Combined casing fill-up and drill pipe flowback tool and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577899-B2
Application number	US-201715602237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A system and method for installing a tubular in a wellbore, of which the method includes coupling a fluid connector tool to a lifting assembly, coupling a casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly to the fluid connector tool, and coupling two segments of casing together to form a casing string. At least one of the segments of casing is fluidically coupled to the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly. The method also includes running the casing string into a wellbore, pumping a first fluid from the lifting assembly, through the fluid connector tool and the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly, and into the casing string as the casing string is run into the wellbore, de-coupling the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly from the fluid connector tool, and coupling a drill-pipe seal assembly to the fluid connector tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for installing a tubular in a wellbore, comprising:
coupling a fluid connector tool to a lifting assembly;
coupling an adapter to a lower end of the fluid connector tool;
coupling a casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly to the fluid connector tool by connecting the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly to the adapter;
coupling two segments of casing together to form a casing string, wherein at least one of the segments of casing is fluidically coupled to the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly;
running the casing string into a wellbore;
pumping a first fluid from the lifting assembly, through the fluid connector tool and the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly, and into the casing string as the casing string is run into the wellbore;
actuating a valve assembly in the fluid connector tool into a first position when the first fluid is pumped into the casing string, wherein the valve assembly comprises a sleeve and a valve body positioned at least partially within the sleeve, and when the valve assembly is in the first position, the sleeve blocks fluid flow between a bore of the fluid connector tool and a port extending laterally-through the fluid connector tool, and the valve body allows fluid flow through the sleeve;
de-coupling the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly and the adapter from the fluid connector tool after the first fluid is pumped into the casing string; and
coupling a drill-pipe seal assembly to the fluid connector tool after the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly and the adapter are de-coupled from the fluid connector tool, wherein coupling the drill-pipe seal assembly to the fluid connector tool comprises coupling the drill-pipe seal assembly to a piston-rod of the fluid connector tool, and wherein the piston-rod is positioned at least partially within a body of the fluid connector tool;
coupling a drill pipe segment to another drill pipe segment to form a drill pipe landing string, wherein the drill pipe landing string is coupled to the casing string, and wherein the drill pipe landing string has a smaller diameter than the casing string; and
introducing a second fluid into an annulus defined within the fluid connector tool, thereby causing the piston-rod to extend axially with respect to the body until the drill-pipe seal assembly seals at least one of in, on, or around the drill pipe landing string;
running the drill pipe landing string into the wellbore to lower the casing string farther into the wellbore, wherein a third fluid from the wellbore flows up the casing string and the drill pipe landing string and into the fluid connector tool as the drill pipe landing string is run into the wellbore; and
actuating the valve assembly in the fluid connector tool into a second position when the drill pipe landing string is run into the wellbore, wherein when the valve assembly is in the second position, the sleeve allows flow between the bore of the fluid connector tool and the port, and the valve body allows fluid flow axially-through the sleeve.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
introducing the second fluid into the annulus defined within the fluid connector tool causes the piston-rod to extend axially with respect to the body until the drill-pipe seal assembly is inserted at least partially into the drill string.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing the third fluid as the third fluid flows through the port.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector tool remains coupled to the lifting assembly when the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly is de-coupled from the fluid connector tool, and the drill-pipe seal assembly is coupled to the fluid connector tool.

5. A system for installing a tubular in a wellbore, comprising:
a fluid connector tool having a first end thereof configured to be coupled to a lifting assembly, wherein the fluid connector tool comprises:
a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough, wherein a port is defined laterally-through the body to provide a path of fluid communication from the axial bore to an exterior of the body;
a piston-rod positioned at least partially within the bore;
a tube positioned at least partially within the piston-rod, wherein the tube is stationary with respect to the body; and
a piston coupled to or integral with the piston-rod and positioned in an annulus formed between the body and the tube,
wherein the piston-rod is configured to move axially with respect to the body between a retracted position and an extended position;

an adapter configured to be coupled to a lower end of the body when the piston-rod is in the retracted position;
a casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly configured to be coupled to the adapter, wherein the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly is configured to be inserted at least partially into a casing segment so as to form a fluid flowpath between the bore of the body, the adapter, and an interior of the casing segment; and
a drill-pipe seal assembly configured to be connected to an end of the piston-rod when the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly and the adapter are disconnected from the lower end of the body, wherein the drill-pipe seal assembly is configured to extend into sealing engagement with a drill pipe by moving the piston-rod to the extended position.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the piston-rod is in the retracted position when the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly is coupled to the lower end of the body.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the drill-pipe seal assembly is configured to be received into an open end of the drill pipe by moving the piston-rod to the extended position.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a valve assembly positioned at least partially within the bore, wherein the valve assembly comprises a sleeve and a valve body positioned at least partially within the sleeve, wherein, when the valve assembly is in a first position, the sleeve blocks fluid flow between the bore and the port, and the valve body allows fluid flow through the sleeve, and when the valve assembly is in a second position, the sleeve allows fluid flow between the bore and the port, and the valve body allows fluid flow through the sleeve.

9. A fluid connector tool, comprising:
a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough, wherein a port is defined laterally-through the body to provide a path of fluid communication from the axial bore to an exterior of the body;
a piston-rod positioned at least partially within the bore;
a tube positioned at least partially within the piston-rod, wherein the tube is stationary with respect to the body; and
a piston coupled to or integral with the piston-rod and positioned in an annulus formed between the body and the tube, wherein the piston-rod is configured to move axially with respect to the body from a retracted position to an extended position when fluid is introduced into a first portion of the annulus to exert a force on the piston;
wherein a lower end of the body is configured to be coupled to a casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly,
wherein the piston-rod is configured to be coupled to a drill-pipe seal assembly when the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly is not coupled to the lower end of the body, and
wherein the drill-pipe seal assembly is configured to seal at least one of on, in, or around a tubular segment.

10. The fluid connector tool of claim 9 , further comprising a valve assembly positioned at least partially within the bore, wherein the valve assembly comprises a sleeve and a valve body positioned at least partially withi

Assignees

• Franks Int Llc

Inventors

• Weber Matthew
• Lutgring Keith
• Smith Logan

Classifications

• E21B19/06

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

• E21B17/042

  Threaded · CPC title

• E21B21/106

  Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves (valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019) · CPC title

• E21B19/16

  Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints (E21B19/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/08

  Casing joints · CPC title