DOWNHOLE MATERIAL DELIVERY

• US 20120073828A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coretrax Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Churchill Drilling Tools Limited (Coretrax Technology Limited)
• Inventors: Churchill, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,593,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/103 Down-hole by-pass valve arrangements, i.e. between the inside of the drill string and the annulus valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/08 Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/102 with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position E21B34/105 and E21B34/108 take precedence

Abstract

A method of delivering material, typically lost circulation material (LCM), into a hole via a tubular string comprises: opening a bypass port in a tubular string located in a drilled hole, the bypass port being provided above fluid outlets in the distal end of the string; delivering material through the string from surface, the material passing through the bypass port and into the drilled hole; and locking a volume of fluid in the string between the bypass port and the fluid outlets such that fluid is prevented from passing from the hole into the string via the fluid outlets.

Claims

1. A method of delivering material into a hole via a tubular string, the method comprising:

opening a bypass port in a tubular string located in a drilled hole, the bypass port being provided above fluid outlets in the distal end of the string;

translating a plug into the string;

blocking the string with the plug below the port;

delivering material through the string from surface, the material passing through the bypass port and into the drilled hole; and

locking fluid in the string between the plug and the fluid outlets whereby fluid is prevented from passing up the string and past the plug.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the material comprises lost circulation material (LCM).

3. The method of claim 1, comprising utilising the plug to open the bypass port.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising closing the bypass port.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising pulling the tubing string above the material delivered into the hole.

6-21. -21. (canceled)

22. Apparatus for use in delivering material into a hole via a tubular string, the apparatus comprising:

a bypass valve having a bypass port, the valve configured to be located in a tubular string above fluid outlets provided towards the distal end of the string and the port configured to be opened to permit material to be delivered through the string from surface and into the hole via the port;

a string bore closure member adapted to be translated into the valve and located below the bypass port to lock a volume of fluid in the string below the member and prevent the fluid from passing up the strings.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the closure member is configured to assist in opening of the port.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the bypass valve is biased to close the bypass port.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the bypass valve comprises a sleeve translatable to open and close the bypass port.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the closure member is configured to be latched in the sleeve.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fluid outlets are jetting nozzles.

27. (canceled)

29-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A downhole bypass valve comprising:

a tubular body including a side port;

a sleeve axially movably mounted in the body and defining an internal seat of a first diameter, the sleeve normally biased upwards to a closed position to close the side port;

a sleeve closing device having an external profile defining a diameter larger than said first diameter, the device configured to be translatable into the body to engage the profile with the seat; and

a latch having a part in the sleeve and a part in the activating device, the parts of the latch configured to engage when the seat and profile are engaged to retain the sleeve closing device in the sleeve and the profile and seat in engagement,

the sleeve closing device further being operable to disengage the profile from the seat so that the sleeve closing device is translatable down through the sleeve.

38. The valve of claim 37, wherein engagement of the profile with the seat permits application of a fluid pressure opening force to the device and the sleeve to move the sleeve downwards to an open position and open the side port.

39. The valve of claim 37, wherein the latch is configured to disengage when the activation profile disengages from the activation seat.

40. A method of operating a downhole bypass valve having a tubular body including a side port and a sleeve mounted in the body and normally biased to close the port, the method comprising:

landing a sleeve closing device in the valve such that an external profile provided on the device engages an internal seat on the sleeve and a latch part on the sleeve closing device engages a latch part on the sleeve to retain the device in the sleeve and maintain the profile and seat in engagement;

moving the sleeve to open the side port;

passing fluid through the side port;

disengaging the profile from the seat; and

translating the device down through the sleeve.

41. The method of claim 40, comprising applying a fluid pressure opening force to the sleeve closing device and the sleeve to move the sleeve downwards and open the side port.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the sleeve closing device provides a sealing contact with the sleeve and the latch is configured to retain the sealing contact.

43. The method of claim 40, comprising disengaging the latch when the profile disengages from the seat.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein the latching is below the bypass port.

44. (canceled)