Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for adapting a combination of well tubulars in a string to accept a single filling and circulation apparatus and to eliminate the need for bails and elevators. In addition an adapter and a new filling and circulation apparatus are disclosed.

Description:
PRIORITY INFORMATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/689,514, filed on Jun. 10, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The field of this invention relates to handling, filling, circulating or taking returns from a tubular string while it is being removed from or advanced into the well bore.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Tubulars for a well bore are assembled at the surface as single joints are added and the tubular string is lowered into the well bore. As the joints are added at the surface on the rig floor, it is sometimes desirable to fill the tubular. Filling the tubular before it is run into the well bore prevents pressure imbalances on the tubular as it is being advanced into the well bore. Additionally, once the tubular is filled, it may be desirable to circulate through the tubular string as it is advanced into the well bore.  
         [0004]     Casing is often run into the well bore as a liner. Liners of the desired length are advanced into the well bore as a casing string then attached to a hanger. The liner is further advanced into the well bore using the tubular string normally used to drill the well. Liners are advanced to a point near the bottom of the previously run casing string and cemented in the newly drilled portion of the well bore.  
         [0005]     In addition to the cases cited above, the casing or drill string being advanced into the well bore may fit so tightly into the casing previously cemented in the well or the open hole below the previously run casing string that a pressure surge would be generated below the casing shoe or bottom hole assembly of a drill string. This is very undesirable since this pressure surge could break down an open formation causing loss of drilling fluid and/or loss of control of the well. To reduce the surge pressure it may be desirable to use a float shoe or valving in a drill string that allows well fluid to enter the casing and/or the drill string as they are being advanced into the well bore. To handle the fluid entering the casing, the fluid must be captured at the surface as it flows from the tubular string and returned to the mud system otherwise the fluid would spill on the rig floor and into the environment.  
         [0006]     Prior devices have been developed to fill the casing and to circulate it and devices have been developed to fill the drill string and circulate it. These apparatus are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,997,042; 5,191,939; 5,735,348; 5,971,079 and 6,173,777 are apparatus to fill and circulate the casing; apparatus illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,390,190; 6,415,862; 6,578,632 and 6,604,578 are to fill and circulate the drill string.  
         [0007]     Currently, one of the above mentioned apparatus would be rigged up then used for advancing the casing into the well bore then removed from the rig. Another apparatus would then be rigged up to provide a means for advancing the drill string into the well bore. Currently none of the apparatus illustrated in the forgoing patents are able to fill, circulate and take returns from both the casing and drill string. In addition to the circulating apparatus change from casing to drill pipe the handling systems used on the top drive or traveling block must also be changed. That is to say casing elevators are removed and replaced by drill pipe elevators. This change over require substantial time when it is most critical to keep the tubular string moving (part of the tubular is in the open hole).  
         [0008]     Some of these apparatus are attached to and held in place by a top drive or traveling block at the upper end and seal on or in the tubular at the lower end of the apparatus. When pressure is applied to the tubular through these apparatus a force is applied upward on the apparatus and downward on the tubular. This force will add to the load carried by the bails and elevators used to support the tubular and may cause an overload condition on these pieces of equipment.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and means for filling and circulating any combination of tubular advanced into are removed from the well bore utilizing the same fill or circulation apparatus while changing the thread protector having a special internal profile.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to replace the bails and elevators used to handle the tubular while advancing/removing it in/from the well bore.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to eliminate the loading of the load carrying equipment (elevators, bails, traveling block or top drive).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     An apparatus is disclosed for adapting a combination of well tubulars in a string to accept a single filling and circulation apparatus and to eliminate the need for bails and elevators. In addition an adapter and a new filling and circulation apparatus are disclosed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the apparatus for filling a tubular and the associated thread protector;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1  showing apparatus for filling and associated thread protector;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2   a  is a detail view of the latch portion of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   b  is s detail view of piston and spring portion of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2   c  is a detail view of the lower end of the latch portion of  FIG. 2a ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the apparatus in  FIG. 1  fully inserted into the thread protector portion;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the apparatus in  FIG. 1  in a position to carry the load of the tubular string and to provide for filling the tubular.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a view of  FIG. 4  ready for release. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus A is supported from a top drive (not shown), traveling block (not shown), or by an apparatus such as the frame mounted device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,632 (not shown). Apparatus A has a top sub  6  connectable to the mud system through a top drive or frame mounted unit (not shown). A housing  4  covers a piston (not shown), spring (not shown) and the upper end of a latch  2  the purposes of all which will be explained fully. The latch  2  is constructed so that the lower end has fingers formed by longitudinal slots  27  in the lower portion of latch  2 . These fingers are manufactured so as to be biased to the expanded and locked position. There also exists a mandrel  1  connected to the top sub  6  and having a seal  9  to seal in apparatus B. There is a through bore in apparatus A to allow the flow of well fluid. The bore of apparatus A could also contain a mud saver valve to prevent fluid from falling to the rig floor or into the environment when apparatus A is disconnected from apparatus B.  
         [0022]     A thread protector  3  of apparatus B contains surfaces to accept the latch  2  and seal  9  of apparatus A. There is a through bore in thread protector  3  and tubular  8  to allow the flow of well fluid through the entire length of the tubular  8 .  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a cross section of apparatus A and B as seen disconnected as in  FIG. 1 . Apparatus A has a central through bore  28  and apparatus B has a central through bore  29 .  
