US4495997A — Well completion system and process

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

In a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the combination comprising: (a) a string of casing located in said well; (b) a wrapping of a metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said casing in a conformation providing a series of helical turns and having a plurality of openings therein; and (c) a cement sheath in the annulus about said casing and encompassing said wrapping and intering into said openings whereby said cement is bonded to said casing; wherein said inwardly projecting portions have cutting edges which form acute angles with the outer surface of said casing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 102 words

In a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the combination comprising: (a) a string of casing located in said well; (b) a wrapping of a metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said casing in a conformation providing a series of helical turns and having a plurality of openings therein; and (c) a cement sheath in the annulus about said casing and encompassing said wrapping and intering into said openings whereby said cement is bonded to said casing; wherein said inwardly projecting portions have cutting edges which form acute angles with the outer surface of said casing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 127 words

In a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the combination comprising: (a) a string of casing located in said well; (b) a wrapping of a metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said casing in a conformation providing a series of helical turns and having a plurality of openings therein; and (c) a cement sheath in the annulus about said casing and encompassing said wrapping and intering into said openings whereby said cement is bonded to said casing; wherein said metal is disposed about said casing so that adjacent helical turns partially overlap one another to provide an overlap zone and further comprising means securing the overlying turns to the underlying turns of said ribbon at spaced locations along said overlap zone.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 127 words

In a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the combination comprising: (a) a string of casing located in said well; (b) a wrapping of a metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said casing in a conformation providing a series of helical turns and having a plurality of openings therein; and (c) a cement sheath in the annulus about said casing and encompassing said wrapping and intering into said openings whereby said cement is bonded to said casing; wherein said metal is disposed about said casing so that adjacent helical turns partially overlap one another to provide an overlap zone and further comprising means securing the overlying turns to the underlying turns of said ribbon at spaced locations along said overlap zone.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said securing means comprises staples extending through the overlapping turns of said metal ribbon.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 112 words

In a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the combination comprising: (a) a string of casing located in said well; (b) a wrapping of a metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said casing in a conformation providing a series of helical turns and having a plurality of openings therein; and (c) a cement sheath in the annulus about said casing and encompassing said wrapping and intering into said openings whereby said cement is bonded to said casing; wherein said metal ribbon is formed of expanded metal to provide a staggered mesh structure whereby a portion of said ribbon stands off from the surface of said casing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 112 words

In a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the combination comprising: (a) a string of casing located in said well; (b) a wrapping of a metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said casing in a conformation providing a series of helical turns and having a plurality of openings therein; and (c) a cement sheath in the annulus about said casing and encompassing said wrapping and intering into said openings whereby said cement is bonded to said casing; wherein said metal ribbon is formed of expanded metal to provide a staggered mesh structure whereby a portion of said ribbon stands off from the surface of said casing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The combination of claim 4 wherein the bight portions of said mesh structure extend transversely of the pitch direction of said helical turns.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein the bight portions of said mesh provide cutting edges which form acute angles with the outer surface of said casing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The combination of claim 6 wherein said ribbon is disposed about said pipe so that adjacent helical turns partially overlap one another.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein the bight portions of said mesh in each helical turn of said ribbon slope in the direction of the next succeeding overlying turn of said ribbon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 117 words

In the completion of a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the method comprising: (a) providing a plurality of casing joints with a wrapping of perforated metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said joints in a helically wound conformation; (b) installing said joints in the well to form a casing string therein and provide an annular space between said casing string and the wall of said well; (c) flowing a slurry of hydraulic cement into said annular space and allowing said cement slurry to set to form a cement sheath between said casing string and the wall of said well; wherein successive helical turns of said ribbon partially overlap one another.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 117 words

In the completion of a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the method comprising: (a) providing a plurality of casing joints with a wrapping of perforated metal ribbon disposed about the outer surface of said joints in a helically wound conformation; (b) installing said joints in the well to form a casing string therein and provide an annular space between said casing string and the wall of said well; (c) flowing a slurry of hydraulic cement into said annular space and allowing said cement slurry to set to form a cement sheath between said casing string and the wall of said well; wherein successive helical turns of said ribbon partially overlap one another.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 139 words

In a method of installing a cement-coated conduit within a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the steps comprising: (a) securing a perforated metal ribbon to said conduit at a first location thereon, said ribbon being formed of expanded metal to provide a staggered mesh structure; (b) pulling said ribbon under tension and wrapping it about said conduit in a manner providing a series of helical turns about said conduit; (c) securing said ribbon to said conduit at a second location spaced longitudinally from said first location; (d) lowering said conduit to a desired location within said well; (e) flowing a slurry of hydraulic cement into the annulus about said conduit and allowing said cement slurry to set to provide a cement sheath encompassing said metal ribbon whereby said cement is bonded to said conduit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 139 words

In a method of installing a cement-coated conduit within a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth's crust, the steps comprising: (a) securing a perforated metal ribbon to said conduit at a first location thereon, said ribbon being formed of expanded metal to provide a staggered mesh structure; (b) pulling said ribbon under tension and wrapping it about said conduit in a manner providing a series of helical turns about said conduit; (c) securing said ribbon to said conduit at a second location spaced longitudinally from said first location; (d) lowering said conduit to a desired location within said well; (e) flowing a slurry of hydraulic cement into the annulus about said conduit and allowing said cement slurry to set to provide a cement sheath encompassing said metal ribbon whereby said cement is bonded to said conduit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said ribbon is pulled in step (b) along a longitudinal axis such that the bight portions of said mesh structure are oriented transversely of said longitudinal axis and provide cutting edges which slope in the forward direction of said axis and contact the outer surface of said conduit at acute angles.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said ribbon is wrapped around said conduit in a manner such that successive helical turns of said ribbon partially overlap one another to provide an overlap zone.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising securing successive helical turns of said ribbon to each other at spaced apart locations along said overlap zone.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-01-29	1988-07-30	1989-01-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-01-29	1992-07-30	1993-01-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-01-29	1996-07-30	1997-01-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Well completion system and process

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