Multi-purpose fill and circulate well tool
View Patent ↗A FAC tool for use in a well comprising a well casing. The FAC tool comprises a top drive connection for coupling the tool to a top drive; a push plate; a telescoping section coupling the push plate to the top drive connection; a packer cup configured to seal an annular space between the FAC tool and the well casing when the packer cup is energized; a packer element system comprising at least one packer moveable between a locked position in which the at least one packer is not energized, and an energized position, the packer element system being configured to seal the annular space between the FAC tool and the well casing when in the energized position; and a slip system comprising at least one slip, the slip system configured to lock the packer element in the energized position.
1. A multi-purpose fill and circulate tool (“FAC tool”) for use in a well comprising a well casing, the FAC tool comprising:
a top drive connection for coupling the tool to a top drive;
a packer cup configured to seal an annular space between the FAC tool and the well casing when the packer cup is energized;
a packer element system comprising at least one packer moveable between a locked position in which the at least one packer is not energized, and an energized position, the packer element system being configured to seal the annular space between the FAC tool and the well casing when in the energized position; and
a slip system comprising at least one slip positioned between the packer cup and the packer element system, the slip system configured to secure the FAC tool in the casing, the slip system configured to retain the at least one packer in the energized position.
2. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a push plate; and a telescoping section coupling the push plate to the top drive connection.
3. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a lower valve assembly positioned below the packer element system.
4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the FAC tool comprising an inner flow path extending from the top drive connection through the lower valve assembly, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the FAC tool and into the well.
5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein an upper control section is positioned between the push plate and the packer cup.
6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein a middle control section is positioned between the packer cup and the slip system.
7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein a lower control section is positioned between the packing element system and the valve assembly.
8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the packing element system comprises a plurality of packers.
9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the packer cup is positioned below the packing element system.
10. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a flowback path that is configured to allow fluid to be released from the well below the packers of the packing element system when the packing element system is energized.
11. A method for operating a multi-purpose fill and circulate tool (“FAC tool”) engaged in a well casing of a well, the FAC tool comprising:
a top drive connection for coupling the tool to a top drive;
a push plate;
a packer cup configured to seal an annular space between the FAC tool and the well casing when the packer cup is energized;
a packer element system comprising at least one packer moveable between a locked position in which the at least one packer is not energized, and an energized position, the packer element system being configured to seal the annular space between the FAC tool and the well casing when in the energized position; and
a slip system comprising at least one slip, the slip system configured to secure the FAC tool in the casing,
wherein the method comprises:
sensing a high pressure event;
unlocking the packer element system;
moving the at least one packer to the energized position; and
deploying the at least one slip to secure the FAC tool in the casing, the slip system retaining the at least one packer in the energized position.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein an upper control section is positioned between the push plate and the packer cup.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a middle control section is positioned between the packer cup and the slip system.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein a lower control section is positioned between the packing element system and the valve assembly.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the packing element system comprises a plurality of packers.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein unlocking the packer comprises reducing a load on, and rotating of, the FAC tool.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein moving the at least one packer to the energized position comprises increasing a load on the FAC tool.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the slips are biased so as to be forced into a position to secure the FAC Tool in the casing when the load on the FAC tool is increased.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising locking a telescoping section of the FAC tool after deploying the at least one slip.
20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing the FAC tool from the casing.
21. The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the FAC tool to a flowback position to allow fluid to be released from the well below the packers of the packing element system when the packing element system is energized.
22. A method for operating a multi-purpose fill and circulate tool (“FAC tool”) engaged in a well casing of a well, the method comprising:
sensing a high pressure event;
unlocking a packer element system of the FAC tool, the packer element system comprising at least one packer;
moving the at least one packer to an energized position; and
deploying at least one slip to secure the FAC tool in the casing, the slip system retaining the at least one packer in the energized position.