US 11,867,012 B2
Gauge cutter and sampler apparatus
Graham Hitchcock, Aberdeen (GB); Michael Affleck, Aberdeenshire (GB); and Aslan Bulekbay, Udhailiyah (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,502.
Prior Publication US 2023/0175335 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 27/00 (2006.01); E21B 37/00 (2006.01); E21B 49/00 (2006.01); E21B 29/00 (2006.01); E21B 17/10 (2006.01); E21B 17/18 (2006.01); E21B 49/02 (2006.01); E21B 31/06 (2006.01); E21B 47/00 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 27/005 (2013.01) [E21B 29/00 (2013.01); E21B 37/00 (2013.01); E21B 49/00 (2013.01); E21B 17/1092 (2013.01); E21B 17/18 (2013.01); E21B 31/06 (2013.01); E21B 47/00 (2013.01); E21B 49/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wellbore gauge cutter apparatus comprising:
a first body defining a first opening and comprising a snap ring;
a second body comprising a gauge cutter configured to dislodge solids from an inner wall of a wellbore, wherein the snap ring of the first body is configured to hold a relative position of the second body to the first body in a closed position in response to the snap ring contacting the second body, wherein the first body and the second body cooperatively define an inner volume, and the second body defines a second opening;
a shear pin passing through the second opening and extending into the first body, wherein the shear pin is configured to hold the relative position of the second body to the first body in an open position while the shear pin is intact, and the second body is configured to be able to move relative to the first body in response to the shear pin being sheared; and
a hollow cylindrical divider disposed within the inner volume, the hollow cylindrical divider defining an inner bore, wherein:
in the open position, the wellbore gauge cutter apparatus defines:
a first flow path for fluids and solids to pass through the wellbore gauge cutter apparatus, the first flow path defined through the first opening, through the inner bore of the hollow cylindrical divider, and through the gauge cutter, and
a second flow path for fluids and solids to pass through the wellbore gauge cutter apparatus, the second flow path defined through the first opening, through an annulus surrounding the hollow cylindrical divider, and through the gauge cutter; and
in the closed position, the second flow path is closed, such that solids remain in the annulus surrounding the hollow cylindrical divider.