Sleeve and plug system and method
AssigneeRepublic Oil Tools, LLC
InventorsRobert Hicks, Josh Prather
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sleeve system has a sliding sleeve at least partially carried within a ported case. The sliding sleeve blocks fluid flow through ports in the ported case. The sliding sleeve is restricted from movement relative to the ported case until a first predetermined pressure is applied to the sliding sleeve. A plug is introduced to the sliding sleeve so as to block fluid flow through the sliding sleeve, subsequent to introducing the plug, fluid pressure above the plug is increased until the sliding sleeve moves relative to the ported case such that fluid flow is allowed through the ports.
Claims20
A tubing conveyed fluid drain for use in a wellbore comprising:
- a sleeve system connected in the tubing, the sleeve system comprising:
- a sliding sleeve;
- and
- a ported case, the ported case being connected at upper and lower ends in the tubing, wherein the sliding sleeve is at least partially carried in the ported case, and wherein the sliding sleeve blocks flow through ports in the ported case in a first position thereof;
- and
- a plug having an outer profile configured to mate with the sliding sleeve and to be locked in place in the sleeve and to prevent flow through the tubing in both upward and downward directions upon being engaged therewith, the plug comprising;
- a first portion;
- and
- a second portion, wherein the second first portion is lockingly disengageable from the second portion.
A tubing-conveyed flow control device for use in a wellbore, the tubing defining a plurality of ports, the flow control device comprising:
- a sliding sleeve disposed within the tubing and shiftable from a first position covering the one or more flow ports to a second position uncovering the one or more flow ports, wherein in the first position no communication with an annulus between the tubing and the wellbore is permitted, the sliding sleeve being restrained from shifting until a predetermined tubing pressure is applied;
- and
- a plug lockingly receivable in the sliding sleeve and, when locked in the sliding sleeve, blocking fluid flow through the tubing while the sliding sleeve is in the first position, wherein the plug is retained in the sliding sleeve such that the plug is not removable from the sliding sleeve while the tubing string in the wellbore and is removable only after retrieval of the tubing string from the wellbore.
A wellbore system, comprising:
- a tubing string installed in a wellbore;
- and
- a flow control device connected in the tubing string, the flow control device including:
- a ported case connected in the tubing string having one or more ports;
- a sliding sleeve in the ported case movable from a first position covering the one or more ports to a second position uncovering the one or more ports, the sliding sleeve being restrained from moving until a predetermined tubing pressure is applied;
- and
- a plug locked in the sliding sleeve and blocking flow in the uphole and downhole directions through the tubing string while the sliding sleeve is in the first position, wherein the plug is retained in the sliding sleeve during downhole use and is removable only after the tubing string is pulled from the wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.