Test dart system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10458198-B2
Application number	US-201715670717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2017
Priority date	Aug 7, 2017
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a test dart for wellbore pressure isolation. The test dart includes a body extending from a first end to a second end, the body having a bore extending therethrough, a diameter of the bore being greater at a first end than the second end. The test dart also includes a groove formed proximate the first end and extending radially outward from the bore and into the body. Additionally, the test dart includes an anti-rotation pin positioned between the groove and the second end, the anti-rotation pin extending radially outward from the body. The test dart further includes a check valve positioned in the bore, the check valve enabling flow in a single direction and being moveable between an open position to enable the flow and a closed position to block the flow.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A test dart for wellbore pressure isolation, comprising:
a body extending from a first end to a second end, the body having a bore extending therethrough, a diameter of the bore being greater at the first end than the second end;
a groove formed proximate the first end and extending radially outward from the bore and into the body;
an anti-rotation pin positioned between the groove and the second end, the anti-rotation pin extending radially outward from the body;
a check valve positioned in the bore, the check valve enabling a flow in a single direction and being moveable between an open position to enable the flow and a closed position to block the flow; and
a pressure relieving orifice in the bore extending radially outwardly into the body.

2. The test dart of claim 1 , further comprising:
a counter bore positioned axially below the groove;
a slanted edge forming a transition between a change in the diameter of the bore; and
a lock out pin positioned proximate the counter bore, the lock out pin moveable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the lock out pin at least partially extends into the bore when in the extended position.

3. The test dart of claim 2 , wherein the lock out pin is a spring loaded pin accessible from an outer diameter of the body via a notch formed in the body.

4. The test dart of claim 1 , wherein the pressure relieving orifice is a weep hole, the weep hole extending radially outward from the diameter of the bore and into the body.

5. The test dart of claim 1 , further comprising a profile arranged between the anti-rotation pin and the second end, the profile having a downwardly slanted edge along an outer diameter of the body.

6. The test dart of claim 5 , further comprising a seal annulus on the profile for retaining a seal.

7. The test dart of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the test dart decreases from the first end to the second end.

8. The test dart of claim 1 , further comprising threads arranged in at least a portion of the bore.

9. The test dart of claim 1 , further comprising a tapered shoulder at the first end, the tapered shoulder extending downwardly and inwardly and being arranged axially above the groove.

10. A system for isolating regions of a wellbore, the system comprising:
a unidirectional valve positioned in the wellbore, the unidirectional valve permitting a fluid flow in a downstream direction into the wellbore and restricting the fluid flow in an upstream direction out of the wellbore;
a test dart non-rotationally coupled to the unidirectional valve via a gravitational force acting on the test dart, the test dart arranged upstream of the unidirectional valve and positioned to block the fluid flow in the downstream direction toward the unidirectional valve; and
a removal tool, the removal tool non-rotationally coupling to the test dart and positioned to remove the test dart in a non-controlled wellbore environment via a linear force.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the test dart comprises anti-rotation pins that align with u-slots formed in the unidirectional valve, the anti-rotation pins blocking transmission of rotational forces applied to the test dart from acting on the unidirectional valve.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an installation tool coupled to the test dart during installation procedures, the installation tool being rotationally coupled to the test dart and positioned to install the test dart in a non-controlled wellbore environment, and the installation tool extending into a bore of the test dart when a lock out pin formed in the test dart is transitioned to a retracted position out of the bore.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the removal tool couples to the test dart via one or more plungers extending into a groove formed in the test dart.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein a metal-to-metal seal is formed at a coupling between the test dart and the unidirectional valve.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the test dart comprises a check valve and a weep hole arranged proximate the check valve, the weep hole providing a flow path for pressurized fluids positioned between the test dart and the unidirectional valve in the upstream direction.

16. A method for isolating a wellbore, the method comprising:
lowering a test dart into the wellbore, the test dart being coupled to an installation tool;
non-rotationally coupling the test dart to a unidirectional valve arranged in the wellbore via a gravitational force acting on the test dart;
decoupling the installation tool from the test dart;
lowering a removal tool into the wellbore to retrieve the test dart;
non-rotationally coupling the removal tool to the test dart; and
withdrawing the test dart from the wellbore.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of lowering the test dart into the wellbore is done in a non-controlled wellbore environment.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of coupling the test dart to the unidirectional valve comprises aligning an anti-rotation pin coupled to the test dart with a u-slot formed in the unidirectional valve.

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Pressure Control Lp

Inventors

• Garner Detrick Deyon
• Olvera Alfred
• Borak Eugene
• Armistead Jason
• Cheng Samuel
• Warner John
• Burcham Nathan

Classifications

• E21B33/167 Primary

  Cementing plugs provided with anti-rotation mechanisms, e.g. for easier drill-out · CPC title

• E21B47/117

  Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing · CPC title

• E21B34/105 Primary

  retrievable, e.g. wire line retrievable, i.e. with an element which can be landed into a landing-nipple provided with a passage for control fluid · CPC title

• E21B33/124

  Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space · CPC title

• E21B33/1212 Primary

  including a metal-to-metal seal element · CPC title