Pressure pulse generating tool

Abstract

A pressure pulse generating tool may include an upper valve assembly disposed within the bore of a housing, where the upper valve assembly is configured to allow a fluid to flow through the upper valve assembly when in an open state. The upper valve assembly may also be configured to restrict the fluid from flowing through the upper valve assembly when in a closed state. The pressure pulse generating tool may further include a lower valve assembly disposed within the bore of the housing, where the lower valve assembly is configured to receive the fluid flow from the upper valve assembly. The lower valve assembly may also be configured to separate from the upper valve assembly in response to an increase in fluid pressure in an annulus defined between the upper valve assembly and the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure pulse generating tool, comprising:
 a housing having a housing bore extending at least partially therethrough;   an upper valve assembly disposed within the housing bore, the upper valve assembly configured to permit fluid to flow through at least a portion of the upper valve assembly when in an open state and to at least partially restrict fluid from flowing through the upper valve assembly when in a closed state, thereby causing an increase in fluid pressure in an annulus within the housing bore; and   a lower valve assembly disposed within the housing bore, the lower valve assembly configured to receive any fluid flowing from the upper valve assembly, the lower valve assembly having at least a portion thereof that moves within the housing bore in response to the increase in fluid pressure in the annulus, thereby causing annular fluid to flow through at least a portion of the lower valve assembly and decreasing the fluid pressure in the annulus.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve assembly further comprises an upper valve body and an upper valve housing, at least a portion of the upper valve body configured to move downhole in order to transition the upper valve assembly from the open state to the closed state. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one flow port disposed in the upper valve body, the at least one flow port configured to permit fluid flow when the upper valve assembly is in the open state. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 3 , wherein, when the upper valve assembly is in the closed state, the at least one flow port is substantially covered by a portion of the upper valve housing thereby restricting fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 2 , further comprising an upper biasing mechanism coupled to upper valve body and biasing the upper valve body in an uphole direction. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 2 , wherein the upper valve body comprises:
 a head portion having at least one flow port permitting the fluid to flow from a bore of the upper valve housing to a bore of the upper valve body, the head portion forming a restriction with a portion of the upper valve housing; and   a base portion configured to releasably engage with a spring guide, the spring guide arranged and designed to permit fluid to flow from the bore of the upper valve body to a bore of the lower valve assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve assembly is configured to transition from the open state to the closed state when a flow rate of the fluid is greater than or equal to a predetermined flow rate. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the annulus is defined between an inner diameter of the housing and an outer diameter of the upper valve assembly, the annulus receiving fluid when the upper valve assembly is in the closed state. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve assembly further includes a lower valve seat configured to form a lower valve restriction with an uphole end portion of the lower valve assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper valve assembly further includes an upper valve housing defining a plurality of splines at an outer diameter thereof, the plurality of splines defining channels therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower valve restriction formed by a portion of the lower valve assembly overlapping a downhole end portion of the upper valve assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the lower valve assembly is configured to move relative to the upper valve assembly by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         13 . A pressure pulse generating tool, comprising:
 a housing having a housing bore extending at least partially therethrough;   an upper valve assembly disposed within the housing bore and including an upper valve housing and an upper valve body, the upper valve assembly configured to permit a fluid to flow through at least one flow port disposed in the upper valve body when in an open state and configured to restrict the at least one flow port from flowing fluid therethrough when in a closed state, thereby causing an increase in fluid pressure in an annulus defined between the upper valve assembly and the housing; and   a lower valve assembly disposed within the housing bore, the lower valve assembly configured to receive the fluid from the upper valve assembly when the upper valve assembly is in the open state and configured to separate from the upper valve assembly when the upper valve assembly is in the closed state in response to the increase in fluid pressure in the annulus, thereby causing annular fluid to flow through the lower valve assembly and decreasing fluid pressure in the annulus.   
     
     
         14 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , wherein, when the upper valve assembly is in the open state, the fluid flows from a bypass bore of the upper valve housing through the at least one flow port. 
     
     
         15 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , wherein, when the upper valve assembly is in the closed state, the at least one flow port is substantially covered by a portion of the upper valve housing. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , further comprising an upper biasing mechanism coupled to the upper valve body and biasing the upper valve body in an uphole direction to permit the fluid to flow through the at least one flow port. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , wherein the upper valve assembly oscillates between the open state and the closed state when a flow rate of the fluid is greater than or equal to a predetermined flow rate. 
     
     
         18 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the upper valve body moves downhole in response to fluid pressure, thereby transitioning the upper valve body to the closed state. 
     
     
         19 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , wherein the upper valve assembly diverts the fluid to the annulus when in the closed state. 
     
     
         20 . The pressure pulse generating tool of  claim 13 , wherein the lower valve assembly further includes a lower biasing mechanism coupled to the lower valve assembly and biasing the lower valve assembly into a lower valve restriction with the upper valve assembly.