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US 8,939,209 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball
AssigneeGulfstream Services, Inc.
InventorPhil Barbee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.
Claims31
A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
- a) a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, and a lower end portion having an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;
- b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet;
- c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
- d) one or more fluid flow channels that enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position;
- e) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the closed position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel;
- f) wherein fluid flow in the main channel flows around the valving member when it is in the closed position and through the valving member when it is in the open position;
- g) a connector attached to the housing lower end portion;
- h) a casing string attached to and extending down from the connector;
- i) a plurality of darts in the housing, each dart above a valving member, wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a dart to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore;
- and
- j) a pair of casing plugs that are contained in the casing below the connector, wherein each casing plug is receptive of and interlocks with a dart that is dropped from the housing.
8 more elements
A dart and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well casing, comprising:
- a) a housing having upper and lower end portions, an inlet at its upper end portion adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet at the lower end portion having generally aligned with the inlet;
- b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, the main flow channel dividing into an inner channel and an outer channel;
- c) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
- d) the outer channel enabling fluid to bypass a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position;
- e) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member via the outer channel when it is in the closed position and through the valving member and inner channel when the valve is in the open position;
- f) wherein each valving member is configured to support a dart when closed;
- g) a plurality of darts in the housing, wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a dart to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when a dart is not in the valve flow bore;
- h) a connector attached to the lower end portion of the housing;
- i) a casing string having a casing bore and attached to the connector;
- and
- j) casing plugs in the casing bore, each casing plug being connectable to one of the darts when a dart is dropped from the housing into the casing.
8 more elements
A method of transmitting a cementitious mass into a well casing, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of sleeves that divide the flow channel into an inner channel and an outer channel, a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
- b) enabling fluid to bypass the valving members via the outer channel when a valving member is in the closed position;
- c) flowing fluid in the outer channel and around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member via the inner channel when the valving member is in the open position;
- d) supporting a dart with a valving member when closed;
- e) permitting the dart to pass a valving member when open;
- f) connecting the housing with a connector having a connector bore to a section of casing, the casing having a casing bore;
- g) placing a pair of casing plugs in the casing bore, each plug having a central opening;
- h) launching a first of said darts downward from the housing into the casing until it interlocks with a first of the casing plugs;
- i) pumping a fluid into the casing to force the first casing plug and dart downwardly, said fluid including cement;
- and
- j) launching a second of said darts from the housing into the casing down until it connects with a second of the casing plugs;
- and
- k) pumping the second casing plug and dart downwardly with the fluid.
10 more elements
A method of transmitting a cementitious mass into a well casing, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a housing having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, the flow channel having an inner channel and an outer channel, a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;
- b) enabling fluid to bypass the valving members via the outer channel when a valving member is in the closed position;
- c) flowing fluid in the outer channel and around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member via the inner channel when the valving member is in the open position;
- d) supporting a plug with a valving member when closed;
- e) permitting the plug to pass a valving member when open;
- f) connecting the housing with a connector having a connector bore to a section of casing, the casing having a casing bore;
- g) pumping a cementitious mass from the housing into the connector bore and into the casing bore;
- h) wherein in step “g” one or more of the said plugs are released with said cementitious mass;
- and
- i) wherein the connector of step “f” spaces apart the housing and the casing section.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.