members to pivot in the other direction
toward the other of their respective said positions for disengaging
said wall-engaging surfaces from sticking contact with a borehole
wall.
11. The well tool of claim 10 wherein said first and second pivot
means further include a lost-motion connection respectively
coupling said movable members to said body so that said pivotal
movements of said movable members will not carry said wall-engaging
surfaces substantially beyond said lesser distance.
12. The well tool of claim 10 wherein said first and second movable
members are each generally T-shaped with transverse portions
thereof defining said wall-engaging surfaces and leg portions
thereof coupling said transverse portions to said first and second
pivot means respectively.
13. The well tool of claim 12 wherein said first and second pivot
means further include a lost-motion connection respectively
coupling said leg portions to said body so that said pivotal
movements of said movable members will not shift said transverse
portions substantially beyond said lesser distance.
14. A well tool adapted for suspension in a borehole and
comprising: a body; means on said body including a laterally
extendible pad adapted for selective movements between a retracted
position adjacent to one side of said body and an extended position
spaced outwardly a selected lateral distance therefrom; and
tool-disengaging means including first and second movable members
respectively mounted at longitudinally spaced locations on the
outer face of said extendible pad for contacting a borehole wall
upon extension of said extendible pad to at least minimize the
contact between its said outward face with a borehole wall and
cooperatively arranged to move relative to said extendible pad in
response to generally longitudinal movement of said tool after said
extendible pad has been retracted for disengaging said movable
members from sticking engagement with a borehole wall.
15. A well tool adapted for suspension in a borehole and
comprising: a body; means on said body including a laterally
extendible pad adapted for selective movements between a retracted
position adjacent to one side of said body and an extended position
spaced outwardly a selected lateral distance therefrom; and
tool-disengaging means including first and second movable members
respectively mounted at longitudinally spaced locations on said one
body side above and below said extendible pad and cooperatively
arranged to move relative to said body in response to generally
longitudinal movement of said tool after said extendible pad has
been retracted to a position spaced from said one body side a
distance less than said selected distance for disengaging said
movable members from sticking engagement with a borehole wall.
16. A well tool adapted for suspension in a borehole and
comprising: a body; means including first and second extendible
pads mounted on opposite sides of said body and respectively
adapted for selective movements between retracted positions
adjacent to said body and extended positions spaced outwardly
therefrom; first tool-disengaging means including a first pair of
movable members having outstanding wall-engaging surfaces
respectively mounted at vertically spaced locations on the outward
face of said first extendible pad for contacting a borehole wall
upon extension of said first extendible pad to at least minimize
the contact between its said outward face with a borehole wall and
cooperatively arranged to move relative to said first extendible
pad in response to generally vertical movement of said tool after
said first extendible pad has been retracted toward one of said
body sides for disengaging said first movable members from sticking
engagement with a borehole wall; and second tool-disengaging means
including a second pair of movable members having outstanding
wall-engaging surfaces respectively mounted at vertically spaced
locations on the other of said body sides above and below said
second extendible pad and cooperatively arranged to move relative
to said body in response to generally vertical movement of said
tool after said second extendible pad has been retracted to a
position spaced from said other body side a distance less than the
lateral projection of said second members for disengaging said
second movable members from sticking engagement with a borehole
wall.
Description
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that well logging
and testing tools often become stuck in a borehole during the
course of a typical operation. Perhaps the most common cause for
these tools becoming stuck is where some portion of the tool body
or an outstanding member thereon becomes at least partially
embedded in the mudcake typically lining the borehole walls
adjacent to a formation containing connate fluids. By way of
explanation, so-called "differential sticking" typically occurs
where the embedded portion or member of the tool becomes sealingly
engaged against the mudcake so that the hydrostatic pressure of the
well control fluids or so-called "mud" in the borehole which is
imposed on the rear of the sealingly engaged member will press the
forward face of this member laterally against the mudcake or
formation. Thus, if the cross-sectional area of this member and the
differential between the borehole hydrostatic pressure and the
pressure of the formation fluids are of substantial magnitude, the
sealingly engaged member will be held so tightly against the
mudcake that an extreme vertical force will be required to release
the tool.
This problem of differential sticking becomes particularly acute
where the well tool is a cable-suspended fluid-sampling tool such
as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,554, U.S. Pat. No.
