Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.

Timothy W Manke

Roger Lynn Schultz

Andrew M Ferguson

Brett A Fears

A casing string is augmented with one or more variable flow resistance devices or 'vibrating tools' to facilitate advancement of the casing and distribution of the cement in the annulus once the casing is properly positioned. Vibrating tools in the form of plugs can be pumped down and landed inside the casing string. The method includes vibrating the casing string while advancing the casing down the wellbore or while the cement is pumped into the annulus, or both. After the cementing operation is completed, the devices may be drilled out or retrieved with fishing tools to reopen the casing string for further operations. One or more wipers may be provided on the plugs, but the section housing the flow path may be free of wipers to allow the size and flow capacity of the flow path to be optimized.

Methods and devices for casing and cementing wellbores

A method of deploying a plug in a subterranean well can include positioning a tool string in the well, the tool string including a plug release tool and a well tool, then releasing the plug from the plug release tool, and then operating the well tool in response to the releasing the plug. A plug release tool for use in a subterranean well can include an outer housing, and an insert secured in the outer housing, the insert including multiple longitudinally extending flow passages formed through the insert.

Downhole plug deployment

A fluid pulse generator can include a fluid motor including a rotor that rotates in response to fluid flow, a variable flow restrictor positioned upstream of the fluid motor and including a restrictor member rotatable relative to a ported member and longitudinally displaceable relative to the rotor. Another fluid pulse generator can include a flex joint or a constant velocity joint connected between the restrictor member and the rotor. In another fluid pulse generator, the variable flow restrictor can include a valve and a fluidic restrictor element, the valve being operable in response to rotation of the rotor, the fluidic restrictor element being configured to generate fluid pulses in response to the fluid flow through a flow path, and the valve being configured to control the fluid flow through another flow path connected in parallel with the first flow path.

Fluid pulse generation in subterranean wells

A downhole disconnect tool can include outer housing sections connected to each other with threads, and an inner sleeve received in at least one of the outer housing sections, whereby the inner sleeve limits relative rotation between the outer housing sections in a connect position, and permits relative rotation between the outer housing sections in a disconnect position. A method of disconnecting portions of a tubular string can include connecting a downhole disconnect tool between the tubular string portions, deploying a plug into the tubular string, thereby engaging the plug with an inner sleeve in the downhole disconnect tool, applying a differential pressure across the plug, thereby displacing the inner sleeve relative to outer housing sections of the downhole disconnect tool, and then unthreading the outer housing sections from each other in the well.

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Blanchard, OK, United States of America

Timothy W Manke