US3625281A — Well completion method and apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

A method of completing an underwater well having a platform supported from the floor of a body of water and casing means penetrating said floor and projecting upwardly through said body of water to said platform, comprising the steps of: lowering hanger means and at least one-tubing string on a handling string into said casing means to a position where said hanger means will be supported substantially below said floor; cementing said tubing string within said casing means by passing cement through said handling string and said tubing string; disconnecting and removing said handling string; lowering connector means, at least one-tubing riser and valve means into said casing means; and remotely connecting said connector means to said hanger means, placing said tubing string and said tubing riser in fluidtight flow communication, said valve means being installed in said tubinG riser at a point substantially below said floor, said tubing riser extending upwardly to said platform.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 155 words

A method of completing an underwater well having a platform supported from the floor of a body of water and casing means penetrating said floor and projecting upwardly through said body of water to said platform, comprising the steps of: lowering hanger means and at least one-tubing string on a handling string into said casing means to a position where said hanger means will be supported substantially below said floor; cementing said tubing string within said casing means by passing cement through said handling string and said tubing string; disconnecting and removing said handling string; lowering connector means, at least one-tubing riser and valve means into said casing means; and remotely connecting said connector means to said hanger means, placing said tubing string and said tubing riser in fluidtight flow communication, said valve means being installed in said tubinG riser at a point substantially below said floor, said tubing riser extending upwardly to said platform.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said platform is submerged in said body of water substantially below the surface thereof; said method of completion being conducted from a floating vessel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said hanger means comprises hydraulically operable slip means in fluid communication with said handling string, the supporting of said hanger means within said casing means being accomplished by applying pressure to said slip means through said handling string forcing said slip means into engagement with said casing means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said hanger means is attached to said handling string by tool means, said tool means having latch means thereon engaging said hanger means, said disconnecting of said handling string being accomplished by rotation of said handling string to release said latch means allowing the removal of said tool means along with said handling string.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the further steps of: remotely disconnecting said connector means from said hanger means; and removing said connector means, said tubing riser and said valve means from said casing means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 68 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said connector means is provided with hydraulically operable latch means in fluid communication with said tubing riser, said remotely connecting said connector means to said hanger means being accomplished by applying pressure to said latch means through said tubing riser causing said latch means to engage a portion of said hanger means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the further step of: removing said connector means, said tubing riser and said valve means by applying pressure to said latch means through said tubing riser, causing said latch means to disengage said hanger means portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 75 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that said latch means comprises piston means within a cylinder, the rod end of said piston means being connected to wedge means, said pressure being applied to both the head end and rod end of said piston means, resulting in an effective force in the direction of said wedge means forcing latch elements into engagement with said hanger means portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method of completing an underwater well as set forth in claim 8, characterized by the further step of: removing said connector means by applying pressure through said tubing riser to the rod end of said piston means while blocking pressure to said head end of said piston means, resulting in an effective force directed away from said wedge means to release said latch elements from said engagement with said hanger means portion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 210 words

An underwater well comprising: a fixed platform rigidly supported at the floor of a body of water, casing means penetrating the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly through said body of water to said platform, hanger means supported in said casing means at a point substantially below said floor; at least one-tubing string connected to said hanger means and extending downwardly through said casing means; at least one-tubing riser and remotely actuatable engageable and disengageable connector means connected to said tubing riser and remotely operable valve means installed in said tubing riser, said riser and connector means and valve means being lowerable as a unit separate from said tubing string through said casing for remote engagement with said hanger means, said remotely actuatable engageable and disengageable connector means being disposed at the loweR end of said riser in engagement with said hanger means placing said tubing string and said tubing riser in fluidtight flow communication through flow bores in said hanger means and said connector means, said remotely operable valve being installed in said riser in such position that when said connector means is in said engagement with said hanger means said valve is located at a point substantially below the floor of said body of water.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 210 words

