GB2341405A

GB2341405A - Circulation tool with valve operated by dropped ball

Info

Publication number: GB2341405A
Application number: GB9904307A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Carmichael; Paul David Howlett
Original assignee: Specialised Petroleum Services Ltd
Current assignee: Schlumberger UK Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1998-02-25
Filing date: 1999-02-25
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-25
Also published as: GB9904307D0; GB2341405B

Abstract

A circulation tool (1) for use in a well riser consisting of one or more valve members (9) and having a radial outlet providing passages (7) for drilling fluid. The valve member being actuated by a ball (15, fig. 2) dropped down the shaft to temporarily block the passage way and hence build up fluid pressure until shear pin (14) breaks and the valve moves to a position obscuring the passages (see fig. 2). Flow through the tool is maintained by inlets (13) in the valve member. Filters can be provided on the exterior of the passageways to prevent the ingress of dirt into the tool. The tool can also be fitted with an additional sleeve (31, fig. 3) around the outer surface with nozzles (33, fig. 3) to expel fluid tangentially and rotate the sleeve to aid in cleaning the bore.

Description

1 2341405 1 CIRCULATION TOOL 2 3 This invention relates to down hole

drilling and or 4 production apparatus and particularly relates to a circulation tool.

6 7 It is considered desirable in the art of drilling for oil 8 or gas to be able to circulate drilling fluid at all 9 material times down a drill string. The present invention recognises the need for a sub or tool 11 connectable in a drill string or the like that may be 12 used for maintaining and or reinstating circulation, 13 notwithstanding the operation of other tools or 14 processes.

16 For example, in our co-pending International Patent 17 Application Number PCT/GB98/03795 there is described an 18 inner string suspended from a drill pipe which prevents 19 circulation. At the bottom of the drill string is a sub with a generally open port to enable circulation therealt.

21 22 It is an object of the present invention to provide a sub 23 or tool of suitable design for use in such an 24 application- 2 2 Similarly, a tool or sub for enabling or manipulating 3 circulation may be required for use over a mud motor or 4 the like. 5 6 A further object of the invention is to provide a tool 7 having suitability for use in well-bore cleanup 8 operations, including the cleaning of risers. 9 10 A yet further object of the present invention is to meet 11 the aforementioned objections while providing for 12 circulation via radial and axial outlets in a tool or 13 sub. 14 15 According to the present invention there is provided 16 apparatus for use in a well bore, the apparatus 17 comprising a body member connectable in or to a drill 18 string and one or more valve members, the body member 19 having a radial outlet associated with each valve member 20 and an axial bore providing passage for drilling fluid 21 between an axial inlet and an axial outlet, and between 22 the axial inlet and the or each radial outlet, wherein 23 the or each valve member is moveable between a respective 24 first position at which the associated radial outlet is 25 in either one of an open or a closed state and a second 26 position at which the associated radial outlet is an 27 alternative closed or open state, and characterised in 28 that the valve member allows for fluid flow through or at 29 least partially through the axial bore when in either of 30 the aforementioned positions31 32 Preferably the or each radial outlet may be associated 33 with filtration means for preventing the ingression of 3 1 particles or debris into the body member of the 2 apparatus.

3 4 The or each valve member may be locatable within the axial bore of the body member and preferably includes an 6 axial passage in line with the axial bore of the body 7 member.

8 9 The or each valve member may be held in its respective first position by a pin or other mechanical means, the 11 mechanical means becoming inoperable or fractured at a 12 predetermined load or force. For example, one or more 13 valve members may be held in its respective first 14 position by one or more shear pins. Alternatively, hydraulic means may be employed to hold the or each valve 16 member in the respective first position.

17 18 Preferably the or each valve member is adapted to co- 19 operate with a respective actuating device for actuating movement of the valve member from the first position to 21 the second position. The or each valve member may 22 comprise a ball seat and the actuating device may be, for 23 example, a dropped ball suitable for landing on the ball 24 seat, so as to temporarily block the axial passage through the apparatus and thereby enable an increase in 26 fluid pressure capable of shearing the pin or other means 27 for maintaining the valve member in the first position.

28 29 The valve member may be provided with a second inlet which communicates with the axial passage, wherein the 31 second inlet is obturated when the valve member is in the 32 first position and open when the valve member is in the 33 second position such that when the valve member is in the 34 second position a circulation path through the apparatus 4 1 and, more precisely, between the axial inlet and axial 2 outlet of the body member, is maintained.

