Abstract:
A tubular seating system includes a seat disposed at a deformable first tubular which is sealable with a plug such that pressure is buildable thereagainst. A second tubular in operable communication with the deformable first tubular defining a support cavity therebetween is configured such that pressure within the support cavity provides support to the seat.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Tubular system operators employ methods and devices to permit actuation of tubular tools such as those in industries concerned with earth formation boreholes, such as hydrocarbon recovery and gas sequestration, for example. It is not uncommon for various operations in these industries to utilize a temporary plugging device against which to build pressure to cause an actuation. Some such systems allow plugs to be forced through a seat resulting in an undesirable surge in pressure beyond the seat in the process. Although such devices and methods work as intended the industry is always receptive to new devices and methods that allow plugging to be removed after an actuation has been completed without the mentioned drawback. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0002]    Disclosed herein is a tubular seating system. The system includes a seat disposed at a deformable first tubular which is sealable with a plug such that pressure is buildable thereagainst. A second tubular in operable communication with the deformable first tubular defining a support cavity therebetween is configured such that pressure within the support cavity provides support to the seat. 
         [0003]    Further disclosed is a method of selectively seating a plug including seating a plug against a seat, building pressure against the seated plug, porting pressure built against the seated plug to a support cavity, and biasing the seat toward a position supportive of the plug with pressure in the support cavity. 
         [0004]    Further disclosed is a tubular seating system including a seat sealingly engagable with a plug and a valving mechanism in operable communication with the seat configured to prevent passage of a plug seated thereagainst during a first pressure up event and allow passage of the plug during a second pressure up event. The pressure of the first pressure up event exceeds the pressure of the second pressure up event. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a cross sectional view of a tubular seating system disclosed herein illustrated with a plug in a seated position; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross sectional view of the tubular seating system disclosed in  FIG. 1  illustrated in a position that allows a plug to pass a seat; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the tubular seating system of  FIG. 1  with some of the components partially translucent; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts a cross sectional view of a support valve usable in the tubular seating system of  FIG. 1  in a position wherein upstream pressure supports a seat; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  depicts a cross sectional view of the support valve of  FIG. 4  in a position wherein upstream pressure does not support a seat; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  depicts a cross sectional view of a release valve usable in the tubular seating system of  FIG. 1  in a position wherein upstream pressure is not ported to release a seat; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  depicts a cross sectional view of the release valve of  FIG. 6  in a position wherein upstream pressure is ported to release a seat; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  depicts a cross sectional view of a combination support valve and release valve usable in the tubular seating system disclosed in a run in position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  depicts a cross sectional view of the combination support valve and release valve of  FIG. 8  in a activated position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  depicts a cross sectional view of the combination support valve and release valve of  FIG. 8  in a pump through position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  depicts a partial cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a tubular seating system disclosed herein; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  depicts a cross sectional view of a valve used in the tubular seating system of  FIG. 11  in a run in position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  depicts a cross sectional view of the valve of  FIG. 12  in an activated position; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  depicts a cross sectional view of the valve of  FIG. 12  in a pump through position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of a tubular seating system disclosed herein is illustrated at  10 . The tubular seating system  10  includes a seat  14  disposed at a first tubular  18  that is sealably engagable with a plug  22 , illustrated herein as a ball, such that pressure can build upstream of the plug  22  when sealingly seated against the seat  14 . A second tubular  26  positioned radially of the first tubular  14 , with seals  28  and  29 , shown herein as o-rings, define a support cavity  30  therebetween. A port  34  provides fluidic communication between the cavity  30  and a location upstream  44  of the seat  14  where pressure can build when the plug  22  is seated at the seat  14 . The cavity  30  is configured to support the seat  14  in response to pressure therewithin to inhibit passage of the plug  22 . In this embodiment pressure within the support cavity  30  acts directly on walls  38  of the seat  14 , including radially inwardly. As such, forces from the pressure counter forces applied to the seat  14  by the plug  22  that are in a direction to deform the seat  14  to allow the plug  22  to pass. 
         [0022]    An optional support valve  42  is actuatable at least between positions fludically connecting the cavity  30  to the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  and fludically connecting the cavity  30  to an outside  46  of both the first tubular  18  and the second tubular  26 . When the support valve  42  fluidically connects the cavity  30  to the outside  46  and the pressure outside  46  is less than pressure at the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  the pressure within the cavity  30  provides less support to the seat  14 . With sufficient pressure against the plug  22  sealed against the seat  14  the seat  14  is able to deform to the position shown in  FIG. 2 , thereby allowing the plug  22  to pass therethrough. 
         [0023]    Another optional valve  50 , referred to herein as a release valve, is actuatable at least between a position occluding fluidic connection between a release cavity  54  and the location upstream  44  of the seat  14 , to a position fluidically connecting the release cavity  54  to the location upstream  44  of the seat  14 . The cavity  54  is configured to bias the seat  14  toward a deformed position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the cavity  54  is sealably defined between the first tubular  18  and the second tubular  26  and seals  29  and  58 . A portion  62  of the first tubular  18  is positioned such that increases in pressure within the release cavity  54  urge the portion  62  toward the right (in the Figures), thereby stretching the seat  14  and increasing a radial dimension  66  thereof. Sufficient increase in the radial dimension  66  allows the plug  22  to pass through the seat  14 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a translucent perspective view of the seating system  10  disclosed herein is illustrated. The support valve  42  and the release valve  50  are shown housed within the second tubular  26 . 
         [0025]    A cross sectional view of the support valve  42  is depicted in greater detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5  in two different positions of actuation. The support valve  42  includes a mandrel  70  that is movably sealingly engaged with a bore  74  in the second tubular  26  by seals  78 . A release member  82 , shown herein as a shear pin, fixedly attaches the mandrel  70  to a cap  86  fixed to the second tubular  26 . The release member  82  is configured to release when a selected force acts upon the mandrel  70 . The force is calculated to correlate with a threshold pressure differential built up between the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  and the outside  46 . The pressure differential is supplied to the mandrel  70  via ports  34 ,  90 ,  94  and  98  fluidically connected to the bore  74 . Specifically, in addition to connecting to the bore  74  the ports are connected as follows: the ports  90  and  94  connect to the location upstream  44  of seat  14 , the port  34  connects to the support cavity  30  and the port  98  connects to the outside  46 . Since the mandrel  70  is not sealingly engaged with the cap  86 , longitudinal forces on the mandrel  70  are generated by pressure differences between the port  90  and the outside  46 . Or stated another way, the support valve  42  is actuated by pressure differential between the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  and the outside  46  of both tubulars  18 ,  26 . 
         [0026]    The foregoing structure allows the support valve  42  to provide fluidic communication between the location upstream  44  and the support cavity  30  when in the initial position as shown in  FIG. 4  through the ports  34  and  94 . After actuation of the support valve  42 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the cavity  30  is in fluidic communication with the outside  46  through the ports  34  and  98 . 
         [0027]    A cross sectional view of the release valve  50  is depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7  in two different positions of actuation. The release valve  50  includes a mandrel  100  that is movably sealingly engaged with a bore  104  in the second tubular  26  by seals  108 . A release member  112 , shown herein as a shear pin, fixedly attaches the mandrel  100  to a cap  116  fixed to the second tubular  26 . The release member  112  is configured to release when a selected force acts upon the mandrel  100 . The force is calculated to correlate with a threshold pressure differential built up between the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  and the outside  46 . The pressure differential is supplied to the mandrel  100  via port  120  connected to the bore  104 . Specifically, in addition to connecting to the bore  104  the port  120  and another port  124  are connected as follows: the port  120  connects to the location upstream  44  of seat  14 , and the port  124  connects to the release cavity  54 . Since the mandrel  100  is not sealingly engaged with the cap  116 , longitudinal forces on the mandrel  100  are generated by pressure differences between the port  120  and the outside  46 . Or stated another way, the release valve  50  is actuated by pressure differential between the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  and the outside  46  of both tubulars  18 ,  26 . 
         [0028]    The foregoing structure permits the release valve  50  to occlude fluidic communication between the location upstream  44  and the release cavity  54  when in the initial position as shown in  FIG. 6 . After actuation of the release valve  50 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the release cavity  54  is in fluidic communication with the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  through the ports  120  and  124 . In this position, as discussed earlier, pressure at the location upstream  44  acts within the release cavity  54  to urge the seat  14  to deform to allow passage of the plug  22 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , an alternate embodiment of the seating system  10  disclosed herein includes a combined support and release valve  142 . The valve  142  incorporates the functions of both the support valve  42  and the release valve  50  into a single assembly with one movable mandrel  145 . Seals  152  movably seal the mandrel  145  to a borehole  148 . Positions of the seals  152  relative to a plurality of ports  156 ,  160 ,  164 ,  168  and  172  control fluidic communication between the ports  156 ,  160 ,  164 ,  168 ,  172  as follows. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 8  the valve  142  is shown in a “run in” position. In this position the ports  156  and  172  are both fluidically connected to the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  such that pressure built at the location upstream  44  acts on an end  176  of the mandrel  145  urging it in a direction (leftward in the Figures) against a biasing force of a biasing member  180 , illustrated herein as a compression spring. The port  160  is connected to the location upstream  44  of the seat  14  and, via port  156 , to the support cavity  30 , and thereby allows pressure from the location upstream  44  to support the seat  14 . The port  164  connects to the outside  46  and the port  168  connects to the release cavity  54 . Since the ports  164  and  168  are connected together by the valve  142  in the run in position, the release cavity is in communication with the outside  46  and not with the pressure at the location upstream  44  of the seat  14 . In this position high pressures can build against the plugged seat  14  since the support cavity  30  is supported by pressure from the location upstream  44  while the release cavity  54  is not supplied with this high pressure. This pressure can be used to actuate an actuator or other downhole device. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , at a selected pressure a release member  184 , shown as a shear pin, is sheared due to forces generated by differences in pressure acting on the end  176  versus pressure acting on an end  181 , opposite the end  180  of the mandrel  145  and forces generated by the biasing member  180 . Although the shear pin  184  has sheared and the mandrel  145  has moved, to an “activated” position, the seals  152  have remained in their same locations relative to the ports  156 ,  160 ,  164 ,  168 ,  172 . As such, no valving changes have yet to take place. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , in response to a sufficient drop in pressure at the location upstream  44 , the biasing force of the biasing member  180  is sufficient to move the mandrel  145  (to the right in the Figures) to a “pump through” position. The valve  142  has shifted in the pump through position such that the support cavity  30  is now connected to the outside  46  through fluidic communication of the port  160  with the port  164 . Additionally, the release cavity  54  is now connected to pressure of the location upstream  44  via the fluidic connection of the port  168  with the port  172 . As pressure at the location upstream  44  builds with the valve  142  in this pump through position pressure within the release cavity  54  builds while pressure within the support cavity  30  does not (since it is connected to the outside  46 ). Thus, the seat  14  will be deformed until the plug  22  can pass through the seat  14 . 
