Reversible arming method and apparatus for emplacing a locking device in tubing

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said release means is moved outwardly sufficiently to allow upward passage of a raised shoulder portion on said body means of said running tool after said trigger portion is moved downwardly from engagement with internal shoulder means of said locking device for moving said expander mandrel into said locked position.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said running tool has slips and wherein said reciprocally moving of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit comprises an upward movement to effect movement of a drag means downwardly for rotating a tubular sleeve to align a slot traversal member with an elongated longitudinal slot on said body means, lowering said running tool downwardly thereby moving said drag means upwardly to engage said slips with said conduit, and again raising and lowering said running tool to rotate said tubular sleeve means and position said retainer means into the armed position corresponding to the no-go position of the locking dog means.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said locking dog means and said retainer means are movable from said armed position back to said retracted position and said retainer means disarmed by reciprocally moving said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said well a distance sufficient to effect reciprocal movement of said drag means at the option of the operator at the surface and without having to bring said running tool to the surface for disarming.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said locking dog means are reversibly held in said locked position, and said locking dog means are retracted and said locking device retrieved from said nipple by movement in either direction without again locking.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein a biasing means is employed, in addition to the force of gravity and the force moving said body means upwardly, for effecting relative longitudinal movement between said body means and said release means and saiD locking dog means and thereby ensuring that said locking dog means lock in said recess means.

Claim 8

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having locking dog means that are outwardly expandable into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit, said running tool comprising: a. an elongate body means including: i. a plurality of longitudinal slots extending longitudinally of said body means and a plurality of helix slots extending peripherally and helically from the bottom of one said longitudinal slot to the upper portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot, said plurality of longitudinal slots and said plurality of helix slots defining a slotted path of travel completely around the periphery of said body means; ii. a lower control slot comprising a longitudinal control slot and an annular slot; said longitudinal control slot extending longitudinally of said body means and terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated slot that defines a cam between the bifurcated slots; the annular slot extending peripherally about said body means in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means and connected with said bifurcated slots; and iii. enlarged portion disposed adjacent the lower end of said body means; said enlarged portion abutting the bottom of a tubular sleeve means; b. means defining a plurality of levels connected with said body means; said levels extending longitudinally of said body means and having an innermost portion, an outermost portion, and an intermediate portion, said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder for preventing inadvertent locking; c. an elongate tubular sleeve means disposed at a longitudinally fixed location with respect to said body means and rotatable with respect thereto; said tubular sleeve means having a bent slot and a bottom slot cut therein; said bent slot having a longitudinal portion movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said body means, and having a helical portion connected with said longitudinal portion and movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said helix slots in said body means; said bottom slot comprising a short slot that is related to said longitudinal portion of said bent slot as said longitudinal control slot is related to the correlative longitudinal slot; and said bottom slot being disposed so as to intersect the bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said bent slot and said longitudinal and helix slots including aligning portions at each end for ensuring appropriate alignment; d. a drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and said tubular sleeve means and having a portion that is freely movable rotationally and longitudinally with respect to said body means and said tubular sleeve means; said drag means including drag shoe means for frictionally dragging on the inner wall of said conduit and biasing said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit; e. a slot traversal member carried by said drag means and disposed intermediate said drag means and said longitudinal and helix slots, and drivingly engaging said bent slot in said tubular sleeve means for rotating said tubular sleeve means in response to longitudinal movement of said drag means; f. retainer means disposed peripherally about said enlarged portion of said body means and about said bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said retainer means having first and second groove means disposed around its interior for retaining, respectively, a control slot traversal member and a release means; said retainer means having window means disposed so as to match with said levels for receiving release means therewithin; g. release means disposed in said levels and said window means And having a terminal appendage retained within said second groove means of said retainer means; said release means having an enlarged end portion, an intermediate trigger portion, and a reduced release portion; said intermediate trigger portion having slightly greater lateral dimensions than said raised shoulder in said levels for releasing said body means for longitudinal movement when said intermediate trigger portion is moved from engagement with an internal shoulder means of a locking device; and h. control slot traversal member disposed within said first groove means of said retainer means and said lower control slot of said body means for controlling longitudinal movement of said retainer means and, consequently, said release means; said control slot traversal member being disposed in said bottom slot of said tubular sleeve means so as to move responsively thereto peripherally about said body means in said lower control slot.

