SURFACE-ACTUATED RELEASE TOOL FOR SUBMERSIBLE PUMP ASSEMBLIES AND RELEASING METHOD

• Main Authors: BROOKBANK, EARL B, BEBAK, KENNETH T, COX, DON C, MACK, JOHN J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 21.08.2007
• 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 submersible pump assembly (11) has a release adapter (17) on a string of coiled tubing (19). Power cables (31) and a hydraulic capillary tube (33) extend through the coiled tubing to the release adapter where each terminate s at a coupling. The release adapter has a locking mechanism (41) that is located in a chamber (39) adjacent to a fishing neck at the upper end of the pump. The locking mechanism has a collet that is latched to the fishing neck . A piston captures the collet against the neck, and is restrained from moveme nt by shear pins. The locking mechanism is actuated from the surface by pumping hydraulic fluid down through the capillary tube to the chamber to stroke the piston downward and shear the pins. As the coiled tubing lifts the release adapter away from the fishing neck, tension develops in the wires and tubing until those components detach from their respective couplings.