IP Library Granted Patent US 8,251,154
Granted Patent B2
US 8,251,154 · App. 12/535,364 · Granted Aug 28, 2012

Tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,251,154
App. No.
12/535,364
Granted
Aug 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves includes, a tubular, a plurality of sleeves disposed at the tubular, and a plurality of engagable members being movable through the tubular with each of the plurality of engagable members being configurable to selectively engage with at least one of the plurality of sleeves and such engagement at least temporarily preventing passage of an engaged engagable member by an engaged sleeve.

Claims (31)

1. A tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves, comprising:

a tubular;

a plurality of sleeves disposed at the tubular; and

a plurality of engagable members being movable through the tubular with each of the plurality of engagable members being configurable to selectively engage with at least one of the plurality of sleeves and such engagement at least temporarily preventing passage of an engaged engagable member by an engaged sleeve and one of the plurality of sleeves and the plurality of engagable members have a plurality of slots receptive to a plurality of pins protruding from a surface of the other of the plurality of sleeves and the plurality of engagable members.

2. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engagable members are configured to selectively pass some of the plurality of sleeves.

3. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots and the plurality of pins are configured to cause relative rotation of one of the plurality of engagable members selectively passable through one of the plurality of sleeves to rotate as a selectively passable engagable member travels longitudinally through the one of the plurality of sleeves.

4. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 3 , wherein a longitudinal offset of the plurality of pins is matched by a longitudinal offset of the plurality of slots.

5. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is defeatable to allow passage of one of the plurality of engagable members engaged with one of the plurality of sleeves to pass upon defeat of the one of the plurality of pins.

6. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 5 , wherein the one of the plurality of pins is a shear pin.

7. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are configured to prevent one of the plurality of engagable members selectively engaged with one of the plurality of sleeves from passing therethrough.

8. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 7 , wherein a longitudinal offset of the plurality of pins differs from a longitudinal offset of the plurality of slots.

9. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engagable members are sealable to the plurality of sleeves with which they are selectively engagable.

10. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sleeves are longitudinally fixed to the tubular by a releasable member.

11. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein forces are generated by pressure applied against one of a selectively engagable member and an engaged sleeve.

12. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engagable members are plugs.

13. A tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves, comprising:

a tubular;

a plurality of sleeves disposed at the tubular; and

a plurality of engagable members being movable through the tubular with each of the plurality of engagable members being configurable to selectively engage with at least one of the plurality of sleeves and such engagement at least temporarily preventing passage of an engaged engagable member by an engaged sleeve and the plurality of engagable members are rotationally oriented relative to the plurality of sleeves and selective engagement includes an engaging detail on one of the plurality of engagable members and the plurality of sleeves interferingly engagable with a stop on the other of the plurality of engagable members and the plurality of sleeves to prevent passage of the engaging detail beyond the stop.

14. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 13 , wherein the engaging detail is a key.

15. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 13 , wherein the engaging detail is biased dog and the stop is a recess.

16. The tubular system with selectively engagable sleeves of claim 13 , wherein the engaging detail is a deformable member and the stop is a recess.

17. A method of selectively engaging sleeves within a tubular, comprising:

moving an engagable member within a tubular;

contacting one of a plurality of sleeves disposed at the tubular with the engagable member;

rotationally orienting the engagable member relative to the one of a plurality of sleeves; and

selectively engaging a stop on one of the engagable member and the one of the plurality of sleeves with an engaging detail on the other of the engagable member and the one of the plurality of sleeves.

18. The method of selectively engaging sleeves within a tubular of claim 17 , wherein the moving the engagable member includes at least one of dropping and pumping.

19. The method of selectively engaging sleeves within a tubular of claim 17 , further comprising selectively passing one of the plurality of sleeves disposed at the tubular with the engagable member.

20. The method of selectively engaging sleeves within a tubular of claim 17 , further comprising defeating a releasable member that selectively engages the one of a plurality of engagable members with the one of the plurality of sleeves.

21. The method of selectively engaging sleeves within a tubular of claim 17 , wherein the selectively engaging includes differing a longitudinal offset between pins on one of the engagable member and the one of the plurality of sleeves with respect to slots on the other of the engagable member and the one of the plurality of sleeves.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2022
From: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED; BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 060073/0589 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2010
From: DUPHORNE, DARIN H.
To: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 024063/0753 →