Wellbore Tool for Filling, Circulating and Backflowing Fluids

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool ( 1 ) for filling, circulating and backflowing fluids in a pipeline being run into or out of a wellbore, the tool ( 1 ) including an elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ), a sealing element ( 14 ) arranged for sealing between the tool ( 1 ) and the pipeline ( 6 ) when the tool is being run into the pipeline, and a valve means ( 19 ) arranged for being closed when the tool is being pulled out of the pipeline ( 6 ), the tool ( 1 ) further being provided with a through channel. The invention is characterized in that the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ) comprises a running head ( 3 ) at the lower end thereof, the valve means ( 19 ) being installed in the running head ( 3 ) and including a hydraulically actuatable ball valve adapted for being operable to an open position when running head ( 3 ) is run into the upper end of the pipeline ( 6 ), the hydraulic actuatable ball valve being adapted for closing when the running head ( 3 ) is pulled out of the pipeline ( 6 ), one or more sensors ( 9 ), adapted for measuring how far into the pipeline ( 6 ) the running head ( 3 ) is located, being positioned along the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ).

1 . A tool ( 1 ) for filling, circulating and backflowing fluids in a pipeline being run into or out of a wellbore, the tool ( 1 ) comprising an elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ), a sealing element ( 14 ) arranged for sealing between tool ( 1 ) and the pipeline ( 6 ) when this has been inserted into the pipeline, and a valve means ( 19 ) arranged for being closed when the tool is being pulled out of pipeline ( 6 ), the tool ( 1 ) further being provided with a through channel, characterized in that the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ) includes a running head ( 3 ) on the lower end thereof, wherein valve means ( 19 ) is positioned in running head ( 3 ) and wherein valve means ( 19 ) includes a hydraulically actuatable ball valve arranged for being operable to open position when running head ( 3 ) is run into the upper end of pipeline ( 6 ), wherein the hydraulically actuatable ball valve is arranged for closing when running head ( 3 ) is pulled out of pipeline ( 6 ), one or more sensors ( 9 ), adapted for measuring how far into pipeline ( 6 ) running head ( 3 ) is located, being arranged along the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ). 
   
   
       2 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the tool comprises drive means ( 11 ) selectively retracting or extending the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ).   
   
   
       3 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with locking means arranged for locking the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ) in a desired, extended position.   
   
   
       4 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 3 ,
 characterized in that the locking means include slips ( 23 ) arranged for locking the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ) in a desired, extended position.   
   
   
       5 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the sealing element ( 14 ) is positioned on the running head ( 3 ), two metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) being provided at each side of sealing element ( 14 ), the metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) being arranged in such a manner that when sealing element ( 14 ) is squeezed between metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ), sealing element ( 14 ) will expand outwards to seal against the interior of pipeline ( 6 ), the radius of metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) and sealing element ( 14 ) being chosen so that the sealing element ( 14 ) does not project outside metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) when said metal rings are not squeezed together.   
   
   
       6 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 5 ,
 characterized in that separate drive means ( 22 ) are provided for squeezing metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) together.   
   
   
       7 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 2 ,
 characterized in that said sensors ( 9 ) are adapted for transmitting signals to the drive means ( 11 ), the drive means ( 11 ) being arranged to stop when the sensors ( 9 ) transmit a signal indicating that the running head ( 3 ) has been run sufficiently far into the pipeline ( 6 ).   
   
   
       8 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 5 ,
 characterized in that the radii of the metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) and the sealing element ( 14 ) are selected so that the sealing element ( 14 ) does not project outside the metal rings ( 12 ,  13 ) when said metal rings are not squeezed together.   
   
   
       9 . The tool ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tool is provided with means measuring the distance from the gripping point of the elevator on the pipeline ( 6 ) to the pipeline end ( 8 ). 
   
   
       10 . The tool ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with means measuring the level of liquid in the pipeline ( 6 ).   
   
   
       11 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 10 ,
 characterized in that the means measuring the level of liquid in the pipeline ( 6 ) is/are disposed on the running head ( 3 ).   
   
   
       12 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the tool comprises an electronic signal control module receiving, processing, and communicating signals from the sensors and drive means of the tool ( 1 ), the electronic signal control module of the tool ( 1 ) communicating, wirelessly or not, with an electronic signal control module at the drilling floor, said two electronic signal control modules being designed for cooperatively performing the tasks of the tool ( 1 ).   
   
   
       13 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 9 ,
 characterized in that the tool comprises an electronic signal control module receiving, processing and communicating signals from the sensors and drive means of the tool ( 1 ), the electronic signal control module of the tool ( 1 ) communicating, wirelessly or not, with an electronic signal control module at the drilling floor, said two electronic signal control modules being adapted for cooperatively performing the tasks of tool ( 1 ), wherein the electronic signal control module of the tool ( 1 ), on the receipt of a particular signal from the electronic signal control module at the drilling floor, causes the tool  1 , by means of measurements of the distance from the gripping point of the elevator on the pipeline ( 6 ) to the pipeline end ( 8 ), measurements from the sensors ( 9 ), and optionally also by means of measurements of the level of liquid in the pipeline ( 6 ), to find an optimal position for the running head ( 3 ) relative to the pipeline ( 6 ), the position corresponding to one of the following positions:   a) a standby position if filling, emptying, or circulation is not to be performed,   b) a filling position,   c) an emptying position, or   d) a circulating position,   
     the current position and the various measurements being continuously updated and mediated to the electronic signal control module at the drilling floor, so that the operation and state of the tool ( 1 ) may be monitored and verified at any time by the electronic signal control module at the drilling floor and/or an operator. 
   
   
       14 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 2 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with locking means arranged for locking the elongate, telescopically acting body ( 2 ) in a desired, extended position.   
   
   
       15 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 3 ,
 characterized in that said sensors ( 9 ) are adapted for transmitting signals to the drive means ( 11 ), the drive means ( 11 ) being arranged to stop when the sensors ( 9 ) transmit a signal indicating that the running head ( 3 ) has been run sufficiently far into the pipeline ( 6 ).   
   
   
       16 . The tool ( 1 ) of  claim 4 ,
 characterized in that said sensors ( 9 ) are adapted for transmitting signals to the drive means ( 11 ), the drive means ( 11 ) being arranged to stop when the sensors ( 9 ) transmit a signal indicating that the running head ( 3 ) has been run sufficiently far into the pipeline ( 6 ).   
   
   
       17 . The tool ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with means measuring the distance from the gripping point of the elevator on the pipeline ( 6 ) to the pipeline end ( 8 ).   
   
   
       18 . The tool ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with means measuring the distance from the gripping point of the elevator on the pipeline ( 6 ) to the pipeline end ( 8 ).   
   
   
       19 . The tool ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with means measuring the distance from the gripping point of the elevator on the pipeline ( 6 ) to the pipeline end ( 8 ).   
   
   
       20 . The tool ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 ,
 characterized in that the tool is provided with means measuring the distance from the gripping point of the elevator on the pipeline ( 6 ) to the pipeline end ( 8 ).