Hydraulic jar and trigger device
11326414 · 2022-05-10
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
E21B31/1135
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
A hydraulic jar includes a tubular housing having central bore and an exterior. The housing includes a passage from the central bore to the exterior. A mandrel is axially movable within the housing, forming an annular space between the mandrel and the housing that includes a timing fluid. The mandrel includes an interior axial space that permits the flow of a drilling fluid. A timing device is fixed to the mandrel in the annular space. A trigger is capable of blocking the flow of drilling fluid through the axial space in the mandrel, and the mandrel moves axially in the housing when the trigger engages the mandrel. The timing device causes the mandrel to move at a first speed and at a second speed to create the impulse. The drilling fluid exits the central bore through the opening after the mandrel moves past the opening.
Claims
1. A hydraulic jar for creating an impulse force in a downhole string in a wellbore, comprising: a tubular housing having an interior and an exterior, wherein the housing includes a passage from the interior to the exterior; a mandrel axially movable within the housing forming an annular space between the mandrel and the housing that includes a timing fluid, the mandrel including a central bore that permits the flow of a drilling fluid; a timing device fixed to the mandrel in the annular space; a trigger capable of blocking the flow of drilling fluid through the central bore in the mandrel, wherein the mandrel moves axially in the housing when the trigger engages the mandrel, and wherein the timing device causes the mandrel to move at a first speed and at a second speed to create the impulse, wherein drilling fluid exits the interior through the passage after the mandrel moves past the passage; and a recocking device that moves the mandrel toward the passage, wherein the recocking device includes a spring.
2. The hydraulic jar of claim 1, wherein the trigger is attached to a tether that extends into the wellbore.
3. The hydraulic jar of claim 1, wherein the recocking device provides an impulse force.
4. The hydraulic jar of claim 1, wherein the central bore of the mandrel includes a tapered end that receives the trigger.
5. The hydraulic jar of claim 1, wherein the trigger has a first diameter that fits into the central bore and a second diameter that is larger than the central bore.
6. The hydraulic jar of claim 2, further comprising an anvil, wherein the recocking device moves the mandrel toward the passage and causes the mandrel to impact the anvil.
7. A hydraulic jar comprising: a tubular housing having in interior, an exterior, an anvil, and a passage that extends from the interior to the exterior; a tubular mandrel in the interior of the tubular housing having an exterior, a central bore, a hammer, and a timing device affixed to the exterior of the mandrel, wherein the tubular mandrel is movable in an axial direction in the housing and wherein drilling fluid flows through the central bore; a triggering device attached to a tether, wherein the triggering device impedes the flow of the drilling fluid through the axial opening, wherein the timing device causes the mandrel to move at a first speed and a second speed, and wherein the hammer impacts the anvil; wherein the drilling fluid exits the housing through the passage in the housing after the hammer impacts the anvil; a recocking device between the mandrel and the housing; and a second anvil in the housing, wherein the recocking device moves the mandrel toward the passage and provides an impulse force on the second anvil.
8. The hydraulic jar of claim 7, further comprising a recocking device between the mandrel and the housing that imparts a force on the mandrel that moves the mandrel toward the passage after the fluid exits the housing.
9. The hydraulic jar of claim 7, wherein the central bore of the mandrel includes a tapered end that receives the triggering device.
10. The hydraulic jar of claim 7, wherein the triggering device has a first diameter that fits into the central bore and a second diameter that is larger than the central bore.
11. The hydraulic jar of claim 7 wherein the recocking device includes a spring.
12. A hydraulic jar comprising: a tubular housing having an exterior, a hollow interior, and a passage from the hollow interior to the exterior; a tubular mandrel in the hollow interior that forms a timing chamber and a recocking chamber between the mandrel and the housing, the mandrel having a central bore for the flow of drilling fluid; a timing device in the timing chamber and affixed to the mandrel between the mandrel and the housing; a recocking device in the recocking chamber that imparts a force on the mandrel toward the passage in the housing; a triggering device that impedes the flow of drilling fluid into the central bore; a tether attached to the triggering device; wherein the timing device causes the mandrel to move at a first speed and a second speed; wherein drilling fluid exits the passage to the exterior of the housing after the mandrel moves at the second speed; and wherein the recocking device moves the mandrel toward the triggering device.
13. The hydraulic jar of claim 12, wherein the central bore of the mandrel includes a tapered end that receives the triggering device.
14. The hydraulic jar of claim 12, wherein the triggering device has a first diameter that fits into the central bore and a second diameter that is larger than the central bore.
15. The hydraulic jar of claim 12, further comprising an anvil, wherein the recocking device moves the mandrel toward the passage and causes the mandrel to impact the anvil.
16. The hydraulic jar of claim 12 wherein the recocking device includes a spring.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the detailed description, the following drawings provide various embodiments.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(7) The following disclosure provides various embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the applicable art will understand that various changes in the design, organization, operation and use of mechanical equivalents may be made within the spirit of the invention.
(8) Referring to
(9) The hydraulic jar 10 also includes a recocking chamber 50 disposed between the housing 30 and the mandrel 20 near the mandrel lower end 22. Preferably the recocking chamber 50 includes a recocking device 52 that applies an uphole force 6 on the mandrel 20. The recocking device 52 can comprise a mechanical structure such as a spring, a compressible fluid, a compressible gas, or a combination of any or all of these.
(10) The housing 30 of the hydraulic jar 10 preferably includes a port 55 that provides a passage between the exterior 42 and the interior 44 of the housing 30. The port 55 preferably can permit the passage of fluid such as drilling mud.
(11) Near the mandrel upper end 23, the hydraulic jar 10 preferably includes an opening 60 in the central bore 12 and a triggering device also referred to as a “trigger” and “trigger device”) 63. The opening 60 and the triggering device 63 preferably are sized such that triggering device 63 fits into the opening 60 and substantially stops the flow of drilling fluid through the central bore 12. The triggering device 63 is preferably attachable to a tether 64, such as coiled tubing, wireline, or other means of lowering objects into a wellbore.
(12) The hydraulic jar 10 is bidirectional, meaning it may deliver an impulse force in either an uphole direction 6 or a downhole direction 7. A load can be applied to the mandrel upper end 23 of the mandrel 20, which then moves in the downhole direction 7 relative to housing 30. A load can also be applied to the mandrel lower end 22 of the mandrel 20, which then moves in the uphole direction 6 relative to the housing 30.
(13) Referring now to
(14) In order to allow movement of the mandrel 20, hydraulic fluid slowly flows between the flow control device 15 and the constriction cylinder 80, thus creating a time delay until the flow control device 15 moves past the constriction cylinder 80. At that time, the annular area, between the flow control device 15 and the housing 30, is wider and allows free movement of the mandrel 20 and the hammer 40 portions of the hydraulic jar 10 through the housing 30.
(15) Referring still to
(16) The flow control device 15 is further shown in
(17) Although the stop ring 110 is preferably attached to the mandrel 20 by a threaded connection, the present invention is not so limited as the stop ring can be part of a unitary body with the mandrel 20 or fixed to the mandrel 20 by welding, adhesive, pins, or other common method of attachment. Similarly, the retaining rings 120, 130 may be attached to the mandrel 20 in a variety of ways against the stop ring 110. In a presently preferred embodiment, the stop ring 110 and the retaining rings 120, 130 are attached to the mandrel 20 using acme threads, but other known configurations of threaded connections to hold the components in place are equally plausible for purposes of the present invention.
(18) As discussed above,
(19) Although
(20) Although the above description relating to
(21) Referring again to
(22) The upper metering sleeve 140 can slide in either the uphole direction 6 or the downhole direction 7, which allows the upper metering sleeve 140 to be positioned against the upper shoulder 111 or against the shoulder 121 of the upper retaining ring 120 (as shown in
(23) Referring still to
(24) Referring to
(25) As previously indicated in regards to
(26) When the drill string becomes stuck and an impact blow to the drill string in the downhole direction 7 is desired, a load may be applied to the hydraulic jar 15 from above.
(27) Referring again to
(28) Hydraulic fluid then begins to flow through the flow control device 15. Specifically, as indicated by the arrows 129, the hydraulic fluid flows from the lower chamber 72 into gap 74 and gap 136. Thereafter, the hydraulic fluid flows between the metering surface 153 of the lower metering sleeve 150 and the inside surface 81 of the constriction cylinder, thus metering (e.g., restricting, reducing) hydraulic fluid flow by the reduced flow area therebetween. The hydraulic fluid cannot bypass the lower metering sleeve 150 through gap 77, as the sealing end 152 is forced against the lower shoulder 112 to form a seal therebetween.
(29) Once the hydraulic fluid passes the lower metering sleeve 150, the fluid enters the gap 75 and continues to flow through the gap 126 into the gap 76. Thereafter, the hydraulic fluid flows through the radial grooves 146a-d (146a and 146c shown in
(30) When a predetermined time delay is reached, and a load that is determined to be appropriate to deliver an impact to free the stuck tool, the hydraulic jar 10 fires. As mandrel 20 continues to move slowly in the downhole direction 7, the drill string (not shown) compresses elastically and stores mechanical energy therein. When the flow control device 15 exits the constriction cylinder 80, the flow path between the lower chamber 72 and the upper chamber 71 becomes wider because the fluid flow is no longer metered by the lower metering sleeve 150, allowing hydraulic fluid to pass into the upper chamber 71 at a higher flow rate. The mandrel 20 accelerates and thus, the hammer 40, in the downhole direction 7, until the hammer 40 impacts the lower shoulder 62 of the housing 30 to create an impact to free the stuck tool. During this process, the mandrel upper end 23 moves downhole 7 of the port 55, allowing the drilling fluid to exit into the well outside of the housing 30. Pumping is stopped at the surface and the load on the mandrel 20 is significantly decreased. The recocking device 52 then moves the mandrel 20 in the uphole direction 6, thereby resetting the hydraulic jar 10 for another impact force. In an alternate preferred embodiment, the recocking device 52 imparts an uphole 6 load on the mandrel 20, acting in reverse of the downhole 7 action described above, causing the hammer 40 to impact the upper shoulder 61 to free the stuck tool.
(31) As described above, the flow control device 15 can be bidirectional, providing hydraulic fluid metering when the hydraulic jar 10 is actuated in either an uphole 6 or downhole 7 directed load. It should be understood that the manner in which the flow control device 15 meters fluid when the hydraulic jar 10 is loaded in the downhole 7 direction can be similar or the same to the manner in which the flow control device 15 meters fluid when the hydraulic jar 10 is loaded in the uphole 6 direction.
(32) It should also be understood that in another embodiment (not shown) of the hydraulic jar 10, the flow control device 15 can be constructed or reconfigured to be uni-directional, acting to provide fluid metering when the hydraulic jar 10 is under load from the uphole 6 direction only. To reconfigure the flow control device 15 to provide fluid metering only when hydraulic jar 10 is in loaded from the uphole 6 direction, the upper metering sleeve 140 can be configured in the opposite direction about the inner surface 123 of the upper retaining ring 140, wherein the bypass end 141 is positioned downhole 7 relative to the sealing end 142. In another embodiment (not shown) of the hydraulic jar 10, the lower metering sleeve 150 and the lower retaining ring 130 can be decoupled from the mandrel 20 and removed from the flow control device 15. The above configurations will allow fluid metering as the mandrel 20 is moving in the downhole direction 7 while allowing the fluid to bypass the metering sleeves 140, 150 as the mandrel 20 moves in the uphole direction 6 relative to the housing 20.
(33) Similarly, in another embodiment (not shown) of the hydraulic jar 10, to reconfigure the flow control device 15 to provide fluid metering only when hydraulic jar 10 is loaded from the uphole direction 6, the upper metering sleeve 140 can be configured in the opposite direction about the inner surface 123 of the upper retaining ring 120, wherein the bypass end 141 is positioned downhole 7 relative to the sealing end 142. In yet another embodiment (not shown) of the hydraulic jar 10, the upper metering sleeve 140 and the upper retaining ring 120 can be decoupled from the mandrel 20 and removed from the flow control device 15. These configurations will allow fluid metering as the mandrel 20 is moving in the downhole direction 7 while allowing the fluid to bypass the metering sleeves 140, 150, as the mandrel 20 is moving in the uphole direction 6 relative to the housing 20.
(34) While various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure have been described, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention can be practiced other than as specifically described. It should be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that an embodiment of the hydraulic jar in accordance with the present disclosure can comprise all of the features described above. It should also be understood that each feature described above can be incorporated into the hydraulic jar by itself or in combinations, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.