Wireless pipe recovery and perforating system

Abstract

A system for positioning a wireless pipe recovery tool in a wellbore, the system having a series of locator pipe subs inserted along the length of a pipe string in a wellbore, wherein each locator pipe sub has a seat disposed around its internal periphery so as to form an aperture of s smaller diameter than the diameter of the pipe sub. The pipe subs have apertures of varied diameter and are consecutively arranged along the pipe string so that the aperture diameters decrease with increasing depth. A locator housing selected from a plurality of locator housings of varied outer diameter is attached to the wireless pipe recovery tool, the outer diameter of the locator housing selected to be slightly larger than the aperture in which the tool is intended to seat.

1 . A system for positioning a downhole device in the interior of a pipe string, said system comprising:
 a. a plurality of tubular pipe sections, each section formed along a primary axis and characterized by an inner diameter so as to form a cross-section perpendicular to said primary axis, each pipe section further including at least one restriction formed in the cross-section of said pipe section, said restriction characterized by an aperture having an inner perimeter that is less than the inner diameter of the pipe section, wherein each of the plurality of pipe sections has an aperture with an inner perimeter different than those of the other pipe sections;   b. a plurality of locator housings, each disposed to be secured to a downhole device, each housing characterized by outer perimeter, wherein each select housing is associated with a given pipe section, wherein the outer perimeter of said select housing is larger than the inner perimeter of the restriction formed in said associated pipe section.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pipe sections are aligned along an axis characterized by a first end and a second end, wherein the pipe section with the largest inner perimeter is at the first end of the axis and the pipe section with the smallest inner perimeter is at the second end of the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of pipe sections are arranged consecutively along said axis from the pipe section with the largest inner perimeter to the pipe section with the smallest inner perimeter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  comprising at least three tubular pipe sections. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  comprising at least five tubular pipe sections. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  comprising at least ten tubular pipe sections. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each aperture is substantially circular and said inner perimeter of each aperture is characterized by an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter of each pipe section is different than the inner diameters of the other pipe sections. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pipe string having a multiplicity of drill pipe sections, wherein said plurality of tubular pipe sections are spaced apart from one another and interspersed with said drill pipe sections along said pipe string. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each housings is characterized by a circular cross-sectional area and an outer diameter, wherein each select housing is associated with a given pipe section, wherein the outer diameter of said select housing is larger than the inner diameter of the restriction formed in said associated pipe section. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housings are round in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housings are oval in shape. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a collar. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a ring. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a downhole tool on which the housing is mounted. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cylinder on which the housing is mounted, said cylinder having a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said cylinder is comprised of an outer cylinder wall so as to define an internal cylinder annulus, wherein at least one port passing through the cylinder wall is provided adjacent said first end so as to be in fluid communication with said annulus. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said second end is open to said annulus and further comprising internal threads in said wall adjacent said second open end. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an attachment mechanism secured to said first end of said cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said attachment mechanism is a fishing neck. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a. a cylinder on which the housing is mounted, said cylinder having a first end and a second end, said cylinder is comprised of an outer cylinder wall so as to define an internal cylinder annulus, wherein at least one port passing through the cylinder wall is provided adjacent said first end so as to be in fluid communication with said annulus, wherein said second end is open to said annulus; and   b. a firing head attached to the second end of said cylinder, said firing head comprised of a tubular member in which a piston is slidingly mounted, said piston having a pressure surface in fluid communication with said annulus of said cylinder, said piston secured to a firing pin and disposed to move said firing pin axially within said tubular member.   
     
