Modular insert float system
View Patent ↗The present disclosure provides a modular insert float system and method that can be inserted into a casing and attached to the casing internal surface by internal slips and sealing components. The system is modular in that three main components: an upper valve assembly, a lower valve assembly, and a pair of casing anchor and seal assemblies along with top and bottom shoes form a kit that can be used for virtually any casing of a given size regardless of the threads, casing material grades, length of joint, or other variations. Further, the system allows for insertion of the casing into the wellbore without damaging the formation from forcing wellbore fluid into the formation and causing the loss of wellbore fluid in the wellbore.
1. A modular insert float system for use in a bore of a casing, the system comprising a first casing anchor and seal assembly configured to be inserted and coupled into the bore of the casing independent of being coupled to an end of the casing, the first casing anchor and seal assembly comprising:
a mandrel comprising two interchangeable ends, either end being configured to be coupled with a downhole component and wherein either end can be disposed toward a pin end of the casing and fit the same downhole component at the pin end; and
a sealing element and a slip coupled to the mandrel.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the downhole component comprises an end having an outside circumference larger than the casing bore that extends downhole of the pin end of the casing.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a shoe coupled to an end of the first casing anchor and seal assembly distal from the pin end.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second casing anchor and seal assembly interchangeable with the first casing anchor and seal assembly and configured to fit the same downhole component on either end as the first casing anchor and seal assembly.
5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a different downhole component coupled to the second casing anchor and seal assembly than the downhole component coupled to the first casing anchor and seal assembly.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
one of the casing anchor and seal assemblies is coupled on one end to a first valve assembly and on the other end to a first shoe; and
the other of the casing anchor and seal assemblies is coupled on one end to a second valve assembly different from the first valve assembly and on the other end to a second shoe different from the first shoe.
7. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
one of the casing anchor and seal assemblies is coupled on an end to a first shoe; and
the other of the casing anchor and seal assemblies is coupled on an end to a second shoe different from the first shoe.
8. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
one of the casing anchor and seal assemblies is coupled on one end to a first valve assembly; and
the other of the casing anchor and seal assemblies is coupled on one end to a second valve assembly, wherein the second valve assembly is disposed downhole of the first valve assembly and wherein the first valve assembly is configured to be actuated first by an actuator, and release the actuator to travel downhole to actuate the second valve assembly.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first valve assembly further comprises a ball holder coupled with a ball restrictor plate and configured to restrain a ball in a first direction to allow flow around the ball and restrain in a second direction different than the first direction and allow flow around the ball through a plate passage while the ball sealingly engages a plate restrictor.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic setting tool configured to set the casing anchor and seal assembly inside the casing from the pin end of the casing.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the downhole component extends partially out of the casing and comprises at least one jet opening formed through a sidewall of the downhole component.
12. A modular insert float system for use in a bore a casing, the system comprising:
a lower assembly coupled in the bore of the casing, comprising:
a lower casing anchor and seal assembly configured to be inserted and coupled into the casing bore independent of being coupled to an end of the casing, comprising:
a mandrel having two interchangeable ends configured to be coupled with a lower downhole component wherein either end can be disposed toward a pin end of the casing and fit the lower downhole component at the pin end; and
a sealing element and a slip coupled to the mandrel; and
the lower downhole component configured to be coupled to either end of the mandrel; and
an upper assembly coupled in the casing bore distally from the casing pin end relative to the lower assembly, comprising:
an upper casing anchor and seal assembly configured to be inserted and coupled into the casing bore independent of being coupled to an end of the casing, comprising:
a mandrel comprising two interchangeable ends configured to be coupled with an upper downhole component wherein either end can be disposed toward the pin end of the casing and fit the upper downhole component at the pin end; and
a sealing element and a slip coupled to the mandrel; and
the upper downhole component being configured to be coupled to either end of the mandrel and being different than the lower downhole component.
13. A method of installing a modular insert float system into a bore of a casing, the method comprising:
installing a first downhole component on either end of a first casing anchor and seal assembly configured to be inserted and coupled into the casing bore independent of being coupled to an end of the casing, comprising:
a mandrel comprising two interchangeable ends configured to be coupled with the first downhole component wherein either end can be disposed toward a pin end of the casing and fit the first downhole component at the pin end; and
a sealing element and a slip coupled to the mandrel;
inserting the first casing anchor and seal assembly a predetermined distance into the bore of the casing; and
setting the first casing anchor and seal assembly to engage the bore of the casing independent of being coupled to an end of the casing.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
installing a second downhole component different than the first downhole component on either end of a second casing anchor and seal assembly that is interchangeable with the first casing anchor and seal assembly;
inserting the second casing anchor and seal assembly a predetermined distance into the bore of the casing; and
setting the second casing anchor and seal assembly to engage the bore of the casing independent of being coupled to an end of the casing.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein setting the casing anchor and seal assembly comprises hydraulically setting the casing anchor and seal assembly.