An underwater well comprising: a fixed platform rigidly supported at the floor of a body of water, casing means penetrating the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly through said body of water to said platform, hanger means supported in said casing means at a point substantially below said floor; at least one-tubing string connected to said hanger means and extending downwardly through said casing means; at least one-tubing riser and remotely actuatable engageable and disengageable connector means connected to said tubing riser and remotely operable valve means installed in said tubing riser, said riser and connector means and valve means being lowerable as a unit separate from said tubing string through said casing for remote engagement with said hanger means, said remotely actuatable engageable and disengageable connector means being disposed at the loweR end of said riser in engagement with said hanger means placing said tubing string and said tubing riser in fluidtight flow communication through flow bores in said hanger means and said connector means, said remotely operable valve being installed in said riser in such position that when said connector means is in said engagement with said hanger means said valve is located at a point substantially below the floor of said body of water.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 187 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well having a platform supported at the floor of a body of water and casing means penetrating the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly through said body of water to said platform, said apparatus comprising: hanger means supported in said casing means at a point substantially below said floor; at least one-tubing string connected to said hanger means and extending downwardly through said casing means; at least one-tubing riser connected above said hanger means by remotely engageable and disengageable connector means, said tubing riser extending upwardly through said casing means to said platform; and valve means installed in said tubing riser at a point substantially below the floor of said body of water, said hanger means being provided with suspension means around its exterior and connection means whereby a disengageable setting tool may be connected to said hanger and lowered therewith on a handling string to said point of support, said suspension means being in fluid communication with said handling string for hydraulic activation of said suspension means for engaging said casing means to support said hanger means therein.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 187 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well having a platform supported at the floor of a body of water and casing means penetrating the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly through said body of water to said platform, said apparatus comprising: hanger means supported in said casing means at a point substantially below said floor; at least one-tubing string connected to said hanger means and extending downwardly through said casing means; at least one-tubing riser connected above said hanger means by remotely engageable and disengageable connector means, said tubing riser extending upwardly through said casing means to said platform; and valve means installed in said tubing riser at a point substantially below the floor of said body of water, said hanger means being provided with suspension means around its exterior and connection means whereby a disengageable setting tool may be connected to said hanger and lowered therewith on a handling string to said point of support, said suspension means being in fluid communication with said handling string for hydraulic activation of said suspension means for engaging said casing means to support said hanger means therein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 127 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that said suspension means comprises slip means, mandrel means fixed relative to said hanger means and setting cone means longitudinally movable on said hanger means, said mandrel means having a frustoconical surface, said setting cone means having a frustoconical surface converging in a direction opposite to said mandrel frustoconical surface, said slip means having oppositely converging frustoconical surfaces on its inner faces and tooth engagement means on its outer faces, said slip means frustoconical surfaces being in contact with said mandrel and setting cone frustoconical surfaces and cooperating therewith on longitudinal movement of said setting cone in response to fluid pressure in said handling string, to wedgingly force said tooth engagement means into engagement with said casing means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that said fluid communication is established through internal ports in said setting tool and said hanger means sealingly connected at the interface of said setting tool and said hanger means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 70 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that said connection means comprises shoulder means, said setting tool being provided with latch means and wedge means, said wedge means being longitudinally movable on said setting tool to force said latch means into engagement with said shoulder means providing fluidtight flow communication between said handling string and said tubing string through flow bores in said setting tool and hanger means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 64 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that said wedge means comprises sleeve means around said setting tool longitudinally fixed to said handling string by retainer means, said handling string being threadingly coupled to said setting tool so that upon make up of said coupling said sleeve is longitudinally displaced to force said latch means into said engagement with said shoulder means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 173 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well having a platform supported at the floor of a body of water and casing means penetrating the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly through said body of water to said platform, said apparatus comprising: hanger means supported in said casing means at a point substantially below said floor; at least one-tubing string connected to said hanger means and extending downwardly through said casing means; at least one-tubing riser connected above said hanger means by remotely engageable and disengageable connector means, said tubing riser extending upwardly through said casing means to said platform; and valve means installed in said tubing riser at a point substantially below the floor of said body of water, said tubing riser being connected to said hanger means by connector means, said connector means being provided with latch means engageable with shoulder means on said hanger means to provide fluidtight flow communication between said tubing riser and said tubing string through flow bores in said connector means and said hanger means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 173 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well having a platform supported at the floor of a body of water and casing means penetrating the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly through said body of water to said platform, said apparatus comprising: hanger means supported in said casing means at a point substantially below said floor; at least one-tubing string connected to said hanger means and extending downwardly through said casing means; at least one-tubing riser connected above said hanger means by remotely engageable and disengageable connector means, said tubing riser extending upwardly through said casing means to said platform; and valve means installed in said tubing riser at a point substantially below the floor of said body of water, said tubing riser being connected to said hanger means by connector means, said connector means being provided with latch means engageable with shoulder means on said hanger means to provide fluidtight flow communication between said tubing riser and said tubing string through flow bores in said connector means and said hanger means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, characterized in that said connector means, said tubing riser and said valve means are lowerable through said casing means from said platform to said hanger means, said latch means being remotely operable to engage said shoulder means to provide said fluidtight communication.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, characterized in that said connector means and said hanger means are provided with orientation means cooperating to automatically align said tubing riser and connector means flow bore with said tubing string and hanger means flow bore as said connector means and said tubing riser are lowered to said hanger means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 92 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, characterized in that said orientation means comprises dog means on one of said hanger means and said connector means and sleeve means around the other of said hanger means and said connector means, said sleeve means having a double-helix surface facing toward said dog means as said connector means is lowered to said hanger means, said double-helix surface converging in slot means whereby said double-helix surface first contacts said dog means causing said connector means to rotate until said dog means engages said slot means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, characterized in that said connector means comprises wedge means connected to at least one piston means movable in a cylinder within said connector means, said cylinder being in fluid communication with a remote pressure source whereby fluid pressure may be applied to said piston means causing said wedge means to force said latch means into said engagement with said hanger shoulder means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 63 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, characterized in that plug means are installed in said tubing riser above said valve means, said fluid communication between said remote pressure source and said cylinder being established through first conduit means, between said cylinder and first port means in said tubing riser, said first port means being isolated from said valve by said plug means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, characterized by second port means in said tubing riser below said plug means and second conduit means establishing fluid communication between said tubing riser and the rod end of said cylinder means, said first conduit means being connected to the head end of said cylinder means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22, characterized in that said remote pressure source is connected to said first port means through tubing means connected to said plug means and concentrically disposed in said tubing riser leaving an annular space therebetween, said second conduit means being in fluid communication with said annular space through third port means in said plug means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 145 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well, comprising hanger means for supporting at least one-tubing string in a casing, said hanger means having a generally cylindrical body through which passes a flow bore in fluidtight communication with said tubing string, remotely operable suspension means being mounted around said hanger body comprising mandrel means, setting cone means and slip means mounted therebetween so that movement of one of said mandrel means and said setting cone means tOward the other forces said slip means into supporting engagement with said casing, in combination with a setting tool and a least one-handling string for lowering said hanger means and tubing string into said casing, said suspension means being in fluid communication with a remote pressure source through said handling string and conduit means in said hanger means for remotely operating said suspension means for said supporting engagement with said casing.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 145 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well, comprising hanger means for supporting at least one-tubing string in a casing, said hanger means having a generally cylindrical body through which passes a flow bore in fluidtight communication with said tubing string, remotely operable suspension means being mounted around said hanger body comprising mandrel means, setting cone means and slip means mounted therebetween so that movement of one of said mandrel means and said setting cone means tOward the other forces said slip means into supporting engagement with said casing, in combination with a setting tool and a least one-handling string for lowering said hanger means and tubing string into said casing, said suspension means being in fluid communication with a remote pressure source through said handling string and conduit means in said hanger means for remotely operating said suspension means for said supporting engagement with said casing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 24, characterized in that said setting tool and said hanger means are connected by disengageable latch means comprising a plurality of laterally movable latches carried by said setting tool in engagement with shoulder means on said hanger means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25, characterized in that said latch means comprises wedge means carried by said setting tool operable on the rotation of said handling string to disengage said latches from said hanger shoulder means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 66 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26, characterized in that said handling string is threadingly connected to the body of said setting tool, said wedge means comprising a sleeve member surrounding said setting tool body and attached to said handling string by retainer means adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said setting tool body on the said rotation of said handling string to disengage said latches.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well, comprising hanger means for supporting at least one-tubing string in a casing, said hanger means having a generally cylindrical body through which passes a flow bore in fluidtight communication with said tubing string, remotely operable suspension means being mounted around said hanger body comprising mandrel means, setting cone means and slip means mounted therebetween so that movement of one of said mandrel means and said setting cone means toward the other forces said slip means into supporting engagement with said casing, in combination with connector means, at least one-tubing riser and valve means lowerable together into said casing for connection to said hanger means, said connector means having remotely operable latch means for engagement with shoulder means on said hanger means to place said tubing riser and said tubing string in fluidtight communication through said hanger flow bore and a flow bore in said connector means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for completing an underwater well, comprising hanger means for supporting at least one-tubing string in a casing, said hanger means having a generally cylindrical body through which passes a flow bore in fluidtight communication with said tubing string, remotely operable suspension means being mounted around said hanger body comprising mandrel means, setting cone means and slip means mounted therebetween so that movement of one of said mandrel means and said setting cone means toward the other forces said slip means into supporting engagement with said casing, in combination with connector means, at least one-tubing riser and valve means lowerable together into said casing for connection to said hanger means, said connector means having remotely operable latch means for engagement with shoulder means on said hanger means to place said tubing riser and said tubing string in fluidtight communication through said hanger flow bore and a flow bore in said connector means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 28, characterized in that said latch means comprises a hydraulically movable sleeve and a plurality of laterally acting latches activated on the longitudinal movement of said sleeve to engage said hanger shoulder means, said sleeve being provided with first orientation means cooperable with second orientation means on said hanger means to align said tubing riser with said tubing string as said connector means and said tubing riser are lowered toward said hanger means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 29, characterized by piston means within cylinder means carried by said connector, said piston means being connected to said sleeve and movable therewith on introduction of fluid pressure into said cylinder from said remote pressure source to activate said latches.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 133 words

Apparatus for completing a well drilled in the floor of a body of water, comprising hanger means for supporting at least one-tubing string within a casing at a point substantially below said water body floor and connector means and at least one-tubing riser lowerable as a unit through said casing for remote engagement with said hanger means, placing said tubing string and said tubing riser in fluidtight flow communication through flow bores in said hanger means and said connector means, said riser projecting upwardly from said connector means to a wellhead at the upper end of said casing for connection to a Christmas tree, said connector means being provided with a plurality of latches remotely and laterally movable into engagement with shoulder means on said hanger means to efFect said fluidtight flow communication.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 133 words

Apparatus for completing a well drilled in the floor of a body of water, comprising hanger means for supporting at least one-tubing string within a casing at a point substantially below said water body floor and connector means and at least one-tubing riser lowerable as a unit through said casing for remote engagement with said hanger means, placing said tubing string and said tubing riser in fluidtight flow communication through flow bores in said hanger means and said connector means, said riser projecting upwardly from said connector means to a wellhead at the upper end of said casing for connection to a Christmas tree, said connector means being provided with a plurality of latches remotely and laterally movable into engagement with shoulder means on said hanger means to efFect said fluidtight flow communication.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, characterized in that said connector means is provided with sleeve means in contact with said latches and longitudinally movable by hydraulic means to effect said lateral movement of said latches.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 32, characterized in that said hydraulic means comprises piston means connected to said sleeve means, said piston means being movable in a cylinder within said connector means, said cylinder being connected through said riser to a remote pressure source for moving said piston means and said sleeve means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 32, characterized in that said sleeve means and said hanger means are provided with alignment means cooperating as said connector means is lowered into contact with said hanger means to automatically align said tubing string and said riser.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 70 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 33, characterized by first port means in said riser connected to one end of said cylinder through first conduit means and second port means in said riser connected through second conduit means to the other end of said cylinder and plug means installable in said riser between said first and second port means sealingly isolating one end of said cylinder from the other end.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 35, characterized in that a remotely operable valve is installed in said riser below said first and second ports at a point substantially below said water body floor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-12-06	1975-06-07	1975-12-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-12-06	1979-06-07	1979-12-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-12-06	1983-06-07	1983-12-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Well completion method and apparatus

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