U.S. patent application number 14/258768 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-22 for variable length fill up tool and valve.
This patent application is currently assigned to DrawWorks LP. The applicant listed for this patent is DrawWorks LP. Invention is credited to Matthew J. Hickl, Travis MacDonald, Albert Augustus Mullins.
Application Number | 20150300107 14/258768 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54321577 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150300107 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mullins; Albert Augustus ;
et al. |
October 22, 2015 |
Variable Length Fill Up Tool and Valve
Abstract
A fill up tool has an adjustable length to selectively lengthen
the fill up a tool or retract to be positioned completely above the
elevator so that elevator movement will not interfere with the fill
up tool. The seal is fixed to the tool so that the load caused by
the pressurized seal does not have to be balanced by the operating
force of the piston. A full open valve is operated when the tool is
extended to fill up or take flow back.
Inventors: |
Mullins; Albert Augustus;
(Boling, TX) ; Hickl; Matthew J.; (El Maton,
TX) ; MacDonald; Travis; (Boling, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DrawWorks LP |
Boling |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DrawWorks LP
Boling
TX
|
Family ID: |
54321577 |
Appl. No.: |
14/258768 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/373 ;
166/142; 166/387 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 21/106 20130101;
E21B 21/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 21/00 20060101
E21B021/00; E21B 21/10 20060101 E21B021/10; E21B 17/10 20060101
E21B017/10; E21B 33/12 20060101 E21B033/12 |
Claims
1. A tubular string fill up and circulation tool assembly for
placement of the string at a subterranean location, comprising: a
mandrel having a base portion and a telescoping portion and a
selectively open passage therethrough; an exterior seal on said
base or telescoping portion for selective insertion into said
string.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: said passage comprises a
selectively opened valve.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said valve opens on at least a
partial extension of said telescoping portion.
4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said valve opens at
substantial extension of said telescoping portion.
5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein: said mandrel comprises an
upper portion from which said telescoping portion selectively
extends; said upper portion comprises a piston, said piston forming
a portion of said valve.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein: said valve comprises a tubular
member fixedly mounted in said upper portion; said piston is
connected to said telescoping portion that overlays said tubular
member.
7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein: said piston overlays said
tubular member.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein: said tubular member having at
least one lateral port and a closed lower end.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein: said lateral port is
selectively closed by said telescoping portion.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein: said piston having an
interior chamber selectively aligned with said port to open flow
through said telescoping portion.
11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein: said piston divides said
upper potion into an upper annular space defined between said
tubular member and a surrounding inside wall of a tubular housing
that comprises said upper portion and a lower annular space defined
between said telescoping portion and said inside wall.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein: said piston moves with a
pressure differential in said upper and lower annular spaces.
13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein: said telescoping portion
further comprises a cup seal and centralizer.
14. A method of running a tubular string to a subterranean
location, comprising: supporting the string below a fill up and
circulation tool; initially telescoping a part of the fill up and
circulating tool into a top of said string; flowing fluid into said
string after said initially telescoping; inserting a seal of said
fill up and circulating tool into said string with further
telescoping of said fill up and circulating tool or with lowering
said fill up and circulating tool; circulating fluid through said
string while advancing said string toward the subterranean
location.
15. The method of claim 14, comprising: opening a passage through
said fill up and circulating tool with said initially
telescoping.
16. The method of claim 15, comprising: opening said passage with a
valve.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising: moving a portion of said
valve with said initial telescoping.
18. The method of claim 17, comprising: moving a piston in a
housing for said initial telescoping; aligning at least one lateral
port on a stationary tube in said housing that is connected to a
fluid source with a chamber within said piston to allow flow
through said fill up and circulating tool.
19. The method of claim 18, comprising: opening said passage on
initial movement of said piston and retaining said passage open for
the remaining movement of said piston in a direction that initially
opened said passage.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising: closing said passage when
reversing said initial telescoping movement of said fill up and
circulation tool.
21. The method of claim 14, comprising: rigidly mounting the fill
up and circulating tool in alignment with said string so that upon
said initially telescoping said fill up and circulating tool a nose
of said fill up and circulating tool goes into the string without
intervention.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is a circulation and fill up tool
where length can be selectively adjusted to lower into the elevator
for fill up
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fill up tools have been use to transfer fluids into and out
of the casing or tubulars being run into the well. These tools
generally have a seal to allow a pressurized communication to
circulate or take flow back. The use of a spring operated check
valve allows fluid to be controlled in both directions. Generally
these tools will hang between the bails and hang inside or above
the elevators. In general practice the seal is inserted into the
tubular only when circulating or taking flow back to help reduce
wear on the seal.
[0003] The standard procedure is to position the fill up tool with
spacers so that the seal is positioned just above the top of the
casing when being run into the well while the valve or nose of the
assembly is hanging down below, inside the elevators. With the use
of slip type elevators which grab the tubular body, this allows the
casing to be filled up while run into the well without inserting
the seal. Whenever a sealed connection is desired, the slip type
elevators are lowered until the nose of the tool and the seal are
inserted into the casing. The slip type elevators then grab the
tubular in a lower than normal position to keep the fill up tool
from coming out of the top of the casing, and to control the weight
of the casing. When a tubular is grabbed lower, the casing cannot
be lowered as far into the well. When the casing is handed off from
the elevators to the floor spiders, the top of the casing is now
higher above the rig floor. Generally a false floor must be used so
the rig hands can work around the top of the last joint inserted
into the well.
[0004] With the use of single joint elevators below the standard
slip-type elevators to position the next joint of casing over the
well center, a problem can occur while using the standard fill up
tool. When lifting the next joint of casing from the v-door, the
weight of the casing being pulled at an angle causes the elevators
to be pulled sideways toward the v-door, which misaligns the
top-drive and the elevators. With a fill up tool positioned inside
the elevators, this creates a huge side load which has been known
to bend the fill up tool. Flexible hose have been used to help
reduce the side load, but such flexible hose adds to the overall
length of the tool. A derrick man is also needed to guide the
flexible nose of the tool into the casing. The spring valves also
leak and create a back pressure when allowing flow.
[0005] Such standard fill up tools are demonstrated in Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 8,141,642 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 8,141,642 B2, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,173,777 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,654 B1.
[0006] Some tools are added above the fill up tool to effectively
lengthen the entire tool. These tools require long strokes and are
limited to circulating pressures due to the area and pressure on
the operating piston. Buckling of the tool under a compressive load
also become a factor when it is extended. An adjustable length tool
is demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,566
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A fill up tool can be made so that its length can be
adjusted, which also operates an internal valve that allows fluid
communication through the tool. It can be positioned above the
elevators so that any side load on the elevators will not interfere
with the tool when it is in the retracted position. The valve is
also shut when the tool is retracted. After the fill up tool is
aligned with the elevators and casing, it can be extended so the
nose of the fill up tool is inserted into the casing for fill up.
Once the tool is extended the valve is opened and allows fluid flow
through the tool in either direction. It is a full open valve so
there is minimal pressure drop when flowing either way through the
valve. To circulate or take flow back, the elevators can be lowered
which inserts the tool and seal into the casing. The seal has a
rigid support to the top drive which will allow for high
circulation pressures and resist buckling. The tool is held in the
casing by the slip type elevators which are gripping the casing.
The tool can be extended to open the valve to allow circulation or
flow back. The small differential area exposed to pressure in this
design will allow for a low pressure to extend or retract the tool,
not found in other adjustable length tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a view of the tool as would normally hang from the
top drive;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a section view of FIG. 1 in the normal
position;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a detail view of the tool in FIG. 2 in the normal
position;
[0011] FIG. 3A is a detail view of the valve in FIG. 3 in the
closed position;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a view of the tool as it would hang from the top
drive in the fill up position;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a section view of FIG. 4 in the fill up
position;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the tool in FIG. 5 in the fill up
position;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a detail view of the valve in FIG. 6 in the open
position;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a view of the tool as it would hang from the top
drive in the flow back/circulate position;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a section view of FIG. 8 in the flow
back/circulate position;
[0018] FIG. 10 is the view of a second valve arrangement in the
open position.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a view of the second valve of FIG. 10 in the
closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] In FIG. 1 the fill up tool 4 is hanging from the top drive
2. The bails 1 hold up the elevator 3 which is also supported by
top drive 2. The elevators are lowered around casing 17. This is
also illustrated with FIG. 2 In this position the elevators can
swing and move around without interfering with fill up tool 4 since
it is positioned above the elevators.
[0021] In FIG. 3 a moveable sealed piston 5 moves inside wall 41 of
fill up tool 4. Piston 5 is connected to stroke shaft 51 which is
connected to nose 10. There is an upper volume 401 and lower volume
402 that can be manipulated to move piston 5 up or down. FIG. 3A is
the valve in the closed position. When piston 5 is in the up
position stroke shaft 51 blocks the flow of fluid from inner
passage 151 attempting to pass through bore 145.
[0022] In FIG. 4 the fill up tool 4 is extended to fill up the
casing 17. Flow through the tool is possible as extension starts
and while extension continues to full extension stroke.
Alternatively flow can start at or near full telescoping extension.
Note: This does not require a person to stab the nose into the
casing as normally practiced because the tool is rigidly mounted in
alignment with the string being filled and circulated.
[0023] In FIGS. 5 and 6 upper volume 401 has been increased and
lower volume 402 has been decreased, by hoses not shown, which
moved piston 5, stroke shaft 51, and nose 10 downward. Notice seal
6 does not have to be inserted into the casing 17 to fill up the
casing 17 which extends seal life. In FIG. 7 when the piston 5
moves down the recess 500 allows fluid from passage 151 through
ports 114 and into bore 145. This creates a fluid path with minimal
pressure drop when compared to a typical spring valve used in fill
up tools.
[0024] FIGS. 8 and 9 is the Fill up tool 4 lowered further into the
casing, which also allows the elevators 3 to grip the casing 17
lower. FIG. 9 shows the seal 6 sealing into casing 17 which allows
a pressurized connection. Seal 6 is supported by shoulder 161 which
is part of mandrel 16 that is a rigid part of fill up tool 4 that
is fixed to top drive 2. Any axial load encountered by the seal
will be directly transferred to the top drive through a fixed
geometry, resulting in allowing higher circulation pressures. The
small differential area across the valve allows for a high
circulation pressure with relatively low piston operating pressure.
Seal 6 can also be mounted to the telescoping portion of the tool
for telescoping into the casing as opposed to on a base portion of
the mandrel 16 where the base portion with the seal 6 is lowered
into the casing.
[0025] FIG. 10 is an alternate valve method that allows the valve
opening to be synced at different lengths of extension. Fixed valve
200 has ports 202 spaced in the correct length to operate with
sleeve 203. Sleeve 203 has flow ports 205 to allow fluid to pass.
When piston 204 is moved, it slides sleeve 203 when it is extended
or retracted. When the sleeve 203 is slid down, flow from area 201
can flow through ports 202 and around sleeve 203 into lower area
206. By moving the placement of ports 202 and length of sleeve 203,
the opening and extension relationship can be manipulated. FIG. 11
is the valve in the closed position. The sleeve 203 has been moved
up and blocks the ports 202 which blocks fluid flow.
[0026] The above description is illustrative of the preferred
embodiment and many modifications may be made by those skilled in
the art without departing from the invention whose scope is to be
determined from the literal and equivalent scope of the claims
below:
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