Cementing head for oil wells

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the technical sector of the cementing of the annulus in oil, gas, water, geothermal or other wells.

[0002] A principle which is well known is that of the technique consisting in injecting in suitable sequence, inside the casing lowered into the drilling well, fluids such as slurry, cement slags, separated by a mechanical plug and/or by a spacer fluid. It is also necessary to throw, in the appropriate manner, one or more mechanical plugs in order to isolate certain parts of the well.

[0003] All of these operations are performed at high pressure (pumping pressure for the fluids in the well).

[0004] All of them are, in their principle and in their operating procedure, routine work for the field engineer.

[0005] At present, and for several decades already, the cementing heads used are as illustrated in accompanying Figure 1, on which the following references designate the constituent elements as stated :

• I, a cementing head,
• II, a casing disposed inside a well P,
• 2, a connecting collar between the head I and the upper overground part of the casing II,
• 3 and 4, two plugs immobilized in the head by two stops R₃ and R₄,
• T, a passage sensor or tell-tale,
• V₁, V₂, V₃, valves placed upstream of the head.

[0006] The cementing heads according to the prior art work as follows (the fluid arrives under high pressure in "F"):

• firstly, valve V₁ is opened (while valves V₂ and V₃ being closed) for circulating a first fluid into the well P without throwing any plug; this first fluid may be a slurry;
• then V₂ is opened after closing V₁, V₃ remaining closed, and a cement slag is admitted under high pressure.

[0007] The element R₃ has to be retracted beforehand either manually or hydraulically or otherwise, and the first plug 3 is released and lowered into the well. It is followed by the cement slag which is pumped in. The element T, or telltale, which is spring-loaded, is supposed to detect the passage of the plug;

• when the above phase is completed, V₁ and V₂ are closed and V₃ is opened, and a displacing fluid (slurry, brine, etc...) is pumped in. By the same process, the plug 4 is released by retraction of element R₄. Element T then should detect the passage of the second plug;
• V₃ is then closed.

[0008] The operation of V₁, V₂ and V₃ is generally controlled by hand as a remote-control would be too complex. Also, the cementing head which must be able to withstand very high pressures, is extremely heavy. This is an additional and serious disadvantage inasmuch as, firstly, the head has to be lifted above the "table" of the derrick and, secondly, the handling of such a weight involves a very high risk of damaging the fine-pitch threading of the collar 2, as well as a risk of accident.

[0009] Another serious disadvantage, is the well known "U-tube" phenomenon, namely the free dropping of the cement slag in the well, which occurs during cementing, and causes a transient although noticeable depression. When the first plug has been thrown, but not the second, said depression is exerted on the plug 4 and can deform element R₄. Such deformation may have a damaging effect on the throwing of the second plug, such as premature throwing/blocking/aslant jamming inside the well, etc..., and/or geometry or resistance of the plug, which is liable to impair the cementing operation.

[0010] DE 1 117 520 describes a cementing head which is as usual threaded on the top of the casing and whose all components are above the surface. Said cementing head comprises a plug chamber 10C in which the plug 29 is kept in position by a retrievable rod 15. When the plug needs to be launched, then the rod 15 is removed and the plug is pushed down due to the downwards action of a vertical rod 41 mounted above the plug. Then the pumped slurry pushes the plug downhole.

[0011] Only one plug can be launched that way, and the whole cement head is above the surface.

[0012] USP 2 615 519 : this document describes a conventional cementing head whose whole body 10 lies above the casing. The body contains a top plug A and a bottom plug B. The fluid enters the body through inlets 94, 93 or 92. The plugs are successively released by operation of mechanical stops 15. This document illustrates the background of the invention as shown on attached Fig. 1.

[0013] It is the aim of the invention to propose a cementing head integrated to the casing, which will solve the aforementioned problems.

[0014] One object of the invention is to provide a cementing head designed to allow the throwing of one, two and even more successive plugs, not only to be carried out in precise, efficient and simple operations by any operator, but also with a throwing accuracy for each plug, according to the sequence of phases required by the implemented process.

[0015] Another object of the invention relates to the storage of the plugs inside the head in conditions which eliminate all risks of incorrect positioning which could result, particularly in the course of the operation, in damages or slantings which will interfere with the good development of the operation.

[0016] Yet another object of the invention is to provide means permitting the accurate and selective control, firstly, of the throwing of the plugs and also of the transfer of each one inside the head until the correct position for throwing the plug into the casing is reached.

[0017] These objects are attained according to the invention by producing a cementing head for oil wells or the like, of the type comprising a body adaptable by any connecting means on the upper end of a casing placed inside the well, and means for connecting the head with a supply station supplying at least one fluid under pressure, characterized in that it comprises:

• a tubular magazine or container, open at its lower end, extending downwardly from the body in order to be placed at least partly inside the casing with which it creates an annular space,
• at least one plug mounted in the container with radial elastic deformation prestressing, and capable of sealingly occupying the casing after expelling of the container,
• and an expelling jack for expelling said plug from said container.

