Zone select stage tool system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9856714-B2
Application number	US-201313944568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2013
Priority date	Jul 17, 2013
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A stage tool operable with a plug is used for cementing a tubing string in a wellbore annulus. The tool can have a housing with a closure sleeve movably disposed in the internal bore of the housing. When pressure is applied downhole to the tool, a breachable obstruction on an exit port of the tool's bore opens and allows fluid such as cement slurry to communicate to the wellbore annulus. When cementing through the open tool is finished, a plug can be deployed downhole lands on a seat in the closure sleeve, and applied fluid pressure in the tool's bore against the seated plug closes the closure sleeve relative to the housing's exit port. Rotational catches between the housing's bore and the closure sleeve prevent the closure sleeve from rotating. A hydraulic mechanism on the tool can facilitate movement of the closure sleeve in response to a fluid pressure component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stage tool for cementing casing in a wellbore annulus, the tool comprising:
a housing disposed on the casing and having a first internal bore and an exit port, the exit port communicating the first internal bore with the wellbore annulus;
a first breachable obstruction disposed on the tool and preventing fluid communication through the exit port, the first breachable obstruction breached in response to a first fluid pressure component in the first internal bore acting against the first breachable obstruction and permitting fluid communication through the exit port when breached;
an internal sleeve movably disposed in the first internal bore of the housing and having a second internal bore, the sleeve movably disposed at least from an initial position to a closed position relative to the exit port at least in part in response to a second fluid pressure component; and
an insert sleeve separate from the tool and inserting at least partially in the first internal bore of the housing and in the second internal bore of the internal sleeve, the insert sleeve having at least one key engaging in a lock profile of the first internal bore, the insert sleeve installed in the tool preventing fluid communication through the exit port.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein:
the first breachable obstruction is exposed to the first internal bore of the housing during run-in and initial operation and is unbreached to an initial fluid pressure component in the first internal bore acting against the breachable obstruction during the run-in and the initial operation of the stage tool; and
wherein the internal sleeve is in the initial position leaving the first breachable obstruction exposed to the initial fluid pressure component during the run-in and the initial operation of the stage tool, the internal sleeve moving from the initial position to the closed position at least in part in response to the second fluid pressure component, the internal sleeve in the closed position covering the exit port and preventing fluid communication through the exit port.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first breachable obstruction comprises a rupture disc disposed in the exit port of the housing and breached in response to the first fluid pressure component in the first internal bore.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the internal sleeve comprises seals disposed externally thereon and sealably engaging in the first internal bore of the housing, the seals sealing off the exit port when the internal sleeve is in the closed position.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the internal sleeve comprises a seat disposed in the second internal bore, the internal sleeve moving from the initial position to the closed position at least in part in response to the second fluid pressure component applied against a plug engaged in the seat.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one first rotational catch in the first internal bore; wherein the internal sleeve comprises at least one second rotational catch thereon; and wherein the first and second rotational catches restrict rotation of the internal sleeve in the closed position relative to the first internal bore.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the at least one first rotational catch comprises a plurality of first castellations disposed about an internal shoulder in the first internal bore of the housing; and wherein the at least one second rotational catch comprises a plurality of second castellations disposed on an end of the internal sleeve.

8. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate sleeve disposed in the first internal bore and being moveable in the first internal bore at least from a first position to a second position, the intermediate sleeve in the first position being disposed away from the internal sleeve and a shoulder in the first internal bore, the intermediate sleeve in the second position being engaged between the internal sleeve and the shoulder.

9. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the intermediate sleeve comprises third rotational catches disposed on opposing ends thereof, the third rotational catches mating with first and second rotational catches on the internal sleeve and the shoulder respectively.

10. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the intermediate sleeve in the first position at least partially covers a sealing area defined on the first internal bore of the housing against which a portion of the internal sleeve seals when disposed in the closed position.

11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the insert sleeve comprises an external seal disposed about an external surface of the insert sleeve and engaging at least partially in the first and second internal bores.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the external surface and the external seal cover existing seals and joints in the tool.

13. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the external seal is composed of an elastomer or a swellable material.

14. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism moving the internal sleeve from the initial position to the closed position at least in part in response to the second fluid pressure component.

15. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a piston disposed in a chamber of the housing, the piston movable in the chamber in response to a pressure differential from the second fluid pressure component applied across the piston between first and second portions of the chamber.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a separate case coupled to the housing and continuing the first internal bore therewith; and wherein the piston comprises a mandrel movable with the piston to move the sleeve.

17. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the piston comprises a seal sealing a low pressure in the first portion of the chamber.

18. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the piston comprises an inlet port communicating the second portion of the chamber with the first internal bore, the inlet port having a second breachable obstruction preventing fluid communication through the inlet port.

19. The tool of claim 18 , wherein the second breachable obstruction a pin disposed in the inlet port and breaking away therefrom to open fluid communication through the inlet port.

20. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises an inlet port communicating the second portion of the chamber with the first internal bore or with the wellbore annulus, the inlet port having a valve operable to allow fluid communication through the inlet port to the second portion of the chamber.

21. The tool of claim 20 , wherein the valve comprises a second breachable obstruction preventing fluid communication through the inlet port at least until breached.

22. The tool of claim 21 , wherein the valve comprises a solenoid activatable to breach the second breachable obstruction and allow fluid communication through the inlet port.

23. The tool of claim 21 , wherein the valve comprises:
a pin biased from a closed state to an opened state relative to the inlet port;
a cord retaining the pin in the closed state; and
a fuse breaking the cord and releasing the pin to the opened state.

24. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a sensor activating the closure mechanism to move the sleeve in response to a sensed condition.

25. The tool of claim 24 , wherein the sensor comprises a reader responsive to passage of at least one radio frequency iden

Assignees

• Weatherford Lamb Inc
• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Giroux Richard L

Classifications

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B34/063

  Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/146 Primary

  Stage cementing, i.e. discharging cement from casing at different levels · CPC title

• E21B2034/007

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic