Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~lE:AD I~SSEM13LY FOR IPOMP DO~N E:QUIPMENT
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BACKGROUND OF TElE INVENTION
1. FIELD OE~_T~IE INVENTION: The invention relates to
an apparatus and method for holding and mechanically releasiny
la pump down means, such as a ball or wiper plug element used
during the cementing operation of a subterranean oil or gas well.
2. DESCRIPrrION OF THE PRIOR ART: As a step in the
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completion operation of a subterranean well, casing is run in-to
the well and the annular area exterior of the casing and within
the open bore thereafter is cemented to secure the casing within
the well. Cemen-ting plugs, ball elements, and other pump down
means are utilized in the cementing operation and are run ahead
;and behind the cernent slurry in order to wipe mud off the walls
of the casing or drill pipe and to p~event cement from being
contaminated with the drilling fluid previously circulated
within the casing ancl the well. Such p]ugs are often times run
into the well within the casing and behind a cement slurry in
or~er to wipe the casing i.d. arld close off check valves, open
stage co:l.lars, and reclose stacJe colLars duri.ny multi~tay~
cementillg operations, and the like.
In t?~e pa~t, head a~ emblles fo~ holdirlg and dropping
cementing plugs and -the like have been affixed below a kelly
joint and above the upper most section of the casing conduit
and will relea~e the plug by application of hydraulic pressure
by use of piston elements in the plug dropping head a~emblies
to which are connected hydraulic hoses extending to a remo-te
control panel. Obviously, in such a configuration, it is
difficult, if not impossible, to rotate the kelly joint and/or
casing conduit with the plug dropping head affixed thereon. At
the very least, such operation tends to be extrernely cumbersome.
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1 ~dditionally, pr.ior art plug dropp:Lny heads hclve not
been able to be utilized in conjunction with the pumping of
fluids wh.ich are utilized in one or more portions of the ce-
l¦menting or other remedial well operation, since the plug has
lelastomeric wlper fins extending along and contacting the inner
wall of the plug dropping head and casing conduit. 'rhls problem
has resulted in the temporary termination of a pumping operation
while a plug dropping head is affixed to the casing conduit at
the top of the well. Thereafter, the cementing operation is
10 l~reactivated after dropping of one or more p].ug assemblies.
Even the temporary te.rmination of the pumping operation can
adversely affect the rheological properties of the cementitious
or other remedial fluid within the well resulting in a loss of
solids therein and viscosity.
15 , l`he present invention addresses the problems set
forth above and provides a plug dropping head which permits the
casing and/or kelly ~oint to be continuously rotated or lonyi-
tudinally manipulated at any titne with -the pump down means, or
.;pluy, carriec1 therein arld available or discharge therethrouyh
20 ,at any time.
Add:Ltional]y, tl1e present invent.iorl a:Lso provides a
pl~ly droppiny head assembly in wllich the cem~tlt.itious fluid may
he continuously pumped through the apparatus, from one end to
,the other, and down the casing string, both before, during and
25l!after the dropping of the plug, ball or other pump down means.
¦ SUMMARY O~ THE INVENTION
I'he present invention provides an apparatus for
¦holding and mechanically releasing a pump down rneans, such as a
Iwiper plug, valve activating ball element, dart, or the like
used during the cementing or other remedial operation Or or
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1 within a conduit withirl a subterranean well. q'he apparatus is
securable on a longitudinally and rotationally manipulatable
conduit member communicating with the well such that no hydrau- I
lic auxiliary control lines extend from the apparatus. Accord-
ingly, the apparatus may be freely rotated with the casing orother conduit string at all times. Additionally, the apparatus
permits cementitious or other fluid to be transmitted completely
through the apparatus at all times ~uch that the apparatus may
be positioned on the conduit without interference with the
pumping of the cementitious or other remedial fluid, before,
during and after the dropping of the plug or other pump down
means. I
l~e apparatus comprises an elongated cylindrical
housing with a cylindrical sleeve which is concentrically
disposed within the houslng for receipt of the pump down tneans.
~1eans for holding the sleeve are provided in a first position
;to prevent movement of the sleeve relative -to the housiny in
one direction. Means are also provided for selectively releas~
ing the sl.eeve ~rom the first posit:ion to per~it movement oE
20 the sleeve re]ative to the hous:irlcJ and exten~3ion rneans ar~ j
withirl L}l~ sleeve an(~ movabL~ betweell first an(l secon(l exten- ¦
sion positiorls such that Whell the exterlsiotl means is in one oE
the extension positions, movemetlt of the pump down means is
prevented in one direction and when the extension means is in
25 ! the other of said positions, movement of the pump down means is
permitted through the apparatus. An annular cementing fluid
tran~mission passageway is defined between the housing and the
sleeve to permit continuous pumping of cementitious fluid
through the apparatus and into the casing at all times while
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1 the apparatus i5 positioned on the casing for selective droppiny
of the plug, ball or other pump down means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE ~RAWINGS
Fig. l con~titutes a longitudinally extending half
sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention with a
casing conduit section extending to the well at the lowermost
end thereof, the apparatus being illustrated in position for
holding a cementing plug. I
Figs. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. l, illus- ¦
trating the apparatu.s subsequent to dropping of the cementing
pl ug .
