IP Library Granted Patent US 12,454,889
Granted Patent B2
US 12,454,889 · App. 18/504,294 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Hybrid bailer

Inventors: Abdullah T. Alsulaim (Dammam, SA); Fahad M. Al-Ajmi (Dhahran, SA); Saad Hamid (Abqaiq, SA)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
E21B49/02E21B27/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,454,889
App. No.
18/504,294
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for deployment in a conduit of a tubular having an obstruction includes a fish neck connected to a deployment device configured to deploy the fish neck into the conduit of the tubular. The apparatus also includes a sand bailer connected to the fish neck. The sand bailer has a diameter larger than a diameter of the fish neck and the sand bailer is configured to obtain a sample of the obstruction by creating a suction pressure within the sand bailer. The apparatus further includes an outer sleeve movable between a first position and a second position. The first position comprises the outer sleeve concentrically disposed around the sand bailer and the second position comprises the outer sleeve concentrically disposed around the fish neck after an interaction between the outer sleeve and the obstruction. The outer sleeve comprising a plurality of panels connected to one another by a plurality of stretchable elements.

Claims (45)

1 . An apparatus for deployment in a conduit of a tubular having an obstruction, the apparatus comprising:

a fish neck connected to a deployment device configured to deploy the fish neck into the conduit of the tubular;

a sand bailer connected to the fish neck, wherein the sand bailer has a diameter larger than a diameter of the fish neck and the sand bailer is configured to obtain a sample of the obstruction by creating a suction pressure within the sand bailer; and

an outer sleeve movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position comprises the outer sleeve concentrically disposed around the sand bailer and the second position comprises the outer sleeve concentrically disposed around the fish neck after an interaction between the outer sleeve and the obstruction, the outer sleeve comprising a plurality of panels connected to one another by a plurality of stretchable elements.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inner sleeve movable between a third position and a fourth position, wherein the third position comprises the inner sleeve concentrically disposed beneath the outer sleeve around the sand bailer and the fourth position comprises the inner sleeve concentrically disposed around the fish neck, the inner sleeve comprising a plurality of panels connected to one another by a plurality of stretchable elements.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer sleeve is movably connected to the inner sleeve via pins configured to shear due to a force of impact from the interaction between the outer sleeve and the obstruction.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the inner sleeve is movably connected to the sand bailer via pins configured to shear due to a force of impact from an interaction between the inner sleeve and the obstruction.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a sharp edge on a downhole end of the outer sleeve.

6 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises a sharp edge on a downhole end of the outer sleeve.

7 . A method for detecting an obstruction in a conduit of a tubular, comprising:

running a deployment device connected to a fish neck and a sand bailer into the conduit of the tubular, wherein the sand bailer has a diameter larger than a diameter of the fish neck;

positioning an outer sleeve, comprising a plurality of stretchable elements connecting a plurality of panels to one another, in a first position, wherein the first position comprises the outer sleeve disposed concentrically around the sand bailer;

detecting the obstruction by shifting the outer sleeve from the first position to a second position due to an interaction between the obstruction and the outer sleeve, wherein the second position comprises the outer sleeve concentrically disposed around the fish neck; and

obtaining a sample of the obstruction by creating a suction pressure within the sand bailer.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a size of the obstruction based on the outer sleeve shifting from the first position to the second position.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

positioning an inner sleeve, comprising a plurality of stretchable elements connecting a plurality of panels to one another, in a third position, wherein the third position comprises the inner sleeve disposed concentrically around the sand bailer between the outer sleeve and the sand bailer.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the obstruction further comprises shifting the inner sleeve from the third position to a fourth position due to an interaction between the obstruction and the inner sleeve, wherein the fourth position comprises the inner sleeve concentrically disposed around the fish neck.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining a size of the obstruction based on the inner sleeve shifting from the third position to the fourth position.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining a size of the obstruction based on the outer sleeve shifting from the first position to the second position and the inner sleeve being retained in the third position.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining a size of the obstruction based on the outer sleeve shifting from the first position to the second position further comprises shearing pins that movably connect the outer sleeve to the inner sleeve, using a force of impact created by the interaction between the outer sleeve and the obstruction.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein shifting of the inner sleeve from the third position to the fourth position further comprises shearing pins that movably connected the inner sleeve to the sand bailer, using a force of impact created by the interaction between the inner sleeve and the obstruction.

15 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

removing the obstruction from an inner wall of the tubular using a sharp edge of the outer sleeve.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

removing the obstruction from an inner wall of the tubular using a sharp edge of the inner sleeve.

17 . A system for detecting an obstruction in a conduit of a tubular comprising:

a deployment device connected to a fish neck and a sand bailer, wherein the sand bailer has a diameter larger than a diameter of the fish neck and the sand bailer is configured to obtain a sample of the obstruction by creating a suction pressure within the sand bailer; and

a first cylindrical sleeve stretchable to be disposed concentrically around the sand bailer, wherein the first cylindrical sleeve is configured to:

disconnect from a first underlay due to a force of impact created by an interaction with the obstruction; and

contract and shift around the fish neck, wherein the system detects the obstruction by a contraction of the first cylindrical sleeve.

18 . The system of claim 17 ,

wherein the first underlay further comprises the sand bailer and the system allows the deployment device to move past the obstruction after the contraction of the first cylindrical sleeve.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a second cylindrical sleeve stretchable to be disposed concentrically around the sand bailer, beneath the first cylindrical sleeve, wherein the first underlay further comprises the second cylindrical sleeve and the second cylindrical sleeve is configured to:

disconnect from a second underlay due to the force of impact created by the interaction with the obstruction; and

contract and shift around the fish neck, wherein the system detects the obstruction by a contraction of the first cylindrical sleeve and the second cylindrical sleeve.

20 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a second to an n-th cylindrical sleeves stretchable to be disposed concentrically around the sand bailer, beneath the first cylindrical sleeve, wherein n is an integer greater than 2, wherein the second to the n-th cylindrical sleeves are configured to:

disconnect from an underlay due to a force of impact created by the interaction with the obstruction; and

contract and shift around the fish neck.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2024
From: ALSULAIM, ABDULLAH T.; AL-AJMI, FAHAD M.; HAMID, SAAD
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067107/0363 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250146410A1 · May 8, 2025
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