Method and apparatus for sealing tubulars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10590733-B2
Application number	US-201715688556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Jan 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

A valve arrangement in a tubular having a first one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a first direction; and a second one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a second, opposite direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve arrangement in a tubular, comprising:
a first one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a first direction; a second one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a second, opposite direction;
a drilling member disposed on a lower end of the tubular and below the first and second one way valves, wherein the first and second one way valves are held open by a member extending through the first and second one way valves during drilling.

2. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first and second valves are disposed above an opening in the tubular.

3. The valve arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the opening comprises a gap between two tubulars.

4. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a third one way valve.

5. The valve arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the third one way valve prevents fluid flow in the second direction.

6. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one way valves comprises a flapper valve.

7. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a downward direction.

8. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a motor.

9. A method of completing a wellbore, comprising:
providing a tubular having a first one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a first direction and a second one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a second, opposite direction;
extending the wellbore by using the tubular in a drilling operation;
maintaining the first and second one way valves in an open position during the drilling operation;
supplying a cement through the first and second one way valves and out of the tubular;
closing the second one way valve to prevent cement from returning into the tubular; and
closing the first one way valve and applying pressure above the first one way valve.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pressure is applied to test for leaks in the tubular.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second one way valves are maintained opened using a motor.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising retrieving the motor from the tubular after supplying the cement.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the tubular includes a drilling member at a lower end.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tubular includes a drilling member at a lower end, and the method includes rotating the drilling member relative to the tubular using a motor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the motor maintains the first and second one way valves in the open position.

16. A tubular string for use in a wellbore, comprising: a tubular;
a first one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a first direction; a second one way valve configured to prevent fluid flow in the tubular in a second, opposite direction;
a drilling member disposed at a lower end of the tubular and below the first and second one way valves; and
a motor coupled to the tubular for rotating the drilling member, wherein the motor retains the first and second one way valves in an operation open position during drilling.

17. The tubular string of claim 16 , wherein the motor is retrievable from the tubular.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Twardowski Eric M
• Odell Ii Albert C
• Le Tuong Thanh

Classifications

• E21B21/103

  Down-hole by-pass valve arrangements, i.e. between the inside of the drill string and the annulus (valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019) · CPC title

• E21B33/10

  in the borehole {(sealing the junction between main bore and laterals E21B41/0042)} · CPC title

• E21B7/208

  using down-hole drives (E21B7/203 and E21B7/206 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/14 Primary

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title