Upper zone isolation tool for intelligent well completions

A well engaging a plurality of spaced subterranean hydrocarbon producing formation sections at speed location comprising:

• tubular casing open at spaced locations to the formation sections;
• a tubular member with a central passageway located in the casing at the location of at least one of the formation sections, the tubular member forming an annulus with the casing extending to one producing section;
• seals preventing flow from the at least one section to the well;
• and
• an valve assembly comprising an annular valve and mating seat mounted in the annulus to control flow through the annulus;
• the valve mounted to be axially movable with respect to the seat between a closed position adjacent the seat where flow through the annulus is blocked and an open position axially displaced from the seat where flow through the annulus is not blocked;
• a first valve actuator operably connected to the valve to move the valve between the open and closed positions in response to engagement by a well tool located in the central passageway, and a second valve actuator operably connected to the valve to move the valve from the closed position to the open position in response to a series of pressure variations in the annulus.

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a cased well having two spaced subterranean casing portions each open to receive hydrocarbons from the surrounding formation, the method comprising the steps of:

• assembling on a tubing string at least two packers of a size to seal against the interior of the casing and a remotely operable valve assembly in fluid communication with the exterior of the tubing string;
• lowering the tubing string to a point in the casing of the well where one of the hydrocarbon producing casing portions is located between the packers;
• setting the packers to seal the annulus formed between the casing and tubing string;
• closing the valve assembly to isolate the annulus and at least one hydrocarbon producing portion from the remainder of the well;
• accessing through the tubing string the other hydrocarbon casing portion:
• remotely opening the valve assembly by subjecting the valve to a series of pressure variations;
• engaging the valve assembly through the tubing string to selectively open and close the valve to provide fluid access to the at least one hydrocarbon casing portion and to isolate the at least one hydrocarbon casing portion;
• and
• removing the hydrocarbons entering the well through the two spaced subterranean casing portions from the well.