Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball
AssigneeGulfstream Services, Inc.
InventorPhil Barbee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.
Claims21
A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
- a) a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;
- b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet;
- c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
- d) one or more fluid flow channels that enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position;
- e) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the closed position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel;
- f) wherein fluid flow in the main channel flows around the valving member when it is in the closed position and through the valving member when it is in the open position;
- g) a plurality of darts in the housing, each dart above a valving member, wherein in the open position each valving member flow bore permits a dart to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valving member flow bore;
- h) a connector that connects to the housing to the well casing;
- and
- i) one or more casing plugs that are contained in the casing below the connector, wherein each casing plug is receptive of and interlocks with a dart that is dropped from the housing.
A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
- a) a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;
- b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, vertically sliding sleeves dividing the main flow channel into an inner channel and an outer channel;
- c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
- d) the outer channel enabling fluid to bypass a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position;
- e) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the open position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel;
- f) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member via the outer channel when it is in the closed position and through the valving member and inner channel when the valving member is in the open position;
- g) wherein each valving member is configured to support a dart when closed;
- h) a plurality of darts or balls in the housing, wherein in the open position each valving member flow bore permits a dart or ball to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when a dart or ball is not in the valving member flow bore;
- i) casing having a casing bore and attached to the housing;
- and
- j) one or more casing plugs in the casing bore, each casing plug being connectable to one of the darts or balls when a dart or ball is dropped from the housing into the casing.
21-30. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.