IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0331397
(2006-01-12)
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등록번호 |
US-7694744
(2010-05-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
235 |
초록
▼
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for circulating fluid through casing and filling the casing with fluid using a combination fill-up and circulating tool while maintaining the fill-up/circulating tool in substantially the same position relative to the casing. In one
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for circulating fluid through casing and filling the casing with fluid using a combination fill-up and circulating tool while maintaining the fill-up/circulating tool in substantially the same position relative to the casing. In one embodiment, the fill-up/circulating tool includes a mandrel insertable into casing and having a sealing element therearound, the sealing element capable of sealingly engaging with an outer diameter of the mandrel to permit circulating fluid through the casing. The fill-up/circulating tool is also capable of allowing air flow around the outer diameter of the mandrel for the operation of filling the casing with fluid without the need to move the mandrel within the casing.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A combination fill-up and circulating tool, comprising: a tubular body insertable within casing and capable of fluid flow through a bore thereof; and a sealing element concentrically disposed around the tubular body and sized to engage an inner diameter of the casing, w
The invention claimed is: 1. A combination fill-up and circulating tool, comprising: a tubular body insertable within casing and capable of fluid flow through a bore thereof; and a sealing element concentrically disposed around the tubular body and sized to engage an inner diameter of the casing, wherein the sealing element is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, a fluid flow past the sealing element is at least substantially prevented, wherein in the second position, the fluid flow is allowed past the sealing element through at least one space between the sealing element and the tubular body, and wherein the first position is a circulating position for circulating fluid through a wellbore and the second position is a fill-up position for filling the casing with fluid for running the casing into the wellbore. 2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a gripping member adapted to engage an interior surface of the casing. 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises a packer cup. 4. The tool of claim 1, wherein in the second position, filling the casing with fluid is via the bore. 5. A combination fill-up and circulating tool, comprising: a tubular body insertable within casing and capable of fluid flow through a bore thereof; and a packer cup concentrically disposed around the tubular body and adapted to seal an annulus between an outer diameter of the tubular body and an inner diameter of the casing, the tubular body comprising at least one groove within a first portion of its outer surface, the packer cup moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the casing without moving the tubular body relative to the casing, wherein in the first position, fluid flow through the annulus past the packer cup is at least substantially prevented, and wherein in the second position, the packer cup is disposed over the first portion to allow fluid flow through the annulus via the at least one groove. 6. The tool of claim 5, wherein in the first position, the sealing element is disposed over a second portion of the tubular body, the second portion devoid of grooves. 7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the sealing element cooperates with a sealing element integral to the second portion when in the first position to at least substantially prevent fluid flow past the sealing element in the annulus. 8. The tool of claim 5, further comprising a driving mechanism capable of moving the sealing element between the first and second positions. 9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a first mechanism and a second mechanism, the first mechanism exerting a biasing force on the sealing element and the second mechanism capable of exerting an opposing force on the sealing element. 10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the first mechanism is a resilient spring. 11. The tool of claim 9, wherein the second mechanism is hydraulically actuated. 12. The tool of claim 9, wherein the second mechanism is a piston and cylinder assembly. 13. The tool of claim 9, wherein the second mechanism is electrically actuated. 14. The tool of claim 9, wherein the second mechanism is mechanically actuated. 15. The tool of claim 9, wherein the first mechanism is capable of moving the sealing element in a first longitudinal direction within the annulus and the second mechanism is capable of moving the sealing element in a second longitudinal direction within the annulus, the second direction generally opposite to the first direction. 16. The tool of claim 9, wherein the tool is in the first position when the opposing force is insufficient to overcome the biasing force. 17. A method of running casing into a wellbore, comprising: disposing an apparatus comprising a fill-up and circulating tool within the casing, the tool comprising a mandrel having a sealing element disposed therearound, wherein the sealing element is adapted to seal an annulus between the mandrel and the casing from fluid flow therethrough; flowing a first fluid into the casing through a bore of the tool; running the casing into the wellbore while permitting fluid in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow between the sealing element and the mandrel into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element; moving the sealing element relative to the mandrel to at least substantially seal the annulus from fluid flow therethrough; and circulating a second fluid through the casing via the bore of the tool and into an annular area between the casing and the wellbore. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein moving the sealing element relative to the mandrel is accomplished without moving the mandrel relative to the casing. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein moving the sealing element relative to the mandrel comprises moving the sealing element in a first direction; and further comprising moving the sealing element in a second direction relative to the mandrel, thereby permitting fluid flow between the sealing element and the mandrel. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising running the apparatus further into the wellbore. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the sealing element is in a first position relative to the mandrel when fluid flow is permitted between the sealing element and the mandrel, and wherein the sealing element is in a second position relative to the mandrel when the annulus is at least substantially sealed from fluid flow past the sealing element. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sealing element is biased towards the second position by a biasing force. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the biasing force is a resilient spring. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein moving the sealing element from the second position to the first position is accomplished when an opposing force overcomes the biasing force. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the opposing force is a piston and cylinder assembly. 26. The method of claim 17, wherein the casing is at least substantially sealed from fluid flow therethrough using the sealing element in cooperation with a sealing element integral to the mandrel. 27. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling the apparatus to a gripping apparatus. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the gripping apparatus engages an interior surface of the casing. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the gripping apparatus engages an exterior surface of the casing. 30. The method of claim 17 wherein the fill-up and circulating tool is disposed in the upper end of the casing, the upper end of the casing being outside of the well bore. 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the sealing element comprises a packer cup. 32. An apparatus for handling a tubular, comprising: a gripping apparatus; a fluid conduit coupled to the gripping apparatus, said fluid conduit comprising: a body insertable into the tubular, the body having a bore therethrough; and a sealing element disposed around the body, the sealing element moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the tubular without moving the body relative to the tubular, wherein after insertion into the tubular, the sealing element, in the first position, substantially prevents fluid flow past the sealing element, and, in the second position, allows fluid from one side of the sealing element to flow between the sealing element and the body to the other side of the sealing element. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the gripping apparatus is adapted to engage an interior surface of the tubular. 34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the gripping apparatus is adapted to engage an exterior surface of the tubular. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the sealing element comprises a packer cup. 36. A combination fill-up and circulating tool for use with a casing, comprising: a tubular body insertable within the casing and having a bore capable of fluid flow therethrough, the outer surface of the tubular body and the inner surface of the casing defining an annulus; a sealing element concentrically disposed around the tubular body in the annulus, the sealing element being capable of substantially sealing the annulus so that fluid cannot flow between the sealing element and the casing; and a bypass fluid path being selectively operable by the sealing element between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, fluid in the annulus on one side of the sealing element is allowed to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element while the sealing element is engaged with an inner diameter of the casing, and wherein in the closed position, the bypass fluid path is substantially sealed so that fluid in the annulus on one side of the sealing element cannot flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element. 37. The tool of claim 36, wherein the bypass fluid path comprises at least one groove within an outer surface of the tubular body. 38. The tool of claim 36, further comprising a driving mechanism capable of moving the sealing element between the open position and the closed position. 39. The tool of claim 36 wherein the sealing element comprises a packer cup. 40. The tool of claim 36 wherein, in the closed position, the bypass fluid path is sealed by the sealing element. 41. A method of running casing into a wellbore, comprising: disposing a fill-up and circulating tool within the casing, the tool having: a mandrel and a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, wherein an annulus is defined between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the casing, and wherein the sealing element at least substantially seals the annulus when the tool is disposed within the casing; and a bypass fluid path; flowing a fluid into the casing through a bore of the tool; running the casing into the wellbore while permitting air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element; moving the sealing element relative to the mandrel to at least substantially seal the bypass fluid path so that air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element cannot flow into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element; and circulating the fluid through the casing via the bore of the tool and into an annular area between the casing and the wellbore. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein permitting air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element comprises permitting air in the annulus below the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus above the sealing element. 43. The method of claim 41, wherein disposing the fill-up and circulating tool within the casing further comprises disposing the fill-up and circulating tool in the upper end of the casing, the upper end of the casing being above the well bore. 44. A method of running casing into a wellbore, comprising: disposing a fill-up and circulating tool within the casing, the tool having: a mandrel and a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, wherein an annulus is defined between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the casing; and a bypass fluid path; running the casing into the wellbore while permitting air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element; closing the bypass fluid path and substantially preventing air from flowing through the bypass fluid path; sealing the annulus with the sealing element and substantially preventing air from flowing through the annulus; and circulating a fluid through the casing via the bore of the tool and into an annular area between the casing and the wellbore. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein permitting air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element comprises permitting air in the annulus below the sealing element to flow past the sealing element into the annulus above the sealing element. 46. A method of running casing into a wellbore, comprising: disposing a fill-up and circulating tool within the casing, the tool having: a mandrel and a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, wherein an annulus is defined between the outer surface of the mandrel and the outer surface of the casing; and a bypass fluid path; running the casing into the wellbore while flowing a fluid into the casing through a bore of the tool and while permitting air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element; closing the bypass fluid path and substantially preventing air from flowing through the bypass fluid path; sealing the annulus with the sealing element and substantially preventing air from flowing through the annulus; and circulating the fluid through the casing via the bore of the tool and into an annular area between the casing and the wellbore. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein permitting air in the annulus on one side of the sealing element to flow through the bypass fluid path into the annulus on the other side of the sealing element comprises permitting air in the annulus below the sealing element to flow past the sealing element into the annulus above the sealing element.
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