Casing cutting and retrieving system

{
  "publication_number": "US6029745A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Casing cutting and retrieving system",
  "abstract": "A system has been invented for cutting wellbore casing and retrieving casing and a wellbore device connected thereto, the system, in one aspect, including engaging apparatus for releasably holding the wellbore device, casing cutting apparatus interconnected with and below the engaging apparatus for cutting casing in a wellbore, the wellbore device connected to the casing, and locking apparatus for selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus holding the wellbore device. In one aspect the engaging apparatus has one or more movable latching arms for releasably holding a wellbore device, e.g. but not limited to a wellhead and the arms are mounted below a top bonnet that holes therethrough so that the flushing of debris and/or cutting from the tops of the arms is facilitated. In one aspect, a drain sub is used to reduce flow to the casing cutter so that the circulation of debris and/or cuttings is inhibited.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for cutting wellbore casing, the system comprising engaging apparatus for releasably holding a wellbore device, casing cutting apparatus interconnected with and below the engaging apparatus for cutting casing in a wellbore, the wellbore device connected to the casing, locking apparatus for selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus holding the wellbore device, a fluid relief device positioned above the casing cutting apparatus in a string including the casing cutting apparatus, the engaging apparatus, and the fluid relief device, the fluid relief device having at least one exhaust port therethrough, and a portion of fluid pumped from pumping apparatus at an earth surface into a wellbore in which the system is disposed flowable through the fluid relief device to the casing cutter for operation thereof and an exhaust portion of the fluid exhausting through the at least one exhaust port so that the exhaust portion does not flow through the casing cutter.",
    "2. The system of claim 1 wherein the exhaust portion is of sufficient size that circulation of cuttings and debris resulting from cutting of the casing is inhibited.",
    "3. The system of claim 2 wherein the exhaust portion is of sufficient size that the circulation of cuttings and debris is substantially eliminated.",
    "4. A system for cutting wellbore casing, the system comprising a drill string extendable into a wellbore in which the wellbore casing is disposed, engaging apparatus for releasably holding a wellbore device connected to the casing, the engaging apparatus connected to the drill string so that raising of the drill string retrieves the wellbore device and casing above a location of cutting of the casing, casing cutting apparatus interconnected with and below the engaging apparatus for cutting casing in a wellbore, the wellbore device connected to the casing, locking apparatus for selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus holding the wellbore device, a plurality of latching arms movably mounted on the engaging apparatus, said arms selectively movable to engage the wellbore device, each arm having a top surface, each arm mounted below a top bonnet of the engaging apparatus, and a series of holes through the top bonnet, at least one hole having a lower opening above each of the arms, a fluid relief device positioned above the casing cutting apparatus in a string including the casing cutting apparatus, the engaging apparatus, and the fluid relief device, the fluid relief device having at least one exhaust port therethrough, and a portion of fluid pumped from pumping apparatus at the earth surface into a wellbore in which the system is disposed flowable through the fluid relief device to the casing cutter for operation thereof and an exhaust portion of the fluid exhausting through the at least one exhaust port so that the exhaust portion does not flow through the casing cutter.",
    "5. The system of claim 1 wherein the wellbore device is connected to the casing and the engaging apparatus is connected to a drill string whose raising retrieves the wellbore device and casing above the location of the cutting.",
    "6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of latching arms movably mounted on the engaging apparatus, said arms selectively movable to engage the wellbore device, each arm having a top surface, each arm mounted below a top bonnet of the engaging apparatus, and a series of holes through the top bonnet, at least one hole having a lower opening above each of the arms.",
    "7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of latching arms movably mounted on the engaging apparatus, said arms selectively movable to engage the wellbore device, each arm having a top surface, each arm having at least one notch in the top surface thereof.",
    "8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a mud motor interconnected with the casing cutting apparatus for rotating the casing cutting apparatus to cut casing.",
    "9. The system of claim 8 further comprising the mud motor having an upper part above the engaging apparatus and a lower part between the engaging apparatus and the casing cutting apparatus, and clamp apparatus clamped to the upper part of the mud motor for abutment against the engaging apparatus to limit downward movement thereof and thereby limiting downward movement of the casing cutter and the extent of cutting of the casing.",
    "10. A method for cutting casing from a wellbore extending down into the earth, the wellbore having a wellhead at an earth surface, the method comprising engaging the wellhead with engaging apparatus of a casing cutting system, the system comprising the engaging apparatus for releasably holding a wellbore device, casing cutting apparatus interconnected with and below the engaging apparatus for cutting casing in a wellbore, connected to the casing, and locking apparatus for selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus holding the wellbore device, selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus on the wellhead, and cutting the casing below the wellhead with the casing cutting apparatus, wherein the system further comprises a fluid relief device positioned above the casing cutting apparatus in a string including the casing cutting apparatus, the engaging apparatus, and the fluid relief device, the fluid relief device having at least one exhaust port therethrough, a portion of fluid pumped from pumping apparatus at the earth surface into a wellbore in which the system is disposed flowable through the fluid relief device to the casing cutter for operation thereof and an exhaust portion of the fluid exhausting through the at least one exhaust port so that the exhaust portion does not flow through the casing cutter, the method further comprising relieving fluid flow to the casing cutting apparatus by flowing the exhaust portion out through the at least one exhaust port.",
    "11. The method of claim 10 wherein the wellbore device is connected to the casing and the engaging apparatus is connected to a drill string whose raising retrieves the wellbore device and casing above a location of the cutting, the method further comprising retrieving the wellhead and casing above the location of the cutting by raising the drill string.",
    "12. The method of claim 10 wherein the exhaust portion is of sufficient size that circulation of cuttings and debris away from a location of casing cutting is inhibited, the method further comprising inhibiting circulation of cuttings and debris away from the location of casing cutting.",
    "13. The method of claim 10 wherein the system further comprises engaging apparatus for releasably holding the wellbore device, a plurality of latching arms movably mounted on the engaging apparatus, said arms selectively movable to engage the wellbore device, each arm having a top surface, each arm mounted below a top bonnet of the engaging apparatus, and a series of holes through the top bonnet, at least one hole having a lower opening above each of the arms, the method further comprising washing fluid over the latching arms, the fluid flowing through the series of holes.",
    "14. The method of claim 10 wherein the method steps are carried out in a single trip into the wellbore.",
    "15. The method of claim 11 wherein the method steps are carried out in a single trip into the wellbore.",
    "16. An engaging device for releasably holding a wellbore wellhead, the apparatus comprising engaging apparatus for releasably holding the wellbore wellhead, a plurality of latching arms movably mounted on the engaging apparatus, said arms selectively movable to engage the wellbore wellhead, each arm having a top surface, each arm having at least one fluid flow hole therethrough to facilitate debris removal from the arm.",
    "17. An engaging device for releasably holding a wellbore wellhead, the apparatus comprising engaging apparatus for releasably holding the wellbore wellhead, a plurality of latching arms movably mounted on the engaging apparatus, said arms selectively movable to engage the wellbore wellhead, each arm having a top surface, each arm mounted below a top bonnet of the engaging apparatus, and a series of fluid flow holes through the top bonnet, at least one hole having a lower opening above each of the arms for facilitating debris removal from the arms.",
    "18. A system for cutting wellbore casing, the system comprising engaging apparatus for releasably holding the wellbore device, casing cutting apparatus interconnected with and below the engaging apparatus for cutting casing in a wellbore, the wellbore device connected to the casing, and locking apparatus for selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus holding the wellbore device, said locking apparatus including a central mandrel movable up and down within the system for holding the engaging apparatus in an engaging position about the wellbore device and the locking apparatus for releasably preventing both upward and downward movement of the central mandrel while the engaging apparatus is engaging the wellbore device.",
    "19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a mud motor interconnected with the casing cutting apparatus for rotating the casing cutting apparatus to cut casing.",
    "20. The system of claim 18 wherein the engaging apparatus includes a grapple housing with a plurality of spaced-apart arms pivotably mounted thereto, the arms for releasably engaging the wellbore device, the grapple housing having a series of spaced apart first slots and a series of grooves each groove associated with each slot of the series of first slots, the central mandrel having a series of lugs projecting therefrom, each lug of the series of lugs movable within a first slot to a level corresponding to each groove of the series of grooves, each lug movable from a first slot into a groove by raising and then rotating the central mandrel, the central mandrel prohibited from upward and downward movement when the lugs are in the grooves.",
    "21. A method for cutting casing from a wellbore extending down into the earth, the wellbore having a wellhead at the earth surface, the method comprising engaging the wellhead with engaging apparatus of a casing cutting system, the system comprising the engaging apparatus for releasably holding the wellbore device, casing cutting apparatus interconnected with and below the engaging apparatus for cutting casing in a wellbore, connected to the casing, and locking apparatus for selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus holding the wellbore device, said locking apparatus including a central mandrel movable up and down within the system for holding the engaging apparatus in an engaging position about the wellbore device and the locking apparatus for releasably preventing both upward and downward movement of the central mandrel while the engaging apparatus is engaging the wellbore device, selectively and releasably locking the engaging apparatus on the wellhead, and cutting the casing below the wellhead with the casing cutting apparatus.",
    "22. The method of claim 21 wherein a wellbore device is connected to the casing and the engaging apparatus is connected to a drill string whose raising retrieves the wellbore device and casing above the location of the cutting, the method further comprising retrieving the wellhead and casing above the location of the cutting by raising the drill string."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThis invention is directed to wellbore casing cutting and retrieval tools and, in one aspect, to such tools used in retrieving wellheads in a marine environment.\n\n2. Description of Related Art\n\nIt is known to cut and retrieve wellheads mounted on base plates and from which a casing string extends down into a wellbore, using a single-trip tool which combines a casing cutter and a grapple for releasably engaging the wellhead. Such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,115, co-owned with the present invention and incorporated fully herein and in International Patent Application No. WO 91/02138.\n\nThere has long been a need for such systems in which movable locking arms are freely movable and not impeded by debris or cuttings. There has long been a need for such systems which are not inadvertently released from a wellhead.\n\nThe present invention discloses, in certain embodiments, a casing cutting and retrieving system that, preferably in a single-trip into the wellbore, cuts casing in the wellbore at a desired location; latches onto a wellhead located e.g. at the mudline; and then is retrievable from the wellbore with the wellhead and the casing remaining above the level of the cut. In one aspect such a system includes a latching system or grapple device for releasably holding a wellhead (and a portion of casing above a cut) and a casing cutter connected below the latching system. In one aspect casing is cut about 15 feet below the mudline.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 31/18",
    "E21B 31/16"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 31/16",
    "E21B 31/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Weatherford Lamb Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Andre N. Broussard",
    "Geoff O. Rouse",
    "Richard Segura",
    "Mark W. Schnitker",
    "Shane P. Hart"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1998-01-22",
  "publication_date": "2000-02-29",
  "grant_date": "2000-02-29",
  "priority_date": "1998-01-22",
  "application_number": "US-1078298-A",
  "family_id": "21747405",
  "cited_by_count": 38,
  "citations": [
    "US1867289A",
    "US2687323A",
    "US3338305A",
    "US3376927A",
    "GB1184480A",
    "US3732924A",
    "US3782459A",
    "US3848667A",
    "US3983936A",
    "US4181196A",
    "US4191255A",
    "US4550781A",
    "GB2159855A",
    "US4703802A",
    "US4883118A",
    "US5146989A",
    "US5101895A",
    "US5253710A",
    "GB2259930A",
    "US5318115A",
    "GB2310873A",
    "US5823255A",
    "US5848643A"
  ]
}