Downhole Tool Coupling and Method of its Use

Abstract

A downhole tool coupling ( 10 ) comprises first ( 11 ) and second ( 12 ) downhole tool elements that are securable one to the other in a releasably locking manner by moving the tool elements from a longitudinally relatively less proximate, especially overlapping position into longitudinally relatively more overlap with one another. The first downhole tool element ( 11 ) supports a first inductive, capacitative and/or magnetic energy coupler ( 23 ) and the second downhole tool element ( 12 ) supports a second inductive, capacitative and/or magnetic energy coupler ( 24 ). The first and second energy couplers ( 23, 24 ) are moveable from an energetically uncoupled position when the tool elements ( 11, 12 ) are in the longitudinally relatively less overlapping position to an energetically coupled position when the first and second downhole tool elements ( 11, 12 ) overlap relatively more.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool coupling, comprising:
 first and second downhole tool elements that are securable one to the other in a releasably locking manner by moving the tool elements from a longitudinally relatively less proximate position into longitudinally closer positioning relative to one another,   the first downhole tool element supporting at least one first inductive, capacitative and/or magnetic energy coupler and the second downhole tool element supporting at least one second inductive, capacitative and/or magnetic energy coupler,   the first and second energy couplers being moveable from an energetically uncoupled position when the tool elements are in the longitudinally relatively less proximate position to an energetically coupled position when the first and second downhole tool elements are closer to one another,   wherein the first and second downhole tool elements are coupleable elements of a logging toolstring, and wherein when the first and second energy couplers are energetically coupled the downhole tool coupling permits transmission of log data and/or control commands and/or landing data and/or electrical power.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein in the relatively less proximate position the first and second downhole tool elements longitudinally overlap one another less than when the first and second downhole tool elements relatively are closer to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein in the relatively less proximate position the first and second downhole tool elements are longitudinally non-overlapping and when they are relatively closer to one another they are also longitudinally non-overlapping while being energetically coupled one to the other. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein in the relatively less proximate position the first and second downhole tool elements are longitudinally non-overlapping and when they are relatively closer to one another they are also longitudinally non-overlapping while being energetically coupled one to the other. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second downhole tool elements each respectively include one or more formations that are mutually releasably interengageable in order releasably lockingly to secure the first and second tool elements one to the other. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first downhole tool element includes formed therein a hollow recess that terminates in an opening on a surface of the first downhole tool element; and wherein the second downhole tool element includes a protuberance that is insertable in the hollow recess, the extent of insertion of the protuberance in the hollow recess depending on the amount of relative proximity of the first and second downhole tool elements. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first and second downhole tool elements each respectively include one or more formations that are mutually releasably interengageable in order releasably lockingly to secure the first and second tool elements one to the other;   wherein the first downhole tool element includes formed therein a hollow recess that terminates in an opening on a surface of the first downhole tool element;   wherein the second downhole tool element includes a protuberance that is insertable in the hollow recess, the extent of insertion of the protuberance in the hollow recess depending on the amount of relative proximity of the first and second downhole tool elements; and   wherein the formations releasably lockingly engage one another when the protuberance is inserted in the hollow recess such that the first and second downhole tool elements are relatively close to one another, to a maximal extent corresponding to landing of the first and second downhole tool elements one on the other.   
     
     
         8 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially when the first and second downhole tool elements are relatively close to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially when the first and second downhole tool elements are relatively close to one another; and wherein the first energy coupler is or includes an annulus that, when the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially, surrounds the second energy coupler over at least part of its length. 
     
     
         10 . The coupling of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially when the first and second downhole tool elements are relatively close to one another;   wherein the first energy coupler is or includes an annulus that, when the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially, surrounds the second energy coupler over at least part of its length; and   wherein, when the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially, the first energy coupler overlaps the second energy coupler over at least 50% of the length of the second energy coupler.   
     