3 4 Also according to the present invention there is provided a down hole tool or sub comprising a body member having 6 an inlet and a first and second outlet, the first outlet 7 being generally located below or beyond the second outlet 8 when the tool is run, and means for controllably closing 9 the second outlet while maintaining a circulation path between the inlet and the first outlet.

11 12 Typically, the down hole tool or sub is a well cleanup 13 tool. The tool may be suitable for use in a well riser.

14 The tool or sub may be a fill up tool run above a mud motor or the like.

16 17 The body member may be attachable to a work string or the 18 like. A rotatable sleeve may be mounted on the outside of 19 the body member having jet outlets aligned with the radial outlets on the body member, wherein also at least 21 some of the jet outlets are directed tangentially so that 22 the reaction forces of fluid expelled from the one or 23 more tangential jet outlets create a turning moment 24 sufficient to cause rotation of the sleeve relative to the body member- Preferably, some of the jet outlets on 26 the sleeve are orientated radially- 27 28 In order to provide a better understanding of the 29 invention, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the 31 accompanying Figures, in which:

32 33 Figure 1 shows a tool in one state of operation in 34 accordance with the invention; 1 2 Figure 2 illustrates the tool of Figure 1, but in an 3 alternative state of operation; 4 Figure 3 shows an alternative tool in the same state 6 of operation as the tool shown in Figure 1; 7 8 Figures 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate a drill pipe fill 9 up tool in three alternative states of operation; 11 Figure 5 illustrates an external view of the tool of 12 Figure 4 showing a filter over the outlets; and 13 14 Figures 6a, 6b and 6c illustrate one half of an 15 alternative tool whose operation is the inverse of 16 the tool illustrated in Figure 4.

17 18 Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, two representations 19 of a tool, generally described at 1, are depicted. The tool 1 is comprised of an elongated body member 2 having 21 an axial inlet 3 and a first outlet 4. The first outlet 22 4 is axially aligned with the inlet 3.

23 24 The body member 2 is provided with attachment means 5,6 for connection of the tool 1 in a drill string (not 26 shown).

27 28 A second or radial outlet 7 is provided in the body 29 member 2 in the form of a plurality of radially disposed apertures- Nozzles may be located in the apertures of the 31 second or radial outlet 7 to improve the cleaning 32 efficiency of fluid expelled from the second outlet 7 in 33 a well cleanup tool.

34 6 1 An axial bore 8 is formed through the body member 2. In 2 the bore 8 is a valve member, generally depicted at 9.

3 The valve member 9 also has an inlet 10 and an outlet 11, 4 there being an axial passage 12 between the inlet 10 and outlet 11.

6 7 In Figure 1 the valve member 9 is positioned in what is 8 referred to herein as the first position. When in the 9 first position, fluid may circulate through the tool 1 by entering the inlet 3, passing through the bore 8a, 11 entering the valve inlet 10, passing through the passage 12 12, exiting the valve outlet 11 and re-entering the bore 13 8b, and finally exiting either the first outlet 4 or the 14 second or radial outlet 7. Usually, the fluid will generally exit the second outlet 7 because of the 16 pressure drop across this outlet.

17 18 Typically the second outlet 7 is formed as a plurality of 19 jet ports for cleaning the inside walls of casings, risers or the like.

21 22 The valve member 9 includes a second inlet 13. The second 23 inlet 13 is formed as a plurality of circumferentially 24 spaced apertures- The second inlet 13 is closed or obturated when the valve member 9 is in the first 26 position- 27 28 A shear pin 14 is used to hold the valve member 9 in the 29 first position.)o 31 The valve member 9 may be moved to a second position as 32 shown in Figure 2. In the example embodiment shown, this 33 is achieved by dropping a ball 15 from the surface until 34 it nests on the ball rest 16. When the ball 15 is 7 1 located on the rest 16, fluid flow is temporarily 2 prevented through the tool 1 for so long as the valve 3 member 9 remains in the first position. This allows 4 fluid pressure to be built up above the ball 15 until the force on the ball 15 and valve member 9 is sufficient to 6 shear the pin 14. Once this occurs, the valve member 9 7 moves down or along the body member 2 until it is stopped 8 by the shoulder 17. The valve member 9 is then at what 9 is generally referred to herein as the second position.

11 When the valve member 9 is in the second position, the 12 second inlet 13 is open and able to receive fluid from 13 the bore 8a, thereby reinstating a circulation path 14 through the tool 1. However, the valve member 9, when in the second position as shown in Figure 2, obturates the 16 second outlet 7 in the body member 2, such that the fluid 17 may only exit from the tool 1 at the first outlet 4.

18 19 Seals 18 are provided on the valve member 9 to improve the integrity of the closing of the second outlet 7 when 21 the valve member 9 is in the second position.

22 23 With the valve member 9 in the second position, the tool 24 1 does not prevent an operator from pressuring up below or beyond the tool 1 in the drill string. This means 26 that a more remote tool may be actuated or manipulated- 27 28 When the tool 1 is used in the cleaning of well risers it 29 may be desirable to release the ball 15 from the seat 16 by pressuring up from beneath the tool 1.

31 32 The tool, generally depicted at 30 in Figure 3, is 33 similar to the tool shown in Figures 1 and 2, but has an 34 additional sleeve 31 around the outer surface of the body 8 1 member 2. The sleeve 31 has outlets 32 that are aligned 2 with the apertures of the second outlet 7 on the body 3 member 2. In the sleeve outlets 32 are provided nozzles 4 33 adapted to expel the fluid from the outlets 32 in a jet-like manner.

6 7 Seals 34 are provided between the sleeve 31 and the body 8 member 2. The seals 34 are required because the sleeve 9 31 is rotatable on the body 2.

11 Notably, the outlet 32a is directed to expel the fluid 12 tangentially, while the outlet 32b is directed to expel 13 the fluid radially. The reaction forces from the 14 tangentially directed jet or jets drive the relative rotation of the sleeve 31 around the body 2. As the 16 sleeve rotates, it ensures a full 360 degree coverage of 17 the cleaning jet expelled particularly from the radially 18 directed nozzles.

19 Thus it may be seen that the addition of the sleeve 21 member 31 further serves to improve the cleaning 22 efficiency of the expelled circulating fluid in a clean 23 up operation or the like.

24 It is realised herein that a too! in accordance with the 26 present invention may be used for a diverse range of 27 operations and applications, the tool having excellent 28 versatility and utility- 29 This is demonstrated by the sub illustrat-ed in Figure 4, 31 which is a fill up tool. The sub 40 is a more 32 sophisticated form of the invention, having two valve 33 members. The first valve member 9 is similar in 34 construction and function to the valve members described 9 1 above. However, the tool 40 includes a second valve 2 member 41.

3 4 The second valve 41 is also moveable between a first position (as shown in Figure 4a. and 4b) and a second 6 position (as shown in Figure 4c).

7 8 The second valve member 41 is associated with a 9 respective second or radial outlet 42, while as before, the first valve is associated with a respective radial 11 outlet 7. When the second valve member 41 is in the first 12 position the respective radial outlet 42 is closed or 13 obturated, while when the second valve member 41 is in 14 the second position the respective radial outlet 42 is open.

16 17 The second valve member also has an axial bore 43 with an 18 inlet 44 and an axial outlet 45. The second valve 41 is 19 held in the first position by a shear pin 46. A ball rest 47 is located in the vicinity of the second valve inlet 21 44 for landing a ball 48, thereby allowing an operator to 22 pressure up behind the ball 48 until the pin 46 shears 23 and the second valve moves from the first position to the 24 second position.

26 The sub 40 may be operated as follows. When the tool 40 27 is run, the valves 9 and 41 are located in their 28 respective first position as shown in Figure 4a. Unlike 29 previous methods where a sub must be pre-filled prior to running, the sub or tool 40 is adapted to 'Lill with 31 drilling fluid while being run. As the drill string of 32 which the tool 40 forms part is lowered into the well 33 bore, fluid enters the tool 40 through the outlet (acting 34 as an inlet) 7 and fills the tool 40. Wire screen 1 filters 50 are placed around the outlets 7 to prevent the 2 ingress of debris or other matter that might impede fluid 3 circulation through the sub. The wire coils of the 4 filter 50 may be adjusted to control the degree of filtration or permeability.

6 7 If required, fluid may then be circulated through the 8 inlet 3, via the bores through the valve members 9,41 and 9 out the outlet 7.

11 Thereafter, when the tool 40 is positioned and drilling 12 is to commence, a first actuating device such as the ball 13 15 is dropped onto the rest 16. This allows pressuring 14 up behind the ball sufficient to shear the pin 14 and allow the first valve 9 to move from the first position 16 to the second position. As previously described, 17 circulation is then re-established axially through the 18 tool 40 via the axial inlet 3 and the axial outlet 4.

19 The radial outlet 7 is obturated by the first valve member 9.

21 22 Prior to pulling out the tool 40, a second actuating 23 member may be dropped, such as the ball 48 and landed on 24 the rest 47. This temporarily prevents circulation through the '-col 40 and allows for pressuring up beh-ind 26 the ball 48 until the shear pin 46 is sheared. The 27 second valve 41 then moves from its first position to its 28 second position leaving the associated radial outlet 42 29 in an open state. With the outlet 42 open, the tool 40 )o is able to empty of fluid as the tool 40 is pulled out of 31 the well.

32 11 1 By way of example only, the ball 15 may be 38 millimetre 2 diameter and the second ball 48 may be 56 millimetre 3 diameter. The rests 16 and 47 would be sized accordingly.

4 It should be noted that with the example design of tool 6 depicted in Figure 4 the by-pass area around the valve 9 7 and through the first valve inlet is at least as large as 8 the cross sectional area of the bore 49 through the 9 second valve 41.

11 An external view of a tool 51 showing the filter 50 in 12 place is illustrated in Figure 5.

13 14 Reconfiguration of the above-described tools would make it possible for the valves to close or open respective or 16 associated outlets in an alternative manner to that 17 described. For example, in an alternative embodiment the 18 first valve could allow an associated radial outlet to be 19 closed when the valve was in the first position and then open when the valve was in the second position. This 21 alternative arrangement of the sub is illustrated in 22 Figures 6a, 6b and 6c.

23 24 The tool, generally depicted at 52 in Figures 6a, 6b and 6c, is shown in sectional elevation. The tool 52 is 26 comprised of an elongated body member 53 having an axial 27 inlet 54 and a first outlet 55. The first outlet 55 is 28 axially aligned with the inlet 54.

29 The body member 53 is provided with attachment means (not 31 shown) for connection of the tool 52 in a drill string 32 (not shown). A second or radial outlet 56 is provided in 33 the body member 56 in the form of a plurality of radially 34 disposed apertures. Nozzles may be included in the 12 1 apertures of the second or radial outlet 56 to improve 2 the cleaning efficiency of the fluid expelled from the 3 second outlet 56 in a well cleanup tool.

4 The first valve member 57 is capable of moving between a 6 first position as shown in Figure 6a and a second 7 position as shown in Figure 6b. The second valve member 8 58 is also capable of moving between a first position 9 relative to the first valve member 57 as shown in Figure 6b and a second position as shown in Figure 6c.

11 12 Both the first and second valve members 57 and 58 are 13 held in position by shear pins; the first valve member 57 14 being held in position by shear pin 59 and the second valve member 58 by shear pin 60. Shearing of pin 59 16 results in the simultaneous movement of the first valve 17 member 57 and the second valve member 58.

18 19 The first valve member 57 is associated with a respective second or radial outlet 56. When the first valve member 21 57 is in the first position the respective radial outlet 22 56 is closed or obturated, while in the second position 23 the respective radial outlet 56 is open. When the second 24 valve member 58 is in the first position the radial outlet 56 is open, while in the second position the 26 radial outlet 56 is closed- 27 28 The first valve member 57 may be moved from the first 29 position to the second position as shown in Figure 6b- In the example embodiment shown, this is achieved by 31 dropping a ball 61 from the surface until its nests on 32 the ball rest 62. when the ball 61 is located on the 33 rest 62, fluid flow is temporarily prevented through the 34 tool 52 for so long as the first valve member 57 remains 13 1 in the first position. This allows fluid pressure to be 2 built above the ball 61 until the force on the ball 61 3 and the first valve member 57 is sufficient to shear the 4 pin 59. Once this occurs, the first valve member 57 and the second valve member 58 move down or along the body 6 member 53 until they are stopped by the shoulder 63. The 7 first valve member 57 is now at the second position.

