Wells – Valves – closures or changeable restrictors – Fluid operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2003-10-14
Dang, Hoang (Department: 3672)
Wells
Valves, closures or changeable restrictors
Fluid operated
C166S321000, C166S332400, C166S332800, C166S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06631767
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to subsurface well equipment and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for remotely controlling injection or production fluids in well completions which may include gravel pack.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known to those of skill in the art, certain hydrocarbon producing formations include sand. Unless filtered out, such sand can become entrained or commingled with the hydrocarbons that are produced to the earth's surface. This is sometimes referred to as “producing sand”, and can be undesirable for a number of reasons, including added production costs, and erosion of well tools within the completion, which could lead to the mechanical malfunctioning of such tools. Various approaches to combating this problem have been developed. For example, the industry has developed sand screens which are connected to the production tubing adjacent the producing formation to prevent sand from entering the production tubing. In those cases where sand screens alone will not sufficiently filter out the sand, the industry has learned that a very effective way of filtering sand from entry into the production tubing is to fill, or pack, the well annulus with gravel, hence the term “gravel pack” completions.
A drawback to gravel pack completions arises when it is desired to connect a remotely-controllable flow control device to the production tubing to regulate the flow of production fluids from the gravel-packed well annulus into the production tubing, or to regulate the flow of injection fluids from the production tubing into the gravel-packed well annulus. If the flow control device is of the type that includes a flow port in the sidewall of the body establishing fluid communication between the well annulus and the interior of the tool (such as the flow control device disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5,823,623), then the presence of gravel pack in the annulus adjacent the flow port may present an obstacle to the proper functioning of the flow control device, to the extent that the gravel pack may prohibit laminar flow through the flow port. As such, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flow control device that will enable the remote control of flow of production fluids and/or injection fluids in well completions where the annulus is packed with gravel. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a tool that will enable the passage of wireline tools through the tool so that wireline intervention techniques may be performed at locations in the well below the flow control device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been contemplated to meet the above described needs. In a broad aspect, the invention may be a downhole flow control device comprising: a body member having a first bore extending from a first end of the body member and through an extension member disposed within the body member, a second bore extending from a second end of the body member and into an annular space disposed about the extension member, a first valve seat disposed within the first bore, and at least one flow port in the extension member establishing fluid communication between the annular space and the first bore; and a first sleeve member remotely shiftable within the first bore, and having a second valve seat adapted for cooperable sealing engagement with the first valve seat to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the device may further include a closure member disposed for movement between an open and a closed position to control fluid flow through the first bore. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the device may further include means for moving the closure member between its open and closed positions. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the device may further include means for selectively controlling movement of the first sleeve member to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the device may further include means for directing fluid flow into the annular space.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a downhole flow control device comprising: a body member having a first bore extending from a first end of the body member and through an extension member disposed within the body member, a second bore extending from a second end of the body member and into an annular space disposed about the extension member, a first valve seat disposed within the first bore, and at least one flow port in the extension member establishing fluid communication between the annular space and the first bore; a first sleeve member remotely shiftable within the first bore, and having a second valve seat adapted for cooperable sealing engagement with the first valve seat to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port; a closure member disposed for movement between an open and a closed position to control fluid flow through the first bore; and a second sleeve member remotely shiftable within the first bore to move the closure member between its open and closed positions. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the second bore has a diameter greater than a diameter of the first bore. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the first sleeve member further includes at least one flow slot. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the closure member is a flapper hingedly connected to the extension member. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the second sleeve member includes an inner surface having a locking profile for mating with a shifting tool. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the second sleeve member includes at least one rib releasably engageable with at least one annular recess within the first bore of the extension member. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the second sleeve member includes a plurality of collet sections having a plurality of ribs disposed thereon for releasable engagement with at least one annular recess within the first bore of the extension member. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the second sleeve member includes at least one first equalizing port for cooperating with at least one second equalizing port in the extension member to equalize pressure on opposed sides of the closure member prior to shifting the closure member to its open position. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the device may further include seal means for preventing fluid communication between the at least one first and second equalizing ports when the second sleeve member is in a non-equalizing position. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the device may further include a cone member connected to a distal end of the extension member. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the cone member includes a first half-cone member and a second half-cone member, each-being hingedly connected to the distal end of the extension member and biased towards each other in a normally-closed position. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that an angle formed between a first outer surface of the first half-cone member and a second outer surface of a second half-cone member is approximately forty-four degrees when the cone member is in its normally-closed position. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the second sleeve member is remotely shiftable to a lower position in which the first and second half-cone members are shifted to open positions in which a first inner surface of the first half-cone member is disposed about the second sleeve member, and a second inner surface of the second half-cone member is disposed about the second sleeve member. Another feature of thi
Morris Arthur J.
Pringle Ronald E.
Dang Hoang
Griffin Jeffrey
Jeffery Brigitte
Polasek, Quisenberry & Errington
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
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