BR122013000178B1 - HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED RECOVERABLE TOOL FOR INTRODUCTION TO A WELL HOLE AND HYDRAULICALLY OPERATE TOOL - Google Patents

Description

Report of the Invention Patent for "HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED RECOVERABLE TOOL FOR INTRODUCTION TO A WELL HOLE AND HYDRAULICALLY OPERATE TOOL".

Divided from PI0209857-1, filed on May 15, 2002. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When drilling a well, a drillhole is typically drilled from the earth's surface to a selected depth and a row of casing pipes is suspended and then cemented into place within the drillhole. A drill is then passed through the initial covered drill hole and is used to drill a smaller diameter drill hole to an even greater depth. A smaller diameter casing tube is then suspended and cemented into place within the new probe bore. This is conventionally repeated until a plurality of concentric casing tubes are suspended and cemented into the well to a depth that causes the well to extend through one or more hydrocarbon production formations.

Instead of suspending a concentric liner tube from the bottom of the probe hole to the surface, a liner is often suspended adjacent to the lower end of the previously suspended liner tube, or from a previously suspended and cemented liner. extending the liner from the previously fitted liner or liner at the bottom of the new probe bore. A lining is defined as a lining pipe that does not extend to the surface. A liner hanger is used to suspend the liner within the lower end of the previously fitted liner or liner tube. Typically, the casing hanger may be provided with a joining tool for connecting the casing to a row of casing pipes extending from the casing hanger to the surface.

A slide and adjusting tool disposed at the lower end of a work tubing can be releasably attached to the liner hanger, which is attached to the top of the liner. The working tubing lowers the liner hanger and liner into the open probe hole so that the liner extends below the lower end of the previously fitted liner or liner tube. The borehole is filled with fluid, such as selected drilling mud, which flows around the liner and the liner hanger as the liner is moved to the borehole. The assembly is moved into the well until the casing hanger is adjacent to the lower end of the previously adjusted casing tube or casing, typically with the lower end of the casing slightly above the bottom of the open probe hole.

When the liner reaches the desired location with respect to the bottom of the open probe bore and the previously fitted liner or liner, an adjusting mechanism is conventionally actuated to move the sliding sleeves on the liner hanger from a retracted position to a expanded position and for engagement with the previously adjusted casing tube or casing. Then, when seated weight is applied to the hanger sliding sleeves, the sliding sleeves will be adjusted to support the liner. The typical casing hanger can be driven either hydraulically or mechanically. The liner hanger may have either a hydraulically operated adjusting mechanism for adjusting the slider sleeves or a mechanically operated adjusting mechanism for adjusting the sliding sleeves. A hydraulically operated adjusting mechanism typically employs a hydraulic cylinder that is driven by fluid pressure in the casing bore that communicates with the working tubing bore. When mechanically adjusting the liner hanger, it will generally be necessary to achieve relative drilling rotation of the parts between the adjusting tool and the liner hanger to disengage the slider sleeves from the liner. Suspension sliding sleeves are typically one-way acting where the suspender and liner may be raised or suspended upwardly, but a downward movement of the liner adjusts the sliding sleeves to support the support and liner within the well.

To disengage the adjusted casing hanger sliding tool, the adjusting tool can be lowered relative to the casing hanger and turned to disengage a sliding nut on the casing hanger adjusting tool. Cement is then pumped into the hole in the work tubing and casing and up to the annular crown formed by the casing and the open probe bore. Before the cement is laid, the adjusting tool and work tubing are removed from the drill hole. In the case of sloppy cement work, a liner plug and liner plug adjustment tool may need to be connected to the work piping and lowered back into the drill hole. The shutter is adjusted using a shutter adjustment tool. Coating shutters are often referred to as "coating insulation" shutters. A typical sheath insulation shutter system includes a shutter element mounted on a mandrel and a sealing nipple disposed below the shutter. The sealing nipple is crimped into the junction receptacle at the top or below the previously adjusted and cemented liner hanger. A liner insulation shutter may be used, as explained above, to seal the liner in case of sloppy cement work. The liner insulation plug is typically seated on top of the hanger after the hanger is secured to the outer tube, the plug being adjusted by the adjusting tool to seal the annular crown between the liner and the previously fitted liner or liner.

Generally speaking, the deeper a well is drilled, the higher the temperature and the higher the pressure that will be encountered. Accordingly, liner shutters which ensure quality cementation of the liner are desirable in order to provide a high safety factor to prevent the formation gas from migrating to the annular crown between the liner and the pipe. external coating.

During the cementing operation, fluid, such as drilling mud in the annular crown between the casing and the outer casing pipe, is displaced by the cement as the cement is pumped into the flow hole of the working tubing. First, the drilling mud and then the cement flow around the bottom edge of the liner and up to the annular crown. If there is a significant flow restriction in the annular crown, the cement flow will be reduced, thus not achieving a good cementation work. Any decrease in cement in the annular crown gives time for the gas in the formation to migrate to the annular crown and through the cement, thus preventing good cementing work.

Sliding Tool Disengagement Mechanism As a practical matter, the sheath sliding tool has to include a release mechanism, so that once the sheath is reliably fitted to the lower end of the sheath tube, the sliding tool may be disengaged from the coating hanger and recovered on the surface. Conventional casing hanger sliding tool release mechanisms include hydraulically actuated mechanisms and release mechanisms that are manipulated by rotating the work tubing to the left. Rotation to the left of the work tubing is, however, generally considered undesirable as it may result in an unintentional disconnection of one of the work tubing joints, thereby causing the work tubing to separate, and a fishing to retrieve the slide tool, which may have been damaged by involuntary disconnection. For various reasons, hydraulically operated sliding tool release mechanisms may cease to operate, or may prematurely disengage the sliding tool from the liner hanger.

Accordingly, improvements to the release mechanisms are desired which will reliably disengage the adjusted sliding tool only when intended, particularly when recovery is easily achieved and the unlikely premature disengagement of the sliding tool from the coating.

Packing Bushing A casing hanger packing bushing is conventionally sealed between the casing hanger and the sliding tool, and therefore between the casing and the work tubing or work tubing, which can conventionally be a borehole. A packing sleeve is particularly required during cementing operations so that the fluid pumped through the borehole continues to the bottom of the well and then back to the annular crown between the well bore and the cementing liner. the flooring in place. During cementing operations, the packing bushing sealing body is fitted to the annular crown between the casing hanger and sliding tool, and includes outer diameter seals to seal the casing hanger and inner diameter seals to sealably engage the slide tool. Packing bushings are preferably recoverable with the slide tool so that the bushings do not have to be drilled after the cementing operation is completed. Also, a packing bushing is preferably lockable on the casing hanger with the locking within a profile to prevent the bushing from moving axially with respect to the casing hanger. If the stuffing bushing is not lockable in the casing hanger profile, the bushing may be "pulled out" through the top of the receptacle, thereby losing a cementing job.

A conventional recoverable and lockable packing gland includes clamps or lugs that are locked in engagement with the liner hanger to prevent the packing gland from moving axially during the cementing operation. The packing bushing is recoverable with the slide tool, thus eliminating the need to drill the bushing after the cementing operations are completed. Depending on the manufacturer, reclaimable packing bushings are also referred to as reclaimable sealing chucks or reclaimable cementing bushings. Regardless of terminology, the recoverable and lockable packing sleeve seals the annular crown between the work tubing and the top of the liner, and can be locked into a liner hanger profile by the smooth gasket to prevent the bushing from being extracted from the coating hanger.

Cooperating surfaces on the liner adapter, the smooth gasket on the slide tool, and the packing sleeve sealing body axially interconnect the bushing to the liner hanger while moving the liner hanger into the well. These cooperating surfaces can be unlocked to disengage the slide tool from the liner hanger and allow axial manipulation of the slide tool and smooth gasket with respect to the packing sleeve. The smooth gasket thus seals with the packing sleeve during axial movement of the slide tool. Since the cooperating surfaces are unlocked from each other, bosses on the packing sleeve and the slide tool engage after a predetermined degree of axial movement between the slide tool and the sealing body so that the packing sleeve can be recovered to the surface with the sliding tool after the cementing operations are completed. A conventional stuffing sleeve is described in U.S. Patent 4,281,711.

