Plug-actuated sub

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016341002-A1
Application number	US-201514720082-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plug-actuated sub can include a housing disposed in the wellbore tubular and a plug seat located inside the housing. The plug-actuated sub also has a flapper and a flapper seat located inside the housing. The flapper seat is axially slidable between a first position and a second position in the housing. The plug seat is configured to release the flapper onto the flapper seat when the plug seat is shifted. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for performing a downhole operation in a wellbore tubular, comprising:
a housing disposed in the wellbore tubular; a plug seat located inside the housing; and a flapper and a flapper seat located inside the housing and axially slidable between a first position and a second position in the housing, wherein the plug seat is configured to release the flapper onto the flapper seat when the plug seat is shifted.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flapper comprises a degradable material.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a degradable material is used in at least one of: (i) the flapper seat, (ii) the plug seat, and (iii) a plug.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flapper comprises at least one of: (i) ceramic, (ii) steel, (iii) cast iron, and (iv) elastomer.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plug seat selectively locks the flapper in the first position.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a latch connected to the housing, wherein the latch selectively prevents the flapper from moving to the second position.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sliding member located in the housing, and a connector connecting the sliding member to the flapper seat, wherein the sliding member has at least one port.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing has at least one port sealed by one of the plug seat and a sliding member, and wherein the flapper seat when shifted, opens the at least one port of the housing to fluid communication.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member connected to the flapper wherein the biasing member is at least one of: (i) rotational spring, (ii) a leaf spring, (iii) a cam mechanism, and (iv) an inclined surface of the flapper.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flapper forms immediate pressure isolation in the second position.

11 . A method for performing a downhole operation in a wellbore tubular, comprising:
disposing a control device in the wellbore tubular, wherein the control device includes:
a housing disposed in the wellbore tubular; and
a plug seat, a flapper and a flapper seat located inside the housing;
dropping a plug into the wellbore tubular; allowing the plug to seat on the plug seat; shifting the plug seat; releasing the flapper; rotating the flapper; seating the flapper on the flapper seat; and sliding the flapper inside the housing axially.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming pressure isolation between an upper side and the lower side of the flapper immediately after seating the flapper.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising contacting the flapper with a fluid to degrade the flapper.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating a downhole tool when the flapper slides axially.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising treating a subterranean formation by pumping fluids through the wellbore tubular, wherein the treatment includes at least one of: (i) fracturing, (ii) acidizing, (iii) tracer logging, (iv) injection, (v) well cleaning, and (vi) stimulation operation.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising at least one of: (i) breaking the flapper, and (ii) pumping a degrading fluid into the wellbore tubular to degrade the flapper.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Mckitrick Iii Robert D

Classifications

• E21B2200/05

  Flapper valves · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B2034/005

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic