Isolating well bore portions for fracturing and the like

An apparatus for isolating a portion of an open horizontal well bore and for providing pressurized fluid to the isolated well portion, the apparatus comprising:

• an upper packer attached to a bottom end of a coiled tubing string;
• a sliding sleeve comprising an upper sleeve telescopically engaged with a lower sleeve, and where the upper sleeve is connected at a top end thereof to the upper packer and to the bottom end of the coiled tubing string, and the lower sleeve is connected at a lower portion thereof to a lower packer such that a bottom end of the lower sleeve below the lower packer is open;
• a seat at the bottom end of the lower sleeve, and a sealing element configured to pass down through the coiled tubing string and through the upper and lower sleeves to seal the bottom end of the lower sleeve;
• wherein the upper and lower sleeves define sleeve ports that are in alignment to provide a flow path through the upper and lower sleeves when the sliding sleeve is in an open position, and wherein the sleeve ports are out of alignment to prevent flow through the upper and lower sleeves when the sliding sleeve is in a closed position;
• a bias element operative to exert a bias force on the upper and lower sleeves urging the sliding sleeve toward the closed position;
• wherein the upper and lower packers are configured such that the same can be collapsed to allow the same to be moved along the well bore by the coiled tubing string and such that the lower packer can be set to seal the well bore when the lower packer is at a desired location;
• wherein, after the lower packer is set, an opening force can be exerted through the coiled tubing string on the sliding sleeve to move the sliding sleeve to the open position against the bias force;
• and
• wherein the upper and lower packers are configured such that, after the lower packer is set and the sliding sleeve is in the open position, the upper packer can be set to seal the well bore and isolate a portion of the well bore between the upper and lower packers with the sliding sleeve in the open position.

A method of isolating a portion of an open horizontal well bore and for providing pressurized fluid to the isolated well portion, the method comprising:

• attaching an upper packer to a bottom end of a tubing string;
• providing a sliding sleeve comprising an upper sleeve telescopically engaged with a lower sleeve, and connecting a top end of the upper sleeve to the upper packer and to the bottom end of the tubing string, and connecting a lower portion of the lower sleeve to a lower packer such that a bottom end of the lower sleeve below the lower packer is open;
• providing a seat at the bottom end of the lower sleeve, and a sealing element configured to pass down through the tubing string and through the upper and lower sleeves to seal the seat;
• wherein the upper and lower sleeves define sleeve ports that are in alignment to provide a flow path through the upper and lower sleeves when the sliding sleeve is in an open position, and wherein the sleeve ports are out of alignment to prevent flow through the upper and lower sleeves when the sliding sleeve is in a closed position;
• providing a bias element operative to exert a bias force on the upper and lower sleeves urging the sliding sleeve toward the closed position;
• collapsing the upper and lower packers and circulating fluid through the tubing string and open bottom end of the lower sleeve and moving the packers along the well bore with the tubing string to locate the lower packer at a desired location;
• pushing the sealing element through the tubing string and upper and lower sleeves to the seat to seal the bottom end of the lower sleeve;
• after the lower packer is at the desired location, setting the lower packer to seal the well bore at the desired location;
• after the lower packer is set, manipulating the tubing string to exert an opening force on the sliding sleeve to move the sliding sleeve to the open position against the bias force;
• after the lower packer is set and the sliding sleeve is in the open position, setting the upper packer to seal the well bore and isolate a portion of the well bore between the upper and lower packers;
• and
• pumping pressurized fluid through the tubing string and aligned sleeve ports to the isolated well portion.