Landing nipple with locator and orienting means

Claim 2

A well tool for use in connection with a housing adapted to be connected in a well flow conductor and having a flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said well flow conductor and a laterally offset landing nipple for a flow control device, and a running tool assembly for installing or removing a flow control device in said laterally offset landing nipple including a kick-over tool, and wherein coengageable orienting means is provided in said housing and on said running tool assembly cooperable to orient said kick-over tool to direct said well flow control device into or to retrieve it out of said laterally offset landing nipple by means of said running tool assembly, said well tool including: a locator sub having means for connecting it to said housing and having internal stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said orienting means of said housing; positioning tool means connected with said running tool assembly and having stop means thereon engageable with said stop shoulder means in said locator sub for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said housing; and means for releasing said stop means upon application of a predetermined force thereto for movement of said stop means past said stop shoulder to permit said running tool assembly to be moved out of said housing.

Claim 3

A well tool for use in a well having a flow conductor therein forming one of at least a pair of flow conducting passages in said well connecteD in flow communication at a subsurface point in said well and wherein at least one housing is connected in said flow conductor at a location intermediate the surface and the point of flow communication between the flow conductor and the other of said flow conducting passages, said housing having a flow passage in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said flow conductor, a laterally offset landing nipple for a flow control device, orienting means and stop shoulder means, said well tool including: a running tool assembly for installing or removing a flow control device in said laterally offset landing nipple in said housing; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing for directing said flow control device into or out of said laterally offset landing nipple; fluid pressure operated locomotive means connected with said running tool assembly for moving the same through the flow passage of said flow conductor; stop means on said running tool assembly coengageable with said stop shoulder means of said housing for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said housing; and means for releasing said stop means of said running tool assembly upon application of a predetermined force thereto for movement of said stop means past said stop shoulder means to permit withdrawal of said running tool assembly from said housing.

Claim 4

A well tool for use in a well having a flow conductor therein forming one of at least a pair of flow conducting passages in said well connecteD in flow communication at a subsurface point in said well and wherein at least one housing is connected in said flow conductor at a location intermediate the surface and the point of flow communication between the flow conductor and the other of said flow conducting passages, said housing having a flow passage in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said flow conductor, a laterally offset landing nipple for a flow control device, orienting means and stop shoulder means, said well tool including: a running tool assembly for installing or removing a flow control device in said laterally offset landing nipple in said housing; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing for directing said flow control device into or out of said laterally offset landing nipple; fluid pressure operated locomotive means connected with said running tool assembly for moving the same through the flow passage of said flow conductor; stop means on said running tool assembly coengageable with said stop shoulder means of said housing for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said housing; and means for releasing said stop means of said running tool assembly upon application of a predetermined force thereto for movement of said stop means past said stop shoulder means to permit withdrawal of said running tool assembly from said housing.

Claim 5

A well tool for use in a well having a first tubing string and a second tubing string disposed in side-by-side parallel relation in said well, and a crossflow passage connecting said first and second tubing strings below the surface of the well communicating the lower portions of said first and second tubing strings to provide a U-tube flow path in said well; said first tubing string having at least one housing connected therein between the surface and said crossflow passage, said housing having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said first tubing string, a laterally offset landing nipple pocket for a flow control device, orienting means disposed in predetermined circumferential position with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple pocket, and stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation with respect to said orienting means; said well tool including: a running tool assembly for running and retrieving a flow control device in said housing including a kick-over tool for moving said flow control device laterally of said housing; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing for orienting said kick-over tool and said flow control device for movement of said flow control device into and out of said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; fluid pressure operated locomotive means connected with said running tool assembly for moving the same through said first tubing string; stop means on said running tool assembly coengageable with said stop shoulder means of said housing for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said housing; and means for releasing said stop means of said running tool assembly upon application of a predetermined force thereto for movement of said stop means past said stop shoulder means to permit withdrawal of said running tool assembly from said housing.

Claim 6

A well tool for use in a well having a first tubing string and a second tubing string disposed in side-by-side parallel relation in said well, and a crossflow passage connecting said first and second tubing strings below the surface of the well communicating the lower portions of said first and second tubing strings to provide a U-tube flow path in said well; said first tubing string having at least one housing connected therein between the surface and said crossflow passage, said housing having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said first tubing string, a laterally offset landing nipple pocket for a flow control device, orienting means disposed in predetermined circumferential position with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple pocket, and stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation with respect to said orienting means; said well tool including: a running tool assembly for running and retrieving a flow control device in said housing including a kick-over tool for moving said flow control device laterally of said housing; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing for orienting said kick-over tool and said flow control device for movement of said flow control device into and out of said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; fluid pressure operated locomotive means connected with said running tool assembly for moving the same through said first tubing string; stop means on said running tool assembly coengageable with said stop shoulder means of said housing for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said housing; and means for releasing said stop means of said running tool assembly upon application of a predetermined force thereto for movement of said stop means past said stop shoulder means to permit withdrawal of said running tool assembly from said housing.

Claim 7

A locator sub and running tool assembly for use in a well having a pair of flow conductors therein having flow communication near the lower ends to provide a U-tube flow path in said well, one of said flow conductors having an elongate housing connected therein above the point of flow communication with the other of said flow conductors and provided with a flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the passage of said one flow conductor and a laterally offset landing nipple pocket for a flow control device, and orienting means disposed in predetermined circumferential and longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said laterally offset lAnding nipple pocket, including: a locator sub having means for connecting it to said elongate housing and having stop shoulder means thereon disposed in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said orienting means in said housing; and a running tool assembly for installing and removing a flow control device in said laterally offset landing nipple including a kick-over tool; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing to orient said kick-over tool to direct a flow control device into or out of said laterally offset landing nipple; stop means on said running tool assembly engageable with said stop shoulder means of said locator sub for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said elongate housing; and means for releasing said stop means for movement past said stop shoulder means to permit withdrawal of said running tool assembly from said elongate housing.

Claim 8

A locator sub and running tool assembly for use in a well having a pair of flow conductors therein having flow communication near the lower ends to provide a U-tube flow path in said well, one of said flow conductors having an elongate housing connected therein above the point of flow communication with the other of said flow conductors and provided with a flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the passage of said one flow conductor and a laterally offset landing nipple pocket for a flow control device, and orienting means disposed in predetermined circumferential and longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said laterally offset lAnding nipple pocket, including: a locator sub having means for connecting it to said elongate housing and having stop shoulder means thereon disposed in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said orienting means in said housing; and a running tool assembly for installing and removing a flow control device in said laterally offset landing nipple including a kick-over tool; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing to orient said kick-over tool to direct a flow control device into or out of said laterally offset landing nipple; stop means on said running tool assembly engageable with said stop shoulder means of said locator sub for retaining said running tool assembly in position in said elongate housing; and means for releasing said stop means for movement past said stop shoulder means to permit withdrawal of said running tool assembly from said elongate housing.

Claim 9

The assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein the running tool assembly includes fluid operated locomotive means for moving the same into and out of the well through said one tubing string by the force of fluids circulated through said U-tube flow path in said well.

Claim 10

A running and removing tool assembly for use in connection with a housing adapted to be connected in a well flow conductor and having a flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said well flow conductor, a laterally offset landing nipple for a flow control device, orienting means disposed in predetermined radial and longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple, and stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation with respect to said orienting means, including: a kick-over tool for positioning a flow control device to be directed into or retrieved from said laterally offset landing nipple; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing to orient said kick-over tool to direct said flow control device into and out of said laterally offset landing nipple; stop means on said running tool assembly engageable with said stop shoulder means of said housing to retain said running tool assembly in said housing in position for operation; and means for releasing said stop means for movement past said stop shoulder means to permit said running tool assembly to be withdrawn from said housing.

Claim 11

A running and removing tool assembly for use in connection with a housing adapted to be connected in a well flow conductor and having a flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with the flow passage of said well flow conductor, a laterally offset landing nipple for a flow control device, orienting means disposed in predetermined radial and longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple, and stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation with respect to said orienting means, including: a kick-over tool for positioning a flow control device to be directed into or retrieved from said laterally offset landing nipple; means on said running tool assembly engageable with said orienting means of said housing to orient said kick-over tool to direct said flow control device into and out of said laterally offset landing nipple; stop means on said running tool assembly engageable with said stop shoulder means of said housing to retain said running tool assembly in said housing in position for operation; and means for releasing said stop means for movement past said stop shoulder means to permit said running tool assembly to be withdrawn from said housing.

Claim 12

A landing nipple for use in a well flow conductor for receiving and supporting a flow control device therein, including: an elongate housing having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough and means for connecting said housing to a flow conductor with said flow passage in longitudinal axial alignment with the flow conductor; a laterally offset landing nipple pocket in said housing disposed laterally out of said flow passage of said housing and having a bore for receiving a flow control device therein; means providing a flow inlet into said laterally offset landing nipple pocket for admitting fluids thereinto; orienting means disposed in said longitudinal bore of said housing and having stop means thereon in predetermined circumferential and longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; and tubular locator means separate from said orienting means carried by said housing and having second stop shoulder means thereon disposed in predetermined longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said first stop means of said orienting means in said housing.

Claim 13

A landing nipple for use in a well flow conductor for receiving and supporting a flow control device therein, including: an elongate housing having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough and means for connecting said housing to a flow conductor with said flow passage in longitudinal axial alignment with the flow conductor; a laterally offset landing nipple pocket in said housing disposed laterally out of said flow passage of said housing and having a bore for receiving a flow control device therein; means providing a flow inlet into said laterally offset landing nipple pocket for admitting fluids thereinto; orienting means disposed in said longitudinal bore of said housing and having stop means thereon in predetermined circumferential and longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; and tubular locator means separate from said orienting means carried by said housing and having second stop shoulder means thereon disposed in predetermined longitudinal spaced relation with respect to said first stop means of said orienting means in said housing.

Claim 14

A running tool assembly for use with a flow conductor housing of the character set forth in claim 7 and including: a setting tool; a kick-over tool connected with said setting tool; orienting means connected with said kick-over tool and having an orienting and stop member thereon engageable with said orienting means and first stop means of said housing for orienting said kick-over tool with respect to the laterally offset landing nipple pocket; and holddown meaNs connected to said kick-over tool and having holddown stop means thereon separate and spaced longitudinally from said orienting and first stop means and engageable with said second stop shoulder means of said tubular locator means for preventing premature displacement of said running tool assembly from said landing nipple.

Claim 15

A running tool assembly of the character set forth in claim 8 wherein said holddown means comprises an elongate mandrel having means at its opposite ends for connecting it in said running tool assembly; a sleeve slidable longitudinally on said mandrel and having a plurality of radial apertures formed therein spaced circumferentially around the medial portion thereof; a plurality of stop dogs disposed in said radially extending circumferentially spaced apertures of said sleeve and movable radially therein; dog expander means on said mandrel intermediate the ends thereof engageable with the stop dogs carried by said sleeve for holding the same in projecting stopping position; said stop dogs and expander means providing said holddown stop means engageable with said second stop shoulder means of said housing; relief means on longitudinally opposite sides of said expander means each providing a recess for receiving said dogs to permit said dogs to be moved to retracted position; supporting means on said mandrel supporting said sleeve in position with said dogs registered with said lock surface on said mandrel; resilient means biasing said sleeve to engagement with said supporting means on said mandrel; and releasable means holding said supporting means disposed on said mandrel for holding said sleeve in position registering said dogs with said locking surface, said releasable means being releasable by a predetermined force applied to said dogs and the sleeve longitudinally of said holddown means while said dogs are engaged with said stop shoulder means of said housing to move said supporting means to a position permitting said dogs to register with one of said relief means to permit said dogs to be removed to retracted position.

Claim 16

A running tool assembly of the character set forth in claim 8 including: means on said setting tool engaging said kick-over tool initially holding said kick-over tool in inoperative position and releasable by a longitudinal force applied to said setting tool while said orienting and stop member is engaged with said first stop means of said housing to free said kick-over tool for movement disposing a well tool in position to be disposed in said offset landing nipple pocket.

Claim 17

A landing nipple for use in a well flow conductor for receiving and supporting a flow control device therein, including: an elongate housing having means for connecting it at its opposite ends in a well flow conductor and having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with said flow conductor; a laterally offset landing nipple pocket for a flow control device in said housing spaced laterally from said longitudinal flow passage; orienting and first stop means in said housing disposed in predetermined circumferential and longitudinally spaced position with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; and tubular locator and holddown means separate from said orienting and first stop means and having second stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation from said orienting and first stop means on the longitudinal side thereof opposite said offset landing nipple pocket.

Claim 18

A landing nipple for use in a well flow conductor for receiving and supporting a flow control device therein, including: an elongate housing having means for connecting it at its opposite ends in a well flow conductor and having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough in substantial axial alignment with said flow conductor; a laterally offset landing nipple pocket for a flow control device in said housing spaced laterally from said longitudinal flow passage; orienting and first stop means in said housing disposed in predetermined circumferential and longitudinally spaced position with respect to said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; and tubular locator and holddown means separate from said orienting and first stop means and having second stop shoulder means disposed in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation from said orienting and first stop means on the longitudinal side thereof opposite said offset landing nipple pocket.

Claim 19

A housing of the character set forth in claim 11 including: a lateral flow passage in said housing in flow communication with said laterally offset landing nipple pocket; and sealing and locking surfaces in said offset landing nipple pocket for receiving and holding a well tool in locked sealed position therein in communication with said lateral flow passage and with said longitudinal flow passage of said housing.