Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured tool body assembly having valving members (e.g., safety or kelly values) and valving members holding plugs, balls, or darts to be dropped. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members. A transmitter (or transceiver) provides an ability to generate a wireless signal that is received by receivers (or transceivers) on the tool body assembly. Each receiver (or transceiver) controls an electrical actuator that engages a valving member or the indicator. Wireless signals can be used to open or close a valve or to reset a “tripped” indicator.

1 . A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;   b) a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet;   c) the tool body having a swivel having a cement inlet, said swivel having a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion;   d) the tool body having a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions, at least one valving member being positioned below the swivel;   e) the flow channel being configured to enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position;   f) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member when the valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member when the valving member is in the open position;   g) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore;   h) a plurality of said valving members having electrical actuators that enable movement of the valving member between open and closed positions;   i) a transmitter having switches that when switched, send a wireless signal to the tool body assembly that enables a selected valve to be opened or closed;   j) the tool body having receivers electrically interfaced with the actuators, at least one said receiver being positioned above the rotating portion of the swivel and at least one said receiver being positioned below said rotating portion of said swivel;   k) the tool body having at least one well control safety valve that is movable between open flow and closed flow positions and wherein it is not one of said valving members having a fluid flow channel that enables fluid to bypass the said safety valve when the safety valve is in a closed flow position; and   l) wherein the safety valve has an electrical actuator that enables movement of the safety valve between open flow and closed flow positions.   
     
     
         2 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein said well control safety valve is a kelly valve. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 2 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
         5 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 2 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
         6 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein the receivers include a primary receiver and a pair of secondary receivers, one said secondary receiver positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
         10 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 9 , wherein the other said secondary receiver is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
         11 . A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;   b) the tool body assembly having a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, the flow channel including an inner channel and an outer channel;   c) the tool body assembly including a swivel with a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion;   d) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions;   e) the outer channel enabling fluid to bypass a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position;   f) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the open position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel;   g) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member via the outer channel when it is in the closed position and through the valving member and inner channel when the valve is in the open position;   h) wherein each valving member is configured to support a ball or plug when closed;   i) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore;   j) an indicator on the outer surface at the tool body, the indicator being movable between reset and tripped positions, wherein the tripped position indicates to a user that a ball or plug has passed said indicator;   k) a wireless communication system that includes a transmitter, multiple receivers on the tool body assembly, multiple actuators that are each engaged with a valving member, an actuator engaged with the indicator, and wherein signals from the transmitter and received by a said receiver enable a selected valving member to be moved between opened and closed positions; and   l) wherein a signal from the transmitter and received by a said receiver moves the indicator between tripped and reset positions.   
     
     
         12 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator includes a lever arm. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator has projecting and recessed positions. 
     
     
         15 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator has a part that extends into the tool body assembly inner flow channel. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 12 , wherein the indicator lever arm extends through a slot in the tool body. 
     
     
         18 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the body has a working torque of 50,000 foot pounds. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein there are multiple valving members that enable fluid flow around the valving member when the valving member is closed. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet;   b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet;   c) the tool body having a swivel having a cement inlet, the swivel having a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion;   d) the tool body having a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions, at least one said valve being positioned below the swivel;   e) one or more fluid flow channels that enable fluid to bypass the valves when a valve is in the closed position;   f) wherein fluid flow in the main channel flows around the valve when the valve is in the closed position and through the valve when the valve is in the open position;   g) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to move downwardly in the main channel and through a valve flow bore, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly in the main channel and valve flow bore when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore;   h) a plurality of said valves having electrical actuators that enable movement of the valves between open and closed positions;   i) a transmitter having switches that when switched, send a wireless signal to the tool body assembly that enables a selected valve to be opened or closed; and   j) the tool body having receivers electrically interfaced with the actuators, at least one said receiver being positioned above the rotating portion of the swivel and at least one said receiver being positioned below said rotating portion of said swivel.   
     
     
         27 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 26 , further comprising a well control safety valve on the tool body. 
     
     
         28 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 26 , wherein the tool body includes at least two well control safety valves. 
     
     
         29 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein a said well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
         30 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 27 , wherein a said well control safety valve is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
         31 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 27 , wherein the well control safety valve can be closed wherein the pressure flowing through the valve is between 100 and 2200 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.). 
     
     
         34 . The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 26 , wherein the receivers include a primary receiver and a pair of secondary receivers, one said secondary receiver positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
         35 - 41 . (canceled)