Ulllted States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,082,451
`
`Giroux et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 4, 2000
`
`US006082451A
`
`4,047,566
`4,078,810
`4,083,074
`
`4,246,967
`4,290,432
`4,356,865
`4,427,065
`4,429,746
`
`9/1977 Duke ..................................... .. 166/285
`3/1978 Arendt
`.
`.... .. 277/116.4
`4/1978 Curtis
`.. 15/104.06 R
`3:3/{ies
`.. 166/291
`1/1981 Harris
`166/70
`9/1981 Brisco .... ..
`. 166/153
`11/1982 Appel et al
`. . . .. 166/250
`1/1984 Watson . . . . .
`2/1984 Allard ................................... .. 166/291
`(List continued on next page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`1/1988 European Pat. Off.
`88/308096
`8/1995 European Pat. Off.
`95/305768
`2/1996 European Pat. Off.
`0 697496
`1/1941 United Kingdom .
`532468
`2115860 A 2/1983 United Kingdom .
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`.
`.
`.
`
`Ir1t’1 Search Report, PCT/GB98/03802 foreign counterpart
`of present Us. application.
`“Casing Sales Manual,” Halliburton, Sections 3-5, 1993.
`“Fasdrop Head,” LaFleur Petroleum Services, Inc. 1992.
`PCT/GB9o/010071pi>1 Soaioh Report in foreign application
`re parent of present
`case.
`Primary Exammer_Frank Tsay
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Guy McClung
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`into a
`A new method for introducing wellbore cement
`wellbore shoe joint has been invented the shoe joint having
`a hollow tubular body, the shoe joint containing an amount
`of wellbore fluid,
`the shoe joint disposed in a wellbore
`cementing system between a float shoe, guide shoe, or other
`flow apparatus beneath the shoe joint, and a hollow tubular
`member above the shoe joint, the hollow tubular member
`belng a 10W€f Part Of a W€11b0f€
`tubular Stflng Of a Plurallty
`of tubular members (e.g., casing) extending from an earth
`surface down into a wellbore, the method includin movin
`a wellbore wiper plug into the hollow tubular bogy of thg
`Shoe joint, moving the
`the Shoe joint to push
`.
`.
`h
`Hb
`fl
`.d f
`h
`d .
`d b .
`we
`ore. ui
`roint e s.oe joint an , in one aspect,
`e ris
`in the fluid, the fluid flowing to the float shoe, guide shoe or
`other flow apparatus, flowing wellbore cement
`into the
`hollow tubular body of the shoe joint.
`
`22 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`[54] WELLBORE SHOE JOINTS AND
`CEMENTING SYSTEMS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Richard L. Giroux, Katy, Tex.; Peter
`B“dd0> Vlaardigm Netherlands; Erik
`Eriksen, Katy; Frederick T. Tilton,
`Spring, both of Tex.
`
`[73] Assignee. Weatherford/Lamb, Inc_
`
`[21] Appl. No.2 08/992,620
`
`[22]
`
`Filedi
`
`D90 17, 1997
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63]
`
`Continuation—in—part of application No. 08/928,131, Sep. 12,
`1997, which is a continuation—in—part of application No.
`08/429,763, Apr. 26, 1995, Pat. No. 5,553,667, which is a
`continuation—in—part of application No. 08/704,994, Aug. 29,
`1996, Pat. No. 5,813,457, which is a continuation—in—part of
`application No. 08/632,927, Apr. 16, 1996, Pat. No. 5,787,
`979.
`
`7
`
`[51]
`
`.................................................... .. E21B 33/13
`Int. Cl.
`
`..
`U.S. Cl.
`[58] Field Of Search ................................... .. 166/289, 291,
`166/285> 70> 72> 73> 153> 156
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`Us’ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`7/1931 wickeisham .
`1,316,243
`4/1937 Brantly .
`2,075,882
`9/1941 5001011111001 ~
`2,254,246
`9/1943 Burt.
`2,330,266
`4/1952 Ragan .
`2,591,603
`2,620,037 12/1952 McClend0n ............................. .. 166/14
`2,630,179
`3/1953 Brown ................................... .. 166/155
`2,552,600 12/1953 Baker .
`2,717,645
`9/1955 Schnitter .
`391009534
`8/1963 Hemdon ~
`3,545,542 12/1970 SCOH ..................................... ..
`166/155
`3,616,850
`11/1971 Scott
`166/156
`3,635,288
`1/1972 Lebourg
`166/153
`3,796,260
`3/1974 Bradley
`.... .. 166/70
`3,863,716
`2/1975 Streigch
`~~~~ -- 166/73
`3,915,226
`10/1975 SaVag0 ~-
`.. 166/70 X
`3,926,253
`12/1975 Duke ..
`3,971,436
`7/1976 Lee .......................................... .. 166/70
`
`
`
`I295
`1294‘
`129:1» :,
`
`I295
`
`I293
`
`I251
`uoo 5'" l292\
`
`MEGCO EX. 1016
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`
`

`

`1/1992 Swineford ............................. .. 166/202
`3/1992 Watson .................................. .. 166/192
`6/1992 Mueller et al.
`....................... N 166/381
`1/1993 Giroux etal.
`..
`. 166/242
`7/1993 Streich etal.
`........................ .. 166/118
`1/1994 Brandelletal.
`...................... .. 166/386
`5/1995 Laurel
`........... ..
`. 166/153
`7/1995 Baugh et a1.
`. 166/285
`8/1995 Brisco ................................... .. 166/285
`3/1998 Sullaway et al.
`..................... .. 166/291
`4/1998 Szarka ........... ..
`. 166/289
`6/1998 Sullaway et al.
`. 166/291
`6/1998 Shy etal. .............................. .. 166/292
`9/1998 Fraser, III et al.
`................... .. 166/291
`
`
`
`
`
`5,078,211
`5,095,980
`5,117,915
`5,178,216
`5224 540
`5’279’37o
`5,413,172
`5,435,390
`5,443,122
`5,722,491
`5,738,171
`5,762,139
`5,765,641
`5,803,173
`
`MEGCO EX. 1016
`
`6,082,451
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/1984 DIIVCI Ct 8.1.
`285/18
`6/1984 N950“
`~ 166/125
`7/1984 H°“d°‘5°“ ~
`-~ 166/155
`11/1986 M°M“1““ ~~~~ -~
`~~ 277/230
`6/1988 Jackson eta1~
`.. 166/153
`3/1989 Bradley .... ..
`.. 166/153
`6/1989 Freeman
`.. 166/153
`8/1989 Watson et al.
`.. 166/285
`4/1990 Freeman et al.
`.. 166/153
`6/1990 Bradley ........ ..
`....................... .. 166/381
`1/1991 Mueller et al.
`4/1991 Bode ....................................... .. 166/70
`
`
`
`.
`
`........................... ..
`
`
`
`4,433,859
`4»453»745
`4457369
`4»624»312
`47539444
`4,809,776
`4,836,279
`4,858,687
`4,917,184
`4,934,452
`4,986,361
`5,004,048
`
`MEGCO Ex. 1016
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 4, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 21
`
`6,082,451
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 4, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 21
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`6,082,451
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4,2000
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`Sheet 6 of 21
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`6,082,451
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 21
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`6,082,451
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`Sheet 8 of 21
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`6,082,451
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`Sheet 11 of 21
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`6,082,451
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4,2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4,2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4,2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 4,2000
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`6,082,45 1
`
`1
`WELLBORE SHOE JOINTS AND
`CEMENTING SYSTEMS
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of: U.S. application Ser. No.
`08/928,131 filed Sep. 12, 1997; which is a continuation-in-
`part of Ser. No. 08/429,763 filed Apr. 26, 1995; and issued
`Sep. 10, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,667; which is a
`continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/704,994 filed Aug. 29,
`1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,457; which is a continuation-
`in-part of Ser. No. 08/632,927 filed Apr. 16. 1996 now U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,787,979, all co-owned with the present invention
`and incorporated fully herein for all purposes.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention is directed to wellbore cementing systems;
`plug set release systems; plug containers; and swivel equal-
`izers for well tools and apparatuses.
`2. Description of Related Art
`During the construction of oil and gas wells a bore is
`drilled into the earth. Casing is then lowered down the bore
`and the annular space between the outside of the casing and
`the bore is filled with cement. The casing is centered in the
`bore by centralizers. Typically, a non-return valve, a “float
`valve,” is mounted on or adjacent the bottom of the casing.
`During a typical cementing operation the annular space is
`first cleared by pumping circulating fluid down the inside of
`the casing and allowing it to flow upwardly through the
`annular space, then a bottom plug is placed in the casing.
`The bottom plug is pumped ahead of cement to separate the
`cement from drilling mud and other wellbore fluids and
`typically has wipers of elastomeric material to wipe mud
`from the casing so it does not contaminate the cement. The
`plug contacts float equipment at the bottom of the casing
`string. Fluid pressure ruptures a rupturable member of the
`plug and cement flows through the plug and float equipment,
`and up into an annular space. When the cement flow ceases,
`a top cementing plug is released which follows the cement
`and reduces contamination or channeling of the cement by
`drilling mud that is used to displace the cement column
`down the casing and into the annular space. The top cement-
`ing plug sealingly contacts the bottom cementing plug at the
`float equipment to effect a shut off of fluids being pumped
`into the casing. The return flow of cement back into the
`casing in inhibited by the float valve. When the cement has
`set the top plug, bottom plug, float valve and residual cement
`are drilled out.
`
`Typically, plug containers or cementing heads connected
`to the upper end of the casing string releasably hold cement-
`ing plugs until they are to be released ahead of and behind
`the cement as it is displaced through the cementing head into
`the well casing. Many prior art plug set systems are complex
`with many moving parts, some of which are exposed to the
`corrosive fluids flowing up and down in the wellbore. In
`cementing offshore wells drilled beneath a body of water, the
`plugs may be run into the wellbore with a casing string. A
`variety of problems are associated with such “sub sea”
`release systems; e.g. parts are eroded by sand, grit, and
`corrosive material in various fluids; positive indication of
`plug release is not achieved; plugs or parts of them are not
`made of easily drillable material; and ocean forces on casing
`extending from a drilling platform to a sub-sea wellhead
`bend and twist the casing, inhibiting or preventing the use of
`certain plugs.
`This has led to the development of sub-sea cementing
`apparatus which generally comprises an open top plug and
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`an open bottom plug which are releasably connected to one
`another. In use, the sub-sea cementing apparatus is posi-
`tioned in the casing at or adjacent the sub-sea wellhead by
`a tool string. Circulating fluid is then pumped downwardly
`from the drilling platform through the tool string, the open
`top plug, the open bottom plug and the casing and flows
`upwardly through the annular space between the outside of
`the casing and the bore. This operation is typically carried
`out for several hours after which a first closure member,
`typically a ball or a dart, is dropped down the casing, passes
`through the top plug but closes the bottom plug. A required
`volume of cement is then pumped down from the drilling
`platform. This detaches the bottom plug from the top plug
`and forces the bottom plug to slide down the casing. Once
`the required volume of cement has been pumped into the
`casing a second closure member, typically a ball or a dart of
`larger diameter than the first dart is placed on the top of the
`cement and pumped down with drilling fluid. When the
`second closure member engages the top plug it closes the
`opening therein and further pressure from the drilling fluid
`releases the top plug down the casing. When the bottom plug
`engages the float valve at the bottom of the casing the
`pressure on the top plug is increased until a rupturable
`member in the bottom plug ruptures allowing the cement to
`pass through the float valve into the annular space between
`the outside of the casing and the bore. When the top plug
`engages the bottom plug the hydraulic pressure on the
`drilling fluid is released and the cement allowed to set after
`which the top plug, bottom plug, float valve and residual
`cement are drilled out.
`
`The disadvantage with existing sub-sea equipment is that
`it has been extremely difficult to control the pressure at
`which the bottom plug is released and even more difficult to
`control the pressure at which the top plug is released. One
`very serious problem is when the pressure which has to be
`applied to release the bottom plug is so high that the top plug
`is simultaneously released thus severely delaying the
`cementing operation. Certain prior art sub-sea cementing
`apparatus is constructed primarily of aluminum and uses a
`multiplicity of shear pins to achieve release at desired
`pressures.
`It is believed that aluminum is not the most suitable for
`
`certain sub-sea plug sets. Without wishing to be bound by
`any theory, the inventors believe that when existing sub-sea
`cement apparatus are maneuvered into position, relative
`movement between the parts of the apparatus causes small
`indentations in the surface of the aluminum which can form
`
`abutments which inhibit subsequent relative movement of
`parts at
`the desired pressure. Furthermore,
`the inventors
`believe that since, in practice, the fluid used during circu-
`lation often contains traces of sand and minute particles,
`these particles often become wedged between the parts of
`the apparatus, piercing or damaging the surface of the
`aluminum, and inhibiting relative movement of the parts.
`Representative plug sets, plug containers, and release
`systems are shown in these U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,392,852;
`5,095,980; 5,004,048; 4,453,745; 4,433,859; 4,427,065;
`4,290,482; 4,246,967; 4,164,980; 3,863,716; 3,635,288;
`3,616,850; 3,545,542; and 2,620,037.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`The present invention discloses in certain aspects and
`embodiments, a method for introducing wellbore cement
`into a wellbore shoe joint, the shoe joint having a hollow
`tubular body, the shoe joint containing an amount of well-
`bore fluid, the shoe joint disposed in a wellbore cementing
`
`MEGCO EX. 1016
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`MEGCO Ex. 1016
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`6,082,45 1
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`3
`system between a float shoe having at least one float valve
`therein and beneath the shoe joint and a hollow tubular
`member above the shoe joint, the hollow tubular member
`comprising a lower part of a wellbore tubular string of a
`plurality of tubular members extending from an earth sur-
`face down into a wellbore, the method including moving a
`wellbore plug into the hollow tubular body of the shoe joint,
`moving the plug within the shoe joint to push wellbore fluid
`from the shoe joint, said fluid flowing to the float shoe, and
`flowing wellbore cement into the hollow tubular body of the
`shoe joint; such a method including pushing substantially all
`of the amount of wellbore fluid from the shoe joint with the
`plug; and such a method including substantially filling the
`shoe joint with wellbore cement; and such a method wherein
`a plug landing collar is interconnected to and above the shoe
`joint and in fluid communication therewith and between the
`shoe joint and the hollow tubular member, the plug landing
`collar providing a landing surface for a top wiper plug
`pumped down the wellbore behind the wellbore cement, the
`method including pumping a top wiper plug behind the
`wellbore cement to the landing collar; and such a method
`wherein the top wiper plug includes latch apparatus for
`latching to the landing collar, the method including latching
`the top wiper plug to the landing collar; and such a method
`wherein the float shoe has a flow bore therethrough and two
`spaced-apart float valves in the flow bore,
`the method
`including controlling fluid flow through the flow bore with
`the two float valves; and such a method wherein there is a
`baffle on top of the float shoe and the method including
`flowing fluid and then cement through the baffle; and such
`a method wherein the amount of wellbore fluid contains an
`
`amount of undesirable debris, the method further including
`moving with the wellbore plug undesirable debris from the
`shoe joint; and such a method wherein the wellbore plug has
`a body with a top and a bottom, a nose on the bottom, and
`a tapered surface on the nose and extending therearound and
`tapering inwardly toward the bottom of the plug; and such
`a method wherein the wellbore plug has a body with a bore
`therethrough defined by an inner wall of the body, at least
`one fin projecting out from and extending around an exterior
`wall of the body, the body having a thickness between the
`inner wall and the exterior wall of less than one-half inch,
`and the body made of plastic material; and any such method
`wherein the plug landing collar has a hollow body for
`receiving a top wiper plug, the top wiper plug having a nose
`a plug landing ring within the hollow body having a tapered
`surface for co-acting with a corresponding tapered surface
`on the nose of the top wiper plug for wedge-locking the top
`wiper plug in the plug landing ring.
`The present invention discloses in certain aspects and
`embodiments, a method for introducing wellbore cement
`into a wellbore shoe joint, the shoe joint having a hollow
`tubular body, the shoe joint containing an amount of well-
`bore fluid, the shoe joint disposed in a wellbore cementing
`system between a guide shoe beneath the shoe joint and a
`hollow tubular member above the shoe joint, the hollow
`tubular member comprising a lower part of a wellbore
`tubular string of a plurality of tubular members extending
`from an earth surface down into a wellbore, the method
`including moving a wellbore plug into the hollow tubular
`body of the shoe joint, moving the plug within the shoe joint
`to push wellbore fluid from the shoe joint, said fluid flowing
`to the guide shoe, and flowing wellbore cement into the
`hollow tubular body of the shoe joint.
`The present invention discloses in certain aspects and
`embodiments, a method for introducing wellbore cement
`into a wellbore shoe joint, the shoe joint having a hollow
`
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`tubular body, the shoe joint containing an amount of well-
`bore fluid, the shoe joint disposed in a wellbore cementing
`system between a flow apparatus beneath the shoe joint and
`a hollow tubular member above the shoe joint, the hollow
`tubular member comprising a lower part of a wellbore
`tubular string of a plurality of tubular members extending
`from an earth surface down into a wellbore, a float collar
`disposed between the shoe joint and the hollow tubular
`member,
`the float collar having at
`least one float valve
`therein for controlling fluid flow therethrough, a top plug
`landing collar disposed above and spaced apart from the
`float collar, the method including moving a wellbore bottom
`wiper plug into the wellbore tubular string and through the
`landing collar to rest on the float collar, moving the wellbore
`bottom wiper plug effecting pushing of wellbore fluid
`through the shoe joint into an annulus between an inner
`surface of the wellbore and an outer surface of the wellbore
`
`tubular string, and flowing wellbore cement through the
`landing collar, through the float collar, through the shoe
`joint, and through the flow apparatus into the annulus; and
`such a method wherein the flow apparatus is selected from
`the group consisting of: float shoe with at least one float
`valve and guide shoe with or without valve apparatus.
`The present invention discloses in certain aspects and
`embodiments, a method for cleaning a wellbore shoe joint,
`the shoe joint having a hollow tubular body, the shoe joint
`containing an amount of wellbore fluid,
`the shoe joint
`disposed in a tubular string in a wellbore, the tubular string
`including a plurality of tubular members extending from an
`earth surface down into the wellbore, the method including
`moving a wellbore wiper plug into the hollow tubular body
`of the shoe joint, and moving the wellbore wiper plug within
`the shoe joint to push wellbore fluid from the shoe joint, said
`fluid flowing out from the shoe joint; and such a method
`including pushing substantially all of the amount of wellbore
`fluid from the shoe joint with the plug.
`The present invention discloses in certain aspects and
`embodiments, a wellbore cementing apparatus for cement-
`ing operation in a wellbore extending from an earth surface
`to a point beneath said earth surface, said wellbore cased
`with casing, an annulus formed between an inner surface of
`said wellbore and an outer surface of said casing,
`the
`wellbore cementing apparatus having a shoe joint near a
`lower end of and connected to said casing, the shoe joint
`having a hollow body with a top end and a bottom end, said
`shoe joint containing an amount of wellbore fluid, and a
`wellbore wiper plug movable into said shoe joint for moving
`wellbore fluid out from the bottom end of the shoe joint;
`such wellbore cementing apparatus with a flow apparatus
`disposed below and in fluid communication with said shoe
`joint; such wellbore cementing apparatus wherein the flow
`apparatus is a guide shoe with or without valve apparatus for
`controlling flow therethrough; such wellbore cementing
`apparatus wherein the flow apparatus is a float shoe with at
`least one float valve therein for controlling fluid flow there-
`through; and such wellbore cementing apparatus further
`including a top plug landing collar disposed above and
`spaced apart from the float collar, the top plug landing collar
`for abutment by a top wiper plug pumped down the casing
`behind an amount of wellbore cement, the wellbore wiper
`plug movable into said shoe joint also movable through said
`landing collar to enter said shoe joint.
`The present invention discloses in certain aspects and
`embodiments, a wellbore with an annulus cemented by any
`method disclosed herein.
`
`The present invention, in certain embodiments, discloses
`a float system with a float collar having a top or “roof”
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`MEGCO EX. 1016
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`MEGCO Ex. 1016
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`6,082,45 1
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`landing baffle over an inlet of the float collar. Fluid goes
`around edges of ribs of the baffle to enter the float collar and
`a float valve therein. The baffle prevents debris (e.g. pieces
`of wood, a slicker suit, etc.) from clogging the float system
`inlet and protects the float valve from debris, rocks, gloves,
`eyeglasses which might prevent valve plunger movement or
`valve sealing, or might damage the valve.
`In certain aspects the present invention discloses a plug
`landing system having a landing ring with a tapered landing
`surface and a plug with a nose with a correspondingly
`tapered mating surface. In one aspect the landing ring and
`the plug nose (or a plug nose ring connected to or formed
`integrally of the plug) are made of drillable material, e.g.,
`but not limited to, aluminum, aluminum alloy, zinc, or a zinc
`alloy. By a “wedge locking” effect, the plug does not rotate
`with respect to the landing ring when the plug is drilled.
`In one aspect
`the present
`invention discloses a plug
`receiving body that has a cutting cylinder for cutting fins on
`the plug to provide an alternate fluid flow path around the
`plug so that a cementing operation can be carried on if there
`is no or little flow through the plug.
`In one aspect a plug is disclosed with a reduced inner
`body thickness to facilitate bending of fins on the plug’s
`exterior in response to fluid pumped to the plug to create an
`alternate fluid flow path around the plug.
`The present invention discloses, in certain embodiments,
`a float collar for wellbore operations having a hollow
`cylindrical body having a body bore therethrough, a float
`valve mounted in the bore for controlling fluid flow through
`the float collar, and a baffle having a fluid flow bore
`therethrough in fluid communication with the body bore and
`mounted above the float valve for preventing a foreign
`object from clogging the float valve, entering the float valve,
`or impeding a plunger of the float valve; such a float collar
`wherein the baffle has a body ring with a ring fluid flow bore
`therethrough, and a plurality of spaced apart projections
`extending downwardly from the body ring with fluid flow
`spaces between adjacent projections; such a float collar
`wherein the float valve is mounted in an amount of hardened
`
`material in the bore of the hollow cylindrical body and the
`spaced-apart projections of the baffie contact the amount of
`hardened material; any such float collar wherein the baffie
`also has a plurality of top ribs projecting upwardly from the
`body ring; such a float collar wherein the ribs are disposed
`and sized for receipt within openings of a plug landing on
`the ribs so that the plug will not rotate with respect to the
`baffle; any such float collar wherein the baffle has a base
`connected to the spaced-apart projections and all or at least
`a portion of the base is within the amount of hardened
`material; any such float collar with a hollow cylinder within
`the hollow cylindrical body for receiving a plug pumped
`down to the float collar, the cutting cylinder having a cutting
`cylinder bore therethrough and at least one cutting projec-
`tion extending into the cutting cylinder bore for cutting fins
`of a plug in the hollow cutting cylinder (and the present
`invention also discloses such a cutting cylinder for use in
`any float or landing system); such a float collar wherein the
`cutting projections are distinct knob-like items or extend
`from a top to a bottom of the cutting cylinder; such a float
`collar wherein the at least one cutting projection is a series
`of spaced-apart cutting projections disposed around the
`cutting cylinder and wherein a fluid flow path is provided
`between the spaced-apart cutting projections.
`The present invention discloses a wellbore plug landing
`system with a landing collar with a hollow cylindrical body
`with a bore therethrough from a top end thereof to a bottom
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`end thereof, a ring disposed in the hollow cylindrical body
`and having a ring opening therethrough for fluid flow
`therethrough, the ring having a top and a bottom, the ring
`having a tapered surface surrounding the ring opening, the
`tapered surface tapering inwardly from the top of the ring,
`and the ring’s tapered surface tapered to correspond to a
`tapered surface of a wellbore plug for sealing contact of the
`wellbore plug with the ring and, in one aspect, also for
`wedge locking of the wellbore plug with the ring; such a
`wellbore plug landing system wherein the ring is made of
`drillable material; such a wellbore plug landing system
`including the wellbore plug; such a wellbore plug landing
`system wherein the wellbore plug is made of drillable
`material; such a wellbore plug landing system including the
`wellbore plug and wherein the wellbore plug has a nose at
`a bottom end thereof for contacting the ring, the nose and the
`ring made from a material from the group consisting of
`drillable metals, or metal alloys, or a combination thereof,
`aluminum, aluminum alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, brass, low grade
`steel, and cast iron; such a wellbore plug landing system
`wherein the ring is a separate piece held in the hollow
`cylindrical body with a locking member which extends
`partially into a body recess in the hollow cylindrical body
`and partially into a ring recess in the ring.
`The present invention discloses a wellbore plug with a
`body with a top and a bottom, a nose on the bottom, and a
`tapered surface on the nose and extending therearound and
`tapering inwardly toward the bottom of the plug; such a
`wellbore plug wherein the tapered surface of the nose is
`configured and disposed to correspond to and seal against a
`tapered surface on a landing ring; such a wellbore plug
`wherein the tapered surfaces are such that the wellbore plug
`is wedge lockable with the landing ring.
`The present invention discloses a wellbore plug with a
`body with a bore therethrough defined by an inner wall of
`the body, at least one fin projecting out from and extending
`around an exterior wall of the body,
`the body having a
`thickness between the inner wall and the exterior wall of less
`
`than one-half inch, and the body made of plastic material;
`such a wellbore plug wherein the body is made of flexible
`rubber, plastic or plastic-like material and/or a material from
`the group consisting of urethane, filled urethane and poly-
`urethane and the body thickness is no more than three-eights
`of an inch; and such a wellbore plug wherein the body
`includes a bottom portion with a plurality of downwardly
`projecting spaced-apart members with spaces between the
`spaced-apart members for fluid flow therethrough and/or for