Actuator ball retriever and valve actuation tool

Abstract

Disclosed is a tool for changing a plurality of sleeve valves in a well from a ball catching restricted bored state to an open bore state and for retrieving sleeve valve actuator balls of substantially the same diameter from the well.

1 . A tool for use in a wellbore containing a plurality of subterranean sleeve valves with substantially the same size actuator elements contacting radially constricted annular baffles, the tool comprising:
 an elongated tubular body, a chamber in the body of a size to receive at least one of a plurality of actuator elements of substantially the same outer diameter, an opening on one end of the body extending from the chamber to the exterior of the body, the opening being of a size for the actuator elements to pass there through,   means on the other end of the body for supporting the tool in the wellbore at a subterranean location, and   surface structure on the exterior of the tubular body, the surface structure being of a size and shape to contact and shift an element of the sleeve valves.   
     
     
         2 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber in the body of a size to receive a plurality of spherical ball shaped actuator elements of substantially the same outer diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve element shifted changes the annular valve baffles to the unconstricted state when the tool is moved. 
     
     
         4 . The tool according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a resilient member at the body opening forming a second size opening which is smaller in cross section area that the actuator element. 
     
     
         5 . The tool according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient member at the body opening comprises from elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein surface structure comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoulders. 
     
     
         7 . The tool according to  claim 6 , wherein the shoulders are formed on an element of the body that is radially inwardly deformable. 
     
     
         8 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface structure comprises a shoulder on a leaf spring. 
     
     
         9 . The tool according to  claim 7 , wherein the body elements extend longitudinally and are separated by longitudinally extending slots in the body. 
     
     
         10 . A method for retrieving from a wellbore a plurality of spherical shaped actuator elements having substantially the same cross section diameter and for shifting an element in the valve, the method comprising:
 providing a tool with an elongated tubular body, a chamber in the body of a size to receive therein a plurality of the actuator elements, an opening on one end of the body extending from the chamber to the exterior of the body, the opening being of a size for the actuator elements to pass there through, and surface structure on the exterior of the tubular body;   attaching the tool to a wireline and installing the tool into the wellbore with the one end preceding into the well first;   lowering the tool into the wellbore until it comes into contact with an actuator element on the first valve;   moving the actuator element into the chamber and retaining it in the chamber;   next, engaging the surface structure on the tool with valve to shift an element of the valve;   moving the tool through the first valve;   lowering the tool into contact with the actuator element of the next valve, and   repeating the actuator element moving and retaining step and the valve shifting steps comprise changing the valve to a larger internal diameter open bore state.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of valve shifting step comprises engaging a surface on the exterior of the tool with an interior surface in the valve sleeve and moving the tool to shift the element. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the providing step comprises proving a sleeve valve and wherein the valve element shifting steps comprises shifting the valve sleeve valve 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the tool in the providing step comprise a chamber in the body of a size to receive a plurality of spherical ball shaped actuator elements of substantially the same outer diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the tool in the providing step comprises a chamber in the body of a size to receive a plurality of circular cross section dart shaped actuator elements of substantially the same outer diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the tool in the providing step comprises a resilient member at the body opening forming a second size opening which is smaller in cross section area than the actuator element. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the resilient member at the body opening comprises from elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the surface structure in the tool of the providing step comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoulders. 
     
     
         18 . The tool according to  claim 17 , wherein the shoulders are formed on an element of the body that is radially inwardly deformable. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the surface structure on the tool in the providing step comprises a shoulder on a leaf spring. 
     
     
         20 . The tool according to  claim 18 , wherein the body elements extend longitudinally and are separated by longitudinally extending slots in the body.