Downhole surge pressure reduction system and method of use

Method for reducing surge pressure while running a pipe downhole, comprising the steps of:

• connecting a housing having a flow port to the bottom of a pipe,
• running said housing downhole,
• receiving drilling fluid through said housing and out said flow port to reduce surge pressure,
• closing said flow port using drilling fluid pressurized within said housing to a first predetermined level, and
• clearing an opening in said housing using drilling fluid pressurized within said housing to a second predetermined level while maintaining said flow port in the closed position.

Apparatus adapted for closing a surge reduction port in a housing connected between a pipe and a casing liner, and having a casing liner, said apparatus comprising

• a container having a top and a bottom and a chamber sized to receive a first ball and another ball, said container connected above the pipe,
• a first holding member movable between a hold position to hold said first ball in said container, and a release position to release said first ball down the pipe,
• a second holding member movable between a hold position to hold said other ball in said container and a release position to release said other ball down the pipe,
• a flow line to move fluid from the top of said container past said balls without said fluid engaging said balls, and
• wherein said container includes a sleeve movable between a fluid flow position to allow flow of fluid past a dart in said sleeve and a dart actuation position to use said fluid to move said dart out of said container.

Method for closing a port in a housing connected between a pipe and a casing liner while running the casing liner, and hanging the liner, comprising the steps of

• positioning a container having at least a first ball and a dart above the pipe,
• rotating the container,
• receiving drilling fluid in the top portion of the container past a cylinder containing the dart and said first ball,
• allowing the drilling fluid to flow, and
• dropping said first ball to close a port in a housing connected between the pipe and the liner.

System for reducing surge pressure while running and hanging a casing liner during a single trip downhole, the system comprising:

• container having a first ball and a second ball, the pipe connected below said container and in communication with said first ball and said second ball,
• a housing having openings and a flow port between the openings and connected below the pipe, one of said openings permitting flow of drilling fluid through said housing and out said port to reduce surge pressure while running the liner downhole,
• said flow port in the housing closed by said first ball urged by the drilling fluid, said ball movable past said housing upon a predetermined pressurized application of drilling fluid, and
• said liner connected below said housing and hung downhole upon actuation using said second ball.

System for reducing surge pressure while running a casing liner, hanging the casing liner from a casing and cementing the casing liner in a borehole during a single trip downhole, the system comprising:

• a container having a ball, the pipe connected below said container and in communication with said ball,
• a housing having a flow port and connected below the pipe, said liner permitting flow of drilling fluid through said housing and out said port to an annulus between the pipe and said casing to reduce surge pressure while running the liner downhole,
• a sleeve in the housing moved downwardly to a dosed port position using the drilling fluid at a first predetermined pressurized drilling fluid level, upon application of a second predetermined pressurized drilling fluid level said sleeve provides a passage through said housing, and
• said liner connected below said housing and hung from the casing after actuation using said ball moving through said passage in said housing.

Method for reducing surge pressure while running a liner from a pipe and hanging the liner from a casing in a single trip downhole, comprising the steps of:

• connecting a housing having a flow port disposed between the pipe and the liner,
• running said housing and the liner downhole,
• receiving drilling fluid through the liner to said housing and out said flow port to reduce surge pressure,
• closing said flow port using drilling fluid pressurized within said housing to a first predetermined level,
• clearing an opening in said housing using drilling fluid pressurized within said housing to a second predetermined level while maintaining said flow port in the closed position, and
• hanging the liner.