Claim 9

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having locking dog means that are outwardly expandable into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit, said running tool comprising: a. an elongate body means including: i. a plurality of longitudinal slots extending longitudinally of said body means and a plurality of helix slots extending peripherally and helically from the bottom of one said longitudinal slot to the upper portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot, said plurality of longitudinal slots and said plurality of helix slots defining a slotted path of travel completely around the periphery of said body means; ii. a lower control slot comprising a longitudinal control slot and an annular slot; said longitudinal control slot extending longitudinally of said body means and terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated slot that defines a cam between the bifurcated slots; the annular slot extending peripherally about said body means in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means and connected with said bifurcated slots; and iii. enlarged portion disposed adjacent the lower end of said body means; said enlarged portion abutting the bottom of a tubular sleeve means; b. means defining a plurality of levels connected with said body means; said levels extending longitudinally of said body means and having an innermost portion, an outermost portion, and an intermediate portion, said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder for preventing inadvertent locking; c. an elongate tubular sleeve means disposed at a longitudinally fixed location with respect to said body means and rotatable with respect thereto; said tubular sleeve means having a bent slot and a bottom slot cut therein; said bent slot having a longitudinal portion movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said body means, and having a helical portion connected with said longitudinal portion and movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said helix slots in said body means; said bottom slot comprising a short slot that is related to said longitudinal portion of said bent slot as said longitudinal control slot is related to the correlative longitudinal slot; and said bottom slot being disposed so as to intersect the bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said bent slot and said longitudinal and helix slots including aligning portions at each end for ensuring appropriate alignment; d. a drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and said tubular sleeve means and having a portion that is freely movable rotationally and longitudinally with respect to said body means and said tubular sleeve means; said drag means including drag shoe means for frictionally dragging on the inner wall of said conduit and biasing said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit; e. a slot traversal member carried by said drag means and disposed intermediate said drag means and said longitudinal and helix slots, and drivingly engaging said bent slot in said tubular sleeve means for rotating said tubular sleeve means in response to longitudinal movement of said drag means; f. retainer means disposed peripherally about said enlarged portion of said body means and about said bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said retainer means having first and second groove means disposed around its interior for retaining, respectively, a control slot traversal member and a release means; said retainer means having window means disposed so as to match with said levels for receiving release means therewithin; g. release means disposed in said levels and said window means And having a terminal appendage retained within said second groove means of said retainer means; said release means having an enlarged end portion, an intermediate trigger portion, and a reduced release portion; said intermediate trigger portion having slightly greater lateral dimensions than said raised shoulder in said levels for releasing said body means for longitudinal movement when said intermediate trigger portion is moved from engagement with an internal shoulder means of a locking device; and h. control slot traversal member disposed within said first groove means of said retainer means and said lower control slot of said body means for controlling longitudinal movement of said retainer means and, consequently, said release means; said control slot traversal member being disposed in said bottom slot of said tubular sleeve means so as to move responsively thereto peripherally about said body means in said lower control slot.

Claim 10

The running tool of claim 7 wherein said retainer means has a separable collet expander mandrel affixed to its bottom end for expanding collet fingers in a locking device; said collect expander mandrel having its diameter adapted for the respective locking device it is to operate.

Claim 11

The running tool of claim 7 wherein there is a plurality of at least three longitudinal slots comprising a retraction slot for effecting a retracted position of said running tool and a locking dog means in a locking device for running in said well, a warning slot for setting slip means to warn an operator at the surface of inadvertent operation of said slot traversal member out of said retraction slot, and an arming slot for effecting an armed and no-go position of said running tool and locking dog means in a locking device for setting on a portion of restricted diameter in said conduit and allowing said locking dog means to be locked into a recess above said portion of restricted diameter after the locking dog means have encountered the portion of restricted diameter; and wherein slip means are disposed within said drag means and are laterally movable outwardly to engage an inner surface of said conduit.

Claim 12

The running tool of claim 9 wherein said warning slot is elongated such that its upper end is higher on said running tool than the remaining longitudinal slots and a slip expander means is provided adjacent said slip means; such that downward and then upward movement of said drag means, with respect to said body means sufficient to move said slot traversal member from said retraction slot into said warning slot, will move said slot traversal member and said slip means upward sufficiently to move said slip means onto said slip expander means and to set said slip means in engagement with said inner surface of said conduit.

Claim 13

The running tool of claim 9 wherein said longitudinal control slot is aligned with one of said longitudinal slots and said bottom slot on said tubular sleeve is aligned with said longitudinal portion of said bent slot.

Claim 14

The running tool of claim 7 wherein said tubular sleeve means is longitudinally affixed about said body means and said drag means is disposed outside both said body means and said tubular sleeve means.

Claim 15

The running tool of claim 7 wherein the bottom end of said bent slot is offset with respect to said bottom slot so that when said running tool is moved upwardly so as to force said slot traversal member downwardly to the bottom ends of said respective longitudinal slots, said control slot traversal member is always forced into said annular slot and said running tool is moved into its retracted position that effects a retracted position of a locking dog means in a locking device; whereby said tool can always be moved out of the well regardless of the position into which the slot traversal means may have been inadvertently actuated.

Claim 16

The running tool of claim 7 wherein said body means includes a plurality of said retraction slots, said warning slots, and said arming slots and an equal pluralIty of helix slots respectively therebetween.

