Stage collar and related methods for operation

1 . A stage collar assembly, comprising:

a mandrel;

an inflatable packer coupled to the mandrel;

a closing sleeve disposed in and releasably coupled to the mandrel, wherein the closing sleeve has one or more ports in alignment with one or more ports of the mandrel when the stage collar is in a run in position;

an opening sleeve disposed in and releasably coupled to the mandrel; and

a protection sleeve disposed in and releasably coupled to the opening sleeve, wherein the protection sleeve comprises one or more seals configured to seal one or more bores formed through a sidewall of the opening sleeve when the stage collar is in the run in position.

2 . The stage collar assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a closing device having a first outer seating surface configured to engage an inner seating surface of the protection sleeve when the stage collar is in the run in position.

3 . The stage collar assembly of claim 2 , wherein the protection sleeve is movable relative to the opening sleeve to open fluid flow through the bores formed through the sidewall of the opening sleeve.

4 . The stage collar assembly of claim 3 , wherein the opening sleeve and the closing device are movable relative to the mandrel such that a second outer seating surface is configured to engage an inner seating surface of a closing seat that is coupled to an end of the closing sleeve.

5 . The stage collar assembly of claim 4 , wherein the closing seat, the closing sleeve, and the closing device are movable relative to the mandrel such that the ports of the closing sleeve are not aligned with the ports of the mandrel.

6 . The stage collar assembly of claim 5 , wherein a lock ring is movable by the closing sleeve into a recess formed in an inner surface of the mandrel to move the stage collar into a closed and locked position.

7 . A method of operating a stage collar, comprises:

lowering the stage collar in a wellbore in a run in position, wherein when the stage collar is in the run in position, one or more cementing ports of an upper mandrel of the stage collar are aligned with one or more cementing ports of a closing sleeve of the stage collar;

pumping a closing device into the stage collar such that a first outer seating surface of the closing device engages an inner seating surface of a protection sleeve disposed within an opening sleeve of the stage collar;

pressurizing the stage collar to shear one or more shearable members disposed between the protection sleeve and the opening sleeve; and

moving the protection sleeve relative to the opening sleeve to open fluid communication through one or more bores formed in a sidewall of the opening sleeve.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising pumping fluid through the bores of the opening sleeve to supply fluid to and inflate an inflatable packer of the stage collar.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein fluid flows through the bores of the opening sleeve, and then flows through one or more flow bores or flow ports formed in a lower mandrel of the stage collar to provide fluid communication to the inflatable packer.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising pressurizing the stage collar to shear one or more shearable members disposed between the opening sleeve and the upper mandrel of the stage collar.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising moving the opening sleeve and the closing device such that a second outer seating surface of the closing device engages an inner seating surface of a closing seat that is coupled to the closing sleeve of the stage collar.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising pressurizing the stage collar to shear one or more shearable members disposed between the closing sleeve and the upper mandrel.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising moving the closing device, the closing seat, and the closing sleeve with a lock ring relative to the upper mandrel such that the lock ring extends outward into a recess formed in the upper mandrel to move the stage collar into a closed and locked position.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein when the stage collar is in the closed and locked position, the cementing ports of the upper mandrel are not aligned with the cementing ports of the closing sleeve such that fluid communication between the stage collar and the wellbore is closed via the cementing ports.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising drilling out one or more portions of the closing device when the stage collar is in the closed and locked position.

16 . A method of operating a stage collar, comprises:

lowering the stage collar in a wellbore in a run in position;

pumping a closing device into the stage collar such that a first outer seating surface of the closing device engages an inner seating surface of a protection sleeve disposed within an opening sleeve of the stage collar;

moving the protection sleeve relative to the opening sleeve to open fluid communication through one or more bores formed in a sidewall of the opening sleeve;

pumping fluid through the bores to inflate an inflatable packer;

moving the closing device such that a second outer seating surface of the closing device engages an inner seating surface of a closing seat coupled to a closing sleeve of the stage collar;

moving the closing sleeve to move a lock ring outward into a recess formed in a mandrel of the stage collar to place the stage collar into a closed and locked position; and

pressurizing the stage collar to shear one or more shearable members disposed between the opening sleeve and the mandrel to move the closing device into engagement with the closing seat.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising pressurizing the stage collar to shear one or more shearable members disposed between the protection sleeve and the opening sleeve to move the protection sleeve relative to the opening sleeve.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising pressurizing the stage collar to shear one or more shearable members disposed between the closing sleeve and the mandrel to move the closing sleeve and the lock ring to place the stage collar into the closed and locked position.