초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper portion relative to the inner surfa

A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper portion relative to the inner surface. The gripper portion can also assume a second position that permits substantially free relative movement between the gripper portion and the inner surface of the passage. The tool includes a propulsion assembly for selectively continuously moving the body of the tool with respect to the gripper portion while the gripper portion is in the first position. This allows the tool to move different types of equipment within the passage. For example, the tool advantageously may be used in drilling processes to provide continuous force to a drill bit. This enables the drilling of extended horizontal boreholes. Other preferred uses for the tool include well completion, logging, retrieval, pipeline service, and communication line activities.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An assembly for moving through a passage having a mouth, said assembly forming at least a portion of a string having a first end adapted to be positioned distal said mouth from a second end of said string, comprising:a self-propelled tool, comprising:a body having a lengt

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An assembly for moving through a passage having a mouth, said assembly forming at least a portion of a string having a first end adapted to be positioned distal said mouth from a second end of said string, comprising:a self-propelled tool, comprising:a body having a length and defining an inner flow channel having a first pressure;a first barrel secured around and slidable along the length said body, said first barrel at least partially defining a first fluid chamber;a second barrel secured around and slidable along the length of said body, said second barrel at least partially defining a second fluid chamber;a first piston fixed with respect to said body positioned within said first chamber, said first barrel being reciprocally movable with respect to said first piston from a first end position to a second end position;a second piston fixed with respect to said body positioned within said second chamber, said second barrel being reciprocally movable with respect to said second piston from a first end position to a second end position;a first bladder secured to said first barrel and having an interior, said first bladder having a first position in which said first bladder limits movement of said first bladder relative to an inner surface of said passage and a second position in which said first bladder permits substantially free relative movement between said first bladder and said inner surface;a second bladder secured to said second barrel and having an interior, said second bladder having a first position in which said second bladder limits movement of said second bladder relative to an inner surface of said passage and a second position in which said second bladder permits substantially free relative movement between said first bladder and said inner surface;wherein a portion of said passage surrounding said tool defines a second pressure, said tool further comprising a plurality of valves at least a number of which are configured to cooperatively selectably control fluid to said first chamber to move said first barrel relative said first piston, to said second chamber to move said second barrel relative said second piston, to said interior of said first bladder to move said first bladder between said first position of said first bladder and said second position of said first bladder and to said interior of said second bladder to move said second bladder between said first position of said second bladder and said second position of said second bladder, at least a number of said plurality of valves configured to control the speed of said tool through said passage for a given differential between said first pressure and said second pressure and for a given load on said tool, and at least a number of said plurality of valves configured to limit the load on said first end of said string while said first barrel is in a position between said first end position and said second end position of said first barrel and said second barrel is in a position between said first end position and said second end position of said second barrel.