Claim 17

The running tool of claim 7 wherein said retainer means includes a housing having at least first and second sections, said first section having one end of said release means disposed therewithin, said first section being movable longitudinally with respect to said body means and said second section, said second section being carried by said body means; and a biasing means disposed intermediate said first and second sections and biasing said first section away from said second section for ensuring the requisite relative longitudinal movement between said release means with any tubular housing of a locking device connected thereto, and said body means with any expander mandrel connected thereto, for moving said locking dog means into said locking position in said recess means in said conduit after said intermediate trigger portion is released from said internal shoulder means.

Claim 18

The running tool of claim 15 wherein said means defining said levels includes at least a portion of said second section such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said second section.

Claim 19

The running tool of claim 7 wherein said means defining said levels includes at least a portion of said body means such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said body means.

Claim 20

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having outwardly expanding locking dog means, said running tool comprising: a. an elongate body means having a plurality of longitudinal slots extending longitudinally of said body means and a plurality of helix slots extending peripherally and helically from the bottom of one said longitudinal slot to the upper portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot, said plurality of longitudinal slots and said plurality of helix slots defining a slotted path of travel completely around the periphery of said body means; said body means also having a lower control slot comprising a longitudinal control slot and an annular slot; said longitudinal control slot extending longitudinally of said body means and terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated slot; said annular slot extending peripherally about said body means in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means, and connected with said bifurcated slot; said bifurcated slot defining a cam that is interposed in said annular slot and that is aligned with said longitudinal control slot; b. an elongate tubular sleeve means disposed at a longitudinally fixed location with respect to said body means and rotatable with respect thereto; said tubular sleeve means having a bent slot therein; said bent slot having a longitudinal portion movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said body means and having a helical portion connected with said longitudinal portion and movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said helix slots in said body means; c. a drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and said tubular sleeve means and having a portion that is freely movable rotationally and longitudinally with respect to said body means and said tubular sleeve means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to force said drag means toward its extreme position relative to said body means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit; said drag means encompassing a slot traversal member that engages said longitudinal and helix slots and drivingly engages said bent slot in said tubular sleeve means for rotating said tubular sleeve means in response to longitudinal movement of said drag means; d. retainer means disposed peripherally about said body means and about said bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said retainer means havinG disposed therewithin a control slot traversal member that is responsively connected with said tubular sleeve means and said lower control slot on said body means; said retainer means having removably connected to its lower end a collet expander mandrel for frictionally engaging a portion of a locking device; said retainer means also including a release means for engaging an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said retainer means being operationally constrained to one of two locations longitudinally of said body means until said control slot traversal member is aligned with said longitudinal control slot by said tubular sleeve means, and until said tubular housing is moved upwardly with respect to said retainer means to release said release means; one of said two locations being a running location that is effected responsive to said control slot traversal member moving in said annular slot of said lower control slot and the second of said two locations being an armed location that is effected responsive to movement of said control slot traversal member onto said cam; e. mandrel adapter connected with said body means; and f. attachment means for releasably connecting an expander mandrel of a locking device to said mandrel adapter of said running tool.

Claim 21

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having outwardly expanding locking dog means, said running tool comprising: a. an elongate body means having a plurality of longitudinal slots extending longitudinally of said body means and a plurality of helix slots extending peripherally and helically from the bottom of one said longitudinal slot to the upper portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot, said plurality of longitudinal slots and said plurality of helix slots defining a slotted path of travel completely around the periphery of said body means; said body means also having a lower control slot comprising a longitudinal control slot and an annular slot; said longitudinal control slot extending longitudinally of said body means and terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated slot; said annular slot extending peripherally about said body means in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means, and connected with said bifurcated slot; said bifurcated slot defining a cam that is interposed in said annular slot and that is aligned with said longitudinal control slot; b. an elongate tubular sleeve means disposed at a longitudinally fixed location with respect to said body means and rotatable with respect thereto; said tubular sleeve means having a bent slot therein; said bent slot having a longitudinal portion movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said body means and having a helical portion connected with said longitudinal portion and movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said helix slots in said body means; c. a drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and said tubular sleeve means and having a portion that is freely movable rotationally and longitudinally with respect to said body means and said tubular sleeve means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to force said drag means toward its extreme position relative to said body means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit; said drag means encompassing a slot traversal member that engages said longitudinal and helix slots and drivingly engages said bent slot in said tubular sleeve means for rotating said tubular sleeve means in response to longitudinal movement of said drag means; d. retainer means disposed peripherally about said body means and about said bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said retainer means havinG disposed therewithin a control slot traversal member that is responsively connected with said tubular sleeve means and said lower control slot on said body means; said retainer means having removably connected to its lower end a collet expander mandrel for frictionally engaging a portion of a locking device; said retainer means also including a release means for engaging an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said retainer means being operationally constrained to one of two locations longitudinally of said body means until said control slot traversal member is aligned with said longitudinal control slot by said tubular sleeve means, and until said tubular housing is moved upwardly with respect to said retainer means to release said release means; one of said two locations being a running location that is effected responsive to said control slot traversal member moving in said annular slot of said lower control slot and the second of said two locations being an armed location that is effected responsive to movement of said control slot traversal member onto said cam; e. mandrel adapter connected with said body means; and f. attachment means for releasably connecting an expander mandrel of a locking device to said mandrel adapter of said running tool.

