APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WELL TUBULAR FLOTATION

• US 20190309600A1
• Filed: 04/08/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deep Casing Tools, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Deep Casing Tools, Ltd.
• Inventors: Stephenson, David, Walerianczyk, Tomasz Jozef
• Granted Patent: US 10,907,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/02 for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/10 Tools specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1293 with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement E21B33/1291, E21B33/1295 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells

Abstract

A flotation device for a wellbore tubular has a flotation disk having a tapered exterior profile. A maximum external diameter of the flotation disk is such to enable free longitudinal movement within the wellbore tubular. A plurality of locking segments each has a tapered interior profile cooperatively engageable with the tapered exterior profile. Each locking segment has gripping elements on an exterior surface thereof to engage an inner wall of the wellbore tubular. The tapered exterior profile and the tapered interior profile cooperate to expand a diameter of the locking segments as profile engagement increases.

Claims

1. A flotation device for a wellbore tubular, comprising:

a flotation disk having a tapered exterior profile, a maximum external diameter of the flotation disk being such to enable free longitudinal movement of the flotation disk within the wellbore tubular;

a plurality of locking segments each having a tapered interior profile cooperatively engageable with the tapered exterior profile of the flotation disk, each locking segment having gripping elements on an exterior surface thereof to engage an inner wall of the wellbore tubular; and

wherein the tapered exterior profile and the tapered interior profile cooperate to expand a diameter of the locking segments as profile engagement increases.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the tapered exterior profile and the tapered interior profile comprise corresponding threads.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one elastomer ring circumscribing an exterior of the locking segments.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a seal ring disposed adjacent to the flotation disk on a side thereof exposed to higher pressure than an opposed side of the flotation disk.

5. A method for buoyantly moving a tubular into a wellbore, comprising:

assembling a well tubular having a plug at a bottom end and moving the assembled tubular into a wellbore;

at a selected position along the moved tubular, affixing a floatation device to an interior wall of the moved tubular, the flotation device comprising a flotation disk having a tapered exterior profile, a maximum external diameter of the flotation disk being such to enable free longitudinal movement of the flotation disk within the wellbore tubular, a plurality of locking segments each having a tapered interior profile cooperatively engageable with the tapered exterior profile of the flotation disk, each locking segment having gripping elements on an exterior surface thereof to engage an inner wall of the wellbore tubular, and wherein the tapered exterior profile and the tapered interior profile cooperate to expand a diameter of the locking segments as profile engagement increases.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the tapered exterior profile and the tapered interior profile comprise cooperating threads, and wherein the affixing comprises rotating the flotation disk to lock the flotation device in place.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising continuing moving the well tubular to a selected position within the wellbore.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising removing the flotation device from the moved tubular.