A cementing plug having a universal construction and improved wiping and extended wear characteristics. The cementing plug has a plug subassembly with a body member and an elastomeric jacket on the body member. The body member defines a central opening therethrough with a shoulder therein. To configure the plug as a bottom cementing plug, a shearable insert is positioned on the shoulder, and to configure the plug as a top cementing plug, a non-shearable insert is positioned on the shoulder. The shearable insert is one of a plurality of such inserts designed to shear at correspondingly different shear pressures. In a first embodiment, the shearable insert is a substantially flat disk having a uniform thickness, and in a second embodiment, the shearable insert has an outer ring portion and a relatively thin inner domed portion. Thus, a bottom plug may be pumped down a well casing with cement and a top plug thereabove so that when the bottom plug lands at the bottom of the casing, the shearable insert will shear at the predetermined pressure. The jacket has one or more wiper cups which have a conical surface extending at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug, thereby providing a substantially large contact area in the well casing to improve wiping efficiency and extend life.
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0. 76. A plug for use in a well casing, comprising:
a body member defining a central opening therethrough;
a jacket disposed around said body member and having a plurality of wiper cups extending therefrom for engaging an inner surface of the casing; and
an insert disposed in said central opening for at least temporary closure thereof, wherein said insert is a shearable member comprising a ring portion and a domed portion extending from said ring portion or a substantially non-shearable disk.
0. 55. A method for wiping the inner surface of a casing comprising:
providing a plug in the casing having at least two axially-spaced and overlapping wipers to engage and wipe the inner surface;
applying pressure from one end of the casing to move the plug within the casing;
providing an additional plug in the casing having at least two axially-spaced and overlapping wipers to engage and wipe the inner surface; and
applying pressure from one end of the casing to move the additional plug within the casing.
31. A plug for use in a well casing, comprising:
a body member defining a central opening therethrough;
a jacket disposed around said body member and having a plurality of wiper cup cups extending therefrom each said wiper cup having a conical outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug for engaging an inner surface of the casing; and
an insert disposed in said central opening for at least temporary closure thereof, wherein said insert is a shearable member or a substantially non-shearable disk.
0. 52. A method for wiping the inner surface of a casing comprising:
providing a plug in the casing having at least two axially-spaced and overlapping wipers to engage and wipe the inner surface;
applying pressure from one end of the casing to move the plug within the casing; and
providing an insert across a central opening in the plug for closure thereof, wherein the insert is a shearable member adapted for shearing and opening the central opening when a predetermined pressure is applied across the shearable member or a substantially non-shearable member adapted for substantially permanent closure of the central opening.
44. A plug for use in a well casing An apparatus, comprising:
a cementing plug having:
a body member defining a central opening therethrough, the body member having a plurality of wipers that deflect into substantially cylindrical wiping engagement with the inner surface of a casing when the cementing plug is disposed therein; and
an insert positioned for at least temporary closure of said central opening, wherein said insert comprises:
an outer ring portion, and
an inner portion extending from said outer ring portion,
wherein said inner portion is an outwardly convex domed portion, is thinner than said outer ring portion and has a variable thickness.
0. 71. A cementing plug for use in cementing casing in a well, comprising:
a body member defining a central opening through the plug;
a plurality of wiper cups extending from the plug, each said wiper cup having a conical outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug for engaging an inner surface of the casing;
an insert disposed across said central opening in said body member for closure thereof, said insert being one of a plurality of interchangeable inserts; and
wherein said insert is a shearable member adapted for shearing and opening said central opening when a predetermined differential pressure is applied across said shearable member or a substantially non-shearable disk adapted for substantially permanent closure of said central opening.
0. 66. A cementing plug for use in cementing a casing in a well comprising:
a plug having a longitudinal axis;
a first wiper extending radially outwardly from the plug at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plug;
a second wiper extending radially outwardly from the plug at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plug and disposed in an axially spaced relation to the first wiper;
wherein the second wiper overlaps the first wiper in an axial direction so that the outer surfaces of the wipers portions together extend continuously along the axial length of the body member before the plug is inserted in the casing; and
wherein the wipers deflect into substantially cylindrical, wiping engagement with an inner surface of the casing when the plug is inserted in the casing.
1. A cementing plug for use in cementing casing in a well, comprising:
a body member defining a central opening therethrough;
an elastomeric a jacket disposed around said body member and having a plurality of wiper cup cups extending therefrom, each said wiper cup having a conical outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug for engaging an inner surface of the casing; and
an insert disposed across said central opening in said body member for closure thereof, said insert being one of a plurality of interchangeable inserts; and
wherein said insert is a shearable member adapted for shearing and opening said central opening when a predetermined differential pressure is applied across said shearable member or a substantially non-shearable disk adapted for substantially permanent closure of said central opening.
11. A cementing apparatus for use in cementing a length of well casing in a well, said apparatus comprising:
a pair of substantially identical plug subassemblies, each of said plug subassemblies comprising:
a generally cylindrical body member defining a central opening longitudinally therethrough; and
an outer jacket disposed around said body member, said jacket having a plurality of resilient wiper cup cups extending therefrom adapted for wiping engagement with an inner surface of said length of casing;
a shearable insert positionable in one of said body members for temporarily closing said central opening in said one body member and for rupturing and thereby opening said central opening in response to a predetermined differential pressure thereacross; and
a substantially non-shearable insert positionable in the other of said body members for substantially permanently closing said central opening in the other body member.
