US3727693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and fluid system for moving subsurface well equipment in well tubing
Assignee: CAMCO INC US
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Filing: 1971-12-15
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1991-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A fluid system for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved entrance tubing without restricting the length of the well equipment. The curved entrance tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the well tubing for transporting a first larger locomotive which carries a second smaller locomotive for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid flow. Releasable engaging means between the larger and smaller locomotive whereby the larger locomotive may transport the smaller locomotive through the enlarged curved entrance tubing but allow the smaller locomotive to move alone in the smaller well tubing. A retaining nipple between the enlarged curved entrance tubing and the well tubing for retaining the larger locomotive while the smaller locomotive travels in the well tubing whereby the larger locomotive is in position to receive the smaller locomotive upon its return. A retrieving mechanism for retrieving the enlarged locomotive from the retaining nipple.
Inventors
- 👤 G Tausch
- 👤 F Watkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:12
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
In an apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, the improvement comprising, said curved tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said well tubing, and a retaining nipple between the curved tubing and the well tubing including releasable retaining means for releasably retaining a large locomotive, but allowing the passaGe of a small locomotive into the well tubing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
In an apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, the improvement comprising, said curved tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said well tubing, and a retaining nipple between the curved tubing and the well tubing including releasable retaining means for releasably retaining a large locomotive, but allowing the passaGe of a small locomotive into the well tubing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining means includes a recess.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining means includes, an upwardly directed shoulder, and a recess below said shoulder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including, a second upwardly directed shoulder below said recess.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, comprising, said curved tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said well tubing, a first locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the curved tubing for movement in the curved tubing in response to fluid, a second locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid, and releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives whereby the first locomotive may transport the second locomotive through the enlarged curved tubing but allowing the smaller second locomotive to move alone in the smaller well tubing.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, comprising, said curved tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said well tubing, a first locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the curved tubing for movement in the curved tubing in response to fluid, a second locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid, and releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives whereby the first locomotive may transport the second locomotive through the enlarged curved tubing but allowing the smaller second locomotive to move alone in the smaller well tubing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first locomotive includes a longitudinal fluid passageway therethrough which is closed when the first and second locomotives are connected together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including, a retaining nipple between the curved tubing and the well tubing for releasably engaging and retaining the first locomotive from entering the well tubing but allowing the passage of the second locomotive into the well tubing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the retaining nipple includes an upwardly directed shoulder and a recess for engaging and actuating the releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the releasable engaging means includes, a groove on the second locomotive, a locking dog on the first locomotive, yieldable means on the first locomotive normally holding the dog in the groove but engageable with the shoulder on the retaining nipple for releasing the second locomotive from the first locomotive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including, second yieldable means on the first locomotive acting on the dog in a direction to disengage the dog from the groove and contacting said second locomotive when the locomotives are engaged thereby being inefficientive to move said dog, but actuating the dog into the retaining nipple recess when the second locomotive is released.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 10 including, a shoulder on the second locomotive for engaging the second yieldable means when the second locomotive is moved toward the first locomotive for releasing the first locomotive from the retaining nipple and reengaging the second locomotive with the first locomotive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the releasable engaging means includes, a groove on one of the locomotives, a locking dog on the other locomotive, and spring means yieldably holding the dog in the groove.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an enlarged curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising, a first locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the enlarged curved tubing for movement in the curved tubing in response to fluid, a second locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid, and releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives whereby the first locomotive may transport the second locomotive through the enlarged curved tubing but allowing the smaller second locomotive to move alone in the smaller well tubing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through an enlarged curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising, a first locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the enlarged curved tubing for movement in the curved tubing in response to fluid, a second locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid, and releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives whereby the first locomotive may transport the second locomotive through the enlarged curved tubing but allowing the smaller second locomotive to move alone in the smaller well tubing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first locomotive includes a longitudinal fluid passageway therethrough which is closed when the first and second locomotives are connected together, but is open when the locomotives are disconnected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the releasable engaging means includes, a groove on one of the locomotives, a locking dog on the other locomotive, and spring means yieldably holding the dog in the groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first locomotive includes a longitudinal passageway therethrough, a locking dog on the bottom end, means urging said dog outwardly for engagement with the tubing, and means urging said dog inwardly for engagement with said second locomotive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16 including, said means urging said dog outwardly extending upwardly for engagement with a releasing tool for releasing the first locomotive from the tubing.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising, said curved tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said well tubing thereby allowing the passage of well equipment of longer length, a first locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the curved tubing for movement in the curved tubing in response to fluid, a second locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid, a retaining nipple between the curved tubing and the well tubing including an upwardly directed shoulder and a recess below said shoulder for releasably retaining the first locomotive but allowing the passage of the second locomotive into the well tubing, releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives including, a groove on the second locomotive, a locking dog on the first locomotive, first yieldable means on the first locomotive normally holding the dog in the groove but engageable with the shoulder on the retaining nipple for releasing the second locomotive from the first locomotive, and second yieldable means on the first locomotive acting on the dog in a direction to disengage the dog from the groove and into the recess on the retaining nipple.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for running and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a well tubing by fluid flow through a curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing comprising, said curved tubing having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said well tubing thereby allowing the passage of well equipment of longer length, a first locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the curved tubing for movement in the curved tubing in response to fluid, a second locomotive having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the well tubing for movement in the well tubing in response to fluid, a retaining nipple between the curved tubing and the well tubing including an upwardly directed shoulder and a recess below said shoulder for releasably retaining the first locomotive but allowing the passage of the second locomotive into the well tubing, releasable engaging means between the first and second locomotives including, a groove on the second locomotive, a locking dog on the first locomotive, first yieldable means on the first locomotive normally holding the dog in the groove but engageable with the shoulder on the retaining nipple for releasing the second locomotive from the first locomotive, and second yieldable means on the first locomotive acting on the dog in a direction to disengage the dog from the groove and into the recess on the retaining nipple.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of running subsurface well equipment in a well tubing through an enlarged curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, comprising, releasably connecting a first locomotive sized to be transported through the enlarged tubing to a second locomotive sized to be transported through the well tubing, pumping the first locomotive through the enlarged tubing carrying the second locomotive and well equipment therethrough, releasing the locomotives from each other, retaining the first locomotive adjacent the junction between the enlarged tubing and the well tubing, and pumping the second locomotive in the well tubing thereby carrying the well equipment to the desired location in the well tubing.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of running subsurface well equipment in a well tubing through an enlarged curved tubing connected to the upper end of the well tubing, comprising, releasably connecting a first locomotive sized to be transported through the enlarged tubing to a second locomotive sized to be transported through the well tubing, pumping the first locomotive through the enlarged tubing carrying the second locomotive and well equipment therethrough, releasing the locomotives from each other, retaining the first locomotive adjacent the junction between the enlarged tubing and the well tubing, and pumping the second locomotive in the well tubing thereby carrying the well equipment to the desired location in the well tubing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 19 including retrieving well equipment from the well tubing after connecting the well equipment to the second locomotive comprising, pumping the second locomotive and the well equipment up the well tubing, connecting the second locomotive to the first locomotive, pumping the first locomotive up through the enlarged tubing carrying the second locomotive and the well equipment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |