FAC tool flexible assembly and method

Abstract

A flexible assembly is provided for a fill-up and circulation (FAC) tool. The flexible assembly preferably comprises a flexible hose portion and a rigid tubular housing portion. The flexible assembly is attached to the tool body of the FAC tool below the casing seal of the FAC tool. The casing seal is utilized for sealing with an interior surface of an upper joint of a casing string. Preferably a tapered guide is provided at a lower end of the flexible assembly and a fluid outlet may preferably be formed in the tapered guide. The flexible assembly preferably has an overall length such that the tapered guide is positioned within the interior of the upper joint of the casing string when the fill-up and circulation tool is attached to a standard traveling block assembly and the elevator casing gripping slips attached to the traveling block assembly are engaged with the upper joint of the casing string.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly for a fill-up and circulation tool, said fill-up and circulation tool being operable with a rig when inserting a casing string into a wellbore, said fill-up and circulation tool comprising a tool body and a casing seal mounted to said tool body for sealing with an interior surface of an upper joint of said casing string, said rig comprising a traveling block assembly to which said fill-up and circulation tool is attachable, and casing gripping slips mounted to said traveling block assembly for engaging said upper joint of said casing string, said assembly comprising: 
 a flexible hose secured to said tool body of said fill-up and circulation tool; and    a rigid tubular housing secured to said flexible hose for insertion in said upper joint of said casing string.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide forming a lower end of said rigid tubular housing, said guide being operable for insertion into said upper joint of said casing string.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said guide has a tapered surface.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said guide defines a fluid outlet.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein an overall length of said flexible hose and said rigid tubular housing is such that said guide is positioned within an interior of said upper joint of said casing string when said fill-up and circulation tool is attached to said traveling block assembly and said casing gripping slips are engaged with said upper joint of said casing string.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible hose is attached secured between said rigid tubular assembly and said casing seal.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid tubular housing defines a fluid outlet.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly for use with a subterranean drilling rig when running a casing string into a wellbore, said casing string having an upper joint of casing, said assembly comprising: 
 a rig having a traveling block, an elevator, elevator slips mounted to said elevator,    and bails connecting said traveling block with respect to said elevator;    a fill-up and circulation tool attached to said traveling block of said rig, said fill-up and circulation tool comprising a tool body and a casing seal operable for sealing with an interior of said upper joint of casing, said fill-up and circulation tool being mounted to said traveling block for movement with said traveling block; and    a flexible hose secured to said tool body for insertion into said upper joint of casing.    
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a rigid tubular secured to said flexible hose at an opposite end thereof from said tool body.    
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a tapered guide attached to a lower end of said rigid tubular.    
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said flexible hose and said rigid tubular in combination have an overall length such that at least a portion of said flexible hose and an entire length of said rigid tubular is positioned within an interior of said upper joint of said casing string when said fill-up and circulation tool is attached to said traveling block assembly and said casing gripping slips are engaged with said upper joint of said casing string.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said tapered guide defines a fluid outlet.  
     
     
         13 . A method for constructing a flexible lower assembly of a fill-up and circulation tool for use in a subterranean well, said fill-up and circulation tool comprising a tool body and a casing seal mounted to said tool body operable for scaling with an interior surface of an upper joint of said casing string, said fill-up and circulation tool being operable for use with a rig comprising a traveling block assembly to which said fill-up and circulation tool is attachable, said rig further comprising casing gripping slips mounted to said traveling block assembly for engaging said upper joint of said casing string, said method comprising: 
 mounting a flexible hose to said tool body; and    mounting a rigid tubular to said flexible hose on an opposite side of said flexible hose from said tool body such that said rigid tubular is insertable into said upper joint of said casing string.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a guide at a lower end of said rigid tubular, said guide being insertable into said upper joint of said casing string.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a tapered exterior surface on said guide.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising forming a fluid outlet adjacent said rigid tubular.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising providing an overall length of said flexible hose and said rigid tubular such that rigid tubular is completely contained within an interior of said upper joint of said casing string when said fill-up and circulation tool is attached to said traveling block assembly and said casing gripping slips are engaged with said upper joint of said casing string.