         [0024]     In apparatus A, top sub  6  is connected to mandrel  1  by threads  39 . A seal  12  is located between top sub  6  and mandrel  1 . Seal  9  is located on mandrel  1  for sealing into apparatus B. Housing  4  is attached to the top sub  6  by threads  38 . A piston  5  is located inside of housing  4  and operable by application of pressure through port  14 . A piston chamber ( 15  better seen in  FIG. 2   b ) is formed between the housing  4  and piston  5  by seal  13  and seal  11 . Latch  2  is mounted inside of piston  5  in such a manner such that upward movement of piston  5  will raise latch  2 , operation of the latch  2  will be explained later. Spring  7  is located at the upper end of latch  2  and in the annular area formed by latch  2  and mandrel  1 . Spring  7  urges latch  2  and piston  5  downward to the normally locked position. In its normal position the lower end of the latch  2 , upset  30  will be fully expanded as shown in this illustration.  
         [0025]     Apparatus B consists of tubular  8  and thread protector  3 . Tubular  8  can be supported by the elevators (not shown) of a rig hoisting system (top drive or traveling block). The tubular  8  and thread protector  3  are threadedly attached by threads  40 . There can be a seal  10  between thread protector  3  and tubular  8 . Seal  10  will not be required when thread protector  3  forms a seal with tubular  8 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , as apparatus A is lowered into apparatus B shoulder  44  of latch  2  of apparatus A will contact surface  45  of apparatus B forcing latch  2  to its upper position compressing spring  7 . The upward movement of latch  2  allowing upset  30  of latch  2  to collapse so that upset  30  will pass through bore  41  of thread protector  3 . When housing shoulder  42  contacts thread protector shoulder  43 , upset  30  reaches groove  32  of the thread protector  3  and upset  30  will expand into groove  32 . At the same time seal  9  will pass into the lower end of the thread protector  3  and seal in bore  34 . Apparatus A would be held in sealing contact with thread protector  3  by latch shoulder  31  being located behind shoulder  33  of the thread protector  3 . The advantage to this arrangement is that latch grooves and seal surfaces are part of the apparatus making them maintainable and very reliable for higher pressures and loads.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , apparatus A is shown inserted into apparatus B in the position where the latch  2  is fully engaged in the thread protector  3  and seal  9  is sealing in the lower end of thread protector  3 . In this position the tubular can be filled, circulated and fully supported by the disclosed arrangement.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , apparatus A is shown with no internal pressure and the tubular  8  supported by slips set at the rig floor (not shown) and with weight applied to apparatus A forcing apparatus A fully into apparatus B. In this position shoulder  42  of housing  4  is in contact with shoulder.  43  of thread protector  3  (seen in  FIG. 4 ). Pressure is applied to port  14  of housing  4  forcing piston  5  upward against latch  2  compressing spring  7  and moving latch  2  to the release position. As apparatus A is moved upward it will be removed from Apparatus A. Releasing pressure from port  14 , spring  7  will force latch  2  against piston  5  forcing latch  2  and piston  2  to the normally latching position with upset  30  in the expanded position.  
         [0029]     Those familiar with the art will recognize that by extending latch  2  and mandrel  1  upset  30  would be located into groove  35  formed between thread protector  3  and tubular  8  while seal  9  would be located in bore  37  of tubular  8 . Latch surface  31  would then be held in place by shoulder  36  of thread protector  3 . This would allow a standard type thread protector with no special profile to be used. There are advantages to this arrangement in that no seal  10  would be required regardless of the sealing arrangement between the thread protector  3  and tubular  8 .  
         [0030]     It is also recognized by those familiar with the art that when the apparatus A is attached to a top drive or traveling block and a thread protector  3  with an appropriate profile is threadedly attached to the upper most tubular in a tubular string, it is possible to lift and advance the entire tubular string while filling, circulating or taking returns from the tubular. This is a tremendous advantage in that the elevators and bails are eliminated while handling a tubular string and allows the tubular string to be landed nearer the rig floor making stabbing of the next tubular joint simpler and therefore safer for rig personnel. This also eliminates the need for having a casing elevator.  
         [0031]     Seal  9  is depicted as a simple seal located in a groove, it is clear to those familiar with the art that this seal could be any of several types including a compressive or expandable seal known in the art as packer seals or a cup type seal commonly used in current fill-up and circulating equipment. This is not to restrict the type of seal used but to point out that there are many more seal arrangements which are envisioned and could be used.  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , apparatus A is shown inserted, locked and sealed into the thread protector  3  of apparatus B. It is clear to those familiar in the art that this arrangement of latching and sealing can withstand high pressures since the hydraulic forces generated by pressure across the area of seal  9  will be restrained by latch  2  in its mating groove of thread protector  3 . It is also understood that this arrangement will also withstand high loads such as the weight of the tubular string as well as the generated load of pressuring the tubular.  
         [0033]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , those familiar with the art can understand that apparatus A could be the fill up apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,415,862 or 6,604,578. in this case Apparatus B would consists of a thread protector  3  having an internal thread to accept the &#39;862 or &#39;578 apparatus and would be screwed into the tubular  8  upper internal thread. Tubular  8  would be supported by the elevators (not shown) which act to raise and lower the tubular as it is being advanced into a well bore if the frame mounted device of &#39;632 is being used, otherwise there would be not elevator or bails and the &#39;862 or &#39;578 devices would be attached directly to the top drive or traveling block.  
         [0034]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it is also evident to those familiar with the art that when the thread protector  3  has an internal thread profile the same as the drill string the Apparatus&#39; disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,415,862 or 6,604,578 would be the preferred tubular filling apparatus when attached to the top drive or a traveling block. This arrangement also provides for supporting the tubular string while providing for filling, circulation or handling returns from the tubular string. In this case the thread protector  3  would be used on the string not having the drill pipe connection.  
         [0035]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it is also evident to those familiar with the art the thread protector  3  could be available in all tubular threads and that the apparatus A disclosed also provides for supporting the tubular string while providing for filling, circulation or handling returns from the tubular string. Again this allows for eliminating the bails and elevators.  
         [0036]     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.