Wells – Processes – Graveling or filter forming
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-07
2004-04-27
Dang, Hoang (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Graveling or filter forming
C166S312000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06725929
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to tools used to complete subterranean wells and more particularly provides an apparatus for use in gravel pack operations.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation, i.e., a reservoir, by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Once a wellbore has been drilled, the well must be completed before hydrocarbons can be produced from the well. A completion involves the design, selection, and installation of equipment and materials in or around the wellbore for conveying, pumping, or controlling the production or injection of fluids. After the well has been completed, production of oil and gas can begin.
Sand or silt flowing into the wellbore from unconsolidated formations can lead to an accumulation of fill within the wellbore, reduced production rates and damage to subsurface production equipment. Due to its highly abrasive nature, sand contained within production streams can result in the erosion of tubing, flowlines, valves and processing equipment. The problems caused by sand production can significantly increase operational and maintenance expenses and can lead to a total loss of the well. One means of controlling sand production is the placement of relatively large sand (i.e., “gravel”) around the exterior of a slotted, perforated, or other type liner or screen. The gravel prevents the fine sand from packing off around the production tubing and screen, and the screen prevents the gravel from entering the production tubing. It is important to size the gravel for proper containment of the formation sand, and the screen must be designed in a manner to prevent the flow of the gravel through the screen.
In open hole completions that are gravel packed, a drilling fluid residue is left on the formation adjacent to the borehole in the form of a filter cake. Filter cake removal treatments are conventionally done through coiled tubing after gravel packing. This necessitates the pulling of the gravel pack assembly out of the well and running in the well with coiled tubing for filter cake removal or to spot post gravel pack fluids such as breakers, acids or corrosion inhibitors. The final production/injection tubing is then run in the well after the coiled tubing is removed. The ability to perform the steps of gravel packing, filter cake removal operations and post gravel pack fluid spotting on a single trip would save significant time and expense.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an apparatus for use in gravel packing operations in wellbores. Some embodiments of the invention enable the running in, washing down, gravel packing, reversing excess slurry, and the spotting of post gravel pack fluids on a single trip.
One embodiment of the invention comprises a housing having an exterior and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, and a lateral port providing a communication path between the housing longitudinal bore and the exterior of the housing. A first sleeve is disposed within the housing longitudinal bore that has a longitudinal passageway therethrough and is capable of being positioned in an upper position and a lower position relative to the housing. First and second lateral passageways extend through the wall of the first sleeve. A second sleeve is disposed within the first sleeve and also has a longitudinal passageway therethrough. The second sleeve is capable of being positioned in an upper position and a lower position relative to the first sleeve. A first flow passage extends longitudinally through the housing and a second flow passage extends longitudinally through the housing. When the first sleeve is in the upper position, and the second sleeve is in the lower position, communication is established between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the second sleeve and the exterior of the housing, and communication is established between the longitudinal bore of the housing below the second sleeve and the first flow passage. When the first sleeve is in the lower position, communication is established between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the first sleeve and the second flow passage.
The apparatus can have the first and second sleeves releasably secured in their upper positions with retaining elements. The retaining elements can be of a shear element design.
The first and second sleeves can comprise ball seating elements, wherein the ball seating element of the second sleeve has a smaller diameter than the ball seating element of the first sleeve. The apparatus can further comprise a first ball that can be sized so as to pass through the first sleeve, and to seat within the second sleeve. When the first sleeve is in the upper position and the first ball is seated within the second sleeve, the first ball can form a primary seal that restricts communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the second sleeve and the longitudinal bore of the housing below the second sleeve. The invention can further comprise a second ball that is sized so as to seat within the first sleeve. When the first sleeve is in the upper position and the second ball is seated within the first sleeve, the second ball forms a seal that restricts communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the second ball and the longitudinal bore below the second ball.
The first sleeve can be in sliding contact with the housing and the second sleeve can be in sliding contact with the first sleeve.
When both the first and second sleeves are in the upper position, the second sleeve prevents communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing and the first lateral passageway. When the second sleeve is in the lower position, a secondary seal can be formed by contact of the second sleeve with the first sleeve that restricts communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the second sleeve and the longitudinal bore of the housing below the second sleeve. This secondary seal can comprise an elastomeric sealing element, which can be an O-ring element, for example.
When the first lateral passageway is aligned with the lateral port, communication is established between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the second sleeve and the exterior of the housing, and communication is established between the longitudinal bore of the housing below the second sleeve and the first flow passage.
When the first sleeve is in the lower position, the second lateral passageway is aligned with the second flow passage and communication is established between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the first sleeve and the second flow passage. This can also establish communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing above the first sleeve and the longitudinal bore of the housing below the second sleeve through the second flow passage. When the first sleeve is in the lower position, the first sleeve restricts communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing and the lateral port and can also restrict communication between the longitudinal bore of the housing and the first flow passage.
The apparatus can be connected to a gravel pack screen element, to a packer element, and to a tubing string, each having a longitudinal bore. These tubulars can be located inside a wellbore, wherein an annular space is formed between the tubing and the wellbore. Communication can be established between the longitudinal bore of the tubing and the longitudinal bore of the gravel pack screen element.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention comprises a cylindrical housing having an exterior and a longitudinal bore and a lateral port communicating between the housing longitudinal bore and the exterior of the housing. A first sleeve is disposed within the housing longitudinal bore and in sliding contact with the housing, having a longitudinal passageway and a ball seating element. It is capable of being positioned in an upper position and a lower position relative to the housin
Bissonnette Harold S.
Danos Jake A.
Parlar Mehmet
Price-Smith Colin J.
Dang Hoang
Echols Brigitte Jeffery
Griffin Jeffrey
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Williams, Morgan & Amerson PC
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