ITCO type junk baskets

Junk basket is an uncomplicated yet dependable fishing tool for retrieving all kinds of loose junk. Its simplicity of design, construction, operation and maintenance is such that any drilling crew can use it successfully. With double catchers and magnet inserts junk basket is a piece of valuable equipment on a drilling rig.

Junk basket is used to retrieve all sorts of junk that may accumulate at the bottom of a well and which may impede drilling progress. This junk may be such objects as rock bit cones, bearings, broken slips, bits of wire line, various hand tools, milling cuttings and so on. It may also be used to take a core sample, drill a full gauge hole or to ream the hole.

Рисунок 22. ITCO type junk basket.

Junk basket - ITCO type consists basically of a barrel, a top sub, an upper catcher, a lower catcher, and a type «A» mill shoe. This type shoe is faced with conventional hard metal on the cutting surfaces. Accessories include magnet inserts, mill shoes and ringer shoes. The two catchers employ rivet-free construction, easily redressed on location. Catcher fingers are cast from strong, long wearing bronze. The fingers in the upper catcher extend only halfway to the centre, its function being to break the core when an upward strain is taken on the string. The lower catcher has alternately long and short fingers which extend almost to the centre, forming a close fitting basket which will retain the core or small pieces of junk. Both catchers are free to revolve within the shoe, eliminating finger breakage.

Junk basket - ITCO type is furnished with a standard type «A» mill shoe. This is a mill type shoe with side wings and is ideal when used in softer formations. When junk is lying loose on the bottom of the well or when junk is too large to pass through the catchers, a finger shoe may be installed on the bottom of the barrel in place of the mill shoe. When the junk basket engages the fish, combined rotating and lowering cause the long fingers to close in beneath the fish and retain in the barrel. Finger replacements are easy and inexpensive to replace on the shoe body.

Magnet inserts are available to convert the junk basket into an effective fishing magnet. The magnet insert is machined to fit into the recess normally occupied by the two catchers. The magnet insert is used especially when in hard-to-drill formations and to thoroughly clean the hole prior to diamond drilling.

Junk basket - ITCO type is a relatively simple tool to maintain. After use, the junk basket should be completely disassembled and cleaned. Any small parts, such as springs and fingers, that may be damaged should be inspected and replaced as may be required. Junk basket should be reassembled as it is assembled and each internal part greased.

Threaded connections should be dried and doped as they are assembled. After complete assembly, the entire outside of the junk basket should be painted or thoroughly greased, to prevent deterioration.