3,329,208 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,364 and which is adapted for
obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations
penetrated by the borehole. As seen in those patents, these
sampling tools typically include one or more sealing pads with
fluid-sampling ports or tubes which are cooperatively arranged on
the forward face of an elongated tool body for selective placement
into sealing engagement with a borehole wall for obtaining samples
of connate fluids contained in the adjacent formations. For
selectively moving the sealing members into sealing engagement with
the borehole wall, one typical arrangement includes an extendible
backup shoe which is mounted on the rear face of the tool body and
adapted for laterally shifting the tool to set the fixed sealing
pad into sealing engagement with a mudcaked borehole wall.
Alternatively, the sealing pad may be adapted to be extended
forwardly of the body so as to force the rear face of the tool body
against the opposite wall of the borehole for maintaining the
sealing pad firmly engaged. A third typical arrangement employs
both an extendible backup shoe and an extendible sealing pad which
are extended in opposite directions to anchor the tool in the
borehole.
Regardless of which arrangement is employed, it will be appreciated
that the members which contact with the borehole wall have
substantial cross-sectional areas that are subject to becoming
differentially stuck against the mudcake lining the borehole. For
example, the extendible backup shoe typically used on
fluid-sampling tools such as the one shown in U.S. Pat. No.
3,011,554 has a surface area in the order of sixty square inches.
If a pressure differential of only 500-psi is acting on this backup
shoe, it will be appreciated that if the entire front surface of
the shoe is sealingly engaged the shoe will be urged against the
borehole wall with a pressure force in the order of 30,000-pounds.
Thus, since the coefficient of friction between the backup shoe and
a typical layer of mudcake may be as high as 0.4 or 0.5, a pull in
excess of the cable's strength might be required for releasing the
tool.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
new and improved apparatus for disengaging cable-suspended well
tools which have become differentially stuck against a borehole
wall without requiring the imposition of extreme upwardly directed
forces which might exceed the safe tensile loading of the tool
suspension cable.
This and other objects of the present invention are obtained by
arranging one or more laterally outstanding tool-disengaging
members having minimal wall-contacting surfaces to project
outwardly from a tool body. Upon movement of these outstanding
members into contact with a mudcaked borehole wall, the tool body
will be spaced laterally away from the wall and only the
minimum-area surfaces of the outstanding members will be subjected
to becoming differentially stuck against the wall. Means are
further provided for causing the tool-disengaging members to move
relative to the borehole wall in response to vertical movement of
the tool body for disengaging the tool from the borehole wall when
it is subsequently moved to a different position in the
borehole.
The novel features of the present invention are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with
further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by
way of the following description of exemplary apparatus employing
the principles of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a typical fluid-sampling tool on which is mounted
two embodiments of new and improved tool-disengaging means of the
present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show different views of one of the
preferred embodiments of the tool-disengaging means illustrated in
FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively illustrate different views of the other
preferred embodiment of tool-disengaging means depicted in FIG.
1;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the fluid-sampling tool
depicted in FIG. 1 showing the tool-disengaging means respectively
illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 when they are fully retracted in relation
to the tool; and
FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of tool-disengaging
means also arranged in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
Turning now to FIG. 1, new and improved tool-disengaging means
10-13 are arranged on a fluid-sampling tool 14 which is shown
suspended from a typical multi-conductor cable 15 in a borehole 16
containing a well control fluid and cooperatively engaged with a
particular formation interval 17 for collecting one or more samples
of producible fluids from that formation. The suspension cable 15
is spooled in the usual manner from a winch (not shown) at the
earth's surface and is coupled to suitable control devices and
recording devices (not shown) at the surface for controlling the
tool as well as monitoring its operation during the course of a
typical fluid-sampling operation.
It is believed unnecessary to describe the specific arrangements or
operation of the several components of the tool 14 since their
constructional details are of no consequence as far as the present
invention is concerned and the arrangement of such tools is well
described in each of the several aforementioned patents as well as
in other patents showing fluid samplers of a similar nature.
Accordingly, it is believed sufficient to say only that the
sampling tool 14 is comprised of an elongated body 18 which is
typically arranged as a number of tandemly connected sections. As
is usual, the upper portion of the tool 14 includes selectively
operable control means 19, such as the hydraulic system described
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,554, for controlling the sequential
operation of the tool. Among other things, the control means 19 are
operable for selectively extending and retracting wall-engaging
means such as a pair of similar extendible shoes 20 and 21 which
are respectively arranged on the forward and rearward faces of the
tool body 18 and adapted for extension in opposite directions
against the borehole walls to anchor the tool 14 in the borehole 16
for obtaining fluid samples. Sample-admitting means 22, such as the
sealing members and associated sampling devices shown generally at
"9" in U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,807 or at "21" in U.S. Pat. No.