     
         11 . The coupling of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially when the first and second downhole tool elements are relatively close to one another;   wherein the first energy coupler is or includes an annulus that, when the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially, surrounds the second energy coupler over at least part of its length; and   wherein, when the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially, the second energy coupler overlaps the first energy coupler over at least 50% of the length of the first energy coupler.   
     
     
         12 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially when the first and second downhole tool elements are relatively close to one another; and wherein the first energy coupler is or includes an annulus that, when the first and second energy couplers longitudinally overlap at least partially, surrounds the second energy coupler over at least part of its length and wherein the second energy coupler is insertable into the annulus of the first energy coupler. 
     
     
         13 . The coupling of  claim 9 , including one or more shields surrounding the first and/or the second energy coupler so as to prevent contact between the energy couplers on insertion of the second energy coupler into the annulus of the first energy coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The coupling of  claim 1 , including a pair of said first energy couplers and a pair of said second energy couplers. 
     
     
         15 . The coupling of  claim 14 , wherein one of the first energy couplers couples electrical power and wherein a corresponding one of the second energy couplers also couples electrical power; and wherein the other of the first energy couplers couples data and a corresponding one of the second energy couplers also couples data. 
     
     
         16 . The coupling of  claim 1 , including one or more auxiliary energy couplers that create an energy coupling between the first and second energy couplers when the first and second tool elements overlap more. 
     
     
         17 . The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary energy coupler is or includes a rigid member. 
     
     
         18 . The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary energy coupler is flexible or includes a flexible member. 
     
     
         19 . The coupling of  claim 16 , including one or more auxiliary energy couplers that create an energy coupling between the first and second energy couplers when the first and second tool elements overlap more and wherein the auxiliary energy coupler is or includes a fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The coupling of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary energy coupler is electrically conducting and/or is magnetically conducting. 
     
     
         21 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy couplers are each selected from the group consisting of an electrical inductor, a capacitor, a magnetic inductor or an optical coupler, the first and second energy couplers being such as to couple energy and/or data when the first and second tool elements are relatively closer to one another. 
     
     
         22 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy couplers are each selected from the group consisting of an electrical inductor, a capacitor, a magnetic inductor, or an optical coupler, the first and second energy couplers being such as to couple energy and/or data when the first and second tool elements are relatively closer to one another; and wherein the first and second energy couplers are magnetic couplers and the one or more auxiliary energy couplers includes a conductor of magnetic energy. 
     
     
         23 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the second energy coupler is or includes a hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         24 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first downhole tool element is or includes a latching sub of a sonde. 
     
     
         25 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first downhole tool element is or includes a latching sub of a sonde; and wherein the first energy coupler is or includes an annulus that lines part of the hollow interior of the latching sub. 
     
     
         26 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the second downhole tool element is or includes a further downhole component terminating at its in-use uphole end in a fishing neck. 
     
     
         27 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the second downhole tool element is or includes a further downhole component terminating at its in-use uphole end in a fishing neck; and wherein the second energy coupler is or includes an annulus that encircles part of the fishing neck. 
     
     
         28 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first energy coupler is operatively connected to wireline, to a data recording sonde and/or to a data recording memory device. 
     
     
         29 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the second energy coupler is operatively connected to a data recording sonde and/or to a data recording memory device. 
     
     
         30 . A method of coupling tools in a downhole location, the method comprising:
 securing first and second downhole tool elements of a downhole tool coupling one to the other in a releasably locking manner by moving the tool elements from a longitudinally relatively less proximate position into longitudinally relatively closer positioning one relative to the other,   thereby energetically coupling the first and second energy couplers in a data, power and/or command transferring manner as the first and second downhole tool elements become closer to one another.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further including one or more of:
 a. transmitting log data between the first and second tool elements;   b. transmitting one or more control and/or commands between the first and second tool elements;   c. transmitting landing data from the second to the first tool element; and   d. transmitting electrical power from the first to the second downhole tool element.