Seal protection arrangement and system

Abstract

A slurry outlet system including a top sub, a closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an open position, a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed position. A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and the seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slurry outlet system comprising:
 a top sub;   a closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an open position;   a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve;   a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seal is mounted upon the closure sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the protector sleeve is disposed radially outwardly of the seal. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the closure sleeve includes a plurality of seals. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a wiper. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the top sub contacts the protector sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a crossover tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing operation. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a cementing tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a cementing position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a cementing operation. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seal is one or more of an o-ring, a bonded seal, metal seal, a seal stack or non-elastomeric seals. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the top sub includes a seal bore for interacting with the seal on the closure sleeve, that is a seal less uninterrupted surface. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a biasing arrangement disposed to bias the protector sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a release member attached to the protector sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the release member is a shear screw. 
     
     
         14 . A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system comprising:
 bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system;   displacing a protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and the seal.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  further including wiping the top sub prior to making sealing contact with the seal. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the urging of the protector sleeve includes causing the release of a release member. 
     
     
         17 . A wellbore system comprising:
 a borehole in a subsurface formation;   a string including a slurry outlet system as claimed in  claim 1 .