CA1287567C - Circulation valve and method for operating the same - Google Patents
Circulation valve and method for operating the sameInfo
- Publication number
- CA1287567C CA1287567C CA000522762A CA522762A CA1287567C CA 1287567 C CA1287567 C CA 1287567C CA 000522762 A CA000522762 A CA 000522762A CA 522762 A CA522762 A CA 522762A CA 1287567 C CA1287567 C CA 1287567C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- mandrel
- circulation
- housing
- pressure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells
- E21B23/004—Indexing systems for guiding relative movement between telescoping parts of downhole tools
- E21B23/006—"J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
- E21B34/10—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B49/00—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- E21B49/001—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells specially adapted for underwater installations
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Check Valves (AREA)
- Sliding Valves (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
85.056Al Abstract Pressure operated circulation valve and method for using the same. A cylindrical housing has an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof. A valve mandrel is slidably received in the housing and is moveable between a position in which fluid may be circulated only between the passageway and the exterior of the housing, a position in which fluid may be circulated only between the exterior of the housing and the passageway, and a position in which fluid may not be circulated in either direction. An annular piston is operatively connected to the valve mandrel and has a first side exposed to pressure exterior of the housing and a second side exposed to pressure interior of the housing to permit movement of the valve mandrel to its various positions by application of pressure to the interior and exterior of the housing.
Description
85. 056Al C I RC ULAT I ON VALVE AND MET H OD
FOR OPERATING THE SAME
The present invention relates yenerally to apparatus and methods for testing an oil well, and more particularly, but not by way of llmitation, to a circulation valve which may be placed in a circulating condition or closed in response to annulus and drill string pressure.
The prior art includes a number of sliding sleeve type circulation valves which are opened in response to annulus pressure. Typically once open, a prior art valve remains locked in an open condition. Examples of such are U.S.
Patent No. 4,064,937 to Barrington and U.S. Patent No. 3,970, 147 to Jessup et al. There are however exceptions. U.S.
Patent No. 4,452,313 to McMahan discloses a circulation valve which may be initially opened by pressurizing the well annulus and which may subsequently be reclosed and reopened by setting down weight on the circulation valve or picking up weight from the circulation valve.
U.S. Patent No. 4,403,659 issued to Upchurch discloses a pressure controlled reversing valve which is opened in response to a predetermined number of pressure increases and decreases in the drill string. After the Upchurch circulating valve is open, increaslng the rate of flow through the drill string into the annulus closes the valve which may be again reopened by '~ ~
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. - . . . : . -756~ ( applying the predetermined number of internal pressure in-creases and decreases. When the Upchurch circulation valve is open, liquids cannot be spotted in the well bore through the valve at a moderate or high rate since such action closes the valve. If nitrogen is spotted through the valve, it cannot be closed as the nitrogen flow does not effect a large enough pressure drop to cycle the valve.
The present invention provides an improved recloseable circulation valve which may be initially placed in condition for reverse circulation by alternately pumping down the drill string and annulus a predetermined number of times and/or pumping down and releasing pressure in the drill string. There-after, pumping down of the drill string places the valve in condition for spotting fluids in the well bore through the valve after which pumping down the annulus closes the valve.
The term "pumpin~ down" the annulus or drill string, as used herein, is employed to describe the increasing o~ pressure and/or flow in the annulus or drill string, as the case may be.
The circulation valve of the instant invention comprises a cylindrical housing having an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof. The valve mandrel is slideably received in the housing and is moveable between a first position closing the ... .. . . . . .
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circulation port and a second position in which fluid ma~ be circulated through the port. Annular piston means ~eceived in the housing are operatively connected to the valve mandrel and include a first side subject to pressure in the well bore annulus and a second side subject to pipe string pressure.
The piston means move the valve mandrel toward one of the positions when the pressure on the first side excee~s the pressure on the second side and move the valve mandrel toward the other of the positions when the pressure on the second side exceeds the pressure on the first side.
Numerous objects, features and advantages o~ the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of a typical well testing apparatus using the present invention.
Figures 2A-2F comprise an elevational quarter section view showing a downhole tGol incorporating the circulation valve of the instant invention.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in Figure 2E.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in Figure 2E.
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6~ ( Figure 5 is a laid-out view of a portion of the indexing sleeve of ~igure 2E showing the appearance of the sleeve as if it had been cut along its length at one side and then rolled out flat into a rectangular shape. The line 2E-2E indicates the location of the section through the sleeve which is seen in Figure 2E.
Durlng the course of drilling an oil well, the borehole is filled with a fluid known as drilling fluid or drilling mud.
One of the purposes of this drilling fluid is to contain in intersected~formations any fluid which may be found there. To -contain these formation fluids the drilling mud is weighted with various additlves so that the hydrostatic pressure of the mud at the formation depth; is sufficient to maintain the formation fluid within the formation without allowing it to :
escape into the borehole.
When it is desired to test the production capabilities of the formation,~a~testlng strlng is lowered into the bore-hole to the formation;depth and the formation fluid is al~lowed to flow lnto~the~string in a controlled testing program.
20 Lower pressure~is maintained in the interior of the testing ~ -string as it is lowered into the borehole. This is usually done`by; keeping a valve in the closed position near the lower ; ~end of the testlng string. When the testing depth is reached, a pàcker is set to seal the borehole thus closing in the forma-_4_ :
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~ ~&~7S~i7 tion from the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid in the well annulus. Alternately, the string may be stabbed into a previously set production packer.
The valve at the lower end of the testing string is then opened and the formation fluid, free from the restraining pressure of the drilling fluid, can flow into the interior of the testing string.
The testing program includes periods of formation flow and periods when the formation is closed in. Pressure re-cordings are ~aken throughout the program for later analysisto determine the production capability of the formation. If desired, a sample~of the formation fluid may be caught in a suitable sample chamber.
At the end of the testinq proqram, a circulation valve in the test~strinq is oPe~ned~ formation fluid in the testin~
strinq is; clrculated out, the ~packer is released, and the testlnq~strinq ls~wLthdrawn.~ ; -Over the years various methods have been developed to open~the tester valves~located at the formation depth as descrlbed.~ Tnese methods include string rotation, strinq ~: :
reci~rocation, and annulus pressure changes. Particularly advanta~eous tester valves are~those shown in U.9. Patent No's.~ 3,856,085 to Holden, et al., 4,422,506 and 4,429,74~
to B~e~ck, and 4,444,268~and 4~,448,254 to Barrinqton. These ~, . : . : ~:
75~;7 valves operate responsive to pressure chanqes in the annulus and provi~e afull openinq flow passa~e through the tester valve apparatus.
The annulus pressure operated method of opening and closing the tester valve is particularly advantaqeous in offshore locations where it is desirable to the maximum extent possible, for safety and environmental protection reasons, to keeP the blowout preventors closed durinq the major portion of the testinq procedure.
A tvp~cal arranqement for conductinq a drill stem test offshore is shown in Fiq. I. Such an arranqement would include a floatinq work station 1 stationed over a submerqed work site 2. The well comPrises a well bore 3 tYpicallv lined with a casinq strinq 4~extendinq from the work site 2 to a submerqed 1~ formation 5. The casinq strinq 4 includes a plurality of perforations at its lower end which provide communication be-tween the formatlon 5 and the interior of the well bore 6.
At the submerqed well site is located the well head installation 7 which includes blowout Preventor mechanisms.
A~marine conductor 8 extends;from the well head installation to the floatinq work station 1. The floatinq work station includes a work deck 9 which su~orts a derric]c 12. The derrlck 12 sup~orts a holstinq means 11. A well head closure 13 lS~ provided~at the uPper end of marine conductor 8. The ~, .. . .. . . ~, . . ~.. . . .. . . . .. . ... . .
7~7 well head closure 13 allows for lowering into the marine conductor and into the well bore 3 a formation testing strir.g 10 which is raised and lowered in the well by hoisting means 11.
A supply conduit 14 is provided which extends from a hydraulic pump 15 on the deck 9 of ~he floating station 1 and extends to the well head installation 7 at a point below the blowout preventors to allow the pressurizing of the well annulus 16 surrounding the test string 10.
The testing string includes an upper circuit string portion 17 extending from the work site 1 to the well head installation 7. A hydraulically operated conduit string test tree 18 is located at the end of the upper conduit string 17 and is landed in the well head installation 7 to thus support the lower portion of the formation testing string. The lower 15 portion of the~formation testlng string extends from the test i-- ` tree 18 to the formatlon~S. A packer mechanlsm 27 isolates the formation 5 from fluids:in the well annulus 16. A perforated -tail piece 28~ is provlded at the lower~end of the testing string 10 to allow f~luld communicatlon between~the formation 5 and the - .
lnterior~of~the tubular formatlon testing string 10.
