Downhole filter tool
Apparatus for downhole filtration of fluids in a wellbore. The apparatus has a diverter and a filter slidably mounted on a mandrel. The diverter has a circumferential wiper element between the mandrel and the casing within which the apparatus is run. When fluids are reverse circulated, or the tool is being pulled out, the diverter shifts to a downward position, wherein it seals against an upper end of the filter, filtering out solids in the fluids and retaining them in a chamber between the sleeve and mandrel. When running the tool into a wellbore, the diverter shifts to an upper position to permit fluids to bypass the filter sleeve. The filter sleeve bears against a spring loaded seat, which permits creating a gap between the diverter and an upper end of the filter sleeve to allow fluids to bypass the filter sleeve should the filter sleeve slots become plugged.
1. An apparatus for connection in a tubing string for use to filter solids from the wellbore fluids located in the wellbore annulus surrounding the tubing string, comprising:
a) a mandrel forming a central passageway therethrough; connectors on said mandrel for connecting said mandrel to a tubing string in fluid communication with the interior of the tubing string;
b) a filter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior filter annulus between said mandrel and said filter sleeve, said interior filter annulus is open at one end to receive fluids, filter openings in said filter sleeve providing a flow path between the interior filter annulus and the wellbore, and whereby fluids entering the one end of said interior filter annulus flow through said openings to retain solids in said interior filter annulus;
c) a discharge passageway adjacent the other end of said interior filter annulus, said passageway connecting the interior filter annulus with the wellbore annulus for discharging fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus, wherein the passageway is a port in the filter sleeve; and
d) a valve member mounted on said mandrel for movement between a first position blocking flow through said passageway and a second position permitting flow from said interior filter annulus to discharge fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising a resilient member urging said valve member toward and into the first position.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said resilient member is a spring.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said member is a seat.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising a diverter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior diverter annulus between said mandrel and said diverter sleeve.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , additionally comprising an outer member on said diverter sleeve of a size to engage the wellbore wall.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said outer member on said diverter sleeve comprises a wiper.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said outer member on said diverter sleeve comprises a brush.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 , additionally comprising said diverter sleeve is mounted to rotate with respect to said mandrel.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said filter sleeve is mounted to rotate with respect to said mandrel.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said filter openings in said filter sleeve comprises slots.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said valve member is pressure operated and moves between said first and second positions in response to pressure in the filter annulus.
13. An apparatus for connection in a tubing string for use to filter solids from the wellbore fluids located in the wellbore annulus surrounding the tubing string, comprising:
a) a mandrel forming a central passageway therethrough; connectors on said mandrel for connecting said mandrel to a tubing string in fluid communication with the interior of the tubing string;
b) a filter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior filter annulus between said mandrel and said filter sleeve, said interior filter annulus is open at one end to receive fluids, filter openings in said filter sleeve providing a flow path between the interior filter annulus and the wellbore, and whereby fluids entering the one end of said interior filter annulus flow through said openings to retain solids in said interior filter annulus;
c) a discharge passageway adjacent the other end of said interior filter annulus, said passageway connecting the interior filter annulus with the wellbore annulus for discharging fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus;
d) a valve member mounted on said mandrel for movement between a first position blocking flow through said passageway and a second position permitting flow from said interior filter annulus to discharge fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus;
e) a diverter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior diverter annulus between said mandrel and said diverter sleeve;
wherein said filter sleeve is mounted to move with respect to said mandrel between a one position, wherein the one end of said filter sleeve is spaced away from said diverter sleeve to form a gap through which fluids can flow to bypass said filter sleeve and an another position, wherein said diverter sleeve contacts the one end of said filter sleeve thereby closing the gap whereby fluid flowing into said interior diverter annulus flows into said interior filter sleeve annulus and through said filter openings.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , additionally comprising a resilient member contacting said filter sleeve and urging said filter sleeve to move in a direction toward the one position.
15. An apparatus for connection in a tubing string for use to filter solids from the wellbore fluids located in the wellbore annulus surrounding the tubing string, comprising:
a mandrel forming a central passageway there through; connectors on said mandrel for connecting said mandrel to a tubing string in fluid communication with the interior of the tubing string;
a diverter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior diverter annulus between said mandrel and said diverter sleeve;
filter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior filter annulus between said mandrel and said filter sleeve, said interior filter annulus is open at one end to receive fluids, filter openings in said filter sleeve providing a flow path between the interior filter annulus and the wellbore and whereby fluids entering the one end of said interior filter annulus flow through said openings to retain solids in said interior filter annulus; and
said filter sleeve being mounted on the mandrel to move with respect to said mandrel between a first position wherein the one end of said filter sleeve is spaced away from said diverter sleeve to form a gap through which fluids can flow to bypass said filter sleeve and a second position wherein said diverter sleeve contacts the one end of said filter sleeve thereby closing the gap whereby fluid flowing into said interior diverter annulus flows into said interior filter sleeve annulus and through said filter openings.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , additionally comprising:
a discharge passageway adjacent the other end of said interior filter annulus, said passageway connecting the interior filter annulus with the wellbore annulus for discharging fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus;
a valve member mounted on said mandrel for movement between a first position, blocking flow through said passageway and a second position, permitting flow from said interior filter annulus to discharge fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said valve member is pressure operated and moves between said first and second positions in response to pressure in the filter annulus.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , additionally comprising an outer member on said diverter sleeve of a size to engage the wellbore wall.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said filter openings in said filter sleeve comprises slots.