Manipulation tool and method of using same, and an adapter for use together with the manipulation tool

Abstract

This invention relates to a manipulation tool and method for connection and operation of a controllable well device and adapter. The tool includes an elongated housing with first and second end portions, a gripping device in the first end portion provides releasable engagement with the well device controllable by means of the manipulation tool. The gripping device includes means for resisting rotational and axial movement between the housing and the well device. At least one manipulation device is axially displaceable between a first and second position along a longitudinal axis of the housing and rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the housing. A first driving device produces axial displacement of the at least one manipulation device, and a second driving device produces rotation of at least one manipulation device. The first and second driving devices are connected to a control unit for controlling energy to the driving devices.

Claims

1. A manipulation tool (1) for connection to and operation of a controllable well device (120), the manipulation tool (1) comprising: an elongated housing (3) with a first end portion (5) and a second end portion (7); a gripping device (10) arranged in the first end portion (5) of the housing (3), the gripping device (10) being configured to provide a releasable engagement with the well device (120) that is to be controlled by means of the manipulation tool (1), the gripping device (10) comprising means (12, 14) for resisting rotational and axial movement between the housing (3) and the well device; at least one manipulation device (20, 30) which is axially displaceable between a first position and a second position along a longitudinal axis of the housing (3) and rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the housing (3); a first driving device (40) to produce axial displacement of the at least one manipulation device (20, 30); a second driving device (70) to produce rotation of the at least one manipulation device (20, 30); and wherein the first driving device and the second driving device are connected to a control unit (80) arranged to control an energy supply to the driving devices.

2. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein the means (12) of the gripping device (10) of resisting rotational motion between the housing (3) and the well device are independent of the means (14) of the gripping device (10) of resisting axial movement between the housing (3) and the well device.

3. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein the means (14) of the gripping device (10) of resisting axial movement between the housing (3) and the well device include a radially movable locking device (14) arranged to be moved between a first position, in which the locking device (14) is disengaged from a portion of the well device, and a second position, in which the locking device (14) is in radially locking engagement with the well device.

4. The manipulation tool according to claim 3, wherein the radial position of the locking device (14) is determined by an axial position of one of the at least one manipulation device (20).

5. The manipulation tool according to claim 4, wherein the locking device (14) is held axially fixed to a portion of the housing (3), wherein the radial position of the locking device is controlled by a guiding portion (140) whose axial position is determined by the axial position of one of the at least one manipulation device (20).

6. The manipulation tool according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the housing (3) includes an outer housing portion (300) overlapping a portion of an inner housing portion (302), wherein a breakable fastening means (304) is arranged for holding against axial movement between the inner and out housing portions (300, 302), as the inner housing portion (302) is axially connected to an end portion of the locking device (14), and the outer housing portion (300) is axially connected to the manipulation device (20), so that a breaking of the breakable fastening means (304) will allow relative motion between the outer housing portion (300) and the inner housing portion (302) and thereby also between latches (14) and a guiding portion (140).

7. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein the second driving device (70) is connected to the at least one manipulation device (20, 30) via a power-transmission unit (50) which is provided with a power-transmission means (53, 55) which is complementarily adapted to a power-receiving portion (27, 36) arranged in the at least one manipulation device (20, 30).

8. The manipulation tool according to claim 7, wherein the power-transmission unit (50) includes a first portion (52) and at least one second portion (54) arranged in series in an axial direction of the power-transmission unit (50), at least one of the first portion (52) and the second portion (54) being provided with a portion (56) not transmitting power.

9. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one manipulation device (20, 30) is connected to the second driving device (70) via a gear (60).

10. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one manipulation device (20, 30) includes two or more manipulation devices arranged coaxially.

11. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (80) is arranged in the second end portion (7) of the housing (3).

12. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein at least the first driving device (40) is an electromotor.

13. The manipulation tool according to claim 1, wherein at least the second driving device (70) is a fluid-driven motor.

14. An adapter (400) for use between the manipulation tool (1) according to claim 1 and a well tool operated by means of an axial force, the adapter (400) comprising: an elongated housing (402) with a first end portion (404) and a second end portion (406); a coupling means (410) arranged to receive the gripping device (10) of the manipulation tool (1), the coupling means (410) being arranged in the first end portion (404) of the housing (402); a shaft (412) arranged in the first end portion (404) of the housing (402), the shaft (412) being arranged to receive a torque from one of the at least one manipulation device (20, 30) of the manipulation tool (1), and the shaft (412) being held fixed against axial movement along a longitudinal axis of the housing (402); an rod (414) arranged to be moved in an axial direction in the second end portion (406) of the housing (402), the rod (414) being held fixed against rotation relative to the housing (402), and the rod (414) being provided with a well-tool-coupling means (416) for connection to a well tool, the shaft (412) being provided with a threaded portion which is arranged to be screwed together with a complementarily fitting threaded portion (418) of the rod (414), so that a rotation of the shaft (412) will result in an axial movement of the rod (414) and the well-tool-coupling means (416).

15. A method of manipulating a well tool, said method comprising the steps of: bringing a manipulation tool into contact with a well tool (120, 400), the manipulation tool having an elongated housing (3) with a first end portion (5) and a second end portion (7); a gripping device (10) in the first end portion (5) of the housing (3) being configured to provide a releasable engagement with the well device (120) controllable by means of the manipulation tool (1), the gripping device (10) comprising means (12, 14) for resisting rotational and axial movement between the housing (3) and the well device; at least one manipulation device (20, 30) axially displaceable between a first position and a second position along a longitudinal axis of the housing (3) and rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the housing (3); a first driving device (40) to produce axial displacement of the at least one manipulation device (20, 30); a second driving device (70) to produce rotation of the at least one manipulation device (20, 30); and wherein the first and second driving devices are connected to a control unit (80) arranged to control an energy supply to the driving devices; activating the first driving device in order to: releasably engage a gripping device (10) with a coupling means (123; 410) arranged at an end portion of the well tool (120, 400); and axially displace at least one rotatable manipulation device into engagement with a portion of the well tool; and activating the second driving device by means of a control device in order to provide a desired rotation of one of the at least one manipulation device, the rotation being transmitted to a rotatable element (122, 131; 413) in the well tool (120, 400).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the well tool is a well device selected from the group of: a valve, a plug or a combination of these.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the well tool is an adapter (400) comprising an elongated housing (402) with a first end portion (404) and a second end portion (406); a coupling means (410) for receiving the gripping device (10) of the manipulation tool (1), the coupling means arranged in the first end portion (404) of the housing (402); a shaft (412) in the first end portion (404) of the housing (402), the shaft (412) receives a torque from at least one manipulation device (20, 30) of the manipulation tool (1) and is held fixed against axial movement along a longitudinal axis of the housing (402); a rod (414) movable in an axial direction in the second end portion (406) of the housing (402) and held fixed against rotation relative to the housing (402), and the rod (414) has a well-tool-coupling means (416) for connection to the well tool, the shaft (412) has a threaded portion arranged to be screwed together with a complementarily fitting threaded portion (418) of the rod (414) so that a rotation of the shaft (412) results in an axial movement of the rod (414) and the well-tool-coupling means (416).

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further, after the desired rotation of the manipulation device has been carried out, includes the following steps: activating the first driving device again in order to: disengage the at least one rotatable manipulation device from the well tool; and carry the manipulation tool (1) away from the well tool.

19. A method of manipulating a well device operable by axial force by using the manipulation tool according to claim 1, the method including: fitting an adapter to the well device operable by axial force, the adapter having an elongated housing with the first end portion and the second end portion; a coupling means for receiving the gripping device and arranged in the first end portion of the housing; a shaft arranged in the first end portion of the housing and arranged to receive a torque from at least one manipulation device, the shaft held fixed against axial movement along a longitudinal axis of the housing; a rod arranged to be moved in an axial direction in the second end portion of the housing, the rod held fixed against rotation relative to the housing, and the rod provided with a well-tool-coupling means for connection to a well tool, the shaft provided with a threaded portion arranged for screwing together with a complementarily fitting threaded portion of the rod, so that a rotation of the shaft results in an axial movement of the rod and the well-tool-coupling means; bringing the manipulation tool into contact with the adapter (400); activating the first driving device (40) to: releasably engage the gripping device (10) of the manipulation tool (1) with a coupling means (410) arranged at an end portion of the adapter (400); and displace at least one rotatable manipulation device (20, 30) of the manipulation tool (1) axially into engagement with a portion of the adapter (400); and activating the second driving device (70) by means of a control device in order to provide a desired rotation of one of the at least one manipulation device (20, 30), the rotation being transmitted to a rotatable element (412) in the adapter (400).

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method, after the desired rotation of the manipulation device (20, 30) has been carried out, further includes the step of: activating the first driving device (40) again in order to: disengage the at least one rotatable manipulation device (20, 30) from the adapter (400); and carrying the manipulation tool (1) away from the adapter (400).

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method, after the desired rotation of the manipulation device (20, 30) has been carried out, further includes the steps of: continuing the rotation of the manipulation device (20, 30) so that a further axial force is transmitted from the adapter (400) to the well device until the engagement between the adapter (400) and the well device disintegrates; and carrying the manipulation tool (1) and the adapter (400) away from the well device.

