Method and apparatus for controlling flow from wells

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids from a well having a string of well casing in place in the well, said casing 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 communication with said producing formation and having at least a portion movable longitudinally in said well; a well packer disposed in said well above the communication of said casing and said flow conductor with said producing formation; means for sealing between said packer and said casing and said flow conductor to close the annulus therebetween against fluid flow therethrough; means for isolating said flow inlet means of said flow conductor from flow from said producing formation below said packer upon downward movement of said movable portion of said flow conductor from an upper position to a lower position in the well; said flow conductor movable portion being provided with a port positioned above said well packer when said movable portion of said flow conductor is in said upper position for flow into said casing above said packer and said port is sealed when said movable portion of said flow conductor is in said lower position; support means for supporting said movable portion of said flow conductor in said upper position in which said flow inlet means is open to permit fluid flow from said producing formation through said inlets means and to the surface in said well, said support means being operable between supporting and release conditions to permit controlled downward movement of said movable portion of said flow conductor to said lower position to close said flow inlet means to close off fluid flow from said producing formation.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support means comprises fluid pressure responsive means; and means for supplying control fluid through said flow conductor to said support means.

Claim 4

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; 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; an imperforate sealing section connected in the flow conductor having a sufficient length to extend between the upper and lower packers, when moved to position in the casing in which said imperforate sealing section is disposed between the packers, for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; first support means operable between holding and release conditions for supporting the flow conductor in a position in which the lower portion of said imperforate sealing section thereof is in sealing engagement with the upper packer, said first support means being selectively controllable to permit the flow conductor to be moved downwardly to a position in which said imperforate sealing section is between and in sealing engagement with both of said packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; second support means for supporting the flow conductor in said last mentioned position; said flow conductor being provided with a side port about said imperforate sealing section, said side port being above said upper packer before said flow conductor is moved downwardly for flow into the casing annulus above said packer; and means for closIng said side port when said imperforate section is disposed between said packer.

Claim 5

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; 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; an imperforate sealing section connected in the flow conductor having a sufficient length to extend between the upper and lower packers, when moved to position in the casing in which said imperforate sealing section is disposed between the packers, for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; first support means operable between holding and release conditions for supporting the flow conductor in a position in which the lower portion of said imperforate sealing section thereof is in sealing engagement with the upper packer, said first support means being selectively controllable to permit the flow conductor to be moved downwardly to a position in which said imperforate sealing section is between and in sealing engagement with both of said packers for closing off flow of well fluids from the producing formation through the casing and flow conductor; second support means for supporting the flow conductor in said last mentioned position; said flow conductor being provided with a side port about said imperforate sealing section, said side port being above said upper packer before said flow conductor is moved downwardly for flow into the casing annulus above said packer; and means for closIng said side port when said imperforate section is disposed between said packer.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first support means comprises means for raising and lowering said imperforate sealing section responsive to fluid pressure communicated downwardly in said well through said well flow conductor and said flow conductor is closed above said side port; and means for supplying control fluid to said first support means in said flow conductor.

Claim 7

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, which includes: a packer disposed in said casing in sealing engagement therewith above communication of the casing with the well producing formation; a well flow conductor extending from the surface downwardly through said packer and having at least a portion thereof movable longitudinally between upper and lower positions; inlet opening means in said flow conductor below said packer; means for isolating said inlet means from flow from said producing formation upon downward movement of said movable portion of said flow conductor from said upper to said lower position; first means comprising a piston and cylinder on said flow conductor above said inlet opening and operable between holding and release conditions to permit holding said movable portion of said flow conductor in said upper position to hold said inlet means open to permit fluid flow from the producing formation through said inlet means and said flow conductor to the surface; said first means being selectively controllable to permit said movable portion of said flow conductor to move from said upper position downwardly to said lower position for isolating said inlet means from fluid flow from the producing formation and to return said movable portion upwardly to reopen said inlet means; means communicating control fluid pressure to said piston and cylinder through said flow conductor including a first side port in said flow conductor; means providing a second side port in said flow conductor located to be positioned above said packer when said flow conductor portion is in said upper position; means closing said flow conductor between said side ports; means for closing said second side port when said flow conductor portion is in said lower position and second means supporting said movable portion of said flow conductor in said lower position isolating said inlet means from fluid flow from said producing formation.

Claim 8

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, which includes: a packer disposed in said casing in sealing engagement therewith above communication of the casing with the well producing formation; a well flow conductor extending from the surface downwardly through said packer and having at least a portion thereof movable longitudinally between upper and lower positions; inlet opening means in said flow conductor below said packer; means for isolating said inlet means from flow from said producing formation upon downward movement of said movable portion of said flow conductor from said upper to said lower position; first means comprising a piston and cylinder on said flow conductor above said inlet opening and operable between holding and release conditions to permit holding said movable portion of said flow conductor in said upper position to hold said inlet means open to permit fluid flow from the producing formation through said inlet means and said flow conductor to the surface; said first means being selectively controllable to permit said movable portion of said flow conductor to move from said upper position downwardly to said lower position for isolating said inlet means from fluid flow from the producing formation and to return said movable portion upwardly to reopen said inlet means; means communicating control fluid pressure to said piston and cylinder through said flow conductor including a first side port in said flow conductor; means providing a second side port in said flow conductor located to be positioned above said packer when said flow conductor portion is in said upper position; means closing said flow conductor between said side ports; means for closing said second side port when said flow conductor portion is in said lower position and second means supporting said movable portion of said flow conductor in said lower position isolating said inlet means from fluid flow from said producing formation.

Claim 9

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 said well having flow communication with a producing formation surrounding said well; a packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith above the communication of the casing with said producing formation; a well flow conductor extending from the surface downwardly to a point above said packer; an extendable flow conductor assembly supported from the lower end of said well flow conductor, said assembly including a cylinder secured to the lower end of said well flow conductor, a tubing section having an upper end portion telescopically engaged in said cylinder and having a lower end portion extendable through said packer for shutting off flow from said producing formation upwardly through said packer at a lower position and for permitting flow from said formation upwardly through said packer into the annulus of said casing around said well flow conductor and tubing section at an upper position, an annular piston on said tubular section within said cylinder, port means in said tubular section below said annular piston for applying control fluid pressure from said well flow conductor into said cylinder below said annular piston for raising said flow conductor to and supporting said conductor at said upper position for well flow from said producing formation upwardly through said packer into said annulus and for releasing said tubular section for downward movement through said packer for shutting off fluid flow upwardly through said packer, and plug means in said tubing section below said port means to cause control fluid from said well flow conductor to flow through said port means and to prevent upward flow of well fluids in said flow conductor from below said plug means whereby well fluids flow into said casing annulus above said packer.

Claim 10

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 said well having flow communication with a producing formation surrounding said well; a packer disposed in the casing in sealing engagement therewith above the communication of the casing with said producing formation; a well flow conductor extending from the surface downwardly to a point above said packer; an extendable flow conductor assembly supported from the lower end of said well flow conductor, said assembly including a cylinder secured to the lower end of said well flow conductor, a tubing section having an upper end portion telescopically engaged in said cylinder and having a lower end portion extendable through said packer for shutting off flow from said producing formation upwardly through said packer at a lower position and for permitting flow from said formation upwardly through said packer into the annulus of said casing around said well flow conductor and tubing section at an upper position, an annular piston on said tubular section within said cylinder, port means in said tubular section below said annular piston for applying control fluid pressure from said well flow conductor into said cylinder below said annular piston for raising said flow conductor to and supporting said conductor at said upper position for well flow from said producing formation upwardly through said packer into said annulus and for releasing said tubular section for downward movement through said packer for shutting off fluid flow upwardly through said packer, and plug means in said tubing section below said port means to cause control fluid from said well flow conductor to flow through said port means and to prevent upward flow of well fluids in said flow conductor from below said plug means whereby well fluids flow into said casing annulus above said packer.