JUNK BASKET AND METHOD OF USE

• Main Authors: SERAFIN, VITOLD P, FIRMANIUK, DARRYL J, SHKURTI, PIRO T
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 30.09.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

A junk basket comprises a sleeve sized to fit within a well bore. The sleeve has a bore therethrough, an internal latch at its top end for connection to a complementary retrieval tool having an external latch. A basket floor is movable axially in the bore between a first position intermediate the axial length o f the sleeve, and a second position resting on a retaining shoulder at the bottom of the sleeve. In a well bore, the basket floor is supported at the first position, preferably on a retrievable bridge plug, and debris is collected in the defined volume above the floor. When the basket is lifted during retrieval, the basket floor falls to the second position, increasing the collection volume, loosening the debris and looseni ng the basket in the well bore for ease of retrieval. Further, a novel method of jointly deploying a junk basket and bridge plug results. The basket is connected to the plug and a setting/insertion tool passes through the basket's bore and throu gh a port in the basket floor. Once the plug is set in the well bore the setting tool is removed. By lifting the retrieving tool with a predetermined load over strin g weight, the basket is sheared from the plug, a ball engages the port in the floor an d the floor falls, loosening the debris and basket in the well bore.