US3952804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sand control for treating wells with ultra high-pressure zones
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1975-01-02
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Granted: 1976-04-27
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Expires: 1995-01-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method of placing aggregate packs in a well bore annulus wherein one or more producing high-pressure formations are penetrated includes the use of multiple packer and sandscreen assemblies placed in the borehole one at a time with a dual conduit aggregate placement tool string used to place the aggregate pack at each interval.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E. Smyrl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:50
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/14; E21B43/02; E21B43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for treating an underground formation penetrated by a well bore, said apparatus comprising: an elongated ported tubular mandrel; a well packer mounted on said mandrel; a sandscreen mounted on said mandrel; a first conduit means adapted for passing through said packer and mandrel and into said sandscreen; valve means in said first conduit means arranged to communicate with port means in said mandrel; seal means below said valve means and said port means and adapted to seal between said first conduit means and said mandrel; and, a second conduit means beside said first conduit means communicating with said mandrel above said seal means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for treating an underground formation penetrated by a well bore, said apparatus comprising: an elongated ported tubular mandrel; a well packer mounted on said mandrel; a sandscreen mounted on said mandrel; a first conduit means adapted for passing through said packer and mandrel and into said sandscreen; valve means in said first conduit means arranged to communicate with port means in said mandrel; seal means below said valve means and said port means and adapted to seal between said first conduit means and said mandrel; and, a second conduit means beside said first conduit means communicating with said mandrel above said seal means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The treating apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a second well packer located above a second producing formation in the well bore; a second tubular mandrel passing through said second packer; one or more secondary sandscreens on said second mandrel below said second packer and arranged to communicate with the second producing formation; and, a seal tube extension attached to said secondary sandscreens and extending into said first packer in sealing relationship therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The treating apparatus of claim 2 further comprising checkvalve means at the lower end of said first conduit means and adapted to sealingly engage in said seal tube extension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for treating and gravel packing multiple intervals in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of expandable well packers each having passage means therethrough and adapted to sealingly engage the borehole wall; a plurality of tubular mandrels each passing through one of said well packers and each having port means through the wall thereof; a plurality of sandscreens adapted to prevent the migration of aggregates therethrough, with at least one sandscreen attached to each of sand mandrels; first conduit means adapted to be lowered through the uppermost of said well packers and sealingly engaged in the uppermost of said mandrels in bypassing relationship around said mandrel port means; second conduit means arranged to pass sealingly through said uppermost well packer and communicate with said uppermost mandrel port means; valve means in said first conduit means arranged to preselectively communicate with said uppermost port means; and, a seal tube extension connected to said sandscreen below said uppermost well packer, and arranged to sealingly engage in said well packer below said uppermost well packer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for treating and gravel packing multiple intervals in a well bore, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of expandable well packers each having passage means therethrough and adapted to sealingly engage the borehole wall; a plurality of tubular mandrels each passing through one of said well packers and each having port means through the wall thereof; a plurality of sandscreens adapted to prevent the migration of aggregates therethrough, with at least one sandscreen attached to each of sand mandrels; first conduit means adapted to be lowered through the uppermost of said well packers and sealingly engaged in the uppermost of said mandrels in bypassing relationship around said mandrel port means; second conduit means arranged to pass sealingly through said uppermost well packer and communicate with said uppermost mandrel port means; valve means in said first conduit means arranged to preselectively communicate with said uppermost port means; and, a seal tube extension connected to said sandscreen below said uppermost well packer, and arranged to sealingly engage in said well packer below said uppermost well packer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The treating apparatus of claim 4 further comprising checkvalve means on said first conduit lower end arranged to sealingly engage in the well packer immediately below said uppermost well packer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of placing multiple aggregate packs in an oil well bore having multiple high-pressure producing intervals, said method comprising: lowering into the well bore a well packer having a sandscreen and port means therebelow; positioning the sandscreen adjacent the lowermost formation; actuating said well packer into sealing engagement above the lowermost formation; lowering into said well packer a dual string assembly having a bore seal means below said well packer port means, one long and one short tubing string, with said long tubing string extending through said seal means, and valve means in said long tubing string above said seal means and adapted to preselectively communicate with said well packer port means; pumping a suspension of carrier fluid and aggregate through the shorter conduit string and out said well packer port means into the well bore annulus; flowing said carrier fluid through said sandscreen and up said long conduit string; opening said valve means; pumping a well killing fluid through said short string, through said valve means, and up said long string thereby killing the well; removing said dual string assembly from the well bore; and, repeating said steps for each said producing interval in the well bore.