US 12,241,336 B2
Control of annulus return flow in well operations
Neil A. Anderson, Aberdeen (GB); and Michael Ronson, Dubai (AE)
Assigned to WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/462,621.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/514,025, filed on Jul. 17, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0027382 A1, Jan. 23, 2025
Int. Cl. E21B 34/08 (2006.01); E21B 33/126 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/08 (2013.01) [E21B 33/126 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An annulus flow control tool for use in a subterranean well, the annulus flow control tool comprising:
a tubular inner mandrel with a longitudinally extending bypass flow path;
a sleeve on the inner mandrel, the sleeve being displaceable on the inner mandrel between a bypass open position and a bypass closed position; and
at least one first annular seal carried externally on the sleeve, in which the sleeve is adapted to displace between the bypass open position and the bypass closed position in response to a pressure differential across the at least one first annular seal.