Reverse flow catch-and-engage tool and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617826-B2
Application number	US-201615200677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2016
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A catch-and-engage tool conveyed with a well casing for use in a wellbore comprising an outer housing having flow ports therethrough, a functioning apparatus disposed within the outer housing comprising a movable member/sleeve and a holding device, a blocking apparatus disposed within the outer housing comprising a blocking member configured to block one or more flow ports in a first position, a seating apparatus positioned upstream of the blocking apparatus configured to form a seat in the tool. When a ball deployed into the well casing passes through the tool in a downstream direction and moves back in an upstream direction, the restriction element engages onto the holding device and moves the movable member such that a port in exposed to uphole pressure and the blocking member travels to a second position in a reverse direction unblocking flow ports and enabling fluid communication to the wellbore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catch-and-engage tool conveyed with a well casing for use in a wellbore, said catch-and-engage tool comprising:
(a) an outer housing having one or more flow ports therethrough; said outer housing disposed longitudinally along said well casing;
(b) a functioning apparatus disposed within said outer housing; said functioning apparatus further comprising a movable member and a holding device;
(c) a blocking apparatus disposed within said outer housing; said blocking apparatus further comprising a blocking member configured to block said one or more flow ports in a first position; and
(d) a seating apparatus positioned upstream of said blocking apparatus and disposed within said outer housing; said seating apparatus configured to form a seat in said tool;
whereby,
when a restriction element deployed into said well casing passes through said tool in a downstream direction and moves back in an upstream direction, said restriction element engages onto said holding device and moves said movable member such that a communication port is exposed to uphole pressure.

2. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 whereby when said communication port is exposed to said uphole pressure, said blocking member travels to a second position in a reverse direction from downstream to upstream; and said blocking member unblocks said one or more flow ports in said second position and enables fluid communication to said wellbore.

3. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 2 whereby when said blocking member travels in said reverse direction, said blocking member drives said connection sleeve in an upstream direction such that said seat end pushes into a seating restriction and deforms said seating restriction to form a seating surface.

4. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 2 further comprises a ramped restriction, whereby when said blocking member travels longitudinally in said reverse direction, said blocking member drives said connection sleeve in an upstream direction such that a part of said seat end swages into a ramp in said ramped restriction and said seat end bulges inwards to form a seating surface.

5. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 2 whereby when said blocking member travels longitudinally in said reverse direction, said blocking member moves said connection sleeve in an upstream direction into an air chamber between said connection sleeve and said outer housing.

6. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said blocking member further comprises openings; whereby when said communication port is exposed to said uphole pressure, said blocking member travels to a second position in a reverse direction from downstream to upstream; and said openings align with said one or more flow ports in said second position and enable fluid communication to said wellbore.

7. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said movable member is an actuating sleeve configured to actuate said communication port; said communication port is a pilot hole.

8. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said seating apparatus further comprises a connection sleeve disposed and longitudinally moveable within said outer housing; said connection sleeve configured with a seat end and a connection end; said connection end mechanically coupled to an upstream end of said blocking apparatus.

9. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 2 whereby when said blocking member travels longitudinally in said reverse direction, said blocking member moves said connection sleeve in an upstream direction such that a section of said seat end deforms inwards to form a seating surface.

10. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said seating apparatus and said blocking apparatus are integrated into a unified apparatus; said unified apparatus configured to unblock said one or more flow ports and form a seat on an upstream end.

11. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 further comprises a downhole stop; said downhole stop configured to further restrict substantial longitudinal movement of said movable member in a downstream direction; whereby when said restriction element passes through said catch-and-engage holding device in a downstream direction, said downhole stop restraints said movable member from further sliding in a downstream direction.

12. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said functioning apparatus further comprises a spring loaded collet; said spring loaded collet configured to expand outwards when said restriction element passed through in a downstream direction.

13. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 12 wherein said spring loaded collet is further configured to contract after said restriction element passes through in a downstream direction.

14. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 12 wherein said spring loaded collet is further configured with a shallow angle; said shallow angle prevents said restriction element to pass through in an upstream direction when said restriction element engages on said catch-and-engage holding device due to said reverse flow.

15. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 further comprises a latching device; said latching device is configured to latch said movable member when said movable member moves in a reverse direction and exposes said communication port to well pressure.

16. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 15 wherein said latching device is a snap ring; said snap ring configured to lock into a groove in said blocking apparatus.

17. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said movable member is an arming sleeve configured to arm and actuate a pressure actuating device.

18. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 17 wherein when said pressure actuating device is armed and exposed to said well pressure, said pressure actuating device actuates and enables said blocking member to travel longitudinally in said reverse direction.

19. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 17 further comprises a time delay element; said time delay element configured to be in fluid communication with said pressure actuating device.

20. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 19 wherein said time delay element s a hydraulic restriction element.

21. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 17 wherein when said pressure actuating device is armed and exposed to said well pressure, said pressure actuating device actuates and enables said blocking member to travel longitudinally in said reverse direction after a pre-determined time delay.

22. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 21 wherein said pre-determined time delay ranges from 1 second to 1000 minutes.

23. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 21 wherein said pre-determined time enables pressure indication of said restriction element seating in a tool positioned downstream of said sliding sleeve apparatus.

24. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein ratio of inner diameter of said arming sleeve to inner diameter of said blocking member ranges between 0.25 to 1.5.

25. The catch-and-engage tool of claim 1 wherein said arming sleeve, said blocking member and said connection sleeve are made from a material selected from a group comprising: Mg, Al, steel, ceramic, composite or degradable.

26. A catch-and-engage method, said method operating in conjunction with a catch-and-engage tool conveyed with a well casing for use in a wellbore, said catch-and-engage tool comprising:
(a) an outer housing having one or more flow ports therethrough; said outer housing disposed longitudin

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Roessler Dennis E
• George Kevin R
• Garg Varun
• Hardesty John T
• Shaffer Raymond C
• Snider Philip M
• Wesson David S

Classifications

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B2034/007

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• 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

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title