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of placing multiple aggregate packs in an oil well bore having multiple high-pressure producing intervals, said method comprising: lowering into the well bore a well packer having a sandscreen and port means therebelow; positioning the sandscreen adjacent the lowermost formation; actuating said well packer into sealing engagement above the lowermost formation; lowering into said well packer a dual string assembly having a bore seal means below said well packer port means, one long and one short tubing string, with said long tubing string extending through said seal means, and valve means in said long tubing string above said seal means and adapted to preselectively communicate with said well packer port means; pumping a suspension of carrier fluid and aggregate through the shorter conduit string and out said well packer port means into the well bore annulus; flowing said carrier fluid through said sandscreen and up said long conduit string; opening said valve means; pumping a well killing fluid through said short string, through said valve means, and up said long string thereby killing the well; removing said dual string assembly from the well bore; and, repeating said steps for each said producing interval in the well bore.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of placing an aggregate pack in a high-pressure formation in a well bore, comprising: setting in the producing interval of the well bore a packer having a ported mandrel and sandscreen therebelow; flowing through a first conduit a suspension of aggregate in a carrier fluid down the well bore and out the ported mandrel into the annulus below the packer; returning the carrier fluid through the sandscreen and up a second flow conduit in the well bore; diverting the flow path from the first conduit through said packer and directly into the second conduit; and, flowing a well killing fluid through said first conduit and up said second conduit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of placing an aggregate pack in a high-pressure formation in a well bore, comprising: setting in the producing interval of the well bore a packer having a ported mandrel and sandscreen therebelow; flowing through a first conduit a suspension of aggregate in a carrier fluid down the well bore and out the ported mandrel into the annulus below the packer; returning the carrier fluid through the sandscreen and up a second flow conduit in the well bore; diverting the flow path from the first conduit through said packer and directly into the second conduit; and, flowing a well killing fluid through said first conduit and up said second conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising flowing a treating fluid through said first conduit and into the producing formation prior to said diverting step.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of placing multiple aggregate packs in a high pressure well bore having multiple producing intervals, said method comprising the steps of: setting in the lowermost producing interval a packer having a ported tubular mandrel passing therethrough with sandscreen means attached therebelow; flowing through a first conduit a suspension of aggregate and carrier fluid down the well bore and out the ported mandrel into the annulus below the packer; returning the carrier fluid through the sandscreen and up a second conduit through the well bore; diverting the flow path of the first conduit into the second conduit above the sandscreen; flowing a well killing fluid into the first conduit and up the second conduit thereby killing the well; and, repeating said steps for each high pressure producing interval in the well.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of placing multiple aggregate packs in a high pressure well bore having multiple producing intervals, said method comprising the steps of: setting in the lowermost producing interval a packer having a ported tubular mandrel passing therethrough with sandscreen means attached therebelow; flowing through a first conduit a suspension of aggregate and carrier fluid down the well bore and out the ported mandrel into the annulus below the packer; returning the carrier fluid through the sandscreen and up a second conduit through the well bore; diverting the flow path of the first conduit into the second conduit above the sandscreen; flowing a well killing fluid into the first conduit and up the second conduit thereby killing the well; and, repeating said steps for each high pressure producing interval in the well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A treating tool for placing aggregate packs and treating fluids into the producing areas of an oil well borehole wherein said areas are isolated by well packers having ported mandrels and sandscreens therebelow; said treating tool comprising: a first conduit string adapted to extend down the well bore and through a well packer; upper seal means on said first conduit adapted to seal in a well packer above a ported mandrel; lower seal means on said first conduit adapted to seal in a ported mandrel between the mandrel ports and a sandscreen; valve means in the wall of said first conduit arranged in proximity to the mandrel ports; and, second conduit means extending down said well bore through said upper seal means and arranged to communicate with the mandrel ports and said valve means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
134 words
A treating tool for placing aggregate packs and treating fluids into the producing areas of an oil well borehole wherein said areas are isolated by well packers having ported mandrels and sandscreens therebelow; said treating tool comprising: a first conduit string adapted to extend down the well bore and through a well packer; upper seal means on said first conduit adapted to seal in a well packer above a ported mandrel; lower seal means on said first conduit adapted to seal in a ported mandrel between the mandrel ports and a sandscreen; valve means in the wall of said first conduit arranged in proximity to the mandrel ports; and, second conduit means extending down said well bore through said upper seal means and arranged to communicate with the mandrel ports and said valve means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The treating tool of claim 10 further comprising checkvalve means at the lower end of said first conduit string arranged to prevent downward flow therethrough and arranged to seal in a well packer therebelow; and, said lower end of said first conduit string below said lower seal means having a plurality of perforations through the wall thereof.
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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) | 1979-04-27 | 1979-10-27 | 1980-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-27 | 1983-10-27 | 1984-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-27 | 1987-10-27 | 1988-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |