US6702020B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crossover Tool
Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2002-04-11
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Granted: 2004-03-09
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Expires: 2022-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A crossover tool is disclosed that permits access through to the wash pipe below after the conclusion of a known gravel packing operation. A ball is trapped to a sleeve after shifting it so as to allow flow through the crossover for acid treatment in the screen area and a reversing out procedure to remove excess acid. Alternatively, pressure delivered through the wash pipe can operate packers, as part of a gravel packing procedure as outlined in two steps in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,772 is a single trip. The acid treating or other downhole operation through the wash pipe can also be accomplished in a single trip with the gravel packing assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Zachman
- 👤 Christian F. Bayne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:20
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/14; E21B34/142; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/04; E21B43/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A multi-position crossover tool for depositing gravel outside a screen and below a packer, comprising: a body, having an uphole and a downhole end, and having a first passage system therethrough comprising a downflow component, beginning adjacent said uphole end, to allow gravel to exit the tool through a gravel outlet for deposition outside of said body and the screen and below the packer, and an upflow component beginning adjacent said downhole end, to accept returns coming through the screen and channel them through said body to a return port in communication with an annular space outside said body and above the packer; and a valve member in said body operable in said body at least in part by dropping an object onto a seat to selectively reconfigure said first passage system into a second passage system incorporating portions of said downflow and upflow components to allow downflow through said body toward said screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A multi-position crossover tool for depositing gravel outside a screen and below a packer, comprising: a body, having an uphole and a downhole end, and having a first passage system therethrough comprising a downflow component, beginning adjacent said uphole end, to allow gravel to exit the tool through a gravel outlet for deposition outside of said body and the screen and below the packer, and an upflow component beginning adjacent said downhole end, to accept returns coming through the screen and channel them through said body to a return port in communication with an annular space outside said body and above the packer; and a valve member in said body operable in said body at least in part by dropping an object onto a seat to selectively reconfigure said first passage system into a second passage system incorporating portions of said downflow and upflow components to allow downflow through said body toward said screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tool of claim 1 , wherein: said valve member comprises a selective closure in a portion of said downflow component and a selective communication between said uphole and downhole components, uphole of said valve member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A multi-position crossover tool for depositing gravel outside a screen and below a packer, comprising: a body, having an uphole and a downhole end, and having a first passage system therethrough comprising a downflow component, beginning adjacent said uphole end, to allow gravel to exit the tool through a gravel outlet for deposition outside of said body and the screen and below the packer, and an upflow component beginning adjacent said downhole end, to accept returns coming through the screen and channel them through said body to a return port in communication with an annular space outside said body and above the packer; a valve member in said body to selectively reconfigure said first passage system into a second passage system incorporating portions of said downflow and upflow components to allow downflow through said body toward said screen; and said valve member is disposed between said uphole end and said gravel outlet in said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
A multi-position crossover tool for depositing gravel outside a screen and below a packer, comprising: a body, having an uphole and a downhole end, and having a first passage system therethrough comprising a downflow component, beginning adjacent said uphole end, to allow gravel to exit the tool through a gravel outlet for deposition outside of said body and the screen and below the packer, and an upflow component beginning adjacent said downhole end, to accept returns coming through the screen and channel them through said body to a return port in communication with an annular space outside said body and above the packer; a valve member in said body to selectively reconfigure said first passage system into a second passage system incorporating portions of said downflow and upflow components to allow downflow through said body toward said screen; and said valve member is disposed between said uphole end and said gravel outlet in said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tool of claim 3 , wherein: said valve member comprises a shifting sleeve that selectively closes said return port while opening a passage between said downhole and uphole components.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tool of claim 4 , wherein: said valve member comprises an object that is insertable through said uphole end to engage said sleeve for sealing said downflow component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tool of claim 5 , wherein: said object is trapped by said sliding sleeve against flow entering said body from said gravel outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tool of claim 6 , wherein: movement of said sliding sleeve reduces its internal dimension to trap said object adjacent a seat located on said sliding sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
