SEAL PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT AND SYSTEM
A slurry outlet system including a top sub, a closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an open position, a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed position. A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and the seal.
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This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/057,591 filed Jul. 28, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDIn the resource recovery industry, frac and gravel packs are a well-known means to protect a subsurface formation from collapse and to filter out unwanted particulates from a production borehole. So too are the apparatus for depositing sand or gravel that will make up the gravel pack. Referring to
Broadly, still referring to
An embodiment of slurry outlet system including a top sub, a closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an open position, a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed position.
An embodiment of a method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and the seal.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
Further, a movable protector sleeve 40 is initially disposed to cover and protect the seals 34 and wiper 38 from damage including due to contamination by particulate materials that might otherwise damage the seals 34 upon moving the system 30 to the closed position. The seals remain protected by the protector sleeve 40 both during slurry flow and during shifting of a closure sleeve 50. As illustrated in
In variations, a biasing arrangement 49 may be provided in the pocket 46 (see
Notably, the closure sleeve 50 includes only a seal-less uninterrupted outer surface 52 on an end thereof that is to interact with the top sub 32 and the protector sleeve 40. The lack of seals in this area reduces the ability of the closure sleeve 50 to carry particulates with it during its transition from the open position of the system 30 to the closed position of the system 30.
Considering the positions illustrated in
In the prior art system 10, since seals are present on the closure sleeve 12, the trapping of particulates thereat and the direct damage to the seals during stroking of the sleeve 12 was a distinct possibility. With the particular combination of features disclosed herein however, the direct damage to the seals and the trapping of particulate material that may possibly contaminate or cause damage to the seals has been substantially reduced or eliminated.
In another embodiment, referring to
In yet another embodiment, referring to
In yet another embodiment, referring to
The system 30 operates very similarly to the system 10 of the prior art with the departures being discussed above. Accordingly, since the departures of system 30 from system 10 have been described and illustrated, further disclosure is not necessary for one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use what is taught herein.
In another embodiment, a slurry outlet system 400, referring to
Further disclosed herein is a wellbore system 500 as schematically illustrated in
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: A slurry outlet system including a top sub, a closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an open position, a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed position.
Embodiment 2: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the seal is mounted upon the closure sleeve.
Embodiment 3: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the protector sleeve is disposed radially outwardly of the seal.
Embodiment 4: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the closure sleeve includes a plurality of seals.
Embodiment 5: The system as in any prior embodiment, further including a wiper.
Embodiment 6: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the top sub contacts the protector sleeve.
Embodiment 7: The system as in any prior embodiment, further including a crossover tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing operation.
Embodiment 8: The system as in any prior embodiment, further including a cementing tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a cementing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a cementing operation.
Embodiment 9: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the seal is one or more of an o-ring, a bonded seal, metal seal, a seal stack or non-elastomeric seals.
Embodiment 10: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the top sub includes a seal bore for interacting with the seal on the closure sleeve, that is a seal less uninterrupted surface.
Embodiment 11: The system as in any prior embodiment, further comprising a biasing arrangement disposed to bias the protector sleeve.
Embodiment 12: The system as in any prior embodiment, further comprising a release member attached to the protector sleeve.
Embodiment 13: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein the release member is a shear screw.
Embodiment 14: A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and the seal.
Embodiment 15: The method as in any prior embodiment, further including wiping the top sub prior to making sealing contact with the seal.
Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the urging of the protector sleeve includes causing the release of a release member.
Embodiment 17: A wellbore system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string including a slurry outlet system as in any prior embodiment.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
Claims
1. A slurry outlet system comprising:
- a top sub;
- a closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an open position;
- a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve;
- a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed position.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal is mounted upon the closure sleeve.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protector sleeve is disposed radially outwardly of the seal.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure sleeve includes a plurality of seals.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a wiper.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top sub contacts the protector sleeve.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a crossover tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing operation.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a cementing tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a cementing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a cementing operation.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal is one or more of an o-ring, a bonded seal, metal seal, a seal stack or non-elastomeric seals.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top sub includes a seal bore for interacting with the seal on the closure sleeve, that is a seal less uninterrupted surface.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a biasing arrangement disposed to bias the protector sleeve.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a release member attached to the protector sleeve.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the release member is a shear screw.
14. A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system comprising:
- bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system;
- displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and the seal.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 further including wiping the top sub prior to making sealing contact with the seal.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the urging of the protector sleeve includes causing the release of a release member.
17. A wellbore system comprising:
- a borehole in a subsurface formation;
- a string including a slurry outlet system as claimed in claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 28, 2021
Publication Date: Feb 3, 2022
Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC (Houston, TX)
Inventors: James A. Smith (Manvel, TX), Aaron C. Hammer (Houston, TX), Hector Mireles (Spring, TX)
Application Number: 17/387,468