Slurry outlet with seal protection system

Abstract

A slurry outlet system including a top sub having a seal, a closure sleeve positionable in an open position spaced from the top sub during a slurry pumping operation and a closed position wherein the closure sleeve sealingly interacts with the seal, a protector sleeve disposed to protect the seal and movable upon the closure sleeve becoming sufficiently close to the protector sleeve. A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal of the top sub and simultaneously making sealing contact between the closure sleeve and the seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slurry outlet system comprising:
 a top sub having a seal;   a closure sleeve positionable in an open position spaced from the top sub during a slurry pumping operation and a closed position wherein the closure sleeve sealingly interacts with the seal;   a protector sleeve disposed to protect the seal and movable upon the closure sleeve becoming sufficiently close to the protector sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the top sub includes a plurality of seals. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a wiper. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the closure sleeve contacts the protector sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a crossover tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing operation. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a cementing tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a cementing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a cementing operation. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seal is one or more of an o-ring, a bonded seal, metal seal, a seal stack or non-elastomeric seals. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the closure sleeve includes an outside surface for interacting with the seal in the top sub that is a seal less uninterrupted surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the protector sleeve creates a pocket segregated from particulate incursion. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the protector sleeve is a part of a seal protection subsystem. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the subsystem includes a pocket receptive of the protector sleeve in a closed position of the system. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a biasing arrangement disposed to bias the protector sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a release member attached to the protector sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the release member is a shear screw. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the protector sleeve includes an engagement feature to engage the closure sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system comprising:
 bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system;   displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal of the top sub and simultaneously making sealing contact between the closure sleeve and the seal.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  further including wiping the closure sleeve prior to making sealing contact with the seal. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the urging of the protector sleeve includes causing the release of a release member. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the urging of the protector sleeve includes disposing the protector sleeve in a pocket of a seal protection subsystem. 
     
     
         20 . A wellbore system comprising:
 a borehole in a subsurface formation;   a string including a slurry outlet system as claimed in  claim 1 .