The tool of claim 7 , wherein: said downflow component comprises a central passage through said body which is initially blocked by a ball, before said object is introduced, so that gravel is directed from said central passage to said gravel outlet; said upflow component comprises an annular passage in said body surrounding said central passage, said ball causing said returns, before said object is inserted, to divert into said annular passage and out through said return port; whereupon insertion of said object and shifting said sleeve allows said central passage above the object to communicate with said annular passage for downflow or upflow through said annular passage beyond said object and said ball.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The tool of claim 8 , wherein: said sleeve retains said object to said seat upon upflow through said annular passage that is initiated by flow outside said body, which communicates to said central passage through said gravel outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tool of claim 7 , wherein: said sliding sleeve comprises an inner sleeve comprising said seat and an outer sleeve which opens said passage between said downhole and uphole components; said inner sleeve moving relative to said outer sleeve to secure said object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tool of claim 10 , wherein: said inner sleeve locks to said outer sleeve after shifting to trap said object and said outer sleeve locks to said body after shifting to open said passage between said uphole and downhole components.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover by driving an object against a seat to allow flow through said crossover and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover by driving an object against a seat to allow flow through said crossover and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 , comprising: using part of said upflow path for downflow.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 13 , comprising: surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well; using part of said upflow path for downflow; surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object; and closing said return opening when shifting said sleeve.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well; using part of said upflow path for downflow; surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object; and closing said return opening when shifting said sleeve.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well; using part of said upflow path for downflow; surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object; and trapping said object to a seat on said sleeve as a result of shifting said sleeve.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well; using part of said upflow path for downflow; surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object; and trapping said object to a seat on said sleeve as a result of shifting said sleeve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein: providing an inner sleeve with said seat and an outer sleeve; shifting said inner sleeve with respect to said outer sleeve to trap said object to said seat; shifting said outer sleeve in tandem with said inner sleeve while said object is trapped to said seat, to open said downflow path above said object into said surrounding upflow path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 , comprising locking said inner sleeve to said outer sleeve after it shifts; and locking said outer sleeve to the crossover body after it shifts.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well; using part of said upflow path for downflow; surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object; initially blocking a portion of said downflow path with a ball to direct gravel out through said gravel outlet; and inserting said object above said ball in said downflow path such that said moving of said sliding sleeve allows flow to exit said downflow path and bypass said object and said ball in said surrounding upflow path before returning internally to said downflow path.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; and performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well; using part of said upflow path for downflow; surrounding said downflow path with said upflow path; blocking said downflow path with an object dropped on a sliding sleeve; moving said sliding sleeve to open communication between said paths for flow around said object; initially blocking a portion of said downflow path with a ball to direct gravel out through said gravel outlet; and inserting said object above said ball in said downflow path such that said moving of said sliding sleeve allows flow to exit said downflow path and bypass said object and said ball in said surrounding upflow path before returning internally to said downflow path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 , comprising: allowing bi-directional bypass flow around said object and said ball with said object trapped to a seat on said sleeve.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
161 words
A multi-position crossover tool for depositing gravel outside a screen and below a packer, comprising: a body, having an uphole and a downhole end, and having a first passage system therethrough comprising a downflow component, beginning adjacent said uphole end, to allow gravel to exit the tool through a gravel outlet for deposition outside of said body and the screen and below the packer, and an upflow component beginning adjacent said downhole end, to accept returns coming through the screen and channel them through said body to a return port in communication with an annular space outside said body and above the packer; a valve member in said body to selectively reconfigure said first passage system into a second passage system incorporating portions of said downflow and upflow components to allow downflow through said body toward said screen; said valve member comprises a shifting sleeve that selectively closes said return port while opening a passage between said downhole and uphole components.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
161 words
A multi-position crossover tool for depositing gravel outside a screen and below a packer, comprising: a body, having an uphole and a downhole end, and having a first passage system therethrough comprising a downflow component, beginning adjacent said uphole end, to allow gravel to exit the tool through a gravel outlet for deposition outside of said body and the screen and below the packer, and an upflow component beginning adjacent said downhole end, to accept returns coming through the screen and channel them through said body to a return port in communication with an annular space outside said body and above the packer; a valve member in said body to selectively reconfigure said first passage system into a second passage system incorporating portions of said downflow and upflow components to allow downflow through said body toward said screen; said valve member comprises a shifting sleeve that selectively closes said return port while opening a passage between said downhole and uphole components.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well closing said return opening with said reconfiguring.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for one trip gravel packing and conducting a subsequent operation, comprising: running in a gravel packing assembly comprising a packer, a crossover and a screen; depositing gravel through a gravel outlet below the packer and outside the screen in a downflow path and taking returns through said crossover to above said packer through a return opening in an upflow path; reconfiguring said upflow and downflow paths in said crossover to allow flow through it and down to inside said screen; performing a downhole operation through said crossover after said reconfiguring in the same trip into the well closing said return opening with said reconfiguring.
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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) | 2007-03-09 | 2007-09-08 | 2008-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-09 | 2011-09-08 | 2012-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-09 | 2015-09-08 | 2016-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |