Method and apparatus for filling and circulating fluid in a wellbore during casing running operations
AssigneeDavis-Lynch, Inc.
InventorMalcolm G. Coone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparths for filling and circulating drilling fluid in a wellbore during casing running operations is disclosed. A fill/circulate tool is placed partially within the upper end of a casing string so that fluid may be pumped into the interior of the casing string. The tool has a self energizing seal element which engages the interior wall of the casing string when the tool is fully lowered therein, said seal element being energized by the pressure of the fluid in the casing string so that fluid pumped into the casing string through the tool is circulated through the casing string and explled from the lower end of the casing string.
Claims7
A filling and circulating tool for use in casing operations in subterranean wellbores comprising:
- (a) a body adapted for disposing within a casing string having an upper and lower end, said body forming a fluid passageway therethrough, said body being adapted for circulating a fluid through said fluid passageway of said body into said casing string;
- and
- (b) a blocking mechanism connected about said body in a manner such that when said tool is in a circulating position wherein said blocking mechanism is frictionally fitted within said upper end of said casing string said blocking mechanism prevents said fluid circulated through said body into said casing string from passing through said upper end of said casing string thereby expelling said fluid through said lower end of said casting string, and when said tool is in a filling position wherein said blocking mechanism is not located within said casing string said fluid circulate through said body and into said casing string and is expelled through said upper end of said casing string.
A method for blocking the upper end of a casing string during casing running operations so that fluid injected into the casing string is circulated through said casing string and out of the lower end of the casing string comprising the steps of:
- a) placing in a casing string an elastomeric sealing element having an outer face is directed radially contacting a wall of said casing string and an inner face which is directed radially inward from said wall of said casing string, said inner face being in fluid communication with an interior of said casing string;
- and
- (b) injecting a fluid into said casing string, thereby applying fluid pressure to said inner face of said elastomeric sealing element further forcing said sealing element radially outward against said wall of said casting string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.