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-
3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a view taken along lines 44 of Fig. l.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectiona] view taken along lines 5-
5 of Fig. l.
Eic3. 6 is a view similar to Flg. l schernatically
illustrating in a longitudinal cross-sectiorlal view, arl alter-
nate ernbodiment oE the apparatu~ :Lllucstratirlc) t~)e abllity Oe
the ap~aratu3 to selectively hold arld releas~ a pl.urality of
pump down mearl~, SUCll a~ a wLper as~embly, ball, or the llke.
DE RIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FMBODIMENTS
Now, with reference to Fig. l, there is shown an
apparatus lOO for holding and mechanically releasing a pump
~own means used during the cementing of a conduit within a
subterranean well. ~le apparatus lOO has at itB uppermost end
a longitudinally extending housing member lOla which receives
at its uppermost ends at threads 102 the lower end of a kel3y
joint, or other swivel housing S.
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1 The housiny member lOla is secured at thre~d.s 1~3 tv
a central housing me~ber lOlb. A portion of the internal
diameter of the housing ~ember lOlb is enlarged at 104, such
enlargement 104 providing for receipt o~ an exten~ion means, or
5 head support 112 when it is shifted to released position to
per~it the plug P to be discharged through the apparatu~ 100,
as detailed below.
; When the head support 112 is within the opening 104a
I in the central housing member lOlb, a head support tip 112a on
10 , the uppermogt sllrface o~ the head support 112 and facing the
nose P3 of the plug P, will be parallel to the smooth bore
internal diameter 113 of the central housing member lOlb, thus
eliminating any interference between the head support 112 and
movement of a cylindrical sleeve 106 carried interiorly of the
15 ' housing ~embers lOla and lOlb.
The central housing member lOlb has a transversely
projecting bore lOld for threadecl recelpt of a lock pin member
115 by means of threads 114. The lock p:in member :L15, when in
; place to secure the sleeve 1~6 in a first position prior ko
Z I release o the plug P, has a lock shoulder 115c profiled for
companion interfaclng with a similarly profiled shoulder 106a
around the lowermost end vf the sleeve 106. When the shoulders
106a, 115c are in engagement as shown in Fig. 1 the sleeve 106
is prevented from movement in one direction to activate the
release of the ~lug P.
The lock pin 115 also has at its inboa~d tip end a
~ release shoulder 115b angu]arly profiled such that a 180
rotation of the lock pin 115 by means oE an insert of tubing
(not shown) or the like through a rotation bore 115a at the
outboard-most end of the lock pin 115 will cause the release
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shoulder l15b to be rotated and the :lock slloulder 115c l:o come
illtO mating alignment with the smooth bore 113 of the central
housing member lOlb- In such position, the sleeve 106 is
llpermitted to move in one direction un-til the shoulder 106a
5 I interfaces with a stop shoulder lOlc on -the central housing
member lOlb.
At the lowermost end of the central housing member
lOlb is a pin portion having threa(ls 105 for securement of the
~ apparatus 100 to the uppermost end of a section of drill pipe
10; C, or other conduit extendable into the subterranean well.
The plug P is inserted through the uppermost end of
the apparatus 100 and i5 housed within the sleeve 106 with the
nose tip P3 of the plug in abutting relationship to the head
support tip 112a wllen the extension or head support 112 is
15 placed across the sleeve 105.
As shown, the plug P i5 strictly conventional in
nature and its particular construction does not perform a part
of the present invention. In lieu oE the plug P, any number of
pump down rneans may be inserted with:in the sleeve ;l06 Cox acti-
zo vation by the apparatus 100, such a~3 ballfJ, dartE3, and th~like. 1\~3 show1l~ t1?e plu(l P has a c:ircumee:ent;allY eY.tending
elastomeric O~riny elemerlt P1 for receipt withirl a receiving
profile within the liner wiper pLug bore of the well upon Einal
'passage of the plug P through the drill pipe C with ratchet
25 threads P2 extending toward the nose P3 from the 0-ring Pl for
locking engagement of the plug P in its final and lowermost
position. The plug P also has a series of outwardly extending
cup-like elastomeric or Elexible wiper cups P4, P5 which, when
,the plug P is in position in the apparatus 100 and sleeve 106,
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1 sealingly enga~es along the inner wall oE the sleeve 106 to
prevent 1uid transmission across the plug P interior of the
sleeve 106.
