IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,591,872
Granted Patent B2
US 11,591,872 · App. 17/157,750 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Setting tool for downhole applications

Inventors: Michael C. Robertson (Arlington, TX); Douglas J. Streibich (Fort Worth, TX); Antony F. Grattan (Mansfield, TX); Roy L. Sparkman (Haltom City, TX); Mark Lancaster (Alvarado, TX)
Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC
E21B23/06C06B33/02C06D5/06E21B23/065
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,591,872
App. No.
17/157,750
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A setting tool having a tool body, a chamber configured to contain a non-explosive fuel configured to generate gas and plasma, a cavity, a bleed sub located between the chamber and the cavity. The bleed sub is configured to bleed pressure from the chamber to the cavity after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated. The setting tool also includes a piston disposed within the cavity oriented to stroke in a first direction after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated. The piston may divide the cavity into an upper volume that may receive the pressure increase from the bleed sub and a lower volume. The setting tool may also include a shaft mechanically connected to the piston within the lower volume of the cavity. The shaft may include a dampening conduit configured to drain a fluid from the lower volume after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated.

Claims (29)

1. A setting tool, comprising:

a tool body coupled to a well tool configured to be deployed downhole within a well;

a chamber within the tool body configured to contain a non-explosive fuel configured to be initiated to generate gas and plasma;

a cavity within the tool body;

a bleed sub located within the tool body between the chamber and the cavity, wherein the bleed sub is configured to bleed pressure from the chamber to the cavity after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated;

a piston disposed within the cavity and oriented to stroke in a first direction in response to a pressure increase in the cavity after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated, wherein the piston divides the cavity into an upper volume and a lower volume, and wherein the upper volume receives the pressure increase from the bleed sub; and

a shaft mechanically connected to the piston within the lower volume of the cavity and configured to stroke with the piston, wherein the shaft comprises a dampening conduit configured to decelerate the stroke of the piston by draining a fluid from the lower volume after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated.

2. The well tool of claim 1 , wherein the dampening conduit is configured to drain the fluid to a location that is external to the tool body.

3. The well tool of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises oil, an oil derivative, or a synthetic lubricant.

4. The well tool of claim 3 , wherein the fluid is at least one of non-flammable, not-toxic, and non-corrosive.

5. The well tool of claim 3 , wherein the fluid reduces a rate of travel of the piston during the stroke to be within. a range of 0.25 inches per second to 10 inches per second.

6. The well tool of claim 1 , wherein the dampening conduit comprises an inlet hole and an outlet hole, wherein the inlet hole and the outlet hole are adjustable to change flow of the fluid through the dampening conduit.

7. The well tool of claim 1 , wherein the dampening conduit comprises an inlet hole in the shaft that is between 1 cm and 3 cm from the piston.

8. The well tool of claim 1 , further comprising a snubber within the tool body configured to decelerate the piston and the shaft as the piston completes the stroke in the first direction.

9. The well tool of claim 1 , wherein the dampening conduit is shaped to slow the flow of the fluid, and to slow the stroke of the piston in the first direction.

10. The well tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool body comprises a first inside diameter, and wherein one or more 0 -rings disposed upon the piston form a gas-tight seal between the piston and the first inside diameter.

11. The well tool of claim 10 , further comprising a second inside diameter longitudinally disposed with respect to the first inside diameter, wherein the second inside diameter is greater than the first inside diameter.

12. The well tool of claim 11 , wherein the piston strokes in the first direction from the first inside diameter to the second inside diameter, and wherein the one or more o-rings do not form a gas-tight seal between the piston and the second inside diameter.

13. A method of setting a setting tool, comprising:

activating a power source to generate a source of expanding gases within a first cavity;

expanding the expanding gases through a bleed sub to a second cavity;

stroking a piston through the second cavity with the expanding gases; and

decelerating the piston before the piston completes a stroke length, wherein decelerating the piston comprises forcing fluid through a dampening conduit within a shaft of the setting tool, wherein the shaft is attached to, and strokes with, the piston.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising bleeding the expanding gases to an external area of the setting tool.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein bleeding the expanding gases comprises releasing a gas-tight seal between the piston and an inner diameter of the setting tool.

16. The method of claim 13 , comprising setting a downhole tool, wherein the downhole tool comprises a packer, a bridge plug, a fracturing plug, or any combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 13 , comprising - filtering the expanding gases through a filtering plug, wherein the filtering plug is configured to filter solid particulates that are produced by the power source.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein stroking the piston comprises pushing a crosslink key with a shaft.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein decelerating the piston further comprises deforming a snubber.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: MCR OIL TOOLS, LLC
To: ROBERTSON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 055073/0065 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2021
From: ROBERTSON, MICHAEL C.; STREIBICH, DOUGLAS J.; GRATTAN, ANTONY F.; SPARKMAN, ROY; LANCASTER, MARK
To: MCR OIL TOOLS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055057/0045 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 16371981 · Apr 1, 2019
Continuation 14930369 · Nov 2, 2015
Continuation In Part 13507732 · Jul 24, 2012
Provisional Application 62073704 · Oct 31, 2014
Related Publication 20210164308A1 · Jun 3, 2021