Pump down system for placing and retrieving subsurface well equipment

Abstract

A pump-down assembly for positioning and retrieving subsurface well equipment in a side pocket mandrel. The assembly is articulated to permit it to move through tubing curves and includes positioning and orienting means. Spring loaded latches in the positioning means mate only with correspondingly configured mandrel recesses so that the assembly can be stopped at the desired subsurface location. Guide surfaces in the orienting means rotate the assembly to the proper position relative to the mandrel side pocket. Placement and retrieval operations of the assembly are controlled by the selective application of hydraulic pressure to the well.

I claim: 
     
       1. A segmented assembly for handling well equipment of the type which is movable through a tubing string for longitudinal engagement with .[.a.]. .Iadd.an open-topped .Iaddend.side pocket recess of a side pocket mandrel comprising: a. pressure actuated drive means connected with said assembly for driving said assembly through said tubing string in response to pressure applied to said drive means;   b. well equipment handling means connected in said assembly for handling and holding said well equipment;   c. position responsive stopping means in said assembly .Iadd.operable during downward movement of said assembly in the tubing string .Iaddend.for automatically stopping said assembly at a predetermined location relative to a selected side pocket recess.Iadd., said stopping means including outwardly biased latch means having a profile designed to mate with and engage recess means in the tubing string below said selected side pocket recess to thereby automatically terminate said downward movement, said recess means having the same profile as the profile of said latch means.Iaddend.;   d. orienting means in said assembly for circumferentially orienting said assembly at a predetermined position relative to said side pocket recess; and   e. flexible joint means connecting one end of said handling means to said stopping means and the other end of said handling means to said orienting means whereby said assembly may flex to move through curved .[.sect-ons.]. .Iadd.sections .Iaddend.of said tubing string.   
     
     
       2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said handling means includes landing means for carrying well equipment through the tubing string and landing and then releasing said well equipment in a side pocket recess. 
     
     
       3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said handling means includes retrieving means for attaching to well equipment landed in a side pocket recess and withdrawing said attached equipment as said assembly is moved through the tubing string. 
     
     
       4. An assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said handling means includes retrieving means for attaching to well equipment landed in a side pocket recess and withdrawing said attached equipment as said assembly is moved through the tubing string. 
     
     
       5. An assembly as defined in claim 2 further including safety lock means preventing relative longitudinal movement of components of said handling means and preventing release of said well equipment by said handling means until said assembly is stopped at said predetermined location. 
     
     
       6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. said safety lock means includes a self erecting, bendable support means held in a first position on said assembly by said stopping means until said predetermined location is reached;   b. said support means is movable after reaching said predetermined location to a second position on said assembly; and   c. flexible means are included in said support means for permitting said support means and said assembly to flex when said support means is at said first or second positions.   
     
     
       7. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said stopping means includes spring loaded latch means biased radially outwardly from said assembly and adapted to spring outwardly into a tubing string locating recess having a predetermined configuration for stopping axial movement of said assembly; and   b. said orienting means includes inclined guiding surfaces on said assembly adapted to engage and slide against inclined guiding surfaces carried by said tubing string for rotating said assembly, prior to reaching said predetermined location, into a predetermined position relative to the opening in said selected side pocket recess.   
     
     
       8. An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein: a. said stopping means includes spring loaded latch means biased radially outwardly from said assembly and adapted to spring outwardly into a tubing string locating recess having a predetermined configuration for stopping axial movement of said assembly; and   b. said orienting means includes inclined guiding surfaces on said assembly adapted to engage and slide against inclined guiding surfaces carried by said tubing string for rotating said assembly, prior to reaching said predetermined location, into a predetermined position relative to the opening in said selected side pocket recess.   
     
     
       9. An assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said handling means includes relatively movable components operable by pressure acting in said tubing to move said well equipment from an initial position in said assembly to a second position wherein the bottom of said equipment is positioned over the opening of a selected side pocket recess, said components including a releasable holding mechanism operable by pressure acting in said tubing to land said well equipment in said selected side pocket recess. 
     