A significant limitation on prior art packing bushings relates to their desired recoverability with the slide tool when connected to the desire to retract the slide tool with respect to the packing bush prior to the cementing operation. An operator will typically wish to retract the slide tool after the hanger hanger has been released to ensure that these tools are disconnected. The length of the smooth slide tool joint determines the maximum length that the slide tool should be retracted after the liner hanger disengages. When the packing bushing is removed from the casing hanger, the clamps or ears conventionally driven by the packing bushing may move radially inward, thereby preventing the reclaimable packing bushing from being reintroduced and locked into the casing hanger. Conventional casing hanger tools do not allow the packing bushing to be "reintroduced" into the casing hanger, thus restoring pressure integrity between the casing hanger and the sliding tool. In many applications it is. It is difficult for the operator to determine the exact amount of slide tool that was collected, particularly when operating in highly deviated and deep wells. If the operator retracts the sliding tool at an axial distance that is not allowable for the length of a smooth joint, the packing sleeve will be pulled with the sliding tool and will be disengaged from the casing hanger, which may cause a cement failure. which will cost the operator millions of dollars in lost time and money. The consequences of unintentional disassembly of the packing sleeve from the liner hanger and possible non-reintroduction and braking on the liner hanger can be very serious. The smooth gasket used with the casing hanger sliding tool features a polished outside diameter surface that seals against the inside diameter seals on the packing sleeve seal body. The outer diameter surface of the smooth joint may be scratched or damaged during handling, thus causing a cement leak during the cementing operation. Since the slide tool is designed to move at axially substantial distances from the packing sleeve, the internal seals in the seal body may be worn during the cementing process due to alternating movement of the smooth slide tool joint. This problem will be aggravated when the quality of the smooth surface on the smooth joint has deteriorated. Axially long smooth joints are costly to manufacture and maintain.

Another problem with the prior art stuffing bushing concerns the limited load capacity of the ears locking the stuffing bushing in the casing hanger. Conventional packing bushings use multiple ears that protrude from the packing sealing body, which increases the complexity and cost of the packing bush. The limited size of these ears, however, restricts or limits the packing pressure of the packing sleeve.

Shutter Auster Assembly A conventional casing hanger sliding tool includes a shutter adjustment assembly, which enables activation and sealing of the casing top shutter. Conventional plug fitting assemblies incorporate multiple spring loaded clamps or ears that can be compressed into a reduced diameter position with insertion into the plug fitting sleeve when displacing the casing hanger in the well and casing cementation within. of the casing tube. When the shutter adjustment assembly is raised out of the shutter adjustment sleeve, the clamps or ears will expand to a diameter larger than the inside diameter at the upper end of the adjusting sleeve, which is also the liner hanger junction receptacle. . When the clamps engage the top of the adjusting sleeve, an adjusting force may be transferred from the work tubing through the clamps and to the plug fitting glove as the weight of the work tubing is loosened to adjust the plug element.

Some prior art plug fitting assemblies include an axial bearing to facilitate rotation of the work tubing while adjusting the plug element. Other shutter adjustment assemblies include both a bearing and a shear indicator to provide visual confirmation that proper adjustment load has been applied to the shutter, and / or an unlocking feature that allows the shutter adjustment assembly to be pulled. out of the shutter adjustment sleeve once without exposing the adjustment clamps. This tool allows you to reinsert the shutter adjustment assembly into the shutter adjustment sleeve once, thereby arming the adjustment clamps so that they are ready to expand the second time they are pulled out of the shutter. Adjustment glove.

A major problem with prior art shutter adjustment mounts is poor reliability. In some well environments, the shutter adjustment clamps of the shutter adjustment assemblies rupture and are reintroduced into the adjusting sleeve without adjusting the shutter element. Manufacturers provided more clips or ears to alleviate this problem, and / or provided heavier springs to press the clips radially outward. These changes have had little, if any, effect on greater reliability.

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved casing hanger sliding tool is described below, which includes improvements to a sliding tool release mechanism, a recoverable packing sleeve, and a shutter adjustment assembly. . In addition, the improved shutter adjustment assembly can be used for operations that do not involve a coating hanger sliding tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, a hydraulically operated retrievable tool for insertion into a wellbore to perform a wellbore tool activation, the tool comprises a tubular sliding tool body for suspension in the wellbore from such that a fluid may be circulated through a hole in the conduction tube and the tubular body, the tubular body including a fluid inlet port from the hole in the tubular body, a member responsive to fluid pressure in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port and movable with respect to the tubular body from an initial position to a position activated in response to fluid pressure within the tubular body, a door closure member movable with respect to the tubular body from a door isolation position to an open door position, the door locking member in position port isolation, blocking fluid communication from the hole in the tubular body, and allowing fluid communication from the hole in the tubular body through the fluid inlet port when in the open door position, and a seat on the door closure member such that an increase in fluid pressure in the tubular bore to the fluid inlet port when supporting a seat cap moves the door closure member from the door isolation to the open door position in response to fluid pressure above the seated plug, further comprising a plug release mechanism for disengaging the plug after the door closure member has been moved to the set position. open door. The door closure member may comprise an axially movable sleeve within the tubular body bore. The cap can be a sphere. The ball may be supported by the seat to substantially seal the tubular body bore. The door lock member may be held in the door isolation position by a shear member. The seat may deform permanently in response to increased fluid pressure to pass the plug through the seat. The fluid pressure responsive member may include a movable piston from the starting position to the activated position in response to fluid pressure. The piston may move axially upward from the starting position to the actuated position in response to fluid pressure. Movement of the fluid pressure responsive member in the form of a piston may cause one of (a) the axial movement of a slide sleeve to adjust the liner hanger, (b) the movement of a release mechanism to disengage the liner hanger. coating from the slide tool and (c) the relative movement between a cone and a seal to seal between the coating hanger and the surrounding coating tube.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a process of hydraulically operating a tool for insertion into a wellbore to perform activation of a wellbore tool comprises suspending a tubular sliding tool body in the wellbore to from a conduit pipe, providing a fluid inlet port from a bore in the tubular body, providing a fluid pressure responsive member in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port and movable with respect to to the tubular body from an initial position to an activated position in response to fluid pressure, the provision of a movable door closing member with respect to the tubular body from a door isolation position to an open door position , the door lock member, in the door isolation position, blocking fluid communication from the hole in the tubular body, and allowing communication the fluid from the hole in the tubular body through the fluid inlet port, when in the open door position, the support of a seat in the door lock member, the support of a seat cap to move the lock member from the door isolation position to the open door position in response to fluid pressure above the abutment cap, and the execution of downhole tool activation in response to movement of the fluid pressure responsive member to The activated position, characterized in that it further comprises disengaging the plug after the door closing member has been moved to the open door position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figures 1A-1J illustrate sequentially lower portions of a casing hanger adjusting tool moving in a well. Figure 1A illustrates the interconnection of the fenment to a working pipeline. Figure 1B illustrates the liner hanger slider fitting assembly. Figure 1C illustrates the shutter adjustment assembly. Figure 1D illustrates the liner hanger release assembly. Figure 1E illustrates the recoverable cementing bushing. Figure 1F illustrates the shutter element. Figure 1G illustrates the hanger slide sleeve assembly. Figure 1H illustrates the lower end of the slide tool mandrel. Figure 11 illustrates a ball diverter. Figure 1J illustrates the coating wiper cap. Figure 2A illustrates the raised junction receptacle for adjusting the sliding sleeves. Figure 2B illustrates the sliding sleeves in the adjusted position. Figure 3A shows the upper seat after disengagement of the ball. Figure 3B shows the ball resting on the lower seat. Figure 3C illustrates the lower seat moved down to open the doors and the possible contraction of the release assembly. Figure 4A illustrates the ball disengaged from the lower seat and fallen into the diverter. Figure 4B is a cross section through Figure 4A. Figure 5A illustrates the pumping plug resting on the wiper plug. Figure 5B illustrates the disengaged liner cleaner cap and pumping plug. Figure 5C illustrates the backing cap fitted within a backing collar. Figure 6A illustrates the tool positioned to adjust the weight of the shutter element. Figure 6B illustrates the shutter element in the set position. Figure 7A illustrates the unlocked slide hanger packing gland.

