US4538680A — Gun below packer completion tool string

Claim 1

Independent Claim 198 words

In a borehole which extends from a wellhead down through a formation located downhole thereof which is to be completed, a perforating gun having a gun firing head connected to a lower tubing string, the tubing string is connected to a packer device seated downhole at a location to locate the gun adjacent to said formation, the improvement comprising: an upper tubing string having a packer seal nipple attached at the lower end thereof for sealingly engaging a central passageway of the packer so that a passageway is formed from the wellhead down to the gun head when the packer seal nipple is lowered into the packer device; a tubing extension connected to and underlying the packer seal nipple; a barrier means located within the lower tubing string in underlying relationship respective to the packer, said barrier means is of a configuration to isolate the gun firing head from the packer, and to be ruptured when the tubing extension extends therethrough; whereby, the gun can be left downhole isolated from well fluids until the time arrives to complete the well, whereupon the upper tubing string is sealingly engaged with the packer, the barrier ruptured, and the gun detonated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 198 words

In a borehole which extends from a wellhead down through a formation located downhole thereof which is to be completed, a perforating gun having a gun firing head connected to a lower tubing string, the tubing string is connected to a packer device seated downhole at a location to locate the gun adjacent to said formation, the improvement comprising: an upper tubing string having a packer seal nipple attached at the lower end thereof for sealingly engaging a central passageway of the packer so that a passageway is formed from the wellhead down to the gun head when the packer seal nipple is lowered into the packer device; a tubing extension connected to and underlying the packer seal nipple; a barrier means located within the lower tubing string in underlying relationship respective to the packer, said barrier means is of a configuration to isolate the gun firing head from the packer, and to be ruptured when the tubing extension extends therethrough; whereby, the gun can be left downhole isolated from well fluids until the time arrives to complete the well, whereupon the upper tubing string is sealingly engaged with the packer, the barrier ruptured, and the gun detonated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said gun firing head is responsive to impact; and further including a weight dropped down the interior of the tubing string for causing impact against the firing head to detonate the gun.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 67 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein means forming a radial port through a sidewall of the tubing is provided at a location between the gun head and the packer, and a closure means by which the radial port is closed, said closure means is a frangible element which is opened to flow when the pressure differential across the port exceeds the structural integrity of the frangible element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 116 words

Tool string subassembly adapted for suspension from a packer located downhole in a borehole, said subassembly comprising: a tubing string adapted to be suspended from said packer; port means to communicate the interior of said tubing string with the borehole annulus; penetrable barrier means connected in series with and below said port means to block flow through the subassembly while permitting flow from within the subassembly above the barrier means outwardly to the borehole annulus through said port means; said barrier means including a frangible disk; and vent means connected in series below said barrier means for communicating the interior of said tubing string below said barrier means with the borehole annulus for producing hydrocarbon fluids.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 116 words

Tool string subassembly adapted for suspension from a packer located downhole in a borehole, said subassembly comprising: a tubing string adapted to be suspended from said packer; port means to communicate the interior of said tubing string with the borehole annulus; penetrable barrier means connected in series with and below said port means to block flow through the subassembly while permitting flow from within the subassembly above the barrier means outwardly to the borehole annulus through said port means; said barrier means including a frangible disk; and vent means connected in series below said barrier means for communicating the interior of said tubing string below said barrier means with the borehole annulus for producing hydrocarbon fluids.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

Subassembly according to claim 4 wherein said barrier means includes weep hole means therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

Subassembly according to claim 4 including a tool disposed on said tubing string and a tool release means, connected in series with said port means and barrier means, for releasing said tool from such packer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

Subassembly according to claim 6, said barrier means being positioned between said port means and said tool release means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

Subassembly according to claim 6, said tool release means being positioned below said barrier means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 86 words

Apparatus for completing a well comprising: a tool string including a port means to communicate the interior of the tool string with the exterior of the tool string and a barrier means connected in series with said port means to prevent flow through said subassembly in a direction away from said port means; vent means connected in series below said barrier means; and a perforating tool connected to said subassembly at the end thereof which is closer to said barrier means than to said port means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 86 words

Apparatus for completing a well comprising: a tool string including a port means to communicate the interior of the tool string with the exterior of the tool string and a barrier means connected in series with said port means to prevent flow through said subassembly in a direction away from said port means; vent means connected in series below said barrier means; and a perforating tool connected to said subassembly at the end thereof which is closer to said barrier means than to said port means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus according to claim 9 including a liquid in the volume between said barrier means and said perforating gun, said liquid being relatively incompressible like water compared to fluid like gassy mud.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, said perforating gun including detonator means exposed to the interior of said volume.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus according to claim 9 including a pipe between said subassembly and said gun, said gun including a detonator extending into said pipe and protected by said pipe from accidental operation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus according to claim 12, said apparatus including a foraminous portion at the end thereof remote from said gun.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said vent means opens said pipe to communicate the interior of said pipe with the exterior of said pipe.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, including means for penetrating said barrier means to detonate said perforating tool.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, including means for circulating through said port means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 87 words

Well apparatus comprising: an impact responsive firing apparatus, and a chamber formed about said firing apparatus, said chamber comprising a pipe extending from said gun firing apparatus, said gun firing apparatus including an actuator extending into said pipe, said chamber including a penetrable barrier means including a frangible disk closing said pipe at a distance from said actuator further from said gun firing apparatus and said actuator; vent means connected in series below said barrier means; and means extending from the surface for penetrating said barrier means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 87 words

Well apparatus comprising: an impact responsive firing apparatus, and a chamber formed about said firing apparatus, said chamber comprising a pipe extending from said gun firing apparatus, said gun firing apparatus including an actuator extending into said pipe, said chamber including a penetrable barrier means including a frangible disk closing said pipe at a distance from said actuator further from said gun firing apparatus and said actuator; vent means connected in series below said barrier means; and means extending from the surface for penetrating said barrier means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 11 words

Apparatus according to claim 17, said disk having weep holes therethrough.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, said chamber being filled with a liquid.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus according to claim 19, said pipe being connected at its end farthest from said gun firing apparatus to tubular means including port means for communicating the interior of the tubular means to the exterior of the tubular means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus according to claim 19, said port means being proximate said barrier means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus according to claim 20, including tool release means between said port means and chamber.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 17, said chamber providing distance for accelerating the fall of weight means after penetrating said barrier means sufficiently for actuating said firing apparatus.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 47 words

Means forming a protective chamber including at one part of the chamber a detonator means exposed to the interior of the chamber and at another part of the chamber a penetrable barrier means; said chamber having vent means to open said chamber to flow of production fluids.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 47 words

Means forming a protective chamber including at one part of the chamber a detonator means exposed to the interior of the chamber and at another part of the chamber a penetrable barrier means; said chamber having vent means to open said chamber to flow of production fluids.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 8 words

Apparatus according to claim 24 filled with liquid.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 25, said liquid having low enough viscosity to allow acceleration of weight means for contacting said detonator means to cause the detonation thereof.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said barrier means includes a frangible disk.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 14 words

Subassembly according to claim 24, wherein said barrier means includes weep hole means therethrough.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus according to claim 24, including port means connected to said chamber about said barrier means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said port means is adjacent said barrier means to discharge detritus from adjacent said barrier means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claim 30 said chamber including a tool release means between said barrier means and said detonator means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus according to claim 31 including an explosive device connected to said detonator means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-09-02	1989-03-04	1989-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-09-02	1993-03-04	1993-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-09-02	1997-03-04	1997-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gun below packer completion tool string

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