초록 ▼

A tool and associated method allows a liner top to be dressed. Then while maintaining a lateral port closed the tool can be used to circulate while being rotated and reciprocated. The tool features discrete j-slot mechanisms. The upper j-slot allows the lateral port to initially open while the lower

A tool and associated method allows a liner top to be dressed. Then while maintaining a lateral port closed the tool can be used to circulate while being rotated and reciprocated. The tool features discrete j-slot mechanisms. The upper j-slot allows the lateral port to initially open while the lower j-slot keeps the lateral port open despite movement of the tool in opposed directions in the hole due to a barrier to the pin in the lower j-slot. When enough weight is set or the barrier is otherwise removed, the lateral port can be closed and the test packer set by set down weight with the lateral port closed. After the packer is unset the lateral ports can be reopened and circulation and swiveling on a bearing can occur even if the packer is temporarily actuated from the setting down motion that reopened the lateral ports.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A circulation tool for downhole use, comprising: a body having a lateral port and a mandrel having a passage and a mandrel port communicating with said passage, said body and mandrel relatively movable between two positions where said ports are either aligned for flow therethrough to o

We claim: 1. A circulation tool for downhole use, comprising: a body having a lateral port and a mandrel having a passage and a mandrel port communicating with said passage, said body and mandrel relatively movable between two positions where said ports are either aligned for flow therethrough to or from said passage and misaligned where there is no appreciable flow therethrough, said tool initially movable between said first and a second positions by at least setting down weight on the tool while it is supported downhole; said tool retaining said second position when subsequently picked up more than one time from the support downhole or set down on the support with a force below a predetermined value, whereupon application of a setting down force in excess of said predetermined value, said tool returns to said first position. 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein: said tool returns to said first position after being picked up after said set down that is accomplished with said predetermined force. 3. The tool of claim 2, wherein: said tool, after being set down with said predetermined force when in said second position, can no longer retain said second position when subsequently picked up and set down. 4. The tool of claim 2, wherein: said tool, after being set down with said predetermined force when in said second position, can still retain said second position when subsequently picked up and set down. 5. The tool of claim 4, wherein: said body and said mandrel are movably connected via a j-slot assembly comprising a pin mounted to one of said body and said mandrel and movable in a circumferentially disposed slot mounted to the other of said body and said mandrel; said pin encountering a biased obstruction that only allows further travel in said slot when a predetermined force that overcomes said bias is applied to it. 6. The tool of claim 5, wherein: said tool retaining said second position despite one or more pin contacts with said obstruction that each do not exceed said predetermined force. 7. The tool of claim 6, wherein: upon application of said predetermined force, said pin can advance in said slot past said obstruction so as to allow the tool to return to said first position. 8. The tool of claim 7, wherein: said bias resets said obstruction after said pin clears it with said predetermined force only to have said pin again encounter said obstruction so that for another time the second position can be retained as long as a predetermined force on said pin is not exceeded. 9. The tool of claim 8, wherein: said ports are misaligned in said first position and aligned in said second position. 10. The tool of claim 3, wherein: said body and said mandrel are movably connected via a j-slot assembly comprising a pin mounted to one of said body and said mandrel and movable in a circumferentially disposed slot mounted to the other of said body and said mandrel; said pin encountering an obstruction that only allows further travel in said slot when a predetermined force that overcomes said bias is applied to it. 11. The tool of claim 10, wherein: said obstruction is disabled once initially overcome by said predetermined force. 12. The tool of claim 11, wherein: said ports are misaligned in said first position and aligned in said second position. 13. The tool of claim 3, wherein: said body and said mandrel are movably connected and selectively retained to each other via a snap ring in one of said body and said mandrel and a first groove in the other of said body and said mandrel; whereupon initial setting down weight on the tool said snap ring enters said first groove and straddles said mandrel and said body to selectively retain the tool in said second position against movement in a first direction. 14. The tool of claim 13, further comprising: a travel stop selectively preventing sufficient movement in a second direction as long as a predetermined force applied to it is not exceeded, said force being in a direction opposite said first direction. 15. The tool of claim 14, wherein: upon application of a predetermined force to said travel stop, said snap ring no longer straddles said body and said mandrel. 16. The tool of claim 15, wherein: said travel stop is retained by at least one shear pin; upon breaking of said pin a second groove is presented in alignment with said snap ring allowing it to move radially so that it no longer straddles said body and said mandrel. 17. The tool of claim 16, wherein: said second groove is deeper in a radial direction toward a longitudinal axis of said mandrel than said first groove. 18. The tool of claim 17, wherein: said ports are misaligned in said first position and aligned in said second position.