Claim 22

The running tool of claim 18 wherein said retainer means includes a housing having at least first and second sections, said first section having one end of said release means disposed therewithin, said first section being movable longitudinally with respect to said body means and said second section, said second section being carried by said body means; and a biasing means disposed intermediate said first and second sections and biasing said first section away from said second section for ensuring the requisite relative longitudinal movement between said release means with any tubular housing of a locking device connected thereto, and said body means with any expander mandrel connected thereto for moving said locking dog means into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit after said release means is released from said internal shoulder means.

Claim 23

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having locking dog means that are outwardly expandable into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit, said running tool comprising: a. an elongate body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions for inserting within a removable locking device; b. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; c. drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and freely movable longitudinally of said body means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to bias said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit to effect operation of an expander mandrel and locking dogs of a locking device into and out of a no-go position through movement of said drag means along the longitudinal axis of said body means; d. retainer means on said body means for keeping a tubular housing and an expander mandrel of a locking device spaced relative to each other in a running position with said locking dog means retracted until said drag means is moved longitudinally to effect movement of said locking dog means into said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release meaNs; said release means having a trigger means for engaging an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said release means having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing and its lower end disposable intermediate said intermediate portion and an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger portion of said release means is moved from out of engagement with an internal shoulder means of a locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; e. orienting means for effecting respective orientations between said body means and said retainer means to reversibly move said locking dog means into a retracted position and a no-go position; and f. attachment means for releasably connecting said running tool with an expander mandrel of a locking device whereby said expander mandrel can be drawn upwardly to lock said locking dog means into their locked position before said running tool is released from said expander mandrel.

Claim 24

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having locking dog means that are outwardly expandable into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit, said running tool comprising: a. an elongate body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions for inserting within a removable locking device; b. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; c. drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and freely movable longitudinally of said body means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to bias said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit to effect operation of an expander mandrel and locking dogs of a locking device into and out of a no-go position through movement of said drag means along the longitudinal axis of said body means; d. retainer means on said body means for keeping a tubular housing and an expander mandrel of a locking device spaced relative to each other in a running position with said locking dog means retracted until said drag means is moved longitudinally to effect movement of said locking dog means into said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release meaNs; said release means having a trigger means for engaging an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said release means having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing and its lower end disposable intermediate said intermediate portion and an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger portion of said release means is moved from out of engagement with an internal shoulder means of a locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; e. orienting means for effecting respective orientations between said body means and said retainer means to reversibly move said locking dog means into a retracted position and a no-go position; and f. attachment means for releasably connecting said running tool with an expander mandrel of a locking device whereby said expander mandrel can be drawn upwardly to lock said locking dog means into their locked position before said running tool is released from said expander mandrel.

Claim 25

The running tool of claim 20 wherein said body means includes: a. a plurality of longitudinal slots extending longitudinally of said body means and a plurality of helix slots extending peripherally and helically from the bottom of one said longitudinal slot to the upper portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot, said plurality of longitudinal slots and said plurality of helix slots defining a slotted path of travel completely around the periphery of said body means; b. a lower control slot comprising a longitudinal control slot and an annular slot; said longitudinal control slot terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated slot; said annular slot extending peripherally about said body means in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means, and connected with said bifurcated slot; said bifurcated slot defining a cam that is interposed in said annular slot and that is aligned with said longitudinal control slot; and c. a mandrel adapter connected with said body means; and wherein said orienting means comprises an elongate tubular sleeve means that is disposed at a longitudinally fixed location with respect to said body means and rotatable with respect thereto; said tubular sleeve means having a bent slot and a bottom slot cut therein; said bent slot having a longitudinal portion movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said body means, and having a helical portion connected with said longitudinal portion and movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said helix slots in said body means; said bottom slot comprising a short slot that is related to said longitudinal portion of said bent slot as said longitudinal control slot is related to a correlative longitudinal slot on said body means, and said bottom slot is disposed so as to intersect the bottom of said tubular sleeve means; and wherein a slot traversal member is disposed within and intermediate said drag means and said longitudinal and helix slots and drivingly engages said bent slot in said tubular sleeve means for rotating said tubular sleeve means in response to relative longitudinal movement of said drag means; and wherein said retainer means has a first groove means; and wherein a control slot traversal member is disposed within said first groove means of said retainer means and said lower control slot of said body means for controlling longitudinal movement of said retainer means and, consequently, said release means.