     
       10. A segmented assembly for handling well equipment of the type which is movable through a tubing string for use in the side pocket recess of a side pocket mandrel comprising: a. pressure actuated drive means connected with said assembly for driving said assembly through said tubing string in response to pressure applied to said drive means;   b. well equipment handling means connected in said assembly for handling and holding said well equipment;   c. position responsive stopping means in said assembly for stopping said assembly at a predetermined location relative to a selected side pocket recess;   d. orienting means in said assembly for circumferentially orienting said assembly at a predetermined position relative to said side pocket recess;   e. flexible joint means connecting at least two adjacent segments in said segmented assembly wherein said assembly may flex to move through curved sections of said tubing string;   f. landing means included in said handling means for carrying well equipment through the tubing string and landing and then releasing said well equipment in a side pocket recess;   g. said equipment handling means further including first and second sleeve sections secured together by a pivotable connection whereby said first and second sleeve sections are movable in a jack-knife motion to position said first sleeve section over said selected recess;   h. said first sleeve section including a bore in fluid communication with the pressure in said tubing string; and   i. said equipment handling means including a releasable holding means and a piston slidable through said bore under the influence of pressure in said tubing string to eject said well equipment from said first sleeve section and to release said equipment after it is landed in said selected recess.   
     
     
       11. An assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the axis of said pivotal connection is eccentrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said assembly whereby compressive force exerted from one end of said assembly causes said first and second sleeve section to pivot about said pivotal connection. 
     
     
       12. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means, said stopping means, said equipment handling means and said orienting means are each separate segments having flexible joint means provided between adjacent segments whereby said assembly may flex as it moves through curved sections of tubing. 
     
     
       13. An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said releasable holding mechanism includes: a. first releasable and subsequently reengageable means for holding said mechanism at a first position in a first sleeve section of said handling means; and   b. A piston section is included in said mechanism responsive to pressure from above said piston section to move said mechanism downwardly from said first position in said sleeve section to a second lower sleeve position and responsive to pressure from below said piston section to move said mechanism back toward said first sleeve position.   
     
     
       14. An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said handling means includes relatively movable components operable by pressure acting in said tubing to move said well equipment from an initial position in said assembly to a second position wherein the bottom of said equipment is positioned over the opening of a selected side pocket recess, said components including a releasable holding mechanism operable by pressure acting in said tubing to land said well equipment in said selected side pocket recess. 
     
     
       15. An assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said mechanism includes pressure actuated means for engaging and holding well equipment landed in said selected recess. 
     
     
       16. A segmented running tool for through-the-flowline retrieval or placement of gas lift valves designed for use in .[.the.]. .Iadd.an open-topped .Iaddend.landing recess of a selected side pocket mandrel comprising: a. pressure drive means responsive to pressure in the flowline to move said tool between the flowline surface and the selected side pocket mandrel;   b. location responsive stopping means connected with said drive means .Iadd.and operable during downward movement in the flowline .Iaddend.for stopping longitudinal tool movement through the flowline at a predetermined location relative to the landing recess in the selected side pocket mandrel.Iadd., said stopping means including outwardly biased latch means having a profile designed to mate with and engage recess means in the flowline below said open-topped landing recess in said selected side pocket mandrel to thereby automatically terminate said downward movement, said recess means and latch means having matching profiles.Iaddend.;   orienting means connected with said drive means and said stopping means for orienting at least a portion of said assembly at a predetermined position relative to said landing recess;   d. valve handling means connected with said drive means, stopping means and orienting means for holding a gas lift valve in said assembly as it is moved through said flowline;   e. kickover means included in said handling means for moving a portion of said handling means laterally away from the assembly toward said landing recess;   f. holding means included in said handling means for moving said valve longitudinally relative to said landing recess; and   g. flexible connecting means connecting said drive means, stopping means, orienting means and handling means into said assembly whereby said assembly may flex along its length as required for movement through curved sections of the flowline.   
     
     
       17. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: a. said handling means includes release means for landing said valve in said recess; and   b. said holding means includes release means for releasing said valve from said assembly following landing of said valve in said recess.   
     
     
       18. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said holding means includes attachment means for attaching to said valve while said valve is in landed position whereby said valve may be retrieved at the flowline surface. 
     
     
       19. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said flexible connecting means include means for preventing relative .[.pivotal.]. .Iadd.rotational .Iaddend.movement between connected segments while permitting relative .[.pivoted.]. .Iadd.pivotal .Iaddend.movement between said segments. 
     
     
       20. An assembly as defined in claim 17 further including safety lock means connected with said stopping means for preventing release of said valve until said assembly is stopped by said stopping means. 
     
     
       21. An assembly as defined in claim 16 further including safety lock means for preventing said valve movement relative to said recess until said assembly is stopped by said stopping means. 
     
     
       22. An assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein said attachment means further includes pressure responsive emergency release means for permitting said attachment means to release from said valve.