Well tool anchor and associated methods
An anchor for securing a well tool can include a longitudinally extending central axis, an outwardly extendable grip member, and a mechanical linkage including multiple pivotably connected links. The links pivot relative to each other in a plane laterally offset from the central axis. A method of anchoring a well tool can include flowing a fluid through an anchor connected to the well tool, thereby outwardly extending a grip member into contact with a well surface, and applying a tensile force to the anchor, thereby increasingly biasing the grip member against the well surface and securing the well tool relative to the well surface. A method of anchoring a tubing cutter in a tubular string can include applying a tensile force from an anchor to the tubular string, and cutting the tubular string while the tensile force is applied from the anchor to the tubular string.
1. A method of anchoring a tubing cutter in a tubular string in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
connecting an anchor to the tubing cutter, in which the anchor comprises at least one grip member which is displaced radially inward and outward by a respective mechanical linkage, and in which links of each respective mechanical linkage pivot in a plane that is laterally offset relative to a central longitudinal axis of the anchor;
deploying the anchor and the tubing cutter into the tubular string;
applying a tensile force from the anchor to the tubular string; and
cutting the tubular string while the tensile force is applied from the anchor to the tubular string.
2. The method of claim 1 , in which the tensile force applying comprises increasingly biasing the at least one grip member against an interior surface of the tubular string.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising flowing a fluid through the anchor, thereby outwardly extending the at least one grip member from the anchor into contact with the tubular string.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising inwardly retracting the grip member in response to a decrease in flow of the fluid through the anchor.
5. The method of claim 3 , in which the fluid flowing further comprises creating a pressure differential across a piston of the anchor.
6. The method of claim 5 , in which the piston is connected to each respective mechanical linkage, and in which the grip member outwardly extending further comprises each mechanical linkage outwardly extending a respective grip member in response to the pressure differential creating.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising inwardly retracting the at least one grip member in response to increasing the tensile force to a predetermined level.
8. The method of claim 3 , in which the at least one grip member comprises multiple grip members, and in which the outwardly extending further comprises the multiple grip members contacting the tubular string at a same longitudinal location along the tubular string.