Ultra-short disposable setting tool

Abstract

A setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well, the setting tool including an inner mandrel having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section having an internal chamber suitable for housing a power charge; an outer cylindrical piston enclosing the upper section of the inner mandrel; a slidable ring formed concentric, and between the inner mandrel and the outer cylindrical piston; and an actuation chamber located between the outer cylindrical piston, the ring, and the inner mandrel, and configured to receive a pressured gas from the internal chamber, through a slot that extends transversal to a thread of the upper section of the inner mandrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well, the setting tool comprising:
 an adaptor sub for affixing an ignitor;   an inner mandrel having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section having an internal chamber configured to house a power charge, and the lower section configured to connect to an adjuster sub for affixing the auxiliary tool;   an outer cylindrical piston slidably located over the inner mandrel;   a ring slidably located between the inner mandrel and the outer cylindrical piston;   an actuation chamber located between the inner mandrel and the outer cylindrical piston; and   a first port located on the upper section of the inner mandrel, wherein the first port is part of a fluid communication passage between the internal chamber and the actuation chamber,   wherein activation of the power charge by the ignitor causes gas to pressurize the actuation chamber and the outer cylindrical piston to stroke downward to set the auxiliary tool in the well.   
     
     
         2 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the ring, the inner mandrel, and the outer cylindrical piston are concentrically positioned, in this order, prior to activation. 
     
     
         3 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the setting tool contains no hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor sub further comprises a manual back-off for gas bleeding. 
     
     
         5 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the setting tool is self-venting. 
     
     
         6 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dampening element located between a shoulder of the outer cylindrical piston and the lower section of the inner mandrel so that when the outer cylindrical piston is fully stroked, the shoulder of the outer cylindrical piston squeezes the dampening element against the adjuster sub.   
     
     
         7 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the setting tool as measured from one end of the inner mandrel to another end of the inner mandrel, prior to activation of the power charge, is 20 inches or less. 
     
     
         8 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper section of the inner mandrel has threads configured to engage corresponding treads of the adaptor sub. 
     
     
         9 . The setting tool of  claim 8 , wherein one or more slots are formed perpendicular to the threads of the upper section of the inner mandrel, and the one or more slots fluidly communicate the first port with a second port formed in the actuation chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylindrical piston is simultaneously in direct contact with the adaptor sub and the ring. 
     
     
         11 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first port is formed in a lip of the upper section of the inner mandrel. 
     
     
         12 . The setting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a venting mechanism located between the ring and the outer cylindrical piston, the venting mechanism being configured to allow the pressured gas from the activation chamber outside the setting tool,   wherein the venting mechanism is closed when the outer cylindrical piston is not actuated, and the venting mechanism is open when the outer cylindrical piston is fully stroked.   
     
     
         13 . A setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well, the setting tool comprising:
 an inner mandrel having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section having an internal chamber suitable for housing a power charge;   an outer cylindrical piston enclosing the upper section of the inner mandrel;   a slidable ring formed concentric, and between the inner mandrel and the outer cylindrical piston; and   an actuation chamber located between the outer cylindrical piston, the ring, and the inner mandrel, and configured to receive a pressured gas from the internal chamber, through a slot that extends transversal to a thread of the upper section of the inner mandrel.   
     
     
         14 . The setting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first port located on the upper section of the inner mandrel, wherein the first port is fluidly connected to a first end of the slot.   
     
     
         15 . The setting tool of  claim 14 , wherein the first port is formed in a lip of the upper section of the inner mandrel. 
     
     
         16 . The setting tool of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second port located on the upper section of the inner mandrel, wherein the second port is fluidly connected to a second end of the slot.   
     
     
         17 . The setting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an adaptor sub attached to the tread of the inner mandrel; and   an adjuster sub attached to a lower end of the inner mandrel.   
     
     
         18 . The setting tool of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an ignitor located in the adaptor sub; and   the power charge located in the internal chamber,   wherein activation of the power charge by the ignitor causes gas to pressurize the actuation chamber and the outer cylindrical piston to stroke downward to set the auxiliary tool in the well.   
     
     
         19 . The setting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a dampening element located around the lower section of the inner mandrel so that when the outer cylindrical piston is fully stroked, a shoulder of the outer cylindrical piston squeezes the dampening element against an adjuster sub attached to the inner mandrel.   
     
     
         20 . The setting tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a venting mechanism located between the ring and the outer cylindrical piston, the venting mechanism being configured to allow the pressured gas from the activation chamber to escape from the setting tool,   wherein the venting mechanism is closed when the outer cylindrical piston is not actuated, and the venting mechanism is open when the outer cylindrical piston is fully stroked.   
     
     
         21 . A method for using a setting tool in a casing, the method comprising:
 lowering the setting tool into the casing;   igniting a power charge located inside an inner mandrel of the setting tool;   directing a pressured gas, generated by the ignited power charge, through a slot formed through threads of the inner mandrel, to a ring;   actuating the ring with the pressured gas so that the ring is pushing an outer cylindrical piston along the inner mandrel; and   setting an auxiliary tool attached to the setting tool when the outer cylindrical piston is fully stroked.