Claim 26

The running tool of claim 20 wherein said orienting means comprises a set of driving slots and a set of driven slots disposed individually in Said elongate body means and in a tubular sleeve means adjacent said body means; one of said sets of slots comprising a closed pattern of slots including a plurality of longitudinal slots and a plurality of helix slots, each helix slot connecting the bottom portion of a longitudinal slot with a top portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot and the other of said sets of slots comprising a bent slot having a longitudinal portion that is coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said closed pattern of slots in one position, and having a helical portion that is connected with said longitudinal portion and that is coextensive with a portion of said helix slots when said bent slot is in another position; and a slot traversal member that is carried by said drag means and drivingly engages said set of driven slots and engages said set of driving slots.

Claim 27

The running tool of claim 22 wherein said set of of driving slots are in said body means and said set of driven slots are in said tubular sleeve means.

Claim 28

The running tool of claim 22 wherein said one of said sets is disposed in said body means and said other of said sets is disposed in said tubular sleeve means.

Claim 29

The running tool of claim 24 wherein said one of said sets comprising said closed pattern of slots is employed as said set of driving slots and said other of said sets comprising said bent slot is employed as said set of driven slots.

Claim 30

The running tool of claim 20 wherein said retainer means includes a housing having at least first and second sections, said first section having one end of said release means disposed therewithin, said first section being movable longitudinally with respect to said body means and said second section, said second section being carried by said body means; and a biasing means disposed intermediate said first and second sections and biasing said first section away from said second section for ensuring the requisite relative longitudinal movement between said release means with any tubular housing of a locking device connected thereto, and said body means with any expander mandrel connected thereto, for moving said locking dog means into said locking position in said recess means in said conduit after said trigger means is released from said internal shoulder means.

Claim 31

The running tool of claim 26 wherein said means defining said plurality of different levels is carried by said body means and includes a portion of said second section such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said second section.

Claim 32

The running tool of claim 20 wherein said means defining said plurality of different levels includes at least a portion of said body means such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said body means.

Claim 33

A well tool comprising: a. a locking device for locking tools within a conduit at a location defined by a portion of restricted diameter and a recess means thereabove for receiving locking dog means including: i. a tubular housing having an internal shoulder means disposed at its upper end; having a plurality of inwardly biased collet fingers disposed adjacent its upper end, and having a window means disposed adjacent its lower end for receiving locking dog means; ii. locking dog means retained within said tubular housing and disposed in said window means; said locking dog means being movable laterally of said tubular housing into a retracted position; a no-go position protruding slightly through window means; and a locked position protruding through said window means and lockingly engaging said recess in said conduit; iii. an expander mandrel having a connection means at its lower end for connection with a tool to be supported thereby; and having an internal portion disposed within said tubular housing and reciprocally movable along the longitudinal axis thereof; said internal portion having a retraction portion of fully reduced diameter for supporting Said locking dog means in a retracted position; a no-go portion of intermediate reduced diameter for supporting said locking dog means in a no-go position; and a locking portion for supporting said locking dog means in a locked position; said retraction portion, said no-go portion, and said locking portion being positionable to support said locking dog means in response to longitudinal movement of said expander mandrel along the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing; iv. locking means intermediate said collet fingers and said expander mandrel for releasably retaining same in said locked position; and v. assembly retainer means intermediate said expander mandrel and said tubular housing for preventing inadvertent disassembly thereof; b. a running tool for emplacing said locking device in a conduit in said well, including: i. an elongate body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions for inserting within a removable locking device; ii. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; iii. drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and freely movable longitudinally of said body means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to bias said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit to effect operation of said expander mandrel and locking dogs of said locking device into a no-go position through movement of said drag means along the longitudinal axis of said body means; iv. retainer means on said body means for keeping said tubular housing and said expander mandrel of said locking device spaced relative to each other in a running position with said locking dog means retracted until said drag means is moved longitudinally to effect movement of said locking dog means into said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release means; said release means having a trigger means engaging said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said release means having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing and its lower end disposed intermediate said intermediate portion and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger means of said release means is moved from out of engagement with an internal shoulder means of said locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; v. orienting means for effecting respective orientations between said body means and said retainer means to reversibly move said locking dog means into a retracted position and a no-go position; and c. complete attachment means releasably connecting said expander mandrel of said locking device to said running tool.

Claim 34

A well tool comprising: a. a locking device for locking tools within a conduit at a location defined by a portion of restricted diameter and a recess means thereabove for receiving locking dog means including: i. a tubular housing having an internal shoulder means disposed at its upper end; having a plurality of inwardly biased collet fingers disposed adjacent its upper end, and having a window means disposed adjacent its lower end for receiving locking dog means; ii. locking dog means retained within said tubular housing and disposed in said window means; said locking dog means being movable laterally of said tubular housing into a retracted position; a no-go position protruding slightly through window means; and a locked position protruding through said window means and lockingly engaging said recess in said conduit; iii. an expander mandrel having a connection means at its lower end for connection with a tool to be supported thereby; and having an internal portion disposed within said tubular housing and reciprocally movable along the longitudinal axis thereof; said internal portion having a retraction portion of fully reduced diameter for supporting Said locking dog means in a retracted position; a no-go portion of intermediate reduced diameter for supporting said locking dog means in a no-go position; and a locking portion for supporting said locking dog means in a locked position; said retraction portion, said no-go portion, and said locking portion being positionable to support said locking dog means in response to longitudinal movement of said expander mandrel along the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing; iv. locking means intermediate said collet fingers and said expander mandrel for releasably retaining same in said locked position; and v. assembly retainer means intermediate said expander mandrel and said tubular housing for preventing inadvertent disassembly thereof; b. a running tool for emplacing said locking device in a conduit in said well, including: i. an elongate body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions for inserting within a removable locking device; ii. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; iii. drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and freely movable longitudinally of said body means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to bias said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit to effect operation of said expander mandrel and locking dogs of said locking device into a no-go position through movement of said drag means along the longitudinal axis of said body means; iv. retainer means on said body means for keeping said tubular housing and said expander mandrel of said locking device spaced relative to each other in a running position with said locking dog means retracted until said drag means is moved longitudinally to effect movement of said locking dog means into said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release means; said release means having a trigger means engaging said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said release means having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing and its lower end disposed intermediate said intermediate portion and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger means of said release means is moved from out of engagement with an internal shoulder means of said locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; v. orienting means for effecting respective orientations between said body means and said retainer means to reversibly move said locking dog means into a retracted position and a no-go position; and c. complete attachment means releasably connecting said expander mandrel of said locking device to said running tool.

Claim 35

The well tool of claim 29 wherein said orienting means comprises a set of driving slots and a set of driven slots disposed individually in said elongate body means and in a tubular sleeve means adjacent said body means; one of said sets of slots comprising a closed pattern of slots including a plurality of longitudinal slots and a plurality of helix slots, each helix slot connecting the bottom portion of a longitudinal slot with a top portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot and the other of said sets of slots comprising a bent slot having a longitudinal portion that is coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said closed pattern of slots in one position, and having a helical portion that is connected with said longitudinal portion and that is coextensive with a portion of said helix slots when said bent slot is in another position; and a slot traversal member that is carried by said drag means and drivingly engages said set of driven slots and engages said set of driving slots.

Claim 36

The well tool of claim 30 wherein said one of said sets is disposed in said body means and said other of said sets is disposed in said tubular sleeve means.

Claim 37

The well tool of claim 31 wherein said one of said sets comprising said closed pattern of slots is employed as said set of driving slots and said other of said sets comprising said bent slot is employed as said set of driven slots.

Claim 38

The well tool of claim 29 wherein said running tool includes: i. an elongate body means having a plurality of longitudinal slots extending longitudinally of said body means and a plurality of helix slots extending peripherally and helically from the bottom of one said longitudinal slot to the upper portion of an adjacent longitudinal slot, said plurality of longitudinal slots and said plurality of helix slots defining a slotted path of travel completely around the periphery of said body means; said body means also having a lower control slot comprising a longitudinal control slot and an annular slot; said longitudinal control slot extending longitudinally of said body means and terminating at its upper end in a bifurcated slot; said annular slot extending peripherally about said body means in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means, and connected with said bifurcated slot; said bifurcated slot defining a cam that is interposed in said annular slot and that is aligned with said longitudinal control slot; ii. an elongate tubular sleeve means disposed at a longitudinally fixed location with respect to said body means and rotatable with respect thereto; said tubular sleeve means having a bent slot therein; said bent slot having a longitudinal portion movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said longitudinal slots in said body means and having a helical portion connected with said longitudinal portion and movable so as to be coextensive with a portion of said helix slots in said body means; iii. a drag means disposed peripherally about said body means and said tubular sleeve means and having a portion that is freely movable rotationally and longitudinally with respect to said body means and said tubular sleeve means; said drag means being adapted to frictionally drag on the inner wall of said conduit so as to bias said drag means toward its extreme position in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said running tool along the longitudinal axis of said conduit; said drag means encompassing a slot traversal member that engages said longitudinal and helix slots and drivingly engages said bent slot in said tubular sleeve means for rotating said tubular sleeve means in response to longitudinal movement of said drag means; iv. retainer means disposed peripherally about said body means and about said bottom of said tubular sleeve means; said retainer means having disposed therewithin a control slot traversal member that is responsively connected with said tubular sleeve means and said lower control slot on said body means; said retainer means having removably connected to its lower end a collet expander mandrel that frictionally engages said collet fingers of said locking device; said retainer means also including a release means engaging said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said retainer means being operationally constrained to one of two locations lonGitudinally of said body means until said control slot traversal member is aligned with said longitudinal control slot by said tubular sleeve means, and until said tubular housing is moved upwardly with respect to said retainer means to release said release means; one of said two locations being a running location that is effected responsive to said control slot traversal member moving in said annular slot of said lower control slot and the second of said two locations being an armed location that is effected responsive to movement of said control slot traversal member onto said cam; and v. mandrel adapter connected with said body means.

Claim 39

The well tool of claim 33 wherein said locking device has a seal means disposed peripherally about its external surface for sealingly engaging with an internal surface in said conduit and preventing flow of fluids therepast.

Claim 40

The well tool of claim 33 wherein one of said longitudinal slots in said body of said running tool extends to a height sufficient to allow setting of slip means, and wherein said drag means has retained therewithin slip means that are adapted to be expanded outwardly into engagement with an interior surface of said conduit; and said running tool includes a slip expander means disposed adjacent said slip means for expanding said slip means outwardly responsive to relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

Claim 41

The well tool of claim 29 wherein said retainer means includes a housing having at least first and second sections, said first section having one end of said release means disposed therewithin, said first section being movable longitudinally with respect to said body means and said second section; said second section being drivingly carried by said body means; and a biasing means disposed intermediate said first and second sections and biasing said first section away from said second section for ensuring the requisite relative longitudinal movement between said release means with said tubular housing of said locking device connected thereto, and said body means with said expander mandrel connected thereto for moving said locking dog means into said locking position in said recess means in said conduit after said trigger means is released from said internal shoulder means.

Claim 42

The well tool of claim 36 wherein said means defining said plurality of different levels includes at least a portion of said second section such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said second section.

Claim 43

The well tool of claim 29 wherein said means defining said plurality of different levels includes at least a portion of said body means such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said body means.

Claim 44

The well tool of claim 29 wherein said retainer means has a separable collet expander mandrel affixed to its bottom end for expanding said inwardly biased collet fingers of said locking device; said collet expander mandrel having its outside diameter adapted to operably fit said locking device.

Claim 45

The well tool of claim 39 wherein said body means of said running tool has a mandrel adapter removably connected thereto; said mandrel adapter having its outside diameter adapted for operably fitting within said expander mandrel of said locking device.

Claim 46

A well tool comprising: a. a locking device for locking tools within a conduit at a location defined by a portion of restricted diameter and a recess means thereabove for receiving locking dog means including: i. a tubular housing having an internal shoulder means disposed at its upper end; having a plurality of inwardly biased collet fingers disposed adjacent its upper end, and having a window means disposed adjacent its lower end for receiving locking dog means; ii. locking dog means retained within said tubular housing and disposed in said window means; said locking dog means being movable laterally of said tubular housing into a retracted position; a no-go poSition protruding slightly through window means; and a locked position protruding through said window means and lockingly engaging said recess in said conduit; iii. an expander mandrel having a connection means at its lower end for connection with a tool to be supported thereby; and having an internal portion disposed within said tubular housing and reciprocally movable along the longitudinal axis thereof; said internal portion having a retraction portion of fully reduced diameter for supporting said locking dog means in a retracted position; a no-go portion of intermediate reduced diameter for supporting said locking dog means in a no-go position; and a locking portion for supporting said locking dog means in a locked position; said retraction portion, said no-go portion, and said locking portion being positionable to support said locking dog means in response to longitudinal movement of said expander mandrel along the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing; iv. locking means intermediate said collet fingers and said expander mandrel for releasably retaining same in said locked position; and v. assembly retainer means intermediate said expander mandrel and said tubular housing for preventing inadvertent disassembly thereof; b. a running tool for emplacing said locking device in a conduit in said well, including: i. a body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions inserted within said locking device; ii. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; iii. retainer means on said body means for keeping said tubular housing and said expander mandrel of said locking device spaced relative to each other such that said no-go portion of said expander mandrel supports said locking dog means in said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release means; said release means having a trigger means engaging said internal shoulder means of said locking device, and having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing, and having its lower end disposed intermediate said intermediate portion and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger means of said release means is moved from out of engagement with said internal shoulder means of said locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; and c. complete attachment means releasably connecting said expander mandrel of said locking device to said mandrel adapter of said running tool.

Claim 47

A well tool comprising: a. a locking device for locking tools within a conduit at a location defined by a portion of restricted diameter and a recess means thereabove for receiving locking dog means including: i. a tubular housing having an internal shoulder means disposed at its upper end; having a plurality of inwardly biased collet fingers disposed adjacent its upper end, and having a window means disposed adjacent its lower end for receiving locking dog means; ii. locking dog means retained within said tubular housing and disposed in said window means; said locking dog means being movable laterally of said tubular housing into a retracted position; a no-go poSition protruding slightly through window means; and a locked position protruding through said window means and lockingly engaging said recess in said conduit; iii. an expander mandrel having a connection means at its lower end for connection with a tool to be supported thereby; and having an internal portion disposed within said tubular housing and reciprocally movable along the longitudinal axis thereof; said internal portion having a retraction portion of fully reduced diameter for supporting said locking dog means in a retracted position; a no-go portion of intermediate reduced diameter for supporting said locking dog means in a no-go position; and a locking portion for supporting said locking dog means in a locked position; said retraction portion, said no-go portion, and said locking portion being positionable to support said locking dog means in response to longitudinal movement of said expander mandrel along the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing; iv. locking means intermediate said collet fingers and said expander mandrel for releasably retaining same in said locked position; and v. assembly retainer means intermediate said expander mandrel and said tubular housing for preventing inadvertent disassembly thereof; b. a running tool for emplacing said locking device in a conduit in said well, including: i. a body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions inserted within said locking device; ii. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; iii. retainer means on said body means for keeping said tubular housing and said expander mandrel of said locking device spaced relative to each other such that said no-go portion of said expander mandrel supports said locking dog means in said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release means; said release means having a trigger means engaging said internal shoulder means of said locking device, and having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing, and having its lower end disposed intermediate said intermediate portion and said internal shoulder means of said locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger means of said release means is moved from out of engagement with said internal shoulder means of said locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; and c. complete attachment means releasably connecting said expander mandrel of said locking device to said mandrel adapter of said running tool.

Claim 48

The well tool of claim 41 wherein said retainer means has a collet expander mandrel removably and rigidly connected therewith; wherein said body means has a mandrel adapter removably and rigidly connected thereto; said collet expander mandrel and said mandrel adapter having their respective outside diameters adapted to operably fit within said collet fingers and said expander mandrel of said locking device; whereby various locking devices can be set with a single running tool by merely changing said collet expander mandrel and said mandrel adapter on said running tool.

Claim 49

The well tool of claim 41 wherein a biasing means is disposed intermediate said retainer housing and said body meanS and biasing said retainer housing and said release means therewithin away from said body means longitudinally of said body means for ensuring the requisite relative longitudinal movement between said release means with said tubular housing of said locking device attached thereto, and said body means with said expander mandrel attached thereto, for moving said locking dog means into said locking position in said recess means in said conduit.

Claim 50

The well tool of claim 41 wherein said means defining said plurality of different levels includes at least a portion of said body means such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said body means.

Claim 51

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having locking dog means that are outwardly expandable into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit, said running tool comprising: a. a body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions for inserting within a locking device; b. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; c. retainer means on said body means for keeping a tubular housing and an expander mandrel of a locking device spaced relative to each other such that said no-go portion of said expander mandrel supports said locking dog means partially extended into said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release means; said release means having a trigger means for engaging an internal shoulder means of a locking device, and having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing and its lower end disposed intermediate said intermediate portion and said internal shoulder means of a locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger means of said release means is moved from out of engagement with an internal shoulder means of said locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; and d. attachment means for releasably connecting an expander mandrel of a locking device with said body means of said running tool.

Claim 52

A running tool for emplacing in a conduit in a well a removable locking device having an expander mandrel that is movable longitudinally thereof and having locking dog means that are outwardly expandable into a locking position in a recess means in said conduit, said running tool comprising: a. a body means having disposed at its lower end an insertion portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions for inserting within a locking device; b. means defining a plurality of different levels comprising an outermost portion, and an innermost portion and an intermediate portion for providing different size openings intermediate said body means and an internal shoulder means of a locking device; said innermost portion and said intermediate portion being separated by a raised shoulder portion; said means defining said plurality of different levels being carried by said body means; c. retainer means on said body means for keeping a tubular housing and an expander mandrel of a locking device spaced relative to each other such that said no-go portion of said expander mandrel supports said locking dog means partially extended into said no-go position; said retainer means including a retainer housing and a release means; said release means having a trigger means for engaging an internal shoulder means of a locking device, and having its upper end disposed intermediate said outermost portion of said levels and said retainer housing and its lower end disposed intermediate said intermediate portion and said internal shoulder means of a locking device; said trigger means having a lateral dimension at least equal to the lateral dimension of said raised shoulder portion separating said intermediate portion from said innermost portion; whereby when said trigger means of said release means is moved from out of engagement with an internal shoulder means of said locking device, said release means is movable over said raised shoulder portion and into said innermost portion for releasing said internal shoulder means of said locking device and permitting complete disengagement therebetween; and d. attachment means for releasably connecting an expander mandrel of a locking device with said body means of said running tool.

Claim 53

The running tool of claim 45 wherein a biasing means is disposed intermediate said retainer housing and said body means and biasing said retainer housing and said release means therewithin away from said body means longitudinally of said body means for ensuring the requisite relative longitudinal movement between said release means with any tubular housing of a locking device attached thereto, and said body means with any expander mandrel attached thereto, for moving said locking dog means into said locking position in said recess means in said conduit.

Claim 54

The running tool of claim 45 wherein said means defining said plurality of different levels includes at least a portion of said body means such that at least one of said innermost and intermediate portions is disposed on said body means.

Claim 57

The method of claim 48 wherein said locking dog means are reversibly held in said locked position, and said locking dog means are retracted and said locking device retrieved from said restricted bore and recess means by movement in either direction without again locking.

Claim 58

The method of claim 48 wherein a biasing means is employed, in addition to the force of gravity and the force moving said body means upwardly, for effecting relative longitudinal movement between said body means and said release means and said locking dog means and thereby ensuring that said locking dog means lock in said recess means.