US3896667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for actuating downhole devices
Assignee: TEXAS DYNAMATICS Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-26
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1993-10-26
Abstract
Abstract To actuate downhole devices in accordance with the disclosure, fluid is pumped through the drill string at a rate that creates a preselected pressure condition in the drill string. At such preselected pressure condition, a timer is actuated that continues to run as long as the preselected pressure condition exists. If the pressure condition is maintained for a length of time sufficient for the timer to time out, the downhole device will be actuated. The device is deactuated by circulating fluid through the drill string to create a second pressure condition that actuates a timer that runs as long as the preselected pressure condition is maintained. When the timer times out, it deactivates the device. In another embodiment, the particular device to be actuated is selected by rotation of the drill string after the timer times out. It is deactuated by creating a particular flow condition until the timer times out. A third embodiment permits selection of simultaneous functions by the flow-time method and deactuation by stopping fluid circulation.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Jeter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:37
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/04; E21B41/00; E21B41/0085; E21B47/00; E21B47/09; E21B47/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of actuating a downhole device in a drill string comprising pumping fluid down the drill string at a rate to provide a pressure drop across a flow restriction within a preselected range that is different from the range of pressure drops produced during normal drilling operations, maintaining said pumping rate for a predetermined, finite, period of time and actuating said downhole device at the end of the time period.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of actuating a downhole device in a drill string comprising pumping fluid down the drill string at a rate to provide a pressure drop across a flow restriction within a preselected range that is different from the range of pressure drops produced during normal drilling operations, maintaining said pumping rate for a predetermined, finite, period of time and actuating said downhole device at the end of the time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 with the further step of creating a pressure pulse in the fluid in the drill string that is detectable at the surface when the device is actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 with the further step of pumping fluid down the drill string at a second rate to provide a pressure drop across a flow restriction within a second different preselected range and maintaining said second rate for a predetermined, finite, period of time to deactuate said downhole device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 with the further step of stopping the pumping of fluid to deactivate the downhole device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of actuating one of a plurality of downhole devices carried by a drill string comprising pumping fluid through the drill string to create a pressure drop across a flow restriction within one of several preselected ranges that are different from the range of pressure drops produced when pumping fluid during normal drilling opeRations, maintaining said pressure drop for a predetermined, finite period of time and actuating one of said downhole devices at the end of the time period.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of actuating one of a plurality of downhole devices carried by a drill string comprising pumping fluid through the drill string to create a pressure drop across a flow restriction within one of several preselected ranges that are different from the range of pressure drops produced when pumping fluid during normal drilling opeRations, maintaining said pressure drop for a predetermined, finite period of time and actuating one of said downhole devices at the end of the time period.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of actuating a plurality of downhole devices carried by a drill string comprising pumping fluid through the drill string at a rate to create a pressure drop across a flow restriction within a preselected range that is different from the range of pressure drops produced during normal drilling operations, maintaining the pumping rate for a predetermined, finite period of time to actuate one of said devices after the time period has elapsed, and maintaining the pumping rate for additional predetermined, finite periods of time to actuate another of said devices for each additional elapsed time period the pumping rate is maintained.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of actuating a plurality of downhole devices carried by a drill string comprising pumping fluid through the drill string at a rate to create a pressure drop across a flow restriction within a preselected range that is different from the range of pressure drops produced during normal drilling operations, maintaining the pumping rate for a predetermined, finite period of time to actuate one of said devices after the time period has elapsed, and maintaining the pumping rate for additional predetermined, finite periods of time to actuate another of said devices for each additional elapsed time period the pumping rate is maintained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 with the further steps of pumping at a second rate to produce a second pressure drop across the flow restrictions and maintaining said second pumping rate for a predetermined, finite period of time to deactuate said devices.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of actuating one of a plurality of devices carried by a drill string comprising pumping fluid through the drill string to provide a pressure differential, maintaining the pressure differential for a predetermined, finite, period of time, and rotating the drill string a predetermined number of revolutions to actuate said device.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of actuating one of a plurality of devices carried by a drill string comprising pumping fluid through the drill string to provide a pressure differential, maintaining the pressure differential for a predetermined, finite, period of time, and rotating the drill string a predetermined number of revolutions to actuate said device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 8 with the further step of pumping fluid through the drill string at a rate to produce a second pressure drop and maintaining said pumping rate for a predetermined, finite minimum period of time to deactuate said device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for actuating a downhole device carried by a drill string comprising timing means carried by the drill string, means responsive to a preselected pressure condition in the drill string to cause the timing means to operate while said pressure condition exists, and means to actuate said downhole device when the timing means times out.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for actuating a downhole device carried by a drill string comprising timing means carried by the drill string, means responsive to a preselected pressure condition in the drill string to cause the timing means to operate while said pressure condition exists, and means to actuate said downhole device when the timing means times out.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further provided with means to deactuate the device including a second timer, means to cause the second timer to operate through a timing cycle when a second preselected pressure condition exists, and means to deactivate the device when the second timer times out.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for actuating a downhole device carried by a drill string comprising means for creating a pressure drop when fluid is pumped down the drill string, a timer carried by the drill string, means responsive to said pressure drop when it is within a preselected range to actuate the timer and to allow it to operate as long as the pressure drop is within said range, and means to actuate said device when the timer times out after a predetermined finite period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for actuating a downhole device carried by a drill string comprising means for creating a pressure drop when fluid is pumped down the drill string, a timer carried by the drill string, means responsive to said pressure drop when it is within a preselected range to actuate the timer and to allow it to operate as long as the pressure drop is within said range, and means to actuate said device when the timer times out after a predetermined finite period of time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further provided with means to deactuate the device including a second timer and means to actuate the timer and to allow it to operate as long as the pressure drop is within a preselected second range, and means to deactivate the device when the timer times out after a predetermined finite period of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for actuating a plurality of downhole devices carried by a drill string extending into a well bore, comprising timing means carried by the drill string, means responsive to a preselected pressure condition in the drill string to cause the timing means to operate while said pressure condition exists, and means to actuate one of said devices each time the timing means times out.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for actuating a plurality of downhole devices carried by a drill string extending into a well bore, comprising timing means carried by the drill string, means responsive to a preselected pressure condition in the drill string to cause the timing means to operate while said pressure condition exists, and means to actuate one of said devices each time the timing means times out.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further provided with means for creating a surface detectable signal as each device is actuated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further provided with second timing means, means responsive to a preselected pressure condition in the drill string to cause the second timing means to operate while said pressure condition exists, and means for deactivating said devices when the second timer times out.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which the means to actuate one of said deviceS includes means responsive to rotation of the drill string to actuate additional devices.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further provided with means to provide a preselected pressure differential for each of the devices when actuated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |