Progressive Cavity Pump Tubing Tester

Abstract

A down-hole tool and method for pressure testing production tubing within a borehole of a well returning the well to production, including a valve having a first valve member positioned within the tool housing and a second valve member moveable between a closed position and an open position; and a valve catcher engaged with a distal end of a rotor of the progressive cavity pump, the valve catcher for securing the second valve member in the open position with the valve catcher during rotational operation of the rotor and securing the second valve member with the valve catcher during removal of the second valve member from within the progressive cavity pump when the rotor is removed through the progressive cavity pump stator; wherein the production tubing may be pressure tested when the second valve member is in the closed position with respect to the first valve member.

1 . A down-hole tool for pressure testing a production tubing string supporting a progressive cavity pump within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:
 (a) a tool housing engaged with the production tubing and positioned downhole with respect to a fluid intake end of a stator for the progressive cavity pump;   (b) a valve for controlling the flow of down-hole fluids within the production tubing, the valve comprising a first valve member fixedly positioned within the tool housing and a second valve member positionable between a closed position with respect to the first valve member and an open position with respect to the first valve member; and   (c) a valve catcher engaged with a distal end of a rotor of the progressive cavity pump, the valve catcher for securing the second valve member with the valve catcher when the second valve member is positioned in an open position and for retaining the second valve member with the valve catcher during rotational operation of the rotor and during removal of the second valve member from within the progressive cavity pump when the rotor is removed through the progressive cavity pump stator;   wherein the production tubing may be pressure tested when the second valve member is in the closed position with respect to the first valve member.   
     
     
         2 . The down-hole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the down-hole tool is engaged with a stator of a progressive cavity pump. 
     
     
         3 . The down-hole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the down-hole tool is engaged with a downhole end of a non-perforated tubular extension engaged on an uphole end with a downhole end of the stator of a progressive cavity pump. 
     
     
         4 . The down-hole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second valve member comprises a ball and the first valve member comprises a seat for the ball. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second valve member comprises a poppet type valve and the first valve member comprises a seat for the poppet type valve. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve catcher comprises a magnet and the second valve member comprises a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve catcher comprises at least one of a finger type catcher and a cup type catcher. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve catcher and the second valve member are able to pass through a progressive cavity pump stator with the second valve member engaged with the valve catcher. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 7 , wherein the valve catcher covers at least a portion of the second valve member so as to shield the second valve member from a produced fluid in the production tubing from washing the second valve member out of engagement with the valve catcher when the pump is stopped and the produced fluid flows backward through the progressive cavity pump and through the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve catcher is engaged with the progressive cavity pump rotor. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool of  claim 10 , wherein the valve catcher is threadably engaged with the progressive cavity pump rotor. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotational retaining tool including an anchor to engage an interior surface of the well to prevent rotation of the progressive cavity pump stator. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second valve member is changed from the close position to the open position and into engagement with the valve catcher by produced fluid moving through the first valve member and into the fluid intake end of the progressive cavity pump. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the valve catcher comprises an integral part of the rotor. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve catcher comprises a magnet positioned within the fluid intake end of the rotor and the rotor further comprises a concave end-face for receiving at least a portion of the second valve member therein. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole tool of  claim 15 , wherein the second valve member is retrieved with the rotor, through the stator, when the rotor is retrieved to the surface. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the stator includes at least a portion of the tool housing. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a standing valve. 
     
     
         19 . A method for pressure testing a production tubing string supporting a progressive cavity pump within a wellbore, the method comprising:
 positioning the production tubing string and a progressive cavity pump stator within a wellbore, the progressive cavity pump stator positioned on a downhole end of the production tubing string;   providing a tool housing engaged with the production tubing and downhole with respect to a fluid intake end of the progressive cavity pump;   providing a valve for controlling the flow of down-hole fluids within the production tubing for purposes of pressure testing the production tubing for leaks, the valve comprising a first valve member fixedly engaged with the tool housing and a second valve member positionable between a closed position with respect to the first valve member and an open position with respect to the first valve member;   deploying the second valve member into the production tubing string for the second valve member to engage the first valve member in a closed position;   providing a valve catcher engaged at a distal end of the progressive cavity pump rotor, the valve catcher for securing the second valve member with the valve catcher when the second valve member is positioned in an open position and for retaining the second valve member with the valve catcher during rotational operation of the rotor and during removal of the second valve member from within the progressive cavity pump when the rotor is removed from within the progressive cavity pump;   subsequent to deploying the second valve member into the production tubing, running the rotor into the production tubing and into the stator;   pressure testing the production tubing string and stator against the valve in the closed position;   thereafter, rotationally operating the progressive cavity pump, causing the second valve member to move to the open position with respect to the first valve member and into capture by the valve capture.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 thereafter pulling the rotor, valve catcher, and the captured second valve member through the stator, through the production tubing string, and retrieving the second valve member at the surface.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising pulling the tubing string and stator from the wellbore.