Cutting tool and method for cutting tubular member

• Main Authors: OVERSTREET CHARLES C, BRITTON MARK S, FERGUSON ANDREW M, MCKINLEY BRYAN F
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.05.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BROACHING; CUTTING; CUTTING-OUT; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FILING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HAND CUTTING TOOLS; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PERFORATING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PLANING; PUNCHING; SAWING; SCRAPING; SEVERING; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING; SHEARING; SLOTTING; STAMPING-OUT; TRANSPORTING

A fluid cutting tool and method for perforating or severing tubular members from inside. The tool is especially suited for use with a rotational drive system, such as a downhole motor, to separate downhole structures, such as stuck production tubing. The cutting tool preferably takes the form of an elongate metal body with an open first end connectable to the end of a downhole motor. The downhole end of the tool may be conical. A fluid conduit within the body of the tool communicates with the fluid channel in the downhole motor. Ports in the sides of the tool body direct jets of cutting fluid out the side of the tool. The tool attached to the motor is fed downhole until the tool is at the desired location in the well. Then the motor is operated to rotate the tool while cutting fluid is pumped through it. This causes the jets of fluid to be directed at the inner surface of the production tubing (or other tubular structure). This process is continued until the tubing is perforated or severed, as needed.