3,452,592, are mounted on the forward shoe 20; and the other shoe
21 is used to insure that the sealing pad 23 is sealingly engaged
with the borehole wall. As fully explained in the several
aforementioned patents, the sampling tool 14 is cooperatively
arranged for obtaining fluid samples from the formation 17 which
are confined within an enclosed sample chamber that is typically
included in the lower section 24 of the tool body 18.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the forward tool-disengaging means 10 and
11 of the present invention are preferably similar or identical and
are respectively mounted on the forward face of the tool body 18 at
convenient spaced intervals immediately above and below the forward
shoe 20 carrying the sealing pad 23 of the sample-admitting means
22. The new and improved rearward tool-disengaging means 12 and 13
which are also preferably similar or identical are respectively
faced rearwardly and arranged near the upper and lower ends of the
outer face of the backup shoe so as to be cooperatively engaged
with the borehole wall opposite from that engaged by the
sample-admitting pad 23 upon extension of the shoes 20 and 21. The
significance of the arrangements of the new and improved
tool-disengaging means 10-13 of the present invention will
subsequently be explained once the particular details of their
respective preferred embodiments are considered.
Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3 detailed views are shown of the
tool-disengaging means 10 which, as previously noted, are
preferably identical or similar to the tool-disengaging means 11.
As illustrated, the tool-disengaging means 10 are preferably
comprised of a support or base 25 secured to the tool body 18 and
operatively carrying a T-shaped member 26 having a transversely
oriented cross bar 27 on the outer end of a short upright member 28
which is disposed in an outwardly opening recess 29 in the base. As
best seen in FIG. 2, the T-shaped member 26 is pivotally mounted on
the outstanding base 25 by a lost-motion connection such as that
provided by a transversely oriented pin 30 which is carried on the
base and cooperatively received in an elongated slot 31 formed in
the inwardly directed end of the upright member 28 so as to allow
the T-shaped member to move vertically between longitudinally
spaced positions. To normally retain the T-shaped member 26 in its
illustrated upwardly inclined position in relation to the tool body
18, biasing means are provided such as one or more tension springs
32 which are disposed in grooves 33 in the base 25 and connected in
tension between the base and the cross bar 27.
As best seen in FIG. 3, the outer face of the cross bar 27 is
preferably champhered to provide a fairly sharp transverse edge, as
at 34, extending along the outermost portions of the cross bar.
Moreover, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, the extremities of the
cross bar 27 are preferably formed in a slight curvature so as to
leave only an outwardly directed contact surface 35 of minimal area
on the mid-point of the cross bar for contacting the wall of the
borehole 16. It should be noted from FIG. 6 that the contact
surface 35 is spaced laterally ahead of the forward face of the
tool body 18 a distance which is greater than the maximum lateral
projection of the sealing pad 23 when the front shoe 20 is fully
retracted. The significance of these several constructional details
will subsequently be explained.
Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, detailed views are shown of the
tool-disengaging means 12 which are preferably similar or identical
to the tool-disengaging means 13. As shown in the drawings, the
tool-disengaging means 12 include a yoke-shaped member 36 having
its mid-portion complementally shaped to closely straddle the outer
face of the rear shoe 21 and which is cooperatively coupled thereto
for generally longitudinal movement by means such as a lost-motion
connection as provided by an elongated slot, as at 37, in each end
of the member that slidably receives a laterally outstanding pivot,
as at 38, on each longitudinal edge of the backup shoe. To normally
urge the yoke-shaped member 36 upwardly in relation to the shoe 21,
biasing means are provided such as a pair of tension springs 39 and
40 arranged in recesses 41 and 42 on the shoe and coupled in
tension between the rear shoe and the yoke-shaped member. As best
seen in FIG. 5, the outward face of the transverse portion of the
yoke-shaped member 36 is preferably shaped so as to define a
rounded outer surface, as at 43, for contacting the wall of the
borehole 16 when the backup shoe 21 is extended.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated from FIG. 1 that when the
fluid-sampling tool 14 is positioned adjacent to the formation 17
and the shoes 20 and 21 are extended, the sealing pad 23 will be in
contact with one wall of the borehole 16 and the tool-disengaging
means 12 and 13 will be in contact with the opposite wall of the
borehole. It will be realized, of course, that the rounded surface
43 of the yoke 36 and its counterpart 44 of the tool-disengaging
means 13 will respectively present only a minimum surface area, as
at 43, which will be subject to becoming differentially stuck.
