Multi-Acting Circulation Tool for One-Trip Casing Cut-and-Pull

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments may relate to methods and devices which may assist in removal of casing from a wellbore, for example during abandonment operations. In an embodiment, the tool device may have a sleeve rotationally disposed on a housing body, such that rotation may operate to switch the tool between two configurations. In the first configuration, the tool may allow fluid flow down the length of the tool string through the longitudinal bore, and then back up to the surface through the annular space outside the housing. In the second configuration, the tool may allow fluid flow from the bore of the tool to the annular space, and then downward in the annular space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for use in a downhole tool string within a cased wellbore, comprising:
 a mandrel housing configured to be made up as part of the tool string, with a longitudinal bore therethrough, one or more mandrel ports penetrating radially from the bore through the housing, and a bypass element located above the one or more mandrel ports and having one or more bypass ports therethrough;   an annular seal located about the exterior of the bypass element of the housing and configured to sealingly engage the cased wellbore; and   a sleeve disposed on the exterior of the housing for rotational movement with respect to the housing between a first position and a second position;   wherein:   the sleeve comprises one or more radial ports, a face flange operable to interface with the bypass element to seal annular flow therethrough, and a rotational position retaining element;   the face flange comprises one or more annular flow ports;   in the first position, the radial ports in the sleeve are not aligned with the mandrel ports in the housing body, but the annular flow ports in the face flange are aligned with the bypass ports in the bypass element; and   in the second position, the radial ports in the sleeve are aligned with the mandrel ports in the housing body, but the annular flow ports in the face flange are not aligned with the bypass ports in the bypass element of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is configured to open and close the radial mandrel ports in the housing and the longitudinal bypass ports in the bypass element of the housing in an offsetting manner, such that when one is closed, the other is open, and vice versa. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured to be operated by rotation of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational position retaining element comprises one or more drag blocks. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is operable to rotate with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal is configured to rotate freely with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal bore of the housing comprises a necked-down portion with a smaller inner diameter forming a shoulder, and wherein the shoulder is located below the mandrel ports. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is biased upward against the bypass element. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising stabilizer elements operable to help centralize the tool in the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool string further comprises a cutter and a motor, wherein the motor powers the cutter, wherein the motor and cutter are located below the mandrel ports, and wherein the motor is configured to be powered by fluid flow through the bore, which then circulates back to the surface through the annular space. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool string further comprising a spear. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the spear comprises a rotatable, resettable spear. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the tool string further comprises one or more magnets located below the mandrel ports and above the cutter. 
     
     
         14 . A method of extracting casing from a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
 forming up a tool string having a longitudinal bore therethrough comprising a resettable spear, a cutter, a motor configured to power the cutter, and a tool for selectively diverting fluid flow from the longitudinal bore to an annular space between the tool and the cased wellbore via one or more mandrel ports and selectively allowing fluid flow upward in the annular space above the tool via one or more bypass ports, with the tool having a first position with the mandrel ports closed and the bypass ports open, and a second position with the mandrel ports open and the bypass ports closed;   wherein:   the tool is operable to be changed from the first position to the second position by rotation; and   the motor and cutter are located below the tool in the tool string.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 running the tool string downhole in the cased wellbore;   setting the spear by rotation of the tool string;   placing the tool in the first configuration by rotation;   making a cut to the casing of the cased wellbore; and   placing the tool in the second configuration by rotation opposite that used to position the tool in the first position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a single rotation of the tool string sets the spear and places the tool in the first configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cut is made by rotating the tool string in the direction for setting the spear and positioning the tool in the first position, while pumping fluid down the bore of the tool string to power the motor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising overpulling the tool string after the spear has been set and before making the cut. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 dropping a ball to seal the longitudinal bore below the mandrel ports of the tool and above the cutter and motor; and   flowing fluid through the bore, through the mandrel ports of the tool, and down to the cut in the casing.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 unsetting the spear by rotating the tool string in the opposite direction used to set the spear;   placing the tool in the first configuration by the same rotation used to unset the spear;   reverse pumping the well to extract the ball;   repositioning the tool string in the well at a new depth;   re-setting the spear, and placing the tool by rotation to its first configuration;   making a subsequent cut at the new depth in the well;   placing the tool by rotation to its second configuration;   dropping the ball to seal the bore below the mandrel ports of the tool and above the cutter and motor; and   flowing fluid through the bore, through the mandrel ports of the tool, down to the subsequent cut in the casing.