Description

(1) I what follows, an example of a preferred embodiment is described, which is visualized in the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1a shows in perspective a partially cutaway view of a manipulation tool according to the present invention, the manipulation tool including a first manipulation device which is coaxially arranged on the outside of a second manipulation device, and the manipulation devices being placed in a retracted position;

(3) FIG. 1b shows a first end portion of the manipulation tool of FIG. 1 on a larger scale;

(4) FIG. 1c shows the detail 1C of FIG. 1a on a larger scale;

(5) FIG. 2a shows the manipulation tool of FIG. 1a, but an axial displacement of the manipulation devices from the right to the left has been carried out;

(6) FIG. 2b shows the first end portion of the manipulation tool of FIG. 2a on a larger scale;

(7) FIG. 2c shows a detail 2C of FIG. 2a on a larger scale;

(8) FIG. 3a shows the manipulation tool of FIG. 2a, but the first manipulation device has been axially displaced to an advanced position, whereas the second manipulation device is in a partially advanced position;

(9) FIG. 3b shows the first end portion of the manipulation tool of FIG. 3a on a larger scale;

(10) FIG. 4a shows the manipulation tool of FIG. 3a, but the second manipulation device, too, has been displaced to its advanced position;

(11) FIG. 4b shows the first end portion of the manipulation tool of FIG. 4a on a larger scale;

(12) FIG. 5 shows the manipulation tool of FIG. 4a, but the tool is in a releasing situation;

(13) FIG. 6a shows the manipulation tool of FIG. 5, but the first manipulation device is in a retracted position, and the second manipulation device is in a partially retracted position;

(14) FIG. 6b shows the first end portion of the manipulation tool of FIG. 6a on a larger scale;

(15) FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, taken through a portion of the longitudinal axis of the manipulation tool;

(16) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken through a portion of the longitudinal axis of the manipulation tool on a larger scale;

(17) FIG. 9 shows a connecting portion of a well tool, with which the manipulation tool is arranged to engage;

(18) FIGS. 10a and 10b show an adapter arranged to be placed between the manipulation tool and the well device; and

(19) FIG. 10c shows a cross section seen through the line A-A in FIG. 10b.

(20) Positional specifications such as outer, inner, left, right, upper and lower allude to the position that is shown in the figures. Like or corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numeral in the figures, but because of the richness in detail, not all parts are indicated with reference numerals in all the figures.

(21) In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a manipulation tool according to the present invention.

(22) The manipulation tool 1 includes an elongated housing 3 with a first end portion 5 and a second end portion 7.

(23) A gripping device 10 is arranged in the first end portion 5 of the housing 3. The gripping device 10 includes holding lugs 12 (two shown) projecting from the internal surface of the gripping device 10. The holding lugs 12 are arranged to be brought into sideways abutment against corresponding lugs 121 arranged on a well device 120 (see FIG. 9) which is to be manipulated, so that at least a relative rotation between the well device 120 and the manipulation tool 1 is prevented.

(24) The gripping device 10 is further provided with locking fingers 14, so-called latches which are arranged to be driven radially inwards to engage, for example, a fishing neck 123 (see FIG. 9) of the well device 120 and thereby prevent axial displacement between the manipulation tool 1 and the well device 120. How the radial positions of the latches 14 are controlled will be explained in further detail in what follows.

(25) In the embodiment shown, the manipulation tool 1 is provided with a first manipulation device 20 which is coaxially arranged on the outside of a second manipulation device 30. In what follows, the first manipulation device will also be referred to as the main manipulator 20, and the second manipulation device 30 as the operational manipulator 30.

(26) Both the main manipulator 20 and the operational manipulator 30 are arranged axially displaceable along and rotatable around a centre axis of the housing 3.

(27) The main manipulator 20 is provided with engagement means 22 which, in the embodiment shown, are of the same kind as the holding lugs of the gripping device 10. The engagement means 22 are arranged to engage with, which, in the embodiment shown, means to be brought to rest against, corresponding holding lugs 122 arranged on the well tool 120 (see FIG. 9).

(28) Correspondingly, the operational manipulator 30 is provided with engagement means 31 which are arranged to engage with corresponding holding lugs 131 arranged on the well tool 120 (see FIG. 9).

(29) It should be noted that the holding lugs 22 and said corresponding lugs 122 on the well device 120 could also be used to provide so large a frictional force between the holding lugs 22 and 122 that the frictional force locks against axial displacement (separation) between the manipulation tool 1 and the well device 120. In one embodiment (not shown), the holding lugs 22 are provided with a means of increasing the friction between the holding lugs 22 and the holding lugs 122 of the well device 120. Such a means may be, for example, a serrated surface or other non-smooth surfaces or shapes. Such solutions may be dependent on a torque having been applied to a manipulation device. To ensure the integrity even without such a torque, a so-called J-slot may be used, which may be compared with a hook-and-barb solution that will keep even if the torque should decrease.

(30) Axial displacement of the manipulation devices 20, 30 along the centre axis of the housing 3 is provided by means of a first driving device 40. The first driving device 40 is connected to a rod 42 which is provided with an externally threaded portion 46. A portion of the rod 42 is axially displaceable inside a holding sleeve 44 by means of a toothed wheel 45. The holding sleeve 44 is fixedly positioned inside the housing 3. The toothed wheel 45 is further provided with internal threads that complementarily fit the threads of the rod 42. When the toothed wheel 45 is set into rotation by means of the first driving device 40, the threads will bring the rod 42 to be moved in an axial direction relative to the holding sleeve 44. In what follows, the first driving device 40 will also be referred to as a gear motor 40. By means of splines 47, the rod 42 is prevented from rotating.

