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US 7,069,991 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for surge pressure reduction in a tool with fluid motivator
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsTarald Gudmestad, Mark J. Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for controlling pressure surges in a wellbore. One embodiment provides a downhole surge control tool equipped with a fluid motivator. The fluid motivator may be, for example, any type of motor or a venturi. The fluid motivator motivates wellbore fluid through a bypass channel formed in the tool and then out an exhaust port of the tool.
Claims57
A downhole surge control tool defining an exhaust port for venting fluid, comprising:
- a body having (i) a first opening at a first end, (ii) a second opening at a second end and (iii) defining a bore traversing the tool to fluidly couple the first opening and the second opening;
- a wellbore fluid bypass path defined between the first opening and the exhaust port;
- a fluid motivator to motivate fluid flow through the bypass fluid path and out through the exhaust port, wherein the fluid motivator comprises a fluid ejection member forming an expulsion opening oriented into at least a portion of the bypass fluid path, whereby fluid expelled from the fluid ejection member motivates fluid flow through the bypass fluid path;
- and
- a sealing member disposed in a cavity of the body and adapted to selectively seal the fluid bypass path.
2 more elements
A downhole surge control tool, comprising:
- a body having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end and defining a bore traversing the tool to fluidly couple the first opening and the second opening;
- a valve disposed in the bore and positionable in at least (i) a closed position to at least restrict fluid flow between the first opening and the second opening via the bore and (ii) an open position to allow fluid flow between the first opening and the second opening via the bore;
- a sealable fluid bypass path defined between the first opening and an exhaust port formed in the body;
- and
- a fluid ejection member forming an expulsion opening oriented into at least a portion of the fluid bypass path, whereby fluid expelled from fluid ejection member motivates fluid flow through the sealable bypass fluid path.
2 more elements
A downhole surge control tool, comprising:
- a body having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end and defining a bore traversing the tool to fluidly couple the first opening and the second opening;
- a valve disposed in the bore and positionable in at least (i) a closed position to at least restrict fluid flow between the first opening and the second opening via the bore and (ii) an open position to allow fluid flow between the first opening and the second opening via the bore;
- a sealable fluid bypass path defined between the first opening and an exhaust port formed in the body;
- a fluid ejection member forming an expulsion opening oriented into at least a portion of the fluid bypass path, whereby fluid expelled from fluid ejection member motivates fluid flow through the sealable bypass fluid path;
- a sealing member disposed in a cavity of the body and positionable in a closed position to seal the fluid bypass path and an open position to open the fluid bypass path;
- a collet sleeve axially and slidably disposed with respect to the body and comprising a plurality of collet fingers;
- and
- one or more connecting members connecting the collet sleeve to the sealing member.
5 more elements
A method of controlling surge pressure downhole, comprising:
- providing a downhole surge control tool comprising a body defining a bore and a valve disposed in the bore and positionable in (i) a closed position to seal the bore and at least restrict fluid flow therethrough and (ii) an open position to unseal the bore;
- while the valve is in the closed position:
- flowing a motive fluid through a Venturi member to create a pressure drop;
- flowing a wellbore fluid, motivated by the pressure drop, through a fluid bypass path formed in the surge control tool.
1 more element
A downhole surge control tool defining an exhaust port for venting fluid, comprising:
- a body having (i) a first opening at a first end, (ii) a second opening at a second end and (iii) defining a bore traversing the tool to fluidly couple the first opening and the second opening;
- a wellbore fluid bypass path defined between the first opening and the exhaust port;
- a fluid motivator to motivate fluid flow through the bypass fluid path and out through the exhaust port;
- and
- a valve disposed in the bore and positionable in at least (i) a closed position to at least restrict fluid flow between the first opening and the second opening via the bore and (ii) an open position to allow fluid flow between the first opening and the second opening via the bore.
2 more elements
A method of controlling surge pressure downhole, comprising:
- providing a downhole surge control tool defining an exhaust port for venting fluid, comprising:
- a body having (i) a first opening at a first end, (ii) a second opening at a second end and (iii) defining a bore,
- a wellbore fluid bypass path defined between the first opening and the exhaust port, and
- a fluid motivator to motivate fluid flow through the bypass fluid path and out through the exhaust port;
- and
- flowing a motive fluid through the fluid motivator to create a pressure drop while running the tool into a pre-drilled wellbore with a string of liner, thereby motivating a wellbore fluid to flow through the bypass path.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.