Well flow controlling system and apparatus

Claim 3

A method of the character set forth in claim 1, including: the additional step of supporting the flow conductor at said lower position in which the imperforate section thereof is disposed between the seals above and below the producing formation and said seals are effective to seal with the flow conductor to close off flow of well fluids thereinto.

Claim 4

A method of the character set forth in claim 1, including: the step of providing in the lower portion of said flow conductor above the inlet an imperforate section having a plurality of sealing assemblies thereon located with the lower portion of the sealing assemblies disposed engaging the upper seal above the producing formation and said flow conductor is movable to a lower position in which said sealing assemblies are disposed to engage the lower seal below the producing formation while maintaining the upper portion of said sealing assemblies in sealing contact with the seal at the upper end of the imperforate section disposed above the producing formation, and supporting said flow conductor with the sealing assemblies in such lower position in sealing engagement with the seals.

Claim 5

A method of controlling flow from a well of the character set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of supporting the flow conductor in said lower position comprises supporting said flow conductor at its lower end in said lower position by engagement of the lower end of said conductor with the bottom of the bore of the well.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 including: the step of supporting the string of sealing assemblies on the flow conductor in said lower position by a supporting shoulder engaging the upper seal to suspend the sealing assemblies in sealing engagement with the upper and lower seals.

Claim 7

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well in the event of the occurrence of a disaster or hazardous condition which includes: a string of well casing in place in the well having flow communication with the producing formation surrounding the well bore in the lower portion thereof; an upper packer disposed in the casing in sealing enGagement therewith above the communication of the casing with the producing formation; a lower packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith below the communication of the casing with the producing formation and above the bottom of the well; a flow conductor having an inlet near its lower end extending from the surface downwardly to an upper position in which the inlet is below the upper packer; an imperforate sealing section connected as a part of the flow conductor above the inlet and initially sealing between said flow conductor and said upper packer and having a sufficient length to extend between the upper and lower packers when moved to a lower position in the casing to seal between said imperforate sealing section and both said packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; first means for supporting said flow conductor in said upper position, said flow conductor imperforate sealing section being movable downwardly from said upper to said lower position upon said first supporting means becoming ineffective; and second means for supporting the flow conductor in said lower position in which the imperforate sealing section is disposed in sealing engagement with both of the packers in the well.

Claim 8

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well in the event of the occurrence of a disaster or hazardous condition which includes: a string of well casing in place in the well having flow communication with the producing formation surrounding the well bore in the lower portion thereof; an upper packer disposed in the casing in sealing enGagement therewith above the communication of the casing with the producing formation; a lower packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith below the communication of the casing with the producing formation and above the bottom of the well; a flow conductor having an inlet near its lower end extending from the surface downwardly to an upper position in which the inlet is below the upper packer; an imperforate sealing section connected as a part of the flow conductor above the inlet and initially sealing between said flow conductor and said upper packer and having a sufficient length to extend between the upper and lower packers when moved to a lower position in the casing to seal between said imperforate sealing section and both said packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; first means for supporting said flow conductor in said upper position, said flow conductor imperforate sealing section being movable downwardly from said upper to said lower position upon said first supporting means becoming ineffective; and second means for supporting the flow conductor in said lower position in which the imperforate sealing section is disposed in sealing engagement with both of the packers in the well.

Claim 9

Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein: said first supporting means is provided at the surface of the well for supporting the flow conductor in a position in which the lower portion of the imperforate sealing section connected in the flow conductor is as a part of sealing engagement with the upper packer; and said second supporting means becomes effective for supporting the imperforate sealing section in sealing engagement with both the upper and lower packers when the lower portion of said flow conductor is moved downwardly in the well for any reason.

Claim 10

Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein: the second supporting means for supporting the imperforate sealing section in sealing engagement with the upper and lower packers to close off flow from the producing formation into the flow conductor and through the casing to the surface comprises the engagement of the lower end of the flow conductor with the bottom of the well.

Claim 11

Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein a stop member is connected as a part of the flow conductor above the uppermost end of the imperforate sealing section disposed to engage the upper packer to support the sealing section in sealing engagement with the upper and lower packers when the tubing is moved downwardly for any reason, to close off flow from the producing formation through the tubing and casing to the surface.

Claim 12

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well having a string of well casing in place in the well having flow communication with a producing formation surrounding the well bore, which includes: a well flow conductor disposed in said casing and having flow inlet means providing flow communiation with said producing formation; a well packer disposed in said well above the communication of said casing and flow conductor with said producing formation; means for sealing between said packer and said casing; means sealing between said packer and said flow conductor to close the annulus between said flow conductor and said packer against fluid flow therethrough; means for closing off flow from the producing formation through said flow conductor to the well surface upon downward movement of at least a portion of said flow conductor extending through said packer from an upper position to a lower position in the well; and support means for initially supporting said portion of said flow conductor in said upper position in which said flow inlet means is open to permit fluid flow from the producing formation through said inlet means and said flow conductor to the surface, failure of said conductor above said packer or of said support means permitting downward movement of said portion of said flOw conductor therebelow in sealing engagement with respect to said packer from said upper supported position to said lower position closing off fluid flow from the producing formation.

Claim 13

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well having a string of well casing in place in the well having flow communication with a producing formation surrounding the well bore, which includes: a well flow conductor disposed in said casing and having flow inlet means providing flow communiation with said producing formation; a well packer disposed in said well above the communication of said casing and flow conductor with said producing formation; means for sealing between said packer and said casing; means sealing between said packer and said flow conductor to close the annulus between said flow conductor and said packer against fluid flow therethrough; means for closing off flow from the producing formation through said flow conductor to the well surface upon downward movement of at least a portion of said flow conductor extending through said packer from an upper position to a lower position in the well; and support means for initially supporting said portion of said flow conductor in said upper position in which said flow inlet means is open to permit fluid flow from the producing formation through said inlet means and said flow conductor to the surface, failure of said conductor above said packer or of said support means permitting downward movement of said portion of said flOw conductor therebelow in sealing engagement with respect to said packer from said upper supported position to said lower position closing off fluid flow from the producing formation.

Claim 14

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well having a string of well casing in place therein having flow communication with the producing formation surrounding the well bore, which includes: a well flow conductor disposed in said casing and having flow inlet means providing flow communication with said producing formation; a first well packer disposed in said well above the communication of said casing and flow conductor with the producing formation, said packer being in sealing engagement with said casing and said flow conductor to close the annulus therebetween against fluid flow upwardly therethrough; a second well packer disposed in said well below the communication of the casing with said producing formation; coengageable means on said first and second packer and said flow conductor for closing off flow from said producing formation to said flow inlet means of said flow conductor upon downward movement of at least a portion of said conductor from a first upper position in engagement with said first packer to a second lower position in engagement with both said first and second packers; first retaining support means for supporting said portion of said flow conductor in said first upper position for holding said flow inlet means open to permit fluid flow from the producing formation through said inlet means and said flow conductor to the surface, said first retaining support means being operable to permit downward movement of said portion of said flow conductor to said second lower position to engage both said packers to close said flow inlet means to close off fluid flow from the producing formation; and second support means for supporting said portion of said flow conductor in said second lower position.

Claim 15

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well having a string of well casing in place therein having flow communication with the producing formation surrounding the well bore, which includes: a well flow conductor disposed in said casing and having flow inlet means providing flow communication with said producing formation; a first well packer disposed in said well above the communication of said casing and flow conductor with the producing formation, said packer being in sealing engagement with said casing and said flow conductor to close the annulus therebetween against fluid flow upwardly therethrough; a second well packer disposed in said well below the communication of the casing with said producing formation; coengageable means on said first and second packer and said flow conductor for closing off flow from said producing formation to said flow inlet means of said flow conductor upon downward movement of at least a portion of said conductor from a first upper position in engagement with said first packer to a second lower position in engagement with both said first and second packers; first retaining support means for supporting said portion of said flow conductor in said first upper position for holding said flow inlet means open to permit fluid flow from the producing formation through said inlet means and said flow conductor to the surface, said first retaining support means being operable to permit downward movement of said portion of said flow conductor to said second lower position to engage both said packers to close said flow inlet means to close off fluid flow from the producing formation; and second support means for supporting said portion of said flow conductor in said second lower position.

Claim 16

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluid from a well having a string of well casing in place therein in flow communication with the producing formation, of the character set forth in claim 11, which includes: valve means on said first well packer movable to close off flow through said first packer from the well producing formation in the event said at least a portion of said well flow conductor moving downwardly through said packer from said first upper position moves completely through said first packer to a position below said first packer.

Claim 17

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well in the event of the occurrence of a disaster or hazardous condition which includes: a string of well casing in place in the well having flow communication with a producing formation surrounding the well bore; an upper packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith above the communication of the casing with the producing formation; a lower packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith below the communication of the casing with the producing formation and above the bottom of the well; a well flow conductor extending from the surface downwardly to a point below the upper packer and having an inlet adjacent its lower end; an imperforate sealing section connected as a part of the flow conductor above said inlet and having a sufficient length to extend between the upper and lower packers when moved to a position in the casing in which said imperforate sealing section is disposed in sealing engagement with both the packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; first support means for initially supporting the flow conductor in a first position in which the lower portion of said imperforate sealing section thereof is in sealing engagement with only the upper packer and said inlet is in communication with said producing formation, said flow conductor being movable downwardly to said position in which said imperforate sealing section is in sealing engagement with both of Said packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through said inlet into said flow conductor when said first support means is rendered ineffective to support said imperforate sealing section in said first position; and second support means for supporting the imperforate sealing section of said flow conductor in said last mentioned position in sealing engagement with both said packers and said inlet below said lower packer.

Claim 18

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well in the event of the occurrence of a disaster or hazardous condition which includes: a string of well casing in place in the well having flow communication with a producing formation surrounding the well bore; an upper packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith above the communication of the casing with the producing formation; a lower packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith below the communication of the casing with the producing formation and above the bottom of the well; a well flow conductor extending from the surface downwardly to a point below the upper packer and having an inlet adjacent its lower end; an imperforate sealing section connected as a part of the flow conductor above said inlet and having a sufficient length to extend between the upper and lower packers when moved to a position in the casing in which said imperforate sealing section is disposed in sealing engagement with both the packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; first support means for initially supporting the flow conductor in a first position in which the lower portion of said imperforate sealing section thereof is in sealing engagement with only the upper packer and said inlet is in communication with said producing formation, said flow conductor being movable downwardly to said position in which said imperforate sealing section is in sealing engagement with both of Said packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through said inlet into said flow conductor when said first support means is rendered ineffective to support said imperforate sealing section in said first position; and second support means for supporting the imperforate sealing section of said flow conductor in said last mentioned position in sealing engagement with both said packers and said inlet below said lower packer.

Claim 19

Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 13 wherein: the means for supporting the imperforate sealing section in sealing engagement with the upper and lower packers to close off flow from the producing formation into the inlet of the flow conductor comprises the engagement of the lower end of the flow conductor with the bottom of the well.

Claim 20

Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 13 wherein a stop member is connected as a part of the flow conductor above the uppermost end of the imperforate sealing section disposed to engage the upper packer to support the sealing section in sealing engagement with the upper and lower packers when the tubing is moved downwardly for any reason, to close off flow from the producing formation into the inlet of said flow conductor.

Claim 23

A method of controlling flow of well fluids from a well in the event of a disaster or the occurrence of a hazardous condition, of the character set forth in claim 16, including: closing the bore of the seal in the base of the well above the producing formation and above the upper end of said portion of said flow conductor which moved downwardly to close off flow of well fluids from the producing formation upwardly through the conductor or the well bore to the surface.