Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20110048723A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-12-12 10:44:46
Document Index: 707306030

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 112', 'art 140', 'arts 100', 'art 140', 'art 112', 'art 112', 'art 140', 'art 140', 'art 140']

US20110048723A1 - Multi-acting Circulation Valve - Google Patents
Multi-acting Circulation Valve Download PDF
US20110048723A1
US20110048723A1 US12/688,172 US68817210A US2011048723A1 US 20110048723 A1 US20110048723 A1 US 20110048723A1 US 68817210 A US68817210 A US 68817210A US 2011048723 A1 US2011048723 A1 US 2011048723A1
US12/688,172
US9133692B2 (en
2009-09-03 Priority to US12/553,458 priority Critical patent/US8528641B2/en
2010-01-15 Priority to US12/688,172 priority patent/US9133692B2/en
2010-01-15 Assigned to BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED reassignment BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: EDWARDS, JEFFRY S.
2011-03-03 Publication of US20110048723A1 publication Critical patent/US20110048723A1/en
2015-09-15 Publication of US9133692B2 publication Critical patent/US9133692B2/en
230000004087 circulation Effects 0 abstract claims description title 41
238000005755 formation Methods 0 abstract description 25
A fracturing and gravel packing tool has features that prevent well swabbing when the tool is picked up with respect to a set isolation packer. An upper or multi-acting circulation valve allows switching between the squeeze and circulation positions without risk of closing the low bottom hole pressure ball valve. The multi-acting circulation valve can prevent fluid loss to the formation when being set down with the crossover tool supported or on the reciprocating set down device and the multi-acting circulation valve is closed without risk of closing the wash pipe valve.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/553,458, filed Sep. 3, 2009.
The field of this invention relates to circulation valves and more particularly a multi-acting circulation valve that can be used in gravel packing and fracturing tools used to treat formations and to deposit gravel outside of screens for improved production flow through the screens.
Typically these assemblies have a flapper valve, ball valve, ball on seat or other valve device in the wash pipe to prevent fluid loss into the formation during certain operations such as reversing out excess gravel from the tubing string after the gravel packing operation is completed. Some schematic representations of known gravel packing systems are shown schematically in U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,151 and in more functional detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,020. Other features of gravel packing systems are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,801. Other patents and applications focus on the design of the crossover housing where there are erosion issues from moving slurry through ports or against housing walls on the way out such as shown in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/586,235 filed Oct. 25, 2006 and application Ser. No. 12/250,065 filed Oct. 13, 2008. Locator tools that use displacement of fluid as a time delay to reduce applied force to a bottom hole assembly before release to minimize a slingshot effect upon release are disclosed in US Publication 2006/0225878. Also relevant to time delays for ejecting balls off seats to reduce formation shock is U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,496. Crossover tools that allow a positive pressure to be put on the formation above hydrostatic are shown in US Publication 2002/0195253. Other gravel packing assemblies are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,865,251; 6,053,246 and 5,609,204.
The present invention provides an ability to shift between squeeze, circulate and reverse modes using the packer as a frame of reference where the movements between those positions do not engage the low bottom hole pressure control device or wash pipe valve for operation. In essence the wash pipe valve is held open and it takes a pattern of deliberate steps to get it to close. In essence a pickup force against a stop has to be applied for a finite time to displace fluid from a variable volume cavity through an orifice. It is only after holding a predetermined force for a predetermined time that the wash pipe valve assembly is armed by allowing collets to exit a bore. A pattern of passing through the bore in an opposed direction and then picking up to get the collets against the bore they just passed through in the opposite direction that gets the wash pipe valve to close. Generally the wash pipe valve is armed directly prior to gravel packing and closed after gravel packing when pulling the assembly out to prevent fluid losses into the formation while reversing out the gravel.
A fracturing and gravel packing tool has features that prevent well swabbing when the tool is picked up with respect to a set isolation packer. An upper or multi-acting circulation valve allows switching between the squeeze and circulation positions without risk of closing the wash pipe valve. A metering device allows a surface indication before the wash pipe valve can be activated. The wash pipe valve can only be closed with multiple movements in opposed direction that occur after a predetermined force is held for a finite time to allow movement that arms the wash pipe valve. The multi-acting circulation valve can prevent fluid loss to the formation when closed and the crossover tool is located in the reverse position. A lockable sleeve initially blocks the gravel exit ports to allow the packer to be set with a dropped ball. The gravel exit ports are pulled out of the sleeve for later gravel packing. That sleeve is unlocked after gravel packing with a shifting tool on the wash pipe to close the gravel slurry exit ports and lock the sleeve in that position for production through the screens. The multi-acting circulation valve can be optionally configured for a second ball seat that can shift a sleeve to allow acid to be pumped through the wash pipe lower end and around the initial ball that was landed to set the packer. That series of movements also blocks off the return annular path so that the acid has to go to the wash pipe bottom.
Gravel exit ports 30 are in a crossover housing and held closed for run in against sleeve 32 and seals 34 and 36. Metering dogs 38 are shown initially in bore 40 while the reciprocating set down device 42 and the low bottom hole pressure ball valve assembly 44 are supported below bore 40. Alternatively, the entire assembly of dogs 38, reciprocating set down device 42 and low bottom hole pressure ball valve assembly 44 can be out of bore 40 for run in. Valve assembly 44 is locked open for run in. A ball seat 46 receives a ball 48, as shown in FIG. 2 for setting the packer 18.
In FIG. 3 the string 12 is raised and the collets 50 land on the packer 18. With weight set down on the string 12 seals 52 and 54 on the multi-acting circulation valve 26 isolates the upper annulus 56 from the annulus 22. Flow down the string 12 represented by arrows 58 enters ports 30 and then ports 20 to get to the annulus 22 so that gravel slurry represented by arrows 58 can fill the annulus 22 around the screens (not shown). The multi-acting circulation valve 26 has a j-slot mechanism which will be described below that allows the string 12 to be picked up and set down to get seal 52 past a port so as to open a return flow path that is shown in FIG. 4. It should be noted that picking up the string 12 allows access to the annulus 22 every time to avoid swabbing the formation by connecting it fluidly to the upper annulus 56. On the other hand, setting down on string 12 while the collets 50 rest on the packer 18 will close off the return annular path to the upper annulus 56 by virtue of annular seal 52 going back to the FIG. 3 position. This is accomplished with a j-slot mechanism that will be described below. In the circulation mode of FIG. 4 the return flow through the screens (not shown) is shown by arrows 60. The positions in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be sequentially obtained with a pickup and set down force using the j-slot assembly mentioned before.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 b-d the multi-acting circulation valve 26 will now be described. The top of the multi-acting circulation valve 26 is at 90 and rests on the packer upper sub 72 for run in. Spring loaded collets 50 shown extended in the squeeze position of FIG. 3, are held against the outer mandrel 94 by a spring 92. Outer mandrel 94 extends down from upper end 90 to a two position j-slot assembly 96. The j-slot assembly 96 operably connects the inner mandrel assembly of connected sleeves 98 and 100 to outer mandrel 94. Sleeve 100 terminates at a lower end 102 in FIG. 8 d. Supported by mandrel 94 is ported sleeve 104 that has flow ports 106 through which flow represented by arrows 60 in FIG. 4 will pass in the circulation mode when seal 52 is lifted above ports 106. Below ports 106 is an external seal 28 that in the run in position is below the lower end 110 of the packer upper sub 72 and seen in FIG. 8 c. Note also that sleeve 100 moves within sleeve 112 that has ports 30 covered for run in by sleeve 114 and locked by dog 116 in FIG. 8 e. Ports 30 need to be covered so that after a ball is dropped onto seat 118 the passage 82 can be pressured up to set the packer 18.
Coming back to FIGS. 8 b-c, with the packer 18 set, the top 90 of the multi-acting circulation valve 26 can be raised up by pulling up on sleeves 98 and 100 to raise mandrel 94 after shoulders 95 and 97 engage, which allows the lower inner string to be raised. Ultimately the collets 50 will spring out at the location where top end 90 is located in FIG. 8 b. With mandrel 94 and everything that hangs on it including sleeve 104, supported off the packer upper sub 72 the assembly of connected sleeves 98 and 100 can be manipulated up and down and in conjunction with j-slot 96 can come to rest at two possible locations after a pickup and a set down force of a finite length. In one of the two positions of the j-slot 96 the seal 52 will be below the ports 106 as shown in FIG. 8 c. In the other position of the j-slot 96 the seal 52 will move up above the ports 106. In essence seal 52 is in the return flow path represented by arrows 60 in FIG. 4 in the circulate mode which happens when seal 52 is above ports 106 and the squeeze position where the return annular path to the upper annulus 56 is closed as in FIG. 3 and in the run in position of FIG. 8 c.
It should be noted that every time the assembly of sleeves 98 and 100 is picked up the seal 52 will rise above ports 106 and the formation will be open to the upper annulus 56. This is significant in that it prevents the formation from swabbing as the inner string 16 is picked up. If there are seals around the inner string 16 when it is raised for any function, the raising of the inner string 16 will reduce pressure in the formation or cause swabbing which is detrimental to the formation. As mentioned before moving up to operate the j-slot 96 or lifting the inner string to the reverse position of FIG. 5 or 7 will not actuate the valve 44 nor will it swab the formation. The components of the multi-acting circulation valve have now been described; however there is an optional construction where the return annular path 137 shown above ports 106 in FIG. 8 c is different. The purpose of this alternative embodiment is to allow pumping fluid down passage 82 as the inner string 16 is removed and to block paths of least resistance so that fluid pumped down passage 82 will go down to the lower end of the inner string 16 past the open valve 44 for the purpose of treating from within the screens with acid as the lower end of the inner string 16 moves up the formation on the way out of the wellbore.
First to gain additional perspective, it is worth noting that the return annular path 138 around the flapper 120 in FIG. 8 e starts below the ports 30 and bypasses them as shown by the paths in hidden lines and then continues in the run in position until closed off at seal 52 just below the ports 106 in FIG. 8 c. Referring now to FIG. 9 a part 112′ has been redesigned and part 140 is added to span between parts 100 that is inside part 140 at the top and part 112′ that surrounds it at the bottom. Note that what is shown in FIGS. 9 a-b is well above the ball seat 118 that was used to set the packer 18 and that is shown in FIG. 8 e. Even with this optional design for the multi-acting circulation valve 26 it should be stated that the ball 142 is not dropped until after the gravel packing and reversing out steps are done and the inner string 16 is ready to be pulled out. Note that return path 138′ is still there but now it passes through part 112′ at ports 144 and 146 and channel 138′ on the exterior of part 140. Injection ports 150 are held closed by seals 152 and 154. Ports 156 are offset from ports 150 and are isolated by seals 154 and 158. Ball 142 lands on seat 160 held by dog 162 to part 140. When ball 142 lands on seat 160 and pressure builds to undermine dogs 162 so that part 140 can shift down to align ports 150 and 156 between seals 152 and 154 while isolating ports 144 from ports 146 (which together form a bypass) with seal 164. Now acid pumped down passage 82 cannot go uphole into return path 138′ because seal 164 blocks it. It is fine for the acid to go downhole into passage 138′ as by that time after the gravel packing the flow downhole into path 138′ will simply go to the bottom of the inner string 16 as it is pulled out of the whole, which is the intended purpose anyway which is to acidize as the inner string is pulled out of the hole.
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplified embodiments set forth herein but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.