Thus, under less-severe situations, when a fluid sample has been
obtained and the tool 14 is to be repositioned in the borehole 16
or returned to the surface, the shoes 20 and 21 are simply
retracted.
As previously discussed, severe borehole conditions can
nevertheless cause even the tool 14 as depicted in FIG. 1 to become
differentially stuck for one or more reasons. For example, should
either or both of the yokes 36 and 44 become differentially stuck,
it will be recognized that only a strong upward pull on the cable
15 can free the tool 14 if retraction of the backup shoe 21 is
unsuccessful in disengaging the yokes from the wall of the borehole
16. As previously pointed out, however, the magnitude of the upward
forces which can be applied to the tool 14 by way of the cable 15
is significantly limited by the tensile strength of the cable.
Accordingly, of paramount importance to the present invention, the
tool-disengaging means 12 and 13 are cooperatively arranged to move
in relation to the wall of the borehole 16 in response to a
moderate upward pull on the fluid-sampling tool 14. As best seen in
FIG. 4, it will be recognized that once the backup shoe 21 is not
being urged against the wall of the borehole 16, upward movement of
the tool 14 is limited only by its weight since the yoke 36 (as
well as the yoke 44) is free to pivot downwardly in relation to the
tool body 18. Thus, upon upward movement of the tool 14, the yoke
36 (as well as the yoke 44) will pivot about the pins 38 to the
position 45 shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 4. The pivotal
movement of the yokes 36 and 44 will allow the tool 14 to begin
moving easily so that its inertia is overcome before any restraint
due to differential sticking of the yokes is imposed on the
tool.
Moreover, by virtue of the pivoting of the yokes 36 and 44, there
is a rolling action of their outer faces, as at 43, in relation to
the wall of the borehole 16 which will bring a new portion of their
surfaces into contact with the mudcake 46 so that there will be at
least a disruption of any sealing engagement between the mudcake
and the yokes. Those skilled in the art will, of course, recognize
that there is a time element involved in establishing a seal
between a member and the mudcake 46 so that as new surfaces on the
yokes 36 and 44 roll into potentially sealing engagement with the
mudcake, the continued upward movement of the tool 14 will
ordinarily prevent reestablishment of a differentially stuck
surface on the yokes.
It should also be noted that by virtue of the lost-motion pivotal
connection provided by the slots, as at 37, the yokes 36 and 44
will pivot downwardly in relation to the shoe 21 without swinging
in an arc which would otherwise cause the yokes to project further
outwardly from the backup shoe and possibly jam the tool 14 as it
is passing through a reduced-diameter interval of the borehole 16.
Thus, by virtue of the lost-motion connections of the yokes 36 and
44 on the backup shoe 21, the downward motion of the yokes is
effectively along a longitudinal path in relation to the tool body
18 rather than along an arcuate path.
It will, of course, be recognized that once the tool 14 begins
moving upwardly, the yokes 36 and 44 will be returned to their
initial upwardly inclined positions by their respective biasing
springs as at 39 and 40. This will, however, pose no significant
problem since should either the yoke 36 or 44 subsequently
encounter an obstruction in the borehole 16, the yokes will be free
to swing downwardly without materially slowing the continued ascent
of the tool 14.
Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that retraction
of the shoes 20 and 21 can also result in freeing of the backup
shoe without necessarily releasing the forward face of the sealing
pad 23 from the wall of the borehole 16. Should this occur as the
shoes 20 and 21 are retracted, the backup shoe will be returned
against the tool body 18 and the body will be shifted laterally to
the right as viewed in FIG. 1 toward the front shoe. Ultimately,
however, the tool-disengaging means 10 and 11 will come into
contact with the wall of the borehole 16. Thus, since the forward
face, as at 35, of each of the T-shaped members 26 and 47 is
extended forwardly of the face of the sealing pad 23 when the shoe
20 is fully retracted, the T-shaped members will engage the wall of
the borehole 16 so as to allow the pad to continue its rearward
movement. Since the sealing pad 23 is customarily of an elastomeric
material, it is, of course, free to yield under the retracting
force. Once this occurs, the T-shaped members 26 and 47 will then
be in contact with the wall of the borehole 16.
