Wells – Processes – Placing or shifting well part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-12-11
Tsay, Frank (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Placing or shifting well part
C166S050000, C166S117600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328113
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to oil and gas exploration, and in particular to isolating certain subterranean zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration.
During oil exploration, a wellbore typically traverses a number of zones within a subterranean formation. Some of these subterranean zones will produce oil and gas, while others will not. Further, it is often necessary to isolate subterranean zones from one another in order to facilitate the exploration for and production of oil and gas. Existing methods for isolating subterranean production zones in order to facilitate the exploration for and production of oil and gas are complex and expensive.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of the existing processes for isolating subterranean zones during oil and gas exploration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided that includes one or more solid tubular members, one or more slotted tubular members, and a shoe. The slotted tubular members are coupled to the solid tubular members. The shoe is coupled to the slotted tubular members. Each solid tubular member includes one or more external seals.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided that includes one or more primary solid tubulars, n slotted tubulars, n−1 intermediate solid tubulars, and a shoe. Each primary solid tubular includes one or more external annular seals. The slotted tubulars are coupled to the primary solid tubulars. The intermediate solid tubulars are coupled to and interleaved among the slotted tubulars. Each intermediate solid tubular includes one or more external annular seals. The shoe is coupled to one of the slotted tubulars.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of isolating a first subterranean zone from a second subterranean zone in a wellbore is provided that includes positioning one or more primary solid tubulars, and one or more slotted tubulars within the wellbore. The primary solid tubulars traverse the first subterranean zone. The slotted tubulars traverse the second subterranean zone. The slotted tubulars and the primary solid tubulars are fluidicly coupled. The passage of fluids from the first subterranean zone to the second subterranean zone within the wellbore external to the solid and slotted tubulars is prevented.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of extracting materials from a producing subterranean zone in a wellbore, in which at least a portion of the wellbore includes a casing, is provided that includes positioning one or more primary solid tubulars and slotted tubulars within the wellbore. The primary solid tubulars are fluidicly coupled with the casing. The slotted tubulars traverse the producing subterranean zone. The producing subterranean zone is fluidicly isolated from at least one other subterranean zone within the wellbore. At least one of the slotted tubulars is fluidicly coupled with the producing subterranean zone.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 30802 (1981-11-01), Rogers, Jr.
patent: 984449 (1911-02-01), Stewart
patent: 1233888 (1917-07-01), Leonard
patent: 1880218 (1932-10-01), Simmons
patent: 2046870 (1936-07-01), Clasen et al.
patent: 2214226 (1940-09-01), English
patent: 2447629 (1948-08-01), Beissinger et al.
patent: 2583316 (1952-01-01), Bannister
patent: 2734580 (1956-02-01), Layne
patent: 2796134 (1957-06-01), Binkley
patent: 2812025 (1957-11-01), Teague et al.
patent: 3067819 (1962-12-01), Gore
patent: 3104703 (1963-09-01), Rike et al.
patent: 3111991 (1963-11-01), O'Neal
patent: 3167122 (1965-01-01), Lang
patent: 3175618 (1965-03-01), Lang et al.
patent: 3179168 (1965-04-01), Vincent
patent: 3191677 (1965-06-01), Kinley
patent: 3191680 (1965-06-01), Vincent
patent: 3203451 (1965-08-01), Vincent
patent: 3203483 (1965-08-01), Vincent
patent: 3245471 (1966-04-01), Howard
patent: 3270817 (1966-09-01), Papaila
patent: 3297092 (1967-01-01), Jennings
patent: 3326293 (1967-06-01), Skipper
patent: 3353599 (1967-11-01), Swift
patent: 3354955 (1967-11-01), Berry
patent: 3358760 (1967-12-01), Blagg
patent: 3358769 (1967-12-01), Berry
patent: 3364993 (1968-01-01), Skipper
patent: 3419080 (1968-12-01), Lebourg
patent: 3477506 (1969-11-01), Malone
patent: 3489220 (1970-01-01), Kinley
patent: 3669190 (1972-06-01), Sizer et al.
patent: 3691624 (1972-09-01), Kinley
patent: 3693717 (1972-09-01), Wuenschel
patent: 3712376 (1973-01-01), Owen et al.
patent: 3746091 (1973-07-01), Owen et al.
patent: 3746092 (1973-07-01), Land
patent: 3776307 (1973-12-01), Young
patent: 3785193 (1974-01-01), Kinley et al.
patent: 3812912 (1974-05-01), Wuenschel
patent: 3948321 (1976-04-01), Owen et al.
patent: 4368571 (1983-01-01), Cooper, Jr.
patent: 4391325 (1983-07-01), Baker et al.
patent: 4483399 (1984-11-01), Colgate
patent: 4485847 (1984-12-01), Wentzell
patent: 4505017 (1985-03-01), Schukei
patent: 4976322 (1990-12-01), Abdrakhmanov et al.
patent: 5014779 (1991-05-01), Meling et al.
patent: 5083608 (1992-01-01), Abdrakhmanov et al.
patent: 5325923 (1994-07-01), Surjaatmadja et al.
patent: 5348095 (1994-09-01), Worrall et al.
patent: 5366012 (1994-11-01), Lohbeck
patent: 5390742 (1995-02-01), Dines et al.
patent: 5439320 (1995-08-01), Abrams
patent: 5467822 (1995-11-01), Zwart
patent: 5494106 (1996-02-01), Gueguen et al.
patent: 5606792 (1997-03-01), Schafer
patent: 5613557 (1997-03-01), Blount et al.
patent: 5667011 (1997-09-01), Gill et al.
patent: 5667252 (1997-09-01), Schafer et al.
patent: 5685369 (1997-11-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5718288 (1998-02-01), Bertet et al.
patent: 5785120 (1998-07-01), Smalley et al.
patent: 5829524 (1998-11-01), Flanders et al.
patent: 5901789 (1999-05-01), Donnelly et al.
patent: 5924745 (1999-07-01), Campbell
patent: 5957195 (1999-09-01), Bailey et al.
patent: 5979560 (1999-11-01), Nobileau
patent: 5984568 (1999-11-01), Lohbeck
patent: 6012522 (2000-01-01), Donnelly et al.
patent: 6012523 (2000-01-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 6021850 (2000-02-01), Wood et al.
patent: 6029748 (2000-02-01), Forsyth et al.
patent: 6065500 (2000-05-01), Metcalfe
patent: 6070671 (2000-06-01), Cumming et al.
patent: 6079495 (2000-06-01), Ohmer
patent: 6085838 (2000-07-01), Vercaemer et al.
patent: 6089320 (2000-07-01), LaGrange
patent: 6098717 (2000-08-01), Bailey et al.
patent: 736288 (1966-06-01), None
patent: 771462 (1967-11-01), None
patent: 1171310 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 233607 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 0823534 (1998-02-01), None
patent: 0881354 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 2717855 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 2256910 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 2322655 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 2329918 (1999-04-01), None
patent: 2336383 (1999-10-01), None
patent: 2064357 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 2068940 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 2079633 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 2105128 (1998-02-01), None
patent: 2108445 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 612004 (1978-05-01), None
patent: 620582 (1978-07-01), None
patent: 832049 (1981-05-01), None
patent: 853089 (1981-08-01), None
patent: 1411434 (1988-07-01), None
patent: 1627663 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 1710694 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 1745873 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 1810482 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 1818459 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 9325799 (1993-12-01), None
patent: 9325800 (1993-12-01), None
patent: 9421887 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 9503476 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 9637681 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 9706346 (1997-02-01), None
patent: 9717524 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 9717526 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 9717527 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 9720130 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 9721901 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 9800626 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 9809053 (1998-03-01), None
patent: 9826152 (1998-06-01), None
patent: 9902818 (1999-01-01), None
patent: 9918328 (1999-04-01), None
patent: 9923354 (1999-05-01), None
patent: 9925951 (1999-05-01), None
Haynes & Boone LLP
Mattingly Todd
Shell Oil Company
Tsay Frank
LandOfFree
Isolation of subterranean zones does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Isolation of subterranean zones, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Isolation of subterranean zones will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2559034