: The lower portion of the formation testing string 10 ` further~inoludes 1ntermediate conduit portion 19 and torque .
transmitting pressure and volume balanced slip joint means 20. .
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~ Z~37':JG7 An intermediate conduit portion 21 is provided for imparting packer setting weight to the packer mechanism Z7 at the lower end of the string.
It is many times desirable to place near the lower end S of the testing string a conventional circulating valve 22 which may be opened by rotating or reciprocation of the testing string or a combination of both or by the dropping of a weight-ed bar in the interior of the testing string lO. This cir-culation valve is provided as a back-up means to provide for f1uid communication in the event that the circulation valve of the present apparatus should fail to open properly. Also near the lower end of the formatLon testing string 10 is located a tester ualve 25 which is preferably a tester valve of the annulus pressure operated type such as those disclosed in U.S.
Patent~No's. 3,856,085; 4,422,506; 4,429,748; 4,444,268; and 4,448,254.~ Immediately above the tester valve is located a tool 201 which~lncorporates the apparatus of the present in-vention.
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A pressure recording device 26 is located below the ~tester valve 25. ~ The pressure recordlng device 26 is preferabIy one of wh~ich provides a~full opening passageway through the center of the~pressure recorder to provide a full opening passageway ~through~thé entire length of the formation testing striny.
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~3'7~6~ ( It may be desirable to add additional formation testing apparatus in the testing string 10. For instance, where it is feared that the testing string lO may become stuck in the borehole 3 it is desirable to add a jar mechanism between the 5 pressure recorder 26 and the packer assembly 27. The jar mechanism is used to impart blows to the testing string to assist in jarring a stuck testing string loose from the bore-hole in the event that the testing string should become stuck.
Additionally, it may be desirable to add a safety joint be-tween the jar and the~packer mechanism 27. Such a safety jointwould allow for the~testing string 10 to be disconnected from the packer assembly 27 in the event ;that the jarring mechanism was unable to ree a~stuck formation testing string.
-` The;locatlon of the~pressure recording device may be varied ~; 15 as desir~ed.~ For ~instance, the pressure recorder may be located below the~perforated tail piece 28 in a suitablq pressure re-corder anchor shoe running case. In addition,;a second pressure :
recorder~may be run immediately above the tester valve 25 to provide~further data~to assist in evaluating the well.
Referring;now~to~Figures~ 2A-2F, the pressure operated re-clos~eable clrculation valve of the present invention is in-` corporated ln a tool lndicated generally at 201.
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~ Too1~201 includes a cylindrical outer housing, generally ~
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~ Z~37567 designated by the numeral 200, having an upper housing adapter 202 which includes threads 204 for attaching tcol 201 to the portion of testing string 10 located a~ove tool 201.
At the lower end of housing 200 is a lower housing adapter 206 which includes an externally threaded portion 208 for con-nection of tool 201 to a portion of test string 10 located below the tool.
Housing 200 ~urther includes an upper housing section 210, an intermedlate housing section 212 and a lower housing section 214. The interior of the components making up housing 200 -- -forms a fluid flow passageway 216 axially through tool 201.
The various housing sections and the upper and lower adapter are threadably connected to one another via threaded connections as shown in the~drawlng with each such threaded connection lS being sealed with O-rings as shown. ~ `
Indlcated~generally;at~ 217 ln~Yigures 2B and 2C is a circulation valve.; A~generally~ tubular valve mandrel 218 is closely received wlthln upper~housing section 210 and is sealingly~engaged~therewith vla~O-rings 220, 222, 224, and : ~ . .
` 20 226. An upper valve sleeve 228 is~closely received within upper housing sectlon 210 and is threadably engaged via threads 230 to the upper end of valve mandrel 218. An O-ring 231 seal~ingly~engages the radially outer surface of ~upper valve~sleeve 228 to the radially lnner surface of - :~
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9_~87s6q upper housing section 210. A lower valve sleeve 234, in ~igure 2C, is tllreadably engaged via threads 236 to the lower end of valve mandrel 218 and is sealingly engaged thereto via O-ring seal 238.
Valve mandrel 218 includes a lower check valve indicated generally at 240. Included therein is a resiliant valve portion 242, such comprising an annular lip having a radially outer surface 244 which bears against the radially inner surface of valve mandrel 218. Valve portion 242 is inserted over and carried by a valve portlon carrier 246. Carrier 246 supports valve portion 242 to create an annular space 248 between the radially outer surface of the valve portion and the radlally inner surface of valve mandrel 218. A plural-ity of bores, one of which is bore 250, are formed through ~:
mandrel~2~10~ about ~the circumference thereof and permit fluid communication between the exterior of the:mandreI and space . .
248. Upper housing~section~210 includes a circulating port 252 to permit~fluld communicatlon between the interior and e~xterlor;;of~upper;houslng section 210.
~ ~Valve~carrler 246 is received between the upper end of:::lower valve~sleeve 234 and a bevel 254 formed on the ~radiàlly~inner sur~face of valve mandrel 218 and is thus ~:restrained from~axlal movement relative to the valve mandrel.
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~2~37S67 - In Figure 2B, an upper check valve is indicated gener-ally at 256. Included therein is a resiliant valve portion 258 having an annular lip which has a radially inner surface 260 that is sealingly engaged against the radially outer surface of valve mandrel 218 about its circumference.
Resiliant valve portion 258 is carried by a valve portion carrier 262. A space 264 is formed between the radially inner surface of resiliant valve portion 258 and the radi-ally outer ~urface of the valve mandrel. ~-A plurality of bores indicated generally at 266 provide : 10 fluid communication between the inter1or of the valve mandrel ~ 18 and space 264 about~the circumference of the valve mandrel.
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Valve carrler 262 is received~between the lower end of upper valve sleeve 228~ and a bevel 268 formed on the radially outer surface~of valve mandrel 218 about its circumference and is thus restrained from axial movement relative to the valve~mandrel.
~ A~ plston~ mandrel;~270 in Flgure 2C, 2D, and 2E has an :
upper end~threadably secured via threads 272 to the lower ,.
end of lower~valve slèeve 234. The radially outer surface of piston mandrel 270 and the xadially inner surfaces of upper~housing~section 210 and intermediate housing section 212 define~ an upper annular space 274 which is in communi-~: :
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~X~5~;7 : cation with the exterior of the tool via a power port Z76.
O-rings 278, 280 seal the radially inner and outer surfaces of intermediate housing section 212 and define the lower end of annular space 274. O-rings 278, 280 define the upper end of a lower annular space 282 which has as its outer boundry the radially inner surface of lower housing section 214. The radially inner boundry of space 282 is defined by the outer surface of piston mandrel 270 and the outer surface of a lower piston mandrel 286 which is threadably secured to the lower end sf plston mandrel 270 via threads 288.
Disposed at the lower end of annular space 282 is an annular~floating plston 290. Piston 290 is sealingly and :
slidingly~received between the:rad1aLly outer surface of the -lower~plston~mandre1 and the radially inner surface of lower housing section:214. Lower annular space 282:is filled with ~:
, 15 oil~to provid ;1ubricatlon to moving parts,:to bè hereinafter -~
more fully de~scrlbed, contained withln ~space 28~2. The lower ~:
s~lde~of~fIoat1ng~piston~290;lS~in fluid communication with :~ the~exterior of tool 201 via a port 292:formed through the ~ wal~1 of~lower housLng sect:ion 214. The floating piston 20~ prevents~:drillIng~mud and other contaminates in the well ; bore~from be:¢omi:ng mixed with the oil contained in annular space~282~:above the floating piston.
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In Figure 2E, an indexing sleeve 292 is closely received over piston mandrel 270 and is restrained from axial move-ment therealong by a downward facing shoulder 294 formed on mandrel 270 and the upper surface of lower piston mandrel 286. For a better view of the structure associated with indexing sleeve 292, attention is directed to Figure 5.
An outer cylindrical surface 296 on indexing sleeve 292 concludes a continuous slot or groove, such being in-dicated generally at 298. Groove 298 includes a repeating zig~zag portion 300 which rotates sleeve 2g2 counter-clock- -wise, as viewed from above, upon reciprocation of piston mandrel 270 relative to housing 200.
Groove 298 further includes first and second vertical ;~
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groove portions 302, 30~. Each of groove portions 302, 304 includes an upper and lower~leg, like upper leg 305 and lower leg 307 in groove 302. Connecting groove portions 306, 308~connect~repeating zlg-zag portLon 300 with vertical .
groove portions 302, 304. ~Zig-zag portion 300 includes a first leg 310 having an upper surface 312 and a lower sur-, face 314. Each of the other legs in zig-zag portion 300 :
include similar upper and lower surfaces. Likewise, each of vertical grooves 302, 304 include upper and lower surfaces like upper surface~316 and lower surface 318 in groove portion 302.
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~37S67 A ball 320 i5 biased into groove portion 302 and more particularly into the lower portion of the groove as viewed in both Figures 5 and 2E.
In Figure 2E, ball 320 is mounted on the radially lnner suxface of an annular shoulder 324 which is formed on the radially inner surface of lower housing section 214. For a more detailed description o~ ball 32U, its associated structure, and the manner in which ball 320 interacts with indexing sleeve 292 see U.S. Patent No. 4,355,685 -~ to Beck.
I0 An annular shoulder 322 is formed on the radially inner surface of lower housing section 214 about its circumference.
Annular shoulder 322 includes a pair of opposed slots 326, 328~which are viewable ln Figure 4.
: Annular shoulder 324 includes a~similar pair of opposed slots;330, 332~with~slot 330 being axially aligned with slot 326 and~slo~t 332~being axially~aligned with slot 328.
Indexlng~sleeve~292~ ncludes;~a pair~of opposed load lugs ~334~, 336, such~being~viewab1e in Figure 4. In the view of Figure~4;,~opposlnq~lug~s 334, 336 are recelved within slots 326,~ 328,~ respe~ctively. Load lug 336 is viewable in Figure 5~and~is~shown ln~dot-dash~1ines Ln Figure 2E, such indicat-.ny where l~a~ lug ~396 _-~positioned on the rear side of ` ' . ~ ' ` ' ' ': . . ' ' ,~, ` ' ' ' , ' . . ' . ' ~ ' , ' 5~j~
index sleeve 292, with lug 334 being half cut away in the quarter section and half obscured by lower housing section 214.
Load lug 336 includes an upper abutment surface 338 and a lower abutment surface 340. Abutment surfaces 338, 340 comprise the upper and lower surfaces, .respectively, of the load lug which extends outwardly from the radially outer sur-~ace of indexing sleeve 292.
In Figure 2E, annular shoulder 322 includes upper and lower abutment surfaces 342, 344, respectively. :;
10Also in Figure 2E, shoulder 324 includes upper and lower abutment surfaces:3:46, 348, respectively. The upper surface of lower piston mandrel 286~comprises an abutment surface :-350 with surface~348 being abutted against surface 350 in :
the view~of:Fi~gure 2E.
15Additional abutment:surfaces:are seen in Figures 2C and . :~
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2D and: include~surface 352 on the lower end of lower valve :
sleeve 234~and surface 354 on~the upper end of intermediate .~
housLng:;sectlon 212.~ As will be explained hereinafter, the --~various abutment~surfaces interact with one another to limit ~
20 the axial movement;of valve mandrel 218 and thereby place ~;
the valve in a~closed condition, in a condition for circu-latlon~of~fluids, or in a condition for reverse circulation ~l :
of flulds.~
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In operation, prior to suspending tool 201 on a drill string in a well bore, mandrel 270 is axially reciprocated relative to housing 200 in order to place ball 320 in the lower end of leg 310 as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5.
In this position ball 320 is adjacent lower surface 314.
When ball 320 is in the lower portion of leg 310 adjacent surface 314, abutment surface 338 of load lug 336 and the upper surface of the opposing load lug are abutted against abutment surface 344 on the underside of annular shoulder 322 When surfaces 338, 344 are so abutted, ball 320 is not abutted~against~surface 314 on the lower portion of leg 310 bu~ rather~is positioned ]ust adjacent thereto.
When power piston 270 is positioned with~ball 320 in leg 310 as~described above, valve mandrel 218 is positioned .
over circulation:::port 252, in Figure.2C, between o-rings -.;
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222,~224.;: Thus,~ fluid~ communication.between passageway 216 -and the exterior of::tool~201 is prevented. ~
With the too}: configured as described above, it is .
assembled into the drill:string and lowered into the well .; ~ ; : ~ , :,' bore~as shown in:Figure l. With:this arrangement, fluids may be pumped into the drill string on which tool 201 is ~suspended~for purposes~of fracturing or injecting acid into the lorma=ion.;~ Al~-, .he annulus between tool 201 and the .
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well bore may be pressurized in order to operate different tools in the drill string testing arrangement.
With ball 320 received in the lower portion of leg 310, when fluid is pumped down the drill string upon which the tool is suspended, passageway 216 is pressurized thus forcing power mandrel 270 downwardly until ball 320 is received in the upper -portion of leg 310, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5, adjacent surface 312. The power mandrel is urged downwardly under such pressurization due to the action of an annular 10 piston which is defined by an outer diameter at seal 238 in -Figure 2C and by an inner diameter at O-ring 278 in Figure 2E.
Fluid pressure in passageway 216 acts across the difference in area between seal 238 and O-ring 278 to urge power mandrel 270 downwardly. As the mandrel moves downwardly ball 320 15 moves from the lower portion~of leg 310 to the upper portion -of leg 310 ad~acent upper surface 312.
~ It is to be appreciated that downward movement of the power mandrel is~;s~topped when lower abutment surface 340 on load lug 336 and the lower abutment surface on the opposing load lug strlke upper abutment surface 346 on shoulder 324.
Such occurs when ball 320 is in the position shown in dashed ~` lines adjacent upper surface 312. Such abutment prevents ball - :
320~from abutting against surface 312 with a significant ~amount of force.
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After ball 320 is positioned in the upper portion of leg 310, it may be necessary or desirable ~o opera~e a tool in the drill string testing arrangement by applying pressure to the annulus between the drill string and the well bore. Such pressure,in addition to the hydrostatic pressure in the annulus, is communicated to upper annular space 274 via port 276 in Figure 2D and serves to urge power piston mandrel 270 upwardly relative to housing 200. When such occurs, ball 320 moves downwardly into the lower portion of the leg adjacent ;
leg 310. Further upward piston mandrel movement is stopped by - ~ `
the action of abutment surface 338 against abutment surface 344 on the lower surface of annular shoulder 322.
~ When ball 320 is received within zig-zag portion 300, although plston mandrel 270 and thus valve mandrel 218 are 15 reciproca:ted between the:upper and lower portions of groove ~-300, circulation port 252 is always between O-rings 222, 224, thus sealing the:port from fluid communiction between the :.:
; interior and exterior of the tool.
It can be seen~:that:by alternately pumping down the drill string and the~annulus or pumping down and releasing pressure in the:~drill string, ball 320 will be successively moved along zig-zag portlon 30:0:until lt is received in the upper portion - of-the le~to the~immediate right of connecting port 306. When ; -drill`string~pressure is released, the normal hydrostatic , , , ; :
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' ~ ,' ',' .: ' . , ` .. " ', ' .. . '. ' ~ ' . , ' ' ~ ~375~i7 pressure in the annulus will act on power piston mandrel 270 through port 276 and urge it upwardly relative to housing 200, Thus, the annulus does not have to be pressured up to axially reciprocate the power piston mandrel 270 and move ball 320 in zig-zag portion 300 of groove 298.
When so positioned, annulus pressure may be applied or drill string pressure released ko urge piston mandrel 370 upwardly thereby causing ball 320 to enter connecting portion 306 and thereafter lower leg 307 as the piston mandrel continues 10 its upward movement. Abutment surface 338 does not strike ~~
abutment surface 344 on the lower surface of shoulder 322 as during piston mandrel reclprocatlon when ball 320 is received in zig-zag portion 300, This is because load lugs 334, 336 are received within slots 326, 328, in Figure 4, and thus permlt movement of ball 320 down lower leg 307.
Just prior to abutment:of ball 320 against lower surface 318, abutment surface~34~3~on the lower side of shoulder 324 : :
abuts agalnst~surface:350 on the upper side of lower piston mandrel 286~thus stopping further mandrel movement and pre-:
venting ball 320:from absorbing a~si~nificant axial load.
: When ball 320 is ln the lower end of leg 307 as shown in ~ the~soLid-llne vlew~ of Figure~5 and Figure 2E, valve mandrel `. ~ 218 is posi~tioned relat1ve to port 252 as shown in Figure 2C.
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When so positioned fluid may be reverse circulated throuyh port 252, bore 250 (and the other bores about the perimeter of valve mandrel 218 adjacent bore 250), into annular space 248 on the radially inner surface of valve mandrel 218 and into passageway 216.
Thus, when valve mandrel 218 is in the configuration of 2C, the well may be reverse circulated but, because of the action of resilient valve portion 242, the well may not be circulated from the drill string into the annulus. When pressure in passageway 216 is greater than the pressure in the annulus, surface 242 sealingly engages the radially inner ~: surface of the valve mandrel thus preventing flow between passageway 216 and the annulus. -Since such flow may not occur, when it is desired to : lS plac`e the tool in:conditlon for circulation, passageway 216 :~
; may be pressuri~zed.(by:pumplng down the drill string) thus driving~piston~mandrel 270 downwardly and moving ball 320 upwardly~in ~leg:307 and:i~nto leg 305 until the ball is ad-:
jacent surface~316. Just prior to impact of surface 316 with ball 320,~surface 352 on the lower end of lower valve sleeve 234~ abuts against surface 354 on the upper end of intermediate .:~ houslng~section 212 thus stopping further downward movement ~-........... of~piston mandrel~ and~preventing ball 320 from bearing signi- -flcànt~forces as~a result of impact with surface 316.
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f' (' 37~67 When the Piston mandrel i5 in its lowermost condition as just previously described, O-rinq 220 on valve mandrel 218 is beneath circulatinq port 252 thus Permittinq circulation from passageway 216 into the well bore as follows. When pressure in passageway 216 increases above that in the annulus, fluid flows through bores 266 into annular space 264, between sur-face 260 and the radially outer surface of valve mandrel 218, and through port 252 into the annulus.
When so configured, if annulus pressure exceeds that of passageway 216, flow does not occur through port 252 because surface 260 sealingly engages the radially outer surface of valve mandrel 218.; -If it is desired to return the tool to its closed posi- .-::
tion in which neither circulation nor reverse circulation can . .
15 occur, the annulus: lS pressurized thus drivinq Piston mandrel :~
270 uPwardlY and causinq ball 320 to move down leq 305 and into the ZLq-Zaq portion:~ (not shown) on surface 296 opposite zig-zag portion 3:00. :
The tool is agaln in: condltlon to permit repeated alter-nate applLcaticns of~annulus and drill string pressure orappli~catlons and:releases of drill string pressure without shlftLng the tool into condition for circulation or for reverse clrculation.~ It can be seen that, in the tool of the preferred ::
'' ~2~5~;7 embodiment, five such alternate applications o~ annulus and drill string pressure or applications and releases of drill string pressure may occur before the tool is again placed in condition for reverse circulation. Thereafter, application of S drill string pressure places the tool in condition for cir-culation to permit, for example, the spotting of fluids into the well bore adjacent tool 201. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that more or fewer than five cycles may readily be employed by changing the slot.
~It can be seen that tool 201 permits alternate pumping of fluids into the formation and operation of various tools by pressurizing the well~ bore without placing the tool in con-dition for circulation or reverse circulation until the annulus and drilI string have been alternatel~ pressurized a pre~
lS determined~number of times. Such a tool permits reversing fluids out of the drill strlng and thereafter spotting fluids, for example~nLtrogen, into the well bore adjacent tool 201.
Thereafter, annulus pressure can be increased to actuate ~`
other valves and/or tools in the well bore without compressing the nitrogen~in the drill string.
Thus,~tool 201 permits selectively reverse circulating and~spotting flù~ids down the well while at the same time per-mitting application of~drill string and annulus pressures to : : -~ 23-:~? `~
t ~375~:i7 pump fluids and actuate other tools without unintentionally opening or closing the circulation valve.
It is thus seen that the downhole tool of the present invention readily achieves the ends and advantages mentioned S as well as those inherent therein. While presently pre-ferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically described for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts can be made by those skilled in the art which changes are encompassed within 10 the splrit and scope of this invention which is defined by the .:
appended claims.
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FOR OPERATING THE SAME
The present invention relates yenerally to apparatus and methods for testing an oil well, and more particularly, but not by way of llmitation, to a circulation valve which may be placed in a circulating condition or closed in response to annulus and drill string pressure.
The prior art includes a number of sliding sleeve type circulation valves which are opened in response to annulus pressure. Typically once open, a prior art valve remains locked in an open condition. Examples of such are U.S.
Patent No. 4,064,937 to Barrington and U.S. Patent No. 3,970, 147 to Jessup et al. There are however exceptions. U.S.
Patent No. 4,452,313 to McMahan discloses a circulation valve which may be initially opened by pressurizing the well annulus and which may subsequently be reclosed and reopened by setting down weight on the circulation valve or picking up weight from the circulation valve.
U.S. Patent No. 4,403,659 issued to Upchurch discloses a pressure controlled reversing valve which is opened in response to a predetermined number of pressure increases and decreases in the drill string. After the Upchurch circulating valve is open, increaslng the rate of flow through the drill string into the annulus closes the valve which may be again reopened by '~ ~
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. - . . . : . -756~ ( applying the predetermined number of internal pressure in-creases and decreases. When the Upchurch circulation valve is open, liquids cannot be spotted in the well bore through the valve at a moderate or high rate since such action closes the valve. If nitrogen is spotted through the valve, it cannot be closed as the nitrogen flow does not effect a large enough pressure drop to cycle the valve.
The present invention provides an improved recloseable circulation valve which may be initially placed in condition for reverse circulation by alternately pumping down the drill string and annulus a predetermined number of times and/or pumping down and releasing pressure in the drill string. There-after, pumping down of the drill string places the valve in condition for spotting fluids in the well bore through the valve after which pumping down the annulus closes the valve.
The term "pumpin~ down" the annulus or drill string, as used herein, is employed to describe the increasing o~ pressure and/or flow in the annulus or drill string, as the case may be.
The circulation valve of the instant invention comprises a cylindrical housing having an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof. The valve mandrel is slideably received in the housing and is moveable between a first position closing the ... .. . . . . .
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circulation port and a second position in which fluid ma~ be circulated through the port. Annular piston means ~eceived in the housing are operatively connected to the valve mandrel and include a first side subject to pressure in the well bore annulus and a second side subject to pipe string pressure.
The piston means move the valve mandrel toward one of the positions when the pressure on the first side excee~s the pressure on the second side and move the valve mandrel toward the other of the positions when the pressure on the second side exceeds the pressure on the first side.
Numerous objects, features and advantages o~ the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of a typical well testing apparatus using the present invention.
Figures 2A-2F comprise an elevational quarter section view showing a downhole tGol incorporating the circulation valve of the instant invention.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in Figure 2E.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in Figure 2E.
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6~ ( Figure 5 is a laid-out view of a portion of the indexing sleeve of ~igure 2E showing the appearance of the sleeve as if it had been cut along its length at one side and then rolled out flat into a rectangular shape. The line 2E-2E indicates the location of the section through the sleeve which is seen in Figure 2E.
Durlng the course of drilling an oil well, the borehole is filled with a fluid known as drilling fluid or drilling mud.
One of the purposes of this drilling fluid is to contain in intersected~formations any fluid which may be found there. To -contain these formation fluids the drilling mud is weighted with various additlves so that the hydrostatic pressure of the mud at the formation depth; is sufficient to maintain the formation fluid within the formation without allowing it to :
escape into the borehole.
When it is desired to test the production capabilities of the formation,~a~testlng strlng is lowered into the bore-hole to the formation;depth and the formation fluid is al~lowed to flow lnto~the~string in a controlled testing program.
20 Lower pressure~is maintained in the interior of the testing ~ -string as it is lowered into the borehole. This is usually done`by; keeping a valve in the closed position near the lower ; ~end of the testlng string. When the testing depth is reached, a pàcker is set to seal the borehole thus closing in the forma-_4_ :
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~ ~&~7S~i7 tion from the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid in the well annulus. Alternately, the string may be stabbed into a previously set production packer.
The valve at the lower end of the testing string is then opened and the formation fluid, free from the restraining pressure of the drilling fluid, can flow into the interior of the testing string.
The testing program includes periods of formation flow and periods when the formation is closed in. Pressure re-cordings are ~aken throughout the program for later analysisto determine the production capability of the formation. If desired, a sample~of the formation fluid may be caught in a suitable sample chamber.
At the end of the testinq proqram, a circulation valve in the test~strinq is oPe~ned~ formation fluid in the testin~
strinq is; clrculated out, the ~packer is released, and the testlnq~strinq ls~wLthdrawn.~ ; -Over the years various methods have been developed to open~the tester valves~located at the formation depth as descrlbed.~ Tnese methods include string rotation, strinq ~: :
reci~rocation, and annulus pressure changes. Particularly advanta~eous tester valves are~those shown in U.9. Patent No's.~ 3,856,085 to Holden, et al., 4,422,506 and 4,429,74~
to B~e~ck, and 4,444,268~and 4~,448,254 to Barrinqton. These ~, . : . : ~:
75~;7 valves operate responsive to pressure chanqes in the annulus and provi~e afull openinq flow passa~e through the tester valve apparatus.
The annulus pressure operated method of opening and closing the tester valve is particularly advantaqeous in offshore locations where it is desirable to the maximum extent possible, for safety and environmental protection reasons, to keeP the blowout preventors closed durinq the major portion of the testinq procedure.
A tvp~cal arranqement for conductinq a drill stem test offshore is shown in Fiq. I. Such an arranqement would include a floatinq work station 1 stationed over a submerqed work site 2. The well comPrises a well bore 3 tYpicallv lined with a casinq strinq 4~extendinq from the work site 2 to a submerqed 1~ formation 5. The casinq strinq 4 includes a plurality of perforations at its lower end which provide communication be-tween the formatlon 5 and the interior of the well bore 6.
At the submerqed well site is located the well head installation 7 which includes blowout Preventor mechanisms.
A~marine conductor 8 extends;from the well head installation to the floatinq work station 1. The floatinq work station includes a work deck 9 which su~orts a derric]c 12. The derrlck 12 sup~orts a holstinq means 11. A well head closure 13 lS~ provided~at the uPper end of marine conductor 8. The ~, .. . .. . . ~, . . ~.. . . .. . . . .. . ... . .
7~7 well head closure 13 allows for lowering into the marine conductor and into the well bore 3 a formation testing strir.g 10 which is raised and lowered in the well by hoisting means 11.
A supply conduit 14 is provided which extends from a hydraulic pump 15 on the deck 9 of ~he floating station 1 and extends to the well head installation 7 at a point below the blowout preventors to allow the pressurizing of the well annulus 16 surrounding the test string 10.
The testing string includes an upper circuit string portion 17 extending from the work site 1 to the well head installation 7. A hydraulically operated conduit string test tree 18 is located at the end of the upper conduit string 17 and is landed in the well head installation 7 to thus support the lower portion of the formation testing string. The lower 15 portion of the~formation testlng string extends from the test i-- ` tree 18 to the formatlon~S. A packer mechanlsm 27 isolates the formation 5 from fluids:in the well annulus 16. A perforated -tail piece 28~ is provlded at the lower~end of the testing string 10 to allow f~luld communicatlon between~the formation 5 and the - .
lnterior~of~the tubular formatlon testing string 10.
: The lower portion of the formation testing string 10 ` further~inoludes 1ntermediate conduit portion 19 and torque .
transmitting pressure and volume balanced slip joint means 20. .
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~ Z~37':JG7 An intermediate conduit portion 21 is provided for imparting packer setting weight to the packer mechanism Z7 at the lower end of the string.
It is many times desirable to place near the lower end S of the testing string a conventional circulating valve 22 which may be opened by rotating or reciprocation of the testing string or a combination of both or by the dropping of a weight-ed bar in the interior of the testing string lO. This cir-culation valve is provided as a back-up means to provide for f1uid communication in the event that the circulation valve of the present apparatus should fail to open properly. Also near the lower end of the formatLon testing string 10 is located a tester ualve 25 which is preferably a tester valve of the annulus pressure operated type such as those disclosed in U.S.
Patent~No's. 3,856,085; 4,422,506; 4,429,748; 4,444,268; and 4,448,254.~ Immediately above the tester valve is located a tool 201 which~lncorporates the apparatus of the present in-vention.
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A pressure recording device 26 is located below the ~tester valve 25. ~ The pressure recordlng device 26 is preferabIy one of wh~ich provides a~full opening passageway through the center of the~pressure recorder to provide a full opening passageway ~through~thé entire length of the formation testing striny.
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~3'7~6~ ( It may be desirable to add additional formation testing apparatus in the testing string 10. For instance, where it is feared that the testing string lO may become stuck in the borehole 3 it is desirable to add a jar mechanism between the 5 pressure recorder 26 and the packer assembly 27. The jar mechanism is used to impart blows to the testing string to assist in jarring a stuck testing string loose from the bore-hole in the event that the testing string should become stuck.
Additionally, it may be desirable to add a safety joint be-tween the jar and the~packer mechanism 27. Such a safety jointwould allow for the~testing string 10 to be disconnected from the packer assembly 27 in the event ;that the jarring mechanism was unable to ree a~stuck formation testing string.
-` The;locatlon of the~pressure recording device may be varied ~; 15 as desir~ed.~ For ~instance, the pressure recorder may be located below the~perforated tail piece 28 in a suitablq pressure re-corder anchor shoe running case. In addition,;a second pressure :
recorder~may be run immediately above the tester valve 25 to provide~further data~to assist in evaluating the well.
Referring;now~to~Figures~ 2A-2F, the pressure operated re-clos~eable clrculation valve of the present invention is in-` corporated ln a tool lndicated generally at 201.
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~ Too1~201 includes a cylindrical outer housing, generally ~
--9-- .
~ Z~37567 designated by the numeral 200, having an upper housing adapter 202 which includes threads 204 for attaching tcol 201 to the portion of testing string 10 located a~ove tool 201.
At the lower end of housing 200 is a lower housing adapter 206 which includes an externally threaded portion 208 for con-nection of tool 201 to a portion of test string 10 located below the tool.
Housing 200 ~urther includes an upper housing section 210, an intermedlate housing section 212 and a lower housing section 214. The interior of the components making up housing 200 -- -forms a fluid flow passageway 216 axially through tool 201.
The various housing sections and the upper and lower adapter are threadably connected to one another via threaded connections as shown in the~drawlng with each such threaded connection lS being sealed with O-rings as shown. ~ `
Indlcated~generally;at~ 217 ln~Yigures 2B and 2C is a circulation valve.; A~generally~ tubular valve mandrel 218 is closely received wlthln upper~housing section 210 and is sealingly~engaged~therewith vla~O-rings 220, 222, 224, and : ~ . .
` 20 226. An upper valve sleeve 228 is~closely received within upper housing sectlon 210 and is threadably engaged via threads 230 to the upper end of valve mandrel 218. An O-ring 231 seal~ingly~engages the radially outer surface of ~upper valve~sleeve 228 to the radially lnner surface of - :~
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9_~87s6q upper housing section 210. A lower valve sleeve 234, in ~igure 2C, is tllreadably engaged via threads 236 to the lower end of valve mandrel 218 and is sealingly engaged thereto via O-ring seal 238.
Valve mandrel 218 includes a lower check valve indicated generally at 240. Included therein is a resiliant valve portion 242, such comprising an annular lip having a radially outer surface 244 which bears against the radially inner surface of valve mandrel 218. Valve portion 242 is inserted over and carried by a valve portlon carrier 246. Carrier 246 supports valve portion 242 to create an annular space 248 between the radially outer surface of the valve portion and the radlally inner surface of valve mandrel 218. A plural-ity of bores, one of which is bore 250, are formed through ~:
mandrel~2~10~ about ~the circumference thereof and permit fluid communication between the exterior of the:mandreI and space . .
248. Upper housing~section~210 includes a circulating port 252 to permit~fluld communicatlon between the interior and e~xterlor;;of~upper;houslng section 210.
~ ~Valve~carrler 246 is received between the upper end of:::lower valve~sleeve 234 and a bevel 254 formed on the ~radiàlly~inner sur~face of valve mandrel 218 and is thus ~:restrained from~axlal movement relative to the valve mandrel.
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~2~37S67 - In Figure 2B, an upper check valve is indicated gener-ally at 256. Included therein is a resiliant valve portion 258 having an annular lip which has a radially inner surface 260 that is sealingly engaged against the radially outer surface of valve mandrel 218 about its circumference.
Resiliant valve portion 258 is carried by a valve portion carrier 262. A space 264 is formed between the radially inner surface of resiliant valve portion 258 and the radi-ally outer ~urface of the valve mandrel. ~-A plurality of bores indicated generally at 266 provide : 10 fluid communication between the inter1or of the valve mandrel ~ 18 and space 264 about~the circumference of the valve mandrel.