Figures 8a and 8b show the lower end of the slide tool disengaged from the adjusted liner hanger and pulled up from it, with the upper portion of the adjusted liner hanger being shown in Figures 8C and 8D.

Figure 8E shows an embodiment of a raised sleeve element for engagement with the liner tube; Figure 9A shows the plug elements and another embodiment of a slide sleeve assembly in the moving position. Figure 9B shows the components moved to the fitted slide sleeve assembly. Figure 9C shows the slide sleeve assembly engaged with the liner tube and the shutter member moved to seal the liner tube.

Figures 10A and 10B illustrate slide tool components for hydraulic release upon movement in the well. Figure 10C illustrates the components as pressure is increased to displace the ball seat, thereby disengaging the slide tool and disengaging a clutch. Figure 10D illustrates the fluid pressure acting on the second piston so that the clutch can reengage the sheath hanger.

Figures 11A and 11B show sequential components of the slide tool during a mechanical disengagement from the liner hanger. Figure 11C shows components with the ball seat offset to disengage the slide tool and disengage the clutch. Figure 11D illustrates the second piston activated to engage the clutch with the disengaged slide tool. Figure 12A is a cross-sectional view of a preferred recoverable packing sleeve according to the present invention which may be positioned below a casing hanger shutter fitting assembly and above the ball diverter. Figure 12B is a cross-sectional view of the recoverable packing sleeve shown in Figure 12A. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a shutter adjusting assembly in a coating hanger sliding tool in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Slide Tool of Figures 1-9 To retract the liner, slide tool 120 may initially be attached to the lower end of a WS work tubing and releasably connected to the liner hanger from which the liner is suspended. to be lowered into the probe hole below the previously set casing tube or casing C. The assembly can be easily slid at a rate that does not adversely affect well formations or the slide tool.

A junction receptacle 130, as shown in Figure 1B, is supported around slide tool 120 with its upper end having the liner hanger slide sleeve fitting assembly 140. The upper end of junction receptacle 130 with The removal of the slide tool provides a means by which a casing pipe joint (not shown) can subsequently extend from its upper end to the surface. As shown in Figures 1A-11, tool 120 includes a central mandrel 132, which may comprise multiple connected sections. The lower end of the junction receptacle 130 is connected to the plug element plug sleeve 148 as shown in Figure 1F, the function of which will be described in connection with fitting the plug element 150 around an upper cone 152, as well as adjusting it. of an alternative embodiment of slide sleeve 142A around a lower cone 144A (see Figure 1G) below the plug element 150. Slide tool 120 includes a cementing sleeve 160 (see Figure 1E) from which a tubular body 162 is suspended to support ball diverter 280 (see Figure 1) and liner wiper cap 180 (see Figure 1J) at the lower end of the slide tool. Recoverable cementing bushing 160 has a recoverable seal between slide tool 120 and casing hanger assembly for fluid circulation purposes. By incorporating an axially movable smooth gasket, the sliding tool can be moved without breaking the seal provided by the packing sleeve. The casing hanger slide sleeve adjusting assembly 140, as shown in Figure 1B, includes a sleeve 212 disposed within and axially movable relative to a portion 210 of the slide tool mandrel 132. Piston sleeve 212 is retained in its upper position by the shear pins 222 in the mandrel portion 210. A tubular ball seat 232 is supported at the lower end of the sleeve 212. The lower end of the ball seat has a neck portion 234 which is smaller in diameter and more thin for the purposes described below. Ball 240 is dropped from surface to slide tool hole 126 and onto seat 232. An increase in fluid pressure within mandrel 132 will shear pins 222 and lower ball seat to a position supported by tool hole slide, for example, against stop shoulder 236.

Sliding Tool Continuing with a description of the sliding tool 120 described above, the piston sleeve 220 is disposed around the portion 210 and is axially movable with respect thereto. An upper sealing ring 214 is disposed around a smaller outside diameter of the slide tool mandrel in place of the lower sealing ring 216 to form an annular pressure chamber 218 therebetween for lifting the junction receptacle 130 from position shown in Figure 1B to a higher position as will be described in connection with the adjustment of sliding sleeves 142A. The ports 242 formed in the slide tool mandrel 132 connect the slide tool hole with the surrounding pressure chamber 218 as the sleeve 212 is lowered. An increase in pressure through ports 242 will raise piston sleeve 220. Upward movement of sleeve 220 causes upper end 312 of piston sleeve 220 to overcome the resistance of slotted ring 244 as shown in Figure 1A in order to raise the junction receptacle 130 as shown in Figure 2A, and thereby raise the slide sleeves 142A as shown in Figure 2B. Sleeve 245, as shown in Figure 1D, can move downward to expose ports 260, raising piston 252 to disengage ring 244 that was attached to the top of junction receptacle 130. An additional increase in pressure will force the ball through the reduced seat neck 232 to pump the ball to a position seated in a lower seat 246 (see Figure 1D), which is similar to the upper seat 232.

A problem with a conventional slide sleeve assembly is the need to coordinate the adjustment of the individual slide sleeves so that their teeth engage the outer casing tube substantially simultaneously. It is of course also costly to machine multiple wedge surfaces around the casing as well as to provide multiple sliding sleeve elements, and it is the main object of this invention to provide a sliding sleeve assembly for purposes requiring only a single element. co-operable slide sleeve with only a single wedge surface of the liner or other elongate member.

Thus, in the embodiment of Figures 9A-9C, and also as shown and described in the aforementioned provisional application 60 / 292,099, the slide sleeve assembly includes slide sleeve segments 141 which are lifted by a tie rod over the outer tapered surface. of a cone 143 to make the teeth 142 around the sliding sleeves secure the casing tube C. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frusto-conical surfaces of the sliding member and sleeve extend downwardly and inwardly, the lower end of the slide sleeve being received in an upwardly undercut on the member, and the C-ring teeth facing downward in position to engage the wellbore as the C-ring is raised over the surface of the member by than the limb can be suspended inside the wellbore. The means for raising the lower end of the C-ring from the recess to a position for sliding along the tapered surface of the member comprises at least one connecting rod extending vertically through the member for guided reciprocating movement thereon. . More particularly, the inner side of the C-ring and the lower end of the tie rod have interlocking portions that allow the lower end of the C-ring to be raised off the undercut, but will be disengageable when the bar is raised to allow allow the ring to expand to engage the wellbore.

Preferably, as illustrated, the inner frusto-conical surface of the C-ring has relatively blind teeth around its frusto-conical surface for engagement with the frusto-conical surface of the limb to control friction therebetween, and thus to control the force applied to the casing tube.

As illustrated and described, the elongate member is a liner and the recess for receiving the end of the slide sleeve is annular in shape.

Referring again to the operating procedure, the annular plug element 150 (see Figure 1F) is disposed around an upper downwardly enlarged cone 152 below the drive sleeve 148. The plug element 150 originally has a circumference in which its The outer diameter is reduced and thus spaced from the casing tube C. However, the plug element 150 is expandable so that it can be moved down over the cone 152 to seal against the casing tube. The plug element 150 is adapted to be adjusted by including spring-loaded ears 328 which, when moved upwardly from the junction receptacle 130, will be forced into an expanded position as shown in Figure 6A to engage the top of the junction receptacle. When weight is set, the expanded ears 328 will transmit this downward force through the drive sleeve 148 and to the plug member 150. A body lock ring 270 (see Figure 1F) is disposed between the junction connector 130 and the drive sleeve. 148 and permits the obturator member 150 to be forced downwardly over the upper cone 154 with the lowering of the junction connector. Upward movement of the adjusted shutter element is prevented. Shutter member 150 may have a construction as described in US Patent No. 4,757,860 which comprises an inner metal body for sliding over the cone, and annular flanges or ribs extending outwardly from the body to engage the casing tube.

