Methods and apparatus for disconnecting a line from a device disposed within a pipe or wellbore

Abstract

A tool is configured to be deployed via a hoist line in the inner diameter of a pipe or a wellbore. The tool includes an end cap including an aperture, a disconnect device including a collet, at least a portion of which collet is received within the aperture, and an actuated member configured to move from a first position to a second position relative to the disconnect device. In the first position, the actuated member engages the collet to lock the disconnect device to the end cap. In the second position, the actuated member disengages the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the end cap.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A tool configured to be deployed via a hoist line in the inner diameter of a pipe or a wellbore, the tool comprising:
 an end cap comprising an aperture;   a disconnect device comprising a collet, at least a portion of which collet is received within the aperture; and   an actuated member configured to move from a first position to a second position relative to the disconnect device, wherein, in the first position, the actuated member engages the collet to lock the disconnect device to the end cap, and wherein, in the second position, the actuated member disengages the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the end cap.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the actuated member comprises a shaft;   the collet is radially flexible to allow the collet to deflect radially inward as the collet pass through the aperture;   in the first position, the shaft is received within the collet and is sized to substantially prevent the collet from deflecting radially inward; and   in the second position, the shaft is moved out of the collet.   
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the collet comprises a plurality of collet fingers, each of which collet fingers comprises an axially extending portion and a tip portion extending radially outward,   in the first position, the shaft maintains the tip portions as extending radially outward beyond the aperture to lock the disconnect device to the end cap.   
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein each of the tip portions comprises an angled surface arranged to engage an edge of the aperture adjacent the respective tip portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4 , wherein, in the second position, the shaft is moved out of the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the end cap by allowing an applied axial force to cause the angled surfaces of the tip portions to engage the edge of the aperture to cause the respective collet fingers to deflect radially inward to allow the tip portions to pass through the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second position, the actuated member triggers at least one function of the tool. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a wet buckle packer and the at least one function comprises causing a seal member of the packer to engage the inner surface of a submerged pipeline to substantially seal at least a portion of the pipeline from water invasion. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the disconnect device comprises:
 a cylindrical cap defining one end of the disconnect device to which a hoist line fitting is configured to be attached for coupling the hoist line to the tool; and   a shoulder protruding radially outward from a portion of the cap,   wherein the collet extends axially from the shoulder away from the cap.   
     
     
         9 . A disconnect device for releasing a hoist line from a tool deployed in the inner diameter of a pipe or a wellbore, disconnect device comprising:
 a cylindrical cap defining one end of disconnect device to which a hoist line fitting is configured to be attached for coupling the hoist line to the tool;   a shoulder protruding radially outward from a portion of the cap;   a collet extending axially from the shoulder away from the cap, wherein an actuated member of the tool is configured to move from a first position to a second position relative to the disconnect device, wherein, in the first position, the actuated member is configured to engage the collet to lock the disconnect device to the tool, and wherein, in the second position, the actuated member disengages the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the tool.   
     
     
         10 . The disconnect device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the actuated member comprises a shaft;   the collet is radially flexible to allow the collet to deflect radially inward as the collet pass through an aperture in the tool;   in the first position, the shaft is received within the collet and is sized to substantially prevent the collet from deflecting radially inward; and   in the second position, the shaft is moved out of the collet.   
     
     
         11 . The disconnect device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the collet comprises a plurality of collet fingers, each of which collet fingers comprises an axially extending portion and a tip portion extending radially outward,   in the first position, the shaft maintains the tip portions as extending radially outward beyond the aperture to lock the disconnect device to the tool.   
     
     
         12 . The disconnect device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the tip portions comprises an angled surface configured to engage an edge of the aperture to which the respective tip portion is configured to be disposed adjacent. 
     
     
         13 . The disconnect device of  claim 12 , wherein, in the second position, the shaft is moved out of the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the tool by allowing an applied axial force to cause the angled surfaces of the tip portions to engage the edge of the aperture to cause the respective collet fingers to deflect radially inward to allow the tip portions to pass through the aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A packer apparatus configured to be arranged within and arrest a failure of a submerged pipeline, the packer apparatus comprising:
 a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   an actuated member configured to move from a first position to a second position; and   a disconnect device comprising a collet, at least a portion of which collet is received within an aperture in one of the first or second end,   wherein, in the first position, the actuated member engages the collet to lock the disconnect device to the packer, and   wherein, in the second position, the actuated member causes a seal member to engage an inner surface of the pipeline to substantially seal a portion of the pipeline from ingress of water and the actuated member disengages the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the packer.   
     
     
         15 . The packer of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the actuated member comprises a shaft;   the collet is radially flexible to allow the collet to deflect radially inward as the collet pass through the aperture;   in the first position, the shaft is received within the collet and is sized to substantially prevent the collet from deflecting radially inward; and   in the second position, the shaft is moved out of the collet.   
     
     
         16 . The packer of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the collet comprises a plurality of collet fingers, each of which collet fingers comprises an axially extending portion and a tip portion extending radially outward,   in the first position, the shaft maintains the tip portions as extending radially outward beyond the aperture to lock the disconnect device to the packer.   
     
     
         17 . The packer of  claim 16 , wherein each of the tip portions comprises an angled surface arranged to engage an edge of the aperture adjacent the respective tip portion. 
     
     
         18 . The packer of  claim 17 , wherein, in the second position, the shaft is moved out of the collet to unlock the disconnect device from the packer by allowing an applied axial force to cause the angled surfaces of the tip portions to engage the edge of the aperture to cause the respective collet fingers to deflect radially inward to allow the tip portions to pass through the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The packer of  claim 14 , wherein the disconnect device comprises:
 a cylindrical cap defining one end of the disconnect device to which a hoist line fitting is configured to be attached for coupling the hoist line to the packer; and   a shoulder protruding radially outward from a portion of the cap,   wherein the collet extends axially from the shoulder away from the cap.   
     
     
         20 . A method of releasing a hoist line from a tool suspended in the inner diameter of a pipe or a wellbore, wherein the method comprises:
 actuating a component of the tool to move from a first position to a second position relative to a disconnect device, wherein the disconnect device is coupled to the tool and to the hoist line, and wherein, in the second position, the actuated component unlocks the disconnect device from the tool;   applying a force to the hoist line to decouple the disconnect device from the tool.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising retrieving the hoist line and disconnect device through the inner diameter of the pipe or wellbore.