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Methods and apparatus for utilizing a downhole deployment valve (DDV) to isolate a pressure in a portion of a bore are disclosed. The DDV system can include fail safe features such as selectively extendable attenuation members for decreasing a falling object's impact, a normally open back-up valve

Methods and apparatus for utilizing a downhole deployment valve (DDV) to isolate a pressure in a portion of a bore are disclosed. The DDV system can include fail safe features such as selectively extendable attenuation members for decreasing a falling object's impact, a normally open back-up valve member for actuation upon failure of a primary valve member, or a locking member to lock a valve member closed and enable disposal of a shock attenuating material on the valve member. Actuation of the DDV system can be electrically operated and can be self contained to operate automatically downhole without requiring control lines to the surface. Additionally, the actuation of the DDV can be based on a pressure supplied to an annulus.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A downhole deployment valve (DDV), comprising: a housing disposed in a wellbore and defining a bore adapted for passage of tools therethrough; a valve member disposed within the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve member

The invention claimed is: 1. A downhole deployment valve (DDV), comprising: a housing disposed in a wellbore and defining a bore adapted for passage of tools therethrough; a valve member disposed within the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve member substantially seals a first portion of the bore from a second portion of the bore in the closed position; a drill string detection sensor proximate the valve member for sensing a presence of a drill string; and a monitoring and control unit (MCU) proximate the housing for automatically opening and closing the valve member based on signals from the sensor. 2. The DDV of claim 1, further comprising at least one selectively extendable attenuation member to at least partially obstruct the bore when in an extended position for decreasing the velocity of an object falling toward the valve member prior to the object contacting the primary valve member. 3. The DDV of claim 2, further comprising a common actuator for opening and closing the valve member and extending and retracting the at least one selectively extendable attenuation member. 4. The DDV of claim 1, further comprising: a first pressure sensor in communication with the first bore portion, and a second pressure sensor in communication with the second bore portion. 5. The DDV of claim 4, wherein the monitoring and control unit includes logic that only opens the valve member when signals from the pressure sensors indicate an equalized pressure differential and a signal from the drill string sensor indicates the presence of a drill string. 6. The DDV of claim 1, further comprising a downhole power source for supplying power to the monitoring and control unit and an actuator coupled to the valve member. 7. The DDV of claim 1, further comprising an actuator in communication with the MCU and operably coupled to the valve member, the actuator comprising a motor. 8. The DDV of claim 7, wherein: the valve member is a flapper, the DDV further comprises a sleeve axially movable in the housing, and the actuator is operable to move the sleeve between the open position where the sleeve holds the flapper open and the closed position where the sleeve is moved away from the flapper. 9. The DDV of claim 8, further comprising a rack coupled along a length of the sleeve and a pinion engaged with the rack and operably coupled to the motor. 10. The DDV of claim 8, wherein threads are formed along an outer surface of the sleeve and the DDV further comprises a nut engaged with the threads, the nut operably coupled to the motor. 11. The DDV of claim 7, wherein: the valve member is a flapper, the DDV further comprises: a gear hinge rotationally coupled to the flapper, and p2 a worm gear engaged with the gear hinge and operably coupled to the motor. 12. The DDV of claim 1, wherein the valve member is a flapper or a ball. 13. The DDV of claim 8, wherein: a window is formed through a wall of the sleeve, and the DDV further comprises an attenuation member (AM) extending through the window when the sleeve is in the closed position and held in an annulus defined between the sleeve and the housing when the sleeve is in the open position. 14. The DDV of claim 8, further comprising a second flapper. 15. The DDV of claim 8, further comprising a second sleeve movable to support the flapper in the closed position. 16. The DDV of claim 15, further comprising shock attenuating material disposed on the flapper. 17. A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising: assembling a downhole deployment valve (DDV) as part of a casing string, the DDV comprising: a housing defining a bore therethrough in communication with a bore of the casing string, and a valve member disposed in the housing and moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve member substantially seals a first portion of the casing bore from a second portion of the casing bore in the closed position; running the casing string and the DDV into the wellbore; running a drill string into the wellbore and through the casing string bore, the drill string comprising a drill bit disposed at an axial end thereof; automatically opening the valve member in response to the drill bit being proximate to the DDV. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the DDV further comprises a first pressure sensor in communication with the first portion of the casing bore and a second pressure sensor in communication with the second portion of the casing bore. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein automatically opening the valve member is further in response to a pressure in the first portion of the casing bore being equal to a pressure in the second portion of the casing bore. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the DDV further comprises: a drill string detection sensor, an actuator operably coupled to the valve member, and a monitoring and control unit (MCU) in communication with the sensor and the actuator, wherein the automatic opening is caused by the MCU operating the actuator. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein: the casing string extends from a wellhead located at a surface of the wellbore, the wellhead comprises a rotating drilling head (RDH) and a valve assembly, and the method further comprises: engaging the RDH with the drill string; and drilling the wellbore using the valve assembly to control flow of fluid from the wellbore. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wellbore is drilled in an underbalanced or near underbalanced condition. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: retracting the drill string to a location above the DDV; closing the DDV; depressurizing the upper portion of the tubular string bore; and removing the drill string from the wellbore. 24. The method of claim 17, wherein the valve member is a flapper or a ball. 25. The method of claim 17, wherein at least portion of the casing string is cemented to the wellbore. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the DDV and the casing string are cemented to the wellbore. 27. The method of claim 17, wherein the casing string is a tie-back casing string. 28. A downhole deployment valve (DDV), comprising: a housing disposed in a wellbore and defining a bore adapted for passage of tools therethrough; a valve member disposed within the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve member substantially seals a first portion of the bore from a second portion of the bore in the closed position; at least one sensor proximate the valve member for sensing a wellbore parameter, the at least one sensor comprising: a first pressure sensor in communication with the first bore portion, a second pressure sensor in communication with the second bore portion, and a tool sensor in communication with the first bore portion; and a monitoring and control unit (MCU) proximate the housing for automatically opening and closing the valve member based on signals from the at least one sensor, wherein the monitoring and control unit includes logic that only opens the valve member when signals from the pressure sensors indicate an equalized pressure differential and a signal from the tool sensor indicates the presence of a tool. 29. A downhole deployment valve (DDV), comprising: a housing disposed in a wellbore and defining a bore adapted for passage of tools therethrough; a sleeve axially movable in the housing; a flapper disposed within the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the flapper substantially seals a first portion of the bore from a second portion of the bore in the closed position; at least one sensor proximate the valve member for sensing a wellbore parameter; a monitoring and control unit (MCU) proximate the housing for automatically opening and closing the valve member based on signals from the at least one sensor; and an actuator: in communication with the MCU, operably coupled to the valve member, comprising a motor, and operable to move the sleeve between the open position where the sleeve holds the flapper open and the closed position where the sleeve is moved away from the flapper. 30. The DDV of claim 29, further comprising a rack coupled along a length of the sleeve and a pinion engaged with the rack and operably coupled to the motor. 31. The DDV of claim 29, wherein threads are formed along an outer surface of the sleeve and the DDV further comprises a nut engaged with the threads, the nut operably coupled to the motor. 32. A down hole deployment valve (DDV), comprising: a housing disposed in a wellbore and defining a bore adapted for passage of tools therethrough; a flapper disposed within the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the flapper substantially seals a first portion of the bore from a second portion of the bore in the closed position; at least one sensor proximate the valve member for sensing a wellbore parameter; a monitoring and control unit (MCU) proximate the housing for automatically opening and closing the valve member based on signals from the at least one sensor; an actuator in communication with the MCU and operably coupled to the valve member, the actuator comprising a motor; a gear hinge rotationally coupled to the flapper, and a worm gear engaged with the gear hinge and operably coupled to the motor. 33. A downhole deployment valve (DDV), comprising: a housing disposed in a wellbore and defining a bore adapted for passage of tools therethrough; a valve member disposed within the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve member substantially seals a first portion of the bore from a second portion of the bore in the closed position; a tool sensor in communication with the first bore portion, the tool sensor operable to detect a tool within the first bore portion; and a monitoring and control unit (MCU) in communication with the tool sensor and operable to automatically open the valve member in response to detection of the tool. 34. The DDV of claim 33, further comprising: a first pressure sensor in communication with the first bore portion and the MCU; and a second pressure sensor in communication with the second bore portion and the MCU, wherein the MCU is operable to open the valve in response to the detection of the tool and equalization of the bore portions. 35. A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising: running a drill string into the wellbore and through a bore of a casing string, the casing string comprising a valve member moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve member substantially seals a first portion of the casing bore from a second portion of the casing bore in the closed position; automatically opening the valve member when the drill string is proximate to the valve member; and drilling the wellbore using the drill string. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising: retracting the drill string through the open valve member; and automatically closing the valve member when the drill string is retracted through the valve member.