         [0033]    It should be appreciated that the release cavity  54  can be sized and configured to create forces sufficient to deform the seat  14  at relatively low pressures. For example, the tubular seating system  10  could be configured to maintain pressures in excess of 5,000 psi prior to actuation of the release valve  50  while permitting passage of the plug  22  at pressures less than 500 psi subsequent actuation of the release valve  50 . Further, pressures to cause actuation of the release valve  50  can be at least ten times greater than pressures to deform the seat  14 . By allowing passage of the plug  22  at such a low pressure the disclosed system  10  greatly reduces a surge in pressure beyond a seat that is common in typical systems that is caused by the sudden increase in pressure downstream of the seat that occurs when a plug is forced through a seat at high pressure. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , an alternate embodiment of a seating system disclose herein is illustrated at  210 . The seating system  210  includes, a seat  214  disposed at a first tubular  218  that is sealingly engagable with the plug  22  such that pressure can build upstream of the plug  22  when sealingly seated against the seat  214 . A second tubular  226  positioned radially of the first tubular  214 , with a seal  228 , shown herein as an o-ring, at the other end of the first tubular  218 . A cavity  230  is defined between the first tubular  218 , the second tubular  226  the threadable engagement and the seal  228 . A port  234  provides fluidic communication between the cavity  230  and a location upstream  244  of the seat  214 . The cavity  230  is configured to provide support to the seat  214  in response to pressure therewithin to inhibit passage of the plug  22 . In this embodiment pressure within the cavity  230  acts directly on walls  238  of the seat  214 , including radially inwardly. And a piston  250  is slidably sealingly engaged within the cavity  230  by seals  254 , illustrated as o-rings, that sealably separates a portion  230 A of the cavity  230 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 12-14 , a valve  260  is in fluidic communication with the portion  230 A and either a location  262  downstream of the seat  214  or an outside  263  of the tubulars  218 ,  226 . The valve  260  is illustrated in a run in position ( FIG. 12 ), in an activated position ( FIG. 13 ), and in a pump through position ( FIG. 14 ). The valve  260  is closed to fluid flow therethrough while in either the run in position or the activated position while it permits fluid flow therethrough when in the pump through position. The valve  260  includes, a first piston  264  sealingly slidably engaged within a second piston  268  by a seal  272 . A release device  276 , illustrated herein as a shear pin, locks the first piston  264  to the second piston  268 . A pressure differential across the valve  260  that exceeds a selected threshold shears the shear pin  276  and allows the first piston  264  to move relative to the second piston  268 . Upon a selected amount of movement between the pistons  264 ,  268  an engagement device  280 , illustrated as a snap ring, engaged within an annular groove  284  in the first piston  264  engages with a shoulder  288  of the second piston  268  ( FIG. 13 ). This engagement causes both pistons  264 ,  268  to move together under a biasing load applied to the pistons  264 ,  268  by a biasing member  292 , illustrated herein as a compression spring, when a pressure differential across the valve  260  drops below a selected threshold level. 
         [0036]    Movement of the pistons  264 ,  268  a selected dimension results in disengagement of a seal  296  that slidably sealingly engages the second piston  268  to a housing  300  prior to such movement ( FIG. 14 ). The disengagement of the seal  296  allows fluid to flow through the valve  260 . This fluid flow permits fluid to exit the portion  230 A thereby allowing the piston  250  to move when pressure at the location  244  upstream is greater than the located downstream  262  or at the outside  263  of the tubulars  218 ,  226 . This movement of the piston  50  causes the seat  214  to increase in radial dimensions until the plug  22  can pass thereby. 
         [0037]    The foregoing structure allows an operator to pressure up to a first pressure to perform a downhole operation and then to relieve the pressure before pressuring up to a second pressure to pump the plug  22  through the seat  214 . Parameters of the valving system  210  regarding the seat  214  and the piston  250 , for example, can be adjusted to cause the first pressure to be significantly greater than the second pressure, including by more than a factor of ten. 
         [0038]    Optionally, the portion  230 A of the cavity  230  may be filled with a fluid, such as an incompressible fluid, prior to operating the valve  210  to prevent the piston  250  from moving in advance of opening of the valve  260 . 
         [0039]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.