[0018] The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to figures 2 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, in which :

• Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view corresponding to the prior art.
• Figure 2 is a diagrammatical elevational section of a first embodiment of the cementing head.
• Figure 3 is a partial elevational section of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is an elevational section showing, on an enlarged scale, one detail of embodiment.
• Figure 5 is an elevational section of one industrial embodiment of the cementing head according to the invention.
• Figure 6 is an elevational section, showing on an enlarged scale, one detail of embodiment.
• Figures 7 and 8 are two elevational sections, similar to Figure 5, illustrating two phases of operation.
• Figure 9 is an elevational section illustrating a preferred embodiment of the cementing head according to the invention.

[0019] The cementing head according to the invention essentially comprises, as shown in Figure 2, a container 11, open at its lower part f and in which are placed a number of plugs. Three plugs 3, 4 and 5 are shown in Figure 2, but a higher number of plugs may be used. The plugs are mechanically joined together by releasing members 15, 14, 13. The plugs, which as is known, are constituted at least on their periphery of an elastic material such as rubber, are held in position inside the container by being compressed by the wall 11.

[0020] The releasing elements 15, 14, 13 are joined to each plug via conventional mechanical means, not shown. Preferably, these mechanical means will be anchored in the mass of the plug. The upper releasing element, 13 in the illustrated example, is connected to a vertical displacement jack V, controlled by any conventional means. As illustrated in Figure 2, the plugs, the container, the jack and the lower face of the head body or cap I which is secured to the collar 2, the latter being itself mounted in conventional fashion on the casing II lowered into the well P, define zones A, B, C and D. The wall of the container 11 is perforated in facing relationship to each zone A, B, C and D, the holes 8, 9, 10, 17 allowing a ready flow of the fluid F pumped under high pressure into the well.

[0021] The working principle of the head according to the invention is as follows:

• a differential pressure ΔP as low as possible (preferably lower than 50 psi/3.5 kg/cm2, and more preferably around 10 psi/0.7 kg/cm2) is created between zones A and D;
• elements 15, 14 and 13 are calibrated so that, as indicated hereinafter, they break under a tensile force corresponding to the difference of pressure ΔP exerted by the fluid on the upper face Ps of one plug and on the lower face Pi of the same plug, such that :
  
  
  
  
  
  in the non-restrictive example illustrated in Figure 2,
  
  
  
  
  
  
• the first fluid, normally a slurry, is pumped in through F; the fluid under pressure spreads through all the zones A, B, C, D and E defined in the container 11 by the plugs, and into space e, as shown in Figure 2, defined by container 11 and casing II, due to the communications created by holes 8, 9, 10 and 17, in the illustrated example. The plugs are then in a non-stressed condition due to the equalization of pressures, and the first fluid can be circulated into the well for the required time;
• then, the jack V is moved downwards over a sufficient distance for the bottom plug 3 to pass over the safety boss 12, which boss is not absolutely necessary, and to reach zone E. It is understood, as will be seen hereinafter, that the releasing elements 15, 14 and 13 are capable of transmitting without deformation the thrust of the jack. In zone E, the fins of the plug expand as far as the wall of the casing II where they take on their final wellknown shape, thus ensuring tightness between zone the bottom of the well, as illustrated in Figure 3;
• if a second fluid F, which may be for example a cement slag, a sludge, an inert fluid or spacer, a brine, etc... is admitted, at that particular time, under pressure, the pumping pressure P₁, illustrated in Figure 3, becomes higher than pressure P₂ and element 15 is subjected to a differential pressure ΔP sufficient to cause the release of the plug 3. Said plug is then "thrown" correctly into the well under the action of P₁;
• the same procedure is used successively with plugs 4, 5... simply by moving the jack V downwards, thus allowing the plugs 4, 5, etc... to reach zone E while successively admitting the appropriate fluids.

[0022] An embodiment of the releasing elements is illustrated in Figure 4 which describes the situation wherein plug 3 has already been thrown and the jack V has brought plug 4, to which part of element 15 is still attached as explained hereinafter, in zone E. Figure 4 therefore describes the operation of element 14, but understandably, the operation of elements 15 or 13 is identical.

[0023] In the described embodiment, element 14 is composed of two parts : a which is mechanically fixed to the plug situated above plug 4, namely in this case, plug 5, and b which is mechanically fixed to plug 4. The "mechanical fixing means" used is not shown. Preferably, a and b are pieces in metal, in composite material or in plastic material, said pieces going through the plug and being either anchored in the rubber of the plug by means of grooves, or fixed by a threading or other means to an element in metal or other, which element is itself anchored to the plug or forms part thereof. Such fixing means are obvious. Piece a is housed in an adapted recess of piece b and rests on the bottom 23 of said recess. The side walls of the recess comprise one or more grooves 22 situated in facing relationship to recesses 24 provided through the whole thickness of piece a, grooves 22 and recesses 24 being so dimensioned as to receive at least one movable element S, which is preferably a ball, occupying substantially all the space defined by 22 and 24, and thus firmly fixing the relative position of a and b. A piston 21 locks the element or elements S in position and is itself held in position by mechanical means such as a readily compressible spring R, namely a spring exerting on the lower face 25 of the piston just enough pressure to hold said piston in abutment on the shoulder 27 of piece a.

[0024] When, as explained hereinabove, pressure P₁ increases, the piston naturally undergoes a vertical force directed downwardly, via communications d and 28 : P₁ x surface 20, and a vertical force directed upwardly, via communications g and 26: P₂ x surface 25.

[0025] When the downward resultant of said two forces reaches the calibration threshold predetermined for element 14, the piston 21 is lowered into the recess 26, the effect of the pressure P₁ which is higher than P₂ urges the plug 4 downward, thus driving the elements S towards the inside of recess 24. This movement may be helped by giving the appropriate shape to the upper surface 29 of the groove or grooves 22.

[0026] When, in this movement, the elements S are no longer engaged in the groove or grooves 22, piece b is disconnected from part a and plug 4 is "thrown" down by the pumping pressure P₁. Piece a remains attached to the upper plug 5, which is not important.

[0027] Tightness is of course ensured by joints j as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, and the spring R may be replaced by equivalent means, such as friction means provided at the level of the walls, small breaking element joining lightly piston 21 and piece b and being quite unable to oppose the movement of the piston under the action of P₁ - P₂, etc... .

[0028] The invention therefore proposes a cementing head which is :

• light , the container 11 being optionally made of metal or alloy of small thickness or of composite material;
• reliable, due to equalization of the pressure which limits the dangerous stresses, particularly at the level of the plugs;
• simple to use, the only operation to perform being the lowering of the jack;
• automatizable and remotely-controllable; The last two advantages being important also from the point of view of staff safety and from the point of view of reliability of the operation.
• capable of throwing 2, 3, 4, 5, etc... plugs, which makes it possible, for the first time, to perform more complex, hence more accurate operations than in the prior art.

[0029] Figure 5 illustrates an industrial example of embodiment of the cementing head according to the invention. Head I comprises a body 30 provided, at its lower part, with means 31 of connection with casing II. Said means 31 can be constituted by the fine-threaded collar 2, of the normally used type, with which the body 30 cooperates either directly or via an adapter.

[0030] Body 30 is constituted by a lower half-body 32 of tubular type, and by an upper half-body 33, said half-bodies being joined together, with interposition of sealing means 34, by a clamp 35 or similar device designed to fasten, one against the other, flanges 36 and 37 respectively provided in facing relationship on the half-bodies 32 and 33.

[0031] The body 30 is provided with means 40 for connecting the head I with a supply station, supplying fluid under high pressure, such as slurries, cleaning fluids or spacers, and of course, fluids capable of ensuring the cementing of the annulus in a well P. In the present case, the means 40 are constituted by fittings carried by the upper half-body 33 and opening into the inner periphery of a cavity 41 defined on the outside by the body 30 so as to be substantially in line with the inner section of the casing II when the head I is fitted on the latter.

[0032] Said head I comprises, internally in cavity 41, a tubular container 42 of general cylindrical shape, open at its lower end and extending coaxially to the half-body 32. Said container 42 is constituted by an independent, removable element which is held in position by clamping or squeezing, between the two half-bodies 32 and 33, of an outer edge 43 formed by said element. Tubular element 42 is preferably perforated over its whole height, in such a way as to place the annular space which it defines inside cavity 41, in communication with its own defined volume. Tubular element 42 has, close to its lower open end, a centering flange 44, adapted to cooperate with the half-body 32 and, preferably, a thin annular inner edge 45 formed in offset fashion with respect to its lower open end.

