Variable Length Fill Up Tool and Valve

Abstract

A fill up tool has an adjustable length to selectively lengthen the fill up a tool or retract to be positioned completely above the elevator so that elevator movement will not interfere with the fill up tool. The seal is fixed to the tool so that the load caused by the pressurized seal does not have to be balanced by the operating force of the piston. A full open valve is operated when the tool is extended to fill up or take flow back.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tubular string fill up and circulation tool assembly for placement of the string at a subterranean location, comprising:
 a mandrel having a base portion and a telescoping portion and a selectively open passage therethrough;   an exterior seal on said base or telescoping portion for selective insertion into said string.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said passage comprises a selectively opened valve.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said valve opens on at least a partial extension of said telescoping portion.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said valve opens at substantial extension of said telescoping portion.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said mandrel comprises an upper portion from which said telescoping portion selectively extends;   said upper portion comprises a piston, said piston forming a portion of said valve.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said valve comprises a tubular member fixedly mounted in said upper portion;   said piston is connected to said telescoping portion that overlays said tubular member.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said piston overlays said tubular member.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said tubular member having at least one lateral port and a closed lower end.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said lateral port is selectively closed by said telescoping portion.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said piston having an interior chamber selectively aligned with said port to open flow through said telescoping portion.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said piston divides said upper potion into an upper annular space defined between said tubular member and a surrounding inside wall of a tubular housing that comprises said upper portion and a lower annular space defined between said telescoping portion and said inside wall.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said piston moves with a pressure differential in said upper and lower annular spaces.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said telescoping portion further comprises a cup seal and centralizer.   
     
     
         14 . A method of running a tubular string to a subterranean location, comprising:
 supporting the string below a fill up and circulation tool;   initially telescoping a part of the fill up and circulating tool into a top of said string;   flowing fluid into said string after said initially telescoping;   inserting a seal of said fill up and circulating tool into said string with further telescoping of said fill up and circulating tool or with lowering said fill up and circulating tool;   circulating fluid through said string while advancing said string toward the subterranean location.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 opening a passage through said fill up and circulating tool with said initially telescoping.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 opening said passage with a valve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 moving a portion of said valve with said initial telescoping.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising:
 moving a piston in a housing for said initial telescoping;   aligning at least one lateral port on a stationary tube in said housing that is connected to a fluid source with a chamber within said piston to allow flow through said fill up and circulating tool.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 opening said passage on initial movement of said piston and retaining said passage open for the remaining movement of said piston in a direction that initially opened said passage.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising:
 closing said passage when reversing said initial telescoping movement of said fill up and circulation tool.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 rigidly mounting the fill up and circulating tool in alignment with said string so that upon said initially telescoping said fill up and circulating tool a nose of said fill up and circulating tool goes into the string without intervention.