US2602510A - Ported cementing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1952 R. c. BAKER PORTED CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1948 INVENTOR. PE1/35N C`. BAKER,

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July 8, 1952 R. c. BAKER PoRTED CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IV V ENTOR.

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.QH/BEN CT. BAKER,

BY @MM/QM rroR/VEY.

Patented July 8, 1952 PORTED CEMENTING APPARATUS Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 12, 1948, Serial No. 1,843

i 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices adapted to form part of casings, liners and similar conduits in well bores, and more particularly to side ported cementing vdevices for enabling conduits to be cemented in the well bores.

Well casings, liners and similarl well conduits are sometimes secured in bore holes by discharging cementitious material through side ports in fittings forming part of the conduit structure. It is desirable to prevent return flow of the material through the ports into 'the casing. In addition, it is desirable to prevent uds from passing outwardly through the .ports during subsequent use of the conduit structure, as in connection with the iiowing or pumping of oil or gas from a producing 'horizon in the well bore.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to providean improved ported apparatus, in which the ports may be opened to permit fluid passage therethrough, and then closed positively against passage of fluids through them in both directions between the interior and exterior of the apparatus.

Another object of ,the invention is to provide a ported collar, or' similar device, adapted to form part of a casing r liner string;` whose ports may be opened and then .permanently closed against passage of fluids between the interior and exterior of the collar, and in which the overall length of the collar is held to a, comparatively low value.

Inner slidable sleeve valve members are sometimes employed in controlling the passage of fluids through the ports of a collar, or similarl device, designed to form part of a casing or liner string. The sleeve is shifted downwardly t0 control the ports throughuse of a plugmember closing its central bore, which enables hydraulic pressure to be imposed on the plug and sleeve and move them within the collar. If a dead column of fluid is present in the casing or liner string below the sleeve, itsV downward hydraulic shifting is resisted thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for minimizing or eliminating the resistance that would otherwise be offered by the dead column of fluid to downward shifting of the sleeve valve member.

Yet another' object ofthe invention is to provide improved plugs for` closing a conduit sleeve valve bore, to enable downward hydraulic shifting of the latter to occur within a ported conduit collar, or similar member.

This invention hasother objects which will become apparent from a consideration of an embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This embodiment will now be described in detail to illustrate the general principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of theinvention is best vdefined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings: 'Y Figure l is a longitudinal section througha ported casing apparatus, with its ports closed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the ports Open; Y v

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the ports reclosed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal l section of the apparatus'with parts located in a position intermediatetheir closed and open positions; and y Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary ,longitudinal section of the latching portion of the apparatus- As illustrated in the drawings,v acasing collar A is provided at an intermediate point in a string of casing positioned ina well bore. The upper end of the collar maybe. threadedly attached to anY adjacent upper casing section B,'while its lower end may be similarly secured tothe upper pin IU of a lower casing section C. The collar is so positioned in the casingstring as to insure its location in the well bore at the point where it ,is desired to eject cement slurry, or other cementitious material, from the casing string into the, surrounding well annulus.

The main portion of the collar A consists of a tubular memberv l l, which, as disclosed. in the drawings, is made of two parts l2, I3 to facilitate assembly of the apparatus. An upper threaded portion l2, which is secured to the upper casing section B, is suitably attached, as by means of coengaging threads M to the lower lportion I3 of the tubular member. For the pur- In order toaccompli'sh the above notedp'url poses, a lower sleevel valve member t6 isfdis-f posed in the tubularmember Il. This sleeve valve member is provided with 'spaced ring site sides of the ports i5.

to close these ports. This upper member is madeV of two parts, including a lower tubular sleeve 23,.

preferably made of a diflicultly drillable material, such as steel, and a readily drillable, upper` portion 24, of magnesium,l aluminum, and' the.

like, piloted within the steel member, and having a shoulder engaging the upper end of the latter. Leakage between these two portions is prevented by a suitable side seal 26, such as an 0 ring, located in an external groove 21 in the drillable'portion and engaging the inner wall of the steel portion 2-3.

As4 indicated above, the upper sleeve valve member 22 is disposed initially in an upper position clear4 of the por-ts I5 see Fig. l). The two portions-23, 2d" of thisfvalve are held together and in their upper location by one or more frangible devices, in the form of shear screws 2,8, extending through them and through the tubular member I I. Disruption of the screws28 enables the upper sleeve valve meinber- 212v to beshifted downwardly to al position closing the ports. I5.

The lower sleeve valve member IS is nested or piloted within the upper sleeve valve member 22, with its side seals I9, 2l] disposed on oppo- The lower member I6 is held in such position. initially by oneor more shear screws 29-extending through the tubular member il and threaded into the lower sleeve member. These shear screws dispose the lower seal. ring 2D in contact. with the inturned ila-nge 2|, preferably a short distance above `the lower end of the latter.. Below the flange 2|., the/lower sleeve valvehas an enlarged diameter portion 36' for slidable engagement with the enlarged bore-3 I` of the tubular member.

The upper portion 32 Vof the lower sleeve valve is reduced in external diameter to. provide an annular` space 33 inconjunction with the upper sleeve. valve 22i through which cement slurry, and other fluent substances, may ow when the lower sleeve valve has been shifted downwardly to port opening position. The lower sleeve valve I'S preferably abuts the drillable portion 24 of the upper sleevevalve, inorder to hold the overalldimensions of the combined sleeve valve structure to a minimum.

The central bore'e through the upper drillable portion 24 of the upper sleeve valve is preferably tapered inwardly in a downward direction, merging smoothly into a corresponding bore 35- in the lower sleeve valve I5. In fact, the lower bore35- forms a continuation of the upper bore 34.

'Ilh'e collarA is made up in the casing string with the partsoccupyingtheir initial position as 'disclosed in Fig. 1. The upper sleeve valve 22 is= disposed above the ports l5, and the lower sleeve valve I6i's located in its upper position, with its sealsr I9, 20 onu opposite sides of the ports. As a result, any fluids pumped down through the casingy string willpass through the convergent bores 3ft,` 35 inthe upper and lower sleeve valve members to some lower point in the casing string, such as a casing shoe (not-shown), from which the-fluids` arel ejected into the well bore surrounding the casing; If the collar is employed in connection with a multiple stage cementing operation, a charge of cement slurry may be pumped down the casing string for ejection from the casing shoe. A flexible top cementing plug (not shown) of the character disclosed in my Patent 2,370,833 may be used at the upper end of the cement slurry, and this plug will be4 capable of passing through the convergent l'boresy 34, 35 of the upper and lower sleeve members 2, 2E without shearing the screws 28, 29, the convergent wall of the bores 34, 35 facilitating inward compression of the Vflexible 0r rubber plug.

Following the discharge of the lower quantity of. cement slurryv from the casing, it is desired to open the ports` i5 in the collar and discharge a second quantity of cement slurry through these ports for upward passage around the casing string. A tripping device, in the form of a plug 3B, is pumped down the casing string, or is allowed togravitate through thefluid in the casing string intdengagementwith the tapered wall 35 of the lowersleeve (see Fig. 2). This plug isof such dimensions as to pass through the upper sleeve 24, but is of greater diameter than the minimum diameter through the lower sleeve I6, to insure its seating inthe latter and its closing of the tapered bore35.

In the specific form illustrated in the drawings, the lower-plug 36 includes an upper head 31. having a lower, generally spherical surface 33 on which aspherical seal 39 of rubber, or similar material, is mounted. This seal is secured tothe head 31l by disposingA its upper inner flange lill'v within .a companion external head groove Ill, and byclamping itslower end between the upper end of .a depending shell`l2 and the head. The shellisthreaded ontol a depending pin or neck 43er the head 31, an upward projection lill' of theshell'clamping the lower seal portion against the head and conning lits longitudinally eX- tending terminal portion 35d betweenv the extension 44' and the neck 43. v

In addition to its clamping of the spherical seal.- 3.9! to the plug head 31, the shell 42 serves to increase they weight of the plug per unit of frontal area, to yinsure its rapid gravitation through the well fluid. Thus, the shell depends from the head to` any desired extent, with its lower end 45. rounded to provide a nose or guide portion. The shell is weighted by filling its interiorV withleadllor a corresponding material, which is preferably readilydrillable. The shell :l2- and head 3.1. may be made ofr aluminum or magnesium to enable their ready disintegration under the action of A a. drill bit, when the bore ofthe casing string is to be cleared of all obstructicns following the cementing operation.

The lower, plug member 35 gravitates rapidly through thel uid inthe Well bore until the head seal. 3,9 engages the. tapered wall 35 in the lower sleeve leinleakproof relation. Theiiuid. in the casing above the collar and plug 3.6 may then be subjected to. pressure of an amount sufficient to overcome the shear value of the lower screws 2e, disruptingY them and shifting the lower sleeve I6 downwardly to a `position in which its upper seal ring I9 is disposed below the ports yl5 (see Fig. 2.). Downward. movement of the lower sleeve islimitedby its engagement with a suitablestop, which, inthe present instance, is provided by the upper end IDa of the lower casingV section C.

Cement slurry, or other fluids, may now be pumped down the casing string, passing over. the upperv end'of the lower sleeve i6' and through the 22, for discharge through the collar ports I5. After the desired quantity of cement slurry has been thus ejected through the collar, it is desired to close the ports by shifting' the upper sleeve 22 downwardly. This latter purpose may be achieved by placing a top cementingplug 41 at the upper end of the charge of cement slurry, and causing it to engage the tapered wall 340i the upper drillable portion 24 ofthe upper sleeve valveV member 22, closing the bore through the drillable portion and allowing the fluid in the casing thereabove to be pressurized to an extent suicient to shear the upper screws 28 and shift the upper sleeve 22 downwardly over the ports I5.

An upper seal 48 on the steel sleeve portion 23 will be disposed above the ports I5 to prevent passage of fluids between the ports along the upper portion of the sleeve 22, while downward passage of fluids along the sleeve 22 is prevented by a lead seal ring 49 carried by the sleeve and adapted to be forced against a shoulder 50 formed in the tubular member II between its flange 2l and the ports I5.

The lead seal ring 49 is slidable along the wall of the tubular member I I, its inner surface being tapered in a downward and inward direction and engaged by a companion taper 5I on the upper sleevevalve member22. The lead seal is prevented from removal from the sleeve valve member by an internal flange 52 on the ring fitting within a companion groove in the sleeve 22.

When the upper sleeve valve member is shifted downwardly, the lower end of the lead seal ring 49 engages the shoulder 15I), which enables the tapered portion of the sleeve to Twedge the ring firmly against the wall of the tubular member II and the shoulder 50, preventing leakage of fluids between the lower end of the sleeve 22-and the tubular member. As indicated above, the O ring 48 will engage the tubular member I I above the ports I5, in order to prevent leakage of fluid along the upper portion of the upper sleeve 22.

'Ihe upper sleeve valve 22 is held in its closed position across the ports I5 by a suitable latch device which may take the form of a split, inherently expansible, ring 53 disposed in an external groove 54 in the sleeve 23 and having teeth or wickers 55 adapted to engage companion internal teeth or wickers 56 formed in the side wall of the tubular member I I, (see Fig. 5). This latch arrangement prevents the sleeve 22 from moving upwardly after it has been shifted -to port closing position.

The top cementing plug 41 may be of any suitable kind, as long as it is capable of closing the bore 34 through the upper sleeve valve member 22. As disclosed in the drawings, a spherical plug device 56 may =be suitably secured to 'a standard top cementing plug 51, which may have the usual wooden body '58 and c up leathers 59 adapted to slidably seal with the wall of the "casing string. The lower plug device may consist of a generally spherical body 69 of readily drillable material,

such as magnesium, aluminum, syntheticv resin and the like, which has'a screw 6 I cast within it. 'I'his screw is threaded into the yWooden body '51 and servesv to attach the standard plug to the lower spherical body 60. In order to insure against leakage between the lower plug 4l and the upper sleeve valve member 22, a spherical seal member 62 of rubber, or similar material, -may be mounted on the body 60, the upper end of the seal having an inwardly directed flange 63 received within a companion groove in the body.

Y 6 In the event that the column of fluid below the lower sleeve valve is incapable of being displaced in a downward direction, as', for example, be-

cause of the' presence of hardened cement in the well casing above the shoe, or of a top cementing plug used in performing a lower cementing operation, it would be ydiiiicult to move the'lower sleeve valve I6 downwardly to open'the ports I5. Provisionl is made for allowingsome ofthe fluid in the casing below the lower sleeve valve to bleed from the casing string, and thus rprecludethe fluid from resisting downward movement ofthe sleeve valve to port opening position. 1

It is to "be noted that the Alower' O- ring 20' en,- gages the inturned'shoulder 2I only a slight distance above the lower end of thelatter.Y Accord'-v ingly, upon shearing of the lowery screws 29 and downward shifting ofthe sleeve valve I6 to an extentin which the'O ring 20 is disposed slightly below the flange 2I, the fluid in the collar below the sleeve can then be displaced upwardly through the small running clearance :space around the sleeve I6, around the O ring 20 and out through the ports I5 (see Fig. 4)'. Such upward flowing can take place since the O ring 29 is then disposed within the enlarged diameter bore 3| of the tubular member withoutmaking sealing engagement therewith. YNo difficulty is encountered in moving thellower sleeve :valve I6 `the slight distance vnecessary .to' dispose'the 'O ring 20 below the flange 2 I; whereas considerable difficulty might be encountered in moving the lower sleeve valve I6 a' substantial distanceV necessary to bring it into engagement'withthe stop I Ila furnished by the upper end of the lower casing sectionC. L

An additional sealV ring 64 may be provided on the lower sleeve valve I6 below the shear screws `29. This seal ring'fits within a lgroove 65 in the sleeve and has an upwardly directed lip 66. This lip will flex inwardly to allow bleeding of the casing fluid upwardly along the sleeve valve I6, A

in the manner desc-ribed above.' However, downward pressure imposed along the exterior of the sleeve'valve I6 will force the lip 66 outwardly against the tubular member II, and prevent downward flow of fluid along the lower sleeve valve. This last mentioned feature is provided in order to be assured that the lfluid below the collar is not subjected to the pressure required to discharge the cement slurry outwardly through the ports I5. It is sometimes desired not to disturb the lower cementing operation that has been performed previously,l especially when cement slurry is being discharged through the ports I5 before the lower 'charge of cement has taken its initial set. Thelip seal ring 64 effectively prevents any fluid pressurefrom being imposed on the lower cement job. v

One or more relatively small bleeder holes 61 may also be provided in the tubular member II immediately above the shoulder 50 against which the lead seal ring 49 is to be compressed. These bleeder holes may be necessary upon-downward shiftvof the upper sleeve valve member 22 tog-prevent entrapment of the fluid in the annular space 68 between the lower-sleeve I6 and tubular member II after the upper sleeve valve 22 passes the ports I5. The lead seal, however, will close the bleeder holes 61 upon being compressed between the tapered surface 5I on the upper sleeve valve member, the shoulder 50 and the inner cylindrical surface ofthe tubular member II, as disclosed in Fig. 3. f

It is, accordingly, apparent that apparatus has tions.

been provided for properly controlling passage of fluids through the lateral ports. These ports are positively closed initially against passage of uids in both directions between thei-nterior and exterior Yof the collar A. Also; similar passage of fluids is prevented by: the upper sleeve valve member 22 after the cementing` Voperation has been performed.` The necessity to compress the fluid in the well casing below the lower sleeve l'i is precluded, and the pressure incident tothe performance of the c'ementingv operation through the ports i5 is Aprevented from being imposed on the lower fluid: in the casing and'onv thewlower cement job. The parts are compactly arranged by virtue of the nesting of one sleeve valve member within the other.

It is evident that the lowerplug 36 is so devised as to insure its rapid descent through the fluid in the well casing, while preventing its interference with proper seating of the lower eX- tension 56 of the upper cementing plug 41 in the upper sleeve valve member 22.

Following setting and hardening of the cement ejected through the collar ports, the upper portion .24 of the upper sleeve valve member 22,the lower sleeve valve member I6, and the two plugs 36, 41 maybe disintegrated by a drill bit to leave the casing bore free from obstructions or restric- The steel portion 23 of theupper sleeve valve 22 has an inside diameter no less thanthe inside diameter of the casing sections B, C, and of the least inside diameter of the tubular member Il, which prevents the drill bit from acting upon it and insures its retention as a permanent closure across theY ports l 5.

The inventor claims:

l. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part'oz'c` a conduit string, said member having a side port; upper and lower sleeve valve members in said tubular member adapted to control fluid flow through said port, said valve members being piloted one within the other; means releasably securing said lower sleeve valve member in closed position over said port; means releasably securing said upper sleeve valve member in open position with respect to said port, both of said means being releasable to enable downward shifting of said lower sleeve Valve member to port opening position and downward'shifting of said upper sleeve valve member across said port to close the same; means effecting upper and lower seals rbetween said upper valve member and tubular member on opposite sides of said` port when said upper valve member has been shifted downwardly across said port; and means in communication with the space between and interiorly of said valve means for enabling `fluidxto escape to the exterior of said tubular member upon downward movement of said upper valve member toward l closed position over said port and while said upper valve member is disposed across said port.4

2, In apparatus of the character described: a

tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string, said member having a side port; up-

per and lower sleeve valve members in said tubular member adapted to control iiuid flow through said port, said valve membersbeing piloted one within the other; means releasably securing said lower sleeve valve member in closed position over said port; means releasably securing said upper sleeve valve member in open position with respect to said port, both of said means being releasable to enable downward yshifting of said 8 lower sleeve Valve memberto port opening position and downward shifting of said upper sleeve Valve member across said port to close the same; means effecting vupper and lower seals between VVsaid upper valve member and `tubular member on opposite sides` of .said port when said'upper valve I memberf has been shifted downwardly across -said port; ysaid tubular member having a bleeder hole below said port in communication with the space between and interiorly of said valve members through which fluid can escape to the exterior ofthe tubular members upon downward movement of said upper valve member toward closed positionover said porty and While said upper valve member -is disposed across said port.

3. In apparatus ofthe character described: a tubular member adaptedr to form part of a conduit string, said member=having a side port; upper andlower sleeve valve members in said tubular member for controlling fluid flow through said port; said upper valve member being slidable along said tubular member; said lower valve member being piloted within said upper valve member and slidable along said tubular member; means eiecting upper and lower seals between said upper valve member and tubular member on opposite sides of said port when said upper valve member is disposedover said port; and means in communication with the spaoe'between and interiorly of said valve members for enabling fluid to escape to theexterior of said tubular' member upon downward movement of said upper valve member vtoward closed-position over said port and while' saidupperi'valve member is disposed'across said port. t

4. In apparatus of the character. described; a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string, said member having a side port; up-

per and lower sleeve valve members in said tubular member for controlling iiuid flow through said port; said upper valve member being slidable along said tubular member; said lower valve member being piloted within said upper vvalve member and slidable along said tubular member; means effecting upper and lower seals between said vupper valve member and tubular member on oppositesides'fof said port when said upper valve member is disposed over said port; said tubular member having a bleeder hole below said port in communication with the space between and interiorly of said valve members through which iiuid can-escape to the exterior of the tubular member upon shifting of said upper valve member toward closed position overv said port and While said upper valve member is disposed across said port.

5. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member'adapted to form part 'of a conduit string, said member having a port; upper? sition and downward shifting of said upper sleeve valve member across said port to close the same; means effecting upper and lower seals between said upper valve member and tubular member on opposite sides of said Vport when .said upper with the space between and'interiorly of said valve members through which fluid can escape to the exterior of the tubular member upon downward movement of said upper Valve member toward closed position over said port and while said upper valve member is disposed across said port; said lower seal being located at least partly below said bleeder hole when said upper valve member comes to rest in a position closing said port. 6. In apparatus of the character described; a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string, said member having a port; upperf and lower sleeve valve members in said tubular member for controlling fluid flow through said port; said upper valve member being slidable alongsaid tubular member; said lower valveI member being' piloted within said upper valve member and slidable along said tubular member; means effecting upper and lower seals between said upper valve member and tubular member on opposite sides of said port when said upper valve member is disposed over said port; said tubular member having a bleeder hole below said port in communication with the space between and interiorly of said valve members through which fluid can escape to the exterior of the tubular member upon shifting of said upper valve member toward closed position over said port and while said upper valve member is disposed across said port; said lower seal being located at least partly below said bleeder hole when said upper valve member comes to rest in a position closing said port.

7. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string, said member having a side port; upper and lower sleeve valve members in said tubular A member adapted to control fluid flow through said port; means releasably securing said lower sleeve valve member in closed posi tion over said port; means releasably securing said upper sleeve valve member in open position with respect to said port, both of said means being releasable to enable downward shifting of said lower sleeve valve member to port opening position and downward shifting of said upper sleeve valve member across said port to close the same; means effecting upper and lower seals be- 10 tween said upper valve member and tubular member on opposite sidesof said port when said upper valve member has been shifted downwardly across said port; and means in communication' with the' space between andinteriorly of said valve means for enabling fluid to escape to the exterior of said tubular member upon downa ward movement of said upper valve member toward closed position over said port and while said upper Valve member is disposed across said port.

8. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member adapted to form part of a conduit string, saidmember having a side port; upper and lower sleeve valve members in said tubular member for controlling fluid flow through said port; said lower valve member being slidable along said tubular member between port closing and port opening positions, said upper valve member being slidable along said tubular member toward said lower Valve member between port opening and port closing positions; means effecting upper and lower seals between said upper valve member and tubular member on opposite sides of said port when said upper valve member is disposed over said port; and means in communication with the space between and interiorly of said valve members for enabling fluid to escape to the exterior of said tubular member upon downward movement of said upper valve member toward closed position over said port and while said upper valve member is disposed across said port.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,803,057 Dyer Apr. 28, 1931 2,228,630 Kail Jan. 14, 1941 2,251,977 Burt Aug. 12, 1941 2,275,937 Baker Mar. 10, 1942 2,330,267 Burt et a1. Sept. 28, 1943 2,370,833 Baker Mar. 6, 1945 2,429,912 Baker Oct. 28, 1947 2,435,016 Pitts Jan. 27, 1948 2,438,992 Childers Apr. 6, 1948 2,502,886 Ragan Apr. 4, 1950

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