Hydraulic setting sleeve

A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore by pumping fluid through a tubing string located in the wellbore, comprising the steps of:

• isolating a port from the interior of the tubing string with an isolation sleeve;
• dropping a ball into the tubing string and landing the ball on a spring-loaded C-ring valve member;
• applying fluid pressure through the tubing string to move the isolation sleeve, and open the port to fluid flow;
• injecting fluid through the exposed port to perform a selected operation in the wellbore;
• increasing the fluid pressure to separate the shear ring and allow the C-ring valve member to expand into a recess;
• expending the ball through the bore of the expanded C-ring valve member;
• and
• releasing the spring-loaded C-ring valve member to return the isolation sleeve back to the closed position so that the port is isolated from the interior of the tubing string.

A method of setting a packer which is coupled to a tubing string, comprising the steps of:

• isolating a setting port from the interior of the tubing string with an isolation sleeve;
• dropping a ball into the tubing string and landing the ball on a spring-loaded C-ring valve member;
• applying fluid pressure through the tubing string to move the isolation sleeve and open the setting port to fluid flow;
• injecting fluid through the exposed port to set the packer;
• increasing the fluid pressure to separate the shear ring and allow the C-ring valve member to expand into a recess;
• expending the ball through the bore of the expanded C-ring valve member;
• and
• releasing the spring-loaded C-ring valve member to return the isolation sleeve back to the closed position so that the setting port is isolated from the interior of the tubing string.

A method for setting a packer having setting ports coupled to a tubing string comprising the steps:

• covering setting ports with an isolation sleeve;
• dropping a ball into the tubing string and landing it on a spring-loaded C-ring valve member;
• increasing the hydraulic setting pressure to shift the isolation sleeve and C-ring valve member to an uncovered port position;
• injecting the hydraulic setting fluid into the inflatable packer through the exposed port;
• increasing the hydraulic setting pressure to separate the C-ring for travel along the isolation sleeve and allow the C-ring valve member to expand into a counterbore in the isolation sleeve;
• and,
• moving the ball through the bore of the expanded C-ring valve member.