Because the plug P is in sealing securement relative
to the sleeve 106 when in position as shown .in Yigs. 1, and,
further, because of the interrelationship of the shoulders
115b, 115c between the lock pin 115 and the lowermost end o
the sleeve 106, fluid is blocked from being transmitted through
the sleeve 106 from the uppermost end of the apparatus 100 down
to the string of casing C. ~lowever, there is provided between
the housing members lOla, lOlb, and the sleeve 106a fluid flow
annulus 107 which, at the uppermost end 108 of the sleeve 106
extends between a series oE protruding guide elements 109 and
initial flow passage portions 109a therebetween. The fluid
15 .flow passageway extends in the flow annulus 1~7 and passes
throuyh the sleeve 106 by means of flow port 110 to pass down-
wardly throuyh the lowermost end of the apparatus 100 and into
the drill pi.pe C. Accordingly, it will be apprec:iaked that at
,a].l times while a pluy E' is w.ithi.n t~le sJ.eeve 106, celnent:it.Lous
20 lor other remedia.l. fluid may be continual.l.y pusnped through the
apparatus 100 and drill p:Lpe C.
The extension mearls or heacl support 112 is secured to
the sleeve 106 exterior by means of a protruding hinge support
~112c. A hinge pin 112b extends between the support 112c and
through a bore in a head support arm 112e to secure the head
support 112 in pivota]. relationship with the sleeve 106.
In the po.sition shown in Yig. 1, the outboard surface
ll2f of the arm 112e rests upon the internal diameter 113 of
the central housing member lOlb to position t}-e head support
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1 .!112 i.n e~tended positior) across the uppermost end of t'he pluy P
'land prevents movement of the plug P within the sleeve 10&.
e sleeve 106 also has a head support window 1l1
llextending through its end adjacent the uppermost portion of the
~,head support 112 to permit the head port 112 to pass there-
s througll for placement within the circular openi.ng 104 of the
central housing meïnber lOlb as the sleeve 106 i5 shifted to
'Irelease the plug P.
,I OPERATION
When it is desired to run a plug P into the ~ell
s within the casing C, the apparatus 100 is threaded by tongs or
! otherwise at threads 105 to the drill pipe C and a kelly,
: swivel or otller element S is generally afixed at the uppermost
,lend thereof. ~le apparatus 100 now is in the position as shown
15 lin Fig. 1.
With the apparatus in position as shown in Fig. 1,
cemerltitious or other remedial f.luid may be intro~luced throug}l
the uppermost end of t'he apparatus 100 to pass through the flow
,passage lO9a between the gu:ide members 109 and into khe E.low
annulus 107 ~round t'he exterlor oE t.he s:Leeve :l06 and therlce
Ithrough the ,Elow port 110 and downwardly into the dr.i.ll pipe C.
! I'he position of the w.iper cups P4, P5, relative to the internal
diameter of the sleeve 106 will block fluid from passing across
Ithe plug P interior of the sleeve 106.
25 I When it is desired to release the plug P, a release
,Ibolt (not shown) or other mechanical means is placed through
the rotation bore 115a of t}-e lock pin 115 to manipulate the
jlock pin 115 approximately 180~ to permit the lock shoulder
¦115C to become aligned with the smooth bore 113. As the lock
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1 interface between the shoulders 1l5b, 115c is broken, and
because of the pumping of the cementi-tious fluid ~or weight of
the sleeve 106 and plug P if Eluid is not being pumped at that
time), -the sleeve 106 will be moved downwardly until further
,longitudinal movement is prevented by the interface of the stop
shoulder 101c and the beveled shoulder 106a.
As the sleeve 106 is moved downwardly, as described, I
the outboard surface 112f of the arm 112e will come into hori- ¦
zontal alignment with tlle circular opening 104 in the central
housing rnember 101b and the plug P will be urged against the
head support tip 112a to shift the head support 112 into the
head support window 111 and into the opening 104 to completely
move the head support 112 away from the plug PO As fluid
pressure is continued (or pumping initia-ted, if not previously
effected) the plug P is pumped through the sleeve 106 and the
central housing member 101b into the drill pipe C. The apparatus
is now in the pOSitiOII as shown in Fig. 2.
Now with reference to Fig. 6, there is shown a
configuration of the apparatus 100 wherein a ~eries of pluc~s
Z0 and/or a plug P and ball B may be disposed wittlirl the ~ppara~us
100 for introduction .into the wel] through the dril] pipe C
I with a plurality of head support members 112 extending within
,the sleeve 106 for selective shifting into the openings 104 and
,windows 111, respectively, as companion lock pins 115 are
manipulated, in series, as described above.
Although the invention has been described in terms of
Ispecified embodiments which are set forth in detail, it should
,jbe understood that this i5 by illustration only and that the
Iinvention is not necessarily limited thereto, since alternative
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1 embodiment~ and operatiny techni~ues ~ill become apparent ko
those skilled in the art in view oE the disclosure. According-
ly, modifications are contemplated which can be made wikhout
depar-tiny from the spirit of the described invention.
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