Inner string cementing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12480380-B2
Application number	US-202318488209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2023
Priority date	Oct 19, 2022
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A cementing system includes an inner string configured to be received into a casing string in a wellbore. The cementing system also includes a stinger coupled to the inner string and configured to be received into a float shoe connected to the casing string. The cementing system also includes a first retractable joint coupled to the inner string. The retractable joint is configured to reduce in axial length so as to permit at least part of stinger to be withdrawn from engagement with the float shoe while a weight of the inner string is supported by a hanger running tool and casing hanger connected to the casing. The inner string, the stinger, and the retractable joint form at least a part of a flowpath that extends through an end of the casing string at the float shoe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
deploying an inner string including a stinger and a retractable joint into a casing string, wherein a float shoe is connected to the casing string and permits one-way fluid communication from within the inner string to an outer annulus between a wellbore and the casing string; receiving the stinger into the float shoe; reducing an axial length of the inner string, after receiving the stinger into the float shoe, using a slip joint coupled to the inner string, wherein reducing the axial length permits a casing hanger running tool to be made-up to a casing hanger while the stinger is received into the float shoe; circulating fluid through the inner string, the stinger, and the float shoe, into the outer annulus, wherein the fluid does not communicate with an inner annulus defined between the inner string and the casing string; retracting the retractable joint, wherein retracting the retractable joint causes the stinger to be withdrawn from the float shoe; and circulating fluid through the inner string and into an interior of a casing after withdrawing the stinger from within the float shoe.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises cement or another settable fluid configured to secure the casing string in the wellbore.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein retracting the retractable joint comprises:
catching an obstruction member in a seat of the retractable joint; and applying a pressure through the inner string to the obstruction member.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
causing the obstruction member to pass through the seat after retracting the retractable joint; blocking the float shoe using the obstruction member; and pressurizing the inner annulus while the obstruction member blocks the float shoe.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
disconnecting a lower portion of the inner string from an upper portion thereof while the inner string is at least partially positioned in the casing string; removing the upper portion, but not the lower portion, from the casing string after disconnecting the lower portion from the upper portion; and drilling out the lower portion after removing the upper portion.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising circulating fluid through the inner annulus and out of a vent valve coupled to a casing hanger running tool.

7 . A cementing system comprising:
an inner string configured to be received into a casing string in a wellbore; a stinger coupled to the inner string and configured to be received into a float shoe connected to the casing string; and a retractable joint coupled to the inner string, wherein the retractable joint is configured to reduce in axial length so as to permit at least part of the stinger to be withdrawn from engagement with the float shoe while a weight of the inner string is supported by a hanger running tool and a casing hanger connected to the casing, wherein the retractable joint comprises a seat that is configured to receive an obstruction member, wherein, when the seat receives the obstruction member, a pressure in the inner string causes the retractable joint to reduce in axial length and into an inner annulus wherein the inner string, the stinger, and the retractable joint form at least a part of a flowpath that extends through an end of the casing string at the float shoe, such that fluid is permitted to flow through the inner string and the float shoe and into an outer annulus defined outside of the casing string, without flowing into the inner annulus defined between the inner string and the casing string.

8 . The cementing system of claim 1 , wherein the retractable joint is configured to be mechanically locked after reducing in axial length, so as to prevent the retractable joint from increasing in axial length.

9 . The cementing system of claim 1 , wherein the seat is configured such that increased application of pressure causes the obstruction member to pass through the seat and engage the float shoe, and wherein the obstruction member engaging the float shoe prevents fluid communication from within the casing string to the outer annulus.

10 . The cementing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a slip joint coupled to the inner string; and a casing hanger running tool coupled to the inner string, wherein the slip joint is configured to reduce in axial length so as to permit the casing hanger running tool to be connected to the casing hanger, so as to support at least a portion of the weight of the inner string from the casing hanger in tension.

11 . The cementing system of claim 7 , wherein the inner string includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mechanically-separable connection between the upper and lower portions, the lower portion being connected to the stinger and being made from a drillable material, and the connection permitting the upper and lower portions to be disconnected in the well.

Assignees

• Franks Int Llc

Inventors

• Jordan John Christopher
• Farrar Amy L
• Mondelli Juan Carlos E
• Russell Steven

Classifications

• E21B43/10

  Setting of casings, screens, liners {or the like} in wells · CPC title

• E21B33/0415

  rotating or floating support for tubing or casing hanger · CPC title

• E21B17/06

  Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints · CPC title

• E21B17/07

  Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers · CPC title

• E21B33/14 Primary

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title