Concentric gravel pack with crossover tool and method of gravel packing

An apparatus for use in a subterranean well having a production zone and well fluids comprising:

• a packer set in the well above the zone, a tubular liner assembly depending from the packer within the production zone and adapted to communicate with an outer tubular string releasably and sealingly engaged with the packer and extending to the top of the well, said liner assembly including a lower perforated portion through which well fluids can flow between the well bore and the interior of the liner assembly and an upper ported portion through which fluid can flow between the well bore and the interior of the upper part of the liner assembly, crossover means within said packer and liner assembly adapted for connection to an inner tubular string extending through the outer tubular string to the top of the well, said packer assembly, said liner assembly and said crossover means having spaced sealing means selectively engageable upon longitudinal movement of said crossover means relative to said packer and liner assembly to a first position to form a flow path to direct fluid flowing down the inner tubular string through said crossover assembly and said upper ported section to the well bore below the packer, through said lower perforated portion to the interior of said liner assembly, and upward to the top of the well through said crossover assembly and the annular area between said inner and outer tubular strings, and upon movement to a second position to direct said fluid to said well bore and said zone while preventing fluid from flowing upward to the top of the well in said annular area, and upon movement to a third position to direct said fluid through said crossover assembly, down through the interior of said liner assembly and upward to the top of the well through said crossover assembly and said annular area, and upon movement to a fourth position to direct said fluid through said crossover assembly to the top of the well through said annular area without passing below said packer.

A method for gravel packing a production zone in a well comprising the steps of:

• (a) running a well packing mechanism with a perforated liner assembly depending therefrom in the well and setting said mechanism in the well above the production zone;
• (b) running into the well a first tubular string for engagement with the packer assembly to provide a first flow path;
• (c) lowering through said first tubular string in a second tubular string having a crossover assembly affixed to its lower end;
• (d) longitudinally positioning the crossover assembly in a first position to circulate down the inner tubular string, through the interior of the liner assembly, thence upwardly through the outer tubular string to clean and displace the fluid in the liner assembly;
• (e) longitudinally positioning the crossover assembly to a second position to clean the exterior of the liner assembly and displace the fluid immediate the exterior of the liner assembly, and to provide fluid path means to wash the liner assembly with a washing solution;
• (f) longitudinally positioning said crossover assembly to a third position for squeezing of an acidic solution into the well formation and to insert gravel particles through casing perforations;
• (g) longitudinally positioning said crossover assembly to said second position to fill the annular space between said liner assembly and said well with gravel;
• (h) longitudinally positioning said crossover assembly to said first position to place a gel solution inside the liner assembly;
• (i) longitudinally positioning said crossover assembly to said fourth position to fill the tubular strings with a fluid to kill the well;
• and (j) producing the well through one of said tubular strings.

A method for gravel packing a production zone in a well comprising the steps of:

• (a) running a well packing mechanism with a perforated liner assembly depending therefrom in the well and setting said mechanism in the well above the production zone;
• (b) running into the well a first tubular string for engagement with the packer assembly to provide a first flow path;
• (c) lowering through said first tubular string a second tubular string having a crossover assembly affixed to its lower end;
• (d) longitudinally positioning the crossover assembly in a first position to circulate down the inner tubular string, through the interior of the liner assembly, thence upwardly through the outer tubular string to clean and displace the fluid in the liner assembly;
• (e) longitudinally positioning the crossover assembly to a second position to clean the exterior of the liner assembly, and to provide fluid path means to wash the liner assembly with a washing solution;
• (f) longitudinally positioning said crossover assembly to a third position for squeezing of an acidic solution into the well formation and to insert gravel particles through casing perforations;
• (g) longitudinally positioning said crossover assembly to said second position to fill the annular space between said liner assembly and said well with gravel;
• and (h) withdraw the inner tubular string from the well and produce the well through the outer tubular string.