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Valve carrler 262 is received~between the lower end of upper valve sleeve 228~ and a bevel 268 formed on the radially outer surface~of valve mandrel 218 about its circumference and is thus restrained from axial movement relative to the valve~mandrel.
~ A~ plston~ mandrel;~270 in Flgure 2C, 2D, and 2E has an :
upper end~threadably secured via threads 272 to the lower ,.
end of lower~valve slèeve 234. The radially outer surface of piston mandrel 270 and the xadially inner surfaces of upper~housing~section 210 and intermediate housing section 212 define~ an upper annular space 274 which is in communi-~: :
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~X~5~;7 : cation with the exterior of the tool via a power port Z76.
O-rings 278, 280 seal the radially inner and outer surfaces of intermediate housing section 212 and define the lower end of annular space 274. O-rings 278, 280 define the upper end of a lower annular space 282 which has as its outer boundry the radially inner surface of lower housing section 214. The radially inner boundry of space 282 is defined by the outer surface of piston mandrel 270 and the outer surface of a lower piston mandrel 286 which is threadably secured to the lower end sf plston mandrel 270 via threads 288.
Disposed at the lower end of annular space 282 is an annular~floating plston 290. Piston 290 is sealingly and :
slidingly~received between the:rad1aLly outer surface of the -lower~plston~mandre1 and the radially inner surface of lower housing section:214. Lower annular space 282:is filled with ~:
, 15 oil~to provid ;1ubricatlon to moving parts,:to bè hereinafter -~
more fully de~scrlbed, contained withln ~space 28~2. The lower ~:
s~lde~of~fIoat1ng~piston~290;lS~in fluid communication with :~ the~exterior of tool 201 via a port 292:formed through the ~ wal~1 of~lower housLng sect:ion 214. The floating piston 20~ prevents~:drillIng~mud and other contaminates in the well ; bore~from be:¢omi:ng mixed with the oil contained in annular space~282~:above the floating piston.
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In Figure 2E, an indexing sleeve 292 is closely received over piston mandrel 270 and is restrained from axial move-ment therealong by a downward facing shoulder 294 formed on mandrel 270 and the upper surface of lower piston mandrel 286. For a better view of the structure associated with indexing sleeve 292, attention is directed to Figure 5.
An outer cylindrical surface 296 on indexing sleeve 292 concludes a continuous slot or groove, such being in-dicated generally at 298. Groove 298 includes a repeating zig~zag portion 300 which rotates sleeve 2g2 counter-clock- -wise, as viewed from above, upon reciprocation of piston mandrel 270 relative to housing 200.
Groove 298 further includes first and second vertical ;~
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groove portions 302, 30~. Each of groove portions 302, 304 includes an upper and lower~leg, like upper leg 305 and lower leg 307 in groove 302. Connecting groove portions 306, 308~connect~repeating zlg-zag portLon 300 with vertical .
groove portions 302, 304. ~Zig-zag portion 300 includes a first leg 310 having an upper surface 312 and a lower sur-, face 314. Each of the other legs in zig-zag portion 300 :
include similar upper and lower surfaces. Likewise, each of vertical grooves 302, 304 include upper and lower surfaces like upper surface~316 and lower surface 318 in groove portion 302.
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~37S67 A ball 320 i5 biased into groove portion 302 and more particularly into the lower portion of the groove as viewed in both Figures 5 and 2E.
In Figure 2E, ball 320 is mounted on the radially lnner suxface of an annular shoulder 324 which is formed on the radially inner surface of lower housing section 214. For a more detailed description o~ ball 32U, its associated structure, and the manner in which ball 320 interacts with indexing sleeve 292 see U.S. Patent No. 4,355,685 -~ to Beck.
I0 An annular shoulder 322 is formed on the radially inner surface of lower housing section 214 about its circumference.
Annular shoulder 322 includes a pair of opposed slots 326, 328~which are viewable ln Figure 4.
: Annular shoulder 324 includes a~similar pair of opposed slots;330, 332~with~slot 330 being axially aligned with slot 326 and~slo~t 332~being axially~aligned with slot 328.
Indexlng~sleeve~292~ ncludes;~a pair~of opposed load lugs ~334~, 336, such~being~viewab1e in Figure 4. In the view of Figure~4;,~opposlnq~lug~s 334, 336 are recelved within slots 326,~ 328,~ respe~ctively. Load lug 336 is viewable in Figure 5~and~is~shown ln~dot-dash~1ines Ln Figure 2E, such indicat-.ny where l~a~ lug ~396 _-~positioned on the rear side of ` ' . ~ ' ` ' ' ': . . ' ' ,~, ` ' ' ' , ' . . ' . ' ~ ' , ' 5~j~
index sleeve 292, with lug 334 being half cut away in the quarter section and half obscured by lower housing section 214.
Load lug 336 includes an upper abutment surface 338 and a lower abutment surface 340. Abutment surfaces 338, 340 comprise the upper and lower surfaces, .respectively, of the load lug which extends outwardly from the radially outer sur-~ace of indexing sleeve 292.
In Figure 2E, annular shoulder 322 includes upper and lower abutment surfaces 342, 344, respectively. :;
10Also in Figure 2E, shoulder 324 includes upper and lower abutment surfaces:3:46, 348, respectively. The upper surface of lower piston mandrel 286~comprises an abutment surface :-350 with surface~348 being abutted against surface 350 in :
the view~of:Fi~gure 2E.
15Additional abutment:surfaces:are seen in Figures 2C and . :~
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2D and: include~surface 352 on the lower end of lower valve :
sleeve 234~and surface 354 on~the upper end of intermediate .~
housLng:;sectlon 212.~ As will be explained hereinafter, the --~various abutment~surfaces interact with one another to limit ~
20 the axial movement;of valve mandrel 218 and thereby place ~;
the valve in a~closed condition, in a condition for circu-latlon~of~fluids, or in a condition for reverse circulation ~l :
of flulds.~
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In operation, prior to suspending tool 201 on a drill string in a well bore, mandrel 270 is axially reciprocated relative to housing 200 in order to place ball 320 in the lower end of leg 310 as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5.
In this position ball 320 is adjacent lower surface 314.
When ball 320 is in the lower portion of leg 310 adjacent surface 314, abutment surface 338 of load lug 336 and the upper surface of the opposing load lug are abutted against abutment surface 344 on the underside of annular shoulder 322 When surfaces 338, 344 are so abutted, ball 320 is not abutted~against~surface 314 on the lower portion of leg 310 bu~ rather~is positioned ]ust adjacent thereto.
When power piston 270 is positioned with~ball 320 in leg 310 as~described above, valve mandrel 218 is positioned .
over circulation:::port 252, in Figure.2C, between o-rings -.;
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222,~224.;: Thus,~ fluid~ communication.between passageway 216 -and the exterior of::tool~201 is prevented. ~
With the too}: configured as described above, it is .
assembled into the drill:string and lowered into the well .; ~ ; : ~ , :,' bore~as shown in:Figure l. With:this arrangement, fluids may be pumped into the drill string on which tool 201 is ~suspended~for purposes~of fracturing or injecting acid into the lorma=ion.;~ Al~-, .he annulus between tool 201 and the .
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well bore may be pressurized in order to operate different tools in the drill string testing arrangement.
With ball 320 received in the lower portion of leg 310, when fluid is pumped down the drill string upon which the tool is suspended, passageway 216 is pressurized thus forcing power mandrel 270 downwardly until ball 320 is received in the upper -portion of leg 310, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5, adjacent surface 312. The power mandrel is urged downwardly under such pressurization due to the action of an annular 10 piston which is defined by an outer diameter at seal 238 in -Figure 2C and by an inner diameter at O-ring 278 in Figure 2E.
Fluid pressure in passageway 216 acts across the difference in area between seal 238 and O-ring 278 to urge power mandrel 270 downwardly. As the mandrel moves downwardly ball 320 15 moves from the lower portion~of leg 310 to the upper portion -of leg 310 ad~acent upper surface 312.
~ It is to be appreciated that downward movement of the power mandrel is~;s~topped when lower abutment surface 340 on load lug 336 and the lower abutment surface on the opposing load lug strlke upper abutment surface 346 on shoulder 324.
Such occurs when ball 320 is in the position shown in dashed ~` lines adjacent upper surface 312. Such abutment prevents ball - :
320~from abutting against surface 312 with a significant ~amount of force.
