US3765484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for treating selected reservoir portions
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-02
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-06-02
Abstract
Abstract Selected portions of a subterranean reservoir are treated by seating a packer that forms a slideable seal above a perforated section of well casing and repetitively sealing and moving a depth-straddling sealing device to isolate and treat perforations that open into individual portions of the reservoir, while maintaining the slideable seal and a borehole fluid pressure that substantially equals the formation fluid pressure during the movement of the depth-straddling sealing devices.
Inventors
- 👤 T Hamby
- 👤 L Broussard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:41
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/13; E21B33/138; E21B33/12; E21B33/124; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A process for selectively treating selected individual perforations and adjoining portions of a reservoir interval adjacent to a cased and perforated section of a well borehole comprising: inserting into the well casing a tubing string containing a remotely actuatable sealing means for forming a slideable mechanical seal between the tubing and the casing and a pair of remotely actuatable sealing means for forming depth-straddling mechanical seals between the tubing and the casing; locating open perforations by forming said depth-straddling seals at various depths and adjusting the pressure to induce fluid flow between the borehole and the reservoir when a perforation is open at a straddled depth; isolating the perforated section of casing from fluid in the upper portion of the casing by forming the slideable mechanical seal above the perforated section; treating a selected portion of the reservoir by positioning said tubing string to the extent required, forming said depthstraddling seals in a position that isolates at least one open perforation that opens into the selected portion of the reservoir, and injecting fluid through the straddled perforation; and treating at least one other selected portion of the reservoir by moving the tubing string, reforming said depth-straddling seals and injecting fluid through the straddled perforation, while maintaining said slideable mechanical seal and maintaining a fluid pressure within the perforated section of casing that substantially equals the reservoir pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A process for selectively treating selected individual perforations and adjoining portions of a reservoir interval adjacent to a cased and perforated section of a well borehole comprising: inserting into the well casing a tubing string containing a remotely actuatable sealing means for forming a slideable mechanical seal between the tubing and the casing and a pair of remotely actuatable sealing means for forming depth-straddling mechanical seals between the tubing and the casing; locating open perforations by forming said depth-straddling seals at various depths and adjusting the pressure to induce fluid flow between the borehole and the reservoir when a perforation is open at a straddled depth; isolating the perforated section of casing from fluid in the upper portion of the casing by forming the slideable mechanical seal above the perforated section; treating a selected portion of the reservoir by positioning said tubing string to the extent required, forming said depthstraddling seals in a position that isolates at least one open perforation that opens into the selected portion of the reservoir, and injecting fluid through the straddled perforation; and treating at least one other selected portion of the reservoir by moving the tubing string, reforming said depth-straddling seals and injecting fluid through the straddled perforation, while maintaining said slideable mechanical seal and maintaining a fluid pressure within the perforated section of casing that substantially equals the reservoir pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
The process of claim 1 including the steps of: filling said tubing string with a series of measured volume slugs of fluid arranged to position the fluid to be injected into each of a series of selected individual portions of the reservoir in the sequence in which said portions are to be treated; positioning said tubing string so that said depth-straddling seals isolate at least one open perforation opening into the first of said series of portions of the reservoir; displacing sufficient fluid into the upper end of said tubing string to displace into the reservoir the fluid to be injected into that portion of the reservoir; and subsequently moving said tubing string to position said depth-straddling seals for isolating at least one other open perforation opening into at least one other portion of the reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 2 in which said sequence of slugs of fluid include different kinds of fluids for injection into different portions of the reservoir interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 in which at least one of said depth-straddling mechanical seals are formed along a vertical interval having a length substantially equalling the length of the perforated section of the casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 1 including the steps of: providing a separate internal conduit within said tubing string; and after said slideable mechanical seal has been formed, circulating a selected fluid into the perforated section by means of a fluid inflow and outflow through, respectively, said tubing string and internal conduit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for selectively treating selected individual portions of a reservoir adjoining a cased and perforated section of a well borehole, which comprises: tubing string means inclusive of remotely actuatable sealing means for forming a slideable mechanical seal between the tubing and the casing and a pair of remotely actuatable sealing means for forming depth-straddling mechanical seals between the tubing and the casing; means for moving said tubing string within the borehole of the well and actuating sealing by said depth-straddling sealing means at selected depths within the well; means for adjusting the fluid pressure within the borehole at depths straddled by said depth-straddling seals; means for detecting a flow of fluid resulting from said fluid pressure adjustments; and means for displacing fluid through said tubing string and into the borehole at a depth straddled by said depth-straddling seals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for selectively treating selected individual portions of a reservoir adjoining a cased and perforated section of a well borehole, which comprises: tubing string means inclusive of remotely actuatable sealing means for forming a slideable mechanical seal between the tubing and the casing and a pair of remotely actuatable sealing means for forming depth-straddling mechanical seals between the tubing and the casing; means for moving said tubing string within the borehole of the well and actuating sealing by said depth-straddling sealing means at selected depths within the well; means for adjusting the fluid pressure within the borehole at depths straddled by said depth-straddling seals; means for detecting a flow of fluid resulting from said fluid pressure adjustments; and means for displacing fluid through said tubing string and into the borehole at a depth straddled by said depth-straddling seals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said sealing means and means for moving the tubing string and actuating the seals are arranged for moving the string and repetitively actuating the depth-straddling seals while maintaining said slideable mechanical seal at a location near but above the perforated section of the casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which at least one of said depth-straddling sealing means is adapted to form a seal extending along a vertical interval substantially equalling the length of the perforated section of casing.
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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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |