Stage cementing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11713646-B2
Application number	US-202117477113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2021
Priority date	May 29, 2020
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A stage cementing system includes a stage cementing assembly having a stage tool. The stage tool has an outer mandrel, an inner mandrel coupled to and disposed inside of the outer mandrel, an annular chamber between the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel, a first outer port through the outer mandrel, and longitudinally spaced first and second inner ports through the inner mandrel. The stage cementing system further includes an inner string assembly configured to be located inside the inner mandrel. The inner string assembly has a tubular body having a central throughbore and longitudinally spaced first and second side ports, a lower external seal element below the first and second side ports, a middle external seal element between the first and second side ports, and an upper external seal element above the first and second side ports.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stage cementing assembly comprising:
a stage tool comprising:
an outer mandrel attached to a casing;
an inner mandrel immovably disposed inside and coupled to the outer mandrel;
an annular chamber between the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel;
a first outer port through the outer mandrel;
longitudinally spaced first and second inner ports through the inner mandrel; and
a closing sleeve disposed in the annular chamber, the closing sleeve movable between a first position in which the closing sleeve permits fluid communication between an interior of the stage cementing assembly and an exterior of the stage cementing assembly through the first inner port and the first outer port, and a second position in which the closing sleeve prevents fluid communication between the interior of the stage cementing assembly and the exterior of the stage cementing assembly through the first inner port and the first outer port;
wherein the second inner port through the inner mandrel provides a fluid pathway for hydraulically moving the closing sleeve from the first position to the second position; and
an inner string assembly having a tubular body with a central throughbore, a side port, and external seal elements, an inner string annulus defined between the tubular body and the inner mandrel, the side port providing fluid communication between the throughbore and the inner string annulus, the external seal elements contacting the inner mandrel and defining a fluid pathway for communication from the side port to the first inner port of the inner mandrel.

2. The stage cementing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising: a second outer port through the outer mandrel, the second outer port having a relief valve.

3. The stage cementing assembly of claim 2 , wherein: the relief valve selectively permits fluid communication from the exterior of the stage cementing assembly to the interior of the stage cementing assembly through the second outer port, and prevents fluid communication from the interior of the stage cementing assembly to the exterior of the stage cementing assembly through the second outer port.

4. The stage cementing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising: a rupturable barrier member having a first configuration in which the barrier member prevents fluid communication between the interior of the stage cementing assembly and the exterior of the stage cementing assembly through the first outer port, and a second configuration in which the barrier member permits fluid communication between the interior of the stage cementing assembly and the exterior of the stage cementing assembly through the first outer port.

5. The stage cementing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the barrier member is a rupture disk.

6. The stage cementing assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a packer below the first outer port.

7. The stage cementing assembly of claim 4 , further comprising: a packer valve configured to selectively open to permit fluid communication between the interior of the stage cementing assembly and an internal chamber of the packer.

8. The stage cementing assembly of claim 7 , wherein: the packer valve is configured to selectively close to prevent fluid communication between the interior of the stage cementing assembly and the internal chamber of the packer.

9. The stage cementing assembly of claim 7 , wherein the barrier member is a rupture disk configured to break before the packer valve closes.

10. The stage cementing assembly of claim 7 , wherein the barrier member is a rupture disk configured to break after the packer valve closes.

11. The stage cementing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an internal location profile configured for engagement with a locator of an inner string assembly.

12. A stage cementing system, comprising:
a stage cementing assembly having a stage tool, the stage tool comprising:
an outer mandrel;
an inner mandrel coupled to and disposed inside of the outer mandrel;
an annular chamber between the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel;
an outer port through the outer mandrel between the annular chamber and an exterior of the stage tool;
a first inner port through the inner mandrel between the annular chamber and an interior of the stage tool; and
a closing sleeve disposed in the annular chamber, the closing sleeve movable between a first position in which the closing sleeve permits fluid communication between the interior of the stage tool and the exterior of the stage tool through the first inner port and the outer port, and a second position in which the closing sleeve prevents fluid communication between the interior of the stage tool and the exterior of the stage tool through the first inner port and the outer port; and
an inner string assembly configured to be located inside the stage tool and comprising:
a tubular body having a central throughbore and longitudinally spaced first and second side ports;

a lower external seal element below the first and second side ports;
a middle external seal element between the first and second side ports;
an upper external seal element above the first and second side ports; and
a bypass configured to fluidically connect a first zone below the lower external seal element with a second zone above the upper external seal element.

13. The stage cementing system of claim 12 , wherein:
the stage tool further comprises a second inner port through the inner mandrel between the annular chamber and the interior of the stage tool, the second inner port spaced longitudinally from the first inner port; and
in use, the middle external seal element is located between the first and second inner ports of the stage tool.

14. The stage cementing system of claim 13 , wherein in use:
the lower external seal element is located below the first and second inner ports of the stage tool; and
the upper external seal element is located above the first and second inner ports of the stage tool.

15. The stage cementing system of claim 14 , wherein in use, the lower, middle, and upper external seal elements contact the inner mandrel.

16. The stage cementing system of claim 12 , wherein the stage tool further comprises a second outer port through the outer mandrel, the second outer port including a relief valve.

17. The stage cementing system of claim 12 , wherein the stage cementing assembly further comprises a packer coupled to the stage tool.

18. The stage cementing system of claim 12 , wherein the stage cementing assembly includes an internal location profile configured for engagement with a locator of the inner string assembly.

19. The stage cementing system of claim 12 , wherein the inner string assembly includes a relief port configured to fluidically connect the bypass with a third zone between the upper and middle external seal elements.

20. The stage cementing system of claim 19 , wherein the relief port includes a valve configured to:
permit fluid communication through the relief port from the bypass to the third zone; and
prevent fluid communication through the relief port from the third zone to the bypass.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Giroux Richard Lee
• Morrison Jeffery
• Jacob Jobby T

Classifications

• E21B33/146 Primary

  Stage cementing, i.e. discharging cement from casing at different levels · CPC title

• E21B34/108

  with time delay systems, e.g. hydraulic impedance mechanisms · CPC title

• E21B2200/01

  Sealings characterised by their shape · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title