Wells – Above ground apparatus – Inner member anchor or seal with lateral port
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-06-19
Schoeppel, Roger (Department: 3672)
Wells
Above ground apparatus
Inner member anchor or seal with lateral port
C403S078000, C285S141100, C285S190000, C285S277000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247535
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to subsurface well equipment and, more particularly, to an apparatus and related method for aligning eccentric well tools that are connected to a well tubing.
2. Description Of The Related Art
As is well known, after an oil and gas well is drilled, casing is cemented in place therein. Thereafter, various well tools may be lowered into the well casing for a variety of purposes. It is not uncommon for the well tools to be connected to a production or well tubing, which is made up of many separate sections of tubing that are threadably connected together. The well tools are threadably connected between sections of well tubing at desired locations. Well tools normally have a generally tubular cross section, most of which are generally symmetrical, but some of which are eccentric. For example, a side pocket mandrel has a generally tubular portion and a side pocket that results in an eccentric cross section. When two or more side pocket mandrels are connected in a tubing string, it is desirable to align the side pockets so as to minimize outside diameters and make the most efficient use of the space within the casing, especially when two side pocket mandrels are not spaced very far apart. In this regard, if two side pocket mandrels are spaced a sufficient distance from one another, then it may be possible to fit them within the casing, even though their respective side pockets are misaligned, provided that the intermediate section of tubing string between the two side pocket mandrels can be sufficiently bent without permanent deformation thereof. It is further desirable to align the side pocket mandrels so that their respective generally tubular portions (or longitudinal production bores through which well fluids flow) are substantially coaxial with the production bore of the intermediate tubing string, thereby resulting in a “straight,” as opposed to a “crooked,” production bore. It may also be desirable to align the side pockets to facilitate the connection of control lines from the surface to downhole tools that employ “smart” or “intelligent” technology, as those terms are known in the art. As will be more fully described below, the present invention is an orienting and locking swivel that meets these needs, may be connected to the well tubing between two side pocket mandrels, and used to align the side pockets and lock them in that aligned orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been contemplated to meet the above described needs. In one aspect, the invention may be an orienting and locking swivel, comprising: a locking ratchet housing having a locking ratchet recess and a longitudinal bore; a locking ratchet disposed within the locking ratchet recess and releasably secured to the locking ratchet housing; a first tubular member partially disposed within the longitudinal bore of the locking ratchet housing, and releasably engageable with the locking ratchet; a second tubular member partially disposed within the longitudinal bore of the locking ratchet housing, and releasably engageable with the locking ratchet; a first split housing engaged with the locking ratchet housing and releasably engageable with the first tubular member; and a second split housing engaged with the locking ratchet housing and releasably engageable with the second tubular member. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the locking ratchet housing is eccentric. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the first and second split housings are eccentric. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the locking ratchet housing further includes a first tubular extension having a first flange and a second tubular extension having a second flange, the first flange being disposed with an arcuate recess in the first split housing, and the second flange being disposed within an arcuate recess in the second split housing. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that at least one of the first tubular extension, the first flange, the second tubular extension, and the second flange is eccentric. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the locking ratchet is releasably compressed against the first and second tubular members by at least one locking ratchet fastener. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the swivel may further include means for releasably compressing the locking ratchet against the first and second tubular members. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the locking ratchet includes a plurality of ratchet teeth releasably engageable with a plurality of ratchet teeth on at least one of the first and second tubular members. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the plurality of ratchet teeth on the locking ratchet are disposed on a concave surface of the locking ratchet. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the swivel may further include means for biasing the locking ratchet teeth into engagement with the ratchet teeth on the first and second tubular members. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the swivel may further include means for disengaging the locking ratchet from the first and second tubular members. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the swivel may further include at least one split ring disposed within (a) at least one arcuate recess in at least one of the first and second split housings and (b) at least one annular recess in at least one of the first and second tubular members. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that at least one of the first and second split rings is eccentric. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the first and second tubular members are substantially coaxially aligned. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the first split housing includes a first main body and a first mating body, each having a first concave surface for mating with the first tubular member and a second concave surface for mating with a first tubular extension on the locking ratchet housing, and the second split housing includes a second main body and a second mating body, each having a first concave surface for mating with the second tubular member and a second concave surface for mating with a second tubular extension on the locking ratchet housing. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the first main body and the first mating body are releasably secured together about the first tubular member, and the second main body and the second mating body are releasably secured together about the second tubular member. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the first split housing includes a locking finger for cooperable engagement with a first locking notch on the locking ratchet housing, and the second split housing includes a locking finger for cooperable engagement with a second locking notch on the locking ratchet housing. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the swivel may further include at least one longitudinal passageway disposed therein for passage of at least one control line.
In another aspect, the present invention may be an orienting and locking swivel, comprising: a locking ratchet housing having a locking ratchet recess and a longitudinal bore; a locking ratchet disposed within the locking ratchet recess, and having a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed thereon; a first tubular member having a plurality of ratchet teeth releasably engageable with the plurality of ratchet teeth on the locking ratchet, and being partially disposed within the longitudinal bore of the locking ratchet housing; a second tubular member having a plurality of ratchet teeth releasably engageable with the plurality of ratchet teeth on the locking ratchet, and being partially disposed within the longitudinal bo
Milligan, Jr. Clay W.
Pringle Ronald E.
Camco International Inc.
Goldstein & Healey
Schoeppel Roger
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