Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball
First Claim
1. A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
- a) a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;
b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet;
c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
d) one or more fluid flow channels that enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position;
e) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the closed position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel;
f) wherein fluid flow in the main channel flows around the valving member when it is in the closed position and through the valving member when it is in the open position;
g) a sliding sleeve above each valving member that is configured to support a ball or plug when the valve below the sleeve is closed;
h) a plurality of darts in the housing, each dart being of a first diameter and positioned above a valving member, wherein in the open position each valve flow bore is of a diameter that permits a dart to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore;
i) a connector that connects to the housing to the well casing; and
j) a pair of casing plugs that are contained in the casing below the connector, wherein each casing plug has a central longitudinal bore that is of a diameter greater than the said first diameter and is receptive of and interlocks with a dart that is dropped from the housing.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
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a) a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet; b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet; c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions; d) one or more fluid flow channels that enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position; e) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the closed position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel; f) wherein fluid flow in the main channel flows around the valving member when it is in the closed position and through the valving member when it is in the open position; g) a sliding sleeve above each valving member that is configured to support a ball or plug when the valve below the sleeve is closed; h) a plurality of darts in the housing, each dart being of a first diameter and positioned above a valving member, wherein in the open position each valve flow bore is of a diameter that permits a dart to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore; i) a connector that connects to the housing to the well casing; and j) a pair of casing plugs that are contained in the casing below the connector, wherein each casing plug has a central longitudinal bore that is of a diameter greater than the said first diameter and is receptive of and interlocks with a dart that is dropped from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
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a) a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet; b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, vertically sliding sleeves dividing the main flow channel into an inner channel and an outer channel; c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions; d) the outer channel enabling fluid to bypass a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position; e) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the closed position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel; f) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member via the outer channel when it is in the closed position and through the valving member and inner channel when the valve is in the open position; g) wherein each valving member is configured to support a dart when closed; h) a plurality of darts in the housing, wherein in the open position each valve flow bore is of a first, smaller diameter that permits a dart to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when a dart is not in the valve flow bore; i) casing having a casing bore and attached to the housing; j) casing plugs in the casing bore, each casing plug being of a larger diameter than said first diameter and having a bore that is receptive of a said dart, thus enabling a connection to one of the darts when a dart is dropped from the housing into the casing and enters said bore. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of transmitting a cementitious mass into a well casing, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of sleeves that divide the flow channel into an inner channel and an outer channel, a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions; b) enabling fluid to bypass the valving members via the outer channel when a valving member is in the closed position; c) flowing fluid in the outer channel and around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member via the inner channel when the valving member is in the open position; d) supporting a dart with a valving member when closed said dart having a first smaller diameter; e) the dart and valve opening sized and shaped to permit the dart to pass a valving member when open; f) connecting the housing to a section of casing below the valving members, the casing having a casing bore; g) placing a pair of casing plugs in the casing bore, each plug having a central opening that is about equal to said first diameter; and h) launching a first of said darts downward from the housing into the casing until it interlocks with a first of the casing plugs by entering said opening; i) pumping a fluid into the casing to force the first casing plug and dart downwardly, said fluid including cement; and j) launching a second of said darts from the housing into the casing down until it connects with a second of the casing plugs; and k) pumping the second casing plug and dart downwardly with the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification