Method and apparatus for controlling the flow of well bore fluids

A method for controlling the flow of well bore fluids from a production zone located within a subterranean formation adjacent a well bore to the well surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• making up a well tool including a plug of an expendable material in a tubing string having an internal bore with a predetermined minimum internal diameter, the internal bore of the tubing string being initially closed off by the plug at a selected location, the well tool which is made up within the tubing string also carrying an external well packer;
• running the well tool on the tubing string to a selected depth within the well bore;
• setting the well packer in the well bore to isolate a production interval of the well bore;
• providing actuating means associated with the plug of expendable material for expending the material upon receipt of a triggering signal transmitted from the well surface;
• and
• triggering the actuating means by transmitting a triggering signal from the well surface to thereby expend expendable material and remove the plug from the internal bore of the tubing string, whereby fluids in the surrounding earthen formation are allowed to flow up the tubing string to the well surface.

A method for controlling the flow of well bore fluids from a production zone located within a subterranean formation adjacent a well bore to the well surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• making up a well tool including a plug of an expendable material in a tubing string having a predetermined minimum internal bore, the internal bore of the tubing string being initially closed off by the plug at a selected location, the well tool which is made up within the tubing string also carrying an external well packer;
• running the well tool on the tubing string to a selected depth within the well bore;
• testing the tubing string for leaks by pressuring the internal bore of the tubing string with pressurized fluid pumped down the internal bore of the tubing string from the well surface;
• setting the well packer in the well bore to isolate an annular region of the well bore located between the exterior of the pipe string and the surrounding well bore;
• providing actuating means associated with the plug of expendable material for expending the material upon receipt of a triggering signal transmitted from the well surface;
• and
• triggering the actuating means by transmitting a triggering signal from the well surface to thereby expend expendable material and remove the plug from the internal bore of the tubing string, whereby fluids in the surrounding earthen formation are allowed to flow up the tubing string to the well surface.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of well bore fluids from a production zone located within a subterranean formation adjacent a well bore to the well surface, comprising:

• a tubular housing adapted to be made up in a tubing string extending from the well surface to a selected depth within the well bore, the tubing string having an internal bore with a predetermined minimum internal diameter, the tubular housing including a plug of an expendable material which initially closes off the internal bore of the tubing string at a selected location;
• a well packer carried about the tubing string extending from the well surface;
• actuating means located within the tubular housing and associated with the plug of expendable material for expending the material upon receipt of a triggering signal;
• and
• control means for triggering the actuating means upon receipt of a triggering signal from the well surface to thereby expend the expendable material and remove the plug from the internal bore of the tubing string, whereby fluids in the surrounding earthen formation are allowed to flow up the tubing string to the well surface.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of well bore fluids from a production zone located within a subterranean formation adjacent a well bore to the well surface, comprising:

• a tubular housing adapted to be made up in a tubing string extending from the well surface to a selected depth within the well bore, the tubing string having an internal bore with a predetermined minimum internal diameter, the tubular housing including a plug of an expendable material which initially closes off the internal bore of the tubing string at a selected location;
• a hydraulically settable well packer carried about the tubing string extending from the well surface, the well packer including a control line for communicating hydraulic pressure to the packer for setting the packer;
• valve means in the housing selectively movable between an open position where flow is possible through the tubing string and through the control line to the packer to set the packer and a closed position where flow is prevented;
• restraining means on the valve means to initially hold the valve means in the closed position;
• potential energy means for storing potential energy;
• control means for selectively releasing the potential energy means upon receipt of a first triggering signal transmitted from the well surface to convert the stored potential energy into kinetic energy, whereupon the kinetic energy overpowers the restraining means to move the valve means to the open position and allow the packer to be set;
• actuating means associated with the plug of expendable material and responsive to a second and distinct triggering signal from the control means for expending the expendable material upon receipt of the second and distinct triggering signal transmitted from the well surface, whereby the plug is removed from the internal bore of the tubing string and fluids in the surrounding earthen formation are allowed to flow up the tubing string to the well surface.