Accordingly, as previously explained with reference to the yokes 36
and 44, the tool-disengaging means 10 and 11 function to release
the tool 14 as the T-shaped members 26 and 47 respectively pivot
about their pivots as at 30. Hereagain, this pivotal action will
present new surfaces in contact with the mudcake 46 to give the
tool 14 time to begin moving before a good seal is re-established.
Moreover, the lost-motion connections, as at 30 and 31, will allow
the T-shaped members 26 and 47 to move longitudinally in relation
to the tool body 18 rather than swing outwardly.
Turning now to FIG. 7, alternative tool-disengaging means 50 are
depicted which can be successfully substituted for either the
tool-disengaging means 10 (and 11) on the tool body 18 or the
tool-disengaging means 12 (and 13) on the backup shoe 21. To
illustrate the operation of the tool-disengaging means 50, the
preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is depicted as being
detachably mounted on the backup shoe so as to overlay the yoke 36
and immobilize the tool-disengaging means 12 when the tool 14 is
being operated in an elongated borehole having a diameter which is
so large that the shoes 20 and 21 cannot be extended into contact
with the borehole walls. It will, of course, be appreciated that
tool-disengaging means (not shown) similar or identical to the
tool-disengaging means 50 are also detachably mounted over the yoke
36.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the tool-disengaging means 50
include a base 51 which is preferably detachably secured, as by
screws 52, to the outer face of the backup shoe 21. To immobilize
the yoke 36, the base 51 is mounted directly over the mid-portion
of the yoke and, if necessary, a transverse groove 53 is provided
in the base to accommodate the protruding portion of the yoke. A
circular roller 54 is mounted in an outwardly directed recess 55 in
the base 51 and journably coupled thereto as by a transversely
oriented axle 56 mounted on the base. As illustrated, at least the
outer rim of the roller 54 is arranged to project rearwardly or
outwardly from the base 51 so that the roller and its counterpart
of the other tool-disengaging means (not shown) on the shoe 21 will
contact the borehole wall upon extension of the backup shoe.
Accordingly, when the tool 14 is provided with a pair of
longitudinally spaced tool-disengaging means as at 50 on the backup
shoe, extension of the shoes 20 and 21 will bring the roller 54
into contact with the borehole wall so as to space the outer face
of the backup shoe away from the mudcake. The effective area of the
roller 54 which can be in sealing contact with the borehole wall
will, of course, be minimal so as to preclude differential sticking
under many borehole conditions.
As previously pointed out, however, under severe borehole
conditions, even the limited surface area of the roller 54 can
become differentially stuck. If this should occur, it will be
appreciated that once the control means 19 are operated to retract
the shoes 20 and 21, the tool 14 will be free to move vertically in
the borehole 16 and longitudinal movement of the body 18 will be
effective for moving the roller 54 so as to shift a new surface
thereof into contact with the mudcake 46. Hereagain, since a finite
time is required before a seal is reestablished between the mudcake
46 and the roller 54, upward movement of the tool 14 can be
accomplished with a minimum pull on the cable 15 so as to at least
materially eliminate the risk of continued differential sticking of
the roller.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention has
provided new and improved means for preventing a tool from becoming
irretrievably stuck by differential sticking in a borehole. By
arranging any of the several tool-disengaging means disclosed
herein on a well tool which is subject to being differentially
stuck in a borehole, the changes that the tool will become
differentially stuck are greatly minimized since the effective
areas in contact with the borehole wall are greatly reduced.
Moreover, even should these greatly reduced contact surfaces become
differentially stuck on a mudcaked borehole wall, the several
tool-disengaging means disclosed herein are uniquely arranged to
move longitudinally in relation to the borehole upon vertical
movement of the tool and without imposing added restraint to
continued movement of the tool. As a result, the tool can be safely
disengaged from a mudcaked borehole wall without creating undue
tensile forces in the suspension cable supporting the tool.
While only particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and
modifications may be made without departing from this invention in
its broader aspects; and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims
is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the
true spirit and scope of this invention.
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