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US 12,000,234 B2Granted
Cement plug system
AssigneeInnovex Downhole Solutions, Inc.
InventorSteve Giordano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug system includes a lower plug, an upper plug, and a sleeve configured to be positioned at least partially within the lower plug, the upper plug, or both. The sleeve defines one or more channels in an outer surface thereof. The sleeve is configured to shift axially from a first position into a second position with respect to the lower plug. In the first position, fluid is prevented from flowing through the one or more channels. In the second position, the fluid is permitted to flow through the lower plug via the one or more channels.
Claims22
A plug system, comprising:
- a lower plug;
- an upper plug;
- and
- a sleeve configured to be positioned at least partially within the lower plug, the upper plug, or both, wherein:
- the sleeve defines one or more channels in an outer surface thereof;
- the sleeve also defines an outer shoulder on the outer surface thereof that is located closer to an upper end of the sleeve than to a lower end of the sleeve;
- the sleeve is configured to shift axially from a first position into a second position with respect to the lower plug;
- the outer shoulder is configured to contact an inner shoulder on the lower plug when the sleeve shifts to the second position;
- in the first position, fluid is prevented from flowing through the one or more channels;
- and
- in the second position, the fluid is permitted to flow through the lower plug via the one or more channels.
8 more elements
A plug system for performing a cementing operation in a well, the plug system comprising:
- a lower plug;
- an upper plug;
- and
- a sleeve coupled to the lower plug and the upper plug and received at least partially in both, wherein the sleeve defines one or more channels extending axially along an outer surface thereof, wherein the sleeve also defines an outer shoulder on the outer surface thereof that is located closer to an upper end of the sleeve than to a lower end of the sleeve, wherein the outer shoulder is defined in part by a lower surface, wherein the lower plug and the sleeve are configured to be separated from the upper plug in response to application of a first predetermined force to the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve is configured to shift axially with respect to the lower plug in response to application of a second predetermined force to the sleeve, from a first position in which fluid flow through the lower plug via the one or more channels is blocked to a second position in which fluid flow through the lower plug is permitted via the one or more channels, the first predetermined force being less than the second predetermined force.
1 more element
A method for performing a cementing operation in a well, the method comprising:
- running a lower plug, an upper plug, and a sleeve into a well;
- introducing a first impediment into the well, wherein the first impediment passes through the upper plug and is received at least partially within the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve is positioned at least partially within the lower plug, the upper plug, or both;
- separating the lower plug and the sleeve from the upper plug in response to application of a first predetermined force to the first impediment and the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is in a first position when the sleeve is separated from the upper plug, and wherein fluid flow through the lower plug via one or more channels in an outer surface of the sleeve is blocked when the sleeve is in the first position;
- shifting the sleeve axially with respect to the lower plug from the first position to a second position in response to application of a second predetermined force to the first impediment and the sleeve, wherein the sleeve defines an outer shoulder on the outer surface thereof that contacts an inner surface of the lower plug when the sleeve shifts to the second position, wherein fluid flow through the lower plug via the one or more channels is permitted when the sleeve is in the second position, and wherein the first predetermined force is less than the second predetermined force;
- and
- pumping a cement slurry through the upper plug and the lower plug when the sleeve is in the second position, wherein the cement slurry flows through the lower plug via the one or more channels.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.