METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DOWNHOLE TOOLS

• US 20200131884A1
• Filed: 07/26/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools, LLC
• Original Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools, LLC
• Inventors: Saraya, Mohamed Ibrahim
• Granted Patent: US 11,428,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 33/16 using plugs for isolating cement charge; Plugs therefor stage cementing E21B33/146; spacer compositions C09K8/424
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/063 Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc E21B34/103 takes precedence

Abstract

A temporary seal may be configured to be initially positioned on a seal seat within casing, and be configured to be broken or disengaged by increasing the pressure within the inner diameter of the casing past a pressure threshold. Subsequent to the temporary seal being broken, a first portion of the temporary seal may remain on the seal seat while a second portion of the temporary seal may travel downhole through a landing collar. Then, cement may be pumped within the casing, followed by a wiper plug. The wiper plug may pass the seal seat, and be locked in place on the landing collar. The cement may cure and remaining portions of the temporary seal may dissolve.

Claims

1. A system for sealing a wellbore, the system comprising:

a temporary seal comprised of a first portion and a second portion, wherein a weak point is created between the first portion and the second portion;

casing including a seal seat;

the seal seat being configured to hold the first portion of the temporary seal;

an insert configured to receive the second portion of the temporary seal responsive to the first portion and the second portion of the temporary seal being decoupled from each other, wherein the temporary seal is made of dissolvable material, where a rate of dissolution of the first portion of the temporary seal accelerates as fluid is circulated past the first portion of the temporary seal creating a bigger internal diameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the temporary seal is configured to remain on the seal seat after the first portion and the second portion of the temporary seal are decoupled, wherein a casing inner diameter is larger than or equal to that of the first portion.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wiper plug with expandable segments, wherein the expandable segments are configured to change the wiper plug diameter as the wiper plug passes through different diameters.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a landing collar with a groove and a wiper seat, wherein the groove inner diameter is greater than the wiper seat and a casing inner diameter.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wiper plug expandable segments are configured to have a smaller diameter when passing the first portion of the temporary seal positioned on the seal seat, and a larger diameter when aligned with the groove on the landing collar.

6. The system of claim 5, further including a float shoe, the float shoe including an insert within a first passageway extending through the float shoe, where the insert includes at least one hole, wherein the second portion of the temporary seal is configured to pass through the wiper seat and be positioned on the insert when the second portion is decoupled from the first portion.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wiper plug is configured to push the second portion of the temporary seal and cement through the first passageway and into annulus after the first portion of the temporary seal is decoupled from the second portion of the temporary seal.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the wiper plug is an expandable object allowing the wiper plug to change diameters as the wiper plug passes through different diameters.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a landing collar with expandable segments that are configured to retract responsive to a wiper plug applying force against the expandable segments, and the expandable segments being configured to expand responsive to removing the applied force to restrict the movement of the wiper plug.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a landing collar configured to receive a wiper plug, the landing collar including a recess but does not include expandable segments.

9. (canceled)

12. A method for sealing a wellbore, the system comprising:

positioning a first portion of a temporary seal on a seal seat, the temporary seal including the first portion and a second portion, wherein a weak point is created between the first portion and the second portion;

positioning the second portion of the temporary seal on an insert responsive to the first portion and the second portion of the temporary seal being decoupled from each other; and

accelerating a rate of dissolution of the first portion of the temporary seal as fluid is circulated past the first portion of the temporary seal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

decoupling the first portion and the section portion of the temporary seal;

having the first portion of the temporary seal remain on the seal seat after the first portion and the second portion of the temporary seal are decoupled, wherein a casing inner diameter is larger than or equal to that of the first portion.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

changing a wiper plug diameter of expandable segments of a wiper plug as the wiper plug passes through different diameters.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

positioning the wiper plug on a landing collar, wherein the landing collar includes a groove and a wiper seat, wherein the groove inner diameter is greater than the wiper seat and a casing inner diameter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the expandable segments of the wiper plug have a smaller diameter when passing the first portion of the temporary seal positioned on the seal seat, and a larger diameter when aligned with the groove on the landing collar.

17. The method of claim 16, further including:

a float shoe, the float shoe including an insert within a first passageway extending through the float shoe, where the insert includes at least one hole,

passing the second portion of the temporary seal through the wiper seat; and

positioning the second portion of the temporary seal on the insert when the second portion is decoupled from the first portion.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

pushing cement and the second portion of the temporary seal through the first passageway and into annulus after the first portion of the temporary seal is decoupled from the second portion of the temporary seal.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

expanding the wiper plug to change a diameter of the wiper plug as the wiper plug passes through different diameters.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

retracting expandable segments on a landing collar responsive to a wiper plug applying force against the expandable segments, and expanding the expandable segments responsive to removing the applied force to restrict movement of the wiper plug.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

positioning a wiper plug on a landing collar, wherein the landing collar includes a recess but does not include the expandable segments.

20. (canceled)