8. A cementing plug for use in a cementing case in a well, comprising:
a body member defining a central opening therethrough and having a longitudinal axis;
an elastomeric jacket disposed around said body member and having a plurality of wiper cup cups extending therefrom, each said wiper cup defining a conical outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein said outer surface is deflected into substantially cylindrical, wiping engagement with an inner surface of a casing when the plug is disposed therein; and
an insert disposed in said central opening for at least temporary closure thereof, said insert being a selected one of a plurality of inserts; and
wherein said insert is a shearable member adapted for shearing and opening said central opening when a predetermined differential pressure is applied across said shearable member or a substantially non-shearable disk adapted for substantially permanent closure of said central opening.
0. 60. A method for cementing a casing containing drilling mud in a well comprising:
introducing a first plug into one end of the casing;
introducing cement into the one end of the casing to force the first plug downwardly in the casing to displace the mud from the casing;
providing at least two axially-spaced wipers on the first plug so that, as the plug passes downwardly in the casing, it wipes the inner surface of the casing of any accumulated mud;
terminating the step of introducing the cement into the casing;
introducing a second plug into the casing end;
forcing the second plug downwardly through the casing so that it forces the cement and the first plug downwardly in the casing;
establishing a differential pressure across the first plug to open the first plug and allow the cement to pass through the first plug and exit the other end of the casing; and
providing at least two axially spaced wipers on the second plug so that as the second plug passes downwardly in the casing, it wipes the inner surface of the casing of any accumulated cement; and
sizing each wiper so that the wiper of each plug closest to the one end of the casing is overlapped by the other wiper of the same plug.
19. A cementing plug apparatus for use in cementing casing in a well, said apparatus comprising:
a first cementing plug comprising:
a first body member defining a first central opening therethrough;
a first jacket disposed on said first body member, said first jacket having a plurality of wiper cup cups extending therefrom, each said wiper cup on said first jacket having a conical outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said first body member adapted for wiping engagement with an inner surface of the casing; and
a replaceable first insert disposed adjacent to said first body member for temporarily closing said first central opening and subsequently shearing when subjected to a predetermined pressure, thereby opening said first central opening; and
a second cementing plug comprising:
a second body member defining a first central opening therethrough;
a second jacket disposed on said second body member, said second jacket having a plurality of wiper cup cups extending therefrom, each said wiper cup on said second jacket having a conical outer surface extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said second body member adapted for wiping engagement with an inner surface of the casing; and
a replaceable second insert disposed adjacent to said second body member for substantially permanently closing said second central opening.
3. The plug of
4. The plug of
a ring portion; and
a domed portion extending from said ring portion.
5. The plug of
said body member defines a shoulder in said central opening; and
said insert is disposed on said shoulder.
0. 6. The plug of
0. 7. The plug of
0. 9. The plug of
10. The plug of
0. 13. The apparatus of
14. The apparatus of
15. The apparatus of
said body member has a recess defined therein adjacent to said central opening;
said shearable insert is positioned in the recess of said one of said plugs; and
said non-shearable insert is positioned in the recess of the other of said plugs.
16. The apparatus of
a ring portion; and
a domed portion extending upwardly and inwardly from said outer ring portion.
17. The apparatus of
18. The apparatus of
20. The apparatus of
said first and pond second body members are substantially identical; and
said first and second jackets are substantially identical.
23. The apparatus of
25. The apparatus of
an outer ring portion; and
an inner domed portion integrally formed with said outer ring portion.
26. The apparatus of
27. The apparatus of
said plurality of wiper cup cups on said first jacket is one of comprises a pair of wiper cups; and
said second plurality of wiper cup cups on said second jacket is one of comprises a pair of wiper cups.
0. 28. The apparatus of
30. The apparatus of
said first body member defines a first shoulder therein;
said second body member defines a second shoulder therein;
said first disk insert is disposed on said first shoulder; and
said second disk insert is disposed on said second shoulder.
32. The plug of
34. The plug of
35. The plug of
37. The plug of
0. 38. The plug of
0. 39. The plug of
a ring portion; and
a domed portion extending from said ring portion.
40. The plug of
0. 42. The plug of
0. 43. The plug of
45. The plug apparatus of
46. The plug apparatus of
48. The plug apparatus of
0. 49. The plug of
50. The plug apparatus of claim 49 48 wherein said domed portion has a height above said outer ring portion approximately equal to said first thickness.
0. 53. The method of
0. 54. The method of
0. 56. The method of
0. 57. The method of
0. 58. The method of
0. 59. The method of
0. 61. The method of
0. 62. The method of
0. 63. The method of
0. 64. The method of
0. 65. The method of
0. 67. The plug of
0. 68. The plug of
0. 69. The plug of
0. 70. The plug of
0. 72. The plug of
0. 73. The plug of
0. 74. The plug of
a ring portion; and
a domed portion extending from said ring portion.
0. 75. The plug of
said body member defines a shoulder in said central opening; and
said insert is disposed on said shoulder.
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Jacket 26 has an upper radially outwardly extending lip 36 and a lower radially outwardly extending lip 38. Between upper lip 36 and lower lip 38 are a pair of upwardly opening cup portions 40 and 42. Cup portion 40 may be referred to as upper cup 40, and cup portion 42 may be referred to as lower cup 42. It will be seen that upper cup 40 and lower cup 42 extend upwardly and radially outwardly. As seen in
First embodiment shearable insert 48 is made of a material which is easily sheared or ruptured when a predetermined differential pressure is applied thereacross. One typical material is rubber, but the invention is not intended to be so limited. The thickness of shearable insert 48 may be one of a plurality of available thicknesses so that the shear pressure may be predetermined as conditions dictate.
Non-shearable insert 50 is substantially thicker than shearable insert 48 and is designed to be substantially non-shearable when normal pressures are applied thereacross. Thus, non-shearable insert 50 provides substantially permanent closure of the central opening in the corresponding body member 24.
Referring now to
As with the first embodiment, second embodiment cementing plug 60 is designed for use in casing 12 disposed in wellbore 14. Again, at the lower end of casing 12 is floating equipment, such as casing float collar or float shoe 16 having valve 18 therein. An annulus 20 is formed between casing 12 and wellbore 14.
Referring now to
Domed portion 66 is integrally formed with outer ring portion 64 and extends upwardly and inwardly from the ring portion.
Domed portion 66 preferably has a variable thickness including a first thickness X at or near its center and a second thickness Y adjacent to an internal corner 68 formed on the inside between ring portion 64 and domed portion 66. In the illustrated embodiment, first thickness X is less than second thickness Y. Corner 68 is preferably radiused.
Although various materials may be used for shearable insert 62, a preferred material is 23570 glass-filled plastic from Barlow-Hunt, Inc., of Tulsa, Okla. This material has a working temperature range of room temperature to about 410° F.
The following table illustrates the pressure at which domed portion 66 shears based on different values of X and Y using this material.
X
Y
Shear Pressure
0.100″
0.125″
370 psi
0.125″
0.150″
700 psi
0.131″-0.135″
0.175″
1200 psi
In a preferred embodiment, but not by way of limitation, the height Z of domed portion 66 above ring portion 64 is approximately equal to center thickness X of domed portion 66.
Second embodiment shearable insert 62 may be positioned on shoulder 34 in body member 24 of plug subassembly 22 to form second embodiment bottom plug 60′, as seen in
In second embodiment cementing plug 60, top plug 10″ used with bottom plug 60′ is identical to that in first embodiment cementing plug 10.
Referring again to
Once the desired amount of cement 70 is pumped into casing 12, top plug 10″ is dropped into the well, and additional fluid pumped into casing 12 to force top plug 10″ downwardly. The downward movement of top plug 10″, forces cement 70 downwardly, and thus, bottom plug 10′ or 60′ is also forced downwardly until it lands on top of float shoe 16. Additional pressure applied above upper plug 10″ will create a pressure differential across shearable insert 48 in bottom plug 10′ or shearable insert 62 in bottom plug 60′ until the insert shears. At this point, further pumping of fluid above top plug 10″ will force cement downwardly through first bore 30 in body member 24 of lower plug 10′ or 60′ and past valve 18 in float shoe 16 so that the cement is pumped into well annulus 20. Pumping is stopped when top plug 10″ lands on top of bottom plug 10′ or 60′, at which point all of the cement has been forced into well annulus 20. Once the cement cures, top plug 10″, bottom plug 10′ or 60′ and float shoe 16 may be drilled out of casing 12 as desired in a manner known in the art.
The sharply angled configuration of conical surfaces 44 and 46, respectively, of upper cup 40 and lower cup 42 on jacket 26 of bottom plug 10′ or 60′ and top plug 10″ offers more surface contact with the inside of casing 12 than previous cementing plugs. When bottom plug 10′ or 60′ and top plug 10″ are positioned in casing 12, conical surfaces 44 and 46 are compressed such that they are in flat, substantially cylindrical contact with the inner surface of the casing. As any of plugs 10′, 60′ or 10″ move downwardly through casing 12, the pressure above the plug is first mostly applied to upper cup 40. As conical surface 44 wears and fluid pressure leaks therepast, the pressure is then applied to lower cup 42 and conical surface 46 thereof. Cementing plug 10 or 60 can be designed with any number of cup portions as well conditions dictate.
Because of the design of new cementing plug 10 or 60, the operator of the well only has to maintain one plug subassembly 22 in inventory, along with the necessary corresponding number of shearable inserts 48 or 62 and non-shearable inserts 50. Thus, inventory control is simpler than with prior art plugs. Further, by having a plurality of different shearable plugs 48 or 62, the operator has the opportunity to select a shear pressure rather than use the single pressure previously available.
It will be seen, therefore, that the cementing plug of the present invention is well adapted to carry out the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made by those skilled in the art. All such changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
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| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
| Oct 03 2001 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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