Fullbore Wireline Pumpthrough Tool

Abstract

A pumpdown sub for use with a downhole tool during pumpdown operations includes a valve with a valve member that selectively opens and closes. When the valve is open, fluid can flow axially past the pumpdown sub, thus the downhole tool can be moved up and down in the wellbore without flow resistance from the pumpdown sub. When the valve is closed, the valve member blocks substantially the entire cross sectional area of the wellbore, so that when pumpdown fluid is added to the wellbore, the fluid does not flow around the valve, but instead all of the pumped fluid exerts a pumpdown force onto the valve and tool. The sub is adjustable for use within

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pumpdown sub comprising:
 a body having an end that selectively couples to a downhole tool which is inserted into a downhole tubular;   a valve member that is selectively changeable from an open configuration in which the valve member lies in a plane substantially parallel with an axis of the downhole tubular, to a closed configuration in which the valve member lies in a plane substantially perpendicular with the axis of the downhole tubular and in which the outer diameter of the valve member is in close contact with the inner diameter of the downhole tubular; and   an actuator coupled with the valve member, so that when the actuator is activated, the valve member is moved between the open and the closed configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is planar and has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor and an arm with an end connected to the motor and a distal end coupled with a planar surface of the valve member and which is offset from a middle of the valve member. 
     
     
         4 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises upper and lower portions, wherein semi-elliptically shaped basket elements connect the upper and lower portions, 
     
     
         5 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 4 , further comprising a hinge pin that extends lengthwise through the valve member and has opposing ends anchored in the basket elements. 
     
     
         6 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 4 , further comprising stop elements on the basket elements for stopping movement of the valve member. 
     
     
         7 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 2 , wherein the arm is pivotingly coupled to the valve member. 
     
     
         8 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 4 , wherein the basket elements extend radially outward from the body and contact the inner diameter of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member comprises upper and lower body portions that are hingedly affixed to one another along a path that intersects a middle area of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         10 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 9  wherein the upper and lower body portions have a semi-circular outer periphery. 
     
     
         11 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 10 , wherein the upper and lower body portions have a middle portion that resembles a half pipe, and have lateral portions that extend radially outward from sides of the middle portion towards the inner diameter of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         12 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 9 , further comprising a worm gear coupled with the actuator that selectively engages pinion gears that couple to the upper and lower members, so that when the actuator rotates the worm gear, the valve member changes between the open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         13 . A pumpdown sub comprising:
 a body that attaches to a downhole tool in a wellbore;   an open space in the body;   a hinge member projecting into the space; and   a valve member in the space that hingedly mounts on the hinge member and that is moveable from an open configuration where the valve member is oriented substantially parallel with an axis of the body, to a closed configuration where the valve member is oriented substantially perpendicular with the axis of the body.   
     
     
         14 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 13 , further comprising elliptically shaped basket members that circumscribe the space and have ends secured to the body. 
     
     
         15 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 13 , wherein the valve member is planar and has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the downhole tubular and wherein the actuator comprises a motor with an arm that couples with a planar surface of the valve member at a location offset from a middle of the valve member. 
     
     
         16 . The pumpdown sub of  claim 13 , wherein the valve member comprises upper and lower body portions that are hingedly affixed to one another along a path that intersects a middle area of the downhole tubular, wherein the upper and lower body portions have a semi-circular outer periphery, and
 wherein the upper and lower body portions comprise a middle portion that resembles a half pipe, and lateral portions that extend radially outward from sides of the middle portion towards the inner diameter of the downhole tubular.   
     
     
         17 . A method of pumpdown operations in a wellbore comprising:
 providing a downhole tool having a pumpdown valve that is changeable from an open configuration and substantially parallel with an axis of the wellbore, to a closed configuration and substantially perpendicular with the axis of the wellbore;   deploying the tool in the wellbore;   dropping the tool in the wellbore when the pumpdown valve is in the open configuration; and   pumping fluid into the wellbore to urge the tool deeper into the wellbore when the pumpdown valve is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising pulling the tool upward within the wellbore when the pumpdown valve is in the open configuration.