Wellbore Plug and Method
AssigneeJanis Horton
InventorJ. Dale Horton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wellbore plug and method for retrieving two or more wellbore plugs simultaneously from the wellbore. The wellbore plug can be actuated to an open position and released from engagement in the wellbore. The plug can be locked in an open position, and remain in an open position without regard to weight or tension applied to the plug. The released and locked open plug can be lowered to next plug to be retrieved. Prior to connecting to the next plug, reverse and/or normal fluid circulation can be utilized to clean the next plug. Upon connecting the first plug to the second plug, the second plug can be locked open and released in by applying tension in the same manner as the first plug. The process can continue to retrieve multiple plugs.
Claims19
A wellbore plug comprising:
- a body having an internal bore extending through its length;
- a valve actuatable to an open position allowing fluid flow through the internal bore;
- a sealing element actuatable between an expanded position and a retracted position;
- means for locking the valve in the open position in response to tension applied when the plug is set in a wellbore wherein the valve is held in the locked open position without regard to tension or weight applied to the plug;
- and
- means for securing the sealing element in the retracted position in response to further tension applied when the plug is set in the wellbore.
A method of retrieving at least a first plug and a second plug of the same type from a wellbore, wherein when the plugs are set in the wellbore each plug has a valve in a closed position blocking flow of fluid through the plug and a sealing member expanded into engagement with a wellbore casing, comprising:
- connecting a conveyance to the first plug;
- applying tension to the first plug;
- releasing the first plug in response to the applying tension, wherein the releasing comprises opening the valve in the first plug, locking the valve in the open position, and then disengaging the sealing member;
- lowering the first plug to a position proximate the second plug;
- circulating fluid through the conveyance and the locked open valve of the first plug;
- connecting the first plug to the second plug;
- releasing the second plug by applying tension to the conveyance, the first plug and the second plug;
- and
- retrieving the first plug and the second plug from the wellbore simultaneously.
A method for retrieving more than one plug from a wellbore in a single trip, comprising:
- running a conveyance into the wellbore to a first plug set in the wellbore;
- circulating fluid through the conveyance to the first plug to clean the wellbore;
- connecting the conveyance to the first plug;
- opening a passage through the first plug in response to actuating a first ball valve in the first plug from a closed position to an open position;
- locking the first ball valve in the open position thereby allowing normal fluid circulation down through the conveyance and the first plug and reverse fluid circulation up through the first plug and the conveyance, wherein the locked open first ball valve remains in the open position without regard to tension or weight applied;
- releasing the first plug from engagement with the wellbore;
- conveying the first plug with the first ball valve in the locked open position to a second plug set in the wellbore;
- circulating fluid through the conveyance and the first plug;
- connecting the first plug to the second plug;
- releasing the second plug from engagement in the wellbore;
- and
- retrieving the connected first plug and the second plug from the wellbore via the conveyance.
A method for running plugs in a wellbore, comprising:
- running into the wellbore with an upper plug having an upper ball valve in a closed position blocking fluid flow through the upper plug;
- setting the upper plug with the closed upper ball valve in the wellbore;
- running a conveyance into the wellbore to a position proximate to the set upper plug;
- cleaning the set upper plug by circulating fluid through the conveyance to the set upper plug;
- connecting the conveyance to the set upper plug;
- applying tension to the set upper plug;
- locking the upper ball valve in an open position in response to the applied tension, wherein the upper valve remains locked open without tension or weight being applied to the upper plug;
- unsetting the upper plug in response to the applied tension;
- lowering the released upper plug with the upper ball valve locked open to a position proximate to a lower plug set in the wellbore;
- cleaning the set lower plug by circulating fluid through the conveyance and the upper plug;
- and
- connecting the released upper plug to the set lower plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.