Combined Anti-Rotation and Flow Control Tool

Abstract

A combined anti-rotation and flow control tool comprises a tubular housing for connection with an oil production tubing string. A flow port in the side wall of the housing is selectively covered by a collar rotatably mounted on the tubular housing and including corresponding ports therein for selective alignment with the flow ports as the collar is rotated. An anti-rotation mechanism includes a fixed jaw on the tubular housing and a floating jaw on the collar for rotation therewith to vary the overall diameter of the tool as the floating jaw rotates relative to the fixed jaw. The collar and the floating jaw are coupled for movement together so that the flow ports are always in the open position when the anti-rotation mechanism is in a set position anchored against righthand rotation of the tubing string.

1 . An anti-rotation and flow control tool for use with an oil production tubing string in a stationary well casing, the tool comprising:
 a tubular housing extending in a longitudinal direction between an open top end and an open bottom end, at least the top end being arranged for threaded connection in series with the oil production tubing string;   a flow port formed through a side wall portion of the tubular housing;   a cover member supported on the housing for movement between a closed position in which the cover member spans the flow port and an open position in which the flow port is substantially unobstructed by the cover member; and   an anti-rotation mechanism supported on the housing for movement between an unset position and a set position in which an overall diameter of the tool is greater than in the unset position for anchoring the tubular housing against rotation in one direction relative to the stationary well casing;   the cover member and the anti-rotation mechanism being coupled for movement together such that the cover member is in the open position when the anti-rotation mechanism is in the set position.   
   
   
       2 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the flow port is fully open when the anti-rotation mechanism is set against righthand rotation of the tubing string in relation to the stationary well casing. 
   
   
       3 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the anti-rotation mechanism is operable from the unset position in a first direction into a first set position anchored against righthand rotation of the tubing string relative to the well casing and in a second direction into a second set position in which the tubing string is anchored against lefthand rotation in relation to the stationary well casing. 
   
   
       4 . The tool according to  claim 3  wherein there is provided a stop member selectively supported on the housing which is arranged to restrict movement of the anti-rotation mechanism in one of the first or second directions from the unset position. 
   
   
       5 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the flow port is nearer to the top end of the tubular housing than the bottom end. 
   
   
       6 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a rigid bar spanning diametrically across the tubular housing, the bar being supported below the flow port. 
   
   
       7 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a rigid bar spanning diametrically across the tubular housing, the bar being positioned adjacent the bottom end of the tubular housing, substantially below the anti-rotation mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a plurality of flow ports through the side wall portion of the tubular housing at circumferentially spaced positions. 
   
   
       9 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided two flow ports at diametrically opposed positions in the side wall portion of the tubular housing. 
   
   
       10 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the cover member comprises a collar rotatably supported about the tubular housing and including a corresponding port therein for selective alignment with the flow port in the tubular housing. 
   
   
       11 . The tool according to  claim 10  wherein a portion of the anti-rotation mechanism is supported on the collar. 
   
   
       12 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the bottom end of the tubular housing is threaded for connection in series with tubing of the tubing string. 
   
   
       13 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom ends of the tubular housing are fixed in relation to one another. 
   
   
       14 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises a fixed jaw projecting radially from the tubular housing in fixed relation therewith and a floating jaw projecting radially from the housing for rotation about a central axis of the tubular housing. 
   
   
       15 . The tool according to  claim 14  wherein the cover member comprises a collar rotatably supported about the tubular housing and wherein the floating jaw is mounted on the collar for rotation with the collar relative to the housing. 
   
   
       16 . The tool according to  claim 15  wherein there is provided a circumferential slot in one of the collar or the housing and a stop mounted on the other of the collar or the housing, the stop member being slidable along the slot as the fixed jaw is displaced relative to the floating jaw. 
   
   
       17 . The tool according to  claim 14  wherein the flow port is in the open position when the fixed jaw is rotated from the unset position more than 90° in a righthand direction relative to the floating jaw. 
   
   
       18 . The tool according to  claim 17  wherein the flow port is fully open when the jaws are rotated near 110° degrees relative to one another. 
   
   
       19 . The tool according to  claim 14  wherein the floating jaw projects radially outwardly from a central axis of the tubular housing greater than the fixed jaw. 
   
   
       20 . The tool according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a plurality of projections extending from the bottom end of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the housing at circumferentially spaced positions about the housing.