Rings of resilient sealing material may be mounted between such ribs. The sealing bodies may be formed of a material having substantial elasticity to extend the annular crown between the liner hanger and liner tube C.

Ball Seats Continuing in addition with a description of the entire system, the lower ball seat 246 (see Figure 1D) is mounted into the slide tool hole by shear pins 248 opposite the pressure chamber 256. Sleeve 245 thus supports the 246. The lower end of the ball seat has a thinner reduced section or neck 258. Additionally, one or more doors 260 formed in the slide tool are positioned to be uncovered to allow fluid pressure in the slide tool to be admitted to the chamber. 256 with lowering the seat 246. Ball 240, when disengaged from the upper seat 232, will rest on the second seat 246, whereby the pressure within the slide tool above the ball will move the seat 246. downward with the shear of pins 248 to open doors 260 leading to pressure chamber 256. Ball 240 can thus pass through of the first seal 232 to seat in the reduced diameter 258 of the second seat 246, so that additional pressure can be supplied through ports 260 to raise the outer piston sleeve 252. This in turn allows the slit ring 264 which has external teeth holding the casing hanger 110 moves to a position opposite a reduced diameter lower end 268 of sleeve 252 and thus out of the clamping engagement with the casing hanger, whereby the sliding tool is disengaged from the liner hanger.

At this stage, the operator will push to pass the ball through seat 246 so that the drop in pressure will indicate that ball 240 has passed through ball seat 246, allowing circulation through the drip column to continue and the ball is pumped down to the ball diverter 280 (see Figure 1). The fluids are then circulated through the tool awaiting the cement displacement. The cement is then injected into the slide tool and pumped down, and the pumping plug 182 follows the cement and into the liner cleaner cap 180 (see Figures 1J, 5A and 5B). This then forms a barrier to the previously displaced cement and displacement fluid. The lower end of the slide tool mandrel 132 extends downwardly below the slide sleeve assembly and has an enlarged body 145 (see Figure 1) adapted to move alternately within the liner 146. This enlarged body 145 has a tapered shoulder. 147 which can be raised for engagement with a downwardly facing cam to allow the slide tool to be lifted off the adjusted casing hanger as will be described.

As previously described, in general, in connection with Figures 1, 4A and 4B, for improvements in apparatus of this type, in which the cementing operation requires the sequential lowering of the balls and pumping plugs into the inner tube, wherein In a preferred and illustrated embodiment, the inner tube is a liner having an upper end installed within an outer liner tube by a cement column pumped out of the lower liner end to the annular crown between it and the liner tube. external.

As described, in such a system, a ball is dropped onto a seat in the casing bore to allow circulating fluid to be directed to a portion thereof to hydraulically drive a part in the system external to the casing bore, and a The opening in which the ball is seated may be circumferentially compressible, with the application of a higher circulating pressure, to cause the ball to pass through and out of the lower end of the liner. The ball may then be followed by a pumping plug to force the cement down through the lower end of the liner and into the annular crown between it and the outer liner tube.

In the system shown and described in the aforementioned provisional application, the ball is relatively large and in any case larger than the hole of the liner cleaners (LWP) in which the pumping caps (PDP) must be installed. Unless the hole through the wiper cap is as small as possible, the inner diameter of the liner to be cemented into the outer hanger is necessarily enlarged to accommodate the wiper caps that are conducted around it. Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus for such a system in which the balls may be substantially larger than the pumping plugs, and thus larger than the bore through the cleaning plugs on which the pumping plugs are to be supported.

This and other objects are achieved by the apparatus including the previously described diverter 280 comprising a tubular member, such as a substitute, having an upper end connected to a well tube for lowering into a well casing tube to allow it is cemented there, and has a hole with a relatively larger diameter upper portion and a relatively smaller diameter lower portion. The larger portion allows one or more balls to be lowered therethrough, but the liner wiper plug in the smaller diameter portion prevents the balls from passing while allowing the pumping plugs to pass through the liner wiper plug.

For this purpose, a replacement installed below the larger portion has a receptacle on one side of its hole into which the ball, or at least a portion thereof, is deflected to allow the pumping plug to pass between the ball and the side of the bore. substitute opposite the receptacle, whereby the pumping plug may continue downwardly to enter the liner cleaner plug. The substitute also includes a ramp extending through the substitute hole and sloping down toward the receptacle, so that when the ball is dropped it will rest on the ramp and thus be guided into the recess. crack. More particularly, the ramp has a U-shaped slot that is too narrow to pass a sphere, but is wide enough to pass a plug between its closed end and the inner side of the deflected sphere.

Again, continuing with all rights, Figures 2-8 illustrate the movement of tool components 120 in the coating adjustment process. Once the casing is lowered to the desired depth, the fluids will be circulated "bottom to top" of the wellbore. After conditioning of the wellbore, the ball 240 is dropped from the surface handling equipment and can fall freely or be pumped at a desired rate onto the upper seat 232. With pressure applied to the seated ball, pins 222 between the seat and liner hanger adjustment assembly are sheared to allow the ball and seat to move down to a position that clears doors 242 on the body of slide sleeve adjustment assembly 140. Additional application of Fluid pressure will cause the surrounding piston sleeve 220 to travel upwards. As a result, the junction receptacle 130, the actuator slide sleeve 149 and the slide sleeves 142 will be pulled up until the circumferentially spaced slide sleeves are engaged with the liner tube C. Thus, as shown in Figure 2A , piston sleeve 220 of slide sleeve adjusting assembly 140 surrounding slide tool arbor 132 has been moved upward with increasing pressure above ball 240. Piston sleeve 220 is moved upward until upper end 312 of piston sleeve 220 engages and disengages slotted locking ring 244. This allows junction receptacle 130 to continue to move upwards.

Conversely, raising the junction receptacle 130 raises cone 144A, slide sleeve arm 149, and slide sleeve 142A to the adjusting position as shown in Figure 2B. At this time, the load on the liner may be loosened on the sliding sleeves whereby the weight of the liner will be "projected" onto the liner tube. While holding constant pressure in the drill pipe to keep the sliding sleeves in contact with the sheath pipe, the sheath hanger may thus be loosened on the sliding sleeves. To certify that the entire liner load is loosened on the liner hanger assembly 110, additional tube weight may be applied to verify the movement of the liner. Once it is determined that the sliding sleeves hang, fluid pressure may be reapplied to seated ball 240 to a higher predetermined level so that the ball can be pumped to lower seat 246 in the liner hanger release assembly. 250. With the ball thus seated, a predetermined pressure may be applied to move the ball seat 246 and sleeve 245 downward to clear doors 260 in the liner hanger release assembly. Higher fluid pressure may then be applied to cause the piston sleeve 252 to move upwards, thereby allowing the liner hanger release ring 264 to rupture within the reduced diameter lower end 268 of sleeve 252, to disengage. thereby tapping the sliding tool of the cladding hanger. If the hydraulic release is not operable! To move ring 264 to disengage the slide tool, the operator may resort to a mechanical release mode. The function of the ball in disengaging the adjusted liner hanger slide tool is discussed below. The additional increase in pressure on ball 240 and lower seat 246 will disengage the ball from the lower seat, so that circulation through the working tubing can continue while ball 240 is pumped down to ball diverter 280. Fluids can then be circulated through the tool that awaits cement displacement. The cement and displacement fluid are then injected into the slide tool and pumped down. When the cement has been pumped, the pumping plug that seals with the drill pipe will be disengaged from the surface manipulation equipment to rest on a seat of the liner cleaner cap, thereby forming a barrier between the previously displaced cement and the fluid. of displacement. A calculated amount of displacement fluid is required to pump the probe tube plug to the lower lining wiper cap. The operator will observe the pressure increase as pumping plug 182 is engaged with liner wiper cap 180. Pumping buffer 182 (see Figure 5A) thus follows the cement in liner wiper cap 180. As As pumping approaches the slide tool, the pump rate may be lowered to reduce the risk of defects between engagement and lower wiper cap seal and pumping cap. This will allow the observation of the pump pressure increase when the pumping plug 182 has been resting on the lower wiper cap 180 as shown in Figure 5A. A calculated amount of displacement fluid is required to force the cement to the desired height in the annular crown between the liner and the liner tube. The drill pipe can be pressurized to the predetermined level to shear pins 186 (see Figure 5A) that connect the plug fitted to the slide tool. With the liner wiper cap disengaged as shown in Figure 5B, the displacement fluids move the liner plug assembly 146 to the backing collar 370. The tampon assembly thus forms a barrier between the cement and the displacement fluid. , and prevents displacement fluid from contaminating cement fluids. A calculated amount of displacement fluid may be used to force the cement to the desired height in the annular crown between the liner and the liner tube. The operator continues to pump the displacement fluid until the casing cleaner and pumping plug assembly is engaged with the bearing collar 370 (see Figure 5C) located on a lower portion of the casing tube. When so supported, seals 372 around the plug assembly will seal into the upper reduced bore of the bearing collar 370, and sliding sleeves 374 with engagement surfaces will engage the opening in the bearing collar to prevent upward movement of the bearing plug. by any drilling pressure. At this time, the pressure in the slide tool can be increased to a substantial level above the circulating pressure to certify that the wiper cap is properly supported and under control, and until the seals between the plug assembly and the bearing collar. are made. The plug can then be tested for bleed pressure to ensure that the flotation equipment below the bearing collar 370 is secured.