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After ball 320 is positioned in the upper portion of leg 310, it may be necessary or desirable ~o opera~e a tool in the drill string testing arrangement by applying pressure to the annulus between the drill string and the well bore. Such pressure,in addition to the hydrostatic pressure in the annulus, is communicated to upper annular space 274 via port 276 in Figure 2D and serves to urge power piston mandrel 270 upwardly relative to housing 200. When such occurs, ball 320 moves downwardly into the lower portion of the leg adjacent ;
leg 310. Further upward piston mandrel movement is stopped by - ~ `
the action of abutment surface 338 against abutment surface 344 on the lower surface of annular shoulder 322.
~ When ball 320 is received within zig-zag portion 300, although plston mandrel 270 and thus valve mandrel 218 are 15 reciproca:ted between the:upper and lower portions of groove ~-300, circulation port 252 is always between O-rings 222, 224, thus sealing the:port from fluid communiction between the :.:
; interior and exterior of the tool.
It can be seen~:that:by alternately pumping down the drill string and the~annulus or pumping down and releasing pressure in the:~drill string, ball 320 will be successively moved along zig-zag portlon 30:0:until lt is received in the upper portion - of-the le~to the~immediate right of connecting port 306. When ; -drill`string~pressure is released, the normal hydrostatic , , , ; :
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' ~ ,' ',' .: ' . , ` .. " ', ' .. . '. ' ~ ' . , ' ' ~ ~375~i7 pressure in the annulus will act on power piston mandrel 270 through port 276 and urge it upwardly relative to housing 200, Thus, the annulus does not have to be pressured up to axially reciprocate the power piston mandrel 270 and move ball 320 in zig-zag portion 300 of groove 298.
When so positioned, annulus pressure may be applied or drill string pressure released ko urge piston mandrel 370 upwardly thereby causing ball 320 to enter connecting portion 306 and thereafter lower leg 307 as the piston mandrel continues 10 its upward movement. Abutment surface 338 does not strike ~~
abutment surface 344 on the lower surface of shoulder 322 as during piston mandrel reclprocatlon when ball 320 is received in zig-zag portion 300, This is because load lugs 334, 336 are received within slots 326, 328, in Figure 4, and thus permlt movement of ball 320 down lower leg 307.
Just prior to abutment:of ball 320 against lower surface 318, abutment surface~34~3~on the lower side of shoulder 324 : :
abuts agalnst~surface:350 on the upper side of lower piston mandrel 286~thus stopping further mandrel movement and pre-:
venting ball 320:from absorbing a~si~nificant axial load.
: When ball 320 is ln the lower end of leg 307 as shown in ~ the~soLid-llne vlew~ of Figure~5 and Figure 2E, valve mandrel `. ~ 218 is posi~tioned relat1ve to port 252 as shown in Figure 2C.
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~ i ~ ~ ~375~
When so positioned fluid may be reverse circulated throuyh port 252, bore 250 (and the other bores about the perimeter of valve mandrel 218 adjacent bore 250), into annular space 248 on the radially inner surface of valve mandrel 218 and into passageway 216.
Thus, when valve mandrel 218 is in the configuration of 2C, the well may be reverse circulated but, because of the action of resilient valve portion 242, the well may not be circulated from the drill string into the annulus. When pressure in passageway 216 is greater than the pressure in the annulus, surface 242 sealingly engages the radially inner ~: surface of the valve mandrel thus preventing flow between passageway 216 and the annulus. -Since such flow may not occur, when it is desired to : lS plac`e the tool in:conditlon for circulation, passageway 216 :~
; may be pressuri~zed.(by:pumplng down the drill string) thus driving~piston~mandrel 270 downwardly and moving ball 320 upwardly~in ~leg:307 and:i~nto leg 305 until the ball is ad-:
jacent surface~316. Just prior to impact of surface 316 with ball 320,~surface 352 on the lower end of lower valve sleeve 234~ abuts against surface 354 on the upper end of intermediate .:~ houslng~section 212 thus stopping further downward movement ~-........... of~piston mandrel~ and~preventing ball 320 from bearing signi- -flcànt~forces as~a result of impact with surface 316.
.
. :
:
: ,; :
f' (' 37~67 When the Piston mandrel i5 in its lowermost condition as just previously described, O-rinq 220 on valve mandrel 218 is beneath circulatinq port 252 thus Permittinq circulation from passageway 216 into the well bore as follows. When pressure in passageway 216 increases above that in the annulus, fluid flows through bores 266 into annular space 264, between sur-face 260 and the radially outer surface of valve mandrel 218, and through port 252 into the annulus.
When so configured, if annulus pressure exceeds that of passageway 216, flow does not occur through port 252 because surface 260 sealingly engages the radially outer surface of valve mandrel 218.; -If it is desired to return the tool to its closed posi- .-::
tion in which neither circulation nor reverse circulation can . .
15 occur, the annulus: lS pressurized thus drivinq Piston mandrel :~
270 uPwardlY and causinq ball 320 to move down leq 305 and into the ZLq-Zaq portion:~ (not shown) on surface 296 opposite zig-zag portion 3:00. :
The tool is agaln in: condltlon to permit repeated alter-nate applLcaticns of~annulus and drill string pressure orappli~catlons and:releases of drill string pressure without shlftLng the tool into condition for circulation or for reverse clrculation.~ It can be seen that, in the tool of the preferred ::
'' ~2~5~;7 embodiment, five such alternate applications o~ annulus and drill string pressure or applications and releases of drill string pressure may occur before the tool is again placed in condition for reverse circulation. Thereafter, application of S drill string pressure places the tool in condition for cir-culation to permit, for example, the spotting of fluids into the well bore adjacent tool 201. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that more or fewer than five cycles may readily be employed by changing the slot.
~It can be seen that tool 201 permits alternate pumping of fluids into the formation and operation of various tools by pressurizing the well~ bore without placing the tool in con-dition for circulation or reverse circulation until the annulus and drilI string have been alternatel~ pressurized a pre~
lS determined~number of times. Such a tool permits reversing fluids out of the drill strlng and thereafter spotting fluids, for example~nLtrogen, into the well bore adjacent tool 201.
Thereafter, annulus pressure can be increased to actuate ~`
other valves and/or tools in the well bore without compressing the nitrogen~in the drill string.
Thus,~tool 201 permits selectively reverse circulating and~spotting flù~ids down the well while at the same time per-mitting application of~drill string and annulus pressures to : : -~ 23-:~? `~
t ~375~:i7 pump fluids and actuate other tools without unintentionally opening or closing the circulation valve.
It is thus seen that the downhole tool of the present invention readily achieves the ends and advantages mentioned S as well as those inherent therein. While presently pre-ferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically described for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts can be made by those skilled in the art which changes are encompassed within 10 the splrit and scope of this invention which is defined by the .:
appended claims.
: : : : :
:
:.
: :
. : ~ :
::
, ~ 24-
Claims (20)
1. A circulation valve adapted to be suspended in a well bore on a pipe string comprising:
a cylindrical housing having an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof;
a valve mandrel slidably received in said housing and movable between a first position closing said circulation port and a second position in which fluid may be circulated through said port; and annular piston means received in said housing and being operatively connected to said valve mandrel, said piston means having a first side subject to pressure in the annulus of said well bore and a second side subject to pressure in said pipe string, said piston means moving said valve mandrel toward one of said positions when the pressure on said first side exceeds the pressure on said second side and moving said mandrel toward the other of said positions when the pressure on said second side exceeds the pressure on said first side.
a cylindrical housing having an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof;
a valve mandrel slidably received in said housing and movable between a first position closing said circulation port and a second position in which fluid may be circulated through said port; and annular piston means received in said housing and being operatively connected to said valve mandrel, said piston means having a first side subject to pressure in the annulus of said well bore and a second side subject to pressure in said pipe string, said piston means moving said valve mandrel toward one of said positions when the pressure on said first side exceeds the pressure on said second side and moving said mandrel toward the other of said positions when the pressure on said second side exceeds the pressure on said first side.
2. The circulation valve of claim 1 wherein said circu-lation valve includes means for preventing movement of said valve mandrel from said first position until the pressure on each side of said piston alternately exceeds the pressure on the other side a predetermined number of times.
3. The circulation valve of claim 2 wherein said move-ment preventing means includes a groove and lug assembly dis-posed between said housing and said valve mandrel.
4. The circulation valve of claim 1 wherein said valve mandrel is moveable toward a third position in which fluid may be circulated through said port.
' .
' .
