A downhole tool

Abstract

A downhole tool, comprising: an inner body, having a first connection to connect the tool to an immediately upper component in a drill string and to receive fluid from the immediately upper component, and a second connection to connect the tool to an immediately lower component in a drill string and to deliver fluid to the immediately lower component, the inner body defining a flow bore therealong which communicates between the first connection and the second connection; an outer body disposed around at least a part of the inner body; a plurality of first protrusions extending outwardly from the inner body; a plurality of second protrusions extending inwardly from the outer body; a plurality of pressure chambers, each pressure chamber at least partly defined on an inner side by the inner body and on an outer side by the outer body, and at least partly defined on upper and lower sides by one of the first protrusions and one of the second protrusions; and a plurality of first flow ports, each of the first flow ports allowing fluid communication between the flow bore and one of the pressure chambers, wherein: the outer body is axially movable with respect to the inner body, in a direction which is parallel or substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tool, such that introduction of pressurised fluid into the pressure chambers tends to drive the outer body axially with respect to the inner body; and the tool further comprises a component which is activated or operated by axial movement of the outer body with respect to the inner body.

Description

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Claims

1. A downhole tool, comprising: an inner body, having a first connection to connect the downhole tool to an immediately upper component in a drill string and to receive fluid from the immediately upper component, and a second connection to connect the downhole tool to an immediately lower component in a drill string and to deliver fluid to the immediately lower component, the inner body defining a flow bore therealong which communicates between the first connection and the second connection; an outer body disposed around at least a part of the inner body; a plurality of first protrusions extending outwardly from the inner body; a plurality of second protrusions extending inwardly from the outer body; a plurality of pressure chambers, each pressure chamber at least partly defined on an inner side by the inner body and on an outer side by the outer body, and at least partly defined on upper and lower sides by one of the first protrusions and one of the second protrusions; and a plurality of first flow ports, each of the plurality of first flow ports allowing fluid communication between the flow bore and one of the pressure chambers, wherein: the outer body is axially movable with respect to the inner body, in a direction which is parallel or substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool, such that introduction of pressurised fluid into the pressure chambers tends to drive the outer body axially with respect to the inner body; the first connection, the second connection and the plurality of first protrusions are fixed to one another and, in use of the downhole tool, will not substantially move axially relative to one another; and the downhole tool further comprises a component which is activated or operated by axial movement of the outer body with respect to the inner body.

2. The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pressure chambers is below the component, and at least one of the pressure chambers is above the component.

3. The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the inner body comprises a plurality of piston inners, and the outer body comprises a plurality of corresponding piston outers, each piston outer at least partially surrounding a corresponding piston inner to form a piston which includes one of the pressure chambers.

4. The downhole tool according to claim 3, wherein each piston inner includes an outwardly-protruding flange, which comprises one of the first protrusions.

5. The downhole tool according to claim 3, wherein each piston outer includes an inwardly-protruding flange, which comprises one of the second protrusions.

6. The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the inner body comprises a shaft, which extends continuously between the first connection and the component.

7. The downhole tool according to claim 6, wherein the first protrusions comprise piston members that are attached to the shaft.

8. The downhole tool according to claim 6, wherein the outer body comprises a plurality of piston outers, each piston outer at least partially surrounding a corresponding one of the first protrusions to form a piston which includes one of the pressure chambers.

9. The downhole tool according to claim 8, wherein each piston outer includes an inwardly-protruding flange, which comprises one of the second protrusions.

10. The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the component comprises one or more elements which are driven radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the inner body by axial movement of the outer body with respect to the inner body.

11. The downhole tool according to claim 10, wherein the elements comprise blades or cutters.

12. The downhole tool according to claim 10, wherein: the downhole tool has a first configuration, in which the elements are retracted; the downhole tool has a second configuration, in which the elements are activated, and protrude radially outwardly to a greater extent from a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool than in the first configuration.

13. A method of perforating a wellbore casing, comprising the steps of: providing a drill string including the downhole tool according to claim 10; running the drill string into a wellbore having a casing, to a desired depth; and activating the downhole tool to drive the elements outwardly into engagement with the casing.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of: including the downhole tool in a drill string; further including a casing cutter in the drill string; and cutting the casing of the wellbore using the casing cutter during the same trip into the wellbore.

15. The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the pressure chambers comprise at least one first pressure chamber, communicating with the flow bore, wherein the introduction of pressurised fluid into the first pressure chamber tends to drive the outer body axially with respect to the inner body in a first direction, and at least one second pressure chamber, communicating with the flow bore, wherein the introduction of pressurised fluid into the second pressure chamber tends to drive the outer body axially with respect to the inner body in a second direction, which is opposite or substantially opposite to the first direction.

16. The downhole tool according to claim 15, further comprising an isolation arrangement, wherein when the isolation arrangement is activated fluid flow from the first connection to the first pressure chamber is blocked or substantially blocked, and fluid may flow from the first connection to the second pressure chamber.

17. The downhole tool according to claim 1, further comprising a vent allowing fluid flow from the flow bore to an exterior of the downhole tool, and wherein the vent is open at or near a limit of motion of the outer body with respect to the inner body in a first direction, and closed during other relative positions between the inner body and the outer body.

18. The downhole tool according to claim 1, comprising a latch arrangement which may be moved between an engaged state and a disengaged state, and where when the latch arrangement is in the engaged state, the latch arrangement substantially prevents relative axial movement of the inner body and the outer body.

19. The downhole tool according to claim 18, wherein the latch arrangement comprises: a latch element having a resilient part, the latch element being carried by or fixed in relation to one of the inner body and the outer body; a receiver having a recess in which a part of the latch element is received, the receiver being carried by, or fixed in relation to, the other one of the inner body and the outer body.

20. The downhole tool according to claim 19, wherein the latch arrangement further comprises a blocking component which, in a first position, prevents the resilient part of the latch element from deforming to allow the part of the latch element to be removed from the recess, and in a second position does not prevent the resilient part of the latch element from deforming to allow the part of the latch element to be removed from the recess.