Tool storage assembly

Abstract

A tool storage assembly ( 12 ) comprises a housing ( 28 ) defining a chamber adapted to be in fluid communication with a wellbore through a tool passage ( 30 ) formed in the housing ( 28 ). A tool storage member ( 32 ) is mounted within the chamber of the housing ( 28 ) and defines a tool compartment ( 34 ) adapted to releasably secure a downhole tool ( 22 ) therein. The tool storage member ( 32 ) is moveable between a storage position and a deployment position, wherein the tool ( 22 ) may be deployed into the wellbore when the tool storage member ( 32 ) is in the deployment position.

1 . A tool storage assembly adapted to store tools to be deployed downhole, said tool storage assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber adapted to be in fluid communication with a wellbore through a tool passage formed in the housing; and   a tool storage member mounted within the chamber of the housing and defining a tool compartment adapted to releasably secure a downhole tool therein, wherein the tool storage member is moveable between a storage position and a deployment position.   
     
     
         2 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use, the tool storage member is adapted to be misaligned with a wellbore passage when positioned within the storage position, and is adapted to be aligned with a wellbore passage when positioned within the deployment position. 
     
     
         3 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool compartment of the tool storage member is adapted to contain at least a portion of a tool. 
     
     
         4 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool compartment is adapted to contain an entire tool. 
     
     
         5 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , adapted for use in combination with a spoolable medium for deploying tools to and from the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool storage member is generally tubular in form and defines an internal bore, wherein said internal bore defines the tool compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool storage member is open at a first end to permit a tool to be deployed from and retrieved into the tool compartment of the tool storage member, and open at an opposite second end to provide access for a spoolable medium to be connected to a stored tool. 
     
     
         8 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool storage member comprises a tool engagement assembly adapted to releasably secure a tool within the tool compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the tool engagement assembly comprises a gripping mechanism adapted to grip an outer surface of a tool. 
     
     
         10 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the tool engagement assembly comprises an interlocking arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the outer surface of a stored tool and an inner surface of the tool compartment comprises a recessed profile, and the other of the outer surface of a stored tool and the inner surface of the tool compartment comprises an extendable member adapted to selectively extend to engage the recessed profile and thus selectively secure the tool within the tool compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the tool engagement assembly comprises a support member defining a cam surface upon which cam surface an extendable member arranged to engage a tool is mounted, wherein movement of the support member permits the extendable member to be selectively extended by interaction with the cam surface. 
     
     
         13 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein support member and extendable member are formed and arranged to permit the support member to positively displace the extendable member in reverse directions. 
     
     
         14 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the tool engagement assembly further comprises an activating mechanism adapted to positively move the support member to effect one or both of retraction and extension of the extendable member. 
     
     
         15 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the activating mechanism comprises a plunger adapted to engage the support member. 
     
     
         16 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the activating mechanism comprises a plate defining an actuation surface adapted to receive a force to move the support member. 
     
     
         17 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the plate defines an aperture extending therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the aperture is adapted to permit the passage of a spoolable medium therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the support member is biased in a preferred direction. 
     
     
         20 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the tool engagement assembly is coupled to a tubular member, wherein said tool engagement assembly and said tubular member collectively define the tool storage member. 
     
     
         21 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprise a displacement assembly adapted to move the tool storage member between the storage and deployment positions. 
     
     
         22 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the displacement assembly comprises a piston arrangement, which piston arrangement is secured relative to the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the displacement assembly is adapted to lock the tool storage member in either or both of the storage and deployment positions. 
     
     
         24 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the displacement assembly comprises first and second piston arrangements, axially distributed along the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tool storage members each adapted to store one or more tools therein. 
     
     
         26 . The tool storage assembly according to  claim 1 , adapted for subsea use. 
     
     
         27 . A tool deployment system for use in deploying tools into a wellbore, said system comprising a tool storage assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber adapted to be in fluid communication with a wellbore through a tool passage formed in the housing; and   a tool storage member mounted within the chamber of the housing and defining a tool compartment adapted to releasably secure a downhole tool therein, wherein the tool storage member is moveable between a storage position and a deployment position.   
     
     
         28 . A method of deploying a tool into a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tool storage assembly comprising:   a housing defining a chamber adapted to be in fluid communication with a wellbore through a tool passage formed in the housing;   a tool storage member mounted within the chamber of the housing and defining a tool compartment adapted to releasably secure a downhole tool therein, wherein the tool storage member is moveable between a storage position and a deployment position;   locating a tool within the tool compartment of the tool storage member;   coupling the tool storage assembly to a wellbore;   moving the tool storage member towards the deployment position; and   deploying the tool into the wellbore.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising the step of coupling the tool to a spoolable medium prior to being deployed. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising the step of retrieving the tool from the wellbore back into the tool compartment of the tool storage member. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising moving the tool storage member towards the storage position. 
     
     
         32 . A tool storage assembly comprising:
 a housing;   a tool storage member mounted within the housing and defining a tool compartment adapted to be aligned with a wellbore access to permit a tool to be displaced between a wellbore and the tool compartment;   a tool engagement assembly adapted to releasably secure a downhole tool within the tool compartment, wherein the tool engagement assembly comprises:
 an extendable member adapted to extend into the tool compartment to engage a tool; 
 a support member comprising a cam surface adapted to engage the extendable member; and 
 an activating mechanism adapted to positively move the support member to permit the extendable member to be selectively extended by interaction with the cam surface. 
   
     
     
         33 . A tool storage assembly comprising:
 a tool compartment;   a tool engagement assembly adapted to releasably secure a downhole tool within the tool compartment, wherein the tool engagement assembly comprises:
 an extendable member adapted to extend into the tool compartment to engage a tool; 
 a support member comprising a cam surface adapted to engage the extendable member; and 
 an activating mechanism adapted to positively move the support member to permit the extendable member to be selectively extended by interaction with the cam surface.