Downhole wireline recovery tool and method of recovering downhole wirelines
A wireline recovery tool for retrieving a wireline from a wellbore includes an outer sheath and a rotatable spear positioned within the outer sheath. The rotatable spear includes a plurality of angled portions and a plurality of vertical portions such that the rotatable spear has an asymmetrical profile. The outer sheath includes a first and second wall, each of which includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of angled prongs extend from the inner surfaces of the first and second walls. A torque device including an indexing mechanism and ratcheting mechanism rotates the rotational spear positioned within the outer sheath. As the rotatable spears rotates, the wireline being retrieved from the wellbore becomes increasingly entangled with the rotatable spear and outer sheath, such that the wireline can be removed from the wellbore.
1 . A wireline recovery tool for retrieving a wireline mass from a well bore, comprising:
a stationary outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer sheath further having a plurality of angled prongs extending from the inner surface;
a rotatable spear having a base and a barbed tip, the rotatable spear positioned inside the stationary outer sheath; and
a torque device including for rotating the rotatable spear, wherein:
the rotatable spear has a plurality of angled portions and a plurality of vertical portions such that the rotatable spear has an asymmetrical profile,
the rotatable spear comprises a plurality of barbs angled upwardly towards the base of the rotatable spear, angled downwardly towards the barbed tip, or at least some angled upwardly towards the base of the rotatable spear and some others angled downwardly towards the barbed tip, and
the plurality of barbs are positioned on the angled portions and the vertical portions of the asymmetrical profile.
2 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of angled portions and the plurality of vertical portions of the rotatable spear lie in a single plane.
3 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable spear further comprises a threaded upper portion for engaging the torque device.
4 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 1 , wherein the stationary outer sheath further comprises a first wall and a second wall each having an inner surface and an outer surface.
5 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of angled prongs extending from the inner surface of the outer sheath are radially opposed.
6 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of angled prongs are angled upwardly towards a base of the rotatable spear.
7 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 1 , wherein the torque device comprises a ratcheting mechanism having a plurality of spring-loaded teeth such that the plurality of teeth can be depressed towards an inner surface of the ratcheting mechanism.
8 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 7 , wherein the torque device further comprises an indexing mechanism having a mandrel with a pin and a slot, the slot including a first upper position, a first lower position, and a second lower position.
9 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 8 , wherein the motion of the pin between the first upper position, first lower position, and second upper position causes the indexing mechanism to rotate the ratcheting mechanism about its axis.
10 . The wireline recovery tool of claim 9 , wherein the indexing mechanism further includes at least one key which contacts the at least one of the plurality of teeth of the ratcheting mechanism, such that the at least one key prevents the ratcheting mechanism from counter-rotating about its axis.
11 . A method of retrieving a wireline mass from a well bore comprising:
identifying features of the wireline mass to be retrieved from the wellbore;
inserting a wireline recovery tool having a rotatable spear positioned within a stationary outer sheath into the wellbore;
compressing the wireline mass into a nest;
engaging the wireline mass with the rotatable spear of the wireline recovery tool; and
rotating the rotatable spear of the wireline recovery tool via a torque device included for rotating the rotatable spear, such that the wireline mass becomes entangled around the rotatable spear and within the stationary outer sheath, wherein:
the stationary outer sheath has an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer sheath further having a plurality of angled prongs extending from the inner surface;
the rotatable spear has a base and a barbed tip,
the rotatable spear has a plurality of angled portions and a plurality of vertical portions such that the rotatable spear has an asymmetrical profile,
the rotatable spear comprises a plurality of barbs angled upwardly towards the base of the rotatable spear, angled downwardly towards the barbed tip, or at least some angled upwardly towards the base of the rotatable spear and some others angled downwardly towards the barbed tip, and
the plurality of barbs are positioned on the angled portions and the vertical portions of the asymmetrical profile.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of angled portions and the plurality of vertical portions lie in a single plane.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireline recovery tool further comprises a ratcheting mechanism for rotating the rotatable spear.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein rotating the rotatable spear further involves repeatedly picking up the wireline mass to engage the torque device of the wireline recovery tool and setting down the wireline mass to rotate the rotatable spear.