US3871456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of treating wells
Assignee: Otis Engineering Corp
•
Filing: 1973-03-23
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Granted: 1975-03-18
•
Expires: 1993-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for treating wells to provide surface controlled subsurface safety systems in the wells, whether previously completed wells or newly completed wells. A method and apparatus is provided for installing receptacles in the well flow conductors below the surface for receiving surface controlled subsurface safety valves therein for controlling undesired flow from the well in the event of emergency, disaster or accident damaging the well surface flow controlling system or threatening the integrity thereof. Also, a method and apparatus is provided for installing a hanger for well flow conductors in the well casing below the surface for supporting the flow conductor or conductors in the well casing below the surface and then installing the receptacles in the well flow conductors below the surface for receiving surface controlled subsurface safety valves therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip S Sizer
- 👤 Carter R Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:32
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B29/00; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/04; E21B33/047; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/10; E21B34/14; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/10; E21B43/14; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of treating a well having a producing flow conductor in place therein to provide a surface controlled subsurface safety valve in said flow conductor for controlling flow through said conductor which includes: plugging the producing flow conductor at a predetermined point below the surface to close off flow from the well therethrough; selecting a desired location in the flow conductor below the surface for parting the flow conductor; parting the flow conductor at such location; removing the parted upper portion of the conductor from the well; inserting a replacement upper flow conductor portion having a surface controlled normally closed subsurface safety valve therein in the well in flow communication with the portion of the original flow conductor left in place in the well below the point of parting for controlling flow through said original flow conductor and through said replacement portion; unplugging the flow conductor below the safety valve; and controlling operation of said surface controlled subsurface safety valve from the surface in response to predetermined undesired conditions in the well or at the surface to close off flow through the flow conductor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of treating a well having a producing flow conductor in place therein to provide a surface controlled subsurface safety valve in said flow conductor for controlling flow through said conductor which includes: plugging the producing flow conductor at a predetermined point below the surface to close off flow from the well therethrough; selecting a desired location in the flow conductor below the surface for parting the flow conductor; parting the flow conductor at such location; removing the parted upper portion of the conductor from the well; inserting a replacement upper flow conductor portion having a surface controlled normally closed subsurface safety valve therein in the well in flow communication with the portion of the original flow conductor left in place in the well below the point of parting for controlling flow through said original flow conductor and through said replacement portion; unplugging the flow conductor below the safety valve; and controlling operation of said surface controlled subsurface safety valve from the surface in response to predetermined undesired conditions in the well or at the surface to close off flow through the flow conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of removing and reinserting said subsurface safety valve by means of said replacement upper flow conductor portion for servicing said safety valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of removing and replacing said subsurface safety valve through said replacement upper flow conductor portion without removing said replacement upper flow conductor portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of supporting the lower original portion of the flow conductor left in place in the well while said replacement upper flow conductor portion is removed from the well.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of treating a well having a production flow conductor in place therein to provide a surface controlled subsurface safety valve for controlling flow through said production flow conductor which includes: closing said production flow conductor below the surface to close against flow of well fluids from the well therethrough; parting said production flow conductor at a selected level below the surface and above said point of closing off flow therethrough; removing the parted upper portion of the production flow conductor from the well; installing in the well a replacement upper flow conductor portion having a surface controlled safety valve therein in flow communication with the production flow conductor portion left in place in the well for controlling flow of well fluids from the well through said production and replacement upper flow conductor portions; opening said production flow conductor below the safety valve; then controlling flow of well fluids through the production flow conductor by controlling operation of the safety valve.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of treating a well having a production flow conductor in place therein to provide a surface controlled subsurface safety valve for controlling flow through said production flow conductor which includes: closing said production flow conductor below the surface to close against flow of well fluids from the well therethrough; parting said production flow conductor at a selected level below the surface and above said point of closing off flow therethrough; removing the parted upper portion of the production flow conductor from the well; installing in the well a replacement upper flow conductor portion having a surface controlled safety valve therein in flow communication with the production flow conductor portion left in place in the well for controlling flow of well fluids from the well through said production and replacement upper flow conductor portions; opening said production flow conductor below the safety valve; then controlling flow of well fluids through the production flow conductor by controlling operation of the safety valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the safety valve is controlled from the surface in response to predetermined conditions sensed in or at selected portions of the well installation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5 with the additional steps of disconnecting said replacement upper flow conductor with the safety valve therein from the portion of said production flow conductor left in the well for removal of said safety valve from the well for servicing the same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 including