Method of completing a well using a completion and kill valve

Claim 2

A process for completing a single production zone in a well having a set well casing and production tubing inner bore filled with heavy drilling fluid by displacing the heavy drilling fluid from the production tubing inner Bore through a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the production tubing above a packer with a lighter density fluid comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the production string; b. seating the plug in the sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the production tubing inner bore above the plug for opening the sleeve valve; e. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well casing; f. substantially filling the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug with the lighter density fluid; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug for closing the sleeve valve; h. removing the plug from the sleeve valve wherein the well is completed.

Claim 3

A process for completing two production zones in a well having a set well casing, an upper zone and a lower zone production tubing having inner bores filled with heavy drilling fluid by displacing the heavy drilling fluid from the upper zone and lower zone production tubing inner bores with a lighter density fluid through the use of a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the lower zone production tubing above a packer separating the production zones comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the lower zone production string; b. seating the plug in the sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the lower zone production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the lower zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for opening the sleeve valve; e. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well through the upper zone production tubing inner bore; f. substantially filling the upper zone production tubing inner bore with lighter density fluid from the lower zone production tubing inner bore; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the inner bore of the lower zone production tubing above the plug for closing the sleeve valves; and h. removing the plug from the sleeve valve wherein both zones of the well are completed.

Claim 4

A process for completing two production zones in a well having a set well casing, an upper zone and a lower zone production tubing having inner bores filled with heavy drilling fluid by displacing the heavy drilling fluid from the upper zone and lower zone production tubing inner bores with a lighter density fluid through the use of a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the lower zone production tubing above a packer separating the production zones comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the lower zone production string; b. seating the plug in the sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the lower zone production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the lower zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for opening the sleeve valve; e. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well through the upper zone production tubing inner bore; f. substantially filling the upper zone production tubing inner bore with lighter density fluid from the lower zone production tubing inner bore; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the inner bore of the lower zone production tubing above the plug for closing the sleeve valves; and h. removing the plug from the sleeve valve wherein both zones of the well are completed.

Claim 5

A process for completing three production zones in a well having a set well casing, an upper, a middle and a lower production zone tubing inner bore filled with heavy drilling fluid by displacing the heavy drilling fluid with a lighter density fluid from the production tubing inner bores through the use of a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the lower zone production tubing above a packer separating the lower zone and the middle zone and a second pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the middle zone production tubing above a packer separating the lower zone and the middle zone comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the lower zone production string; b. seating the plug in the lower zone production string sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the lower zone production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the lower zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for opening the sleeve valve located in the lower zone production tubing; e. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well through the middle zone production tubing inner bore; f. partially filling the middle zone production tubing inner bore above the middle zone production tubing sleeve valve with lighter density fluid from the lower zone production tubing inner bore; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the lower zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for closing the sleeve valve in the lower zone production tubing; h. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the middle zone production string; i. seating the plug in the middle zone production string sleeve valve; j. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of thE middle zone production tubing above the plug; k. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the middle zone production tubing above the plug for opening the sleeve valve; l. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well through the upper zone production tubing inner bore; m. substantially filling the upper zone production tubing inner bore with lighter density fluid from the middle zone production tubing inner bore; n. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the middle zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for closing the valve; and o. removing the plugs from the middle zone and lower zone production tubing inner bores wherein the well is completed.

Claim 6

A process for completing three production zones in a well having a set well casing, an upper, a middle and a lower production zone tubing inner bore filled with heavy drilling fluid by displacing the heavy drilling fluid with a lighter density fluid from the production tubing inner bores through the use of a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the lower zone production tubing above a packer separating the lower zone and the middle zone and a second pressure responsive sleeve valve located in the middle zone production tubing above a packer separating the lower zone and the middle zone comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the lower zone production string; b. seating the plug in the lower zone production string sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the lower zone production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the lower zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for opening the sleeve valve located in the lower zone production tubing; e. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well through the middle zone production tubing inner bore; f. partially filling the middle zone production tubing inner bore above the middle zone production tubing sleeve valve with lighter density fluid from the lower zone production tubing inner bore; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the lower zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for closing the sleeve valve in the lower zone production tubing; h. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the middle zone production string; i. seating the plug in the middle zone production string sleeve valve; j. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of thE middle zone production tubing above the plug; k. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the middle zone production tubing above the plug for opening the sleeve valve; l. removing the displaced heavier drilling fluid from the well through the upper zone production tubing inner bore; m. substantially filling the upper zone production tubing inner bore with lighter density fluid from the middle zone production tubing inner bore; n. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the middle zone production tubing inner bore above the plug for closing the valve; and o. removing the plugs from the middle zone and lower zone production tubing inner bores wherein the well is completed.

Claim 7

A process for recompleting a production zone of a well previously killed by locking open a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in a production tubing above a packer and back circulating heavy fluid down a well casing, through the locked open sleeve valve to fill the production tubing inner bore by displacing the heavy fluid in the production tubing inner bore with a lighter density fluid and unlocking the locked open sleeve valve permitting it to close comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the production string; b. seating the plug in the sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the production tubing inner bore above the plug for unlocking the valve and maintaining the valve open; e. removing the displaced heavier fluid from the well casing; f. substantially filling the inner bore of the production tubing with the lighter density fluid; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug for closing the valve; and h. removing the plug from the sleeve wherein the well is recompleted.

Claim 8

A process for recompleting a production zone of a well previously killed by locking open a pressure responsive sleeve valve located in a production tubing above a packer and back circulating heavy fluid down a well casing, through the locked open sleeve valve to fill the production tubing inner bore by displacing the heavy fluid in the production tubing inner bore with a lighter density fluid and unlocking the locked open sleeve valve permitting it to close comprising: a. lowering a plug down the inner bore of the production string; b. seating the plug in the sleeve valve; c. injecting a lighter density fluid into the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug; d. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the production tubing inner bore above the plug for unlocking the valve and maintaining the valve open; e. removing the displaced heavier fluid from the well casing; f. substantially filling the inner bore of the production tubing with the lighter density fluid; g. decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the inner bore of the production tubing above the plug for closing the valve; and h. removing the plug from the sleeve wherein the well is recompleted.

Claim 9

A process of completing a well by displacing a heavy fluid within a bore of a production tubing with a lighter fluid using a controllable valve mounted with the production tubing for forming a flow enabling circulation channel through the production tubing, including the steps of: a. positioning a plug in the bore of the production tubing; b. controlling the application to the valve of fluid pressure in the bore of the production tubing with the plug to establish the circulation channel for communicating through the production tubing; and c. injecting the lighter fluid into the well to displace the heavy fluid with the lighter fluid wherein the well is completed.

Claim 10

A process of completing a well by displacing a heavy fluid within a bore of a production tubing with a lighter fluid using a controllable valve mounted with the production tubing for forming a flow enabling circulation channel through the production tubing, including the steps of: a. positioning a plug in the bore of the production tubing; b. controlling the application to the valve of fluid pressure in the bore of the production tubing with the plug to establish the circulation channel for communicating through the production tubing; and c. injecting the lighter fluid into the well to displace the heavy fluid with the lighter fluid wherein the well is completed.

Claim 11

The invention as set forth in claim 5, including the step of: removing the displaced heavier fluid from the bore of the production tubing through the circulation channel to complete the well.

Claim 12

The method as set forth in claim 5, including the step of: substantially filling the bore of the production tubing with the lighter fluid to complete the well.

Claim 13

The method as set forth in claim 5, including the step of: decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the bore of the production tubing after injecting the lighter fluid for closing the circulation channel wherein the well is completed.

Claim 14

The method as set forth in claim 5, including the step of: injecting the lighter fluid into the bore of the production tubing to displace the heavier fluid.

Claim 15

The method as set forth in claim 5, including the step of: locking open the circulation channel to enable communication through the production tubing when the controlled fluid pressure is reduced.

Claim 16

The method as set forth in claim 10, including the step of: injecting the lighter fluid into the bore of the production tubing through the circulation channel wherein the well is completed.

Claim 17

The method as set forth in claim 11, including the step of: flowing the lighter fluid through a well casing to a location adjacent the circulation channel for injecting into the bore of the production tubing through the circulation channel.

Claim 18

The method as set forth in claim 11, including the step of: flowing the lighter fluid through a bore of a second production tubing positioned in the well to a location adjacent the circulation channel for injecting into the bore of the production tubing through the circulation channel.

Claim 19

The method as set forth in claim 10, including the step of: unlocking the circulation channel to thereafter block communication through the circulation channel when the controlled fluid pressure is reduced.

Claim 20

A process for completing a well having a production tubing with a bore filled with heavy fluid by displacing the heavy fluid from the production tubing bore with a lighter density fluid by using a pressure responsive valve connected in the production tubing above a packer for providing a circulation flow channel through the production tubing when fluid pressure is applied in a controlled manner to the valve comprising: a. seating a plug in the valve by lowering the plug down the bore of the production string to control the application of fluid pressure to the valve. b. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the production tubing bore above the plug for controlled application to the valve for opening the valve to provide the circulation flow channel; c. displacing substantially the heavier fluid from the bore of the production tubing with the lighter fluid; and d. removing the plug from the valve wherein the well is completed.

Claim 21

A process for completing a well having a production tubing with a bore filled with heavy fluid by displacing the heavy fluid from the production tubing bore with a lighter density fluid by using a pressure responsive valve connected in the production tubing above a packer for providing a circulation flow channel through the production tubing when fluid pressure is applied in a controlled manner to the valve comprising: a. seating a plug in the valve by lowering the plug down the bore of the production string to control the application of fluid pressure to the valve. b. increasing the pressure of the fluid in the production tubing bore above the plug for controlled application to the valve for opening the valve to provide the circulation flow channel; c. displacing substantially the heavier fluid from the bore of the production tubing with the lighter fluid; and d. removing the plug from the valve wherein the well is completed.

Claim 22

The method as set forth in claim 15, including the step of: removing the displaced heavier fluid from the bore of the production tubing by flowing through the circulation channel provided by the valve to complete the well.

Claim 23

The method as set forth in claim 15, including the step of: substantially filling the bore of the production tubing with the lighter fluid to complete the well.

Claim 24

The method as set forth in claim 15, including the step of: decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the bore of the production tubing after injecting the lighter fluid for closing the valve to block flow through the circulation channel wherein the well is completed.

Claim 25

The method as set forth in claim 15, including the step of: injecting the lighter fluid into the bore of the production tubing to displace the heavier fluid.

Claim 26

The method as set forth in claim 15, including the step of: locking the valve in the open condition providing the circulation channel by applying controlled fluid pressure to the valve to enable communication through the production tubing when the controlled fluid pressure is reduced.

Claim 27

The method as set forth in claim 15, including the step of: injecting the lighter fluid into the bore of the production tubing through the circulation channel wherein the well is completed.

Claim 28

The method as set forth in claim 21, including the step of: flowing the lighter fluid through a well casing to a location adjacent the valve for injecting into the bore of the production tubing through the circulation channel.

Claim 29

The method as set forth in claim 21, including the step of: flowing the lighter fluid through a bore of a second production tubing positioned in the well to a location adjacent the valve for injecting into the bore of the first production tubing through the circulation channel.

Claim 30

The method as set forth in claim 20, including the step of: unlocking the valve by applying controlled fluid pressure to the valve to thereafter block communication through the circulation channel when the applied controlled fluid pressure is reduced.