US3713490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for spotting fluid downhole in a borehole
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-16
•
Granted: 1973-01-30
•
Expires: 1990-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for isolating the perforated area or production zone of a borehole, and subjecting the isolated portion to chemical treatment in a manner which enables the chemical to be placed into intimate contact with the production formation. The apparatus includes a pre-loaded regulator type check valve assembly in combination with a by-pass means which is supported on the trail end of a tubing string. The by-pass means, when actuated, enables flow to occur in by-pass relationship to and from the tubing and borehole, and around the check valve assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 B Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:19
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/12; E21B43/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
running a tubing string into a borehole and placing the tubing string into a position which locates the fluid outlet of the tubing string below the hydrocarbon producing formation;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
running a tubing string into a borehole and placing the tubing string into a position which locates the fluid outlet of the tubing string below the hydrocarbon producing formation;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method of treating a hydrocarbon producing formation of a borehole with a treatment chemical comprising the steps of:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method of treating a hydrocarbon producing formation of a borehole with a treatment chemical comprising the steps of:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
connecting a packer means and a regulator valve means in a tubing string; presetting the regulator valve means to open at a value which exceeds the bottom hole pressure; and, introducing the tubing string into the borehole so as to enable the packer means to be set at a location above the formation and at the same time place an outlet from the valve means in fluid communication with the formation;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
connecting a packer means and a regulator valve means in a tubing string; presetting the regulator valve means to open at a value which exceeds the bottom hole pressure; and, introducing the tubing string into the borehole so as to enable the packer means to be set at a location above the formation and at the same time place an outlet from the valve means in fluid communication with the formation;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
supporting a packer means and a valve means on a tubing string and introducing the packer means and a regulator valve means into a well bore wherein the regulator valve means permits fluid in the tubing String to flow downhole and through an outlet downstream of the valve means when a sufficient pressure is developed within the tubing string and prevents fluid from flowing uphole;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
supporting a packer means and a valve means on a tubing string and introducing the packer means and a regulator valve means into a well bore wherein the regulator valve means permits fluid in the tubing String to flow downhole and through an outlet downstream of the valve means when a sufficient pressure is developed within the tubing string and prevents fluid from flowing uphole;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
presetting the regulator valve means to open at a value which exceeds the bottom hole pressure in the tubing string so as to prevent fluid flow downhole through the tubing string until the said bottom hole pressure in the tubing string is exceeded;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
presetting the regulator valve means to open at a value which exceeds the bottom hole pressure in the tubing string so as to prevent fluid flow downhole through the tubing string until the said bottom hole pressure in the tubing string is exceeded;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, and further including the step of:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
pumping the spotting fluid down the tubing string so as to displace any well fluid from proximity of the formation;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
pumping the spotting fluid down the tubing string so as to displace any well fluid from proximity of the formation;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
regulating the flow of fluid through the tubing string downhole towards the tubing string outlet, and, preventing the flow of fluid uphole through the tubing string outlet by placing a regulator flow valve means near the tubing string outlet;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
regulating the flow of fluid through the tubing string downhole towards the tubing string outlet, and, preventing the flow of fluid uphole through the tubing string outlet by placing a regulator flow valve means near the tubing string outlet;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
pre-setting the regulator flow valve means at a value which will prevent fluid flowing through the tubing string outlet until the pressure within the tubing string exceeds the bottom hole pressure of the borehole;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
pre-setting the regulator flow valve means at a value which will prevent fluid flowing through the tubing string outlet until the pressure within the tubing string exceeds the bottom hole pressure of the borehole;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
setting the packer and forcing fluid down the tubing string so as to increase the pressure adjacent the formation being treated to a value which is equal to or exceeds the formation pressure thereby preventing fluid from the formation from diluting the spotting fluid;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
setting the packer and forcing fluid down the tubing string so as to increase the pressure adjacent the formation being treated to a value which is equal to or exceeds the formation pressure thereby preventing fluid from the formation from diluting the spotting fluid;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, and further including the steps of:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
9 words
positioning the packer uphole of the hydrocarbon producing formation;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
9 words
positioning the packer uphole of the hydrocarbon producing formation;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
pumping treatment chemical down the tubing string nd through the regulator valve means so as to displace well fluid from close proximity of the hydrocarbon producing formation;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
pumping treatment chemical down the tubing string nd through the regulator valve means so as to displace well fluid from close proximity of the hydrocarbon producing formation;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (9) is carried out by running an obstruction downhole through the tubing string which engages and moves the relief valve to the open position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
4 words
unseating the packer means;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
4 words
unseating the packer means;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
flow connecting the inlet of the tubing string to a source of liquid spotting fluid;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
flow connecting the inlet of the tubing string to a source of liquid spotting fluid;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
increasing the pressure of the liquid spotting fluid within the tubing string to a value which causes spotting fluid to flow through the tubing string, through the regulator flow valve means, through the tubing outlet and into contact with the hydrocarbon producing formation; and
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
increasing the pressure of the liquid spotting fluid within the tubing string to a value which causes spotting fluid to flow through the tubing string, through the regulator flow valve means, through the tubing outlet and into contact with the hydrocarbon producing formation; and
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
forming a fluid flow path at a location above the valve means which communicates the interior of the entire length of tubing string with the well bore;
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
forming a fluid flow path at a location above the valve means which communicates the interior of the entire length of tubing string with the well bore;
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 and further including the step of adjusting the regulator valve means to cause flow to occur only when the pressure within the tubing string exceeds the formation pressure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
setting the packer so as to isolate a lower portion of the borehole which contains the hydrocarbon producing formation from an upper portion of the borehole;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
setting the packer so as to isolate a lower portion of the borehole which contains the hydrocarbon producing formation from an upper portion of the borehole;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
increasing the pressure within the tubing string to a value which exceeds the formation pressure while forcing additional treatment chemical down the tubing string so as to subject the hydrocarbon producing formation to a pressure which exceeds the formation pressure; and,
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
increasing the pressure within the tubing string to a value which exceeds the formation pressure while forcing additional treatment chemical down the tubing string so as to subject the hydrocarbon producing formation to a pressure which exceeds the formation pressure; and,
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
removing the tubing string, packer, and regulator valve from the borehole.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
removing the tubing string, packer, and regulator valve from the borehole.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method of spotting fluid adjacent to a hydrocarbon producing formation located downhole in a borehole comprising the steps of:
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method of spotting fluid adjacent to a hydrocarbon producing formation located downhole in a borehole comprising the steps of:
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
allowing sufficient lapse of time to expire so that the spotting fluid can treat the formation before removing the tubing string from the borehole.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
allowing sufficient lapse of time to expire so that the spotting fluid can treat the formation before removing the tubing string from the borehole.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 6 wherein step (2) is carried out by pumping the spotting fluid through the regulator valve means by utilizing a surface pump to force the fluid to flow through the tubing string and into the borehole when the pressure within the tubing string outlet exceeds the shut-in bottom hole pressure at the outlet thereof.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
forming a flow path between the tubing interior and the borehole at a location above the regulator flow valve means so as to enable dry tubing to be pulled from the well after the formation has been treated.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
38 words
forming a flow path between the tubing interior and the borehole at a location above the regulator flow valve means so as to enable dry tubing to be pulled from the well after the formation has been treated.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
removing the packer, valve means, and tubing string from the well bore after a sufficient time interval so as to enable the treatment chemical to act upon the formation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
removing the packer, valve means, and tubing string from the well bore after a sufficient time interval so as to enable the treatment chemical to act upon the formation.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
forming a flow path which communicates the borehole annulus with the interior of the entire length of tubing string prior to carrying out step (7) so as to enable a dry tubing string to be removed from the well bore.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
40 words
forming a flow path which communicates the borehole annulus with the interior of the entire length of tubing string prior to carrying out step (7) so as to enable a dry tubing string to be removed from the well bore.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
12 words
interposing a relief valve between the regulator valve means and the packer;
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
12 words
interposing a relief valve between the regulator valve means and the packer;
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 6 wherein step (5) is carried out by interposing a relief valve assembly between the packer and the regulator valve means; and, actuating the relief valve means by a mass which is lowered through the tubing string and which forces the relief valve means to move into a bypass configuration.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method of claim 6 wherein step (2) is carried out by pumping the spotting fluid through the regulator valve means by utilizing a surface pump to force the fluid to flow through the tubing string and into the borehole when the pressure within the tubing string outlet exceeds the shut-in bottom hole pressure at the outlet thereof; and step (5) is carried out by interposing a relief valve means between the packer and the regulator valve means; and, actuating the relief valve means by a member which is transported through the string and into contact with the relief valve means so as to move the relief valve means into a bypass configuration.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
37 words
actuating the relief valve prior to carrying out step (7) so as to equalize the difference in the downhole pressure and the tubing string pressure and enable a dry tubing string to be removed from the borehole.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
37 words
actuating the relief valve prior to carrying out step (7) so as to equalize the difference in the downhole pressure and the tubing string pressure and enable a dry tubing string to be removed from the borehole.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the displaced fluid which occurs during step (2) flows up the borehole and across the packer means prior to setting the packer in step (3).
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of spotting fluid within a borehole adjacent to a hydrocarbon producing formation comprising the steps of:
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of spotting fluid within a borehole adjacent to a hydrocarbon producing formation comprising the steps of:
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the portion of the borehole containing the production formation is isolated from the upper portion of the borehole by interposing a packer within the casing annulus at an elevation between the formation and the surface of the ground; and further including the step of setting the packer after part of the spotting fluid has been placed adjacent to the formation, and; forcing additional spotting fluid under the packer so as to increase the pressure of the spotting fluid adjacent the formation to a value which exceeds the formation pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |