US3016096A - Circulating valve - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1962 J. G. SPALDING CIRCULATING VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1958 James G. Spolding Filed May 26, 1958 4 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR James G. Spalding ATTORNEY IN w qm a 2 T a n w w Fig. 2

Jan. 9, 1962 J. G. SPALDING 3,016,096

CIRCULATING VALVE Filed May 26, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 K L I A X V A/ X F. 7 INVENTOR 9 James G. Spulding Jan. 9, 1962 J. G. SPALDING CIRCULATING VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1958 INVENTOR Fig.9

James G. Spulding ATTORNEY Fig.8

3,016,096 CIRUULATING VALVE 7 James G. Spaiding, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, assignor to Otis Engineering (Jorporation, Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 26, 1953, Ser. No. 737,616

Claims. ,(Cl. 166-224) This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to a device for preventing undesired upward flow through a well pipe.

In the conventional method of drilling a well, a weighted fluid or drilling mud is pumped downwardly through the drill pipe and the drill bit and thence upwardly outwardly of the drill pipe through the drilled hole to the surface of the earth as drilling progresses. The drilling mud serves, among other things, to lubricate the bit, to convey the cuttings to the surface, and to serve as a hydrostatic plug to contain and retain any high pressures suddenly released by the penetration of the drill bit into an earth formation containing fluid or gas under high pressure.

In some cases it is desirable to conduct rotary drilling operations using air or gas (referred to generally as air) as a drilling fluid, circulating the air in the same manner as the drilling mud is conventionally circulated. The air performs the same functions generally as the drilling mud, except that it offers no protection against the release of pressure into the well from a high pressure formation. If the high pressure is not retained within the well, fluids or gas will be forced in an uncontrolled manner therefrom in what is known as a blowout."

When rotary drilling is being performed, a blowout preventer or similar device at the surface is customarily provided whereby the annular space between the drill pipe and the drilled hole may be closed. When air is used as a drilling medium, it is necessary to provide a means whereby the drill pipe itself may be closed to flow from below in order to completely protect against a blowout.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a circulating valve in a drill string for closing a well to flow from below.

Another object is to provide a valve of the character described wherein the valve is quickly and easily closable, and, particularly, a circulating valve which is closable simply and quickly by a lifting of the drill pipe.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character described which is capable of transmitting the torque necessary for rotary drilling.

Yet another object is to provide a device of the character described wherein fluids may be forced downwardly therethrough even when the device is closed to flow from below.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described wherein the operating parts of the device are not subject to erosion by the normal downward'flow of fluids through the device. I

Another object is to provide a device of the character described wherein at least a part of the device is removable upwardly through the well pipe.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character described wherein, when a part of the device is removed from the well pipe, the bore of the well pipe is unrestricted so that other devices or well tools may be passed therethrough.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Patented Jan. 1962 FIGURES 1 and 1a, taken together, constitute a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the circulating valve installed in the drill pipe of a well being drilled;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, when taken together, constitute an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the circulating valve open in the drill pipe to permit normal downward flow of drilling fluid therethrough;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4; and,

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, when taken together, constitute a view similar to that of FIGURES 2 through 4, showing the circulating valve closed in the drill pipe to prevent upward flow therethrough.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES l and la of the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to a circulating valve which is connected to the lower end of the lowermost of a plurality of upper heavily-walled sections of pipe or drill collars 11 and to the upper end of a plurality of similar lower drill collars 11a. The uppermost drill collar 11 is in turn connected at its upper end to a string of drill pipe 12 and the lowermost drill collar 11a is connected at its lower end to a drill bit 13 to make up a drilling string 13a.

A string of large diameter pipe or casing 14 is installed and cemented in the drilled hole 15, and the customary flanged fitting or casing head 16 is provided at the upper end of the Well casing. A valve 17, known as a master valve, is installed atop the casing head and is openable to admit the drilling string and is closable to close off the well when the drilling string is removed.

A pipe T or drilling spool 19 mounted on the master valve is provided with a lateral or flow line outlet 23, and a blowout preventer .18 is mounted atop the drilling spool. The blowout preventer may be similar to any wellknown type of blowout preventer and is adapted to be opened to pass the drilling string into and from the well and to be closed around the string of drill pipe to positively close the annular space 18a between the drill pipe and the well casing against flow therethrough. A rotating seal drilling head 20, such as that shown in the Patent No. 2,105,754 to H. C. Otis, is installed atop the blowout preventer to effect a continuous seal with the outer surface of the drill pipe.

A flow line valve 22 is installed on the flow line outlet 23 of the drilling spool, and a flow line 24 is attached to the valve for conducting the fluids flowing therethrough away from the well.

Drilling operations are conducted in the usual manner; that is, a drilling medium such as air or gas is forced into and downwardly through the drill pipe by means of a compressor and a flexible connection (not shown) to the upper end of the string of drill pipe. The air or gas flows downwardly through the drill pipe and the circulating valve and through the drill bit to the bottom of the well, and returns upwardly to the surface through the annular space 18a between the drilling string and the drilled hole to the flow line outlet 19 and the flow line 24. The blowout preventer 18 and the master valve 17 are open to permit ready passage of the drilling string therethrough and rotation therein and so facilitate the return flow of air upwardly between the drilling string and the casing. The rotating seal drilling head 20 is closed around the drill pipe to insure that the return flow of air is directed outwardly only through the open flow line valve 22 and the flow line 24. The return flow Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 9 of the drawings, the circulating valve it includes a tubular body or inner sleeve 25 which is threaded at its upper end to an upper sub 26 which is in turn threaded to the lower end of the lowermost drill collar 11. A plurality of external splines 27 are formed on the upper part of the inner sleeve below its connection to the sub 26 for mating engagement by a similar plurality of internal or inner splines 28 formed in the upper end of a tubular housing or outer sleeve 29. The length of the internal splines of the outer sleeve is less thanthat of the external splines of the inner sleeve so that the splines constitute means which permit the inner and outer sleeves to move longitudinally relative to one another in a telescoping fashion while preventing rotation of the sleeves relative to one another.

A downwardly facing shoulder 30 at the lower end of each of the internal splines 28 engages with an upwardly facing external annular shoulder 31 on the inner sleeve below the external splines to limit downward movement of the outer sleeve on the inner sleeve, while the engagement of the upper end 32 of the outer sleeve with the upper sub 26 limits upward movement of the outer sleeve on the inner sleeve.

A lower sub 33 (FIGURE 4) is threaded into the lower end of the outer sleeve and is in turn threaded to the upper end of the uppermost drill collar 11a. A screw 34 threaded into a suitable lateral bore 34a of the sub retains the threaded connection between the outer sleeve and the lower sub against inadvertent release. The tubular sleeves 25 and 29 of the circulating valve thus provide an open fluid passageway between the upper and lower drill collars.

A tubular mandrel or landing nipple 35 having a bore diameter approximating that of the drill pipe 12 is threaded into the upper end of the lower sub and ex tends upwardly within the inner sleeve. The outer diameter of the nipple is reduced substantially from the inner diameter of the inner sleeve whereby an annular fiow course 35a is provided around the upper end of the nipple within the inner sleeve. A plurality of lateral windows 36 are provided through the Wall of the nipple at a point spaced above its lower end for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described. An internal annular landing and locating groove or recess 37 is provided in the bore of the nipple at a point spaced above the windows 36, and an internal annular locking groove or recess 38 is also formed in the bore of the nipple at a point spaced above the landing and locating recess. The locking groove and the landing and locating recess are provided for the installation of a downwardly opening check valve 44 in a. manner and for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

A packing sub 39 is threaded into the lower end of the inner sleeve 25 and surrounds the nipple. A packing means 40, shown to be of a plurality of oppositely facing rings of the V or Chevron type, is provided in an enlarged lower part of the bore of the packing sub and is retained against an internal annular downwardly facing shoulder 41 of the packing sub by a spacer ring 42 and a' packing gland l-S threaded into the lower end of the packing sub, The packing meansrnanifestly seals between the packing sub and the outer surface of the landing nipple.

The length of the packing sub, the location of the packing means 40 in the sub, and the location of the windows 36 of the landing nipple are such that, when the outer sleeve is in its upper position on the inner sleeve as shown in FIGURES '2, 3 and 4, the windows are disposed above the upper end of the packing sub. When the inner sleeve is in its lower telescoped position on the inner sleeve as shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the windows of the landing nipple are moved downwardly within the packing sub below the packing means. Flow from (-k around the landing nipple can thus take place inwardly through the windows and downwardly through the landing nipple when the outer sleeve is in its upper extended position, but inward fiow through the windows is prevented by the sealing engagement of the packing means with the landing nipple when the outer sleeve is in its lower position and the windows are below the packing means.

It is noteworthy that, when the outer sleeve is in its upper position, the lower edges or faces of the windows through the landing nipple are located above the upper end of the packing sub, FIGURE 4, whereby no erosion of any sealing surfaces may take place because of the flow of fluids through the windows.

The downwardly opening check valve provided for installation in the landing nipple includes a locking and sealing device 45 of the character illustrated in the patent to John V. Fredd for Well Devices, No. 2,798,559, and a check valve assembly 44 threaded to the lower end of the locking and sealing device. The locking and sealing device holds the check valve assembly in the proper position in the landing nipple and seals with the wall of the nipple.

The locking and sealing device includes an elongate tubular mandrel 47 having a plurality of laterally movable locking dogs 48 retained in position thereon by a dog holder or sleeve 49 threaded onto the mandrel and surrounding a portion of the upper part thereof in concentric spaced relation with respect thereto. The dogs have hooks 50 at their upper ends engaging over and upwardly facing internal annular shoulder in the upper endof the bore of the dog holder, and also have out wardly projecting locking lugs 52 at their lower ends movable laterally inwardly and outwardly through windows or apertures 53 in the dog holder. The locking lugs have downwardly and outwardly inclined locking shoulders 54 at their upper ends, and the lugs when expanded laterally outwardly through the windows project into the internal locking recess 38 of the nipple for engagement with a downwardly facing lock shoulder 55 at the upper end of the locking recess. An expander sleeve 56 mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the mandrel is moved downwardly relative to the mandrel to move the dogs outwardly to expanded position.

A sealing means 53a, shown to be of a plurality of oppositely facing rings of the V or Chevron type, is

disposed on the mandrel and spaced below the locking dogs andv seals between the mandrel and the Wall of the bore of the landing nipple to assure that any fluids flowing within the nipple must pass through the mandrel.

A plurality of selective locating and stop keys 64 having downwardly facing stop shoulders 65 are provided on the outer surface of the mandrel and spaced below the sealing means. The stop keys are movable laterally on the mandrel and are biased for outward movement into the locating and stop recess 37 of the landing nipple by means of the key springs 66 disposed between the stop keys and the mandrel. Lateral outward movement of the stop keys is limited by the engagement of the upper and lower ends of the keys with upper and lower retaining collars, 67 and 68, respectively, on the mandrel. The upper retaining collar 57 also serves to retain the sealing means on the tubular mandrel. The stop keys are manifestly movable inwardly against the biasing of the key springs toward the mandrel to a non-protruding or retracted position and are able to move outwardly to a projecting position in the locating recess of the nipple whereupon the downwardly facing stop shoulders 65 of the stop keys engage an upwardly facing annular stop shoulder 69 in the recess to arrest downward movement of the locking and sealing device in the landing nipple.

The check valve assembly 44 includes a tubular check valve housing 70 connected to the lower end of the mandrel of the locking and sealing device. A plunger rod 71 positioned in the housing is longitudinally rnovable therein and carries a cylindrical plunger or valve head 72 threaded to its upper end. -A packing means 73, shown to be of a plurality of rings of packing of the V or Chevron type, is disposed on the outer surface of the plunger and seals between the plunger and the wall of a counterbore 74 in the lower end of the mandrel 47 of the locking and sealing device. The engagement of an upwardly facing shoulder 75 on the plunger with a downwardly facing annular shoulder '76 at the upper end of the counterbore of the mandrel limits upward movement of the plunger in the counterbore.

A check valve spring 77 .on the plunger rod engages an internal annular flange 78 in the lower end of the housing and an annular packing retainer and head lock ring 79 threaded on the plunger rod below the plunger head to bias the plunger upwardly into engagement with the annular shoulder 76 in the counterbore of the mandrel. The packing retainer ring also retains the packing means 73 on the plunger and acts as a jam nut locking the plunger on the plunger rod.

' The check valve housing 76 has a plurality of longitudinal slots 89 through its wall so that, when the plunger is moved'downwardly against the upward bias of the check valve spring to move the packing means on the plunger downwardly into the check valve housing, a flow course is opened around the packing means and through the housing. The sealing lips of the packing means 63 face downwardly whereby the'packing means is adapted to seal in the counterbore of the mandrel against pressures from below.

An equalizing valve 81 is movably positioned in the central through bore 82 in the plunger head of the check valve and has an upwardly facing annular shoulder or seat -85 engageable with a downwardly facing internal annular shoulder or seat 86 in the bore of the plunger to prevent fluid flow through the bore of the plunger head. An equalizing valve spring 87 surrounds the lower portion of'the equalizing valve and is confined between an external annular flange 88. on the equalizing valve and the upper end of the plunger rod 71 to bias said valve to closed position. The upper end of the plunger rod has an axial bore 89 therein which communicates with a lateral port 90 extending through the wall of said rod below the packing retainer ring 79 on said rod whereby, when the equalizing valve member 31 is moved downwardly in the plunger head a flow course is provided between the seats 85 and 86 around the valve member through the bore 89 in the plunger rod and outwardly through the lateral port 90. The equalizing valve 81 has a stem 91 extending upwardly from its upper end and projecting above the upper end of the plunger head, the stem being smaller in diameter than the bore through the plunger whereby a flow course is provided therebetween.

The extension stem of the equalizing valve is engageable by a prong or bar (not shown) which may be lowered through the bore of the locking. and sealing device into the check valve assembly 44 to move the valve downwardly. When the equalizing valve is moved downwardly in the plunger head against the upward bias of the spring 87, upward flow may take place through the lateral bore 90 and the bore -89-of the plunger, around the equalizing valve member itself and out through the seat 86 in the upper end of the bore of the plunger head. Pressures above and below the equalizing valve may thus be equalized whereby the entire check valve assembly 44 may be removed from its position within the circulating valve by flexible line inserting and removing tools for repairs or replacement without disturbing the string of drill pipe and without danger of having the check valve assembly blown violently from position in the nipple by a high pressure below the assembly after the locking and sealing device 45 has been released.

A plurality of lateral ports 95 are provided through the wall of the upper'part of the outer sleeveas a point slightly below the downwardly facing shoulders 30 at the lower ends of the internal splines of the sleeve so that air, debris or fluids within said outer sleeve and surrounding the splined portion of the inner sleeve may escape as the sleeves are moved to extended position. An O-ring seal means 86 on the outer surface of the inner sleeve at a point below the upwardly facing shoulder 31 seals between the inner and outer sleeves to assist in preventing the entry of dust or debris into the space between said sleeves.

A plurality of lateral ports 97 through the wall of the outer sleeve just above the upper sub prevent, in a manner similar to that of the ports 95, the trapping of foreign matter or fluids within the outer sleeve and below the nipple sub when the inner and outer sleeves are moved to extended position.

In operation, the circulating valve is assembled in a string of drill pipe with a sufiicient number of drill collars 11a below the valve so that, when the drill pipe is elevated, the weight of the collars and of the drill bit 13 below the valve will be suflicient to cause the telescoping inner and outer sleeves of the valve to extend despite any upward force exerted by any fluid pressure from below. In addition, a suflicient number of drill collars are connected above the circulating valve to assure that there will be sulficient weight on the circulating valve during normal drilling operations to maintain the inner and outer sleeves telescoped together and to provide the necessary weight on the drill bit. The check valve assembly 44 is installed in position in the circulating valve either while the circulating valve is still at the surface or by the usual flexible line running tools after the circulating valve is in place in the drilled hole.

The remainder of the well drilling equipment is installed in the customary manner as hereinbefore described in connection with FIGURES l and la. Air or gas is circulated downwardly through the string of drill pipe and through the drill bit and thence upwardly through the drilled hole to the surface as drilling progresses, the drill pipe being rotated by the customary rotary drilling means (not shown) at the surface and the splined connection between the inner and outer sleeves of the circulating valve providing for the transmittal of the rotary movement and torque to the drill bit. The flow of drilling gas through the circulating valve proceeds downwardly through the inner sleeve and through the annular space 35a around the upper part of the landing nipple 35 having the check valve therein, thence inwardly through the windows 36 into the lower part of the nipple below the check valve and thence downwardly through the lower sub to the drill bit and bottom of the bore hole.

The circulating valve remains open, as shown in FIG- URES 2, 3 and 4, because the weight of the drill collars 11 and the string of drill pipe above the valve is sufiicient to maintain the sleeves 35 and 25 in the telescoped position and the windows '36 are open.

In the event that drilling proceeds into a high-pressure formation such that the compressors supplying the drilling air or gas cannot continue to force air or gas downwardly through the drilling string against the high formation pressures, drilling is stopped and the string of drill pipe is elevated at the surface. As the drill pipe and upper drill collars are lifted, the inner sleeve of the circulating valve is raised with respect to the outersleeve, since the weight of the outer sleeve, the lower drill collars 11a and the drill bit are suflicient to prevent upward movement thereof until the shoulders 30 on the outer sleeve 29 engage the shoulder 31 on the inner sleeve, whereupon continued upward movement of the inner sleeve lifts the outer sleeve and the drill collars and drill bit therebelow. With the inner sleeve so moved upwardly to its upper extended position with respect to the outer sleeve, the packing means 40 is moved upwardly to a position wherein it seals be- I tween said inner sleeve and the exterior of the landing nipple 35 above the ports 36 and thus closes such ports against fluid flow therethrough. Thus fluids and pressures from below are prevented from moving upwardly through the circulating valve by such closing off of the Windows of the nipple and by the check valve assembly 44 installed in said nipple.

The remainder of the blowout preventing equipment, i.e., the blowout preventer at the surface and the flow line valve 22 are closed, whereupon the high pressures are completely contained within the well. Manifestly, if the drilling head is capable of containing the high formation pressure, it is unnecessary to close the blowout preventers.

If it is desired to resume drilling with a weighted fluid such as drilling mud, the mud may be pumped downwardly through the drill pipe, the check valve means 46 opening to pressures and flow from above and permitting downward flow through the circulating valve. Return flow of gas and, after the well bore has been filled therewith, drilling mud is had by opening the flow line valve 24. When sufficient mud has been pumped into the well so that the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the mud is equal to or greater than the pressure of the formation, the formation fluids are retained and the well is killed. The blowout preventer and the flow line valve 24 may safely be opened. Drilling may thereafter be resumed and may proceed in the normal manner, after the circulating valve has been opened by lowering the string of drill pipe until the drill bit rests on bottom and continuing lowering until the sleeves of the circulating valve telescope together in the position shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, to open the windows 36 in the landing nipple to permit flow there through.

If it is desired to remove the check valve for repairs such as may be made necessary by erosion caused by pumping drilling mud downwardly therethrough, a flexible line pulling tool mechanism including a retrieving or pulling tool having a prong (not shown) for depressing the equalizing valve stem 91 is lowered through the drill pipe into the circulating valve, the prong of the pulling tool engaging and opening the equalizing valve to permit flow therethrough to assure that the pressures above and below the check valve are the same. The pulling tool grasps the external annular flange 92 at the upper end of the expander sleeve 52, and an upward pull on the expander sleeve moves the same upwardly to release the locking dogs for inward movement. A continued upward pull on the sleeve lifts the entire locking and sealing device 45 together with the attached check valve 46 upwardly out of the landing nipple. The beveled upwardly facing locking shoulders 50 of the locking dogs engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 51 of the recess 38 of the nipple to cam the dogs inwardly, and the beveled upwardly facing shoulders 83 and 84 of the stop keys engage the shoulder at the upper end of the recess or groove 37 to cam the stop keys inwardly against'the outward bias of the key springs.

The check valve may be reinstalled following any necessary repairs, or it may be left out of the circulating valve, if desired, if drilling is to be continued with a weighted drilling fluid. With the check valve removed, the bore through the drill pipe is unobstructed, and any desired well tools may be passed downwardly through said pipe and the landing nipple. Alternatively, other devices may he landed and suspended in the landing nippie, if desired. 1

It will thus be seen that a circulating valve has been shown and described which may be installed in a string of drill pipe and which does not interfere with the normal downward flow of a drilling fluid therethro'ugh. It will further be seen that the circulating valve may be easily and readily closed to flow from below simply by raising the drill pipe to prevent pressure or flow from below from passing upwardly through the circulating valve.

It will particularly be seen that the circulating valve is so constructed that the weight of the string of drill collars and the drill bit therebelow will hold the sleeve members of said valve in extended position closing off flow through the valve, and that the weight of the drill pipe and'drill collars above the valve hold the valve in open position when the drill pipe string thereabove is lowered to move the sleeve members to the telescoped or collapsed position whereby the weight of the drill string may be applied to the bit while the valve is open.

It will be seen that the circulating valve, by means of the splines 27 and 28 of the inner and outer sleeves, respectively, engage one another whereby the torque necessary for rotary drilling may be transmitted by the circulating valve.

It will further be seen that downward flow may be obtained through the circulating valve at any time, even though the device has been closed against pressure from below, simply by pumping downwardly through a check valve installed in the landing nipple.

it also will be seen that the check valve may be removed for repairs and service by flexible line tools without disturbing the string of drill Pipe, and may similarly be replaced. It will be seen that an equalizing valve means in the check valve assembly may be actuated before removing said check valve assembly in order to assure that no upward pressure differential exists which may suddenly blow said valve assembly upwardly when it is released from locked position in the landing nipple.

It will be seen that, when the check valve assembly has been removed from the landing nipple, the opening through the circulating valve is of a size approximating that through the string of drill pipe.

It will also be seen that a circulating valve has been shown and described in which the sealing surfaces of said valve are not subject to erosion by the stream of drilling fluid.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, Within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A well tool including: an elongate tubular housing; an elongate tubular body telescoped downwardly into said housing for limited longitudinal movement themwithin; means on said body and said housing coengageabie to prevent relative rotation between said housing and said body about their longitudinal axes; a tubular mandrel in the lower end of said housing and extending upwardly into the bore of said body, the outer dimension of said mandrel being substantially less than the inside diameter of the bore of said body to provide a flow passage therebetween; means providing a lateral port through said mandrel intermediate the ends of said mandrel; and packing means disposed between said body and said mandrel to seal between said body and said mandrel below said port means when said body and said housing are tele-v scoped together and to seal above said port means-when said body and said housing are moved to extended position.

2. A well tool including: an elongate tubular housing; a tubular body telescoped downwardly into said housing for limited longitudinal movement therewithin; means on said body and said housing coengageable to prevent relative rotation between said housing and said body about their longitudinal axes; an elongate tubular mandrel in the lower end of said housing and extending upwardly into the bore of said body, the outer dimension of said mandrel being substantially less than the inside diameter of the bore of said body to provide a flow passage therebetween; means providing a lateral port through said mandrel intermediate the ends thereof; packing means disposed be tween said body and said mandrel to seal between said i Alum-u body and said mandrel below said port means when said body and said housing are telescoped together and above said port means when said body and said housing are moved apart to extended position; and a check valve removably mounted in said mandrel, said check valve opening only to flow downwardly therethrough.

3. A well tool comprising: a pair of telescopically connected upper and lower tubular members adapted to be connected in a rotary drill pipe string; means on each of said tubular members coengageable so that rotation of one of said members rotates the other of said members, said means providing for limited longitudinal movement of said members relative to each other; and a valve mechanism carried by said members and having parts movable with said tubular members to positions to open to establish communication between said upper and lower sections of drill string when said tubular members are telescoped together and to close when said tubular members are extended, said means having coengageable means permitting application of a downwardly directed force through said upper tubular member to said lower tubular member during drilling operations.

4. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 3 including: a bushing in the lower end of said upper member; a tubular nipple in the lower end of said lower member extending upwardly through said bushing; packing means in said bushing sealing with said nipple; means providing a lateral port in said nipple, said port being positioned below the packing in said bushing when said tubular members are extended and movable to a position above the packing in said bushing when said tubular members are telescoped together; and plug means removably installed in said nipple.

5. A circulating valve for use in a string of pipe in a well, said valve including: a lower tubular member and an upper tubular member telescoped into said lower' tubular member; means connecting said tubular members for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other between extended and telescoped positions; means for connecting said tubular members in a string of well drill pipe; key means on said tubular members coengageable to prevent rotation of said tubular members relative to one another about their longitudinal axes; a tubular nipple connected with said lower member extending upwardly into said upper member; means providing a flow course between the outer surface of said nipple and the interior of said upper member; sealing means on said nipple and said upper member providing a seal therebetween; means providing a lateral port in said nipple above its lower end; said sealing means being disposed to seal be tween said upper member and said nipple below said port when said upper and lower members are in collapsed position to provide a flow passage from said lower member upwardly and outwardly through said port into said upper member, said packing also being disposed to seal above said port when said upper and lower members are in extended position to close off the flow passage from said lower member through said port into said upper member; and a check valve removably positioned in said nipple, said check valve being openable to permit flow downwardly therethrough from said upper member to said lower member and closable to prevent fiow in the opposite direction therethrough.

6. A circulating valve for use in a string of pipe in a well, said valve including: a lower tubular member and an upper tubular member telescoped into said lower tubular member; means connecting said tubular members for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other between extended and telescoped positions; means for connecting said tubular members in a string of well drill pipe; key means on said tubular members coengageable to prevent rotation of said tubular members relative to one another about their longitudinal axes; a tubular nipple connected with said lower member and with its bore communicating with the bore of said lower member, said nipple extending upwardly into said upper member; means providing a lateral flow port from the interior to the exterior of said nipple above its lower end; means providing a flow course upwardly from said lateral flow port between the outer surface of said nipple and the interior of said upper member; sealing means on said nipple and said upper member providing a seal therebetween; said sealing means being disposed to seal between said upper member and said nipple below said port when said upper and lower members are in collapsed position to provide a flow passage from said lower member upwardly and outwardly through said port into said upper member, said packing also being disposed to seal above said port when said upper and lower members are in extended position to close off the flow passage from said lower member through said port into said upper member; and means closing the bore of said tubular nipple above said lateral port.

7. A circulating valve of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein: the bore of said tubular nipple is open to the bore of the upper tubular member above the upper end of said nipple and said tubular nipple is provided with locking and sealing surfaces in its bore; and the means for closing the bore of said nipple is a removable plug member having locking and sealing means coengageable with the locking and sealing surfaces in the bore of the nipple.

8. A circulating valve of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein: the means closing the bore of the tubular nipple above the lateral port includes a check valve openable to permit flow downwardly through the nipple from the upper member to the lower member and closable to prevent such flow.

9. A circulating valve of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein: the removable plug member includes a I check valve openable to permit flow downwardly through the nipple from the upper member to the lower member and closable to prevent such flow.

10. A circulating valve of the character set forth in claim 9 wherein: the check valve is provided with a pressure equalizing means openable to permit equalization of fluid pressures above and below said check valve to facilitate opening said check valve and removal of said plug member from within said nipple.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,617,659 Whinnen Feb. 15, 1927 1,799,411 Davis Apr. 7, 1931 1,807,837 Fortune June 2, 1931 2,127,728 Grant Aug. 23, 1938 2,148,327 Smith et a1 Feb. 21, 1939 2,704,579 Brown Mar. 22, 1955 2,798,559 Fredd July 6, 1957

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