General Description
Reverse Circulation Junk Baskets have proven to be a very effective means available for retrieving small junk in open holes or in casing. These Reverse Circulation Junk Baskets may be run into and out of the hole at moderate speeds and do not require running a wet string.
The high velocity jetting action produced by the Reverse Circulation Junk Basket is directed in a flow pattern that effectively lifts the junk into the Retriever, but will not damage the sidewalls of the hole. The effectiveness of this Retriever has been proven many times by thoroughly cleansing the hole of the junk items in a single run.
Use
The Reverse Circulation Junk Basket is used to retrieve all sorts of small junk items from well bores. Certain objects such as bit cones, bearings, mill cuttings, broken slips, hand tools, and various bits and slivers of metal or rubber are quickly and effectively jetted into the Retriever and recovered.
Construction
The Reverse Basket has a top sub, body, junk head and catchers, and a ball and seat. A single Junk Catch is used in the assembly. A Lifting Sub is provided for ease of handling which includes a storage space for the steel ball used in the operation of the tool.
The Junk head is very similar to a rotary shoe and is available in most of the same types.
Operation
To operate the tool, you run it in the hole just above the fish, put the pump on, and clean the hole. Then you lower the basket to the fish and wash the fish clean. Pick up five or ten feet and drop the ball. When the ball sets in the basket, the circulation at the basket will be diverted through jets on the body of the cutter and forced around the bottom of the cutter, up the inside, and out larger ports in the top of the body. You should use as much pump pressure as possible when you lower the basket to the junk. This will create a better jetting action and also move the junk to the inside.
You should also be rotating when you reach the fish, and continue to rotate until you finish jetting or cutting a core. Then shut down the pump and burn the core in the basket. Adding weight while rotating for two or three minutes does this. The junk is retained in the basket by fingers in the bottom of the tool. These fingers are mounted in a cage that fits inside the head of the basket. Always be sure the cage will rotate inside the head before running it in the hole. If it will not rotate, the fingers will be broken out while you are rotating over the junk.
Hydraulic Jars should be run with the basket; however, care should always be taken to be sure the ball will go through the I.D. of the jars or any other restricted I.D.’s you may have in the fishing string.