Shifting sleeve device and method

A downhole shifting sleeve device configured for attachment to a tubular string within a wellbore, the downhole shifting sleeve device comprising:

• a housing having a housing inner bore;
• a first segment disposed within the housing inner bore, the first segment including:
• a first sleeve having a first sleeve inner bore, the first sleeve configured to slide from a first position to a second position within the housing inner bore;
• a first seat surface disposed within the housing inner bore and operatively connected to the first sleeve, wherein an inner diameter of the first seat surface is less than a diameter of the first sleeve inner bore, wherein the first segment is configured to transfer the first sleeve from the first position to the second position when a plug engages the first seat surface;
• a second segment disposed within the housing inner bore, the second segment including:
• a second sleeve having a second sleeve inner bore, the second sleeve configured to slide from a first position to a second position within the housing inner bore;
• and
• a second seat assembly disposed within the housing inner bore and operatively connected to the second sleeve, wherein in a retracted position an inner diameter of the second seat assembly is greater than or equal to a diameter of the second sleeve inner bore, wherein in a deployed position the inner diameter of the second seat assembly is less than the diameter of the second sleeve inner bore to form a second seat surface, wherein the second seat assembly is in the retracted position when the first sleeve is in the first position and in the deployed position when the first sleeve is in the second position, and wherein the second segment is configured to transfer the second sleeve from the first position to the second position when a plug engages the second seat surface of the second seat assembly in the deployed position.

A method of using a shifting sleeve device in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a shifting sleeve device comprising:
• i) an upper segment including:
• a housing having an inner bore;
• a lower suspension member operatively connected below the housing, the lower suspension member including an inner bore;
• an inner sleeve having a sleeve inner bore, the inner sleeve configured to slide from a first position to a second position within the inner bore of the housing;
• and a seat assembly slidingly disposed within the inner bore of the housing, wherein an upper end of the seat assembly is attached to a lower end of the inner sleeve, wherein in a retracted position an inner diameter of the seat assembly is greater than or equal to an inner diameter of the inner sleeve, and wherein in a deployed position the inner diameter of the seat assembly is less than the inner diameter of the inner sleeve to form a seat surface of the upper segment;
• and
• ii) a lower segment including:
• a hanging member including a retainer and an inner bore, the hanging member selectively connected within the inner bore of the lower suspension member and within a central space of the seat assembly of the upper segment;
• a housing operatively connected below the hanging member, the housing including an inner bore;
• an inner sleeve having a sleeve inner bore, the inner sleeve configured to slide from a first position to a second position within the inner bore of the hanging member and the inner bore of the housing;
• and a seat member slidingly disposed within the inner bore of the housing, the seat member including a restricted diameter inner bore, wherein an upper end of the seat member is attached to a lower end of the inner sleeve;
• b) attaching the shifting sleeve device to a tubular string;
• c) running the tubular string with the shifting sleeve device into a wellbore with the inner sleeve of the upper segment and the inner sleeve of the lower segment each in the first position;
• wherein the inner sleeve of the lower segment in the first position maintains the retainer of the lower segment in engagement with the inner bore of the lower suspension member of the upper segment in an engaged position of the lower segment;
• and wherein the hanging member of the lower segment is disposed within the inner bore of the lower suspension member and within the central space of the seat assembly of the upper segment to maintain the seat assembly of the upper segment in the retracted position;
• d) deploying a plug through the tubular string and through the shifting sleeve device such that the plug engages the restricted diameter inner bore of the seat member of the lower segment;
• and
• e) disconnecting the lower segment from the upper segment by increasing a fluid pressure on the plug to slide the inner sleeve of the lower segment from the first position to the second position in which the inner sleeve of the lower segment releases the retainer from the inner bore of the lower suspension member of the upper segment to disconnect the lower segment from the upper segment, thereby releasing the hanging member from the inner bore of the lower suspension member and the central space of the seat assembly of the upper segment to place the seat assembly of the upper segment in the deployed position to form the seat surface of the upper segment.