[0033] Container 42 is designed to constitute a magazine for the temporary storage of plugs 50 which can be provided in variable number. Said container 42 can be so constituted as to contain only one plug, and even two, as illustrated in the drawings, or a higher number of plugs, this constituting a considerable advantage over the prior art. In consequence, the axial length of the container 42 is preferably determined in relation to the expected number of plugs as well as to the overall height occupied by said plugs.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the plugs 50 are placed inside the container 42 in such a way as to be superposed and in contact one with the other, to form a column resting by the bottom plug 50₁ on the edge 45. The plugs 50 have a very conventional general structure and are constituted by generally axi-symmetrical bodies comprising, on their outer periphery, annular fins 51, which are elastically deformable and confer to each plug, when in rest position, a diameter greater than the internal passage section of container 42 and also slightly greater than the internal diameter of casing II, this latter point being quite conventionally known. The loading of container 42 therefore necessarily implies a radial elastic deformation prestressing of the fins 51 to obtain their radial elastic deformation, this ensuring, by reaction, the stacking of the different plugs in stable superimposition. Preferably, the container 42 is loaded by its open upper end, before being mounted inside cavity 41 by assembly of the two half-bodies 32 and 33.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the bottom plug designated by the reference 50₁ is of perforatable type and comprises, to this effect, an axial passage 52 which is closed at its upper end by a cap 53 which can be perforated by the known pressure means which are normally generated during drilling or treatment of the well P.

[0036] The second plug, or top plug, as illustrated in Figure 5 has the reference 50₂ and occupies a superposed position to perform an obturating function, as described hereinafter. To this end, top plug 50₂ is compact and has no part or zone which cannot withstand the pressures generated inside the well. Other combinations of plugs could also be used.

[0037] The head I is completed with means 55 for successively expelling the different plugs from the container 42. Said means 55 are in the form of a jack formed by or adapted on the upper half-body 33. The jack 55 can be a single-rod jack or, on the contrary, it can be of the type with multiple working-stages, in which case, preferred according to the invention, the number of working stages is directly related to the number of plugs 50 filling the container 42. In the illustrated case, the jack 55 is of telescopic type with two double-acting working stages 56₁ and 56₂. Stage 56₁ is constituted by a primary cylinder 57 containing a piston 58 of double-acting type. Fittings 66 are provided to this end, to ensure the supply of either one of the variable volume chambers defined by piston 58 inside cylinder 57. Piston 58 is of tubular type and comprises a cylinder 60 extending through a sealing ring 61 closing off cylinder 57. Cylinder 60 contains a piston 62 extended by a rod 63 and forming with cylinder 60 the second stage 56₂. Said rod 63 extends through cylinder 57 as well as body 33 via a lining 64, so as to penetrate by its end part 65 inside the volume of container 42. Preferably, rod 63 extends coaxially to the container 42. Piston 62 defines, inside cylinder 60, two chambers of variable volume which can be respectively fed with fluid under pressure through fittings 66, fitting 59 which belongs to cylinder 57 ensuring the return of the fluid.

[0038] As more clearly illustrated in Figure 6, the end part 65 of rod 63 is designed to constitute, via a flanged part 67, a means of acting and exerting pressure on the column of superposed plugs during the extending stroke of the rod of jack 55. According to the invention, it is proposed to join the end part 65 to the top plug 50₂ by automatic assembling and releasing means 70 controlled releasably by the fluid supplying the last stage 56₂ of the jack 55. Such means comprise, first, inside a chamber 71 defined by end part 65, a piston 72 servo-controlled by a retraction member using spring return means. The piston is designed to control pivotable fingers 73 provided inside a housing 74 formed in the upper part of the top plug 50₂. The chamber defined between the upper part of the piston 72 and the lower part of the rod 63, communicates via an axial passage 75 extending through the whole piston rod 63, with a recess 76 provided in piston 62 to allow its opening towards the end 77 of the cylinder 60. Said recess 76 contains a valve 78 working in combination with an elastic member 79 urging it in closing position, as soon as it stops cooperating with an opening piece 80 carried by the end 77.

[0039] The cementing head works as follows :
   In the position illustrated in Figure 5, the plugs 50₁ and 50₂ fill the container 42 which is immobilized by the assembling of the two half-bodies 32 and 33 forming the head I adapted on the casing II. The system 70 creates an axial link between the end part 65 of the rod 63 and the top plug 50₂. Jack 55 occupies a position in which the rod or rods which constitute it are retracted. It is indicated in the foregoing that stages 56₁ and 56₂ are of double-acting type, but it is understood that a single-acting jack with multiple stages is also suitable.

[0040] To throw the bottom plug 50₁ into the casing II, the first stage 56₁ of jack 55 is supplied through lower fitting 66, so as to control the sliding movement of the piston 58 in the direction of arrow f₁. This stroke brings the piston 58 in abutment against the half-body 33. During this displacement, the end 77 pushes the piston 62 subjecting the rod 63 to an extending stroke. The end part 65 pushes the top plug 50₂ which, in turn, expels the bottom plug 50₁ urging it to pass over the edge 45.

[0041] At end-of-stroke of the piston 58, such as illustrated in Figure 7, the top plug 50₂ is brought substantially to rest against the edge 45, whereas the plug 50₁ is engaged in casing II in which it is centered via the fins 51 urged in radial elastic deformation of expansion. Said plug 50₁ can then be thrown by the admission into the cavity 41 of a fluid under pressure which is either a spacer, or a cement slag, brought through one of the fittings 40. It is important to recall that the container 42 is defined by a perforated wall, so that the pressure of the fluid pumped into the casing II has no influence on the stable position occupied by the top plug 50₂.

[0042] After the throwing of the bottom plug 50₁ and correct performance of the operational sequence or phase concerned, including optionally the perforation of plug 50₁, the top plug 50₂ is thrown by controlling the supply of stage 56₂ through upper fitting 66. In this step, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the fluid under pressure, fed into the upper chamber of cylinder 60 through upper connector 66, is introduced into the recess 76 because of the open position of valve 78. This fluid follows passage 75 in order to penetrate into the chamber situated above piston 72 and to control the extending stroke of piston 72. The pivoting fingers 73 are actuated in retracted position when piston 72 occupies its abutting position while in extending stroke. Then, the fluid under pressure actuates piston 62, urging the rod 63 back, thereby simultaneously controlling the closure of valve 78 to isolate the system 70 from any variation of pressure and to keep the fingers 73 in retracted position. The extending stroke of rod 63 causes, as illustrated in Figure 8, the expelling of plug 50₂ from the container 42 in a similar way as described with respect to bottom plug 50₁. Once expelled from the container 42, the top plug 50₂ is propelled by the admission of a propellant fluid through the fittings 40. This occurs automatically due to the retraction of the system 70 following the retraction of the fingers 73.

[0043] It is clear from the foregoing that it is possible with the cementing head according to this example, to store temporarily in a stable ready-for-throwing position, a variable number of plugs without any successive physical link, which plugs are protected against all risks of degradation, of misorientation or inadvertent slipping. Said plugs can be thrown with accuracy by successive expelling from the container by means of the expelling jack 55, and they can be propelled by introduction into the cementing head of a fluid under pressure acting upstream of the plug as driving energy.

[0044] The aforesaid advantages are due to the structure of the head, and also to the conformation of the plugs which is chosen to ensure a secure and stable immobilization inside the container and to allow the plugs to suitably cooperate with the inner wall of the casing on emerging from the storage container.

[0045] In preferred manner, said special conformation will reside in fins that are more developed than the fins of the conventional plugs.

[0046] The aforesaid advantages are also obtained by preferably using a jack 55 with successive strokes and more particularly, with as many working stages as there are plugs inside the container. In this way, the jack 55 is controlled every time to perform an extending stroke corresponding exactly to the transfer amplitude required to be imposed on a plug inside the container in order to expel it.

[0047] Figure 9 illustrates a preferred variant, in which the body 30 is constituted of a lower half-body 32a and of an upper half-body 33a. The lower half-body 32a is adapted on the collar 31 via an adapter 81 and comprises fittings 40 which are thus situated under the clamp 35.

[0048] The upper half-body 33a directly constitutes, on its own, the cylinder 57 forming the first working stage 56₁ associated, as indicated hereinabove, to the elements constituting the second stage 56₂.

Claims

1. Cementing head for oil wells or similar of the type comprising a body adaptable by a connecting means on the upper end of a casing placed inside the well, launchable plug(s) and means to push the plug(s) downwards, and means for connecting the head with a supply station supplying at least one fluid under pressure characterized in that said head comprises :

. a body or cap (I) mounted on the top of the casing,

. a tubular magazine or container (11) open at its lower end, extending downwardly from the body (I) in order to be placed at least partly inside the casing with which it creates an annular space (e),

. at least one plug (3, 4, 5) mounted in the container (11) with radial elastic deformation pre-stressing, and capable of sealingly occupying the casing after expelling of the container,

. and an expelling jack (V) for expelling said plug from said container.

2. Cementing head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the container (11) has an open lower end (f), preferably slightly narrowing, and contains a plurality of plugs (3, 4, 5) and in that the jack (V) is placed coaxially to the head and has a rod extending through the latter and which is joined to the top plug (5) by a releasing system.

3. Cementing head as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the container (11) contains a plurality of plugs (3, 4, 5) joined successively one to the other by releasing elements (13, 14, 15) having limited tensile strength, said strengths being staged from the bottom plug (3) to the top plug (5).

4. Cementing head as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the different plugs (3, 4, 5) define inside the container (11) free volumes (A, B, C, D), at the level of each one of which the wall of the container (11) is provided with holes (8, 9, 10, 17) creating a communication with the connection means between the head and the supply station.

5. Cementing head as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that each releasing element with limited tensile strength comprises :

. one male part (a) joined to the lower part of the upper plug, housed in an adapted recess 22, 26 of female part (b), and having at least one recess (24) opening out on the outside and containing a movable element (S) retractable inside said recess (24),

. and a female part (b) rising from the upper face of the lower plug, provided with a recess (22, 26) for receiving the male part (a), having on the inside at least one groove (22) corresponding with the recess and defining a volume which contains a piston (21), urged by a spring (R) to enter the recess (22) and to be forced downwards when pressure P1 increases above a calibrated theshold, thus allowing the movable element (S) to move inwards and the male part (a) to move apart from the recess (22, 26) of the female part (b).

6. Cementing head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plugs (3, 4, 5) are mounted to contact one with the other inside the container (11) into which penetrates the piston rod of the expelling jack (V).

7. Cementing head as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the expelling jack (V) is of telescopic type with as many working stages as there plugs inside the container (11).

8. Cementing head as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the releasing system is of retractable assembly type and is releasably controlled from the supply fluid of the last working stage of the jack (V).

9. Cementing head as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the retractable assembly system comprises :

. at the end part (65) of the jack rod, a piston (72) controlling, against the action of an elastic return member and during its extraction stroke, the retraction of pivoting fingers (73), disposed inside a housing (74) of the top plug (50₂).

. at the top part of the jack rod, an automatically closing valve (78), which opens into the corresponding chamber admitting the fluid under pressure controlling the jack, and cooperates, in the retracted position of the rod, with an opening stop piece projecting into the chamber,

. and between the valve and the piston, an axial passage (75) extending through the rod (63).

10. Cementing head as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that the head body is constituted :

. by a lower half-body (32) provided with an adapter on the connection means,

. by an upper half-body (33) carrying the jack,

. and by a clamp (35) for assembling the half-bodies (32,33).

11. Cementing head as claimed in claim 10,
characterized in that the connecting means (40) between the head and the supply station are carried by the lower half-body (32).

12. Cementing head as claimed in claim 10,
characterized in that the container is constituted by a removable tubular element (42) held axially in position by an upper shoulder provided between the half-bodies (32,33).

13. Cementing head as claimed in claim 10,
characterized in that the upper half-body (33) forms a first working stage (56₁) of the jack by defining a primary cylinder (57) containing a tubular piston (58) forming a second working stage (56₂) by defining a secondary cylinder with which cooperates the jack rod (63) which penetrates into the container.

14. Method for cementing oil, gas, water, geothermal and other wells, characterized in that it uses a cementing head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

Ansprüche

1. Zementierkopf für Ölbohrungen oder dergleichen, umfassend einen durch eine Verbindungseinrichtung an das obere Ende eines innerhalb der Bohrung angeordneten Gehäuses adaptierbaren Körper, ferner einen oder mehrere abwerfbare Pfropfen sowie Mittel zum Stoßen des oder der Pfropfen nach unten, und Mittel zum Verbinden des Kopfes mit einer Zuführstation, die wenigstens ein Fluid unter Druck zuführt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß dieser Kopf umfaßt:

- einen auf der Oberseite des Gehäuses befestigten Körper oder Aufsatz (I),

- einen an seinem unteren Ende offenen rohrförmigen Magazinraum oder Behälter (11), welcher sich vom Körper (I) nach unten erstreckt, so daß er wenigstens teilweise innerhalb des Gehäuses angeordnet ist, mit welchem er einen Ringraum (e) bildet,

- wenigstens einen Pfropfen (3, 4, 5), welcher im Behälter (11) mit radialer, elastischer Verformungsvorspannung befestigt ist und welcher sich nach dem Ausstoßen aus dem Behälter abdichtend im Gehäuse festsetzen kann,

- und einen Ausstoßbock (V) zum Ausstoßen des Pfropfens aus dem Behälter.

2. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Behälter (11) ein offenes, vorzugsweise sich geringfügig verengendes unteres Ende (f) hat und mehrere Pfropfen (3, 4, 5) aufnimmt, und daß der Bock (V) koaxial zum Kopf angeordnet ist und einen sich durch den letzteren hindurch erstreckenden Stößel hat, welcher mit dem oder den oberen Pfropfen durch ein Auslösesystem verbunden ist.

3. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Behälter (11) mehrere Pfropfen (3, 4, 5) hat, die aufeinanderfolgend einer mit dem anderen über Auslöseelemente (13, 14, 15) verbunden sind, welche eine begrenzte Zugfestigkeit haben, wobei diese Festigkeiten vom unteren Pfropfen (3) zum oberen Pfropfen (5) hin abgestuft sind.

4. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die unterschiedlichen Pfropfen (3, 4, 5) innerhalb des Behälters (11) freie Volumenräume (A, B, C, D) bilden, wobei auf der Höhe von jedem derselben die Wand des Behälters (11) mit Öffnungen (8, 9, 10, 17) versehen ist, welche eine Verbindung mit den Anschlußeinrichtungen zwischen dem Kopf und der Zuführstation herstellen.

5. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennnzeichnet, daß jedes Auslöseelement mit begrenzter Zugfestigkeit umfaßt:

- ein mit dem unteren Teil des oberen Pfropfens verbundenes vorstehendes Teil (a), welches in einer passenden Ausnehmung (22, 26) des aufnehmenden Teils (b) aufgenommen ist und welches wenigstens eine Ausnehmung (24) hat, die sich zur Außenseite hin öffnet und ein bewegliches Element (S) enthält, welches in diese Ausnehmung (24) zurückziehbar ist,

- und ein von der Oberseite des unteren Pfropfens hochstehendes aufnehmendes Teil (b), welches mit einer Ausnehmung (22, 26) für die Aufnahme des vorstehenden Teils (a) ausgestattet ist, die an der Innenseite wenigstens eine mit der Ausnehmung in Verbindung stehende Nut (22) hat und einen Volumenraum definiert, welcher einen Kolben (21) aufnimmt, wobei dieser durch eine Feder (R) so vorgespannt ist, daß er in die Ausnehmung (22) eindringt, jedoch nach unten gedrückt wird, wenn ein Druck P1 über eine kalibrierte Druckschwelle ansteigt, so daß das bewegliche Element (S) sich nach innen bewegen und das vorstehende Teil (a) sich aus der Ausnehmung (22, 26) des aufnehmenden Teils (b) lösen kann.

6. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Pfropfen (3, 4, 5) so angeordnet sind, daß sie miteinander innerhalb des Behälters (11) in Kontakt sind, in den die Kolbenstange des Ausstoßbockes (V) eintritt.

7. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Ausstoßbock (V) vom Teleskop-Typ ist mit so vielen Arbeitsstufen, wie Pfropfen innerhalb des Behälters (11) angeordnet sind.

8. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Auslösesystem vom Typ mit wieder zurückziehbarer Montageverbindung ist und von dem Zuführfluid der letzten Arbeitsstufe des Bockes (V) lösbar gesteuert ist.

9. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das System mit wieder zurückziehbarer Montageverbindung umfaßt:

- am Endteil (65) des Bockstößels einen Kolben (72), welcher gegen die Wirkung eines elastischen Rückstellgliedes und während seines Ausziehhubes das Zurückziehen von Schwenkfingern (73) steuert, die innerhalb eines Gehäuses (74) des oberen Pfropfens (50₂) angeordnet sind,

- am oberen Teil des Bockstößels ein automatisch schließendes Ventil (78), welches sich in die zugeordnete Kammer öffnet und den Zulauf des den Bock steuernden Druckfluides zuläßt und welches in der zurückgezogenen Position des Stößels mit einem Öffnungsanschlagstück zusammenwirkt, welches in die Kammer hineinsteht,

- und zwischen dem Ventil und dem Kolben einen axialen Kanal (75), welcher sich durch den Stößel (63) hindurch erstreckt.

10. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Kopfkörper gebildet ist:

- durch einen unteren Halbkörper (32), welcher mit einem Adapter für die Verbindungsmittel versehen ist,

- durch einen oberen Halbkörper (33), welcher den Bock trägt,

- und durch eine Klammer (35) zum Zusammenmontieren der Halbkörper (32, 33).

11. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verbindungsmittel (40) zwischen dem Kopf und der Zuführstation vom unteren Halbkörper (32) getragen werden.

12. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Behälter durch ein abnehmbares Rohrelement (42) gebildet ist, welches axial durch eine zwischen den Halbkörpern (32, 33) vorgesehene obere Schulter in Position gehalten wird.

13. Zementierkopf nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der obere Halbkörper (33) eine erste Arbeitsstufe (56₁) des Bockes bildet, indem er einen Primärzylinder (57) definiert, der einen rohrförmigen Kolben (58) aufnimmt, welcher seinerseits eine zweite Arbeitsstufe (56₂) bildet, indem er einen Sekundärzylinder definiert, mit welchem der Bockstößel (63) zusammenwirkt, der in den Behälter eindringt.

14. Verfahren zum Zementieren von Öl-, Gas-, Wasserbohrungen, geothermischen und anderen Bohrungen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es einen Zementierkopf verwendet, wie er in einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche beansprucht ist.

Revendications

1. Tête de cimentation pour puits de pétrole ou similaires du type comprenant un corps adaptable par un moyen de liaison sur l'extrémité supérieure d'un cuvelage placé à l'intérieur du puits, un bouchon ou des bouchons à lancer et un moyen servant à pousser vers le bas le ou les bouchons, et un moyen de liaison de la tête à une station d'alimentation envoyant au moins un fluide sous pression caractérisée en ce que ladite tête comprend:

- un corps ou capuchon (I) monté sur le sommet du cuvelage

- un magasin ou récipient tubulaire (11) ouvert à son extrémité inférieure, s'étendant vers le bas à partir du corps (I) afin d'être placé au moins partiellement à l'intérieur du cuvelage avec lequel il crée un espace annulaire (e),

- au moins un bouchon (3, 4, 5) monté dans le récipient (11) sous une contrainte préalable de déformation élastique radiale, et susceptible d'occuper de façon étanche le cuvelage après avoir été expulsé du récipient,

- et un vérin d'expulsion (V) pour expulser ledit bouchon hors dudit récipient.

2. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le récipient (11) comporte une extrémité inférieure ouverte (f), se rétrécissant de préférence légèrement, et contient une série de bouchons (3, 4, 5) et en ce que le vérin (V) est placé de manière coaxiale à la tête et comprend une tige qui s'étend à travers cette dernière et est assemblée au bouchon supérieur (5) par un système de libération.

3. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le récipient (11) contient une série de bouchons (3, 4, 5) assemblés successivement l'un à l'autre par des éléments de libération (13, 14, 15) à résistance limitée à la traction, lesdites résistances croissant par paliers depuis le bouchon inférieur (3) jusqu'au bouchon supérieur (5).

4. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que les différents bouchons (3, 4, 5) définissent, à l'intérieur du récipient, des volumes libres (A, B, C, D) au niveau de chacun desquels la paroi du récipient (11) présente des trous (8, 9, 10, 17) créant une communication avec le moyen de liaison entre la tête et la station d'alimentation.

5. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que chaque élément de libération à résistance limitée à la traction comprend:

- une partie mâle (a) assemblée à la partie inférieure de bouchon supérieur, logée dans un évidement adapté (22, 26) de la partie femelle (b), comportant au moins un évidement (24) s'ouvrant sur l'extérieur et contenant un élément mobile (S) rétractable à l'intérieur dudit élément (24), et

- une partie femelle (b) s'élevant à partir de la surface supérieure du bouchon inférieur, dans laquelle est ménagé un évidement (22, 26) pour recevoir la partie mâle (a) et dans laquelle est ménagée sur l'intérieur au moins une rainure (22) correspondant à l'évidement et définissant un volume qui contient un piston (21), sollicité par un ressort (R) de manière à entrer dans l'évidement (22) et à être forcé vers le bas lorsque la pression P₁ s'élève au delà d'un seuil calibré, en permettant ainsi à l'élément mobile (S) de se déplacer vers l'intérieur et à la partie mâle (a) de s'éloigner de l'évidement (22, 26) de la partie femelle (b).

6. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les bouchons (3, 4, 5) sont montés de manière à être en contact l'un avec l'autre à l'intérieur du récipient (11) dans lequel pénètre la tige de piston du vérin d'expulsion (V).

7. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que le vérin d'expulsion (V) est du type télescopique, comprenant autant d'étages de travail qu'il existe de bouchons à l'intérieur du récipient (11).

8. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que le système de libération est du type à assemblage rétractable et est réglé de façon libérable par le fluide d'amenée du dernier étage de travail du vérin (V).

9. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que le système à assemblage rétractable comprend:

- à la partie d'extrémité (65) de la tige de vérin, un piston (72) réglant, en opposition à l'effet d'un organe élastique de rappel et pendant sa course d'extraction, la rétraction de doigts pivotants (73), disposés à l'intérieur d'un boîtier (74) du bouchon supérieur (50₂).

- à la partie supérieure de la tige de vérin, une vanne à fermeture automatique (78) qui s'ouvre vers la chambre correspondante, en admettant le fluide sous pression réglant le vérin, et coopère, dans la position rétractée de la tige, avec une pièce d'arrêt d'ouverture faisant saillie dans la chambre,

- et un passage axial (75), ménagé entre la vanne et le piston et s'étendant à travers la tige (63).

10. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le corps de tête est constitué:

- par un demi-corps inférieur (32) pourvu d'un adaptateur sur le moyen de liaison,

- par un demi-corps supérieur (33) portant le vérin,

- et par une pince (35) d'assemblage des demi-corps (32, 33).

11. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que les moyens de liaison (40) entre la tête et la station d'alimentation sont portés par le demi-corps inférieur (32).

12. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que le récipient est constitué par un élément tubulaire amovible (42) tenu axialement en position par un épaulement supérieur disposé entre les demi-corps (32, 33).

13. Tête de cimentation selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que le demi-corps supérieur (33) forme un premier étage de travail (56₁) du vérin en définissant un cylindre primaire (57) contenant un piston tubulaire (58) formant un deuxième étage de travail (56₂) en définissant un cylindre secondaire avec lequel coopère la tige (63) de vérin qui pénètre dans le récipient.

14. Procédé de cimentation de puits de pétrole, de gaz, d'eau, géothermiques et autres, caractérisé en ce qu'il utilise une tête de cimentation selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.

Drawing