Downhole multi-action jetting tool

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a wellbore casing includes an outer housing having an axial through passage between an inlet and a first outlet wherein the inlet and the first outlet are adapted for connection in a work string, the outer housing having a second outlet extending in a direction generally transversely of the through passage, an index mandrel slidably located within the outer housing and having an axial bore extending therethrough, the index mandrel being movable relative to the outer housing between a first position in which the second outlet is closed and a second position in which the second outlet is open, a ball seat located on an upper end of the index mandrel, a spring located within the outer housing and biasing the index mandrel toward the first position, a ball retainable on the ball seat to prevent flow from the inlet to the first outlet, and wherein application of a first pressure on the ball forces the index mandrel against the spring into the second position and reduction of said first pressure permits return of the index mandrel to the second position.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning a wellbore casing comprising: 
 an outer housing having an axial through passage between an inlet and a first outlet wherein the inlet and the first outlet are adapted for connection in a work string, the outer housing having a second outlet extending in a direction generally transversely of the through passage;    an index mandrel slidably located within the outer housing and having an axial bore extending therethrough, the index mandrel being movable relative to the outer housing between a first position in which the second outlet is closed and a second position in which the second outlet is open;    a ball seat located on an upper end of the index mandrel;    a spring located within the outer housing and biasing the index mandrel toward the first position;    a ball retainable on the ball seat to prevent flow from the inlet to the first outlet; and    wherein application of a first pressure on the ball forces the index mandrel against the spring into the second position and reduction of said first pressure permits return of the index mandrel to the second position.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an indexing pin retained on an inner surface of the outer housing;    wherein the index mandrel has an indexing groove in an outer surface; and    wherein the indexing pin cooperates with the indexing groove to position the index mandrel in the first position and the second position.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the index mandrel has a third position, between the first position and the second position, in which the second outlet is closed.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a jet housing around the outer housing, the jet housing including a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the second outlet and positioned to direct fluid received from the second outlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial through passage.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the jet housing further comprises: 
 a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the second outlet and positioned to direct fluid received from the second outlet in a direction substantially tangent to the jet housing.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the jet housing is rotatable about the outer housing.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is deformable to be pushed through the ball seat and discharged through the first outlet.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a ball catcher sub positioned below the outer housing, the ball catcher sub comprising: 
 a ball catcher housing having a ball catcher axial through passage between a ball catcher inlet and a ball catcher outlet wherein the ball catcher inlet and the ball catcher outlet are adapted for connection in a work string;  
 a trap finger pivotally retained within the ball catcher housing, wherein the trap finger is pivotable to receive the ball when discharged from the first outlet;  
 a ball catcher tube retained within the ball housing and having a length and an inner diameter sufficient to hold a plurality of balls; and  
 wherein an annulus is formed between the ball catcher tube and the ball catcher housing sufficient for fluid to be communicated through the ball catcher sub.  
   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the trap finger pivots downward to receive the ball within the ball catcher tube and cannot pivot upwards, thereby preventing the ball from escaping the ball catcher tube when fluid is reverse circulated through the axial through passage.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ball catcher tube has a plurality of holes therein to communicate fluid from the ball catcher tube to the annulus.  
   
   
       11 . A method of cleaning an inner surface of a casing in a wellbore comprising: 
 lowering a jetting tool on a work string into the wellbore to a desired location, wherein the jetting tool has an outer housing with an axial through passage between an inlet and a first outlet, the outer housing also having a second outlet substantially transverse to the axial through passage, and an index housing slidingly retained within the outer housing in a first position such that the second outlet is closed, the index housing having a ball seat on an upper end and being biased toward the first position;    dropping a ball into the axial through passage to rest on the ball seat, thereby preventing fluid flow between the inlet and the first outlet of the axial through passage, causing fluid pressure to force the index housing to a second position wherein the second outlet is open;    circulating fluid from the axial through passage and the second outlet at a fluid pressure sufficient to clean the casing;    decreasing the fluid pressure to return the index housing to the first position;    increasing the fluid pressure to move the index housing to a third position wherein the second outlet is closed; and    wherein the increased fluid pressure is sufficient to shear the ball from the ball seat, thereby reducing the fluid pressure on the index housing causing it to return to the first position.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 rotating the jetting tool while circulating the fluid to direct the circulating fluid circumferentially around the inner surface of the casing.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 raising and lowering the jetting tool in the wellbore while circulating the fluid to clean a longitudinal area of the inner surface of the casing.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 positioning the jetting tool within the blowout preventor; and    circulating the fluid from the axial through passage and the second outlet at a fluid pressure sufficient to clean the blowout preventor.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 catching the ball in a ball catcher located below the index housing.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 reverse circulating the fluid through the axial through passage; and    retaining the ball in the ball catcher with a trap finger during reverse circulation.    
   
   
       17 . A method of opening and closing an outlet through a side of a cylindrical outer housing of a jetting tool in a wellbore, the method comprising: 
 biasing the index housing to an upward position within the outer housing in which the index housing is blocking the fluid outlet through the side of the outer housing;    dropping a ball to seal against a ball seat located at the upper end of the index housing and block fluid flow through the jetting tool;    forcing the index housing to a lower position inside the outer housing as a result of increased pressure behind the ball, wherein the fluid outlet through the side of the outer housing is open;    reducing the fluid pressure on the ball to permit the biasing of the index housing towards the upward position, wherein the fluid outlet through the side of the outer housing is closed; and    increasing the fluid pressure on the ball to a pressure sufficient to shear the ball through the ball seat, thereby permitting the index housing to return to the upward position.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid pressure is increased and decreased a quantity of times to open and close the fluid outlet through the side of the outer housing before increasing the fluid pressure sufficient to shear the ball.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 dropping a second ball after shearing the first ball to seal against the ball seat and block fluid flow through the jetting tool;    repeating the forcing, repeating, and increasing steps.