Wells – Processes – Operating valve – closure – or changeable restrictor in a well
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-26
2004-12-21
Bagnell, David (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Operating valve, closure, or changeable restrictor in a well
C166S386000, C166S332300, C137S068230, C137S614180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06832656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method used in the completion of a well. More particularly, the invention relates to a casing fill-up and circulating tool. More particularly still, the present invention relates to a diaphragm ball valve for a casing fill-up and circulating tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the drilling of oil and gas wells, a wellbore is formed using a drill bit that is urged downwardly at a lower end of a drill string. After drilling the wellbore to a predetermined depth, the drill string and bit are removed. Thereafter, the wellbore is typically lined with a string of steel pipe called casing. The casing provides support to the wellbore and facilitates the isolation of certain areas of the wellbore adjacent hydrocarbon bearing formations.
During the run-in of a casing string, the string is typically filled with mud. The primary reason to fill the casing string with mud is to prevent the new string of casing from collapsing due to the pressure imbalances between the inside of the casing and the wellbore fluid therearound and avoidance of buoyancy. Typically, the filling process occurs as the casing string is assembled at the rig floor. A secondary reason to fill a casing string with mud is to use the mud to free a casing string when the casing becomes stuck during the run-in operation. In this situation, the drilling operator circulates mud down the casing to wash sand or other debris from the lowermost end of the casing, thereby freeing the stuck casing.
Typically, a fill-up and circulating tool is used in conjunction with a mud pump to fill and circulate the mud in the casing. An example of a fill-up and circulating tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,777, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIG. 1
illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a fill-up and circulating tool
50
with a valve
60
in a closed position as shown in the '777 patent. The tool
50
is supported from a top drive (not shown) and includes a top sub
10
with an internal bore
12
. The internal bore
12
is connected to a mud pump (not shown) through a hose (not shown) for filling and circulating a casing
14
. The top sub
10
is connected to body
16
at thread
18
. Tool
50
further includes a rotating sleeve
22
disposed on the upper portion of the body
16
. A cup seal
20
is mounted to sleeve
22
. The cup seal
20
is used to seal off the casing
14
when the tool
50
is operating. Additionally, a gage ring
38
is mounted on body
16
and secured in place by nut
34
. The gage ring
38
positions the tool
50
in the center of the casing
14
to facilitate insertion of the tool
50
into the upper end of the casing
14
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the body
16
is connected to the valve
60
through a tubular spacer
35
. The valve
60
includes a valve member
41
(ball valve) that is movable between an open and closed position. The valve member
41
is disposed in a valve body
40
. The valve member
41
is held in position within the valve body
40
by an upper valve seal
42
, lower valve seal
43
, and bottom sub
45
. A valve stem
46
and an arm
44
are attached to valve member
41
to control the open/closed rotational position of the valve member
41
. As shown, a gage ring
53
is disposed at the lower end of the valve body
40
. The gage ring
53
centers the valve
60
in the casing and protects valve arm
44
during insertion of the valve
60
into the upper end of the casing
14
. Centering of the valve
60
ensures that the arm
44
will rotate sufficiently to open the valve member
41
. In the closed position, the arm
44
is rotationally limited by its contact with gage ring
53
. The arm
44
is constructed and arranged of weighted material to open the valve member
41
only when the valve
60
is inserted into casing
14
and to close the valve member
41
after the valve is removed from the casing
14
. The arm
44
is weighted such that upon removal, gravity causes the arm
44
to rotate downward, thereby providing rotational torque to close the valve member
41
as the valve
60
is removed from the casing
14
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the prior art fill-up and circulating tool
50
with the valve
60
in an open position as shown in the '777 patent. As depicted, the valve
60
is fully inserted into the upper end of the casing
14
. As the valve
50
is inserted, the bottom sub
45
will be positioned near the center of the casing
14
and gage ring
53
will further center the valve
60
. At the same time, the valve arm
44
will be rotated by contact with the upper end of the casing
14
. Rotating the valve arm
44
upwards opens valve member
41
. In this position, a mud pump may be started to fill the casing
14
. Fluid from the pump flows through the bore
12
, through the fully opened valve member
41
and out ports
47
to fill the casing
14
. After the casing
14
is filled, the mud pump is turned off and the tool
50
may be removed from the casing
14
. Upon removal of the valve
60
, gravity causes the weighted arm
44
to rotate downward, thereby rotating the valve member
41
to the closed position as shown on FIG.
1
. In this manner, the casing
14
is filled with mud.
Generally, the mud pump is turned off while the fill-up and circulating tool is still in the casing, thereby allowing all the mud in the mud pump and the connecting hose to flow through the tool into the casing. However, a problem associated with the above referenced fill-up and circulating tool arises when the tool is suddenly or accidentally removed from the casing prior to shutting down of the mud pump. In this situation, a pressure surge is created in the tool due to the closed valve, thereby causing the mud pump to stop. This pressure surge may cause premature failure of the mud pump or other hydraulic components. Another problem arises after the casing is filled with mud. Typically, the tool is pulled out of the casing and the valve arm drops down to close the valve member. However, if the mud pump is not properly turned off to allow the mud in the in the connecting hose to exit the tool prior to removal of the tool from the casing, the volume of mud continues to enter the tool. Because the valve member is closed, the mud is prevented from exiting the tool. As a result, the pressure in the tool may become so large as to cause the hose to burst, thereby causing damage to the equipment or injury to personnel on the rig floor.
There is a need, therefore, for a valve that will prevent a pressure surge in the mud system when the tool is accidentally removed from the casing. There is a further need for a valve that will permit a volume of mud in the hose to exit the tool even though the valve is closed. There is yet a further need for a more reliable fill-up and circulating tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a valve for use in an oilfield tool. The valve includes a valve body and a valve member disposed in the valve body. The valve member is movable between an open and closed position. The valve member includes an aperture therethrough. The valve further includes a pressure relief member disposed in the aperture, whereby at a predetermined pressure the pressure relief member will permit fluid communication.
In another aspect, the invention provides an apparatus to introduce fluid into a casing. The apparatus includes a body having a bore therethrough and a valve disposed in the body for selectively controlling a fluid flow through the bore. The valve includes a valve member movable between an open and closed position. The valve member includes an aperture for providing selective communication through the valve in a closed position. The valve further includes a pressure relief member disposed in the aperture, whereby at a predetermined pressure the pressure relief member will permit fluid communication.
Further, a method for introducing fluid into a tubular is provided. The method inc
Boutwell, Jr. Doyle F.
Fournier, Jr. Steve W.
Bagnell David
Bomar Shane
Moser, Patterson & Sheridan L.L.P.
Weartherford/Lamb, Inc.
LandOfFree
Valve for an internal fill up tool and associated method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Valve for an internal fill up tool and associated method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Valve for an internal fill up tool and associated method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3334494