5. The circulation valve of claim 4 wherein said valve mandrel includes means for preventing fluid flow from said pipe string to said well bore annulus when said valve mandrel is in said second position and means for preventing fluid flow from said well bore annulus to said pipe string when said valve mandrel is in said third position.
6. The circulation valve of claim 1 wherein said valve mandrel includes check valve means for permitting fluid cir-culation in one direction only between said pipe string and said well bore annulus when said valve mandrel is in said second position.
7. The circulation valve of claim 6 wherein said check valve means permits fluid circulation only from said well bore annulus to said pipe string.
8. The circulation valve of claim 7 wherein said valve mandrel is moveable toward a third position and wherein said valve mandrel includes second check valve means for permitting fluid circulation only from said pipe string to said well bore annulus when said valve mandrel is in said third position.
9. The circulation valve of claim 8 wherein said valve mandrel comprises a generally tubular member having first and second bores axially displaced from one another through a wall of said tubular member and wherein said first-mentioned check valve means is associated with said first bore and said second check valve means is associated with said second bore.
10. A method of operating a circulation valve of the type having a valve mandrel slidably disposed in a cylindrical housing and moveable from a first position closing a circulating port disposed through said housing to a second position in which fluid may be circulated through said port, said method comprising the steps of:
increasing pressure exterior of said housing relative to that interior thereof to move said valve mandrel toward one of said positions within said cylindrical housing, said pressure exterior of said housing being communicated to a first piston of said valve mandrel through a power port disposed through a wall of said cylindrical housing; and increasing pressure interior of said housing relative to that exterior thereof to move said valve mandrel toward the other of said positions within said housing, said valve mandrel having a second piston exposed to pressure interior of said housing.
increasing pressure exterior of said housing relative to that interior thereof to move said valve mandrel toward one of said positions within said cylindrical housing, said pressure exterior of said housing being communicated to a first piston of said valve mandrel through a power port disposed through a wall of said cylindrical housing; and increasing pressure interior of said housing relative to that exterior thereof to move said valve mandrel toward the other of said positions within said housing, said valve mandrel having a second piston exposed to pressure interior of said housing.
11. The method of claim 10 which further includes the step of preventing movement of said valve mandrel from said first position until the pressure interior of said housing alternately exceeds the pressure exterior of said housing a predetermined number of times.
12. The method of claim 10 which further includes the step of permitting circulation through said port in one direc-tion only when said valve mandrel is in said second position.
13. The method of claim 12 which further includes the steps of:
moving said valve mandrel to a third position; and permitting circulation through said port in the other direction only when said valve mandrel is in said third posi-tion.
moving said valve mandrel to a third position; and permitting circulation through said port in the other direction only when said valve mandrel is in said third posi-tion.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of moving said valve mandrel to a third position comprises the step of apply-ing fluid pressure to one of said pistons.
15. A circulation valve adapted to be suspended in a well bore on a pipe string comprising:
a cylindrical housing having an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof; and a valve mandrel slidably received in said housing and moveable between a position in which fluid may flow through said circulation port only from the well bore annulus to the pipe string and a position in which fluid may flow through said cir-culation port only from the pipe string to the well bore annulus.
a cylindrical housing having an open longitudinal passageway therethrough and a circulation port disposed through a wall thereof; and a valve mandrel slidably received in said housing and moveable between a position in which fluid may flow through said circulation port only from the well bore annulus to the pipe string and a position in which fluid may flow through said cir-culation port only from the pipe string to the well bore annulus.
16. The circulation valve of claim 15 wherein said valve mandrel is moveable to a position preventing fluid flow through said circulation port in either direction.
17. The circulation valve of claim 16 wherein said valve mandrel positions are axially spaced from one another and where-in said circulation valve further includes piston means oper-atively connected to said valve mandrel, said piston means being exposed to pressure interior and exterior of said housing for axially moving said valve mandrel to a selected one of said positions responsive to pressure changes across said housing.
18. The circulation valve of claim 16 wherein said valve mandrel further includes means for limiting axial movement of said valve mandrel.
19. The circulation valve of claim 18 wherein said limit-ing means includes a groove and lug assembly disposed between said housing and said valve mandrel.
20. The circulation valve of claim 19 wherein said groove includes a pattern which is constructed and arranged to permit alternately relatively pressurizing the interior and exterior of said housing a predetermined number of times when said valve mandrel is in a position closing said port before said valve mandrel can move to one of said other positions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/797,375 US4657082A (en) | 1985-11-12 | 1985-11-12 | Circulation valve and method for operating the same |
| US797,375 | 1985-11-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1287567C true CA1287567C (en) | 1991-08-13 |
Family
ID=25170665
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000522762A Expired - Fee Related CA1287567C (en) | 1985-11-12 | 1986-11-12 | Circulation valve and method for operating the same |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4657082A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0223552B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU587654B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1287567C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3683457D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2027962T3 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO864487L (en) |
| SG (1) | SG33892G (en) |
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| US4823877A (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1989-04-25 | Mcdaniel Robert J | Open hole pipe recovery circulation valve |
| US4657082A (en) * | 1985-11-12 | 1987-04-14 | Halliburton Company | Circulation valve and method for operating the same |
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| US4782897A (en) * | 1987-03-02 | 1988-11-08 | Halliburton Company | Multiple indexing J-slot for model E SRO valve |
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| US5383520A (en) * | 1992-09-22 | 1995-01-24 | Halliburton Company | Coiled tubing inflatable packer with circulating port |
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| GB9601659D0 (en) * | 1996-01-27 | 1996-03-27 | Paterson Andrew W | Apparatus for circulating fluid in a borehole |
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| AU722886B2 (en) * | 1996-04-18 | 2000-08-10 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Circulating valve responsive to fluid flow rate therethrough and associated methods of servicing a well |
| GB2314106B (en) * | 1996-06-11 | 2000-06-14 | Red Baron | Multi-cycle circulating sub |
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| US6230807B1 (en) * | 1997-03-19 | 2001-05-15 | Schlumberger Technology Corp. | Valve operating mechanism |
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| GB9721730D0 (en) * | 1997-10-15 | 1997-12-10 | Specialised Petroleum Serv Ltd | Apparatus for circulating fluid in a well bore |
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| GB2428719B (en) | 2003-04-01 | 2007-08-29 | Specialised Petroleum Serv Ltd | Method of Circulating Fluid in a Borehole |
| AU2004287892A1 (en) * | 2003-11-05 | 2005-05-19 | Drilling Solutions Pty Ltd | Actuating mechanism |
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| US7866402B2 (en) * | 2007-10-11 | 2011-01-11 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Circulation control valve and associated method |
| US8522936B2 (en) * | 2008-04-23 | 2013-09-03 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Shock absorber for sliding sleeve in well |
| US7909095B2 (en) * | 2008-10-07 | 2011-03-22 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Valve device and associated methods of selectively communicating between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string |
| US8240387B2 (en) * | 2008-11-11 | 2012-08-14 | Wild Well Control, Inc. | Casing annulus tester for diagnostics and testing of a wellbore |
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| SG11201406248VA (en) * | 2012-04-03 | 2014-10-30 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Downhole circulating valve having a metal-to-metal seal and method for operating same |
| WO2013162558A1 (en) * | 2012-04-26 | 2013-10-31 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Downhole circulating valve having a seal plug and method for operating same |
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| BR112015008678B1 (en) * | 2012-10-16 | 2021-10-13 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FLOW IN AN OIL OR GAS WELL AND FLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OIL OR GAS WELL |
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-
1985
- 1985-11-12 US US06/797,375 patent/US4657082A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1986
- 1986-11-11 NO NO864487A patent/NO864487L/en unknown
- 1986-11-12 ES ES198686308808T patent/ES2027962T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-11-12 CA CA000522762A patent/CA1287567C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-11-12 AU AU65038/86A patent/AU587654B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1986-11-12 DE DE8686308808T patent/DE3683457D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-11-12 EP EP86308808A patent/EP0223552B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-03-19 SG SG338/92A patent/SG33892G/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0223552A3 (en) | 1989-03-22 |
| AU587654B2 (en) | 1989-08-24 |
| NO864487D0 (en) | 1986-11-11 |
| ES2027962T3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
| SG33892G (en) | 1992-05-22 |
| EP0223552B1 (en) | 1992-01-15 |
| NO864487L (en) | 1987-05-13 |
| EP0223552A2 (en) | 1987-05-27 |
| AU6503886A (en) | 1987-05-14 |
| DE3683457D1 (en) | 1992-02-27 |
| US4657082A (en) | 1987-04-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |