Test dart system and method

• US 10,458,198 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vault Pressure Control LLC
• Original Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control LP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Garner, Detrick Deyon, Olvera, Alfred, Borak, Eugene, Armistead, Jason, Cheng, Samuel, Warner, John, Burcham, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sayre, James G
• Application Number:
  US15/670,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20190040709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/065 setting tool actuated by explosion or gas generating means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1212 including a metal-to-metal seal element
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1294 characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/167 Cementing plugs provided with anti-rotation mechanisms, e.g. for easier drill-out
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/105 retrievable, e.g. wire line retrievable, i.e. with an element which can be landed into a landing-nipple provided with a passage for control fluid
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/116 Gun or shaped-charge perforators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/117 Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a test dart for wellbore pressure isolation. The test dart includes a body extending from a first end to a second end, the body having a bore extending therethrough, a diameter of the bore being greater at a first end than the second end. The test dart also includes a groove formed proximate the first end and extending radially outward from the bore and into the body. Additionally, the test dart includes an anti-rotation pin positioned between the groove and the second end, the anti-rotation pin extending radially outward from the body. The test dart further includes a check valve positioned in the bore, the check valve enabling flow in a single direction and being moveable between an open position to enable the flow and a closed position to block the flow.

Claims

1. A test dart for wellbore pressure isolation, comprising:

a body extending from a first end to a second end, the body having a bore extending therethrough, a diameter of the bore being greater at the first end than the second end;

a groove formed proximate the first end and extending radially outward from the bore and into the body;

an anti-rotation pin positioned between the groove and the second end, the anti-rotation pin extending radially outward from the body;

a check valve positioned in the bore, the check valve enabling a flow in a single direction and being moveable between an open position to enable the flow and a closed position to block the flow; and

a pressure relieving orifice in the bore extending radially outwardly into the body.

2. The test dart of claim 1, further comprising:

a counter bore positioned axially below the groove;

a slanted edge forming a transition between a change in the diameter of the bore; and

a lock out pin positioned proximate the counter bore, the lock out pin moveable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the lock out pin at least partially extends into the bore when in the extended position.

3. The test dart of claim 2, wherein the lock out pin is a spring loaded pin accessible from an outer diameter of the body via a notch formed in the body.

4. The test dart of claim 1, wherein the pressure relieving orifice is a weep hole, the weep hole extending radially outward from the diameter of the bore and into the body.

5. The test dart of claim 1, further comprising a profile arranged between the anti-rotation pin and the second end, the profile having a downwardly slanted edge along an outer diameter of the body.

6. The test dart of claim 5, further comprising a seal annulus on the profile for retaining a seal.

7. The test dart of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the test dart decreases from the first end to the second end.

8. The test dart of claim 1, further comprising threads arranged in at least a portion of the bore.

9. The test dart of claim 1, further comprising a tapered shoulder at the first end, the tapered shoulder extending downwardly and inwardly and being arranged axially above the groove.

10. A system for isolating regions of a wellbore, the system comprising:

a unidirectional valve positioned in the wellbore, the unidirectional valve permitting a fluid flow in a downstream direction into the wellbore and restricting the fluid flow in an upstream direction out of the wellbore;

a test dart non-rotationally coupled to the unidirectional valve via a gravitational force acting on the test dart, the test dart arranged upstream of the unidirectional valve and positioned to block the fluid flow in the downstream direction toward the unidirectional valve; and

a removal tool, the removal tool non-rotationally coupling to the test dart and positioned to remove the test dart in a non-controlled wellbore environment via a linear force.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the test dart comprises anti-rotation pins that align with u-slots formed in the unidirectional valve, the anti-rotation pins blocking transmission of rotational forces applied to the test dart from acting on the unidirectional valve.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising an installation tool coupled to the test dart during installation procedures, the installation tool being rotationally coupled to the test dart and positioned to install the test dart in a non-controlled wellbore environment, and the installation tool extending into a bore of the test dart when a lock out pin formed in the test dart is transitioned to a retracted position out of the bore.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the removal tool couples to the test dart via one or more plungers extending into a groove formed in the test dart.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a metal-to-metal seal is formed at a coupling between the test dart and the unidirectional valve.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the test dart comprises a check valve and a weep hole arranged proximate the check valve, the weep hole providing a flow path for pressurized fluids positioned between the test dart and the unidirectional valve in the upstream direction.

16. A method for isolating a wellbore, the method comprising:

lowering a test dart into the wellbore, the test dart being coupled to an installation tool;

non-rotationally coupling the test dart to a unidirectional valve arranged in the wellbore via a gravitational force acting on the test dart;

decoupling the installation tool from the test dart;

lowering a removal tool into the wellbore to retrieve the test dart;

non-rotationally coupling the removal tool to the test dart; and

withdrawing the test dart from the wellbore.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of lowering the test dart into the wellbore is done in a non-controlled wellbore environment.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of coupling the test dart to the unidirectional valve comprises aligning an anti-rotation pin coupled to the test dart with a u-slot formed in the unidirectional valve.