Sliding Tool Continuing again with a description of the entire system, conventional cementing equipment can be used below the diverter, including the above described buffer assembly that forms a barrier to the different fluids flowing to the liner. A pumping plug F182, as shown in Figure 5A, may include upwardly facing cups 183 for cleaning the drill pipe, so that increased pressure on the working pipe disengages both plugs (the plug set) from the end. lower end of the liner when cap 182 seals liner wiper cap 120. Liner wiper cap 180 has similar cups 181, and rests on collar 186 to be sealably locked in place and seal the lower end of the liner tube. . Disengaged slide tool 120 may be retracted until shutter adjusting assembly 380 (see Figure 1C) is removed from the top of the junction receptacle 130 whereby the spring-loaded ears 328 are raised to a position above the top. junction receptacle, at which time they expand outwards. With plug fitting assembly 380 in its expanded position, weight can be loosened by engaging lugs 328 with the top of the junction receptacle to cause plug element 150 to begin its downward sealing sequence. This weight also activates a sealing ring 384 between the plug adjusting assembly 380 and the junction receptacle to assist in further adjusting the plug element with the annular crown thrust. With plug element 150 engaged with the casing tube, battering rams in surface explosion-prevention equipment may be closed over the borehole to form a pressure vessel between the battering ram and the expanded plug. The cross-sectional area between the liner pipe and the drill pipe and the load required to fully adjust the plug element 150 are known so that the operator can apply the predetermined fluid pressure to the annular crown to make the receptacle move to apply a predetermined additional axial load to the plug element. Downward movement of the drive sleeve 148 to adjust the plug member 150 will disengage the internal threads 386 (see Figure 6B) of the drive sleeve from the junction receptacle 130. The drive sleeve 148 thus moves radially outward as it moves. cone 152. The drive sleeve 148 may be slotted along its circumference such that, in its normal contracted position, its internal threads 386 engage the external threads 131 in the junction receptacle 130. Other types of drive gloves may be used. The spindle 132 of the disengaged sliding tool 120 may then be raised to raise the cementing bushing 160 to cause the ears 392 on the bushing to move inward and to be unlocked from the casing hanger 110. After pulling the end of the sliding tool to At a predetermined position at the upper end of the liner, the operator may circulate the fluid through the slide tool to pump any excess cement to the surface. Circulation effectively reduces the amount of cement that will be required to be drilled prior to reintroduction at the top of the liner, and allows the operator to check fluid flow and / or fluid loss.

After the slide tool is retracted to a predetermined position above the topcoat, the operator circulates through the drill pipe to pump any excess cement to the surface, thereby reducing the amount of cement that will need to be drilled before re-introduction into the top. top of the jacket. Figure 8A shows the high disengaged slide tool 120 of the liner. By checking fluid flow and / or fluid loss, the operator pulls the slide tool out of the hole. Once the tool reaches the surface, the operator can check for damage to the sliding tool, eliminate tool fluids, and level the inside diameter of the tool before returning the tool to the workshop. Figure 9C also shows what remains in casing tube C, that is, adjusting plug 150 and adjusted sliding sleeves 142. Casing hanger release assembly 250, as shown in Figures 1D and 1E, may be replaced by release assembly shown in Figures 10 and 11. The casing hanger release assembly as shown in Figures 10 and 11 may further be disposed below the shutter adjustment assembly 380 as described above or plug 52 described below, and includes an inner piston sleeve 340 sealingly disposed about the slide tool mandrel 132, and another stepping sleeve 342 disposed about the inner piston sleeve. Piston sleeve 340 forms a pressure chamber similar to sleeve 252 shown in Figure 1D for release of the liner hanger. The casing hanger release assembly, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, disengages locking ring 326 which is externally slotted to engage the casing hanger diameter 110 of the upper end of casing 146. Locking ring 326 it is held in lock position by the enlarged upper outside diameter of piston sleeve 340 which, as shown in Figure 10A, will be in its lower position. At this time, the clutch 316, as shown in Figure 1D, is depressed downward by the springs 318 to engage the casing hanger 110, which is threaded for engagement with the right-hand threads 324 on the slide tool chuck 132. A nut 322 drives ears 326 which are pressed outward by springs 327 in the vertical slits formed in the casing hanger 110 to prevent relative rotation between the mandrel 132 and the casing hanger.

By raising the inner piston 340, the locking ring 326 is free to contract inwardly around the lower reduced outside diameter 268 of the piston sleeve 340, thereby freeing the sliding tool to be lifted after adjusting the sliding sleeves, but prior to shutter adjustment, thus allowing cement to flow downwardly through the tool and upwardly within the annular space between the tool and the casing tube.

In case the locking ring 326 is not disengaged for any reason, such as the frictional engagement between the inner diameter of the locking ring 326 and the outer diameter of the piston 340 (see Figure 11A), the operator has the option of mechanically disengaging the slide tool as shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11C, lowering the ball 240 to open port 260 on the slide tool mandrel will allow pressure fluid to pass through port 262 on the internal piston 340 to act on outer piston 342 and cause the outer piston to move upward with the shear of pin 358 (see Figure 11A) between the inner and outer pistons. This allows outer piston 342, which is connected to clutch 316 by a shear pin 360, to raise clutch 316 and disengage it from the sheath hanger.

Once the clutch 316 is disengaged, the operator may turn the tool clockwise so that with the threads located on the right between the threaded nut 322 and the slide tool mandrel 132 the nut on the mandrel 132 is lowered as shown. shown in Figure 11C. Once the threaded nut 322 is lowered, the sliding tool may be retracted to the distance the nut 322 has moved, thereby disengaging the locking ring 326 and thus the sling hanger sliding tool. As shown in Figure 11D, the locking pin 326 has ruptured in the reduced outside diameter 341 of the internal piston 340. The slide tool 120 can thus be lowered to engage its clutch with that of the casing hanger. Clutch 316 is depressed downward by spring 318, so that lower teeth 317 (see Figure 8C) at the upper end of liner hanger 110 are engaged with similar teeth at the lower end of clutch 316 to maintain the rotary engagement between the slide tool and the coating hanger. As shown in Figure 1D, the upper end 332 of the clutch 316 may be grooved with respect to the outside diameter of the slide tool chuck 132 to allow relative axial moment relative to it with spring 318 pressing. When clutch 316 is engaged, rotation of the work tubing will rotate the casing hanger. When the clutch is disengaged, rotation of the work tubing will rotate the slide tool chuck 132 to move nut 322 relative to thread 324 as described below.

Figures 11A-C therefore illustrate a casing hanger release assembly that allows the operator to perform mechanical disengagement by right rotation in case he is unable to perform hydraulic disengagement. As shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the slide tool mandrel 132 is surrounded by the pair of inner and outer sleeve pistons 340 and 342.0 inner piston 340 has a shoulder 272 for engaging slide 27 of the slide tool mandrel 132. Sealing rings Intermediates above and below doors 260 are discovered by lowering ball 240 on ball seat 246 to the lower position as shown in Figure 11C. Outer sleeve piston 342 surrounds inner piston 340 and, while in position, as shown in Figure 11A, is supported on inner piston 340 by engaging an outer shoulder 348 on the inner piston with the generally opposite shoulder on outer piston 342. More particularly, this shoulder 348 is generally aligned with door 262 on the inner sleeve 340 and intermediate the upper and lower sealing rings 346 between the inner and outer sleeves. A ring 350 forms a stop shoulder at the upper end of the inner piston 340 to limit the upward movement of the outer piston 342 relative to the inner piston. Inner piston 340 is held in an upward direction by a downwardly directed shoulder 344 on the slide tool.

In the initial mounting position, as shown in Figure 11A, prior to lowering the lower ball seat 246 and opening the door 260 from the slide tool hole, lock ring 326 is held in a locked position between a portion of enlarged diameter of inner piston 340 and inner diameter of casing hanger 110. Nut 322, as shown in Figure 11B, is positioned below the small diameter portion 341 of inner piston 340, with inner threads 352 engaged with threads 324 As with the previously described embodiment, the threaded nut 322 is prevented from rotation with respect to the casing hanger assembly by the spring-loaded ears 326 in the vertical slots in the casing hanger 110. If the slide tool is not hydraulically disengaged with door opening 260 to raise internal piston 340 and disengage ring By locking 326, the slide tool may be mechanically disengaged by a second hydraulic release operation as discussed above.

If the operator wishes to rotate the casing while cementing, a higher fluid pressure will be applied to outer piston 342 to shear pin 360 between outer piston 342 and clutch 316, at which time spring 318 will reengage the clutch. . The operator can then rotate the slide tool spindle 132, thereby rotating the coating hanger. Additional fluid pressure can then be applied to ball 240 to force it through the thinner reduced diameter of seat 246.

Packing Bushing of Figure 12 Referring now to Figure 12A, a preferred embodiment of a packing bushing 10 for sealing between a radially outer casing sliding adapter of the casing hanger and a radially internal sliding tool chuck is described. Packing bushing 10 is axially captured in the slide tool chuck or tubular body 12. The compact design of the packing bushing and its limited axial movement in the slide tool body 12 facilitates the reintroduction of the packing bushing into the casing hanger, as explained below. Upper end 14 of body 12 includes threads 16 and seal 18 for sealed engagement with the lower end of the slide tool casing hanger release assembly. Lower end 20 of body 12 includes similar threads 22 for interconnecting with a sleeve that extends downward to a ball diverter. The body or replacement 12 is thus part of the slide tool mandrel, and thus a smooth gasket is not required.

As shown in Figure 12A, an inner seal 24 and an outer seal 28 are provided on the locking piston 26. The seal 24, which may be a V-seal, thus seals between the locking piston 26 and the body 12, and the seal 28, which may also be a V-seal, seals between piston 26 and casing hanger sliding adapter 48. Retainer 30 is threadedly connected to piston 26 to lock seals 24 and 28 in place. The retaining member 32 is threadedly connected to the top cover 34 so that the one piece C-ring 36 is positioned between the top cover 34 and the piston 26. The retaining member 32 includes a shoulder 38 for engaging. the shoulder 40 in the body 12. The lower flange portion 33 of the retaining member 32 and the upper end 27 of the piston 26 are each grooved such that the grooved tabs are circumferentially interlocked around the packing sleeve. The flange portions 33 will thus capture the locking ring 36 axially when the piston 26 is forced upwards. Locking ring 36 is a C-shaped unit ring having a circumference of more than 200 °, and usually less than about 350 °, and is intended for engagement and axial locking to the liner hanger. A preferred locking ring 36 may have a circumference of 300 ° to 340 °, thus providing substantially integral circumferential contact with the liner hanger, while allowing radial expansion and contraction of the locking ring. The relaxed diameter of lock ring 36 is substantially as shown in Figure 12A. The seal retainer 30 is normally axially spaced a slight distance above the stop surface 44 in the body 12 to lock and unlock the bushing.

When fluid is pumped through the casing hanger sliding tool, the lower end of piston 26 will be exposed to high pressure, which moves piston 26 away from stop surface 44, as shown in Figure 12A, so that the surface Locking nut 46 at the end of the piston 26 holds the C-ring 36 radially out and in locking engagement with the liner hanger to axially lock the packing sleeve to the liner hanger. Locking ring 36 thus prevents the packing sleeve from being moved axially when pressure is increased during the cementing operation, while seals 24 and 28 maintain the integrity of the fluid between the sliding tool and the liner hanger.

Since the top cover 34 is axially secured to the body 12, the load shoulder 44 in the top cover 34 provides a means for transmitting downward forces to the coating suspender during operation and cementing. The shoulder 44 would then engage the shoulder 45 in the slide hanger adapter 48 when a seated weight was applied to the jacket hanger so that the jacket hanger was "lowered". A bearing 46 may be provided to allow the slide tool body 12 to rotate relative to an adjusted packing sleeve during an emergency release operation. The packing sleeve can thus be reliably held in the locked position, with the piston 26 on top and the C-ring 36 expanded, as shown in Figure 12A, when fluid pressure is applied to the packing sleeve. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that hitch shoulders 38 and 40 allow the packing sleeve assembly 10 to be recovered with the slide tool to the surface after the cementing operation. Recoverable packing bushing 10, as shown in Figure 12A, thus replaces the bushing shown in Figure 1. Using the C-ring 36 in place of circumferentially spaced clamps allows high pressure cementing forces to be applied to the bushing. packing without "extracting" the packing sleeve. As shown in Figure 12A, an annular groove 47 in the casing hanger slide adapter 48 will receive locking ring 36 to securely lock the packing bushing in the casing hanger when fluid pressure is applied to piston 26. No At fluid pressure, the C-ring 36 will thus be retracted inwardly toward the retaining member 32 as the locking ring 36 engages the top surface of the groove 47 as the bushing is pulled from the liner hanger. When the bushing is reintroduced into the casing hanger, the C-ring 36 will be retracted radially inwardly, for example when the locking ring 36 engages the load shoulder 45 in the casing hanger. During upward movement of the sliding tool with respect to the casing hanger, the C-ring 36 may thus move radially inward when engaged and may also move radially inwardly when the packing sleeve is reintroduced back into the housing. coating hanger. The C-ring design significantly increases tool reliability in accordance with the present invention, and reduces both the complexity and costs of prior art tools using multiple ears or clamps. Figure 12B illustrates the grooved members 27 of the piston 26 and the grooved members 33 of the retaining member 32, and the C-shape of the locking ring 36. The circumferentially spaced outer slots 37 around the C-ring 36 facilitate expansion and contraction of the C-ring. The casing hanger sliding tool with the packing sleeve described here can be used in various types of casing hanger operations. The packing sleeve may be used with or without a plug fitting assembly and a plug element to seal between the liner hanger and liner tube. Although the packing bushing as described herein is positioned axially between the casing hanger release assembly and the slide sleeve adjusting assembly, the packing bushing could be provided at other locations on the casing hanger sliding tool.

Shutter Adjustment Assembly of Figure 13 Figure 13 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a shutter adjustment assembly 52, which will enable activation and sealing of the top end shutter. The plug fitting assembly is provided in the formed body of the sleeve or replacement 54 which is part of the slide tool mandrel, and includes lower threads 55 for engagement with a lower mandrel replacement. Shutter adjustment assembly 52 includes a housing 56 which conducts a V-shaped seal 58. Other conventional elastomeric seals may replace the V-seal 58. A flow slot 53 in body 54 ensures fluid communication with the slots or ribs 57 in body 54 so that housing 56 moves axially along these grooves without trapping fluid pressure. Seal retainer 60 and snap ring 62 hold the V-seal in place. A C-shaped power transmission or plug adjusting ring 64 is positioned in the housing 56, and includes an inner sleeve portion 66. A C-shaped firing ring or an isolation ring 70 is positioned between the glove lock 68 and retainer cover 72. Lock sleeve 68 engages the glove portion 66 to hold the C-ring 64 in the compressed position as shown in Figure 13 so that when disengaged, the C-ring 64 will jump out. A housing extension 74 is threadedly secured to housing 56, and bearing 80 allows body 54 to rotate relative to bushing 56. Bearing sleeve 78 is connected to replacement 54 by shear member 82. Sleeve portion 84 of bearing sleeve 78 engages body 54 as shown in Figure 13, although sealing between body 54 and bearing sleeve 78 is not required. The sealing members 86 in the body 54 are discussed below. The first time the shutter adjustment assembly is moved out of the polished hole receptacle 90 (which is the same as the junction receptacle 130 discussed in the slide tool of Figures 1-9), the firing ring 70, which has been positioned within of the polished hole receptacle will snap in a radially outward position as shown in Figure 13 due to the natural pressure of the C-shaped snap ring. When the shutter adjustment assembly is subsequently re-inserted into the In the polished hole, the firing ring 70 will engage the top of the polished hole receptacle 90 as shown in Figure 13, and the shutter adjustment C-ring 64 will be positioned within the polished hole receptacle. When a certain force is applied, the housing 56 will move downwardly with respect to the locking sleeve 68, and the firing ring 70 will move radially inward due to the cam action. The entire shutter adjustment assembly can thus be lowered to the bottom outwardly on a lower portion of the slide adapter prior to beginning the cementing operation. The next time the shutter adjustment assembly is raised outside the polished hole receptacle, the radially outward pressing force of the C-ring 64 will cause the C-ring to engage the top of the polished hole receptacle of the suspension. coating. More particularly, the shoulder 65 will engage the top of the polished bore receptacle 90, as the natural or disengaged diameter of the C-ring 64 approaches the outer diameter of the receptacle 90. The flat surface 65 on the C-ring 64 thus engages. the top surface of the connector receptacle 90. In this position, the tapered surface 73 at the lower end of the retainer cover 72 engages the corresponding tapered surface 63 of the upper end of the C-ring 64, and the seated weight thus results in a radially force to was applied to the C-ring 64 to effectively lock the C-ring in the weight transfer position, so that the C-ring will not fit radially inward prematurely before the shutter is adjusted. Once the C-ring 64 is fitted against the casing hanger, the body 54 can be moved downwardly relative to the housing 56, thereby shearing the members 82. The plug fitting 52 has high reliability, since a substantial downward adjusted weight may be transmitted through the C-ring 64 to the junction receptacle, and since the mechanical adjusting pressure is assisted by the fluid pressure between the casing pipe bore and the bore diameter of the slide tool or drill pipe. After the members 82 stop and the body 54 moves downwardly with respect to the housing 56, the radially inward surface of the projection 88 in the housing 56 is then supported on the larger diameter surface 90 of the substitute 54, with the housing members seal 86 sealing with housing 56. A collar or similar stop in body 54 engages the top of bearing sleeve 78 to limit the downward travel of the mandrel. Seal 58 remains sealed at the junction receptacle. After the plug fitting assembly 52 is adjusted, the increase in annular crown pressure between the casing tube and slide tool allows the housing 56 to act as a piston that is forced downward in response to annular crown pressure, thereby providing greater downward force to reliably adjust the casing hanger shutter when the shutter is forced radially outwardly as it is pushed into the shutter adjusting cone.

A complete operating procedure for operating, adjusting and disengaging the liner hanger system in accordance with the present invention will now be discussed. The slide tool is conventionally attached to the lower end of a working column, typically a drill pipe, and is releasably attached to a casing hanger, which is attached to the top of the casing. The work tubing lowers the casing in the wellbore to a position above the lower end of the previously set casing tube or casing. With the lining to a desired depth, wellbore fluids are circulated "bottom up" to clean the bore. An adjustment ball may initially be dropped from a cementation pipe on the surface. The ball may either fall freely or may be pumped into the casing hanger sliding adjustment assembly, where the ball will rest on the expandable ball seat. Fluid pressure can then be increased to a selected value, for example, 50015 psi (351550 kg / m2), which exerts a force on the shear bolts acting between the ball seat and the adjusting assembly mandrel. slide sleeve. When this force exceeds the limits of the design, the bolts will shear to disengage the ball and seat to a position that clears the hydraulic ports on the mandrel. Continuous pumping of fluid will then force the ball through the seat, and allow the ball to be pumped to the second ball seat within the release tool. The fluid pressure is then increased to shear the bolts between the piston and the casing hanger adjustment assembly mandrel. The piston, which was exposed to pressure within the working tubing when the ball was first disengaged, is responsive to fluid pressure and travels upward, thus forcing the sliding sleeves to disengage and contact the liner tube. The liner load can then be loosened over the adjusted sliding sleeves. Since the sliding sleeves support the weight of the jacket, the jacket is "lowered".

By loosening the liner load over the slider sleeves, additional loosening or "seated weight" may be applied to the hanger to check for any movement of the hanger. Seated weight will be transmitted through the slide tool to the liner hanger, which is supported by the liner hanger sliding sleeves. This seated weight may, for example, be transmitted through the slide tool chuck to the packing bushing and then to the load shoulder on the packing bushing to the casing hanger. A ball can then be supported, and the ball seat moved to expose the fluid ports. The pressure may then be increased to a selected value, for example, 843720 kg / m2 (1200 psi), which is transmitted through the ports in the arbor of the casing hanger release assembly. This increased pressure shears the bolts on the main piston, thereby moving the piston to allow the liner hanger to disengage the ring to rupture and disengage the slip ring from the liner hanger. At this stage, the casing hanger sliding tool is released from the casing hanger. Since the clutch connecting the slide tool to the liner hanger is secured by shear pins relative to the release piston, it moves from the clutch position to a disengaged position as the piston moves upward to disengage the ring. sliding. The slide tool is preferably disengaged with the increase in fluid pressure acting on the main piston. If the slide tool is still engaged with the liner hanger after pressurizing at the main release piston, the operator may continue to press the drill pipe to the maximum allowable pressure by checking the release in small pressure increments to the piston shear pressure. secondary. If the main piston does not disengage the liner hanger sliding tool, continuous pressure will shear the secondary piston from the main piston and the secondary piston will move axially upward to disengage the sliding tool clutch from the clutch on the liner hanger. With the clutch disengaged, the slide tool can be rotated 5-6 times clockwise to disengage the slide hanger slide tool. The operator at this stage will be able to retract the work column and notice the coating weight loss on an equipment weight indicator, thus indicating that the slide tool is disengaged from the coating hanger. This retract operation will also disengage the packing hanger gland packing gland or junction receptacle. As indicated above, the stuffing bushing is intended to be reinsertable so that the operator can pull the slide tool and stuffing bushing upwards as desired to verify that the slide tool is disengaged from the liner hanger. Once it is confirmed that the slide tool is disengaged, the packing sleeve will be reinstalled when the slide tool is loosened on the liner hanger. When there is pressure below the packing bushing, the bushing will be firmly locked in the casing hanger.

A selected fluid pressure, for example of 17.24 mPa (2500 psi), may be used to shear the secondary piston from the clutch to allow the clutch to reengage the liner hanger. Once the liner hanger sliding tool is released from the liner, pressure can then be applied to the ball and seat. At a predetermined pressure, for example, 3.68 mPa (3000 psi), the ball will pass through the door isolation ball seat, which expands the seat diameter. The ball is forced through the seat to permanently deform the ball seat. The drop in pressure and recovery of circulation will then indicate that the ball has successfully passed through the ball seat. The ball can then fall freely or be pumped into the ball diverter.

Spacer and cement fluids may be mixed while circulating fluids for cement displacement. When the cement has been pumped, the pumping plug can be disengaged from the surface, forming a barrier between the previously displaced cement and the displacement fluid. A calculated amount of displacement fluid can thus be used to pump the pumping plug into the liner cleaner plug. As the pumping plug approaches the slide tool, fluid pressure may be reduced, for example, by about 3.45 mPa (500 psi), and this pressure will increase as the pumping plug is engaged on the coating wiper cap. Once the pumping plug is engaged with the liner wiper cap, the working tubing may be pressurized and after a selected period of time, the liner wiper cap and pumping plug will be disengaged from the liner support replacement. plug. Higher fluid pressure thus moves a piston to disengage a ring, which disengages the liner plug of the buffer holder replacement. The piston within the buffer support replacement acts on a fluid of known viscosity, and the flow of fluid through a predetermined orifice will take a predetermined period of time to disengage the liner wiper cap. This time can be used by the operator to positively calculate displacement fluid volumes. A calculated amount of displacement fluid will then force the cement to the desired height in the annular crown between the liner and the liner tube. The fluid will thus be pumped until the liner cleaner cap and the pumping buffer assembly are engaged with the backing collar, at which time the pressure may be increased to, for example, 703100 kg / m2 (1000 psi) on the circulating pressure to complete the plug engagement and check that the seals between the plugs and the support collar are secure. The pressure can then be bled and bleed checked again to ensure that the floating equipment is holding pressure.

It should be remembered that the shutter adjustment assembly incorporates an unlocking feature that allows the shutter adjustment assembly to be pulled out of the casing hanger junction receptacle once without unlocking the shutter adjustment ring. Upon reintroduction of the junction receptacle assembly, the shutter adjustment ring is armed and is ready to expand the second time the shutter adjustment assembly is pulled out of the junction receptacle. Consequently, the slide tool may be retracted until the shutter adjustment assembly is removed from the junction receptacle. Loosening the work tubing breaks the firing ring so that it can reenter the junction receptacle, and moves a locking sleeve out of contact with the shutter adjusting ring. Once the C-shaped shutter adjustment ring is compressed, although it is now disengaged from the locking sleeve, the shutter adjustment assembly is ready to activate the next time it is pulled out of the receptacle. of junction. Accordingly, the slide tool can be retracted sufficiently to expose the shutter adjustment assembly, and then the seated weight is used to adjust the shutter element.

Once the plug adjusting ring is in its expanded position, the weight of the probe tube may be loosened at the top of the junction receptacle. This downward force through the mounting of the shutter adjustment and to the junction receptacle initiates the shutter adjustment sequence. This action will shear the bolts and allow the adjustment load to be transmitted to the sealing member. As a load increases, the plug element will expand into the outside diameter as it moves the cone, thereby pushing the expansion plug element into engagement with the liner tube.

With the plug element engaged with the casing tube, the rams of the equipment may be closed around the borehole so that a pressure vessel is formed between the casing tube and the slide tool and between the plugging element and the ram seals on the surface. Knowing how much load is required to properly adjust the plug element, a known fluid pressure may be applied to the annular crown to cause the junction receptacle to be moved, thereby applying a larger known load to the plug element. . A desired adjusting load for the plug element can thus be applied by a combination of seated weight and fluid pressure.

After pulling the adjusting tool to a predetermined position above the top of the liner, fluid may be circulated through the drill pipe to circulate any excess cement to the surface, thereby reducing the need for drilling. Once excess cement has been circulated out of the well, the operator can pull the adjusting tool from the well. Once on the surface, the tool can be checked for damage and serviced.

The tools, as discussed above, function as an assembly for a specific application, that is, for the operation and release of the casing hanger, cementing the casing in the wellbore and adjusting the plug element. A coating hanger could be slid without a shutter element; consequently, the slide tool would not require the shutter adjustment assembly. Also, a plug element could be slid into a wellbore without a liner hanger sleeve mechanism, and therefore, the slide sleeve release assembly would not be required in the slide tool. Various combinations of the described tools could be put together to work on a variety of drilling tools.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of the preferred embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it should be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as explained in the following claims.

Claims (11)

1. Hydraulically operated retrievable tool for introduction into a wellbore to perform a wellbore tool activation, the tool comprising: a tubular slide tool body (132) for suspension in the wellbore from a pipe such that fluid can be circulated through a bore (126) in the conduction tube (WS) and tubular body (132), the tubular body including a fluid inlet port (242) a from the bore (126) in the tubular body (132); a fluid pressure responsive member (220) in fluid communication with fluid inlet port (242) and movable with respect to tubular body (132) from an initial position to an activated position in response to fluid pressure within the tubular body (132); a door closing member (212) movable with respect to the tubular body (132) from a door isolation position to an open door position, the door closing member (212), in the door isolation position blocking fluid communication from the bore (126) in the tubular body (132), and allowing fluid communication from the bore (126) in the tubular body (132) through the fluid inlet port (242), when in the open door position; and a seat (232) supported on the door closing member (212), such that an increase in fluid pressure in the tubular bore (126) to the fluid inlet port upon support of a cap (240) in the seat, move the door lock member (212) from the door isolation position to the open door position in response to fluid pressure above the seated cap (240); characterized in that it further comprises a plug disengagement mechanism for disengaging the plug 242 after the door closing member 212 has been moved to the open door position. Recoverable tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the door closing member comprises an axially movable sleeve (212) within the bore (126) of the tubular body (132). Recoverable tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug (240) is a sphere. Recoverable tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the ball (240) is supported on the seat to substantially seal the bore (126) of the tubular body (132). Recoverable tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the door locking member (212) is retained in the door isolation position by a shear member (222). Recoverable tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seat (232) is permanently deformed in response to increased fluid pressure to pass the plug (240) through the seat (232). Recoverable tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fluid pressure responsive member includes a piston (220) movable from the initial position to the activated position in response to fluid pressure. . Recoverable tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the piston (220) moves axially upward from the starting position to the actuated position in response to fluid pressure. Recoverable tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the movement of the fluid pressure responsive member in the form of a piston (22) causes one of (a) the axial movement of a sleeve. slide (142) for adjusting the casing hanger, (b) the movement of a release mechanism (250) to disengage the casing hanger from the slide tool and (c) the relative movement between a cone (152) and a seal (150) for sealing between the liner hanger and the surrounding liner tube. A process of hydraulically operating a borehole insertion tool to perform activation of a borehole tool, comprising: suspending a tubular slide tool body (132) in the borehole from a pipe driving (WS); providing a fluid inlet port (242) from a bore (126) in the tubular body (132); providing a fluid pressure responsive member (220) in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port (242) and movable with respect to the tubular body (132) from an initial position to an activated position in response to fluid pressure; providing a movable door closing member (212) with respect to the tubular body (132) from a door isolation position to an open door position, the door closing member (212) in the position of port isolation by blocking fluid communication from the bore (126) in the tubular body (132), and allowing fluid communication from the bore (126) in the tubular body (132) through the fluid inlet port (132). 242) when in the open door position; holding a seat (232) on the door closing member (212); supporting a cap (240) on the seat (232) to move the door lock member (212) from the door isolation position to the open door position in response to fluid pressure above the supported cap (240). ); and performing downhole tool activation in response to movement of the fluid pressure responsive member (220) to the activated position; characterized in that it further comprises disengaging the plug (240) after the door closing member (212) has been moved to the open door position. Process according to claim 10, characterized in that the fluid pressure responsive member (220) includes a piston movable from the starting position to the activated position in response to fluid pressure.