     
         21 . A method for positioning a downhole device in the interior of a pipe string extending into a wellbore:
 a. Providing a plurality of tubular pipe sections, each section formed along a primary axis and characterized by an inner diameter so as to form a cross-section perpendicular to said primary axis, each pipe section further including at least one restriction formed in the cross-section of said pipe section, said restriction characterized by an aperture having an inner perimeter that is less than the inner diameter of the pipe section, wherein each of the plurality of pipe sections has an aperture with an inner perimeter different than those of the other pipe sections;   b. Deploying the plurality of pipe sections in a pipe string extending into a wellbore, wherein, wherein the pipe section with the largest inner perimeter is closest to the surface and the pipe section with the smallest inner perimeter is closest to the bottom of the wellbore;   c. Providing a plurality of housings, each disposed to be secured to a downhole device, each housing characterized by outer perimeter, wherein each select housing is associated with a given pipe section, wherein the outer perimeter of said select housing is larger than the inner perimeter of the restriction formed in said associated pipe section;   d. Identifying a selected pipe section in which a downhole tool is to be placed;   e. Attaching the housing associated with the selected pipe section to the downhole tool;   f. Conveying the downhole tool down the pipe string until the housing thereon seats in the restriction formed in the pipe section associated with the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of pipe sections are arranged consecutively along said pipe string from the pipe section with the largest inner perimeter to the pipe section with the smallest inner perimeter. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said downhole tool is conveyed down the pipe string by dropping the tool down the pipe string. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said downhole tool is conveyed down the pipe string by lowering the tool down the pipe string. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said downhole tool is lowered on a wireline. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said downhole tool is lowered on a non-conductive line. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said downhole tool is lowered on coiled tubing. 
     
     
         28 . Plurality of pipe sections are arranged consecutively along said pipe string from the pipe section with the largest inner perimeter to the pipe section with the smallest inner perimeter. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of determining the location within the pipe string where a tool is to be positioned; identifying the closest restriction in the pipe string to said location; calculating the distance between the location and the identified restriction; and securing an elongated extension to the downhole tool between the downhole tool and the housing, said extension selected to approximately coincide with the calculated distance. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said determined location is below the identified restriction. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said determined location is above the identified restriction. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said downhole tool comprises a firing head. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said downhole tool is conveyed down the pipe string by pumping the tool down the pipe string. 
     
     
         34 . A method for positioning a downhole device in the interior of a pipe string extending into a wellbore:
 a. Providing a plurality of tubular pipe sections, each section formed along a primary axis and characterized by an inner diameter so as to form a cross-section perpendicular to said primary axis, each pipe section further including at least one restriction formed in the cross-section of said pipe section, said restriction characterized by an aperture having an inner perimeter that is less than the inner diameter of the pipe section, wherein each of the plurality of pipe sections has an aperture with an inner perimeter different than those of the other pipe sections;   b. Providing a plurality of housings, each disposed to be secured to a downhole device, each housing characterized by outer perimeter, wherein each select housing is associated with a given pipe section, wherein the outer perimeter of said select housing is larger than the inner perimeter of the restriction formed in said associated pipe section;   c. Positioning at least one of said pipe sections at a known depth in said wellbore;   d. Selecting from the plurality of housings having varied outer diameters a housing having an outer diameter slightly larger that the inner diameter of the positioned pipe section; and   e. Conveying said housing through said pipestring until said housing seats in said restriction formed in said positioned pipe section.   
     
     
         35 . A pipe string sub for use in wellbore, said pipe string sub comprising: an elongated tubular pipe having a first end and a second end and an inner diameter, said pipe having a first outer diameter adjacent the first and second ends of the pipe, said pipe having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter defined along a length of said pipe between said first and second ends, wherein said inner diameter is substantially constant between said first and second ends. 
     
     
         36 . The pipe string sub of  claim 35 , wherein the pipe is characterized by a first section adjacent said first end and having said first outer diameter, a second section adjacent said second end and having said first outer diameter and a middle section between said first and second ends and having said second outer diameter. 
     
     
         37 . The pipe string sub of  claim 36 , wherein the first and second sections are longer than the middle section. 
     
     
         38 . The pipe string sub of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first, second and middle sections are elongated. 
     
     
         39 . The pipe string sub of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first and middle sections are elongated and the second section is shorter than the first and middle sections. 
     
     
         40 . The pipe string sub of  claim 35 , further comprising a blowout plug formed in said tubular pipe. 
     
     
         41 . The pipe string sub of  claim 36 , further comprising a blowout plug formed in said second section of said tubular pipe. 
     
     
         42 . The pipe string sub of  claim 35 , further comprising a sleeve secured to said tubular pipe around the length of said pipe having said second outer diameter. 
     
     
         43 . The pipe string sub of  claim 42 , wherein said sleeve is secured to said tubular pipe by engaged threads, said threads being provided externally on said tubular pipe and internally on said sleeve. 
     
     
         44 . The pipe string sub of  claim 42 , wherein said sleeve is secured to said tubular pipe at a point along said pipe between said first end and the length of pipe having the second outer diameter. 
     
     
         45 . The pipe string sub of  claim 42 , wherein said tubular pipe further comprises an external shoulder defined at a point along said pipe between said second end and the length of pipe having the second outer diameter, and wherein said sleeve has a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of the sleeve is secured to said tubular pipe and said second end of said sleeve seats against said shoulder. 
     
     
         46 . The pipe string sub of  claim 42 , wherein said sleeve further comprises a plurality of apertures along its length. 
     
     
         47 . The pipe string sub of  claim 42 , wherein an annular flow space is defined between the sleeve and the second outer diameter of said tubular pipe. 
     
     
         48 . The pipe string sub of  claim 42 , wherein said first end of said tubular pipe is detachable from said second end of said tubular pipe. 
     
     
         49 . The pipe string sub of  claim 35 , wherein said tubular pipe further comprises a ring disposed along said inner diameter adjacent said first end, thereby forming a restriction in said inner diameter. 
     
     
         50 . The pipe string sub of  claim 35 , wherein said tubular pipe further comprises a restriction formed along said inner diameter adjacent said first end of said tubular pipe. 
     
     
         51 . The pipe string sub of  claim 35 , wherein said tubular pipe further comprises a threaded pin box at its first end and a threaded ring disposed in said pin box. 
     
     
         52 . A firing head for use in wellbore, said firing head comprising:
 a. an elongated tubular housing having a first end, a second end and an outer diameter with an inner annulus formed therein, said housing having a fishing neck defined at said first end and a first port provided adjacent thereto, said first port in fluid communication with said inner annulus;   b. a firing pin disposed in the inner annulus; and   c. a percussion detonator disposed in the inner annuls adjacent said firing pin.   
     
     
         53 . The firing head of  claim 52 , further comprising a second port removed from said first port disposed in said tubular housing at a point along its length, said second port in fluid communication with said annulus. 
     
     
         54 . The firing head of  claim 53 , further comprising a piston slidingly mounted in said annulus and movable between a first position adjacent said second port so as to block fluid flow between said second port and said annulus and a second position removed from said first port so as to permit flow between said second port and said annulus. 
     
     
         55 . The firing head of  claim 53 , further comprising a sleeve slidingly mounted on said tubular housing and movable between a first position adjacent said second port so as to block fluid flow between said second port and said annulus and a second position removed from said first port so as to permit flow between said second port and said annulus. 
     
     
         56 . The firing head of  claim 54 , wherein said firing pin is attached to said piston. 
     
     
         57 . The firing head of  claim 55 , wherein said firing pin is attached to said sleeve. 
     
     
         58 . The firing head of  claim 54 , wherein said piston is provided with an upper pressure surface exposed to said annulus. 
     
     
         59 . The firing head of  claim 55 , wherein said sleeve is provided with a pressure surface exposed to said annulus. 
     
     
         60 . The firing head of  claim 52 , further comprising a locator housing mounted on said elongated housing, said locator housing having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the elongated housing. 
     
     
         61 . The firing head of  claim 60 , wherein said locator housing is mounted on said elongated housing adjacent said first end. 
     
     
         62 . The firing head of  claim 60 , wherein said locator housing is mounted on said elongated housing between said first and second ports. 
     
     
         63 . The firing head of  claim 53 , further comprising a piston slidingly mounted in said annulus and movable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         64 . The firing head of  claim 63 , wherein said firing pin is attached to said piston. 
     
     
         65 . The firing head of  claim 53 , wherein said firing pin is secured in the inner annulus by one or more shearing pins.