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.
A casing circulator 30, 54, 162 is provided for pumping fluid into a casing string to fill the casing string, and for temporarily sealing with an upper end of the casing string to circulate pressurized fluid through the casing string. The casing circulator includes a mandrel 130 axially movable with respect to a circulator body 84 from a retracted position to an extended position in response to fluid pressure acting on a piston 126. In the retracted position, the casing circulator is positioned with respect to the casing string for filling the casing string with fluid. When moved to its extended position, a sealing element 56, 158, 164 supported on the mandrel is in sealing engagement with the upper end of the casing string to circulate fluid through the casing string. According to the method of the invention, pressurized fluid is applied to the casing circulator to move the mandrel to the extended position, and may also be used to expand the sealing element into sealing engagement with the casing string.
A valve (30), a drill string valve assembly (10) and a method of drilling using compressed fluid as a drill drilling fluid are described. The valve and valve assembly (10) may be used in order to prevent escape of compressed fluid during the time that a connection is being made into the drill string. The valve (10) can be insertable into a drill string inner diameter to seal against fluid passage past the body except through the valve (30) and can be selected to maintain fluid pressure in the drill string when the upper end of the drill string is open to atmosphere. The valve can also be capable of being releasably engaged to a drive mechanism, such as a top drive (40) which is handling the drill string (12) to be slidably moved within the drill string, as driven by the drive mechanism, but releasable from the drive mechanism, when the drive mechanism is removed from the drill string.
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 packer cup fixedly attached to a sliding sleeve 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 tool is inserted into the casing, the pumps are then actuated to flow fluid into the casing. To circulate fluid, the tool is lower further such that the packer cup 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 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 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 packer cup fixedly attached to a sliding sleeve 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 tool is inserted into the casing, the pumps are then actuated to flow fluid into the casing. To circulate fluid, the tool is lower further such that the packer cup 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.