8 When the first valve member 57 is in the second position 9 the outlet 56 is open as shown in Figure 6b.

11 The second valve member 58 is held in position by a shear 12 pin 60. A ball rest 64 is located in the vicinity of the 13 second valve inlet 65 for landing a ball 66, thereby 14 allowing an operator to pressure up behind the ball 66 until the pin 60 shears and the second valve moves from 16 the first position to the second position. The movement 17 of the second valve member 58 results in the closure of 18 the outlet 56 and reestablishes circulation through the 19 tool.

21 Seals 67-73 are included to improve the integrity of the 22 valves and the circulation of the tool.

23 24 Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope ofo the 26 invention herein intended.

Claims

14 1 CLAIMS:

2 3 1. Apparatus for use in a well bore comprising a body 4 member connectable in or to a drill string and one or more valve members, the body member having a radial 6 outlet associated with each valve member and an axial 7 bore providing passage for drilling fluid between an 8 axial inlet and an axial outlet, and between the 9 axial inlet and the or each radial outlet, wherein the or each valve member is moveable between a 11 respective first position at which the associated 12 radial outlet is in either one of an open or a closed 13 state and a second position at which the associated 14 radial outlet is an alternative closed or open state, and characterised in that the valve member allows for 16 fluid flow through or at least partially through the 17 axial bore when in either of the aforementioned 18 positions.

19

2. Appara-tus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each radial 21 outlet is associated with filtration means for 22 preventing the ingression of particles or debris into 213) the body member of the apparatus.

24 c a J me d i n C 1 a -i m, -1 0 r C 1 j '.Z_ - - -- -- - - -L 1 - - -- r-e re - 1-1 26 eacli valve member is locatable within the axial bore 27 of the body member.

28 -S in m 3 wIn. e r e e E c'-,- a -II v e 29 '-S _- -- - 4 - 0 j Lud- -an ax ia 1 passage in I _ ne -ie body member.

7(1 of t 32 11 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the p-receding Claims wherein one or more of the valve members is 1 held in its respective first position by a pin or 2 other mechanical means, the mechanical means becoming 3 inoperable or fractured at a predetermined load or 4 force.

6 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 7 wherein one or more of the valve members is held in 8 its respective first position by hydraulic means.

9 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding 11 Claims wherein the or each valve member is adapted to 12 co-operate with a respective actuating device for 13 actuating movement of the valve member from the first 14 position to the second position.

16 8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein at least one 17 of the valve members comprises a ball seat and the 18 actuating device includes a dropped ball suitable for 19 landing on the ball seat, so as to temporarily block the axial passage through the apparatus and thereby 21 enable an increase in fluid pressure capable of 22 shearing the means for maintaining the valve member 23 in the first position.

24 g. -A,-,paratus as in any one of the preced-ing 26 Claims wherein at least one of the valve members is 27 provided with a second inlet which communicates with 28 the axial passage, wherein the second inlet is -)q ---1, --;:-rsi - - -7a'lve ntember is e d,.j 1------3n. he i the valve 1 7 ' ---:) - i Pe) s i -. nn Su, C] -'. h a C w h e n f-,; e i-, ".) ( - 13 -!.-, 32 the second positIon a circulation path between the 33 axial inlet and axial outlet of the bodv member, is 34 maintained.

16 2 10. A down hole tool or sub comprising a body member 3 having an inlet and a first and second outlet, the 4 first outlet being generally located below or beyond 5 the second outlet when the tool is run, and means for 6 controllably closing the second outlet while 7 maintaining a circulation path between the inlet and 8 the first outlet. 9 11. A down hole tool or sub as claimed in Claim 10, being 11 a well cleanup tool.

12 13 12. A down hole tool or sub as claimed in Claim 10 14 suitable for use in a well riser.

16 13. A down hole tool or sub as claimed in Claim 10, being 17 a fill up tool suitable for running above a mud 18 motor.

19 14. Apparatus or a tool or sub as claimed in any one of 21 the preceding Claims having a rotatable sleeve 22 mounted on the outside of the body member, the sleeve 2-33 comprising jet outlets aligned with the radial 24 outlets on the body member, wherein also at least - some of the jet outlets are directed tangentially so 26 that the reaction forces of fluid expelled from the 27 one or more tangential jet outlets create a turning suff -n( - icient to cause rotation of the sleeve 29 re-lative to 'Llhe body member.

n--; 'coo! or in I 32 wherein at least some of the jet outlets on the 11 -ed radial-lv.

33 siec--ve are orientat