With Releasing Means Patents (Class 294/86.17)
  • Patent number: 11772219
    Abstract: A load lifting device for lifting a load. The load lifting device includes a primary plate, a lifting attachment that receives a hook of an overhead suspender, and a clamping system that can clamp a load onto the lifting device between two jaws. The clamping system can have a coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment. The coarse adjustment selectively connects a jaw to the primary plate at a plurality of discrete connection points, and the fine adjustment mechanism selectively moves a contact point of the first jaw toward a first end portion of the load. A method for lifting a load includes positioning the load lifting device horizontally above a load, clamping the load with a clamping system, and imparting a vertical force on an end portion of the load lifting device to rotate it from horizontal to vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Akeratos, LLC
    Inventors: Merritt Stuever, Ujjeev Joel Koripalli
  • Patent number: 11486213
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing a wellbore of a subterranean well downhole of abandoned subterranean wellbore equipment include a re-entry guide secured to an uphole end of an overshot. The re-entry guide and overshot together form a re-entry tool. The overshot has an inner diameter gripping assembly sized to grip a tubing stub. The re-entry guide has an outer diameter sized to match a drift inner diameter of a casing of the subterranean well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Benton Kelly, III, Ahmed Al-Ramadhan, Ahmed Al-Mousa
  • Patent number: 11473386
    Abstract: A pressurizable assembly which comprises first and second assemblies. The first assembly has a plurality of cam grooves while the second assembly is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the first assembly. The second assembly has a connection member a plurality of radially mounted locking pin mechanisms for interacting with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves. Axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causes the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along the cam grooves to an intermediate locking position which locks the second assembly with the first assembly, while a subsequent axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causes the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along the plurality of cam grooves and disengage the second assembly from the first assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Crown Oil Tools LLC
    Inventor: Ross Pliska
  • Patent number: 11332985
    Abstract: A secondary latch mechanism (also referred to as a lockout mechanism) for a gripping tool, such as a casing running tool (CRT), prevents activation of the CRT prior to full insertion of a tubular workpiece into the CRT. When embodied in a CRT, the lockout mechanism prevents activation of the CRT unless a fully-inserted tubular workpiece applies a selected axial load to a bumper mounted on the CRT. The lockout mechanism is operable between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state, the lockout mechanism prevents relative axial movement between the CRT cage and mandrel, and keeps the CRT slips retracted away from the workpiece. When in the unlocked state, there is no significant restriction to the normal movement of the CRT components, and the CRT functions as if the lockout mechanism were not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Maurice W. Slack
  • Patent number: 10030457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole-tool stop device (1) and a method of using the same, the stop device (1) comprising a first collar (4) attached to an elongated body (9), characterized by the stop device (1) including a second collar (6) attached to the elongated body (9), and the second collar (6) being displaceably attached to the elongated body (9), and the first collar (4) and the second collar (6) being placed a distance (A1) apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ARDYNE AS
    Inventors: Edwin Cornelis Gerardus Rooyakkers, Steffen Hansen, Steffen Evertsen
  • Patent number: 9637992
    Abstract: A downhole retrieval tool for engaging and retrieving an object from a wellbore includes a mandrel and a grapple having a contracted position and an expanded position. In the expanded position, the grapple engages the object for retrieval. The grapple is operably associated with an expansion member disposed on the mandrel to facilitate movement of the grapple between the contracted and expanded positions. The expansion member is releasably connected to the mandrel. In the event that the downhole tool and object, once secured to each other, are unable to be retrieved from the wellbore, the expansion member can be released from the mandrel which, in turn, causes the grapple to release from the object so that the downhole tool can be removed from the wellbore. A stored energy member facilitates movement of the grapple from the contracted position to the expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Reena Thomas, Steven G. Blair
  • Patent number: 9551197
    Abstract: A setting tool for use inside a well bore casing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wrap spring. The upper portion includes a mandrel coupled to a connecting line. The upper portion is configured to receive an input. The lower portion includes a first sleeve configured translate along an axis of the setting tool. The lower portion is selectively coupled to the upper portion. The wrap spring has a torsional preload and is coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion. The wrap spring is configured to selectively release the lower portion and upon reception of the input, such that the first sleeve is permitted to translate along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventors: Donald R. Greenlee, Donald Jonathan Greenlee
  • Patent number: 9416635
    Abstract: A spearing device for removing casing from wellbore includes a top sub, a bottom sub, and a mandrel coupled to the top and bottom subs. The device includes a grapple having a corrugated inner surface corresponding to a corrugated portion of the mandrel and an outer surface including wickers for engaging an interior surface of the casing. A piston is disposed within the mandrel and operatively coupled to the grapple. A spring operates with the piston and biases the grapple toward a collapsed position. The grapple axially and rotationally moves along the corrugated outer surface of the mandrel. The grapple expands and collapses in response to axial movement relative to the mandrel. The piston compresses the spring and axially moves and expands the grapple in response to increases in hydraulic pressure. In response to subsequent decreases in hydraulic pressure, the spring decompresses and axially moves and collapses the grapple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Patent number: 9200495
    Abstract: A grapple for use in an overshot has a tension ring with a reduced helix diameter but the helix diameter is not reduced on either sides of the control finger slot. One embodiment includes expansion blades on the inner diameter (“ID”) of the tension ring to allow the grapple to expand substantially before the fish reaches the segments. An embodiment provides for a control with an offset finger to allow the guide thread ID to be smaller than the bowl helix major ID. Also provided is grapple control for a spiral grapple that has at least one gap to allow the grapple control to be more compliant during fishing operations. The control may include one or more bridges of reduced thickness. Alternate embodiments include gaps and support bands with or without bridges and/or a backup ring to help eliminate misalignment of the grapple control with the support shoulder of the overshot guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: James R. Streater, Jr., Daniel Hernandez, Filiberto Garcia
  • Patent number: 9085945
    Abstract: A casing puller includes a body and at least one arm. The body has first and second ends, at least one end connectable to a drill pipe. The body defines a longitudinal axis and sized for insertion into a casing pipe. The at least one arm is disposed on the body and moves between a stowed position and a deployed position. The at least one arm extends away from the longitudinal axis when in its deployed position and is arranged to engage an arm receiver defined by the casing pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Southeast Directional Drilling, LLC
    Inventor: John M. Heieie
  • Patent number: 8783745
    Abstract: A fail safe locking overshot device. The overshot device is connected to a hoisting line for retrieval of a spearhead. The device provides automatic engagement of a mechanical locking system through locking dogs for locking the lifting dogs after capture of a spearhead. Manual disengagement is required to unlock the lifting dogs and release the spearhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Canada Inc
    Inventors: Patrick Salvador, Paul Lambert
  • Publication number: 20130118760
    Abstract: A weight-based tubular interlock apparatus adapted to determine whether a tubular is engagingly gripped by a rig-based hoisting device or a secondary gripping device is described. The apparatus includes at least two gripping mechanisms and an interlock system operatively connected that is adapted to measure a tubular load on at least one of the gripping mechanisms and to compare the tubular load to a predetermined load to deter nine whether the at least one gripping mechanism is gripping the tubular. The gripping mechanism is adapted to release the tubular only when the tubular load meets the predetermined load, upon which a release force sufficient to release the tubular from the gripping mechanism is applied to the tubular relative to the gripping mechanism. Methods of using the interlock apparatus are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Beat Küttel, John B. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8091935
    Abstract: A tubing connection release system. The system includes, a male connector having a profile at one end thereof and receptive to a tubular at the other end thereof, a female connector receptive to a tubular at one end thereof and receptive to the male connector at the other end thereof. The system further includes, a sleeve disposed radially inwardly of the female connector, and a collet having at least one deflectable collet finger disposed radially inwardly of the sleeve. The collet is biased to a position within the female connector whereat the at least one collet finger is supported against radially outward deflection. The collet is further movable by the push-in connector against the bias to a position where the at least one collet finger is radially outwardly unsupported such that the profiled end of the male connector is movable into engagement with the at least one collet finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter Barnes Moyes
  • Publication number: 20090146442
    Abstract: A fishing tool for fishing sucker rods from a subterranean well. The tool is a top piece, a barrel piece and bottom piece that all thread together. One or more extender sections are added by unthreading the top piece from the barrel piece and threading the extender sections therebetween to effectively lengthen the barrel piece and increase its functionality. The bottom piece retains a curved cast metal slip movable within grooves milled internally into the body. A lower end of a side opening provided in the barrel piece is level with an upper shoulder of the slip when the slip is at its lowest position. Optionally, the bottom piece can be replaced with a bell, lip guide, mill shoe, or other types of tools and the top piece can be replaced by a prior art fishing tool or other tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Bruce D. Kelso
  • Publication number: 20080252088
    Abstract: A fishing tool for fishing sucker rods from a subterranean well. A body of the tool is a machined top piece, a machined barrel piece and normally a machined bottom piece that all thread together. The bottom piece preferably retains a curved cast metal slip movable within grooves milled internally into the body. The slip moves upward to admit a rod into the tool and moves downward to capturing the rod in the tool. A lower end of a side opening provided in the barrel piece is level with an upper shoulder of the slip when the slip is at its lowest position so that the rod engages and is retained by both in the tool. The upper shoulder of the slip can optionally be provided with teeth. The bottom piece can be replaced with a bell and the top piece 16 can be replaced by a prior art fishing tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Bruce D. Kelso
  • Patent number: 7427091
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved spear head overshot. The spear head overshot is particularly useful as part of a cable-guided fishing assembly. The spear head overshot essentially comprises one or more pivot lugs, the pivot lugs comprising jaw sections and release point sections, an actuator slide, a wave spring, a pivot mandrel, a screw attached to the pivot mandrel, and a compression spring threaded over the screw. In operation, a spear head is inserted into the spear head overshot until the spear head passes the jaw sections of the pivot lugs, at which time the spear head is locked into place. To release the spear head, the release point sections of the pivot lugs are manually forced inward. Simultaneously, the jaw sections of the pivot lugs are forced outward, thereby allowing the spear head to be removed from the spear head overshot. In a cable-guided fishing operation, this process can be repeated as often as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: National-Oilwell, DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: James R. Streater, Jr., Gregg A. Bosley, David P. Ross, C. Steven Isaacks
  • Patent number: 7083209
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hydraulic overshot tool. The overshot tool mechanically engages a cylindrical body downhole attempting to be retrieved. In the event retrieval is unsuccessful, the overshot tool may be hydraulically released from the cylindrical body. The release function employs a pressure differential within the overshot tool, but without necessity of a nozzle within the bore of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Leman, Adrian Vuyk, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040256871
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hydraulic overshot tool. The overshot tool mechanically engages a cylindrical body downhole attempting to be retrieved. In the event retrieval is unsuccessful, the overshot tool may be hydraulically released from the cylindrical body. The release function employs a pressure differential within the overshot tool, but without necessity of a nozzle within the bore of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Leman, Adrian Vuyk
  • Patent number: 6425615
    Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of an overshot tool for use in recovering a fish within a well bore, wherein a radially expandable and contractible grapple having helical tapered outer surfaces is seated upon a bowl within an intermediate portion of a tubular body on which the tool is lowered over the upper end of the fish, thus enabling the grapple to be lowered about the upper end of the fish and the teeth about its inner diameter to bite into the fish. A control assembly packer having a metal body mounted beneath the grapple has tangs for extending into slots in the body and grapple to limit the rotation between them, and the packer assembly carries a seal ring for sealably engaging the fish, which is held in place by means of a retainer ring threaded to the metal body of the assembly supported within the bore of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Logan Oil Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: George W. Mullane, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6244642
    Abstract: A retrievable bridge plug having an internal bypass passage and external retrieving lugs, and a retrieving tool therefor. When the bypass passage is sealed, both the top and bottom openings of the bypass passage are closed, preventing debris from entering the bypass passage through either opening. A directing shroud is provided adjacent the top opening of the bypass passage, such that when the bypass passage is opened, part of any fluid flowing uphole through the bypass passage is directed over the retrieving lugs, clearing them of any debris and facilitating latching by the retrieving tool. The shroud also prevents debris from packing around the top opening of the bypass passage. A retrieving tool is also provided, which retrieving tool, through cooperation of a sleeve having a “J” shaped slot, and an inner latch sleeve having a straight slot, locks the retrieving tool onto the retrieving lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Polar Completions Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Vitold Serafin, Barry Tate, Piro Shkurti
  • Patent number: 6230797
    Abstract: A retrieval tool provides enhanced functionality for retrieving an item of equipment from within a tubular string in a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a retrieval tool includes an anchoring device. The anchoring device releasably secures the retrieval tool in the tubular string relative to the item of equipment to be retrieved. An actuator of the retrieval tool may then displace a latching mechanism relative to the anchoring device, thereby displacing the item of equipment relative to the tubular string. The latching device may latchingly engage the item of equipment in response to displacement of the latching mechanism by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo G. Collins