US5620050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for setting hydraulic packers that enable placement of gravel pack in a downhole oil and gas well
Assignee: Weatherford Lamb Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-28
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Granted: 1997-04-15
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Expires: 2014-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulic oil and gas well downhole packer apparatus for use in a well casing below a wellhead and in combination with a coil tubing unit provides a tool body having a longitudinally extending tool bore and an upper end portion that connects to the lower free end of the coiled tubing unit during use. The tool body includes an inner elongated hollow mandrel with a hydraulic piston movable disposed upon the external surface of the mandrel. The piston is movable between an initial "running" position and a final "setting" position. An external sleeve is engaged by the piston when it moves between the running and setting positions, the external sleeve engaging slips that expand to anchor the tool body to the well casing. An annular packer member is expandable responsive to sliding movement of the external sleeve and is positioned below the slips for forming a seal between the tool body and the casing at a position near the lower end portion of the tool body.
Inventors
- 👤 Phil Barbee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:28
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/06; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/129; E21B33/1294; E21B33/1295; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well with a circulating gravel pack, said well having a wellhead at the earth's surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, comprising the steps of: a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal; e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; f) circulating the carrying fluid back to the earth's surface via a channel that extends through the tool body from below the packer to a position above the packer; g) wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve; and h) further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips before transmitting gravel or coarse sand to the packer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well with a circulating gravel pack, said well having a wellhead at the earth's surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, comprising the steps of: a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal; e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; f) circulating the carrying fluid back to the earth's surface via a channel that extends through the tool body from below the packer to a position above the packer; g) wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve; and h) further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips before transmitting gravel or coarse sand to the packer.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth's surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, with a circulating gravel pack comprising the steps of: a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal; e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; f) circulating the carrying fluid back to the earth's surface via a channel that extends through the tool body from below the packer to a position above the packer; and g) wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth's surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, with a circulating gravel pack comprising the steps of: a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal; e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; f) circulating the carrying fluid back to the earth's surface via a channel that extends through the tool body from below the packer to a position above the packer; and g) wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of expanding the packer and wherein the packer includes an annular resilient member that expands upon activation of the packer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of screening carrying fluid that enters the well annulus and returning the screened fluid to the wellhead area.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of setting a packer in an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth's surface and a well annulus defined by a well casing, comprising the steps of; a) lowering a tool body that includes a packer into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the packer in the well annulus and at a selected elevational position of the well casing; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) using shear pins to activate the packer in step "c" wherein coil tubing pressure is used to shear one or more pins; e) applying tension to an upper end portion of the tool body; and f) wherein in step "e", linkage in the tool body deactivates the packer responsive to tension that is applied to the upper end portion of the tool body.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of setting a packer in an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth's surface and a well annulus defined by a well casing, comprising the steps of; a) lowering a tool body that includes a packer into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the packer in the well annulus and at a selected elevational position of the well casing; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) using shear pins to activate the packer in step "c" wherein coil tubing pressure is used to shear one or more pins; e) applying tension to an upper end portion of the tool body; and f) wherein in step "e", linkage in the tool body deactivates the packer responsive to tension that is applied to the upper end portion of the tool body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein step "c" further comprises expanding the packer and wherein the packer includes an annular resilient member that expands upon activation of the packer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the packer member has a valving member below the annular seal in step "c" and further comprising the step of transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid to the well annulus via the coil tubing, packer and valving member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the valving member so that the gravel, coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of screening carrying fluid that enters the well annulus and returning the screened fluid to the wellhead area.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
207 words
A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth's surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, with a circulating gravel pack comprising the steps of: a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal; e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; and f) using a return channel within the tool body and that extends above the seal to recirculate the carrying fluid from the bottom of the tool body back to the earth's surface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
207 words
A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth's surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, with a circulating gravel pack comprising the steps of: a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead; b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand; c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing; d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal; e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; and f) using a return channel within the tool body and that extends above the seal to recirculate the carrying fluid from the bottom of the tool body back to the earth's surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips before transmitting gravel or coarse sand to the packer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of expanding the packer and wherein the packer includes an annular resilient member that expands upon activation of the packer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of screening the carrying fluid at a position near the bottom of the tool body and returning the screened carrying fluid to the wellhead area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |