Gravel pack crossover tool with single position multi-function capability

Claim 2

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; providing a seat on said crossover to accept an obstructing object for setting the packer said seat immovably secured to said crossover in a manner that it and the obstructing object cannot be moved upon application of pressure at least as high as needed to set the packer, building pressure on the seat and the obstructing object to a predetermined level sufficient to set the packer without any effect from downhole pressure acting below the object on the seat.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , comprising: providing at least one gravel outlet port in said crossover; selectively obstructing said gravel outlet port from downhole pressure when setting said packer.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 , comprising: locating said seat further downhole on said crossover than said gravel outlet port.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , comprising: providing a clearance in the bore of the packer as it is set; allowing a fluid column to act through said clearance during setting of the packer to exert pressure on the formation below the packer for resisting cave-ins into the wellbore.

Claim 6

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set to deposit gravel with there being no operating positions of the crossover between said first and second positions, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover; reversing excess gravel without moving the crossover from its position during deposition of gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen.

Claim 7

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set to deposit gravel with there being no operating positions of the crossover between said first and second positions, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover; reversing excess gravel without moving the crossover from its position during deposition of gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 , comprising: supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 , comprising: supporting said crossover in said second position so that gravel ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a second path, through said crossover and to an annular space between said wash pipe and said screen and out to the outside of said screen where gravel may be deposited.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 , comprising: providing unidirectional flow access, with a first check valve, from inside said wash pipe to said annular space between said wash pipe and said screen to facilitate said reversing.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 , comprising: preventing flow down said wash pipe toward said screen with a second check valve that permits flow through said wash pipe coming from within said screen.

Claim 12

The method of claim 6 , comprising: providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position and said shutoff valve is in a closed position; performing a squeeze operation with said shutoff valve in said closed position.

Claim 13

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover, when said crossover is in said second position, maintaining said second position of said crossover after said depositing; reversing excess gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen; supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer; providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position and said shutoff valve is in a closed position; raising said crossover from said second position and lowering it back to said second position to open said shutoff valve to facilitate circulation.

Claim 14

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover, when said crossover is in said second position, maintaining said second position of said crossover after said depositing; reversing excess gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen; supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer; providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position and said shutoff valve is in a closed position; raising said crossover from said second position and lowering it back to said second position to open said shutoff valve to facilitate circulation.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 , comprising: raising said crossover from said second position until a gravel outlet is above the packer; closing said shutoff valve by said raising; reverse flowing fluid into said gravel outlet to remove gravel to the surface through tubing connected to said crossover.

Claim 16

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover, when said crossover is in said second position, maintaining said second position of said crossover after said depositing; reversing excess gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen; supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer; supporting said crossover in said second position so that gravel ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a second path, through said crossover and to an annular space between said wash pipe and said screen and out to the outside of said screen where gravel may be deposited; providing unidirectional flow access, with a first check valve, from inside said wash pipe to said annular space between said wash pipe and said screen to facilitate said reversing; preventing flow down said wash pipe toward said screen with a second check valve that permits flow through said wash pipe coming from within said screen; providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position; performing a squeeze operation with said shutoff valve in said closed position.

Claim 17

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover, when said crossover is in said second position, maintaining said second position of said crossover after said depositing; reversing excess gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen; supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer; supporting said crossover in said second position so that gravel ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a second path, through said crossover and to an annular space between said wash pipe and said screen and out to the outside of said screen where gravel may be deposited; providing unidirectional flow access, with a first check valve, from inside said wash pipe to said annular space between said wash pipe and said screen to facilitate said reversing; preventing flow down said wash pipe toward said screen with a second check valve that permits flow through said wash pipe coming from within said screen; providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position; performing a squeeze operation with said shutoff valve in said closed position.

Claim 18

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover, when said crossover is in said second position, maintaining said second position of said crossover after said depositing; reversing excess gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen; supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer; supporting said crossover in said second position so that gravel ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a second path, through said crossover and to an annular space between said wash pipe and said screen and out to the outside of said screen where gravel may be deposited; providing unidirectional flow access, with a first check valve, from inside said wash pipe to said annular space between said wash pipe and said screen to facilitate said reversing; preventing flow down said wash pipe toward said screen with a second check valve that permits flow through said wash pipe coming from within said screen; providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position; performing a squeeze operation with said shutoff valve in said closed position; raising said crossover from said second position and lowering it back to said second position to open said shutoff valve to facilitate circulation.

Claim 19

A gravel packing method, comprising: running in a packer and a screen assembly; inserting an assembly of a crossover that supports a wash pipe at least in part into said packer; moving said crossover from a first position for setting the packer to a second position after said packer is set, depositing gravel outside said screen using circulation through said crossover, when said crossover is in said second position, maintaining said second position of said crossover after said depositing; reversing excess gravel after said depositing by flowing fluid in a direction opposite to that during said depositing but isolating said reverse flow from passing through said screen; supporting said crossover in said second position so that ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a first path, between inside said wash pipe and an annular space above said packer; supporting said crossover in said second position so that gravel ports are open to provide fluid communication, in a second path, through said crossover and to an annular space between said wash pipe and said screen and out to the outside of said screen where gravel may be deposited; providing unidirectional flow access, with a first check valve, from inside said wash pipe to said annular space between said wash pipe and said screen to facilitate said reversing; preventing flow down said wash pipe toward said screen with a second check valve that permits flow through said wash pipe coming from within said screen; providing a shutoff valve in said wash pipe to selectively close it while said crossover is in said second position; performing a squeeze operation with said shutoff valve in said closed position; raising said crossover from said second position and lowering it back to said second position to open said shutoff valve to facilitate circulation.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 , comprising: raising said crossover from said second position until a gravel outlet is above the packer; closing said shutoff valve by said raising; reverse flowing fluid into said gravel outlet to remove gravel to the surface through tubing connected to said crossover.