Hard bottom cement seal for improved well control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9297229-B2
Application number	US-201113812685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2011
Priority date	Jul 28, 2010
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

Methods include introducing a casing into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the casing forming an annulus with the wellbore surface, where the casing is subject to a first pressure value at a distal end and a second pressure value at a proximal region within the casing, and where a shoe is positioned at the distal end of the casing. Then, placing a sealable valve within the proximal region of the casing, injecting a first cement composition into the casing, through the sealable valve and shoe, and into the annulus, and the placing a second cement composition in a medial region of the tubular formed between the distal end and the proximal region. Afterward, the sealable valve is closed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a. a tubular subject to a first pressure value at a distal end and a second pressure value at a proximal region within the tubular;
b. a shoe disposed within the distal end of the tubular, wherein the shoe comprises a ball valve;
c. a rotating ball valve disposed within the proximal region within the tubular; and,
d. a cement composition contained within a medial region of the tubular formed between the distal end and the proximal region.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubular is a casing disposed in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the surface of the subterranean formation is positioned undersea.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first pressure value is greater than or equal to the second pressure value.

5. A method comprising:
a. introducing a casing into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the casing forming an annulus with the wellbore surface, wherein the casing is subject to a first pressure value at a distal end and a second pressure value at a proximal region within the casing, and wherein a shoe is positioned at the distal end of the casing, the shoe comprising a ball valve;
b. placing a rotating ball valve within the proximal region of the casing;
c. injecting a first cement composition into the casing, through the rotating ball valve and shoe, and into the annulus;
d. placing a second cement composition in a medial region of the tubular formed between the distal end and the proximal region; and
e. closing the rotating ball valve.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the surface of the subterranean formation is positioned undersea.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first pressure value is greater than or equal to the second pressure value.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising applying high pressure in the casing to test the pressure integrity of casing installation prior to curing of the first cement composition and/or the second cement composition.

9. A method comprising:
a. introducing a tubular into an open hole wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the tubular forming an annulus with the open hole wellbore surface, wherein the tubular is subject to a first pressure value at a distal end and a second pressure value at a proximal region within the tubular, and wherein a shoe is positioned at the distal end of the tubular, the shoe comprising a ball valve;
b. placing a rotating ball valve within the proximal region of the tubular;
c. injecting a cement composition into the casing, through the rotating ball valve and shoe, and into the annulus; and,
d. closing the rotating ball valve.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first pressure value is greater than or equal to the second pressure value.

Assignees

• Rytlewski Gary L
• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Rytlewski Gary L

Classifications

• E21B33/143

  for underwater installations · CPC title

• E21B21/10 Primary

  Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems · CPC title

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title

• E21B33/1204 Primary

  permanent; drillable · CPC title

• E21B33/16

  using plugs for isolating cement charge; Plugs therefor {(stage cementing E21B33/146; spacer compositions C09K8/424)} · CPC title