U.S. patent application number 12/231714 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for stage cementing tool.
Invention is credited to Anthony M. Badalamenti, Henry E. Rogers.
Application Number | 20100051276 12/231714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723618 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100051276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers; Henry E. ; et
al. |
March 4, 2010 |
Stage cementing tool
Abstract
A stage cementing tool for use in cementing a casing in the well
is disclosed. The stage cementing tool includes a housing with a
mechanically set packer to seal against the well. A hydraulically
actuated opening sleeve will move in the housing to uncover flow
ports in the housing, and allow flow therethrough into the
well.
Inventors: |
Rogers; Henry E.; (Duncan,
OK) ; Badalamenti; Anthony M.; (Katy, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN W. WUSTENBERG
P.O. BOX 1431
DUNCAN
OK
73536
US
|
Family ID: |
41723618 |
Appl. No.: |
12/231714 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/289 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/146
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/289 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/13 20060101
E21B033/13 |
Claims
1. A cementing tool for use in a well comprising: a housing
defining a longitudinal flow passage therethrough, and having at
least one flow port disposed in a wall thereof; a mechanically set
packer connected to the housing for sealing against a well; and a
hydraulically actuated opening sleeve disposed in the housing, the
opening sleeve being movable from a closed position covering the at
least one flow port to an open position wherein the at least one
flow port is uncovered and communicates the longitudinal flow
passage with the well.
2. The cementing tool of claim 1, the mechanically set packer
comprising: a packer sub connected to the housing; a radially
expandable packer element supported by the packer sub and disposed
about the housing; and a packer ring slidable on the housing and
positioned so that movement of the packer ring in a first direction
will cause the packer element to move to a set position wherein the
packer element sealingly engages the well.
3. The tool of claim 2 further comprising a packer setting sleeve
disposed in the housing and connected to the movable packer ring,
wherein movement of the setting sleeve in the first direction moves
the packer ring in the first direction.
4. The tool of claim 3, the housing having packer setting slots in
the wall thereof, the setting sleeve being connected to the packer
ring with connectors extending through the packer setting slots and
movable therein.
5. The tool of claim 4 wherein the packer setting sleeve completely
covers the setting packer slots in the set and unset positions of
the packer.
6. The tool of claim 3 wherein the packer setting sleeve includes a
seat for receiving a setting plug and wherein the setting sleeve
will move the packer ring to expand the packer element to the set
position when the setting plug is engaged with the seat and
pressure in the longitudinal flow passage is increased.
7. The cementing tool of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic setting
sleeve has an upper portion with a first outer diameter and a lower
portion with a second outer diameter smaller in magnitude than the
first outer diameter.
8. The cementing tool of claim 7, further comprising a closing
sleeve disposed about the housing and detachably connected thereto
for covering the flow ports after the opening sleeve has moved to
the open position and cement has been flowed through the flow
ports.
9. A cementing tool for use in a well comprising: a housing
defining a flow passage; a packer element disposed about the
housing and movable from an unset to a set position wherein the
packer element engages the well; a hydraulically actuated opening
sleeve movable from a closed to an open position, wherein in the
open position the opening sleeve uncovers circulating ports in the
housing for communicating cement from the flow passage into the
well.
10. The cementing tool of claim 9 further comprising a closing
sleeve disposed about the housing and positioned above the opening
sleeve for covering the circulating ports after cement has been
communicated therethrough.
11. The cementing tool of claim 10, further comprising an operating
sleeve detachably connected in the housing, the closing sleeve
being connected to and movable with the operating sleeve.
12. The cementing tool of claim 11 further comprising a packer
setting sleeve disposed in the housing, wherein the packer setting
sleeve is adapted to move the packer element to the set
position.
13. The cementing tool of claim 12 wherein a first plug is
displaced into the tool to move the packer setting sleeve and a
second plug is displaced in the tool to move the operating
sleeve.
14. The cementing tool of claim 9 the hydraulically actuated
opening sleeve comprising an upper portion having a first outer
diameter, and a lower portion with a second, smaller diameter,
wherein the opening sleeve is detachably connected to the housing
in the closed position in which the opening sleeve prevents
communication through the circulating ports.
15. A cementing tool for use in a wellbore comprising: a housing,
the housing and the wellbore defining an annulus therebetween; a
packer element disposed about the housing for engaging the
wellbore; a packer setting sleeve for expanding the packer element
to engage the wellbore; an opening sleeve movable relative to the
housing and the packer setting sleeve, wherein in a closed position
the opening sleeve blocks communication into the annulus and in the
open position permits flow into the annulus through circulation
ports in the housing.
16. The cementing tool of claim 15 wherein the opening sleeve is
disposed in the housing and movable solely upon the application of
hydraulic pressure in the housing.
17. The cementing tool of claim 15, further comprising a packer end
ring at the upper end of the packer element wherein the packer
setting sleeve is connected to the packer end ring.
18. The cementing tool of claim 17, wherein the housing has slots
defined therein, and where connectors extend through the slots to
connect the packer setting sleeve to the packer end ring, the
packer setting sleeve completely covering the slots.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] When wellbores are prepared for oil and gas production it is
common to cement casing in the wellbore. Oftentimes it is desirable
to cement the casing in the wellbore in separate stages, typically
beginning at the bottom of the well and working upwardly.
[0002] The process may be achieved by placing cementing tools, such
as for example valved ports in the casing or between casing joints
at one or more locations in the wellbore. Cement may be flowed
through the bottom of the casing, up the annulus to the lowest
cementing tool. Flow to the bottom of the casing can then be shut
off. The cementing tool is opened and cement may be flowed through
the cementing tool up the annulus to the next upper cementing tool.
The process may be repeated until all stages of the well are
cemented. Cementing tools are shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,038,862 and 5,314,015. The '015 patent discloses a stage
cementing tool which utilizes an inflatable packer apparatus. While
there are cementing tools available, there is a continuing need for
further development of efficient cementing tools and particularly
efficient and effective stage cementing tools.
SUMMARY
[0003] A cementing tool with a housing defining a longitudinal flow
passage therethrough is disclosed. The housing has at least one
flow port and preferably has a plurality of flow ports disposed in
a wall thereof. A mechanically set packer is connected to the
housing for sealing against a well. The cementing tool may be used
in a cased or uncased wellbore and thus the mechanically set packer
will set and seal against a casing and/or an open wellbore in a
well. The cementing tool has a hydraulically actuated opening
sleeve in the housing that is movable from a closed position that
covers the at least one flow port to an open position wherein the
at least one flow port is uncovered to communicate the longitudinal
flow passage with the well through the flow port. The hydraulically
actuated opening sleeve is hydraulically actuated in that simply
the application of pressure will open the opening sleeve and there
are no additional plugs or setting tools used or needed to apply
any moving force to the opening sleeve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 schematically shows a stage cementing tool in a
well.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the stage cementing tool
in a run-in position.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows the stage cementing tool of FIG. 2 with a
packer moved to the set position.
[0007] FIG. 4 shows the tool of FIG. 2 with the stage cementing
sleeve moved to an open position to uncover flow ports.
[0008] FIG. 5 shows the tool of FIG. 2 with the operating sleeve
and closing sleeve moved to cover the flow ports.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] FIG. 1 schematically shows a well 10 drilled for the
production of hydrocarbons. Well 10 comprises wellbore 15 and
casing 20 cemented therein. An annulus 25 is defined between casing
20 and wellbore 15. A stage cementing collar 30 may be lowered into
the well on a casing 32. An annulus 34 is defined between wellbore
15 and casing 32. Casing 32 has an upper portion 36 and a lower
portion 38. The lower portion 38 of casing 32 is below stage
cementing collar 30 and upper portion 36 is above stage cementing
collar 30.
[0010] Referring now to FIG. 2, stage cementing collar 30 includes
housing 40 with upper end 42 and lower end 44, and is adapted to be
connected in casing 32. Housing 40 has an outer or external surface
46 and an inner surface 48. Housing 40 defines a flow passage 50
from the upper to the lower end thereof to allow the passage of
fluids therethrough. A packer assembly 52 is connected to housing
40 and may be threadedly connected at threads 54 to housing 40.
Packer assembly 52 may be for example a mechanically set packer.
Packer assembly 52 may comprise a packer sub or housing 56 with
threads 58 for connecting into casing 32. Packer sub 56 has a
packer element or a plurality of expandable packer elements 60
mounted thereto and disposed about housing 40. Expandable packer
element 60 has upper end 62 and lower end 64. A movable upper end
ring 66 is disposed about housing 40 and engages upper end 62 of
packer element 60.
[0011] A packer setting sleeve 68 is slidably disposed in housing
40 and has inner surface 70. A packer setting sleeve seat 72 is
attached to or alternatively may be formed with packer setting
sleeve 68 and extends radially inwardly from a diameter 74 defined
by inner surface 70. A plurality of connectors 76 extend from
packer setting sleeve 68 through packer setting slots 78 which are
defined in housing 40 and into upper end ring 66 so that packer
setting sleeve 68 is connected to upper end ring 66. Connectors 76
are movable in packer setting slots 78 which have upper end 80 and
lower end 82. Packer setting sleeve 68 sealingly engages housing 40
and may have O-rings 84 positioned above upper end 80 of packer
setting slot 78 and O-rings 86 positioned below lower end 82 of
packer setting slots 78 to sealingly engage housing 40.
