초록 ▼

An isolation sleeve and plug assembly that may be used to protect a wellhead assembly from being damaged by high-pressure wellbore fracturing operations. Both the isolation sleeve and plug may be installed by the same running tool, and may be installed by lowering the running tool through an isolati

An isolation sleeve and plug assembly that may be used to protect a wellhead assembly from being damaged by high-pressure wellbore fracturing operations. Both the isolation sleeve and plug may be installed by the same running tool, and may be installed by lowering the running tool through an isolation valve on the wellbore.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for protecting a bore of a wellhead member comprising: a tubular adapter assembly having an inner diameter and selectively securable to the wellhead member,a sleeve having an internal passage, a first seal adapted to form a seal against the inner diameter of the tubular adapter assem

1. An apparatus for protecting a bore of a wellhead member comprising: a tubular adapter assembly having an inner diameter and selectively securable to the wellhead member,a sleeve having an internal passage, a first seal adapted to form a seal against the inner diameter of the tubular adapter assembly, and a second seal adapted to form a seal against an adapter coupled to an end of a length of casing;a locking mechanism adapted to secure the sleeve to the tubular adapter assembly the locking mechanism comprising an axially-movable locking member, wherein the locking mechanism is disengaged from the tubular adapter assembly when the axially-movable locking member is located in a first axial position and is engaged with the tubular adapter assembly when the axially-movable locking member is located at a second axial position anda retaining member adapted to maintain the axially-movable member in each of the first position and the second position relative to the sleeve. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plug assembly adapted to pass through the sleeve and secure to the adapter coupled to an end of a length of casing. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plug assembly comprises a check valve assembly adapted to enable a flow of fluid from the internal passage of the sleeve to the adapter assembly. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular adapter assembly comprises a groove adapted to receive a radially-movable locking member to secure the sleeve to the adapter assembly. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a radially-movable locking member movable between an inward position and an outward position, wherein the axially-movable locking member urges the radially-movable locking member from the inward position to the outward position as the axially-movable member is moved from the first position to the second position. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a weight, wherein the weight urges the axially-movable locking member from the first position to the second position. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a wireline-deployed running tool securable to the axially-movable locking member, wherein the running tool has weight sufficient to overcome the retaining member and move the axially-movable locking member from the first position to the second position. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a running tool selectively-securable to the sleeve, wherein the running tool comprises: a locking element movable between an inward position and an outward position to engage the sleeve; andan adjustable tensioning device adapted to provide a variable force to urge the locking element outward towards the outward position, wherein the adjustable tensioning device may be adjusted between a first outward force and a second outward force greater than the first outward force. 9. A wellhead apparatus, comprising: a tubular adapter assembly that is selectively securable to a wellhead member having a bore;an isolation sleeve adapted to be disposed within the bore of the wellhead member, the isolation sleeve having a locking mechanism comprising an axially moveable locking member and radially moveable locking members, the axially moveable locking member moving from a first position to a second position in response to a downward vertical force on the axially moveable locking member and the radially moveable locking members move radially outward, into engagement with the wellhead member, in response to the axially moveable locking member moving from the first position to the second position, an internal passage, a first seal adapted to seal against the inner diameter of the tubular adapter assembly, and a second seal adapted to seal against a seal adapter coupled to an end of a length of casing;a retaining member adapted to maintain the axially moveable locking member in each of the first and the second position relative to the isolation sleeve; anda running tool that detachably engages the isolation sleeve to dispose the isolation sleeve into the bore of the wellhead member. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a plug, the plug being detachably engaged to the running tool;a seal adapter in the bore of the wellhead member;wherein the running tool causes the plug to disengage from the running tool and engage the seal adapter. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the outer diameter of the plug is smaller than the internal passage of the isolation sleeve. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the running tool reengages the plug in response to the running tool being lowered into the wellhead. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a vertical force on the running tool causes the running tool to disengage from the isolation sleeve. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the running tool reengages the isolation sleeve in response to the running tool being lowered into the bore of the wellhead member. 15. A method for protecting a wellhead member comprising: attaching a running tool to an isolation sleeve, the isolation sleeve having an internal passage, and a first seal disposed proximate to a first end of the sleeve;deploying the running tool and isolation sleeve through an adapter assembly into a bore in the wellhead member;landing the isolation sleeve in a casing adapter coupled to an end of a length of casing to form a seal between the second seal and the casing adapter and couple the internal passage of the sleeve to the interior of the length of casing; andlatching the isolation sleeve to the adapter assembly to secure the isolation sleeve to the adapter assembly by using a weight suspended from the running tool to exert downward force on the running tool and axially displacing the running tool in a first direction relative to the isolation sleeve. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising disengaging the running tool from the isolation sleeve by applying a lifting force to the running tool. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: lowering the running tool into the wellhead member;engaging the plug with the running tool;lifting the running tool with the plug attached out of the wellhead member; andwherein the plug disengages the wellhead member in response to pulling upward on the running tool. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: attaching a plug to the running tool;deploying the plug through the adapter assembly and the isolation sleeve;latching the plug within the casing adapter; andapplying a force to the running tool to disengage the running tool from the plug. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein deploying the running tool and isolation sleeve comprises lowering the running tool and isolation sleeve via a wireline. 20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein attaching a running tool to an isolation sleeve comprises setting a tension adjustment on the running tool to establish a first minimum force to disengage the running tool from the isolation sleeve when deploying the running tool and isolation sleeve though the adapter assembly into the bore of the wellhead member. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: setting the tension adjustment on the running tool to establish a second minimum force, greater than the first minimum force, to disengage the running tool from the isolation sleeve when the running tool is attached to the isolation sleeve;deploying the running tool into the adapter assembly to attach the running tool to the isolation sleeve; andapplying a force less than the second minimum force to the running tool to unlatch the isolation sleeve from the adapter assembly. 22. An apparatus for protecting a bore of a wellhead member comprising: a sleeve adapted to extend from a bore of an adapter assembly secured to the wellhead member, through the bore of the wellhead member, to a casing adapter coupled to a length of easing;a first seal disposed on the sleeve and adapted to form a seal between the sleeve and the bore of the adapter assembly secured to the wellhead member;a radially movable locking member adapted to selectively engage the adapter assembly to secure the sleeve to the adapter assembly;an axially movable locking member movable between a first axial position, wherein the radially movable locking member is disengaged from the adapter assembly, and a second axial position, wherein the axially movable locking member urges the radially movable locking member outward to engage the adapter assembly anda retaining member adapted to maintain the axially movable locking member in each of the first axial position and the second axial position. 23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising a running tool selectively-securable to the sleeve, wherein the running tool comprises: a locking element movable between an inward position and an outward position to engage the sleeve; and an adjustable tensioning device adapted to provide a variable force to urge the locking element outward towards the outward position, wherein the adjustable tensioning device may be adjusted between a first outward force and a second outward force greater than the first outward force. 24. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the axially movable locking member is adapted to be axially positioned by a wireline deployed running tool. 25. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, comprising a second seal disposed on the sleeve and adapted to form a seal between the sleeve and the casing adapter coupled to a length of casing.