Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve

Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve

Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar and Type 536 Float Shoe with Benefits
Differential Valve allow for automatic filling and leveling of the fluid
• Reduction of surge pressures on formation
in the casing while it is being run in the hole. The valve will open to
allow the casing to fill to 80 – 90% before automatically closing. • Circulation can be established at any time while running-in.
The operation of the valve is controlled by the differential pressure • Allows 80-90% automatic casing fill-up during run-in
gradient between the fluid above and below the valve. without requiring the casing to be filled manually
The filling action reduces casing running time and minimizes surge • Use of differential collar with shoe provides additional
pressures on formations. The valve is converted to a conventional buoyancy
check valve by dropping a ball and pressuring up to release the upper
• Flapper configuration creates wide open throat for easy
flapper. Until the conversion ball has been dropped, the casing can
circulation of LCM (lost circulation materials)
be circulated at any time without affecting the fill-up operation.
Top-Co differential fill float equipment is API II-B rated at a flow
rate of 10 bpm for 12 hours, and 3000 psi of back pressure at a
temperature of 300°F.

Primary Application
Top-Co’s float equipment with differential valve are designed to
maximize reduction of surge pressure when running close-tolerance
casing or liners with a small annulus, while providing automatic fill up
of the casing.

Performance Features
• All differential valves are double flapper valves, adding the extra
security of a second valve Top-Co Type 535 Top-Co Type 536
• Upper and lower flapper seats have a rubber seal to ensure Float Collar Float Shoe
proper sealing – Differential Valve – Differential Valve
• All seals are of HNBR Nitrile elastomer with a temperature
performance rating of 350°F
• System maintains a constant differential pressure between the How to Contact us
inside and outside of the casing at the floats to ensure Top-Co LP Phone: 780-440-4440
constant fluid height within the casing 7720 - 17 Street Toll Free: 1-866-640-4440
• PDC drillable Edmonton, AB T6P 1S7 (in Canada and USA only)
www.top-co.ca
Rev.2 August 1, 2010
Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve
Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve
Options
Nose available in plastic or aluminum with options including:
How to Contact us
Sales and Support
• Bullet nose
All Top-Co products are backed with
• Eccentric nose
24/7 sales and technical support.
• Spade nose Contact our worldwide technical
• Side Ports support team directly by phone or
email:
• Down-Jets www.top-co.ca
• Up-Jets Email: sales@top-co.ca
• Top-Co’s Type 535 / 536 Float Collar and Shoe with Technical Inquiries
Differential Valve can be run with Type 547 / 548 Kwik Drill centralizer@top-co.ca
plugs if non-rotating option is required. See technical data float@top-co.ca
sheet for more details. Canada
Sales: 403-265-2035
Technical: 780-440-4440

USA
Sales: 877-246-2612

Latin America
Sales: 52-55-55-45-8100

Middle East & S.E. Asia

Sales: 971-4-883-2292

Central and East Asia

Sales: 97150-150-5496

Western Europe and Africa

Sales: 45 2459 2889

Russia
Sales: 7-495-223-35-36 ext 1281

Rev.2 August 1, 2010

Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve
Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve
The Top-Co Type 535 / 536 Float Collar and Shoe with Differential and top of the valve, and has been designed to allow the
Valve has been designed to maximize reduction of surge pressure casing to fill to 80-90% of capacity before sliding down to
when running close-tolerance casing or liners while allowing automatic close off the lower flapper.
fillup of casing. The operation of the valve is controlled by the When desired, the valve can be converted by dropping a
differential pressure gradient between the fluid above and below the weighted tripping ball. The ball lands on a seat in the collet.
valve. Pressuring up against the ball will shear the screws holding the
All differential valves are double flapper valves. As casing is run into collet in place causing the collet to shift downwards releasing
the wellbore the upper flapper is held open by a sliding collet. The the upper flapper. The collet then locks the lower sleeve in
lower flapper, normally in the closed position, is by-passed by a sliding place and the ball is ejected into the wellbore. When the lower
sleeve which allows fluid to enter the valve as casing is run into the sleeve is locked against the lower flapper, no more fluid can
well bore. Circulation may be established at any time. enter the valve.
The sliding sleeve moves on differential pressure between the bottom Both upper and lower flapper valves feature a HNBR Nitrile
seal for optimized sealing of the valve.
Options:
• Top-Co’s Type 535 / 536 Float Collar and Shoe with Differential
Valve can be run with Type 547 / 548 Kwik Drill plugs if non-
rotating option is required.
• All valves will have a 30° lead in / plug seat in the concrete. This
“no-step” lead in ensures the ball does not get hung up while
progressing into the valve.

Differential Valve

Rev.2 August 1, 2010

Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve
Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve
Valve Construction

Upper Flapper Assembly

Held in the “open” position by the collet,
secured to the main body with set screws

Main Body

O-Ring
Prevents pressure loss when pumping
against the ball to convert

Retaining Ring
Once converted, it “locks” the collet and
inner sleeve in place

Seat (Collet)
Houses the retaining ring, o-ring, and holds the
upper flapper assembly open during run-in

Shear Screws
Holds the collet in place until the valve is converted

Inner Sleeve
Inner “Sliding” sleeve slides up and down in
the bore to keep a ~15% pressure differential
across the lower flapper

Polypak “V” Seals

Provide the seals for the inner sleeve allowing it to
move dynamically within the seal bore
Lower Flapper
Lower flapper for the valve once converted to dual flapper mode

Rev.2 August 1, 2010

Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve
Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve
RECOMMENDED OPERATING PROCEDURES
Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar and Type 536 Float Shoe with Differential Valve allow for automatic filling and leveling of the fluid within the
casing while it is being run in the hole. The valve will open to allow the casing to fill to 80-90% before automatically closing. The operation
of the valve is controlled by the differential pressure gradient between the inside and outside of the casing.

Type 535 Float Collar Type 536 Float Shoe

Differential Valve Differential Valve

1. Installation
The following instructions should be referenced for the installation
of all threaded Top-Co float and cementing equipment.
IMPORTANT:
When picking up casing equipment to install onto casing NEVER
insert any lifting device inside the body of the float equipment as
the device may damage the float valve or box threads.
It is important to apply thread lok only to the PIN END of casing or
float equipment. NEVER apply thread lok to the box end. If applied
to the box end, thread lok can travel into the float equipment and
impede the operation of the float valve.
1.1.Inspection
• Obtain the piece of equipment to be inspected. Note the
markings on the outside of boxing material to ensure the
correct size, weight and threads have been received.
• Remove packing materials. Save any written instructions that
may be stored inside the box end of the float equipment.
Rev.2 August 1, 2010
• Verify the markings on the float equipment, checking the size,
weight, thread and type markings.
• Inspect float equipment for damage to the cement surfaces of
the piece (chips, flaking, cracks).
• Check float equipment shell for 6 digit stamped Manufacturing
Order number (MO#) and record this number.
• Remove any thread protectors.
• Inspect threads for damage and unusual markings
1.2. Make Up
• Ensure that field inspection of float equipment has been
completed as per section 1.1.
• Remove thread protectors from the casing threads.
• Obtain thread lok and mix according to manufacturer’s
instructions.
• Apply thread lok to the casing pin thread and install shoe by
aligning the shoe box end and starting the thread by hand.
Ensure the alignment is correct to prevent cross threading.
Thread lok should ONLY be applied to the pin end of casing
and Top-Co float equipment.
Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve
Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve
• Thread box end of float shoe on to pin end of first casing joint.
• Rotate the shoe as far as possible onto the casing pin by hand.
• Make up thread per torque specifications.
• Install float collar at desired location in casing string. The float
collar serves as a back-up valve should the shoe valve fail.
• Apply thread lok to the pin thread of collar and install collar by
aligning the collar pin end with the casing box end and starting
the thread by hand. Ensure the alignment is correct to prevent
cross threading. Thread lok should ONLY be applied to the pin
end of casing and Top-Co float equipment.
• Rotate the collar as far as possible into the casing box end by
hand.
• Apply thread lok to the pin thread of the next length of casing
in string.
• Stab casing pin into box end of float collar.
• Make up thread per torque specifications.
2. Running Instructions
NOTE: Equipment should not be run when the well is deviated
more than 30º
• Run in the desired amount of casing, checking to ensure the
filling of the casing is occurring. This should be checked every
200-400 feet by doing the following:
 Observe the weight indicator to verify the desired weight
increase is being obtained
 Place a wet rag over the open end of the joint after it
is set on the casing slips and watch for the rag to balloon
up; the ballooning occurs since air is being displaced from
the casing as fluid enters from the bottom
Note: Should the filling action slow or stop, it is possible that the
valve is clogged by solids in the fluid, or that well bore has become
impacted in the sliding sleeve of the valve. If this occurs it is
recommended that circulation be established to clear the valve.
Conversion can be verified by checking hook load against calculated
buoyancy of closed end casing; if not converted casing will empty
and fill when reciprocated.
Rev.2 August 1, 2010
• While running casing, the equipment can be circulated through
at any time. The pump rates should be kept to 3 - 4bpm or
less to prevent excessive wear on the ball seat.
• When casing is at the desired depth, circulation should be
established.
• To condition the hole and clear the valve prior to conversion
it is recommended that, at minimum, the volume of the casing
capacity plus 3.2 to 4.8 cu. meters (20 to 30 barrels) of fluid
be circulated. This volume of fluid should pass through the
shale shaker screen and be inspected to ensure return
fluid is free of cuttings and debris which could cause fouling or
bridging of the differential valve. A circulation rate to attain
a fluid annular velocity of higher than 80 meters / 265 feet per
minute is recommended to properly clean the hole and valve
3. Conversion
Note: The standard size differential valve uses a 1 ¾” ball,
however the differential valve is also offered in other variants for
use with a 1 ¼” and 1 ½” ball. It is important that the correct
size ball be used.
• To convert the valve, the ball supplied with the float equipment
should be dropped in the casing.
• The ball can be pumped down or allowed to gravitate to the
bottom.
• When the ball reaches the collar / shoe and seats itself in the
valve, pump pressure should be applied to it. If pumping down
the ball a pressure spike should be seen when the ball lands.
• If pumping into place, slow the pump rate down when 3/4 of
the casing volume has been pumped. Once the casing begins
to pressure up, slowly increase until the shear pressure of the
float equipment is reached.
• A pressure of 600 – 1000 psi above circulating pressure
should be applied to convert the valve and extrude the ball out
of the valve.
Note: The same ball will convert both collar and shoe
• Successful conversion is indicated by a sudden pressure loss
and resumption of circulation.
Top-Co Type 535 Float Collar – Differential Valve
Top-Co Type 536 Float Shoe – Differential Valve
Note: The same ball will convert both the collar and shoe. It is not
unusual to witness a pressure spike and release when the collar
converts, but not when the shoe converts. This is due to the resultant
fluid surge when the ball converts the collar that fires the ball through
the shoe at velocity, converting it without a pressure spike.
• If for some reason it is desirable to convert the valve(s) to
back pressure mode before reaching bottom, the conversion
ball can be dropped at any time.
• Once the valve is converted, however, the casing will need to
be filled from the surface.

4. Sequence of Operation

How to Contact us Canada Middle East & S.E. Asia

Sales: 403-265-2035 Sales: 971-4-883-2292
Sales and Support Technical: 780-440-4440
Central and East Asia
All Top-Co products are backed
Technical Inquiries Sales: 97150-150-5496
with 24/7 sales and technical
support. Contact our worldwide centralizer@top-co.ca Western Europe and Africa
technical support team directly by float@top-co.ca Sales: 45 2459 2889
phone or email:
USA Russia
www.top-co.ca Sales: 877-246-2612
Email: sales@top-co.ca Sales: 7-495-223-35-36 ext 1281
Latin America
Sales: 52-55-55-45-8100

Rev.2 August 1, 2010