IP Library Granted Patent US 9,534,461
Granted Patent B2
US 9,534,461 · App. 14/207,266 · Granted Jan 3, 2017

Controller for downhole tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,534,461
App. No.
14/207,266
Granted
Jan 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller for operating a downhole tool includes a tubular body; a seat disposed in the body for receiving first and second pump-down plugs, at least a portion of one of the seat and the plugs being radially displaceable to pass through or allow passage of the other at a first threshold pressure differential; a catcher located below the seat for receiving the plugs after passing through the seat; a toggle linked to the seat to alternate between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to seating of the plugs; and a control mandrel for engaging a piston of the downhole tool and linked to the toggle: to be longitudinally movable between a first position and a second position when the toggle is unlocked, and to be prevented from movement from the first position to the second position when the toggle is locked.

Claims (39)

1. A controller for operating a downhole tool, comprising:

a tubular body;

a balance chamber;

a control chamber;

a seat disposed in the body for receiving first and second pump-down plugs, at least a portion of one of the seat and the plugs being radially displaceable to pass through or allow passage of the other of the seat and the plugs at a first threshold pressure differential;

a toggle linked to the seat to alternate between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to seating of the plugs comprising

a switch mandrel having a pair of seal shoulders and a bypass groove formed between the shoulders; and

a valve housing disposed between the chambers having a passage segment in fluid communication with each chamber,

a control mandrel having a piston shoulder disposed in the control chamber and used for engaging a piston of the downhole tool and the control mandrel linked to the toggle:

to be longitudinally movable between a first position and a second position when the toggle is unlocked, and

to be prevented from movement from the first position to the second position when the toggle is locked.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein:

one of the seal shoulders is disposed between the passage segments in the locked position, and

the bypass groove is disposed between the passage segments in the unlocked position.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein:

the switch mandrel has one of a cam profile and a follower and a keyed profile, and

the toggle further comprises an index sleeve having the other of the cam profile and a follower and a keyed profile matable or abuttable with the keyed profile of the switch mandrel.

4. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle comprises:

a switch mandrel having one of a cam profile and a follower, and

an index sleeve having the other of the cam profile and a follower and a keyed profile.

5. The controller of claim 1 ,

further comprising a return spring biasing the control mandrel toward the piston,

wherein the control mandrel is also linked to the seat to augment a force applied by the return spring with the first pressure differential.

6. The controller of claim 5 , wherein

the linkage between the control mandrel and the seat is hydraulic.

7. A bottom hole assembly, comprising:

the controller of claim 1 ; and

the downhole tool connected to the controller and comprising:

a second tubular body having a bore therethrough, a pocket formed through a wall thereof, and an extension profile and a retraction profile formed in a surface of the pocket;

an arm:

pivotally connected to the piston and torsionally connected to the second tubular body;

disposed in the pocket in a retracted position;

having an extension profile and a retraction profile;

movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the second tubular body; and

the piston:

disposed in the second body bore;

having a bore therethrough;

operable to extend the arm by longitudinally moving the arm in a first direction to disengage the retraction profiles and engage the extension profiles; and

operable to retract the arm by longitudinally moving the arm in a second direction to disengage the extension profiles and engage the retraction profiles.

Assignments (9)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034526/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2014
From: XU, WEI JAKE; ODELL, ALBERT C., II
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 032509/0076 →