the additional step of removing and replacing said subsurface safety valve through said replacement upper flow conductor portion without removing said replacement upper flow conductor portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of claim 5 including the steps of parting the flow conductor at a selected threaded joint therein by loosening said threaded joint for unscrewing by detonating an explosive adjacent said selected threaded joint while applying a torque in one direction below said threaded joint and a torque in the opposite direction above said threaded joint to loosen said selected threaded joint; then rotating the flow conductor above said loosened threaded joint to disconnect said flow conductor above said selected threaded joint from the flow conductor therebelow to part said flow conductor at said selected threaded joint before removing the parted portion above the selected threaded joint from the well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 5 including the step of supporting said production flow conductor on the well casing at a selected point below the surface and then parting said production flow conductor at a point above said selected point of support to free the upper portion of said production flow conductor above the point of parting for removal from the well, leaving the portion left in place in the well therebelow supported on the casing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the portion of the production flow conductor left in place in the well is supported adjacent its upper end on the uppper portion of the well casing below the surface of the well.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the production flow conductor is parted by unscrewing said flow conductor at a selected threaded joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said selected threaded joint is loosened for unscrewing by detonating an explosive at a level adjacent said selected threaded joint to jar and loosen the thread of said selected threaded joint; then rotating the production flow conductor above said joint to disconnect the same so that the upper portion of the production flow conductor is detached from the lower portion for removal from the well.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 including the additional step of removing and reinserting said subsurface safety valve by means of said replacement upper flow conductor portion for servicing said safety valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 including the step of supporting the lower original portion of the flow conductor left in place in the well while said replacement upper flow conductor portion is removed from the well.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the productIon flow conductor is parted by severing the same by cutting the conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the production flow conductor is cut by mechanical cutting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the production flow conductor is cut by a chemical type cutter.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of treating a cased well having a production flow conductor in place therein to provide a surface controlled subsurface safety valve in the well below the surface thereof for controlling flow through said production flow conductor which includes: plugging said production flow conductor to close off flow from the well therethrough; supporting the flow conductor in the casing at a selected subsurface level; parting said production flow conductor above said selected subsurface level; removing the upper parted portion of the production flow conductor above the point of parting from the well; inserting a replacement upper flow conductor portion having a surface controlled safety valve therein in the well and connecting the same in flow communication with the upper end of the portion of said production flow conductor left in the well; unplugging said production flow conductor; then controlling flow of well fluids through the conductor to the surface by operation of said safety valve.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of treating a cased well having a production flow conductor in place therein to provide a surface controlled subsurface safety valve in the well below the surface thereof for controlling flow through said production flow conductor which includes: plugging said production flow conductor to close off flow from the well therethrough; supporting the flow conductor in the casing at a selected subsurface level; parting said production flow conductor above said selected subsurface level; removing the upper parted portion of the production flow conductor above the point of parting from the well; inserting a replacement upper flow conductor portion having a surface controlled safety valve therein in the well and connecting the same in flow communication with the upper end of the portion of said production flow conductor left in the well; unplugging said production flow conductor; then controlling flow of well fluids through the conductor to the surface by operation of said safety valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 19 including the further steps of providing a guide from the surface to the portion of the production flow conductor left in the well for guiding the replacement upper portion and the safety valve connected therein into position to be connected in flow communication with the portion of the flow conductor left in the well; and removing said guide after said replacement upper flow conductor has been connected in flow communication with said portion of said production flow conductor left in the well and prior to unplugging said production flow conductor.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of treating a well having a plurality of production flow conductors therein to provide each such conductor with a surface controlled subsurface safety valve in the well below the surface thereof for controlling fluid flow through each respective production flow conductor which includes: closing off flow through each of said production flow conductors at a selected point below the surface; parting each of said production flow conductors at a selected level below the surface and above the point at which flow therethrough is closed off; removing the parted upper portion of each flow conductor from the well; installing in the well separate replacement upper flow conductor portions having surface controlled subsurface safety valves therein each connected in flow communication with one of the production flow conductors left in place in the well for controlling fluid flow through said flow conductors; opening each of said production flow conductors at said point of closure to permit flow of fluids from the well through said conductor; then controlling fluid flow from the well through each of said flow conductors by operation of the safety valve in the replacement upper flow conductor portion thereof.