Downhole apparatus with a valve arrangement

A downhole apparatus comprising:

• a tubular body, the tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof;
• and
• a valve arrangement, the valve arrangement having:
• a locked first configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is closed;
• a locked second configuration, in which the first port is open and the second port is closed;
• and
• a third configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is open;
• a valve member, the valve member including a first valve member port, the first valve port being associated with the first port of the tubular body, and a second valve member port, the second valve member port being associated with the second port of the tubular body wherein the valve member is moveable with respect to the tubular body to open and/or close the first and second ports of the tubular body, and wherein the valve member is operable to:
• close the first and second ports of the tubular body in the first configuration;
• open the first port of the tubular body in the second configuration and close the second port of the tubular body in the second configuration;
• and
• close the first port of the tubular body in the third configuration and open the second port of the tubular body in the third configuration;
• wherein the first port of the tubular body provides fluid communication with a tool or a device and wherein the tool or device is a sand control element having at least one fluid deformable device.

A method of operating a valve arrangement of a downhole apparatus comprising a tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating the valve arrangement from a locked first configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is closed, to a locked second configuration, in which the first port is open and the second port is closed;
• and
• operating the valve arrangement from the locked second configuration to a third configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is open;
• wherein the first port provides fluid communication with a tool or a device and the method comprises the step of communicating fluid through the first port to the tool or device;
• and
• wherein the tool or device is a sand control element having at least one fluid deformable device and the method comprises the step of communicating fluid through the first port to the fluid deformable chamber to activate the sand control element.

A method of operating a downhole apparatus, the downhole apparatus comprising:

• a tubular body, the tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof;
• a valve arrangement, the valve arrangement having:
• a locked first configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is closed;
• a locked second configuration, in which the first port is open and the second port is closed;
• and
• a third configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is open;
• and
• a sand control element, the sand control element being in fluid communication with the first port of the tubular body, the method comprising the steps of:
• arranging the downhole apparatus in a bore of a subterranean formation;
• and
• operating the valve arrangement to move the sand control element from a first position in which the sand control element is spaced from the surface of the subterranean formation to a second position in which the sand control element is in contact with the surface of the subterranean formation.