Annular Circulation Valve and Methods of Using Same

Abstract

Valves comprise a chamber having a piston disposed therein. One side of the piston defines a hydrostatic chamber in fluid communication with an outside environment, such as wellbore annulus, through a port. Operatively associated with the piston on the other side is a sleeve in sliding engagement with an inner mandrel. The inner mandrel comprises a port that is initially blocked by the sleeve. Upon an increase in pressure within the annulus, the piston is moved causing the port in the sleeve to align with the port in the inner mandrel thereby allowing fluid to flow from the annulus into the bore of the inner mandrel. As a result, fluid can be circulated through the valve, or pressure within the annulus can be reduced. A return member is operatively associated with the piston to urge the piston toward the closed position after pressure within the wellbore annulus is reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve comprising:
 an outer mandrel comprising an inner wall surface defining an outer mandrel bore, an outer wall surface, and an outer mandrel port disposed in the outer wall surface of the outer mandrel and in fluid communication with the outer mandrel bore;   an inner mandrel disposed within the outer mandrel bore, the inner mandrel comprising an inner wall surface defining an inner mandrel bore, an outer wall surface, and an inner mandrel port disposed in the outer wall surface of the inner mandrel and in fluid communication with the inner mandrel bore, the outer mandrel being fixed to the inner mandrel at a first end thereby providing an annulus between the outer wall surface of the inner mandrel and the inner wall surface of the outer mandrel;   a sleeve disposed within the annulus and in sliding engagement with the inner wall surface of the outer mandrel and the outer wall surface of the inner mandrel, the sleeve comprising a sleeve port;   wherein the sleeve moves within the annulus due to an increase in pressure within an isolated outside environment until the sleeve port is at least partially aligned with the port of the inner mandrel.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a return member operatively associated with the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the return member comprises a spring disposed along the outer wall surface of the inner mandrel, the spring being operatively associated with the sleeve and a detent disposed on the outer wall surface of the inner mandrel. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 3 , wherein the outer mandrel port and the sleeve port each include a screen disposed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the return member comprises an atmospheric chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a piston. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 6 , wherein the piston comprises a partial sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a ported housing operatively associated with a piston. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the outer mandrel comprises a lower end secured to an outer mandrel screen, the outer mandrel screen having a lower end secured to a guide, the guide being secured to the inner mandrel.