1. A circulation valve mounted in a tubular string for placement on a support in a wellbore, comprising:
an outer mandrel for selective positioning on the support to selectively divide the wellbore into an upper and a lower annulus;
an inner mandrel supported by the tubular string and relatively movable with respect to said outer mandrel when said outer mandrel rests on the support;
said inner and outer mandrels defining an annular passage therebetween, said passage communicating said upper and lower annulus and can be selectively opened or closed with movement of said inner mandrel with said outer mandrel resting on the support.
a first annular seal on one of said mandrels and a at least one flow port leading to said upper annulus on the other of said mandrels;
said annular passage selectively opened and closed by relative movement between said mandrels that positions said first annular seal on opposed sides of said flow port.
said first annular seal is on said inner mandrel and said at least one flow port is on said outer mandrel;
cyclical pick up and set down movement of said inner mandrel positions said first annular seal on opposed sides of said at least one flow port after each cycle.
a pickup movement of said inner mandrel positions said first annular seal above said at least one flow port to open said annular passage to the upper annulus.
said inner and outer mandrels are operably engaged by a two position j-slot with a first position attained on setting down weight after picking up said inner mandrel leaving said first annular seal above said at least one flow port to open said annular passage and a subsequent cycle of picking up and setting down said inner mandrel leaves said first annular seal below said at least one port to close said annular passage.
said inner mandrel has a lower end and is disposed within said outer mandrel defining said annular passage between them;
said inner mandrel having an inner mandrel flow passage and at least one injection port;
said injection port is selectively blocked while said annular passage is open adjacent said lower end of said inner mandrel;
said injection port is selectively open into said annular passage at a location closer to said lower end than where said annular passage becomes blocked as a result of said opening of said injection port.
said inner mandrel comprising a movable sleeve that continues said inner mandrel flow passage to said lower end;
said injection port extending through a wall of said movable sleeve and is closed when misaligned with at least one port on said outer mandrel;
said annular passage comprises a bypass around a block located therein, said bypass running into a recess in an outer surface of said movable sleeve.
said bypass is open when said injection port is closed and said movable sleeve is in a first position.
said bypass is closed when said injection port is open and said movable sleeve is in a second position.
said movable sleeve comprises a seat around said inner mandrel flow passage, said seat located near said lower end;
said movable sleeve moves from said first to said second positions when an object lands on said seat to close off said inner mandrel flow passage and a predetermined pressure is applied.
12. The valve of claim 6, wherein:
said inner mandrel having an inner mandrel flow passage therethrough to its lower end that is continued as an outer mandrel flow passage in said outer mandrel;
said outer mandrel comprising a crossover housing that allows a lateral exit from said outer mandrel flow passage and a return flow path that bypasses said lateral exit and forms a part of said annular passage.
said outer mandrel flow passage extends to a lower end of said outer mandrel and further comprises a selectively actuated one way valve.
said one way valve is disposed between a seat surrounding said outer mandrel flow passage and said lower end of said outer mandrel;
said one way valve comprises a flapper held open until said seat is shifted.
said seat accepts an object to obstruct said outer mandrel flow path at a time when said lateral exit is obstructed to allow pressure to build in said inner and outer mandrel flow paths to a predetermined level before a retainer for said flapper is released.
said flapper directs returning flow toward said crossover housing into said return flow path through said crossover housing.
said inner mandrel having an inner mandrel flow passage and at least one injection port; said injection port is selectively blocked while said annular passage is open adjacent said lower end of said inner mandrel;
18. The valve of claim 17, wherein:
US12/688,172 2009-09-03 2010-01-15 Multi-acting circulation valve Active 2032-09-17 US9133692B2 (en)
US12/553,458 US8528641B2 (en) 2009-09-03 2009-09-03 Fracturing and gravel packing tool with anti-swabbing feature
US12/688,172 US9133692B2 (en) 2009-09-03 2010-01-15 Multi-acting circulation valve
PCT/US2010/046587 WO2011028563A2 (en) 2009-09-03 2010-08-25 Multi-acting circulation valve
US12/553,458 Division US8528641B2 (en) 2009-09-03 2009-09-03 Fracturing and gravel packing tool with anti-swabbing feature
US20110048723A1 true US20110048723A1 (en) 2011-03-03
US9133692B2 US9133692B2 (en) 2015-09-15
US12/553,458 Active 2032-04-29 US8528641B2 (en) 2009-09-03 2009-09-03 Fracturing and gravel packing tool with anti-swabbing feature
US12/639,697 Active 2032-06-09 US9175552B2 (en) 2009-09-03 2009-12-16 Isolation valve for subterranean use
US12/688,172 Active 2032-09-17 US9133692B2 (en) 2009-09-03 2010-01-15 Multi-acting circulation valve
AU (1) AU2010289812B2 (en)
GB (2) GB2485702B (en)
MY (1) MY162118A (en)
NO (1) NO20120160A1 (en)
SG (1) SG178856A1 (en)
WO (3) WO2011028563A2 (en)
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CN104879100B (en) * 2015-05-25 2017-06-16 山东博赛特石油技术有限公司 A kind of multi-section multi-layer fills service aid
CN105386749B (en) * 2015-06-17 2018-09-07 周再乐 A kind of novel fracturing tool
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US10066478B2 (en) 2016-01-07 2018-09-04 Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc Indicating apparatus, system, and method
CN107654220A (en) * 2017-10-16 2018-02-02 高瑞民 A kind of construction method of monoblock type slicing and filling device
CN108643870B (en) * 2018-05-25 2019-03-12 大庆市天德忠石油科技有限公司 A kind of Multi-element oil well screen
2009-09-03 US US12/553,458 patent/US8528641B2/en active Active
2009-12-16 US US12/639,697 patent/US9175552B2/en active Active
2010-01-15 US US12/688,172 patent/US9133692B2/en active Active
2010-08-25 SG SG2012012555A patent/SG178856A1/en unknown
2010-08-25 GB GB1202467.5A patent/GB2485702B/en active Active
2010-08-25 WO PCT/US2010/046587 patent/WO2011028563A2/en active Application Filing
2010-08-25 WO PCT/US2010/046586 patent/WO2011028562A2/en active Application Filing
2010-08-25 WO PCT/US2010/046575 patent/WO2011028558A2/en active Application Filing
2010-08-25 AU AU2010289812A patent/AU2010289812B2/en active Active
2010-08-25 GB GB1209400.9A patent/GB2488469B/en active Active
2010-08-25 MY MYPI2012000939A patent/MY162118A/en unknown
2012-02-16 NO NO20120160A patent/NO20120160A1/en unknown
US20110048705A1 (en) 2011-03-03
WO2011028562A4 (en) 2011-07-14
GB2485702A (en) 2012-05-23
AU2010289812B2 (en) 2014-09-04
WO2011028562A2 (en) 2011-03-10
GB2488469A (en) 2012-08-29
GB2488469B (en) 2014-06-18
GB201209400D0 (en) 2012-07-11
WO2011028563A3 (en) 2011-05-26
US8528641B2 (en) 2013-09-10
US9175552B2 (en) 2015-11-03
GB201202467D0 (en) 2012-03-28
SG178856A1 (en) 2012-04-27
GB2485702B (en) 2013-05-08
WO2011028558A2 (en) 2011-03-10
US9133692B2 (en) 2015-09-15
AU2010289812A1 (en) 2012-03-01
MY162118A (en) 2017-05-31
WO2011028558A3 (en) 2011-05-19
US20110048725A1 (en) 2011-03-03
NO20120160A1 (en) 2012-03-29
WO2011028562A3 (en) 2011-05-26
WO2011028563A2 (en) 2011-03-10
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:EDWARDS, JEFFRY S.;REEL/FRAME:023795/0709