[0012] A second stage opening sleeve 90, which may be referred to
as a stage cementing sleeve 90, which in the embodiment shown is a
hydraulically actuated opening sleeve 90, is positioned in housing
40 above packer setting sleeve 68. FIG. 2 shows the stage cementing
collar 30 in the run-in position in which second stage opening
sleeve 90 covers flow ports 92 defined in housing 40. Flow ports 92
may be referred to as circulating ports 92. As will be explained in
more detail hereinbelow, when second stage opening sleeve 90 moves
in housing 40, flow ports 92 are uncovered so that they are
communicated with flow passage 50 to allow fluid flow therethrough
into annulus 34. Second stage opening sleeve 90 has upper end 94
and lower end 96. Second stage opening sleeve 90 has first or upper
portion 98 which comprises a first outer diameter 100. First
portion 98 sealingly engages housing 40 on the inner surface 48
thereof, and may have O-ring 102, which may be referred to as upper
seal 102, disposed thereon to sealingly engage housing 40. Second
or lower portion 104 of second stage opening sleeve 90 has an outer
diameter 106 smaller in magnitude than diameter 100 and has an
O-ring 108, which may be referred to as lower seal 108, disposed
therein. Second portion 104 sealingly engages a sealing or anchor
ring 110 that is attached in housing 40. Second stage opening
sleeve 90 is detachably connected in housing 40 with a plurality of
shear pins 112. Second stage opening sleeve 90 has inner surface
114 that defines a bore therethrough to allow the passage of fluids
therethrough.
[0013] An operating sleeve 120 is slidably and sealably disposed in
housing 40. Operating sleeve 120 has upper end 122 and lower end
124 which, prior to movement of sleeve 90, abuts the upper end of
second stage cementing sleeve 90. Operating sleeve 120 defines an
open bore 126. A plurality of shear pins 128 detachably connect
operating sleeve 120 to housing 40. A plurality of connectors 130
may be threadedly attached or otherwise attached to operating
sleeve 120 and will extend therefrom through operating slots 132 in
housing 40. Operating slots 132 have an upper end 134 and lower end
136. Operating sleeve 120 has an operating seat 138 at or near
upper end 122 thereof.
[0014] A closing sleeve 140 is slidably disposed about housing 40.
Connectors 130 extend into closing sleeve 140 to connect operating
sleeve 120 and closing sleeve 140. A seal 142 is disposed in a
groove in closing sleeve 140 above upper end 134 of operating slot
132. A seal 144 which may be referred to as a lower seal is
disposed in a groove in closing sleeve 140 below lower end 136 of
operating slots 132.
[0015] The cementing tool thus includes packer assembly 52 which is
a mechanically set packer and hydraulically set second stage
cementing sleeve 90. Referring now to FIG. 3, the stage cementing
collar 30 is shown with an opening plug or cementing plug 150
landed on packer setting sleeve seat 72. Hydraulic pressure has
been increased to move packer setting sleeve 68 in a first
direction, downwardly in the embodiment shown, causing packer
element 60 to expand and engage the wall of wellbore 15. While
stage cementing collar 30 is shown in uncased wellbore 15, it is
understood that it can be used in a cased wellbore as well. When
packer setting sleeve 68 moves downwardly, upper end ring 66 moves
downwardly, which causes the expansion of packer element 60.
Cementing plug 150 may be a freefall plug which will be displaced
into casing 32 after an initial volume of cement is pumped into the
casing which will pass through the lower end thereof and will fill
the annulus with cement up to or beyond the location of the stage
cementing tool 30. Cementing plug 150 also may be of a type with
wipers thereon. Packer setting sleeve 68 will completely cover
packer setting slot 78 both in the run-in position shown in FIG. 2
and in the set position shown in FIG. 3, thus preventing
communication and any pressure loss therethrough.
[0016] Once the packer 52 is in the set position as shown in FIG.
3, hydraulic pressure is increased and second stage cementing
sleeve 90 is moved to the open position as shown in FIG. 4 which
uncovers circulating ports 92. Increased pressure will cause shear
pins 112 to break so that second stage opening sleeve 90 moves
downwardly to uncover the circulating ports 92. The differential
area between first and second portions 98 and 104 and more
specifically between the sealing diameter of upper seal 102 and
lower seal 108 will apply hydraulic pressure such that shear pins
112 will break allowing stage cementing sleeve 90 to move. Thus, no
plugs, balls or other devices are needed to move stage cementing
sleeve 90, which will move solely upon the application of increased
pressure. Circulating ports 92 are thus communicated with and
intersect flow passage 50 so that cement may be communicated
therethrough into annulus 34. A volume of cement is flowed through
circulating ports 92 and after the desired volume of cement is
flowed through circulating ports 92, a cementing plug 152 as shown
in FIG. 5, may be pumped in at the end trailing edge of the cement
until it engages operating seat 138 on operating sleeve 120. An
increase in pressure will cause shear pins 128 to break so that
operating sleeve 120 moves downwardly and connected closing sleeve
140 likewise moves downwardly to cover circulation ports 92. This
position is shown in FIG. 5. Once the process is complete, the
sleeves and/or cement in the casing can be drilled out and
stimulation and production operations may be carried out.
[0017] Instead of waiting on the first stage cement to set, as is
normally required, second stage cementing can take place
immediately after packer 52 is set so that packer element 60 seals
against the well. Once packer 52 is set, it will hold the
hydrostatic pressure from the second stage slurry which will be
placed above the set packer element 60.
[0018] Thus, it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the
present invention readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned
as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred
embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described
for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the
arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by
those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the
scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *