Downhole apparatus and method for delivering settable material

An apparatus comprising:

• a tubular body for mounting on an inner tubing string;
• a first flow port;
• a second flow port;
• a third flow port, the first flow port, second flow port and third flow port being provided at axially spaced locations;
• a connector operatively associated with the tubular body and operable to at least one of engage with and disengage from a lower end of a bore-lining tubing string, the apparatus having a first configuration in which the first flow port is open and the second and third flow ports are closed, whereby a settable material may be pumped in a first direction downwards through the tubular body, the connector, and the first flow port, and a second configuration in which the first flow port is closed and at least one of the second and third flow ports is open, such that the apparatus is adapted to allow a conditioning fluid to be pumped in the first direction down through the tubular body, through the at least one of the second and third flow ports, and then flow in a second direction upwards and externally of the tubular body
• further comprising a coupling portion permitting selective transmission of torque between portions of the inner tubing string, to permit selective transfer of torque between an upper portion of the inner tubing string and the connector,
• wherein the coupling portion is telescopic and in an extended configuration permits transmission of torque and in a contracted configuration prevent transmission of torque.

A method of conditioning a well bore comprising:

• (a) running an assembly comprising a bore-lining tubing and an inner tubing located within the bore-lining tubing into a well bore whereby an outer annulus is defined between the bore-lining tubing and a surrounding bore wall and an inner annulus is defined between the bore-lining tubing and the inner tubing, then
• (b) at least partially filling the outer annulus between the bore-lining tubing and the surrounding bore wall with settable material, and then
• (c) pumping conditioning fluid through the inner tubing located within the bore-lining tubing and into the inner annulus defined between the bore-lining tubing and the inner tubing to affect a temperature of a portion of bore-lining tubing adjacent the inner annulus, whereby a temperature of the conditioning fluid is controlled so as to influence the setting rate of the settable material in at least a portion of the outer annulus adjacent the conditioning fluid;
• (d) retaining a volume of the settable material in a lower end of the inner tubing;
• (e) allowing the volume of settable material to set;
• (f) retrieving the inner tubing from the well bore;
• and
• (g) removing the volume of set material from the inner tubing.

A method of conditioning a well bore comprising:

• (a) running an assembly comprising a bore-lining tubing and an inner tubing located within the bore-lining tubing into a well bore, whereby the bore-lining tubing and the inner tubing forming the assembly are run into the well bore simultaneously, and whereby an outer annulus is defined between the bore-lining tubing and a surrounding bore wall and an inner annulus is defined between the bore-lining tubing and the inner tubing, then
• (b) at least partially filling the outer annulus between the bore-lining tubing and the surrounding bore wall with settable material, and then
• (c) pumping conditioning fluid through the inner tubing located within the bore-lining tubing and into the inner annulus defined between the bore-lining tubing and the inner tubing to affect a temperature of a portion of bore-lining tubing adjacent the inner annulus, whereby a temperature of the conditioning fluid is controlled so as to influence a setting rate of the settable material in at least a portion of the outer annulus adjacent the conditioning fluid, and then
• (d) disengaging a lower end of the inner tubing from a lower end of the bore-lining tubing and removing the inner tubing from the bore-lining tubing without disturbing the settable material.