DOWNHOLE ORBITAL TOOL

Abstract

This disclosure is related to a downhole tool having an inlet and an outlet. The downhole tool also incorporates a passageway disposed therein having an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has an axis that is offset from an axis of the upper portion of the downhole tool. The disclosure is also related to methods of causing vibrational forces in a wellbore using the downhole tool. Further, the disclosure is related to a method of widening a portion of the wellbore using the downhole tool.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a conversion of U.S. Provisional Application having U.S. Ser. No. 61/920,108, filed Dec. 23, 2013, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure is related to a downhole tool having an inlet and an outlet. The downhole tool also incorporates a passageway disposed therein having an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has an axis that is offset from an axis of the upper portion of the downhole tool.

The disclosure is also related to a method of causing vibrational forces in a wellbore using the downhole tool and a method of widening a portion of the wellbore using the downhole tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side-elevation view of a downhole tool constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a portion of the downhole tool constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of a portion of the downhole tool constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a portion of the downhole tool constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side-elevation view of a drill string, including a downhole tool constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a downhole tool 10 to facilitate plug drilling past damaged casing, to clean casing below tubing and/or to use as a vibrator or agitator to aid the progression of coiled tubing or a bottom hole assembly (BHA) 11 in the casing. Shown in FIG. 1, the downhole tool 10 includes an inlet 12, an upper portion 13, an outlet 14, a lower portion 15 and a passageway 16 disposed through the downhole tool 10. In one embodiment, the lower portion 15 and the upper portion 13 are offset by a predetermined amount and have a roughly similar diameter.

The passageway 16 includes an upper portion 18 and a lower portion 20 wherein the upper portion 18 and the lower portion 20 are in fluid communication. Shown in FIGS. 1-4, the lower portion 20 is offset from the upper portion 18. The upper portion 18 has an upper axis 22 that is, in substantial alignment with a central axis 24 shared by any other tools disposed in the BHA above the downhole tool 10. The lower portion 20 has a lower axis 26 that is offset from the upper axis 22 by a predetermined distance D. In one embodiment, the entire length of the upper portion 18 of the passageway 16 and the entire length of the lower portion 20 of the passageway 16 are offset by the predetermined distance D.

When the downhole tool 10 is rotated, the upper portion 18 of the passageway 16 rotates around the upper axis 22 (and central axis 24 of the BHA) and the lower portion 20 of the passageway 16 orbits around the central axis 24 of the BHA. The offset lower portion 20 of the passageway 16 allows for the diameter of the orbit of the lower portion 20 of the passageway (and lower portion of the tool 10) to be larger than the diameter of the tool 10 around the upper portion 18 of the passageway 16.

The distance D of the offset can be any distance desired for any set of operating parameters and conditions. For example, casings disposed in wellbores have wide ranging internal diameters. Thus, the offset of the downhole tool 10 described herein can be designed such that it is responsive to the internal diameter of the particular casing size used in a wellbore. More specifically, the downhole tool 10 can be designed such that the offset causes the diameter of the orbit of the lower portion 20 to be a predetermined amount less than the inner diameter of the casing.

In another embodiment, a method for advancing the BHA in a wellbore and/or boring out a portion of the wellbore is provided. The downhole tool 10 and the other components of the BHA are rotated in the wellbore. The offset of the upper and lower portions 18 and 20, respectively, vibrates the downhole tool 10 and the other components of the BHA as the downhole tool 10 is rotated in the wellbore. The offset of the upper and lower portions 18 and 20 cooperate to rotate and orbit the lower portion in a wider diameter than the upper portion 18. As shown in FIG. 5, a drill bit 28 can be disposed below the downhole tool 10 to further facilitate the widening or expansion of the diameter of a portion of the wellbore.

From the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure is well adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the disclosure. While embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A downhole tool, the tool comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet; and

a passageway disposed in the tool having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an axis that is offset from an axis of the upper portion.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the offset of the lower portion causes the lower portion to have an outer diameter while orbiting that is responsive to an inner diameter of a casing in which the downhole tool is used.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the outer diameter of the lower portion of the downhole tool is less than the inner diameter of the casing.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the entire length of the axis of the upper portion is offset from the entire length of the axis of the lower portion.

5. A method, the method comprising:

running a bottom hole assembly into a wellbore, the bottom hole assembly having a downhole tool disposed therein, the downhole tool comprising: an inlet; an outlet; and a passageway disposed in the tool having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an axis that is offset from an axis of the upper portion; and

rotating the downhole tool to cause vibrational forces to be transferred to the bottom hole assembly and advance the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the offset of the lower portion causes the lower portion to have an outer diameter while orbiting that is responsive to an inner diameter of a casing in which the downhole tool is used.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the outer diameter of the lower portion of the downhole tool is less than the inner diameter of the casing.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the entire length of the axis of the upper portion is offset from the entire length of the axis of the lower portion.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the bottom hole assembly includes a drill disposed below the bottom hole tool.

10. A method, the method comprising:

running a bottom hole assembly into a wellbore, the bottom hole assembly having a downhole tool disposed therein, the downhole tool comprising: an inlet; an outlet; and a passageway disposed in the tool having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an axis that is offset from an axis of the upper portion; and

rotating the downhole tool to widen a portion of the wellbore.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the offset of the lower portion causes the lower portion to have an outer diameter while orbiting that is responsive to an inner diameter of a casing in which the downhole tool is used.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the outer diameter of the lower portion of the downhole tool is less than the inner diameter of the casing.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the entire length of the axis of the upper portion is offset from the entire length of the axis of the lower portion.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the bottom hole assembly includes a drill disposed below the bottom hole tool.