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of treating a well having a plurality of production flow conductors therein to provide each such conductor with a surface controlled subsurface safety valve in the well below the surface thereof for controlling fluid flow through each respective production flow conductor which includes: closing off flow through each of said production flow conductors at a selected point below the surface; parting each of said production flow conductors at a selected level below the surface and above the point at which flow therethrough is closed off; removing the parted upper portion of each flow conductor from the well; installing in the well separate replacement upper flow conductor portions having surface controlled subsurface safety valves therein each connected in flow communication with one of the production flow conductors left in place in the well for controlling fluid flow through said flow conductors; opening each of said production flow conductors at said point of closure to permit flow of fluids from the well through said conductor; then controlling fluid flow from the well through each of said flow conductors by operation of the safety valve in the replacement upper flow conductor portion thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 including the additional step of removing and reinserting said subsurface safety valve by means of replacement upper flow conductor portion for servicing said safety valve.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 21 including the additional step of removing and replacing said subsurface safety valve through said replacement upper flow conductor portion without removing said replacement upper flow conductor portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 22 including the step of supporting the lower original portion of the flow conductor left in place in the well while said replacement upper flow conductor portion is removed from the well.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 21 including the step of supporting each of said flow conductors on the well casing at a selected point below the surface and then parting each of said flow conductors at a point above said selected point of support to free the upper portion of said fLow conductor above the point of parting for removal from the well, leaving the portion left in place in the well therebelow supported on the casing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the flow conductors left in place in the well are supported adjacent their upper ends on the upper portion of the well casing below the surface of the well.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 21 including the step of providing a guide from the surface to each separate flow conductor portion left in place in the well for directing the respective separate replacement upper flow conductor portions into flow communication with a predetermined selected one of said flow conductor portions left in place in the well.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 27 including the additional step of removing the guide for each of said flow conductor portions from the well after said replacement upper flow conductor portion has been connected in flow communication with the predetermined selected one of said flow conductors left in place in the well.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the guide is removed from each of said flow conductors prior to opening said flow conductor below the safety valve to flow of well fluids therethrough.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
281 words
The method of producing well fluids from a well having a plurality of vertically spaced subsurface earth producing zones penetrated by the well bore, and having a plurality of production tubing strings extending into the well bore and means isolating said zones from each other in the well bore with the tubing strings each communicating with a separate one of the respective earth zones, hanging said tubing strings from a hanger assembly in the well bore below the earth surface for supporting the upper ends of said tubing strings therebelow in said well bore, parting the tubing strings at a point below the surface of the well and above and in upwardly spaced relation to the tubing hanger assembly above the upper earth producing zone in the well bore, removing the upper portions of the tubing strings above the part from the well, connecting receptacle members to the upper end of each lower tubing string above the tubing hanger assembly, running into the well above the receptacle members a plurality of safety valves supported upon an upper plurality of tubing strings and landing said safety valve assemblies in said receptacle members in a position communicating each of said upper tubing strings with a separate lower tubing string and a separate producing zone in the well, operating said safety valve assemblies to control flow from said earth zones through said separate tubing strings, and supplying control fluid pressure from the surface to said safety valve assemblies to allow flow of fluid from the earth zones through the tubing strings and relieving the control fluid pressure from the safety valve assemblies to shut off flow from the earth zone through the tubing strings.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
281 words
The method of producing well fluids from a well having a plurality of vertically spaced subsurface earth producing zones penetrated by the well bore, and having a plurality of production tubing strings extending into the well bore and means isolating said zones from each other in the well bore with the tubing strings each communicating with a separate one of the respective earth zones, hanging said tubing strings from a hanger assembly in the well bore below the earth surface for supporting the upper ends of said tubing strings therebelow in said well bore, parting the tubing strings at a point below the surface of the well and above and in upwardly spaced relation to the tubing hanger assembly above the upper earth producing zone in the well bore, removing the upper portions of the tubing strings above the part from the well, connecting receptacle members to the upper end of each lower tubing string above the tubing hanger assembly, running into the well above the receptacle members a plurality of safety valves supported upon an upper plurality of tubing strings and landing said safety valve assemblies in said receptacle members in a position communicating each of said upper tubing strings with a separate lower tubing string and a separate producing zone in the well, operating said safety valve assemblies to control flow from said earth zones through said separate tubing strings, and supplying control fluid pressure from the surface to said safety valve assemblies to allow flow of fluid from the earth zones through the tubing strings and relieving the control fluid pressure from the safety valve assemblies to shut off flow from the earth zone through the tubing strings.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 30, including running a shifting tool into the well through one of said upper tubing strings and operating said safety valve means to establish flow through said tubing strings from one of said earth zones, running into said safety valve assembly through the upper tubing string of said last-mentioned tubing strings an auxiliary safety valve assembly to normally shut off flow through said last-mentioned tubing strings, and applying said control fluid pressure to said auxiliary safety valve assembly to establish flow through said last-mentioned tubing strings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |