Gravel pack apparatus

Apparatus operatively positionable in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• generally tubular first and second housings;
• a seat;
• at least one radially extending projection;
• a flow passage extending through said first and second housings;
• a generally tubular sleeve maintaining said projection in a position securing said first housing against axial displacement relative to said second housing, and said sleeve permitting said projection to displace to a position in which relative axial displacement between the first and second housings is permitted when a first predetermined pressure differential is created across said seat, said seat expanding in response to the first pressure differential;
• and
• a plug disposed within said flow passage, said plug preventing fluid communication through said flow passage.

Apparatus operatively positionable in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• generally tubular first and second housings;
• a seat;
• at least one engagement member;
• a flow passage extending through said first and second housings;
• a generally tubular sleeve maintaining said engagement member in a position securing said first housing against axial displacement relative to said second housing, and said sleeve displacing to a position in which expansion of the seat is permitted when a first predetermined pressure differential is created across said seat;
• a seal surface formed on said sleeve;
• and
• a shear member releasably securing said sleeve against axial displacement relative to said first housing after said first predetermined pressure differential is created across said seat, said shear member releasing said sleeve for axial displacement relative to said first housing when a second predetermined pressure differential is created across said sleeve seal surface.

Apparatus operatively positionable in a subterranean wellbore axially intermediate tubing extending to the earth's surface and a sand control screen, the apparatus comprising:

• an upper tubular member having inner and outer side surfaces and first and second opposite ends, said upper tubular member first end being capable of attachment to the tubing;
• a lower tubular member having inner and outer side surfaces and first and second opposite ends, said lower tubular member second end being capable of attachment to the sand control screen;
• a collet member disposed radially inward relative to said upper and lower tubular member inner side surfaces, said collet member being attached to one of said upper tubular member second end and said lower tubular member first end, and said collet member having a projection formed thereon, said projection extending radially outwardly and engaging a radially enlarged inner diameter portion of the other one of said upper tubular member second end and said lower tubular member first end;
• a tubular sleeve having a radially extending port formed therethrough, inner and outer side surfaces, and a radially enlarged portion formed on said sleeve outer side surface, said sleeve radially enlarged portion being disposed radially inwardly adjacent said collet member and radially outwardly biasing said projection, and said sleeve inner side surface defining a flow passage therethrough;
• an expandable ball seat disposed adjacent said sleeve, such that when a pressure differential is created across said ball seat, said ball seat biases said sleeve for axial displacement relative to said collet member, said ball seat expanding when said sleeve is displaced axially relative to said collet member;
• and
• a first shear member releasably securing said sleeve against axial displacement relative to said collet member, said first shear member releasing said sleeve for axial displacement relative to said collet member when a first predetermined pressure differential is created across said ball seat.

Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:

• first and second housings having a flow passage formed generally axially therethrough, and one of the first and second housings having a port formed through a sidewall portion thereof;
• at least one engagement member releasably securing the first housing against displacement relative to the second housing;
• a support member disposed in a first position in which the support member biases the engagement member to secure the first housing against displacement relative to the second housing, and the support member having a port formed through a sidewall portion thereof, the support member port being fluid communicable with the port formed through the one of the first and second housings;
• and
• an expandable seal member operative to displace the support member to a second position in which the engagement member is permitted to release the first housing for displacement relative to the second housing, the expandable seal member expanding when the support member displaces from the first position to the second position.

Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:

• first and second generally tubular housings, one of the first and second housings having a port formed through a sidewall portion thereof;
• a flow passage formed through the first and second housings;
• a valve mechanism selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow through the flow passage;
• a release mechanism interconnected to the valve mechanism, the release mechanism selectively preventing relative displacement between the first and second housings and permitting relative displacement between the first and second housings when the valve mechanism is actuated, and the release mechanism further selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication between the flow passage and the port;
• and
• wherein the valve mechanism includes a radially outwardly expandable seat in a radially compressed configuration thereof, the seat being reciprocably disposed within the flow passage, and a member configured for sealing engagement with the seat, the member blocking fluid flow through the flow passage when sealingly engaged with the seat, and the seat displacing relative to the flow passage and expanding in response to such displacement, thereby expelling the member and permitting fluid flow through the flow passage, when a predetermined fluid pressure differential is applied across the seat and the member.