Breakway obturator for downhole tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265302-A1
Application number	US-201315031465-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2013
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An obturator for actuating a downhole tool having a central bore. The obturator comprising a body of a size and shape to pass through the central bore of the tool and an engagement member releasably attached to the exterior of the tool body, the engagement member being of a size and shape to engage and actuate the tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An obturator for engaging an annular seat in subterranean wellbore equipment, comprising:
an elongated body of a shape to pass through the annular seat; an annular member of a size and shape to engage the annular seat; and a release mechanism connecting the annular member to the body.

2 . The obturator according to claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a frangible member.

3 . The seat according to claim 2 , wherein the frangible member comprises a shear pin.

4 . The seat according to claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a lock ring.

5 . The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a magnetic field.

6 . The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the body is cylindrical shaped.

7 . The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a hollow cylinder.

8 . The seat assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the obturator comprises a dart.

9 . A wellbore comprising:
a tubing string extending into the wellbore to a subterranean location; wellbore equipment connected to the tubing string at the subterranean location, the equipment having a central bore connected to the tubing string and an a seat located in the central bore; an obturator of a size to move through the tubing string to the wellbore equipment, the obturator comprising an elongated body of a shape to pass through the annular seat, an annular member of a size and shape to engage the annular seat; and a release mechanism connecting the annular member to the body.

10 . The wellbore according to claim 9 , wherein the obturator comprises a dart.

11 . The wellbore according to claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a frangible member.

12 . The wellbore according to claim 11 , wherein the frangible member comprises a shear pin.

13 . The wellbore according to claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a lock ring.

14 . The wellbore according to claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a magnetic field.

15 . The wellbore according to claim 9 , wherein the body is cylindrical shaped.

16 . The wellbore according to claim 9 , wherein the body comprises a hollow cylinder.

17 . A method of using an obturator to actuate wellbore equipment connected to a tubing string at a subterranean location, the method comprising:
providing wellbore equipment having a central bore and an annular seat in the central bore, the seat being mounted to shift axially upon contact by an obturator, a seat release mechanism holding the seat in axial position in the wellbore equipment until an the axial force on the seat exceeds a first amount; connecting the wellbore equipment with its central bore in fluid communication with the tubing string; providing an obturator comprising a body of a size and shape to pass through the seat in the wellbore equipment, an engagement member of a size and shape engage the seat in the wellbore equipment, and an engagement member release mechanism holding the engagement member in axial position on the body until an the axial force on the body exceeds a second amount; placing the obturator in the tubing string and transporting the obturator into the wellbore equipment until the engagement member contacts the seat; increasing the fluid pressure acting on the obturator until the resulting force acting on the body and seat exceeds the first amount to cause the seat release mechanism to release the seat to shift axially; and thereafter increasing the fluid pressure acting on the body until the resulting force acting on the body exceeds the second amount to cause the engagement member release mechanism to release the body to shift axially and pass through the wellbore equipment.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the engagement member release mechanism comprises a frangible member.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the seat release mechanism is a frangible member.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the first obturator and seat are of a size and shape such that the force of the first amount is created by a first pressure and the force of the second amount is created by a second higher pressure.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Acosta Frank
• Budler Nicholas Frederick
• Key John
• Helms Lonnie

Classifications

• E21B33/126

  with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B34/10

  operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole · CPC title

• E21B33/12 Primary

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B33/1295 Primary

  actuated by fluid pressure · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title