Continuous fluid circulation valve for well drilling

Abstract

Fluid circulation valve ( 10 ) is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing ( 16, 12 ) has a central flow path therein, a housing side port ( 87 ), and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball ( 24 ) is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a ball side port ( 15 ) in fluid communication with the housing side port ( 87 ) when the ball is closed. A tool ( 80 ) is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.

1 . A fluid circulation valve for use in well drilling with a drill joint and a drill string extending into the well, comprising:
 a valve housing having a central flow path therein, an upper threaded connector for threaded engagement with a lower end of a drill joint, a lower threaded connector for threaded engagement with the upper end of a drill string, and a housing side port for fluid communication a flow line radially exterior of the valve housing;   a ball rotatably positioned within the flow path and having a throughbore, the ball throughbore being in fluid communication with the housing central flow path when the ball is open, and the ball including a ball side port in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed;   an upper valve seat for sealing between the ball and the housing; and   a lower valve seat for sealing between the ball and the housing.   
   
   
       2 . A fluid circulation valve as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a biasing member biases the upper valve seat toward the ball. 
   
   
       3 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tool removably engagable with the valve housing to seal between an interior of the valve housing and the flow line radially exterior of the valve housing.   
   
   
       4 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the tool engages the housing side port for sealing with the exterior flow line. 
   
   
       5 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotatable operating stem positioned within the valve body for engaging the ball and rotating the ball to move between open and closed positions.   
   
   
       6 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the operating stem comprises a pair of circumferentially opposing operating stems. 
   
   
       7 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a minimum cross sectional flow area of the valve housing central flow path is substantially the minimum cross section flow area of the ball throughbore. 
   
   
       8 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing comprises an upper valve body and an interconnected lower valve body. 
   
   
       9 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ball rotator spaced axially from the ball, the ball rotator rotatable with respect to the housing to rotate the ball between open and closed positions.   
   
   
       10 . A fluid circulation valve for use in well drilling with a drill joint and a drill string extending into the well, comprising:
 a valve housing having a central flow path therein, an upper threaded connector for threaded engagement with a lower end of a drill joint, a lower threaded connector for threaded engagement with the upper end of a drill string, and a housing side port for fluid communication a flow line radially exterior of the valve housing;   a ball rotatably positioned within the flow path and having a throughbore, the ball throughbore being in fluid communication with the housing central flow path when the ball is open, and the ball including a ball side port in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed; and   a tool removably engagable with the valve housing to seal between an interior of the valve housing and a flow line radially exterior of the valve housing.   
   
   
       11 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an upper valve seat for sealing between the ball and the housing.   
   
   
       12 . A fluid circulation valve as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a biasing member biases the upper valve seat toward the ball.   
   
   
       13 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the tool engages the housing side port for sealing with the exterior flow line. 
   
   
       14 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 10 , wherein a minimum cross sectional flow area of the valve housing central flow path is substantially the minimum cross section flow area of the ball throughbore. 
   
   
       15 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the valve housing comprises an upper valve body and an interconnected lower valve body. 
   
   
       16 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an operating stem positioned within the valve body for engaging the ball and rotating the ball to move between open and closed positions.   
   
   
       17 . A fluid circulation valve for use in well drilling with a drill joint and a drill string extending into the well, comprising:
 a valve housing having a central flow path therein, an upper threaded connector for threaded engagement with a lower end of a drill joint, a lower threaded connector for threaded engagement with the upper end of a drill string, and a housing side port for fluid communication a flow line radially exterior of the valve housing;   a ball rotatably positioned within the flow path and having a throughbore, the ball throughbore being in fluid communication with the housing central flow path when the ball is open, and the ball including a ball side port in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed;   an operating stem positioned within the valve housing for engaging the ball and rotating the ball between open and closed positions; and   a tool removably engagable with the valve housing to seal between an interior of the valve housing and a line radially exterior of the valve housing.   
   
   
       18 . A fluid circulation valve as defined in  claim 17 , further composing:
 an upper valve seat for sealing between the ball and the housing; and   a biasing member biases the upper valve seat toward the ball.   
   
   
       19 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the guide block comprises a pair of circumferentially opposing guide blocks. 
   
   
       20 . A circulation valve as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a ball rotator spaced axially from the ball, the ball rotator rotatable with respect to the housing to rotate the ball between open and closed positions.