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US 4,733,723 AGranted
Gravel pack assembly
OwnerStephen R. Callegari, Sr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A well apparatus connected to a pipe string extending down into a cased borehole for treating a formation comprising a packer assembly for sealing with the casing assembly and an integral crossover/release assembly attached to the packer assembly, and closing a channel between the tubing bore and the lower extremity of the gravel screen before or after treating the formation. Before releasing the screen, a channel exists between the tubing bore and a projecting wash pipe extending below the gravel screen. Releasing the screen closes the lower screen penetrating channel.
Claims21
Apparatus for use on the lower end of a pipe string suspended in a well, release a gravel screen assembly, treat and gravel pack a well, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a circulation control valve assembly with means to secure to the upwardly continuing pipe string and lower attachment means to secure to a packer;
- (b) a packer secured to the lower end of said circulation control valve assembly;
- (c) a crossover/release assembly secured to the lower end of said packer, having means to releasably secure to a gravel screen assembly;
- (d) a gravel screen assembly releasably secured to said crossover/release assembly;
- (e) first valve means, open until actuated to close, situated at the lower end of said gravel screen assembly;
- (f) first fluid communication means, extending from said pipe string to and through said first valve means, arranged to be closed by an object delivered down the bore of said pipe string to said crossover/release assembly;
- (g) second fluid communication means, closed until actuated to open, extending from the well bore outside and circulation control valve assembly to an opening inside said said gravel screen assembly after release of said gravel screen assembly;
- (h) third fluid communication means, closed until actuated to open, extending from the bore of said pipe string to the well through an opening in the side of said crossover/release assembly;
- (i) actuator means situated in said crossover/release assembly, responsive to closure of said first communication means and fluid pressure in the bore of said pipe string, to release said gravel screen assembly from said crossover/release assembly and to open said first and said second fluid communication means in a single actuation;
- (j) second valve means situtated in said circulation control valve assembly, arranged to close said second fluid communication means in response to one direction of axial movement of said pipe string relative to said packer and to open said second fluid communication means in response to axial movement of said pipe string, in the opposite direction, relative to said packer.
7 more elements
An improved gravel packing assembly for use on a working pipe string suspended in a well, the assembly including, in downward series, a pipe string, a circulation control valve sub-assembly, a packer, a crossover/release sub-assembly and a gravel screen sub-assembly releasably secured to said crossover/release sub-assembly, the improvement comprising:
- (a) first fluid communication means extending from the bore of said pipe string to an opening below said gravel screen sub-assembly, said first fluid communication means arranged to be closed by an object delivered down the bore of said pipe string to said crossover/release sub-assembly;
- (b) second fluid communication means, closed until actuated to open, extending from the well bore above said packer to an opening inside said gravel screen sub-assembly;
- (c) third fluid communication means, closed until activated to open, extending from the bore of said pipe string to an opening to the well bore below said packer;
- (d) actuator means situated in said crossover/release sub-assembly, responsive to closure of said first fluid communication means and fluid pressure in said pipe string, to release said gravel screen sub-assembly and open said second and said third fluid communication means;
- (e) first valve means situated in said circulation control valve sub-assembly, arranged to close said second fluid communication means in response to axial movement of said pipe string in one direction relative to said packer and to open said second fluid communication means in response to axial movement, in the opposite direction relative to said packer;
- and
- (f) foot valve means, fluidly connected to said first fluid communication means and open to the well bore and arranged to be closed and disconnected from said first fluid communication means by release of said gravel screen sub-assembly.
4 more elements
Apparatus for use, attached to the lower end of a pipe string suspended in a well, to treat and gravel pack a well fitted with a sump packer, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a circulation control valve assembly secured to the lower end of the pipe string;
- (b) a packer secured to the lower end of said circulation control valve assembly;
- (c) a crossover/release assembly secured to the lower end of said packer;
- (d) a gravel screen assembly releasably secured to the lower end of said crossover/release assembly;
- (e) a sump packer stinger extending from said crossover/release assembly, through the lower extreme of said gravel screen assembly and some distance below said gravel screen assembly;
- (f) first fluid communication means extending from the bore of said pipe string to the lower end of said sump packer stinger, said first fluid communication means arranged to be closed by an object delivered down the bore of said pipe string to said crossover/release assembly;
- (g) second fluid communication means, closed until actuated to open, extending from the well bore at an opening outside said control valve assembly to the lower end of said pump packer stinger when said pump packer stinger is lifted after release of said gravel screen assembly to open inside said gravel screen assembly;
- (h) third fluid communication means, closed until actuated to open, extending from the bore of said pipe string to an opening to the well bore on the outside of said crossover/release assembly;
- (i) actuator means situated in said crossover/release assembly, responsive to the closure of said first fluid communication means and fluid pressure in said pipe string, to release said gravel screen assembly and to open said second and said third fluid communication means;
- (j) valve means situated in said circulation control valve assembly, arranged to close said second fluid communication means in response to axial movement of said pipe string in one direction relative to said packer and to open said second fluid communication means in response to axial movement of said pipe string in the other direction relative to said packer;
- (k) a locator sub forming the lower terminal of said gravel screen assembly and having a projection to slidingly engage a sump packer in the well, and a bore arranged to slidingly accept said pump packer stinger.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.