Methods of completing a subterranean well

A method of completing a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device including first and second housings, at least one engagement member releasably securing the first housing against displacement relative to the second housing, a support member, and an expandable seal member operative to displace the support member from a first position in which the support member biases the engagement member to secure the first housing against displacement relative to the second housing to a second position in which the engagement member is permitted to release the first housing for displacement relative to the second housing;
• positioning the device within the well;
• and
• expanding the seal member in response to a first pressure differential applied across the seal member.

A method of gravel packing a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a screen to a releasing device including releasably attached first and second housings having a flow passage formed therethrough;
• positioning the screen and releasing device within the wellbore;
• flowing gravel through the releasing device, outward through a port formed through a sidewall portion of the releasing device, and into an annulus formed radially between the screen and the wellbore;
• then installing a closure member in the flow passage;
• and
• then applying a first pressure differential across the closure member, thereby closing the port.

A method of completing a subterranean well, the well having a wellbore intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a gravel pack device, said gravel pack device including first and second tubular housings, a collet member releasably securing said first tubular housing in a coaxial and adjoining relationship with said second tubular housing, an expandable circumferential seal surface, an internal flow passage extending axially through said seal surface and said first housing, and a tubular sleeve having an outer side surface, said tubular sleeve having a first position thereof, in which said sleeve outer side surface radially biases said collet member to secure said first and second housings against axial displacement therebetween, and a second position thereof, axially displaced relative to said collet member from said first position, in which said sleeve outer side surface unbiases said collet member to release said first and second housings for axial displacement therebetween, said seal surface being capable of biasing said sleeve to axially displace from said first position to said second position thereof when a first pressure differential is created across said seal surface;
• providing production tubing;
• attaching said gravel pack device to said production tubing;
• inserting said gravel pack device and said production tubing into the wellbore;
• creating said first pressure differential across said seal surface;
• and
• releasing said first and second housings for axial displacement therebetween.

A method of gravel packing a formation intersected by a subterranean wellbore, the wellbore being lined with casing, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device including first and second tubular housings, said second housing being coaxially disposed relative to said first housing, an end of said first housing being proximate an end of said second housing, a ball seat coaxially disposed within said first housing, a plurality of collets extending axially between said first housing end and said second housing end, said collets releasably securing said first housing against axial displacement relative to said second housing, a flow passage formed axially through said first and second housings, a plug releasably secured in said flow passage, a flow port capable of permitting fluid communication between said flow passage and the wellbore, and a tubular sleeve coaxially disposed within said first and second housings, said sleeve having an outer diameter radially inwardly adjacent said collets, said sleeve outer diameter radially outwardly biasing said collets, and said sleeve being disposed adjacent said ball seat, such that said sleeve is capable of axial movement relative to said flow port and said collets when a first predetermined pressure differential is created across said ball seat, said plug being capable of being expelled from said flow passage when a second predetermined pressure differential is created across said plug;
• providing production tubing;
• attaching said device first housing to said production tubing;
• providing a sand control screen;
• attaching said sand control screen to said device, such that said device is axially intermediate said sand control screen and said production tubing;
• inserting said production tubing, said device, and said sand control screen into the wellbore;
• positioning said sand control screen in a predetermined axial position in the wellbore relative to the formation;
• forcing a gravel pack slurry through said production tubing, into said flow passage, through said flow port, into the wellbore, and into an annular area radially intermediate said sand control screen and the formation;
• creating said first predetermined pressure differential across said ball seat by sealingly engaging a ball with said ball seat and applying pressure to said production tubing;
• and
• creating said second predetermined pressure differential across said plug by applying pressure to said production tubing after said step of creating said first predetermined pressure differential.