# US 10,246,968 B2 · Surge immune stage system for wellbore tubular cementation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,968 B2 - Document ID: US10246968B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/710,090 - Filed: 2015-05-12 - Published: 2015-11-19 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-16 - Assignees: Weatherford Netherlands, B.V. - Applicants: Weatherford Netherlands, B.V. - Inventors: Marcel Budde; Peter Endenburg; Ivan Andre Barannikow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246968B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/146: {Stage cementing, i.e. discharging cement from casing at different levels} - E21B 23/06: for setting packers - E21B 33/127: with inflatable sleeve (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 33/143: {for underwater installations} - E21B 33/165: {Cementing plugs specially adapted for being released down-hole (cementing heads E21B33/05)} - E21B 34/142: {unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons} - E21B 2200/06: Sleeve valves - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore includes: running the tubular string into the wellbore using a workstring having a deployment assembly; delivering an opener activator through the workstring to the deployment assembly, thereby launching an opener plug from the deployment assembly; pumping the opener activator and plug to a stage valve of the tubular string, thereby opening the stage valve; pumping cement slurry into the workstring; pumping a closer activator through the workstring behind the cement slurry, thereby launching a closer plug from the deployment assembly; and pumping the closer activator and plug to the open stage valve, thereby driving the cement slurry into an annulus between the tubular string and the wellbore and closing the stage valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore, comprising: a packing stage collar as part of a tubular string and having: a stage valve for assembly having: a housing, a stage port formed through the housing, a sleeve releasably connected to the housing, wherein the sleeve is movable between a deployment position and an open position, a stage port formed through the sleeve, wherein the stage port of the sleeve is not in fluid communication with the stage port of the housing when the sleeve is in the deployment position, and wherein the stage port of the sleeve is aligned with the stage port of the housing when the sleeve is in the open position, an opener seat connected to the sleeve and configured to move the sleeve from the deployment position to the open position, and a closer seat linked to the sleeve; a plug release system for operating the stage valve, comprising: a closer plug having: a body, a finned seal, a latch sleeve, a lock sleeve, and a landing shoulder for engaging the closer seat; and an opener plug having: a body, a finned seal, a latch sleeve, a lock sleeve, and a landing shoulder for engaging the opener seat; and a closer activator for engaging the closer lock sleeve; and an opener activator for engaging the opener lock sleeve; an inflator connected to the stage valve and having: an inflation path; and a switch valve disposed about the housing and the stage port formed through the housing and releasablv connected to the housing by a shearable member in an inflation position, the switch valve diverting flow from the stage ports to the inflation path in the inflation position, and wherein the switch valve is movable relative to the housing from the inflation position to a cementation position; the inflator further having a body; a first portion of the inflation path is an annular gap between the switch valve and the housing; a second portion of the inflation path is one or more flow passages through a wall of the body; and a mandrel connected to the body, wherein a third portion of the inflation path is an annular gap between the mandrel and the body; a packer connected to the inflator and disposed below the stage valve, wherein the packer is in fluid communication with the inflation path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the activators is a dart. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein: the system further comprises a landing collar for assembly as part of the tubular string and having a seat, the plug release system further comprises a shutoff plug having a body, a finned seal, a latch sleeve, a lock sleeve, a bypass port formed through the body, a burst tube initially closing the bypass port, and a landing shoulder for engaging the landing collar seat, and the system further comprises a shutoff dart for engaging the shutoff lock sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising the lock sleeve of the shutoff plug having a seat formed therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inflator further comprising: a check valve disposed along the inflation path, wherein the check valve is movable from an open position to a closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising: the packer having a bladder in fluid communication with the inflation path, wherein an inflation chamber in fluid communication with the inflation path is formed between the mandrel and the bladder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, a biasing member disposed between the check valve and the packer to bias the check valve in the closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the check valve further comprises a beveled top carrying a seal to seal against the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plug release system further comprises a valve for providing fluid communication between a bore of the tubular string and a bore of the plug release system in response to pressure in the tubular string bore being greater than pressure in the plug release system bore. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve of the stage valve is further movable between the open position and a closed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the sleeve covers the stage port of the housing when in the deployment position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the sleeve covers the stage port of the housing in the closed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the closer seat is movable between a lock position and a release position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: the lock sleeve of the closer plug having a seat formed therein; and the lock sleeve of the opener plug having a seat formed therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to releasably connect the lock sleeve of the opener plug to the landing shoulder of the closer plug. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the stage valve further comprising a shearable fastener at least partially disposed in the closer seat, sleeve, and housing, wherein the shearable fastener is configured to shear at a first interface between the housing and the sleeve and at a second interface between the closer seat and the sleeve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: at least one dog at least partially disposed in a corresponding slot formed in the housing when the sleeve is in the deployment position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein: the at least one dogs are radially movable into a corresponding groove of the closer seat.