Reverse-cementing method and apparatus
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsBobby L. Sullaway, David D. Szarka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to reverse-cementing apparatus. The reverse-cementing apparatus is a float apparatus connected in a pipe string to be cemented into a wellbore. The float apparatus includes an outer housing connected to the casing string. A check valve for preventing flow from the wellbore into the pipe string is disposed in the housing. The check valve is releasably disposed in the housing so that it can be removed from the housing once the pipe string is in place. A flow path for fluid from the wellbore into the pipe string is therefore provided. Cement displaced into the annulus will cause fluid in the wellbore to enter the pipe string through the housing so that the pipe string can be cemented in place utilizing a reverse-cementing method.
Claims33
A reverse-cementing apparatus for cementing a pipe string in a wellbore, said pipe string and said wellbore defining an annulus therebetween, the reverse-cementing apparatus comprising:
- a housing adapted to be connected to said pipe string;
- and
- a check valve disposed in said housing for preventing communication of fluid from said wellbore into said housing wherein said check valve is releasably disposed in said housing, so that said check valve may be removed from said housing and fluid from said annulus can be communicated into said pipe string through said housing as cement is displaced downwardly into said annulus to cement said pipe string in place.
A float apparatus for use in performing reverse-cementing operations to cement a pipe string in a wellbore, the float apparatus comprising:
- an outer housing connected to said pipe string, said outer housing defining a flow port therethrough;
- an inner housing sealingly disposed in said outer housing, said inner housing having a flow port defined therethrough communicated with said flow port in said outer housing;
- a check valve disposed in said inner housing to prevent communication from said wellbore into said pipe string through said float apparatus;
- and
- a sleeve disposed in said inner housing, said sleeve being movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said open position said wellbore is communicated with said pipe string through said flow ports in said inner and outer housings, so that fluid in said wellbore can pass through said ports and into said pipe string as cement is displaced into an annulus defined by said wellbore and said pipe string to reverse cement said pipe string in said wellbore, and wherein in said closed position flow through said ports is blocked by said sleeve.
A float apparatus for use in reverse-cementing a pipe string in a wellbore, the pipe string and the wellbore defining an annulus therebetween, said float apparatus comprising:
- a valve housing adapted to be connected to said pipe string, said valve housing defining a longitudinal opening communicated with a flow passage defined by said pipe string thereabove;
- and
- a check valve releasably disposed in said valve housing, said check valve being adapted to prevent flow from said wellbore into said pipe string, wherein said check valve may be released from said valve housing and removed therefrom so that fluid may be communicated from said wellbore into said pipe string as cement is displaced into said annulus to cement said pipe string in said wellbore.
A method of reverse-cementing a pipe string in a wellbore comprising:
- lowering said pipe string into said wellbore to a desired location, said pipe string having a float apparatus connected therein;
- communicating an interior of said pipe string with an annulus defined by said pipe string and said wellbore after said pipe string has been lowered to said desired location;
- and
- displacing cement downwardly into said annulus to cement said pipe string in said wellbore, wherein fluid in said annulus is communicated with said interior of said pipe string as said cement is displaced into said annulus.
A reverse-cementing apparatus for cementing a pipe string in a wellbore, said pipe string and said wellbore defining an annulus therebetween, the reverse-cementing apparatus comprising:
- an outer housing adapted to be connected to said pipe string;
- an inner housing disposed in said outer housing and fixedly attached thereto;
- a first check valve disposed in said housing for preventing communication of fluid from said wellbore into said housing;
- a second check valve disposed in said inner housing;
- and
- means for communicating fluid from said wellbore into said pipe string as cement is displaced downwardly into said annulus to cement said pipe string in place wherein said check valve comprises a poppet valve.
A reverse-cementing apparatus for cementing a pipe string in a wellbore, said pipe string and said wellbore defining an annulus therebetween, the reverse-cementing apparatus comprising:
- an outer housing adapted to be connected to said pipe string;
- an inner housing disposed in said outer housing and fixedly attached thereto;
- a check valve disposed in said inner housing for preventing communication of fluid from said wellbore through said inner housing;
- means for communicating fluid from said wellbore into said pipe string as cement is displaced downwardly into said annulus to cement said pipe string in place;
- and
- a sleeve disposed in said inner housing, said outer housing having a flow port defined therethrough communicated with a flow port defined through said inner housing, said means for communicating comprising a flow port defined in said sleeve, said sleeve being slidable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said open position said annulus is communicated into said pipe string through said flow ports in said outer housing, said inner housing and said sleeve so that said fluid in said annulus is communicated into said pipe string through said ports as cement is displaced down said annulus, and wherein in said closed position said sleeve prevents communication between said pipe string and said annulus through said ports in said inner and outer housings.
A reverse-cementing apparatus for cementing a pipe string in a wellbore, said pipe string and said wellbore defining an annulus therebetween, the reverse-cementing apparatus comprising:
- a housing adapted to be connected to said pipe string;
- a check valve disposed in said housing for preventing communication of fluid from said wellbore into said housing;
- and
- means for communicating fluid from said wellbore into said pipe string as cement is displaced downwardly into said annulus to cement said pipe string in place wherein said check valve comprises a poppet valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.