US3545489A - Tool diverter for directing tfl tools - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Walter Brown Long Beach:

Peter Hood, Canoga Park, Calif. 741,958

July 2, 1968 Dec. 8, 1970 North American Rockwell Corporation Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee TOOL DIVERTER FOR DIRECTING TFL TOOLS 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

166/70 1111.01 Fl6k 11/00 1 Field ofSearch 137/610,

609, 61 1, 625.46, 243243. 1; l66/(lnquired), .6,

70; l5/l04.06(A);

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,047,020 7/1962 Barrett, Jr. l 37/6 1 OX 3,199,537 8/l965 Swanson l37/6l0X 3,419,071 l2/l968 Williams, .11. ct al. 166/.6

Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorneys-William R. Lane and L. Lee Humphries ABSTRACT: Apparatus for operation in a system using TFL (through the flow line) tools, wherein it is desirable to direct the tool into one of a plurality of paths. To divert the tool, a rotatable member is provided which is capable of alining an inflow tube with one of a plurality of outflow tubes depending upon its rotated position. The flow of TF1. fluid or gas is controlled by external valving which prevents any interconnection between the systems of each of the paths thus allowing the use of a simpler, less expensive diverter design.

PATENIEUUEB 8|97B 1 sum 1 mg INVENTORS BROWN WALTER BY PETER HOOD k m M ATTORNEY PATENTEUUEC 8 I970 3545489 SHEET 2 BF 2 WELL t -Q c M:| En COMPLETION L J B PRESSURE V '9 VESSEL sueu. P v x r c b r m m '5 O .J O I 9' I lll4 0 FROM TFL PUMP 4 *5 I f (EL TO RESERVOIR WALTER BROWN BY PETER HOO'D FIG 3 ATTORNEY BACKGROUND on THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention j i The present invention relates to a system including a tool diverter for guiding a TFL tool into one of a plurality of tubing outlets associated with a plurality of wells or well completions, and more particularly to a remotely actuable tool diverter capable of utilization in an automated system for servicing a plurality of wells or wellcompletions. j '2. Description of Prior Art In recent years the drilling of offshore wells have gained increasing prominence consonant with the desire to maintain and expand the country's gas and oil, reserves. In order to effect maintenance and other operations on such wells wherein the wellhead assembly may be positioned on a considerable distance below the su rface ofithe watenvarious methodshave been developed. One of these methods utilizes so-called through the flow line (TFL) tools for performing a variety of functions such as scraping paraffin, setting plugs, etc. When combined with pistons, these TFL tools are pumped down.

into a well through the production line by pressurizing the production line above the tool. Later the tool is pump up again by pressurizing the lower end of production line through a service line (sometimes called the TFL fluid line). Because these tools consist of a chain of parts, the conducting tubes and path directing diverters have, to provide a straight through or a slightly curved passage which avoids abrupt changes of direction. The TH. system thus described is k nown and fonns no'part of the instant invention. y

The purpose of a tool diverter is to channel 'IFL tools which are pumped fromone station (above the water or in a underwater pressure vessel) to one of twoor more tubing lines I leading to two or more different wells or to different oil sands in one well.

Prior diverter designs have required either the services of a diver to descend to the diverter position and set it to the required setting or else theyhave required a special setting tool to be pumped down from the surface and returned. Such methods are not suitable where it is desired to effect periodic, automatic servicing of a plurality of wells or well completions. Further prior systems have, required pressure tight joints between the moving and the fixed part of the diverter to con ,tain the pressure inside theselected track only. This requirement, of course, increases the 'complexity and cost factors considerably. V I t j e SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a simple, low cost, automatic TFL tool diverter is disclosed. A main diverter body with an inflow pipe connection is secured to a cover which contains a plurality of outflow pipes. The main diverter body contains a tapered bore with a cylindrical bore extending toward the inflow pipe. A plug-type deflector body, secured to a shaft, contains a groove running in extension of the portion of the deflector body. The shaft is rotated by either an electric or hydraulic motor or hydraulic cylinder acting via gears or gear and rack on shaft or other suitable mechanical means, thus rotating the deflectorbody and varying the path through the tool diverter. The actuation is susceptible of being controlled remotely and automatically, thus providing the capability of inclusion in a predetermined periodic maintenance system. Further, the diverter is utilized in a system wherein valves are placed in each line leading to the diverter. The flow of TFL fluid or gas is controlled by the valves which provides effective isolation between the systems of each of the wells or well completions thus eliminating the necessity for pressure tight joints between the moving and fixed parts of the diverter.

The elimination of the requirement for pressure tight joints between the moving. and fixed parts allows for considerable simplification in diverter design and construction each of the well completions.

OBJECTS TFL tool diverter. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system for remotely directing TFL tools, pumped from the surface or from an underwater pressure vessel to one of two or more production lines coming from one of. two or more formations of a multicompletion well or one of two or more wells.

It is still afurther object of the present invention to provide a simple device which can be remotely actuated to guide a TFL tool into of two or more selected tubing outlets.

It is another of the present invention to provide a system including a tool diverter wherein the flow of TF L fluid or gas is completely controlled by valving external to the tool diverter thus preventing any interconnection between the systems of Still other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of several embodiments constructed in accordance therewith taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tool diverter constructed according to the principles of the present invention; f

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 24 of FIG. 1;

and

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a system incorporating the tool diverter of the instant invention and in which a single tool holder is utilized to direct a TF L tool into one of two well completions with fluid and gas flow controlled by. external valving. i

DESCRIPTION 0F, THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a tool diverter consecured to shaft -7, contains a conducting groove 8, running in the position shown, in extension of pipe 5, which continues through the cylindric portion of the deflector body as hole 14. Plug 3also contains a plurality of sharp edged grooves 20 which serve the purposeof scraping mud and foreign matter from the inner surface of main diverter body 1 when body 3 is rotated.

Body 3 can be rotated to line up with either outflow pipe 5 or 6. The inner space of body 1 and cover 2 is held pressure tight by packing 9 located between gland l0 and shaft 7. Thrust bearings 11 and 12 acting against deflector body 3 and collar 13 absorb axial forces. The cylindric portion 15 of I deflector body 3 and the shaft 7 are journaled in bores of he diverter body I and the cover.

Rotation of the body 3 may be effected by an electric or hydraulic motor or a hydraulic cylinder acting by gears or gears and rack on shaft 7 or other suitable mechanical means. The movement may be stopped by a cam on shaft 7 actuating on an electric switch or bya plunger valve and mechanical stops. Arrangements suitable for the above functions are disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 741,397, assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a system incorporating the tool diverter of FIG; land designed to allow a single TFL tool contained in TFL tool holder I5 to service two well completions A and B. As'illustrated, valves 12, I3 and 14 are placed each in one line leading to the diverter 11. This arrangement illustrates clearly that the flow of TF L fluid or gas will be controlled by the valves, which will prevent any intercomh on:

connection between the systems of each of thwellcompletions. The rqnc'uon of th l diverter is, in thiscase, to divert the tool coming from the toolihplder li to line 16m 11 leading to well 'dor'npletion 'A or B respectively flhe entire assem- 'ter 11, piping, and valving,

ons.

diverter of the instant invenn an need not bel manufacces frecruited of v prior. art or lbody 3({0'1' example, need mber of m in diverter. body 1, s e' j hh iqn. e wse t ons is controlled by exterfig ation'illustliaid particuis automated system where 'tion is it'l simple o is toi' be unders't d'that the yention is not to be at ve. embodiments but .only by P1 4%! #41 i tool diyerter'ifor. directing-TEL tools comprising in a casing yvith an vinflo I .9 5, a d ea ing ri min a. b

r a predetermined and s ystel comprisinga; tapered bore portion extending toward said ,outflow tube connections and a cylindric bore portion extending toward said inflow tube connection; ,a rotatable plug-shaped deflector body located within said it bore, said deflector body h'aving a conducting groove positioned to connect. said inflow pipe connection to a selected one of said plurality of outflow pipe connections depending vupon the rotated {position of said deflector i m a plurality of sharp edged grooveso'n the periphery of said plug-type deflector body, said'grooves oriented substan- I M tially parallel to the axis of rotation of said deflector body I so as to scrapeforeign matter from the inner surface'of said casing whensaid deflector body is rotated.

' 2;;The tooldiverter of claiml further. comprising means for .,-rotating said rotatable deflector body.

1 iThe tool diverter of claim 2-wher ein said rotating means compr ses:

, fa shaftconnected tosaid-deflector body; and

remotely controllable actuator means operatively con- ,v nected' tosaid shaft to rotatesaid shaft-and rotate'said deflector-body. 4. The tool diverter ofclaim 2 further comprising means operatively connected tosaid inflow and outflow-pipe connec- .jtion sfor controlling the flow of material through-said diverteri 5;;Thetool diverter of claim 1 wherein said material flow control-means comprises a plurality of valves at least one of i connections.

said-valvesineach linelead ing to said inflow and outflow pipe 6.:The tooldiverter' of claim lfurther characterized in-that said p lug-type deflector body loosely fits within said casing.

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