Orienting sub

Abstract

An orienting system for precisely aligning downhole tools with respect to each other, such as perforating guns, exploration tools, or other completions tools. The orienting system provides for orienting a first tool with respect to a second tool in a predetermined number of degrees of rotation, and then locking down the combination for use downhole in that configuration.

Claims

1. A system for joining two downhole cylindrical bodies comprising: an orienting mandrel further comprising: a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter about a common axis having a first end with a face; a second cylindrical portion adjacent to, coaxial with and integral with the first cylindrical portion about the common axis, having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and a second end with a face; a shoulder located on the second cylindrical portion, having a third diameter larger than the second diameter, located proximate to the first cylindrical portion, wherein a third face is formed adjacent to the first portion; a plurality of holes located radially about the first cylindrical portion, with a predetermined angular distance between each hole, and being located proximate to the flange on the second cylindrical portion; and a thru bore extending from the face of the first cylindrical portion to the face of the second cylindrical portion; a top sub with a first bore, slideably engaged with the first cylindrical portion of the orienting mandrel, and coupled to the cylindrical collar, the top sub having a first face with a plurality of slots; a bottom sub with a first bore adapted to slideably engage with the second cylindrical portion of the orienting mandrel; a cylindrical collar slideably engaged with a bottom collar, coupled to the top sub, with an internal shoulder engaged to the mandrel shoulder; a wire port plug located radially in the top sub; a plurality of roll pins inserted into the plurality of radial holes on the orienting mandrel and engaged with the plurality of slots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more o-ring grooves on the first cylindrical portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more o-ring grooves on the second cylindrical portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a set screw coupled radially through the cylindrical collar and engaged with a circumferential groove in the top sub.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a set screw coupled radially through the cylindrical collar and engaged with the top sub.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first cylindrical body being joined is a perforating gun.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second cylindrical body being joined is a perforating gun.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical collar captures the orienting mandrel against the shoulder with the cylindrical collar connected to the top sub.

9. A system for joining two downhole cylindrical bodies comprising: an orienting mandrel further comprising: a first cylindrical portion of a perforating gun with a first diameter about a common axis having a first end with a face; a second cylindrical portion adjacent to, coaxial with and integral with the first cylindrical portion about the common axis, having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and a second end with a face; a shoulder located on the second cylindrical portion, having a third diameter larger than the second diameter, located proximate to the first cylindrical portion, wherein a third face is formed adjacent to the first portion; a plurality of holes located radially about the first cylindrical portion, with a predetermined angular distance between each hole, and being located proximate to the flange on the second cylindrical portion; and a thru bore extending from the face of the first cylindrical portion to the face of the second cylindrical portion; a top sub with a first bore, slideably engaged with the first cylindrical portion of the orienting mandrel, and coupled to the cylindrical collar, the top sub having a first face with a plurality of slots; a bottom sub with a first bore adapted to slideably engage with the second cylindrical portion of the orienting mandrel; a cylindrical collar slideably engaged with a bottom collar, coupled to the top sub, with an internal shoulder engaged to the mandrel shoulder; a plurality of roll pins inserted into the plurality of radial holes on the orienting mandrel and engaged with the plurality of slots.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising one or more o-ring grooves on the first cylindrical portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising one or more o-ring grooves on the second cylindrical portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a set screw coupled radially through the cylindrical collar and engaged with a circumferential groove in the top sub.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a set screw coupled radially through the cylindrical collar and engaged with the top sub.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a wire port plug located radially in the top sub.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second cylindrical body being joined is a perforating gun.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cylindrical collar captures the orienting mandrel against the shoulder with the cylindrical collar connected to the top sub.

17. A system for joining two downhole cylindrical bodies comprising: an orienting mandrel further comprising: a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter about a common axis having a first end with a face; a second cylindrical portion adjacent to, coaxial with and integral with the first cylindrical portion about the common axis, having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and a second end with a face; one or more o-ring grooves on the second cylindrical portion; a shoulder located on the second cylindrical portion, having a third diameter larger than the second diameter, located proximate to the first cylindrical portion, wherein a third face is formed adjacent to the first portion; a plurality of holes located radially about the first cylindrical portion, with a predetermined angular distance between each hole, and being located proximate to the flange on the second cylindrical portion; and a thru bore extending from the face of the first cylindrical portion to the face of the second cylindrical portion; a top sub with a first bore, slideably engaged with the first cylindrical portion of the orienting mandrel, and coupled to the cylindrical collar, the top sub having a first face with a plurality of slots; a bottom sub with a first bore adapted to slideably engage with the second cylindrical portion of the orienting mandrel; a cylindrical collar slideably engaged with a bottom collar, coupled to the top sub, with an internal shoulder engaged to the mandrel shoulder; a plurality of roll pins inserted into the plurality of radial holes on the orienting mandrel and engaged with the plurality of slots.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising one or more o-ring grooves on the first cylindrical portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a set screw coupled radially through the cylindrical collar and engaged with a circumferential groove in the top sub.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a set screw coupled radially through the cylindrical collar and engaged with the top sub.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a wire port plug located radially in the top sub.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first cylindrical body being joined is a perforating gun.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second cylindrical body being joined is a perforating gun.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cylindrical collar captures the orienting mandrel against the shoulder with the cylindrical collar connected to the top sub.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a thorough understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which reference numbers designate like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the drawing. Briefly:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a cross section of the mandrel coupled to two downhole tools.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the mandrel used for orienting and coupling downhole tools.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the orienting mandrel to show the roll pins.

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view with a cross sectional cutout of two perforating guns joined by the orienting mandrel.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a close-up of the orienting mandrel engagement as shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

(7) In the following description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and examples. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom and such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different apparatus, systems and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other apparatus, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

(8) An example embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 of an orienting sub assembly 100. The top sub 101 has a first end 113. First end 113 has a hollow inner bore 114. First end 113 has threads 115 for mating to another sub or to an assembly. Socket head cap screws 112 are located at the first end. A wire port plug 108 is threaded tangentially into the body of the top sub 101. Wire port plug 108 is sealed using o-ring 109.

(9) The bottom sub 102 is coupled to the top sub 101 using an orienting mandrel 103 in combination with a retaining collar 105. The retaining collar 115 has a first end 116 and a second end 117. The second end 117 is slideably engaged with and then threaded into the inner bore 118 of the bottom sub 102. The orienting mandrel 103 has a thru bore 119 going from the first end 116 to the second end 117. The first end 116 is slideably engaged with a second bore 120 of the top sub 101. O-rings 110 seal the second bore 120 against the first end 116. Roll pins 104 lock the orienting mandrel 103 in an axial position, measured in degrees, relative to the top sub 101. The set screw 106 locks the retaining collar 115 into the top sub 101. The set screw 107 locks the bottom sub 102 into the orienting mandrel 103. The retaining collar 115 captures the orienting mandrel 103 by engaging the shoulder of the orienting mandrel 103 when it is coupled to, in this example via threads, the top sub 101. Once the retaining collar 115 is threaded to the top sub 101 and captures the orienting mandrel 103, the set screw 106 is threaded tangentially through the retaining collar 115 and into a circumferential groove located about the top sub 101.

(10) An example embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 of an exploded assembly view of the orienting sub assembly 100. The bottom sub 102 is coupled to the top sub 101 using an orienting mandrel 103 in combination with a retaining collar 105. The retaining collar 115 has a first end 116 and a second end 117. The second end 117 is slideably engaged with and then threaded into the inner bore 118 of the bottom sub 102. The orienting mandrel 103 has a thru bore 119 going from the first end 116 to the second end 117. The first end 116 is slideably engaged with a second bore 120 of the top sub 101. O-rings 110 seal the second bore 120 against the first end 116. Roll pins 104 lock the orienting mandrel 103 in an axial position, measured in degrees, relative to the top sub 101. The set screw 106 locks the retaining collar 115 into the top sub 101. The set screw 107 locks the bottom sub 102 into the orienting mandrel 103. In this view slots 121 are visible surrounding inner bore 114.

(11) In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2 there are 36 slots which allows for ten degree incremental alignments between the top sub 101 and the bottom sub 102. The additional detail shows slots 121 on the face of the top sub 101. In this example there are 36 slots, allowing for ten degree incremental orientation changes between the top sub 101 and the bottom sub 102 via the orienting mandrel 103. Each orienting mandrel 103 has a plurality of holes located axially about the center axis for accepting roll pins 104. In this example there are 6 roll pins 104 located about the axis in sixty degree increments.

(12) The roll pins 104 and the holes 123 can be seen in FIG. 3 showing the orienting mandrel 103 from a different direction. The roll pins 104 fit into the holes 123. When the orienting mandrel 103 is located and coupled to the top sub 101 the roll pins 104 will interface with the slots 121 to lock the mandrel in a specific axial orientation with respect to the top sub 101. Since the bottom sub 102 is locked into a predetermined orientation with the orienting mandrel 103 via the retaining collar 105 and the set screws 106 and 107, the orientation of the top sub 101 with respect to the bottom sub 102 can be accurately controlled within the ten degree increments of slots 121.

(13) Referring to the example embodiment in FIG. 4, the assembly 200 here includes a first gun assembly 213 coupled to top sub 201. Top sub 201 is has an orienting mandrel 203 coupled downhole in relation to the first gun 213. A bottom sub 202 is coupled downhole from the orienting mandrel 203. A second gun assembly 218 is coupled to and located downhole of the bottom sub 202. The top sub 201 has a wire port plug 208 that is sealed with o-ring 209. Set screw 206 is used to aid in securing the top sub 201 to the retaining collar 205. O-rings 210 and 211 aid in sealing any wiring that passes through orienting mandrel 203 from wellbore fluids. A cartridge connector 214, secured with retainer nut 215, is used to transfer electrical signals passed through the center bore of the orienting mandrel, thus electrically coupling the first perforating gun 213 with the second perforating gun 218. Both perforating guns 213 and 218 have scallops 217 and 216, respectively, at a zero phase angle, meaning they are axially aligned and do not rotate about the center axis. However, the scallops 217 and 216 can be in any phase angle and they do not need to be the same phase angle as shown in this example embodiment.

(14) The roll pins 204 that are coupled to the alignment slots 219 located on the face of the top sub 201. This allows precise control of the angle between the first perforating gun 213 and the second perforating gun 218.

(15) In FIG. 4 two perforating guns 213 and 218 are shown joined by orienting mandrel 203, however a series of orienting mandrels and guns can be used to create a long gun string. There could be an additional orienting mandrel coupled to the open ends of perforating guns 213 and 218. Furthermore, downhole tools other than perforating guns can be joined to perforating guns, or to other downhole tools depending on the need. The orienting mandrel will allow for precise control of the angular orientation between downhole tools coupled together.

(16) A closer view of the orienting coupling is shown in FIG. 5 where the top sub 201 is threaded into the retaining collar 205, which is further coupled to the orienting mandrel 203. The alignment slots 218 machined into the bottom face of the top sub 201 is held in place relative to the orienting mandrel 203 by roll pins 204.

(17) Another example embodiment of the orienting mandrel is to align a downhole tool on one end with a perforating gun on the other end. Another example embodiment may include connecting a series of perforating guns or downhole tools using a plurality of mandrels, while maintaining predetermined orientation angles between each device.

(18) Although the invention has been described in terms of embodiments which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by illustration only and that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, terms such as upper and lower or top and bottom can be substituted with uphole and downhole, respectfully. Top and bottom could be left and right, respectively. Uphole and downhole could be shown in figures as left and right, respectively, or top and bottom, respectively. Generally downhole tools initially enter the borehole in a vertical orientation, but since some boreholes end up horizontal, the orientation of the tool may change. In that case downhole, lower, or bottom is generally a component in the tool string that enters the borehole before a component referred to as uphole, upper, or top, relatively speaking. The first housing and second housing may be top housing and bottom housing, respectfully. Terms like wellbore, borehole, well, bore, oil well, and other alternatives may be used synonymously. The alternative embodiments and operating techniques will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, modifications of the invention are contemplated which may be made without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention.