Apparatus is disclosed for use in placing cement within the annulus between a casing string and a well bore in which the casing string is suspended, such apparatus including a stage collar connectible as part of the casing string and having a packing element mounted thereon and adapted to be inflated into engagement with the well bore, one or more side ports through which cement may be circulated into the annulus above the packer, tubular members or sleeves for opening and closing the ports following inflation of the packing element.
A method and apparatus for cementing a casing string utilizes a port collar which may be hydraulically opened and mechanically closed, and permits the passage of downhole tools through the port collar, without opening the port collar.
A cement diverter system and method for cementing a junction in a wellbore wherein a cementing operation and reverse circulating operation are achievable in a single run in the hole.
A multi-functional apparatus and method for drilling fluid and cementing operations to set casing in a wellbore for use on either top drive or rotary type rigs. The apparatus and method includes a fill-up and circulating tool, a cementing head assembly, and a wiper plug assembly. The fill-up and circulating tool comprises a mandrel with a sealing element disposed about the outside diameter of the mandrel. The cementing head and wiper plug assemblies are useable on any fill-up and circulating tool capable of being inserted into a casing. To fill the casing, the assembly is lowered from the rig such that a portion of the fill-up tools inserted into the casing, the pumps are then actuated to flow fluid into the casing. To circulate fluid, the tool is lowered further such that the sealing element sealingly engages the inside diameter of the casing to allow fluid to flow through the casing, into the wellbore, and back to the fluid pumps. To cement the casing, the cement pump and hose assembly is connected to the cementing head to allow cement to be pumped through the fill-up and circulating tool and into the casing string. A cement plug assembly comprising a plurality of wiper plugs is connected to the outlet of the fill-up and circulating tool. The wiper plugs are then released at a predetermined time during the cementing process to provide a positive seal at the bottom of the casing string.
A method and apparths for filling and circulating drilling fluid in a wellbore during casing running operations is disclosed. A fill/circulate tool is placed partially within the upper end of a casing string so that fluid may be pumped into the interior of the casing string. The tool has a self energizing seal element which engages the interior wall of the casing string when the tool is fully lowered therein, said seal element being energized by the pressure of the fluid in the casing string so that fluid pumped into the casing string through the tool is circulated through the casing string and explled from the lower end of the casing string.
An apparatus and method is provided that allows an operator to drill a well into a formation requiring treatment or gravel packing in a single pass, then to lower and position the liner and production strings simultaneously. The invention allows cementing of the liner prior to any treatment or gravel packing, and provides an integral circulation system to allow formation treatment or gravel packing of the production string. Once treatment or gravel packing is completed, the invention provides mechanical fluid loss control as the circulation system is pulled out of the hole.
