Downhole tool anchoring device
A downhole tool includes a tool body and a first anchoring device integrated with the tool body. The first anchoring device includes at least two linear actuators within and non-perpendicular to the tool body, each of the at least two linear actuators configured to move a corresponding contact pad between a retracted position and an anchor position. The first anchoring device also includes at least one guide component coupled to each contact pad to restrict movement of a corresponding contact pad to a predetermined path.
1. A downhole tool that comprises:
a tool body; and
a first anchoring device integrated with the tool body, wherein the first anchoring device comprises:
at least two linear actuators fully within and non-perpendicular to the tool body, each of the at least two linear actuators configured to move a corresponding contact pad between a retracted position and an anchor position, and each of the two linear actuators includes a moving component that is movable within each of the two linear actuators and the moving component is connected to a shaft at a first end of the shaft and the shaft is connected to the contact pad at the second end of the shaft; and
at least one guide component coupled to each contact pad to restrict movement of a corresponding contact pad to a predetermined path.
2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein each shaft is rotatably-coupled at opposite ends to a corresponding linear actuator and contact pad.
3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide component comprises at least two bow springs.
4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide component is configured to assist with retraction of a contact pad from its anchor position even if the downhole tool loses power.
5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least two linear actuators comprise two linear actuators having opposite orientations that are non-perpendicular to the tool body.
6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein each predetermined path corresponds to a path that is approximately perpendicular to the tool body.
7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first anchoring device fits within an outer profile of the tool body when the contact pads are in their retracted position.
8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic piston.
9. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a well intervention component that is activated after the first anchoring device anchors the tool against a borehole wall or tubular.
10. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional anchoring device to anchor the tool at different longitudinal and azimuthal positions against a borehole wall or tubular.
11. A method that comprises:
receiving, by a tool deployed in a downhole environment, an anchor instruction;
in response to receiving the anchor instruction, operating at least two linear actuators fully within and non-perpendicular to a tool body of the tool to move corresponding contact pads from a retracted position to an anchor position; and
performing an operation while the tool is anchored.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising restricting movement of each contact pad to a predetermined path.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said restricting movement of each contact pad is performed by at least two bow springs.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein each predetermined path corresponds to a path that is approximately perpendicular to the tool body.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rotatably-coupling a shaft at opposite ends to a corresponding linear actuator and contact pad.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising arranging the at least two linear actuators as two linear actuators having opposite orientations that are non-perpendicular to the tool body.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising deploying the tool in the downhole environment using a wireline or coiled tubing.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein performing an operation while the tool is anchored comprises performing a well intervention operation.