Method and apparatus for completion of a horizontal well

Claim 1

A hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well; (2) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to sealing securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (3) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (4) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (5) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to activate the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing upon application of hydraulic presure across one of said piston means prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly to expanded position and said anchoring means to securing condition.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said mechanical manipulation being longitudinal manipulation of an auxiliary tubular member disposed through the tubular conduit.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said means comprising a collet member secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing by a shear releasable sleeve member interiorly disposed around said collet member.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said means comprising a collet member secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing by shear a releasable sleeve member interiorly disposed around said collet member, and further comprising means to prevent relative rotational movement between said collet member and said tubular housing.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claims 9, 10 or 11 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrievel of said apparatus from said subterranean well.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claims 9, 10 or 11 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to realease said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said mechanical manipulation being longitudinal manipulation of an auxiliary tubular member disposed through the tubular conduit.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claims 9, 10 or 11 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said means comprising a collet member secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing by shear releasable sleeve member interiorly disposed around said collet member.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claims 9, 10 or 11 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said means comprising a collet member secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing by shear releasable sleeve member interiorly disposed around said collet member, and further comprising means to prevent relative rotational movement between said collect member and said tubular housing.

Claim 19

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resit movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate on of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to activate the other of said seal assembly an said anchoring means an responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, upon application of hydraulic pressure across one of the piston means, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (2) running said tubular conduit withing said subterranean well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; and (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expanded position.

Claim 20

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resit movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate on of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to activate the other of said seal assembly an said anchoring means an responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, upon application of hydraulic pressure across one of the piston means, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (2) running said tubular conduit withing said subterranean well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; and (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expanded position.

Claim 21

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylinddrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second dirction to activate the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation , each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, by application of hydaraulic pressure across one of said piston means, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (f) means for securing said seal assembly in expanded position and said anchoring means in securing condition; (2) runing said tubular conduit within said subterraneans well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; and (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expanded position.

Claim 22

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylinddrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second dirction to activate the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation , each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, by application of hydaraulic pressure across one of said piston means, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (f) means for securing said seal assembly in expanded position and said anchoring means in securing condition; (2) runing said tubular conduit within said subterraneans well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; and (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expanded position.

Claim 23

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to active the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selective secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, upon application of hydraulic pressure across one of said piston means, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (2) running said tubular conduit within said subterranean well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expaned position; and (4) releasing said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from secured condition by introducing an auxiliary tubular member through said tubular conduit and said apparatus and engaging said auxiliary tubular member with said means responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said apparatus for longitudinal movement to move said apparatus to released positioned.

Claim 24

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to active the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selective secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, upon application of hydraulic pressure across one of said piston means, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (2) running said tubular conduit within said subterranean well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expaned position; and (4) releasing said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from secured condition by introducing an auxiliary tubular member through said tubular conduit and said apparatus and engaging said auxiliary tubular member with said means responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said apparatus for longitudinal movement to move said apparatus to released positioned.

Claim 25

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to active the other of said seal assembly and said activate the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, upon application of hydarulic pressure across one of said piston means, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (f) means for securing said seal assembly in expanded position and said anchoring means in securing condition; (2) running said tubular conduit within said subterranean well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expanded position; and (4) releasing seal assembly from expaned position and said anchoring means from secured condition by introducing an auxiliary tubular member through said tubular conduit and said apparatus and engaging said auxiliary tubular member with said means responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said apparatus for longitudinal movement to move said apparatus to released positioned.

Claim 26

A method of activating a hydraulically set packer mechanism for use in a subterranean well, comprising: (1) assembling on a tubular conduit to be introduced within said subterranean well and telescopically positionable within a second conduit in said well: (a) a tubular housing carryable in said well on a tubular conduit; (b) a seal assembly disposed around said housing and carried in said well in initially retracted position and activatable into expanded position within said well to seal securement relative to the inner wall of said second conduit; (c) anchoring means for securing said packer mechanism in position within said second conduit and activatable to securing condition to resist movement of said packer mechanism relative to said second conduit in at least one direction; (d) first and second cylindrical members of said tubular housing movable in a first direction to actuate one of said seal assembly and said anchoring means into engagement with said second conduit; and (e) primary and secondary piston means carried within said cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to active the other of said seal assembly and said activate the other of said seal assembly and said anchoring means and responsive to pressure introduced through said tubular conduit for said actuation, each of said piston means being selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing and selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said primary piston being released relative to said housing prior to release of said secondary piston relative to said housing, upon application of hydarulic pressure across one of said piston means, whereby upon release of said piston means relative to said housing, said piston means and said cylinder members are movable to actuate said seal assembly and said anchoring means; (f) means for securing said seal assembly in expanded position and said anchoring means in securing condition; (2) running said tubular conduit within said subterranean well and positioning said packer mechanism above the uppermost end of a producing section in said subterranean well and within a horizontal section of said subterranean well; (3) increasing hydraulic pressure within said tubular conduit to move the first and second cylindrical members in a first direction and said primary and secondary piston means in a second direction to place said anchoring means in securing condition and said seal assembly in expanded position; and (4) releasing seal assembly from expaned position and said anchoring means from secured condition by introducing an auxiliary tubular member through said tubular conduit and said apparatus and engaging said auxiliary tubular member with said means responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said apparatus for longitudinal movement to move said apparatus to released positioned.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claims 21, 22 or 23 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claims 21, 22, or 23 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said mechanical manipulation being longitudinal manipulation of an auxiliary tubular member disposed through the tubular conduit.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claims 21, 22 or 23 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said means comprising a collet member secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing by shear releasable sleeve member interiorly disposed around said collet member.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claims 21, 22 or 23 further comprising means carried on said tubular housing and responsive to mechanical manipulation to release said seal assembly from expanded position and said anchoring means from securing condition and for retrieval of said apparatus from said subterranean well, said means comprising a collet member secured against longitudinal movement relative to said housing by shear releasable sleeve member interiorly disposed around said collet member, and further comprising means to prevent relative rotational movement between said collet member and said tubular housing.