Downhole plug drop tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9004185-B2
Application number	US-201213343874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2012
Priority date	Jan 5, 2012
Publication date	Apr 14, 2015
Grant date	Apr 14, 2015

Abstract

A plug drop tool, including a body defining a chamber, a plug initially housed in the chamber and a member disposed with the body. The member is actuatable for selectively enabling communication between the chamber and an annulus at least partially defined by the body. The plug is movable into the annulus when the communication is enabled.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plug drop tool, comprising:
a body defining a chamber;
a plug initially housed in the chamber; and
a member disposed with the body and actuatable for selectively enabling communication between the chamber and an annulus at least partially defined by the body, the plug movable into the annulus when the communication is enabled.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the plug is a ball.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a window therein that is selectively blocked by the member.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the member is a rod slidably housed in the body.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the member is included with at least one cap, the cap arranged to prevent the plug from exiting the chamber.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the cap and the member are disposed on opposite axial sides of the plug and connected by at least one strut for enabling forces exerted on the cap to be transferred to the member for moving the member within the body.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein axial movement of the member enables the communication between the chamber and the annulus.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the plug is operatively sized smaller than a radial clearance through the annulus.

9. A bottom hole assembly comprising the tool of claim 1 .

10. The bottom hole assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an isolation tool located downhole from the plug drop tool, the isolation tool operatively arranged for receiving the plug after passage of the plug through the annulus.

11. A bottom hole assembly comprising:
an isolation tool;
a setting tool operatively arranged for setting the isolation tool in a downhole structure, the setting tool initially connected to the isolation tool and disconnectable therefrom after setting; and
a plug drop tool coupled with the setting tool, the plug drop tool configured to drop a plug, the plug operatively arranged to travel downhole and engage the isolation tool after disconnection from the setting tool for enabling isolation by the isolation tool.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , further including at least one perforation gun coupled with the setting tool and the plug drop tool.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plug drop tool is arranged to drop the plug through an annulus formed between the bottom hole assembly and the downhole structure.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plug is engagable with the isolation tool after disconnection of the isolation tool and the setting tool.

15. A method of performing a downhole operation comprising:
running a bottom hole assembly into a downhole structure, the bottom hole assembly including a setting tool, an isolation tool, and a plug drop tool;
setting the isolation tool in the downhole structure with the setting tool;
disconnecting the setting tool from the isolation tool;
deploying a plug from the plug drop tool after the setting of the isolation tool; and
engaging the plug with the isolation tool for enabling isolation by the isolation tool.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein deploying the plug drop tool includes opening at least one window in a body of the plug drop tool.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein deploying the plug drop tool includes actuating at least one member disposed with a body of the plug drop tool.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein engaging the plug with the isolation tool includes dropping the plug to the isolation tool through an annulus formed between the bottom hole assembly and the downhole structure.

Assignees

• Madero Paul
• Mickey Clint E
• Dolyniuk David A
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Madero Paul
• Mickey Clint E
• Dolyniuk David A

Classifications

• E21B34/142

  unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons · CPC title

• E21B33/12 Primary

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

• E21B23/06 Primary

  for setting packers · CPC title