Downhole apparatus with removable plugs
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMin Mark Yuan, Frank Vinicio Acosta, Lonnie Helms, Rajesh Parameshwaraiah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole tool includes a casing string with a fluid barrier connected therein defining a lower end of a buoyancy chamber. A plug assembly connected in the casing string defines an upper end of the buoyancy chamber. The plug assembly has an outer case with a rupture disc positioned therein configured to block flow and to burst at a predetermined pressure. The rupture disk is removable from a flow path through the outer case upon the flow of fluid therethrough.
Claims18
A downhole tool comprising:
- a casing string;
- a fluid barrier connected in the casing string defining a lower end of a buoyancy chamber;
- and
- a plug assembly connected in the casing string and defining an upper end of the buoyancy chamber, the plug assembly comprising:
- an outer case connected in the casing string;
- and
- a rupture disk positioned in the outer case configured to block flow therethrough and to burst at a predetermined pressure, the rupture disk being completely removable from a flow path through the outer case solely upon the flow of fluid therethrough.
A method of lowering a casing string into a well bore comprising:
- placing a fluid barrier in the casing string;
- positioning a plug assembly in the casing string above the fluid barrier to define a buoyancy chamber in the casing string, the plug assembly comprising an outer case with a rupture disk therein;
- lowering the casing string into the well bore;
- increasing the pressure in the casing string to burst the rupture disk;
- and
- removing the rupture disk from a flow path through the outer case solely with fluid flowing through the casing string.
A downhole tool comprising;
- an outer case connectable at upper and lower ends to a casing string;
- a rupture disk positioned in the outer case to prevent flow therethrough until a predetermined pressure is reached;
- and
- a surface covering on both of upper and lower surfaces of the rupture disk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.