Convertible autofill float equipment having poppet valve and interlock
A float assembly facilitates autofill operations when running a tubing string into a wellbore. The assembly includes a poppet valve and an interlock. A primary biasing element, located on a support within the assembly, moves the poppet from an open position to a closed position against a seat. The interlock, situated relative to the poppet and support, includes a surface area exposed to fluid flow and includes a secondary biasing element. When fluid flow in the downbore direction exceeds a specific threshold, the interlock shifts from a locked state to an unlocked state. In the locked state, the interlock holds the poppet in the open position, allowing bidirectional fluid flow to support autofill operations. The secondary biasing element, located between the support and the assembly, maintains the locked state. When unlocked, the interlock releases the poppet, and the primary biasing element drives the poppet closed.
1 . A float assembly for use on a tubing string having a throughbore for fluid flow, the float assembly comprising:
a housing configured to couple to the tubing string, the housing defining a flow passage therein, the flow passage communicating with the throughbore of the tubing string and having a seat; and
a valve comprising:
a support disposed in the flow passage;
a primary biasing element disposed on the support;
a poppet movably disposed on the support and being biased by the primary biasing element from an opened position to a closed position relative to the seat, the poppet in the opened position being disengaged from the seat and being configured to permit fluid flow through the flow passage, the poppet in the closed position being engaged with the seat and being configured to prevent fluid flow in an upbore direction through the flow passage; and
an interlock comprising a sleeve arranged relative to the poppet and the support and comprising a collet and a slot arranged between the sleeve and the poppet, the interlock having a surface area and a secondary biasing element, the surface area being exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage,
the interlock being activatable from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to a level of fluid flow in a downbore direction against the surface area, the sleeve being movable at least from the locked state to the unlocked state, the collet being disengaged from the slot in response to the sleeve in the unlocked state,
the interlock in the locked state being configured to hold the poppet in the opened position, the secondary biasing element being engaged between the support and the sleeve and biasing the sleeve to the locked state,
the interlock in the unlocked state being configured to release the poppet biased toward the closed position by the primary biasing element.
2 . The float assembly of claim 1 , wherein the poppet defines the slot; and wherein:
the sleeve has the surface area exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage, the sleeve being movable at least from a first position for the locked state to a second position for the unlocked state in response to the level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the sleeve, the sleeve being biased to the second position by the secondary biasing element disposed between the support and the sleeve; and
the collet is movable relative to the slot in response to the sleeve moved from the first position to the second position, the collet with the sleeve in the first position being engaged with the slot of the poppet in the closed position, the collet with the sleeve in the second position being disengaged from the slot of the poppet.
3 . The float assembly of claim 2 , where the support defines a guide slot; and wherein the sleeve comprises a guide pin disposed in the guide slot, the guide pin being disposed in a first portion of the guide slot and being configured to limit the sleeve to the first position relative to the collet, the guide pin being disposed in a second portion of the guide slot and being configured to release the sleeve to the second position against the collet.
4 . The float assembly of claim 1 , wherein the poppet comprises the collet; and wherein the sleeve of the interlock comprises:
an inner sleeve having the slot, the slot being a wedged slot configured to releasably engage the collet of the poppet in the open position; and
an outer sleeve disposed on the inner sleeve and having the surface area exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage, the outer sleeve being movable from a retracted position for the locked state of the interlock to an extended position for the unlocked state of the interlock in response to the level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve being biased to the retracted position by the secondary biasing element disposed between the support and the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve moved to the extended position being configured to urge the inner sleeve to release the collet on the poppet from the wedged slot on the inner sleeve.
5 . The float assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second valve comprising a second support, a second poppet, and a second interlock.
6 . The float assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a filler material disposed in an interior of the housing, the filler material defining a portion of the flow passage; and wherein the support of the valve comprises:
an insert disposed in the filler material and defining a chamber, the chamber having the seat and communicating with the flow passage; and
a base disposed in the chamber, the base having the poppet and the primary biasing element disposed thereon, the poppet being biased by primary biasing element toward the seat.
7 . A float assembly of claim 1 for use on a tubing string having a throughbore for fluid flow, the float assembly comprising:
a housing configured to couple to the tubing string, the housing defining a flow passage therein, the flow passage communicating with the throughbore of the tubing string and having a seat; and
a valve comprising:
a support disposed in the flow passage;
a primary biasing element disposed on the support;
a poppet movably disposed on the support and being biased by the primary biasing element from an opened position to a closed position relative to the seat, the poppet in the opened position being disengaged from the seat and being configured to permit fluid flow through the flow passage, the poppet in the closed position being engaged with the seat and being configured to prevent fluid flow in an upbore direction through the flow passage, wherein the poppet defines at least one slot; and
an interlock arranged relative to the poppet and the support and having a surface area and a secondary biasing element, the surface area being exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage, wherein the interlock comprises a sleeve arranged relative to the poppet and the support and comprises at least one dog disposed between the sleeve and the poppet,
the interlock being activatable from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to a level of fluid flow in a downbore direction against the surface area, the sleeve being movable at least from the locked state to the unlocked state, the secondary biasing element being engaged between the sleeve and the support and biasing the sleeve to the locked state, the at least one dog being movable relative to the at least one slot in response to the sleeve in the locked state and the unlocked state,
the interlock in the locked state being configured to hold the poppet in the opened position,
the interlock in the unlocked state being configured to release the poppet biased toward the closed position by the primary biasing element.
8 . The float assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the sleeve has the surface area exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage, the sleeve being movable at least from a contracted position for the locked state to an extended position for the unlocked state in response to the level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the sleeve, the sleeve being biased to the contracted position by the secondary biasing element disposed between the support and the sleeve; and
the at least one dog is movable relative to the at least one slot in response to the sleeve in the contracted position moved to the extended position, the at least one dog with the sleeve in the contracted position being engaged with the at least one slot of the poppet in the opened position, the at least one dog with the sleeve in the extended position being configured to disengage from the at least one slot of the poppet.
9 . The float assembly of claim 7 , wherein the surface area of the interlock comprises a disc, a plate, or a fin.
10 . The float assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a second valve comprising a second support, a second poppet, and a second interlock.
11 . The float assembly of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a filler material disposed in an interior of the housing, the filler material defining a portion of the flow passage; and wherein the support of the valve comprises:
an insert disposed in the filler material and defining a chamber, the chamber having the seat and communicating with the flow passage; and
a base disposed in the chamber, the base having the poppet and the primary biasing element disposed thereon, the poppet being biased by primary biasing element toward the seat.
12 . A float assembly for use on a tubing string having a throughbore for fluid flow, the float assembly comprising:
a housing configured to couple to the tubing string, the housing defining a flow passage therein, the flow passage communicating with the throughbore of the tubing string and having a seat; and
a valve comprising:
a support disposed in the flow passage;
a primary biasing element disposed on the support;
a poppet movably disposed on the support and being biased by the primary biasing element from an opened position to a closed position relative to the seat, the poppet in the opened position being disengaged from the seat and being configured to permit fluid flow through the flow passage, the poppet in the closed position being engaged with the seat and being configured to prevent fluid flow in an upbore direction through the flow passage; and
an interlock arranged relative to the poppet and the support and having a surface area and a secondary biasing element, the surface area being exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage,
the interlock being activatable from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to a level of fluid flow in a downbore direction against the surface area, wherein the interlock comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the inner sleeve arranged relative to the poppet and the support and being connected by a releasable connection to the poppet, the outer sleeve disposed on the inner sleeve and being movable at least from the locked state to the unlocked state, the secondary biasing element being engaged between the outer sleeve and the support and biasing the outer sleeve to the locked state, the outer sleeve moved to the unlocked state being configured to urge the inner sleeve and the releasable connection to release from one another,
the interlock in the locked state being configured to hold the poppet in the opened position,
the interlock in the unlocked state being configured to release the poppet biased toward the closed position by the primary biasing element.
13 . The float assembly of claim 12 , wherein the releasable connection comprises a shear wire disposed laterally through the inner sleeve and the poppet; and wherein the outer sleeve moved to the unlocked state is configured to urge the inner sleeve to release from the shear wire.
14 . The float assembly of claim 13 , wherein the releasable connection comprises a collet and a wedged slot, the collet disposed on the poppet, the wedged slot disposed on the inner sleeve, the wedged slot configured to releasably engage the collet of the poppet in the opened position; and wherein the outer sleeve moved to the unlocked state is configured to urge the inner sleeve to release the collet on the poppet from the wedged slot on the inner sleeve.
15 . The float assembly of claim 12 , wherein the outer sleeve has the surface area exposed to fluid flow in the flow passage, the outer sleeve being movable at least from a contracted position for the locked state to an extended position for the unlocked state in response to the level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve being biased to the contracted position by the secondary biasing element disposed between the support and the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve moved to the extended position being configured to urge the inner sleeve to release from the releasable connection.
16 . The float assembly of claim 15 , wherein the releasable connection comprises a shear wire disposed laterally through the inner sleeve and the poppet.
17 . A method used for a tubing string in a wellbore, the tubing string having a throughbore for fluid flow, the method comprising:
deploying the tubing string in the wellbore while allowing fluid flow in an upbore direction and a downbore direction though a poppet valve biased with a primary biasing element by holding the biased poppet valve in an open position with an interlock biased by a secondary biasing element to a locked state; and
restricting fluid flow to only the downbore direction through the throughbore by:
pumping fluid flow in the downbore direction at a predetermined level against a surface area of the interlock;
releasing the interlock from the locked state to an unlocked state by moving a body of the interlock against the secondary biasing element in response to the fluid flow at the predetermined level acting in the downbore direction against the surface area of the body of the interlock;
disengaging the biased poppet valve from the interlock in the unlocked state by converting the interlock in response to the movement of the body from the locked state engaged with the biased poppet valve in the open position to the unlocked state disengaged from the biased poppet valve;
biasing the biased poppet valve toward a closed position with the primary biasing element; and
allowing fluid flow only in the downbore direction though the biased poppet valve disengaged from the interlock.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein allowing fluid flow in the upbore direction and the downbore direction though the biased poppet valve held in the open position by the interlock comprises preventing a poppet of the biased poppet valve in the open position from moving to the closed position by holding the poppet in the open position with the interlock, the poppet in the open position permitting fluid flow through the biased poppet valve in the upbore direction and the downbore direction, the poppet in the closed position permitting fluid flow in the downbore direction and restricting fluid flow in the upbore direction.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the body of the interlock comprises a sleeve; wherein the interlock comprises at least one dog and at least one slot; and wherein
moving the body comprises moving the sleeve of the interlock against the secondary biasing element in response to the predetermined level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the sleeve; and
converting the interlock comprises disengaging the at least one dog from the at least one slot in response to the movement of the sleeve, the at least one dog and the at least one slot arranged between the sleeve and the biased poppet valve in the open position.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the body of the interlock comprises a sleeve; wherein the interlock comprises a collet and at least one slot; and wherein
moving the body comprises moving the sleeve of the interlock against the secondary biasing element in response to the predetermined level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the sleeve; and
converting the interlock comprises disengaging the collet from the at least one slot in response to the movement of the sleeve, the collet and the at least one slot arranged between the sleeve and the biased poppet valve in the closed position.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the body of the interlock comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve; wherein the interlock comprises a releasable connection; and wherein:
moving the body comprises urging the outer sleeve of the interlock against the secondary biasing element against the inner sleeve of the interlock in response to the predetermined level of fluid flow in the downbore direction acting against the surface area of the outer sleeve; and
converting the interlock comprises releasing the releasable connection between the inner sleeve and the biased poppet valve in response to the outer sleeve urged against the inner sleeve.