Liner Top Test Tool and Method of Use

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the liner top test tool comprises a mandrel that is coupled to a sealing assembly, which contains at least one radially extendable sealing element, and a test tool support which is axially displaceable in relation to the mandrel. The test tool support contains at least one shearable element preventing axial movement of the test tool support in relation to the mandrel. The mandrel has at least one axial groove that can be coupled to the test tool support in order to limit the amount of axial movement between the two components. Once the tool is in place on a liner top, the shearing of the shearable element will activate the tool by allowing the mandrel to be displaced axially in relation to the test tool support thereby applying axial pressure on the sealing element causing it to radially extend and seal the bore of the liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liner top test tool comprising:
 a mandrel;   a radially expandable sealing element positioned around a portion of said mandrel;   a test tool support having a support surface extending at least partially around said test tool support, wherein said test tool support is positioned around at least a portion of said mandrel below said sealing element;   said mandrel and said test tool support being capable of axial movement in relation to each other;   said mandrel and said test tool support being coupled by at least one shearable element, wherein said shearable element prevents axial movement between the two; and   wherein once said at least one shearable element is sheared, said mandrel is axially displaced in relation to said test tool support thereby resulting in the axial compression of the sealing element which will cause the sealing element to radially expand and form a seal within the bore of a liner.   
     
     
         2 . The liner top test tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one axial groove running along at least a portion of the length of said mandrel; and   at least one axial groove connector connecting said test tool support and said mandrel along said at least one axial groove, wherein said axial groove connector allows for axial movement between the test tool support and the mandrel along the axial groove.   
     
     
         3 . The liner top test tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said mandrel having a section of its length that has a larger outer diameter in relation to another section of its length having a smaller outer diameter, wherein the interface between said larger outer diameter and said smaller outer diameter forms a shoulder; and   wherein said sealing element is positioned intermediate said shoulder and said test tool support.   
     
     
         4 . The liner top test tool of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a seal carrier, having a lip protruding from its outer diameter along a side thereof, wherein at least a portion of the outer diameter of said seal carrier is smaller than the inner diameter of said sealing element;   a bottom gauge ring and an upper gauge ring, both being capable of placement along the outer diameter of said seal carrier;   wherein said bottom gauge ring is positioned around said seal carrier proximate the seal carrier's lip, said sealing element is positioned around said seal carrier intermediate said bottom gauge ring and said upper gauge ring, and wherein said seal carrier is positioned around at least a portion of the smaller diameter of said mandrel;   said bottom gauge ring axially movable between an initial at rest position to its fully active position, and any position in between when acted upon; and   said seal carrier is coupled to said mandrel proximate said mandrel's shoulder, wherein said upper gauge ring substantially abuts said shoulder.   
     
     
         5 . The liner top test tool of  claim 1 , wherein said support surface is defined by the interface between a section of smaller outer diameter on said test tool support and a section of larger outer diameter on said test tool support. 
     
     
         6 . The liner top test tool of  claim 5 , wherein said larger outer diameter of said test tool support is comprised of interspaced protrusions extending along at least a portion of the length of said test tool support. 
     
     
         7 . The liner top test tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bottom sub that is connectable to said mandrel proximate the test tool support; and   wherein said bottom sub is interchangeable with other bottom subs having varying types and/or sizes of connectors.   
     
     
         8 . A liner top test tool comprising:
 a mandrel, wherein said mandrel has a section of its length that has a larger outer diameter in relation to another section of its length having a smaller outer diameter, and wherein the interface between said larger outer diameter and said smaller outer diameter forms a shoulder;   a test tool support being capable of axial displacement in relation to said mandrel, wherein said test tool support is positioned at least partially along said smaller outer diameter of said mandrel;   a substantially cylindrical sealing element that is capable of radial expansion when axially compressed, wherein said sealing element is positioned at least partially along said smaller outer diameter of said mandrel intermediate said test tool support and said shoulder;   said sealing element prevented from upward axial movement by said shoulder of said mandrel;   at least one shearable element connecting said test tool support to said mandrel distal said sealing element and preventing axial movement between said test tool support and said mandrel until sheared by sufficient force.   
     
     
         9 . The liner top test tool of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at least one axial groove running along at least a portion of the length of said mandrel; and   at least one axial groove connector connecting said test tool support and said mandrel along said at least one axial groove, wherein said axial groove connector allows for axial movement between the test tool support and the mandrel along the axial groove.   
     
     
         10 . The liner top test tool of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a support surface extending at least partially around the circumference of said test tool support.   
     
     
         11 . The liner top test tool of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a cylindrical seal carrier, having a lip protruding from its outer diameter along a side thereof, wherein at least a portion of the outer diameter of said seal carrier is smaller than the inner diameter of said sealing element;   a bottom gauge ring and an upper gauge ring, both being capable of placement along the outer diameter of said seal carrier;   wherein said bottom gauge ring is positioned around said seal carrier proximate the seal carrier's lip, said sealing element is positioned around said seal carrier intermediate said bottom gauge ring and said upper gauge ring, and wherein said seal carrier is positioned around at least a portion of the smaller diameter of said mandrel;   said bottom gauge ring axially movable between an initial at rest position to its fully active position, and any position in between when acted upon;   said seal carrier is coupled to said mandrel proximate said mandrel's shoulder, wherein said upper gauge ring substantially abuts said shoulder; and   wherein said support surface is defined by the interface between a section of smaller outer diameter on said test tool support and a section of larger outer diameter on said test tool support.   
     
     
         12 . The liner top test tool of  claim 11 , wherein said larger outer diameter of said test tool support is comprised of interspaced protrusions extending along at least a portion of the length of said test tool support, and wherein said at least one axial groove comprises four axial grooves having a said axial groove connector for each respective axial groove. 
     
     
         13 . The liner top test tool of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one shearable elements each have a shear value of 1,360.8 kilograms (3,000 pounds). 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a liner top test tool comprising:
 obtaining a liner top test tool capable of being positioned at a liner top and sealing the bore of a liner through use of a sealing element capable of radial expansion when axially compressed wherein said liner top test tool is weight set and the mechanism allowing for compression of the sealing element is prevented from axially movement by at least one shearable element wherein said shearable elements have a set shear value;   lowering said liner top test tool into a wellbore such that said tool is supported on the top of a liner; and   sealing said bore of said liner by shearing said shearable elements thereby causing said sealing element to be radially expanded.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising incorporating the tell-tale sign of visual confirmation of the setting of said liner top test tool into the system by pre-setting the amount of travel of the liner top test tool in order to expand said radially expandable sealing element and accomplish sealing of said bore of said liner, said visual confirmation being the observance of the drop in the tool deployment running string of said pre-determined amount of travel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising incorporating the tell-tale sign of visual confirmation of the shearing of said shearable elements by observing the visual drop on the weight indicator thereby informing the user that said shearable elements have been sheared. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising choosing a test tool support for each run into the well that has a sufficient section of outer diameter capable of preventing insertion of that section of the test tool support into the liner to be tested whereby said tool will be properly positioned at said subject liner. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 repositioning of said tool if a seal has not been properly formed by slacking off the weight on said tool to release at least some of the pressure on said sealing element thereby allowing it to start to relax and break any seal that has been formed, pulling the tool up out of position and repositioning the tool, once the tool is repositioned then the user can introduce weight onto said tool in order to set said sealing element and seal the liner's bore;   testing said seal to determine if testing may proceed or if the repositioning step should be performed again; and   repeating said repositioning step as needed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 removing said tool from said wellbore by slacking off the weight on said tool thereby releasing some pressure on said sealing element and allowing it to relax, and retrieving said tool from the wellbore to the surface; and   resetting said tool for another run into the wellbore by redressing and torquing up said tool at the rig site.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said resetting step includes the options of:
 installing new shearable elements;   switching out said sealing element for another with a different outer diameter;   switching out said sealing element for another with a different length;   switching out said sealing element for another non-used element; and/or   switching out said test tool support for another with a different size of section of outer diameter to match the liner that is to be tested next.