US 4,540,051 AGranted

One trip perforating and gravel pack system

AssigneeBaker International Corporation

InventorsPhillip W. Schmuck, John V. Salerni, Rodney J. Wetzel

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Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for effecting the perforating of a well casing and the gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing with one trip into the well of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus. This desirable objective is accomplished by a design of the crossover mandrel normally employed in gravel packing apparatus. The mandrel disclosed herein provides, in its run-in position, a continuous axial passage through its entire length, permitting a detonating bar to be dropped therethrough to actuate a perforating gun. Subsequent to the perforation operation, a ball is dropped and seated on an annular sleeve carried within the hollow mandrel which permits the development of internal pressure within the mandrel. Such internal pressure is employed not only to effect the setting of a fluid pressure actuated packer but also to shift the ball supporting sleeve downwardly and uncover a crossover port in the mandrel which permits the gravel packing operation to be carried out conventionally.

Claims3

Dependent claims

The method of perforating and gravel packing the production zone of a subterranean well with one trip of a work string comprising the steps of:

(1) assembling at the surface for attachment to the end of a tubular work string a hollow liner assembly including a production screen, a first settable and releasable packer secured to the lower end of the hollow liner assembly, a hydraulically settable packer secured to the upper end of the hollow liner assembly, a perforating mechanism supported below the lower packer by a length of tubing, a pressure operated actuator releasably connected to the first packer, and a hollow crossover mandrel assembly connected to the actuator and insertable within the liner assembly and defining a horizontal annular ball seat intermediate said first and second packers;
(2) lowering the work string with the above listed assemblies thereon into the well until the perforating mechanism is positioned adjacent to the desired production zone;
(3) setting the first packer in a position immediately above the desired production formation with said perforating mechanism adjacent the desired production zone;
(4) inserting a perforation activating element through the hollow work string and the bore of the hollow mandrel assembly, the second packer, and the tubing supporting the perforating mechanism to discharge the perforating mechanism and perforate the casing;
(5) releasing said first packer and lowering the work string to position said first packer below the perforated production zone, and then resetting said first packer;
(6) dropping a ball through the work string to seat on said annular ball valve seat in the hollow crossover mandrel assembly thereby permitting fluid pressure to be built up within the work string;
(7) increasing the fluid pressure in the work string to a level sufficient to cause the actuator to set said second packer;
(8) increasing the fluid pressure in the work string to a level sufficient to cause the downward displacement of the valve seat element of said hollow crossover mandrel assembly and open a radial fluid passage from the bore of said hollow crossover mandrel to the bore of said liner assembly;
(9) releasing a flapper valve to close the bore of the hollow crossover mandrel assembly by the downward movement of the ball seat sleeve;
and
(10) introducing gravel carrying fluid through the work string to flow through said radial passage and passages defined by the hollow crossover mandrel and the hollow liner assembly downwardly along the casing annulus between said first and second packers, through the production screen, and upwardly through the crossover assemblage to the casing annulus at a point above said second packer.

8 more elements

A gravel packing apparatus for use in a well bore and adapted to be run into the well casing on a tubular work string, comprising, in combination:

an axially elongated tubular liner assembly including a hollow screen element;
a packer secured to the upper end of said tubular liner assembly;
a work string supported setting tool releasably connected to said packer, said setting tool having pressure responsive means for expanding said packing into sealing engagement with the well casing at a position wherein said hollow screen element is disposed adjacent the perforated production zone of the well casing;
a hollow crossover mandrel assembly depending from said setting tool, said hollow crossover mandrel assembly being insertable in said liner;
all of the aforementioned apparatus defining, in the run-in position, a continuous axial passage to permit dropping therethrough a tool element;
a valve seat sleeve mounted in the bore of said hollow mandrel assembly;
means for retaining said sleeve in an initial run-in position, said sleeve adapted to receive a seal to permit build up of fluid pressure in the work string to expand said packer into sealing engagement with said casing above said production zone;
said liner and said hollow crossover mandrel assembly having flow passages and spaced sealing means selectively positionable upon movement of said seat sleeve downwardly relative to said packer from said initial run-in position to a second position for directing gravel carrying fluid flowing downwardly through the work string into the casing annulus above said screen, then through said screen into the bottom of said hollow crossover mandrel assembly and then outwardly into the well casing annulus at a point above said packer, thereby permitting the packing of gravel around said hollow screen, said valve seat sleeve being shiftable to said second position upon one of:
(1) a further increase in fluid pressure in said work string over that required to set said packer;
and (2) application of machanical force;
and a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the crossover mandrel assembly at a position below said initial position of said valve seat sleeve, an annular horizontal seat around the bore of said crossover mandrel assembly cooperable with said flapper valve to close said bore to downward fluid flow, resilient means urging said flapper valve to its said sealing position, latching means for holding said flapper valve in a vertical open run-in position, and means responsive to the downward displacement of said valve seat sleeve from its run-in position for releasing said latching means to permit said flapper valve to close.

8 more elements

A gravel packing apparatus for use in a well bore and adapted to be run into the well casing on a tubular work string, comprising, in combination:

an axially elongated tubular liner assembly including a hollow screen element;
a packer secured to the upper end of said tubular liner assembly;
a work string supported setting tool releasably connected to said packer, said setting tool including means for expanding said packer into sealing engagement with the well casing at a position wherein said hollow screen element is disposed adjacent a production zone of the well casing;
a hollow crossover mandrel assembly depending from said setting tool, said hollow crossover mandrel assembly being insertable in said liner, all of the aforementioned apparatus defining, in the run-in position, a continuous axial passage to permit dropping a tool element therethrough;
a valve seat sleeve mounted in the bore of said hollow mandrel assembly;
means for retaining said sleeve in an initial run-in position;
said sleeve being adapted to receive a sealing element on its upper end surface to permit build up of fluid pressure in the work string to move said sleeve downwardly from its run-in position, thereby shearing said shearable means;
said liner and said hollow crossover mandrel assembly having flow passages and spaced sealing means selectively positionable upon said movement of said valve seat sleeve downwardly to a second position for directing gravel carrying fluid flowing downwardly through the work string into the casing annulus above said screen, then through said screen into the bottom of said hollow crossover mandrel assembly and then outwardly into the well casing annulus at a point above said packer, thereby permitting the packing of gravel around said hollow screen;
an annular horizontal valve seat around the bore of said hollow crossover mandrel assembly at a point below said second position of said valve seat sleeve;
a valve head shiftably mounted in the crossover mandrel assembly and cooperable with said annular horizontal seat to close the bore of the hollow crossover mandrel assembly to downward fluid flow, latching means for holding said valve head in an open position relative to said annular horizontal seat and with said valve head disposed outwardly of said continuous axial passage;
and means responsive to the downward displacement of said valve seat sleeve to said second position for releasing said latching means to permit said valve head to shift into engagement with said annular horizontal seat.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.