Combined casing and drill-pipe fill-up, flow-back and circulation tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10287830-B2
Application number	US-201615350375-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2016
Priority date	Nov 14, 2016
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A connector tool is used to direct fluids from a lifting assembly into a bore of a downhole tubular. The connector tool includes a body having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is configured to be coupled to the lifting assembly, and the lower end is configured to be coupled to the downhole tubular. A telescopic engagement assembly is coupled to the body and configured to selectively extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the connector tool with a proximal end of the downhole tubular. A pump is coupled to the lifting assembly such that rotational movement from a component of the lifting assembly directs fluid to extend and retract the telescopic engagement assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector tool to direct fluids from a top drive into a bore of a downhole tubular, the connector tool comprising:
a body having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is configured to be coupled to the top drive, and wherein the lower end is configured to be coupled to the downhole tubular;
a telescopic engagement assembly positioned at least partially within the body and configured to selectively extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the connector tool into and out of the downhole tubular; and
a pump coupled to the top drive, the body, or both, wherein rotation of the top drive in a first direction generates a pressure in the pump that causes the telescopic engagement assembly to extend the seal assembly into the downhole tubular, and wherein rotation of the top drive in a second direction generates a pressure in the pump that causes the telescopic engagement assembly to retract the seal assembly out of the downhole tubular.

2. The connector tool of claim 1 , further comprising a flow tube positioned at least partially within the telescopic engagement assembly, wherein the flow tube remains stationary with respect to the body when the telescopic engagement assembly extends and retracts.

3. The connector tool of claim 1 , wherein the pump is positioned at least partially around the body, an inside blowout preventer valve, or a connection between the body and the inside blowout preventer valve.

4. The connector tool of claim 3 , wherein the body defines a port, and where a path of fluid communication is provided from the pump, through the port, and to an annulus between the body on one side and the telescopic engagement assembly on the other side.

5. The connector tool of claim 3 , wherein the pump comprises:
one or more hydraulic pumps;
a ring gear to drive the one or more hydraulic pumps; and
an anti-rotation device to hold the ring gear static relative to a pipe handler or the top drive.

6. The connector tool of claim 1 , further comprising an extension shaft coupled to an end of the telescopic engagement assembly, wherein the seal assembly is coupled to the extension shaft.

7. The connector tool of claim 6 , wherein the seal assembly is coupled to the extension shaft with no upset.

8. The connector tool of claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly is coupled to the telescopic engagement assembly.

9. The connector tool of claim 1 , wherein the connector tool comprises a pin-up connection that is configured to couple directly with an inside blowout preventer valve or with a portion of the top drive that is positioned above a saver sub.

10. An assembly for moving a downhole tubular, comprising:
a connector tool comprising:
a body configured to be coupled to a top drive;
a telescopic shaft positioned within the body, wherein the telescopic shaft is configured to extend and retract with respect to the body;
a flow tube positioned within the telescopic shaft, wherein the flow tube remains stationary with respect to the body when the telescopic shaft extends and retracts;
a guide nose coupled to the telescopic shaft; and
a seal assembly coupled to the telescopic shaft and configured to seal with an inner surface of the downhole tubular; and

a pump assembly coupled to the connector tool or a rotating part of the top drive, wherein the pump assembly comprises:
one or more hydraulic pumps;
a ring gear to drive the one or more hydraulic pumps; and
an anti-rotation device to hold the ring gear static relative to a part of the top drive,
wherein hydraulic power in the pump assembly is generated by rotation of the top drive.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , further comprising an extension shaft coupled to the telescopic shaft, the guide nose, and the seal assembly, wherein the guide nose is coupled to the telescopic shaft via the extension shaft, and wherein the seal assembly is coupled to the telescopic shaft via the extension shaft.

12. A method for moving a downhole tubular in a wellbore, comprising:
removing a saver sub from a top drive;
installing a connector tool onto the top drive to replace the saver sub;
latching an elevator around the downhole tubular;
rotating a component of the top drive to direct fluid, thereby causing a telescopic shaft of the connector tool to extend downward until a portion of the connector tool is engaged with an inner surface of the downhole tubular, wherein an upper end of the connector tool is coupled to the top drive;
moving the top drive to move the downhole tubular when the telescopic shaft is engaged with the inner surface of the downhole tubular;
retracting the telescopic shaft upward and until the portion of the connector tool is removed from the downhole tubular after the downhole tubular has been moved; and
unlatching the elevator from the downhole tubular.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the connector tool comprises:
a body coupled to the top drive, wherein the telescopic shaft is positioned within the body;
a flow tube positioned within the telescopic shaft;
an extension shaft coupled to an end of the telescopic shaft;
a guide nose coupled to the extension shaft; and
a seal assembly coupled to the extension shaft and configured to seal with the inner surface of the downhole tubular.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the connector tool comprises:
a body coupled to the top drive, wherein the telescopic shaft is positioned within the body;
a flow tube positioned within the telescopic shaft;
a guide nose coupled to the telescopic shaft; and
a seal assembly coupled to the telescopic shaft and configured to seal with the inner surface of the downhole tubular.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein moving the top drive to move the downhole tubular comprises lifting the top drive to lift the downhole tubular.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising pumping fluid through the top drive, the connector tool, and the downhole tubular as the downhole tubular is lifted.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein moving the top drive to move the downhole tubular comprises lowering the top drive to lower the downhole tubular.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising pumping fluid through the top drive, the connector tool, and the downhole tubular as the downhole tubular is lowered.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the downhole tubular is lowered without pumping fluid through the top drive, the connector tool, and the downhole tubular.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
ceasing movement of the top drive such that the downhole tubular is static; and
pumping fluid through the top drive, the connector tool, and the downhole tubular as the downhole tubular is static.

21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising pumping fluid through the top drive, the connector tool, and the downhole tubular to cause a mud motor to facilitate drilling when the downhole tubular is not rotating.

22. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
disconnecting an anti-rotation device from the connector tool; and
rotating the top drive and a pump assembly that is coupled to the connector tool, thereby preventing the telescopic shaft from extending and retracting.

23. The method of claim 12 , further comprising screwing the connector tool into the downhole tubular to establish fluid flow through the downhole tubular.

Assignees

• Franks Int Llc

Inventors

• Brown Dougal

Classifications

• E21B19/06 Primary

  Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices · CPC title

• E21B33/085

  Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers · CPC title

• E21B33/06

  Blow-out preventers {, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers (rotating blow-out preventers E21B33/085)} · CPC title

• E21B4/02

  Fluid rotary type drives · CPC title

• E21B21/08

  Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) · CPC title