Downhole Torqueing

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for performing downhole torqueing. The apparatus may be a downhole tool for rotating a first downhole equipment disposed within a wellbore. The downhole tool may include first and second rotative members operable to rotate relative to each other along an axis of the downhole tool. The downhole tool may further include a first gripping member connected with the first rotative member and operable to engage the first downhole equipment, and a second gripping member connected with the second rotative member and operable to engage a second downhole equipment. An actuator may be operable to impart a force to cause the relative rotation between the first and second rotative members thereby causing rotation of the first downhole equipment when the first gripping member is connected with the first downhole equipment and the second gripping member is connected with the second downhole equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a downhole tool for moving downhole equipment disposed within a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises:
 a first member comprising a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature each extending along an outer surface of the first member; 
 a second member comprising a third engagement feature extending along a surface of the second member; and 
 a third member comprising a fourth engagement feature extending along a surface of the third member; 
 wherein the first and third engagement features are engaged and the second and fourth engagement features are engaged such that axial movement of the first member with respect to the second and third members causes relative movement between the second and third members. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first member is or comprises a shaft, the outer surface of the first member is an outer surface of the shaft, and the first and second engagement features extend along the outer surface of the shaft; 
 the second member is or comprises a first sleeve, the surface of the second member is an inner surface of the first sleeve, the third engagement feature extends along the inner surface, and the first sleeve is slidably disposed about the shaft such that the first and third engagement features engage; 
 the third member is or comprises a second sleeve, the surface of the third member is an inner surface of the second sleeve, the fourth engagement feature extends along the inner surface of the second sleeve, and the second sleeve is slidably disposed about the shaft such that the second and fourth engagement features engage; and 
 the axial movement of the shaft with respect to the first and second sleeves causes relative rotational movement between the first and second sleeves. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first engagement feature extends at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first member, wherein the second engagement feature extends at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first member, and wherein the first and second angles are different. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole tool further comprises a linear actuator operatively connected with the first member and operable to axially move the first member with respect to the second and third members. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole tool is operable to:
 impart an axial force to the first member to generate a relative torque between the second and third members causing the relative rotational movement between the second and third members; and 
 engage the downhole equipment to transfer the relative torque from the second and third members to the downhole equipment causing rotational movement of the downhole equipment. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole tool further comprises a gripping member connected with the second member and operable to engage the downhole equipment disposed within the wellbore, and wherein the relative movement between the second and third members causes movement of the downhole equipment when the gripping member is engaged with the downhole equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole equipment is a first downhole equipment, wherein the downhole tool further comprises a first gripping member connected with the second member and operable to engage the first downhole equipment, wherein the downhole tool further comprises a second gripping member connected with the third member and operable to engage a second downhole equipment, and wherein the relative rotational movement between the second and third members causes rotational movement of the first downhole equipment within the wellbore when the first gripping member is engaged with the first downhole equipment and the second gripping member is engaged with the second downhole equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the second downhole equipment is or comprises a casing or a tubular member containing the first downhole equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the first downhole equipment is or comprises a first tubular member, and wherein the second downhole equipment is or comprises a second tubular member threadedly connected to the first tubular member. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downhole equipment is or comprises a sliding sleeve, a safety valve, a threaded tubular, or a threaded member of downhole completion equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the downhole tool further comprises a first ratcheting flywheel mechanism having a first gripper connected with the second member; 
 the first gripper is operable to:
 engage a first portion of the downhole equipment when the second member is rotating in a first rotational direction; and 
 disengage from the first portion of the downhole equipment when the second member is rotating in a second rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction; 
 
 the downhole tool further comprises a second ratcheting flywheel mechanism having a second gripper connected with the third member; and 
 the second gripper is operable to:
 engage a second portion of the downhole equipment when the third member is rotating in the second rotational direction; and 
 disengage from the second portion of the downhole equipment when the third member is rotating in the first rotational direction. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a downhole tool for rotating a first downhole equipment disposed within a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises:
 a first rotative member; 
 a second rotative member, wherein the first and second rotative members are operable to rotate relative to each other along an axis of the downhole tool; 
 a first gripping member connected with the first rotative member, wherein the first gripping member is operable to engage the first downhole equipment; 
 a second gripping member connected with the second rotative member, wherein the second gripping member is operable to engage a second downhole equipment; and 
 an actuator operable to impart a force to cause the relative rotation between the first and second rotative members thereby causing rotation of the first downhole equipment when the first gripping member is connected with the first downhole equipment and the second gripping member is connected with the second downhole equipment. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first downhole equipment is or comprises a first tubular, wherein the second downhole equipment is or comprises a second tubular, and wherein the rotation of the first downhole equipment with respect to the second downhole equipment threadedly engages or disengages the first and second tubulars. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein:
 the downhole tool further comprises a shaft comprising a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature each extending along an outer surface of the shaft; 
 the first rotative member comprises a third engagement feature extending along a surface of the first rotative member; 
 the second rotative member comprises a fourth engagement feature extending along a surface of the second rotative member; 
 the first and third engagement features are engaged and the second and fourth engagement features are engaged such that axial movement of the shaft with respect to the first and second rotative members causes the relative rotation between the first and second rotative members; 
 the actuator is a linear actuator operatively connected with the shaft and operable to axially move the shaft with respect to the first and second rotative members to cause the relative rotation between the first and second rotative members. 
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the downhole tool further comprises a shaft, wherein the first rotative member is or comprises a first sleeve disposed about the shaft, wherein the second rotative member is or comprises a second sleeve disposed about the shaft, and wherein the actuator is operable to impart the force to the shaft to axially move the shaft with respect to the first and second sleeves to cause the relative rotation between the first and second sleeves. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 conveying a downhole tool within a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises:
 a first rotative member; 
 a second rotative member; 
 a first gripping member connected with the first rotative member; and 
 a second gripping member connected with the second rotative member; 
   engaging the first gripping member with a first downhole equipment within the wellbore;   engaging the second gripping member with a second downhole equipment within the wellbore; and   operating the downhole tool to rotatably move the first and second downhole equipment relative to each other by rotatably moving the first and second rotative members relative to each other.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the downhole tool further comprises an actuator, wherein operating the downhole tool comprises operating the actuator to impart a force to cause the relative rotational movement of the first and second rotative members thereby causing the relative rotational movement of the first and second downhole equipment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the downhole tool further comprises a shaft, wherein the first rotative member is or comprises a first sleeve disposed about the shaft, wherein the second rotative member is or comprises a second sleeve disposed about the shaft, and wherein operating the downhole tool comprises axially moving the shaft with respect to the first and second sleeves to rotatably move the first and second sleeves relative to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the shaft comprises a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature each extending along an outer surface of the shaft, wherein the first sleeve comprises a third engagement feature extending along an inner surface of the first sleeve and slidably engaged with the first engagement feature, and wherein the second sleeve comprises a fourth engagement feature extending along an inner surface of the second sleeve and slidably engaged with the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  operating the downhole tool comprises:
 axially moving the shaft in a first axial direction with respect to the first and second sleeves thereby causing relative rotational movement between the first and second sleeves in a first relative rotational direction; 
 releasing the first and second gripping members; and 
 axially moving the shaft in a second axial direction with respect to the first and second sleeves that is opposite from the first axial direction thereby causing relative rotational movement between the first and second sleeves in a second relative rotational direction that is opposite from the first relative rotational direction.