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US 6,148,915 AGranted
Apparatus and methods for completing a subterranean well
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsByron D. Mullen, Peter A. Duhon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus provide desired levels of continuous fluid pressure in a portion of a wellbore during completion operations. In a described embodiment, a method permits continuous fluid communication between a tubular string extending to the earth's surface and a portion of a wellbore below a packer during testing of the packer. This fluid communication enables a desired fluid pressure to be continually applied to a filter cake lining the portion of the wellbore, to aid in preventing compromise of the filter cake and possible collapse of the wellbore portion. A packer test device included in the apparatus permits such fluid communication during testing of the packer.
Claims44
A method of completing a subterranean well having a wellbore intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- conveying an assembly into the wellbore, the assembly including a packer, a tubular string engaged with the packer, a screen and a flow directing mechanism, the flow directing mechanism permitting fluid flow longitudinally through the assembly during conveyance into the wellbore;
- setting the packer in the wellbore, thereby dividing a first annulus from a second annulus, the first and second annuli being formed between the assembly and the wellbore, the tubular string being positioned within the first annulus and the screen being positioned within the second annulus;
- actuating the flow directing mechanism in one manner to isolate the first annulus from the second annulus while permitting fluid communication between the interior of the tubular string and the second annulus;
- and
- actuating the flow directing mechanism in another manner to permit fluid communication between the second annulus and the first annulus.
2 more elements
A method of completing a subterranean well, the well having a wellbore intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- conveying a gravel packing assembly into the well, the gravel packing assembly including a packer and a well screen attached to the packer;
- setting the packer in the wellbore, thereby dividing the wellbore into first and second portions;
- and
- testing the packer by applying fluid pressure to the first wellbore portion while simultaneously applying fluid pressure to the second wellbore portion external to the gravel packing assembly.
1 more element
A method of completing a subterranean well, the well having a wellbore intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of;
- conveying a gravel packing assembly into the well, the gravel packing assembly including a packer and a well screen attached to the packer;
- setting the packer in the wellbore, thereby dividing the well bore into first and second portions;
- testing the packer by applying fluid pressure to the first wellbore portion while simultaneously applying fluid pressure to the second wellbore portion external to the gravel packing assembly;
- and
- gravel packing by flowing a slurry through a tubular string engaged with the gravel packing assembly and into the second wellbore portion external to the screen,
- wherein the gravel packing assembly further includes a packer testing device,
- wherein in the testing step the packer testing device prevents fluid communication between the first wellbore portion external to the tubular string and the second wellbore portion external to the screen, and
- wherein in the gravel packing step the packer testing device permits fluid flow from the second wellbore portion external to the screen, through the screen into the gravel packing assembly and then to the first wellbore portion external to the tubular string.
5 more elements
A method of completing a subterranean well, the well having a wellbore intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of;
- conveying a gravel packing assembly into the well, the gravel packing assembly including a packer and a well screen attached to the packer;
- setting the packer in the wellbore, thereby dividing the well bore into first and second portions;
- testing the packer by applying fluid pressure to the first wellbore portion while simultaneously applying fluid pressure to the second wellbore portion external to the gravel packing assembly;
- and
- gravel packing by flowing a slurry through a tubular string engaged with the gravel packing assembly and into the second wellbore portion external to the screen,
- wherein the gravel packing assembly further includes a packer testing device,
- wherein in the testing step the packer testing device prevents fluid flow from the tubular string through the interior of the screen, and
- wherein in the gravel packing step the packer testing device permits fluid flow from the second wellbore portion through the screen and then to the first wellbore portion external to the tubular string.
5 more elements
A method of completing a subterranean well, the well having a wellbore intersecting a formation, the method comprising the steps of;
- conveying a gravel packing assembly into the well, the gravel packing assembly including a packer and a well screen attached to the packer;
- setting the packer in the wellbore, thereby dividing the well bore into first and second portions;
- testing the packer by applying fluid pressure to the first wellbore portion while simultaneously applying fluid pressure to the second wellbore portion external to the gravel packing assembly;
- and
- gravel packing by flowing a slurry through a tubular string engaged with the gravel packing assembly and into the second wellbore portion external to the screen,
- wherein the gravel packing assembly further includes a packer testing device, and
- wherein the method further comprises the step of actuating the packer testing device after the testing step and before the gravel packing step.
4 more elements
Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a generally tubular housing having a flow passage formed therethrough;
- a first valve permitting fluid flow through the flow passage in a first direction but preventing fluid flow through the flow passage in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
- a second valve interconnected to the first valve for movement relative thereto, the second valve permitting fluid flow therethrough when a predetermined fluid pressure is applied across the first valve;
- and
- a third valve preventing fluid flow therethrough when a portion thereof is displaced relative to the housing.
2 more elements
Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing assembly having a flow passage formed therethrough, the flow passage having first and second portions;
- a check valve restricting fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion and permitting relatively unrestricted fluid flow from the second to the first flow passage portion;
- and
- a second valve, having a body portion carried by the check valve for movement relative thereto, for selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion in response to fluid pressure acting directly on the check valve.
1 more element
Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing assembly having a flow passage formed therethrough, the flow passage having first and second portions;
- a check valve restricting fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion and permitting relatively unrestricted fluid flow from the second to the first flow passage portion;
- and
- a second valve carried by the check valve for movement relative thereto and selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion in response to fluid pressure across the check valve,
- the second valve including first and second body portions, the first and second body portions displacing relative to each other when a predetermined fluid pressure is applied across the check valve.
2 more elements
Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing assembly having a flow passage formed therethrough, the flow passage having first and second portions;
- a check valve restricting fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion and permitting relatively unrestricted fluid flow from the second to the first flow passage portion;
- and
- a second valve selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion in response to fluid pressure across the check valve;
- and
- a third valve selectively permitting and preventing fluid flow from the first to the second flow passage portion in response to displacement of a portion of the third valve relative to the housing assembly.
3 more elements
Apparatus for use in completing a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular string;
- and
- a gravel packing assembly engaged with the tubular string, the gravel packing assembly including a packer, a screen and a packer testing device, the packer testing device being selectively configurable in a first configuration in which fluid flow is permitted from the tubular string then through the gravel packing assembly internal to the screen without first flowing external to the screen and a second configuration in which fluid flow from the tubular string is prevented from flowing through the gravel packing assembly internal to the screen.
Apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean wellbore opposite a formation intersected by the wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- an assembly having first and second opposite ends and including a packer, a screen, and a flow directing mechanism,
- the flow directing mechanism permitting fluid communication longitudinally through the interior of the assembly between the first and second opposite ends when the assembly is conveyed into the wellbore, and selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication between the interior of the screen and a first annulus formed between the assembly and the wellbore and extending to the earth's surface when the packer is set in the wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.