Multi-acting Circulation Valve

• US 20110048723A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Edwards, Jeffry S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,133,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/319
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/04 Gravelling of wells

Abstract

A fracturing and gravel packing tool has features that prevent well swabbing when the tool is picked up with respect to a set isolation packer. An upper or multi-acting circulation valve allows switching between the squeeze and circulation positions without risk of closing the low bottom hole pressure ball valve. The multi-acting circulation valve can prevent fluid loss to the formation when being set down with the crossover tool supported or on the reciprocating set down device and the multi-acting circulation valve is closed without risk of closing the wash pipe valve.

Claims

1. A circulation valve mounted in a tubular string for placement on a support in a wellbore, comprising:

an outer mandrel for selective positioning on the support to selectively divide the wellbore into an upper and a lower annulus;

an inner mandrel supported by the tubular string and relatively movable with respect to said outer mandrel when said outer mandrel rests on the support;

said inner and outer mandrels defining an annular passage therebetween, said passage communicating said upper and lower annulus and can be selectively opened or closed with movement of said inner mandrel with said outer mandrel resting on the support.

2. The valve of claim 1, further comprising:

a first annular seal on one of said mandrels and a at least one flow port leading to said upper annulus on the other of said mandrels;

said annular passage selectively opened and closed by relative movement between said mandrels that positions said first annular seal on opposed sides of said flow port.

3. The valve of claim 2, wherein:

said first annular seal is on said inner mandrel and said at least one flow port is on said outer mandrel;

cyclical pick up and set down movement of said inner mandrel positions said first annular seal on opposed sides of said at least one flow port after each cycle.

4. The valve of claim 2, wherein:

a pickup movement of said inner mandrel positions said first annular seal above said at least one flow port to open said annular passage to the upper annulus.

5. The valve of claim 3, wherein:

a pickup movement of said inner mandrel positions said first annular seal above said at least one flow port to open said annular passage to the upper annulus.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein:

said inner and outer mandrels are operably engaged by a two position j-slot with a first position attained on setting down weight after picking up said inner mandrel leaving said first annular seal above said at least one flow port to open said annular passage and a subsequent cycle of picking up and setting down said inner mandrel leaves said first annular seal below said at least one port to close said annular passage.

7. The valve of claim 6, wherein:

said inner mandrel has a lower end and is disposed within said outer mandrel defining said annular passage between them;

said inner mandrel having an inner mandrel flow passage and at least one injection port;

said injection port is selectively blocked while said annular passage is open adjacent said lower end of said inner mandrel;

said injection port is selectively open into said annular passage at a location closer to said lower end than where said annular passage becomes blocked as a result of said opening of said injection port.

8. The valve of claim 7, wherein:

said inner mandrel comprising a movable sleeve that continues said inner mandrel flow passage to said lower end;

said injection port extending through a wall of said movable sleeve and is closed when misaligned with at least one port on said outer mandrel;

said annular passage comprises a bypass around a block located therein, said bypass running into a recess in an outer surface of said movable sleeve.

9. The valve of claim 8, wherein:

said bypass is open when said injection port is closed and said movable sleeve is in a first position.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein:

said bypass is closed when said injection port is open and said movable sleeve is in a second position.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein:

said movable sleeve comprises a seat around said inner mandrel flow passage, said seat located near said lower end;

said movable sleeve moves from said first to said second positions when an object lands on said seat to close off said inner mandrel flow passage and a predetermined pressure is applied.

12. The valve of claim 6, wherein:

said inner mandrel has a lower end and is disposed within said outer mandrel defining said annular passage between them;

said inner mandrel having an inner mandrel flow passage therethrough to its lower end that is continued as an outer mandrel flow passage in said outer mandrel;

said outer mandrel comprising a crossover housing that allows a lateral exit from said outer mandrel flow passage and a return flow path that bypasses said lateral exit and forms a part of said annular passage.

13. The valve of claim 12, wherein:

said outer mandrel flow passage extends to a lower end of said outer mandrel and further comprises a selectively actuated one way valve.

14. The valve of claim 13, wherein:

said one way valve is disposed between a seat surrounding said outer mandrel flow passage and said lower end of said outer mandrel;

said one way valve comprises a flapper held open until said seat is shifted.

15. The valve of claim 14, wherein:

said seat accepts an object to obstruct said outer mandrel flow path at a time when said lateral exit is obstructed to allow pressure to build in said inner and outer mandrel flow paths to a predetermined level before a retainer for said flapper is released.

16. The valve of claim 15, wherein:

said flapper directs returning flow toward said crossover housing into said return flow path through said crossover housing.

17. The valve of claim 16, wherein:

said inner mandrel having an inner mandrel flow passage and at least one injection port;

said injection port is selectively blocked while said annular passage is open adjacent said lower end of said inner mandrel;

said injection port is selectively open into said annular passage at a location closer to said lower end than where said annular passage becomes blocked as a result of said opening of said injection port.

18. The valve of claim 17, wherein:

said inner mandrel comprising a movable sleeve that continues said inner mandrel flow passage to said lower end;

said injection port extending through a wall of said movable sleeve and is closed when misaligned with at least one port on said outer mandrel;

said annular passage comprises a bypass around a block located therein, said bypass running into a recess in an outer surface of said movable sleeve.

19. The valve of claim 18, wherein:

said bypass is open when said injection port is closed and said movable sleeve is in a first position.

20. The valve of claim 19, wherein:

said bypass is closed when said injection port is open and said movable sleeve is in a second position.

21. The valve of claim 20, wherein:

said movable sleeve comprises a seat around said inner mandrel flow passage, said seat located near said lower end;

said movable sleeve moves from said first to said second positions when an object lands on said seat to close off said inner mandrel flow passage and a predetermined pressure is applied.