(31) An end portion of the rod 42 has been passed through an opening in a holding element 32 associated with the operational manipulator 30. In the exemplary embodiment shown, said opening is arranged in a centre portion of the holding element 32 so that the rod 42 is coaxial with the operational manipulator 30. The rod 42 is attached to the holding element 32 by means of a fastening device 46 which prevents axial movement between the rod 42 and the holding element 32, but allows rotation between them. Thus, rotation of the toothed wheel 45 will provide axial displacement of the operational manipulator 30 relative to the housing 3 in one direction or the other, depending on the direction of rotation of the toothed wheel 45.

(32) By providing the gear motor 40 with a rotation-measuring device, a so-called resolver, which, viewed isolatedly, is of a kind known per se, the axial position of the operational manipulator 30 and thereby also of the main manipulator 20 in the manipulation tool 1 will be known at all times. The resolver is typically connected to a control system 80 which, in the embodiment shown, is indicated in broken lines.

(33) In the embodiment shown, in which the manipulation tool 1 is provided with two manipulation devices 20, 30, axial movement of the main manipulator 20 between the retracted position shown in FIG. 1a and the advanced position shown in FIGS. 3a and 4a is controlled by means of the operational manipulator 30 and a plurality of carrier blocks 23 (one shown) which are arranged in respective recesses in the wall of the main manipulator 20.

(34) The carrier blocks 23 are arranged to be radially movable between a first, projecting position and a second, retracted position.

(35) In the first, projecting position, the carrier blocks 23 are in engagement with a carrier-block groove 34 formed in a portion of the external surface of the operational manipulator 30, as shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 2a and as seen best in FIG. 2c.

(36) In the second, retracted position, the carrier blocks 23 have been driven out of the carrier-block groove 34 and into a carrier-block-receiving groove 24 arranged in portions of the internal surface of the housing 3. In this retracted position, the carrier blocks 23 rest against the external surface of the operational manipulator 30, as shown in FIGS. 3a, 4a and 5 among others.

(37) The carrier blocks 23 are driven out of the carrier-block groove 34 by means of an inclined plane 34 arranged in the carrier-block groove 34 (see FIG. 2c) so that the carrier blocks 23 are moved along the inclined plane 34 when there is an axial movement between the operational manipulator 30 and the main manipulator 20. Correspondingly, the carrier-block-receiving groove 24 is provided with an inclined plane 24 which is seen best in FIG. 2c.

(38) Radial movement of the carrier blocks 23 between said two positions is provided by axial movement of the operational manipulator 30 from a position in which said grooves 24, 34 are in the same axial position in the manipulation tool 1 to a position in which said grooves are axially offset relative to each other.

(39) Rotation of one or both of the main manipulator 20 and the operational manipulator 30 around the longitudinal axis of the manipulation tool 1 is provided by means of a power-transmission unit 50.

(40) The power-transmission unit 50 is connected via a gear 60 to a second driving device 70. In what follows, said second driving device 70 will also be referred to as the main motor 70. In the embodiment shown, the main motor 70 is an electromotor of a kind known per se, but it will be understood that in an alternative embodiment, the main motor may be a fluid-driven motor such as a hydraulic motor or a pneumatic motor of a kind known per se.

(41) The gear 60 is necessary only if the torque required for the operation of the well device 120 exceeds the torque that can be provided directly from the main motor 70.

(42) However, a person skilled in the art will know that the torque that will be required in many cases in order to operate a well device will require a very powerful and thereby bulky main motor. To be able to make a slimmest possible manipulation tool 1, it will therefore, for many areas of application, be advantageous for the torque that is provided by the main motor 70 to be increased by means of the gear 60 before being transmitted to the power-transmission unit 50.

(43) In the embodiment shown, the torque amplifier or gear 60 consists of a five-stage planetary gear, but it will be understood that more or fewer than the five stages shown may be used. The exemplary embodiment shown in the figures reflects a well-functioning prototype of the present invention in which a planetary gear 60 that provides an increase of approximately a thousand times the torque from the main motor 70 is used.

(44) In the embodiment shown, the power-transmission unit 50 is shown as a two-part one, comprising a first power-transmission portion 52 with a first power-transmission means in the form of a first toothed rim 53 and a second power-transmission portion 54 with a second power-transmission means in the form of a second toothed rim 55.

(45) The first power-transmission portion 52 is arranged coaxially with, but at an axial distance from, the second power-transmission portion 54. The power-transmission portions 52, 54 are each connected to a respective one of the five stages shown. This means that the first power-transmission portion 52 and the second power-transmission portion 54 are rotating together, but at different rotational speeds. The second power-transmission portion 54 may, for example, rotate ten times faster than the first power-transmission portion 52.

(46) The operational manipulator 30 includes a drive sleeve 35 (see FIG. 7) which is coaxial with the power-transmission unit 50 and axially displaceable relative thereto. An end portion of the drive sleeve 35 is provided with a power-receiving portion in the form of an internal toothed rim 36 which complementarily fits said first toothed rim 53 and said second toothed rim 55. The internal toothed rim 36 of the drive sleeve 35 is shown in FIGS. 4a and 5 among others.

(47) At its end portion, the drive sleeve 35 is further provided with a power-transmission means in the form of an external toothed rim 37 which will be referred to, in what follows, as the main-manipulator drive rim 37.

(48) The main-manipulator drive rim 37 is complementarily adapted to a power-receiving portion in the form of a toothed rim arranged in an internal end portion of the main manipulator 20. The toothed rim 27 will be referred to, in what follows, as the receiving rim 27. The receiving rim 27 is shown best in FIG. 7.

(49) With reference to the FIGS. 1a-5, the operation of the manipulation tool 1 will be explained more thoroughly. Even if the FIGS. 1a-5 show the operation in steps, it will be understood that the operation from the position of the tool in FIG. 1a to the position of the tool in FIG. 5 may be a continuous one.

(50) In FIG. 1a, the manipulation tool 1 is shown in an initial position. In the initial position shown, both the main manipulator 20 and the operational manipulator 30 are in a retracted position in which the manipulators 20, 30 are at the greatest possible distance from the first end portion 5 of the manipulation tool 1. In this position, both the gear motor 40 and the main motor 70 will normally be turned off.

(51) When the main manipulator 20 is in this position, the latches 14 of the gripping device 10 will be in a radially retracted position relative to an internal surface of the first end portion 5 of the manipulation tool 1. This appears from FIG. 1b.

(52) FIG. 2a shows the manipulation tool 1 after the toothed wheel 45 has been set in rotation by the gear motor 40 and has brought about a short-distance axial displacement of both the operational manipulator 30 and the main manipulator 20 from the initial position shown in FIG. 1a towards the first end portion 5 of the manipulation tool 1. The simultaneous displacement of both manipulators 20, 30 happens in consequence of the carrier blocks 23 being in engagement with the carrier-block groove 34 formed in the external surface of the operational manipulator 30 as explained earlier.

(53) As a consequence of the axial movement of the main manipulator 20, the latches 14 will be driven a distance radially inwards towards the centre axis of the manipulation tool 1. Such a radial movement by the latches 14 is provided by lugs 14 protruding from the latches 14 being moved in a guideway 140 defined between paired guiding elements 142 which are defined, in their longitudinal direction, by a first end portion 144 and a second end portion 146, see FIGS. 1b and 7. The guideway 140 exhibits a guide track starting at the first end portion 144 and extending a distance towards the second end portion 146 before the guide track has its end point. The radial distance of the guideway 140 from the centre axis of the manipulation tool 1 is larger at the starting point of the guide track than at the end point of the guide track.

(54) As appears from FIG. 1b, each of the guiding elements 142 in the second end portion 146 is provided with a guiding-element lug 145 extending into a groove 200 arranged in an end portion of the external surface of the main manipulator 20. The groove 200 allows the main manipulator 20 to be rotated relative to the guiding elements 142, but prevents the main manipulator from being movable, beyond play, if any, in an axial direction relative to the guiding elements 142.

(55) When the main manipulator 20 is set in axial motion from the position that is shown in FIG. 1a to the position that is shown, for example, in FIG. 2a, the guiding-element lugs 145 and thereby the guiding elements 142, too, will be subjected to an axial movement corresponding to that of the main manipulator 20. The latches 14 are fixed against axial movement relative to the housing of the manipulation tool 1. An axial movement of the main manipulator 20 will thereby result in relative motion between the guideway 140 and the latches 14. The latches 14 will thus be brought from their retracted position as shown in FIG. 1b to their projecting position as shown, for example, in FIG. 2b.

(56) When the main manipulator 20 is in the advanced position as shown in FIGS. 3a, 4a and 5, the lugs 14 of the latches 14, and thereby the latches 14, too, will be prevented from radial movement because of the radial extent of the guideway 140 in this portion substantially being complementarily adapted to the radial extent of the lugs 14, as indicated in FIG. 4b.

(57) Reference is now made to FIG. 3a which illustrates a situation in which the main manipulator 20 has been moved towards, but does not touch, a shoulder 5 projecting radially from an internal surface of the first end portion 5 of the housing 3. The main manipulator 20 is thus in an advanced position.

(58) In the advanced position shown in FIG. 3a, the main manipulator 20 may be set into rotation by supplying energy to the main motor 70 which will then set the power-transmission unit 50 into rotation. With the help of a control unit 80, the rotation may be clockwise or anticlockwise. In the embodiment shown, the control unit 80 is placed in the second end portion 7 of the manipulation tool 1, as indicated in broken lines. It will be understood that, in an alternative embodiment, the control unit 80 may be placed at a distance from the manipulation tool 1 itself, for example aboard a rig or somewhere between the manipulation tool 1 and said rig. However, it should be added that it is an advantage if the control unit 80 is placed in or in direct proximity to the manipulation tool 1 because there will be no need for a special cable then. A person skilled in the art will know that such a special cable will be exposed to the well environment and to stresses such as impacts, squeezing and tensile stresses which may all result in damage to the cable and thus hamper or destroy the controllabilities of the manipulation tool 1.

(59) In FIG. 3a the torque is transmitted to the main manipulator 20 from the first toothed rim 53 in the first portion 52 of the power-transmission unit 50, via the main-manipulator drive rim 37 to the receiving rim 27 (see FIG. 7) which is arranged in the internal portion of the main manipulator 20. By the very fact of the rotation being transmitted via the main-manipulator drive rim 27 forming part of the operational manipulator 30, the operational manipulator 30, too, will rotate.

(60) The manipulation tool 1 according to the embodiment shown is well suited for use together with the plug that is shown in the publications NO 328302 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,333,219, where the main manipulator 20 is used to activate the slips and packer of the plug, whereas the operational manipulator 30 is used to control the opening and closing of the valve of the plug.

(61) To bring the operational manipulator 30 from the position shown in FIG. 3a to the advanced position as shown in FIG. 4a, the interconnection between the operational manipulator 30 and the main manipulator 20 must be broken, by the very fact of the main manipulator 20 already having been placed in its advanced position. In other words, the carrier blocks 23 must be disengaged from the operational manipulator 30, which is achieved by rotating the toothed wheel 45 further by means of the gear motor 40.

(62) The manipulation tool 1 is formed in such a way that when the main manipulator 30 is in its advanced position, the carrier blocks 23 will be in the same axial position as the carrier-block-receiving groove 24.

(63) Because of the inclined plane 34 arranged in the carrier-block groove 34 of the operational manipulator 30, the carrier blocks 23 will, on continued axial movement of the operational manipulator 30 in the direction of the first end portion 5 of the manipulation tool 1, be driven out of the carrier-block groove 34 and into the carrier-block-receiving groove 24, as explained above. The engagement of the carrier blocks 23 with the operational manipulator 30 will thus cease, and the operational manipulator 30 can be moved on towards said first end portion 5 until the operational manipulator 30 is in its advanced position as shown in FIG. 4a.

(64) When the operational manipulator 30 is placed in its advanced position as shown in FIG. 4a, the toothed rim 36 of the drive sleeve 35 is in engagement with the second toothed rim 55 of the power-transmission unit 50.

(65) In this position, the main-manipulator drive rime 37 is disengaged from the receiving rim 27 of the main manipulator 20, and, consequently, a torque from the main motor 70 will be transmitted to the operational manipulator 30 only.

(66) From the description above, it will be understood that by controlling the axial position of the operational manipulator 30 in the housing 3, a torque from the power-transmission unit 50 may thus be transmitted to: the main manipulator 20 and the operational manipulator 30 in a first gear, thus from the first portion 52 of the power-transmission unit 50 as shown in FIGS. 1a, 2a and 3a; or the operational manipulator 30 only, in a second gear, thus from the second portion 54 of the power-transmission unit 50 as shown in FIG. 4a.

(67) By the very fact of the first portion 52 of the power-transmission unit 50 rotating at a different number of revolutions from that of the second portion 54, the power-transmission unit 50 is provided with a portion not transmitting power or free portion 56 with a smooth surface, the free portion 56 being arranged between the first toothed rim 53 and the second toothed rim 55. The axial extent of the free portion 56 is at least as large as the axial extent of the internal toothed rim 36 of the operational manipulator 30.

(68) In the embodiment shown, the main-manipulator drive rim 37 is disengaged from the receiving rim 27 in the internal surface of the main manipulator 20 while, at the same time, the internal toothed rim 36 of the operational manipulator 30 surrounds said free portion 56. Such a free position will occur when the operational manipulator 30 is moved from the axial position that is shown in FIG. 3a to the axial position that is shown in FIG. 4a.

(69) In connection with the retraction of the operational manipulator 30 from the position that is shown in FIG. 4a or 5 to the position that is shown in FIG. 3a, it is conceivable that the main-manipulator drive rim 37 will hit (align with) the toothed rim 53 of the first portion 52 of the power-transmission unit 50. This may prevent further retraction. To avoid such a situation, the drive sleeve 42 is provided with a pre-tensioning device which, in the embodiment shown, is a spring 43. The spring 43 is tensioned when the operational manipulator 30 is in the advanced position. If the manipulator drive rim 37 hits said toothed rim 53, the retraction is temporarily stopped while the power-transmission portion 52 is brought to rotate. Because of the increased tensioning of the spring 43 in this situation, the manipulator drive rim 37 will be moved into the toothed rim 53 once these are not aligned with each other.

(70) After the desired operation of the well device 120 has been performed by means of the operational manipulator 30, the gear motor 40 is reversed so that the toothed wheel 45 first pulls the operational manipulator 30 from its advanced position and in the direction of the second end portion 7 of the manipulation tool 1 (from the left to the right in the figures). As the carrier-block groove 34 of the operational manipulator 30 is moved past the carrier blocks 23, the carrier blocks 23 will be driven into engagement with the carrier-block groove 34. By further retraction of the operational manipulator 30, an axial movement in the direction of the second end portion 7 of the manipulation tool 1 will be imparted to the main manipulator 20 as well. As the main manipulator 20 is placed in its retracted position, the latches 14 of the gripping device 10 will be driven radially outwards, thus undoing the axial engagement of the manipulation tool 1 with the well device 120. The manipulation tool 1 may then be pulled out of the well or any other bore in which it may be positioned.

(71) However, the above-mentioned retraction requires the gear motor 40 and its connection to the operational manipulator 30 to be fully operative so that the operational manipulator 30 and the main manipulator 20, too, may be brought to their retracted position.

(72) If a situation should arise in which, for example, the gear motor 40 is not functioning, the manipulation tool 1 cannot be pulled out of engagement from the well device 120 without extensive damage to one or both of the well device 120 and the manipulation tool 1. This is because of the mechanically locked engagement of the latches 14 with the well device 120. For example, a person skilled in the art will know that damage to a well device of the well-packer type is potentially very serious.

(73) To be able to ensure a controlled and safe pull-out of the manipulation tool 1 even in a situation in which the main manipulator 20 cannot be brought to its retracted position as shown in FIG. 1a, the manipulation tool 1 is provided with a safety mechanism which is activated by means of an impact against the second end portion 7 of the manipulation tool 1. When the manipulation tool 1 is used in a well, the impact will typically be effected by means of an impacting pipe, a so-called jar.

(74) The safety mechanism will be explained in what follows, with reference to the FIGS. 2c, 4a, 5, 6a and 6b.

(75) A portion of the housing 3 includes an outer housing portion 300 which overlaps a portion of an inner housing portion 302. The housing portions 300, 302 are axially connected to each other by means of breakable fastening means which, in the embodiment shown, comprise at least one shear screw 304, which is seen best in FIG. 2c.

(76) The housing 3 is further provided with an external jacket that comprises a plurality of sleeve elements 306 arranged in series. At least two of the sleeve elements 306 are arranged with an axial distance D as shown in FIG. 4a among others.

(77) Further, the inner housing portion 302 is axially connected to an end portion of the latches 14 as is shown in FIG. 7 among others.

(78) As mentioned previously, the radial position of the latches 14 is determined by the axial position of the latches 14 relative to the guideways 140 defined between the paired guiding elements 142, and each of the guiding elements 142 is connected to the main manipulator 20 so that the guiding elements 142 follow the axial movement of the main manipulator 20.

(79) FIG. 5 shows the manipulation tool 1 just after an external impact force has been applied to the second end portion 7 in an axial direction towards the first end portion 5. The impact force may, for example, be supplied by means of a jar as mentioned above. Such a jar and the operation thereof will be known to a person skilled in the art and will therefore not be described any further.

(80) The impact force has resulted in the at least one shear screw 304 being broken and the axial distance D between the sleeve elements 306 being reduced from the distance shown in FIG. 4a to the distance shown in FIG. 5. After the shear screw 304 has been broken, the outer housing portion 300 is allowed to be moved axially a limited distance relative to the inner housing portion 302, as is shown in FIG. 6a. The movement shown has been brought about by the manipulation tool 1 having been subjected to an outer pulling force delivered to the second end portion 7 of the housing 3, for example from a pulling tool (not shown) aboard a rig.

(81) To prevent relative motion between the inner housing portion 302 and the outer housing portion 300, the inner housing portion 302 is provided with anti-rotation lugs 48 projecting into anti-rotation slots 48 arranged in the outer housing portion 300. As shown in FIGS. 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b and 6b, the extent of the anti-rotation slots 48 in the longitudinal direction of the tool is larger than the extent of the lugs 48. An axial movement is thereby allowed between the inner housing portion 302 and the outer housing portion 300 after the shear screw 304 has been broken. The lugs 48 and the slots 48 additionally help to carry the lower portion of the tool after the shear screw 304 has been broken. This is shown in FIG. 6b, where the lugs 48 abut against the end portions of the slots 48.

(82) The main manipulator 20 is connected to the outer housing portion 300 by the carrier block 23 being in engagement with the carrier-block-receiving groove 24 which is formed in the outer housing portion 300. An axial displacement of the outer housing portion 300 will thus lead to a corresponding displacement of the main manipulator 20. Accordingly, there will be relative motion between the latches 14 and the guideways 140 as well, and the latches 14 are brought to the retracted position as shown in FIG. 6b, so that the engagement between the manipulation tool 1 and the well device 120 comes to an end. The manipulation tool 1 can now be pulled out of, for example, a well.

(83) The only damage done to the manipulation tool 1 in consequence of the activation of the safety mechanism is the induced breaking of the shear screw 304. The well device 120 from which the manipulation tool 1 has been disconnected will not be exposed to undue loads in consequence of the activation of the safety mechanism of the manipulation tool 1 either.

(84) FIGS. 10a-10c show an adapter 400 according to the second aspect of the invention. The adapter 400 includes an elongated housing 402 with a first end portion 404 and a second end portion 406.

(85) The adapter 400 of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 10a-10c is well suited for connection to any well device used in connection with the installation of a straddle packer (zone-isolation packer), the opening or closing of valves, and the setting or pulling of plugs, which are all operated by means of axial forces. Thus, the advantages of the manipulation tool 1 may be utilized even for conventional equipment that is based on operation by means of axial movement.

(86) The adapter 400 is provided with a coupling means which, in the embodiment shown, is a fishing neck 410 which includes a fishing-neck groove 411 and a shoulder 411. The fishing-neck groove 411 is arranged to receive the latches 14 of the manipulation tool 1, whereas the shoulder 411 prevents axial movement of the latches 14 out of the fishing-neck groove 411 as long as the latches 14 abut against the fishing-neck groove 411.

(87) The adapter 400 is further provided with a coupling means 421 which complementarily fits the holding lugs 12 of the manipulation tool 1, and a manipulator-coupling means 413 which complementarily fits the engagement means 22 of the main manipulator 20.

(88) The adapter 400 includes a shaft 412 which is arranged in the first end portion 404 of the housing 402. In the embodiment shown, the shaft 412 extends approximately from the middle portion of the housing 402 and to some distance out of the first end portion 404 of the housing 402. The shaft 412 is arranged to be set into rotation by means of the main manipulator 20 of the manipulation tool 1 when it is in the position that is shown in FIG. 3a.

(89) To allow rotation, but no axial movement of the shaft 412, this is provided with annular cams 420 (five shown) projecting from the surface of the shaft 412 and being spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 412. The annular cams 420 complementarily fit the groove 422 arranged in the internal surface of the housing 402.

(90) The adapter 400 further includes a rod 414 which is arranged in the second end portion 406 in the housing 402. The rod 414 extends, in the embodiment shown, approximately from the middle portion of the housing 402. In FIG. 10a, the rod 414 projects some distance from the second end portion 406 of the housing 402 and terminates in a well-tool-coupling means 416 which, in the embodiment shown, is shown as a shear pin which has been screwed into an end portion of the rod 414.

(91) To allow axial movement, but not rotational motion of the rod 414, it is provided with splines 426 projecting from the surface of the rod 414 and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 402. The splines 426 complementarily fit grooves 428 arranged in the internal surface of the housing 402, as shown in FIG. 10c.

(92) A lower end portion of the shaft 412 is provided with a threaded portion which is arranged to be screwed together with a complementarily fitting threaded portion 418 in the rod 414. A rotation of the shaft 412 will result in the rod 414, and thereby the well-tool-coupling means 416, too, being subjected to an axial movement.

(93) The adapter 400 may be attached to the well device, operated by axial force, with the help of means that will be well known to a person skilled in the art and therefore will not be described any further.

(94) In FIG. 10a, the adapter is in an initial position in which the threaded portion of the shaft 412 is barely in engagement with the threaded portion 418 of the rod 414. In FIG. 10a, the rod 414 is in its most projecting position relative to the second end portion 406 of the housing 402.

(95) FIG. 10b shows the adapter 400 after the shaft 412 has been subjected to a certain number of rotations by means of the manipulation tool 1 according to the first aspect of the invention so that the shaft 412 has been screwed further into the threaded portion 418 of the rod 414 and has pulled this in the direction of the first end portion 404 of the adapter, and after the operation of the well device operated by axial force (not shown) has been completed and after a further rotation of the manipulation tool 1 has resulted in the breaking of the shear pin 416. Such a force may typically be in the order of 90-180 kN (20,000-40,000 lbs). The connection between the adapter 400 and the well device operated by axial force is now broken and the adapter 400 may be pulled out of the well by means of the manipulation tool 1.

(96) It should be emphasised that before the shear pin 416 has been broken, the manipulation tool 1 may be released from the adapter 400 any time by releasing the latches 14 of the manipulation tool 1 from engagement with the fishing neck 410 of the adapter 400, as explained earlier under the description of how the engagement means 10 of the manipulation tool 1 may be controlled.

(97) By means of the adapter 400, the advantages of the manipulation tool 1 relative to other activation tools may also be used on well devices that are controlled by means of axial forces. Such well devices may be, for example, but are not limited to, a valve, a straddle packer or a plug.