Top down liner cementing, rotation and release method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9611722-B2
Application number	US-201314134000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A top down cementing tool operates with either mechanical manipulation or hydraulically. Rotation of the liner during cementing is enabled. A first bore is open for circulation during running in of the liner. In the hydraulic version, pressuring up on a dropped ball in the first bore opens cement packer setting ports and aligns crossover ports from the first bore to the annulus below the cementing packer and displaced fluid return ports to the annulus above the cementing packer. Pressuring up on a trailing wiper plug in the first bore opens the second bore so that pressuring on a seated ball in the second bore opens access to unsetting the cementing packer and launching the ball in the second bore for liner hanger setting and release of the running tool. The alternative embodiment gets the same result but with string manipulation for some of the realignments.

First claim

We claim:

1. A top down cementing method for a tubular string to be supported from an existing string at a subterranean location, comprising:
positioning the tubular string relative to said existing string with a top down cementing running tool;
configuring said cementing running tool with an external barrier and at least one bore internally;
setting said external barrier;
delivering a sealing material laterally out of said cementing running tool on a downhole side of said set external barrier to flow down toward a fluid return port;
taking displaced fluid returns from said fluid return port and expelling said fluid laterally out of said cementing running tool on an uphole side of said set external barrier;
releasing said external barrier;
securing said tubular string to said existing string through said bore independently of said external barrier;
removing said cement running tool with said external barrier from said tubular string.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
using a sealing material bore for said delivering and a return bore for said taking displaced fluid.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
leaving said sealing material bore open for running in;
obstructing said sealing material bore with a first object;
setting said external barrier with pressure on said first object.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
opening a sealing material lateral exit port after setting said external barrier with pressure on said first object or a pickup force applied to said cementing running tool.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
closing said sealing material exit port after said delivering.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
dropping a dart adjacent said first object to close said sealing material exit port after said delivering or closing said sealing material exit port with another pickup force applied to said cementing running tool.

7. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
opening a top end of said return bore to said sealing material bore with pressure in said sealing material bore;
retaining said return bore closed despite said opening said top end with a sealing object below said top end.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising:
moving said sealing object in said return bore to open a lateral passage to said external barrier;
releasing said external barrier through said opened lateral passage while maintaining said return bore closed with said sealing object.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
closing a displaced fluid lateral port while releasing said external barrier.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
moving said sealing object with an associated seat to a travel stop to open lateral passage to said external barrier;
blowing said sealing object through said associated seat;
landing said sealing object in a liner hanger packer;
pressuring on said sealing object in said liner hanger packer for said securing said tubular string to said existing string.

11. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
closing said displaced fluid lateral port with movement of said sealing object.

12. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
rotating said cementing running tool during said delivering.

13. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
opening said lateral sealing material exit port with a pickup force applied to said cementing running tool after setting said external barrier.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
closing said sealing material bore to uphole flow at a location downhole from said sealing material exit port.

15. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
opening a top end of said return bore to said sealing material bore with pressure in said sealing material bore;
applying another pickup force to said cementing running tool to close a return fluid lateral exit port located above said external barrier.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:
retracting said external barrier with said applying said another pickup force.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
undermining support for a sealing object by applying yet another pickup force;
delivering said sealing object to a liner hanger packer for setting to secure said tubular string to said existing string and release said cementing running tool from said tubular string.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
locating said sealing object in a common bore adjacent said sealing material and return bores;
supporting said sealing object on opposed ends in said common bore;
providing a bypass passage around said sealing object when said sealing object blocks said common bore.

19. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
aligning, with said yet another pickup force, a setting ball exit port into a common bore adjacent said sealing material and return bores, with a setting ball stored outside said common bore;
enabling relative rotation in said cementing running tool with said applying said yet another pickup force so that a cam surface adjacent said setting ball forces said setting ball into said common bore to travel to a liner hanger packer for a backup way to set said liner hanger packer for supporting said tubular string to said existing string and release of said cementing running tool.

20. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
releasing said cementing running tool from said tubular string using mechanical manipulation of said cementing running tool.

21. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
closing said bypass passage for releasing said sealing object.

22. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
launching an object from said return bore for said securing said tubular string to said existing string and releasing of said cementing running tool from said tubular string.

23. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
launching an object through said bore for said securing said tubular string.

24. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
rotating said cementing running tool during said delivering.

25. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
performing said setting the external barrier through releasing said cementing running tool without manipulation of a running string supporting said cementing running tool.

26. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
using applied pressure only for performing said setting the external barrier through releasing said cementing running tool.

27. A top down cementing method for a tubular string to be supported from an existing string at a subterranean location, comprising:
positioning the tubular string relative to said existing string with a top down cementing running tool;
configuring said cementing running tool with an external barrier and at least one bore internally;
setting said cementing external barrier;
delivering a sealing material laterally out of said cementing running tool on a downhole side of said set external barrier;
taking displaced fluid returns laterally out of said cementing running tool on an uphole side of said set external barrier;
releasing said external barrier;
securing said tubular string to said existing string through said bore;
releasing said cementing running tool from said tubular string;
using a sealing material bore for said delivering and a return bore for said taking displaced fluid;
breaking a rupture disc to provide access from said sealing material bore to the top end of said return bore;
retaining a movable barrier in said return bore below said rupture disc;
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Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Hern Christopher R
• Kruger Matthew J
• Ewing Daniel C
• Ansohn Travis J
• Lacombe Jason P
• Adams Jarandon J
• Ramon Michael
• Cortez Steve M

Classifications

• E21B34/14 Primary

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title

• E21B34/142 Primary

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