Davis Stage Cementing Collars and Equipment

For over 20 years, Davis stage cementing collars have been used by operators for their special
applications. Now Davis offers three stage collar designs: a mechanically opened tool, a hydraulically
opened tool, and a mechanically opened tool with a built-in inflatable packer.

Type 778 MC Mechanical Stage Cementing Collar

While now established as a field-proven tool, this tool continues to be the subject of research and
development to find new materials for faster drillout time, greater PDC bit drill-ability and better metal-to-
metal sealing.

Features of the 778 MC Stage Cementing Collar include:

• Tools can be made from material grades up to 135,000 psi minimum yield, including material
suitable for sour gas service.
• All parts are custom fitted and subjected to extensive quality control standards for maximum
performance downhole.

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 • The connection that adjoins the stage collar body and the bottom sub effects a metal-to-metal
seal and engages a back-up elastomer seal, the two of which are designed to provide gas-tight
pressure integrity.
• No welds are used on any portion of the tool.
• The reduced length of the tool minimizes the effect of bending stresses.
• The seals providing internal and external pressure integrity are housed in the stage collar body
and remain stationary throughout operation, minimizing chances of their being damaged.
• The pressure-relief design prevents fluid trapping and compression between the opening device
and the closing plug during the closing phase of the tool’s operation.
• The closing sleeve is held in the closed position by an internal lock ring.
• Both the opening and closing sleeves lock against rotation for easy drill-out.
• A minimum amount of aluminum and rubber are the only materials encountered during drill-out.
Plug sets for four different cementing applications are available.

Type 777 HY Hydraulic-Opening Stage Cementing Collar

This stage collar features an opening sleeve with area differences on opposite ends that allows it to be
manipulated hydraulically. The closing sleeve is identical to the one contained in the Davis Type 778 MC
Mechanical Stage Cementing Collar. The development and introduction of this model was spurred on by
the tremendous upswing in horizontal drilling activity that has occurred in recent years. The hydraulic-
opening feature makes this tool’s use very practical in horizontal wells.

The elimination of the need to use a mechanical opening device has several other merits. Casing runs in
highly deviated wells can now be two-stage cemented without having to use continuous displacement type
plugs. In certain applications, liners run with drill pipe can be run in conjunction with one or several
inflatable packers and used to isolate and selectively cement certain casing intervals. Slotted or pre-drilled
liner can be run below a Davis inflatable packer/hydraulic stage collar assembly, allowing cement to be
pumped above the packer and isolated from highly sensitive producing zones.

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Along with all the features inherent in the 778 MC Stage Cementing Collar, the Type 777 HY offers:

• Effective differential area on the opening sleeve that generates a high opening force while
requiring only optimal pressure to do so.
• The ability to open immediately upon the completion of first-stage cement displacement.
• Opening pressure values that can be adjusted at the time of assembly to assure that all inflatable
packers or other hydraulic tools present in the casing string will be triggered at the correct
juncture.

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 Stage Cementing Plug Systems

Two-Stage Cementing with the Type 778 MC Two-Stage Cementing with the Type 778 MC
using a First-Stage Sealing Plug, Free-Fall using a By-Pass Plug, Shut-Off Plug and Baffle,
Opening Device, and Closing Plug Free-Fall Opening Device, and Closing Plug*
1. A Davis float shoe and float 1. A Davis float shoe and float collar
collar along with the Type 778 MC along with the Type 778 MC Stage
Stage Collar, are installed in the Collar, are installed in the casing
casing string and the casing is run string and the casing is run to
to bottom. bottom. The yellow shut-off baffle is
installed in the casing string at least
2. Circulation is established and (1) one joint above the Davis float
first-stage cement is mixed and collar. If API threads are run (8RD or
pumped. Buttress) the baffle can be installed
in the “J” section of a coupling. If
3. The first-stage sealing plug is premium threads are run, a separate
launched and cement is displaced. baffle collar must be run.
At the conclusion of displacement,
the first-stage sealing plug lands 2. After the hole is conditioned, the
and effects a seal against the by-pass plug with the yellow nose
Davis float collar. No baffle is piece is launched ahead of first-
required. stage cement. This plug will pass
4. The free-fall opening device is through the shut-off baffle and land
dropped and allowed to gravitate on any Davis manual or self-fill float
to position. Pressure is applied to collar. Once landed, approximately
the casing and the stage collar is 50 psi will invert the wipers on the
opened. by-pass plug and allow cement to
pass.
5. Circulation is established and
second-stage cement is mixed and 3. After cement is mixed and
pumped. pumped, the shut-off plug is
launched and cement is displaced. At
6. The closing plug is launched the conclusion of displacement, the
and cement is displaced. At the shut-off plug lands and effects a seal
conclusion of displacement, the in the shut-off baffle.
closing plug lands and effects a
seal in the stage collar. Pressure is 4. The opening of the stage collar
applied to the casing and the and the ensuing second stage
stage collar is closed. cementing and closing of the stage
collar are carried out identically to
that described for two stage
cementing with first stage sealing
plug.

*NOTE: When using the Type 777

HY Hydraulic-Opening Stage Collar,
the standard plug system is a first-
stage shut-off baffle, a first-stage
shut-off plug, a contingent opening
device, and a closing plug. A first-
stage latch-in plug with a special
Davis float collar is available on
request.

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Continuous Two-Stage Cementing with the
Three-Stage Cementing with the Type 778 MC
Type 778 MC using a By-Pass Plug, Pump-
and the Type 778 MC-3S Stage Cementing Collars
Down Opening Plug, and Closing Plug.
In this application, the by-pass The Type 778 MC-3S stage
plug follows first-stage cement and collar is identified by its red
it is advisable to run a minimum of markings and is always run
two joints between the float shoe as the lower of the two tools.
and float collar. Its free-fall opening device
1. After first-stage cement is and closing plug are also
mixed and pumped, release the identified by their red
by-pass plug and begin displacing. markings. The upper stage
Once the calculated volume of collar is always the Type 778
displacement fluid between the MC and the free-fall opening
stage collar and the float collar has device and closing plug for it
been pumped, less a pre- are standard. The first-stage
determined amount acting as a sealing plug is standard and
safety buffer, release the pump- will pass through both stage
down opening plug. collars and land and seal on
2. As the pump-down opening plug any manual- or self-fill Davis
approaches the stage-collar, slow float collar. First, second,
the pump rate to 1–2 bbls./min. and third-stage cementing
Once the plug has landed in the and displacing operations,
opening seat (indicated by a including opening and closing
pressure increase), apply pressure both tools, are carried out as
to the casing to open the stage previously described.
collar.
3. Once the stage collar is open,
second-stage circulating,
cementing, and closing operations
may be carried out as previously
described.

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