Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Brandon C Goodman

Charles D Parker

Michael C Derby

Simon John Harrall

Patrick James Zimmerman

Paul L Smith

James Alan Rochen

Cesar G Garcia

Joshua V Symms

Justin Robert Scruggs

Michael Joseph Sessa

Patrick J Zimmerman

An acoustic telemetry system used with a wellbore assembly in a wellbore includes a hydro-mechanical sounding devices, relays, and a receiver. The sounding device includes a housing defining a chamber with an inlet port and at least one outlet port. A piston disposed in the chamber is movable against a strike face in the chamber in response to a hydraulic pressure differential. The impact of the piston against the strike face can produce an acoustic vibration, which can have defined characteristics. One or more relays disposed on the tubing electronically generate an acoustic signal in response to the acoustic vibration produced by the device. The acoustic signal can then be telemetered to a receiver at surface to determine a positive indication of an operation downhole.

Hydro-mechanical sounding device for use with acoustic telemetry system

A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore can include applying a predetermined pressure differential from a flow passage extending axially through the tubular string to an annulus surrounding the tubular string, thereby opening a rupture disk of a cementing stage tool connected in the tubular string, and then flowing a fluid through the flow passage and into the annulus via the rupture disk, thereby displacing an opening plug into engagement with an opening sleeve of the cementing stage tool. A cementing stage tool can include a longitudinal flow passage, an outer housing assembly, an opening sleeve that prevents fluid flow between the flow passage and a housing port in a run-in configuration, and a rupture disk that permits fluid flow between the flow passage and the housing port in response to a predetermined pressure differential applied from the flow passage to the housing port.

Cementing stage tool and associated methods

A downhole tool with a radially expandable sealing element, such as a packer or plug. The sealing element employs metallic support rings disposed on the sealing element outer surface for preventing extrusion during run-in and for clamping the sealing element to the tool.

Sealing element support rings for downhole packers

A method of coupling a control line to a packer includes disposing the control line in a groove of a sealing element and a slot of a retainer; and rotating the retainer relative to the sealing element to retain the control line in the groove.

Control line retainer for a downhole tool

A downhole tool or plug is used for sealing in tubing. A mandrel of the tool has a first shoulder disposed toward a downhole end of the mandrel. A sealing element for sealing in the tubing is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first shoulder, a slip is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the sealing element, and a cone is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the slip. In setting the tool, the cone moves toward the first shoulder, wedges the slip against the tubing, and compresses the sealing element between the slip and the first shoulder. Force applied against a seated plug in the mandrel transfers through the mandrel to the cone and slip without passing through the sealing element.

Slip configuration for downhole tool

A device and method to control the rate of radial expansion of a compressible sealing element on a packer over the longitudinal length of the sealing element. By varying the rate of compression of the element, the rate of radial expansion of the corresponding portions of the element may also be controlled. Additionally, the rate of radial expansion may also be controlled by controlling the direction and amount of radial expansion along the length of the sealing by reinforcing certain portions of the sealing element while decreasing the rigidity of the reinforcement for other portions.

Extended length packer with timed setting

A packer has a swellable element and has end rings and compressible elements at each end of the swellable element. The packer may be first set using internal bore pressure to compress one of the compressible elements against one of the end rings with a first hydraulic setting mechanism. The packer may then be set a second time using annulus pressure to compress against the other compressible element with a second hydraulic setting mechanism. Either way, the compressible elements are compressed to expand out to the borehole and to limit extrusion of the swellable element outside the compressed elements.

Packer having swellable and compressible elements

A device and method allow a longer sealing element to be used on a packer or other downhole tool while providing an increase in the total amount of setting force that can be used and providing for more uniform or balanced setting of the sealing element. The packer may be first set using internal bore pressure to radially expand one end of the sealing element with a first hydraulic setting mechanism. The packer may then be set a second time using annulus pressure to continue the radial expansion of the sealing element with a second hydraulic setting mechanism.

Double compression set packer

A method of deploying a tool in a wellbore includes installing a tool body at an upper end of a tubular string extending from a wellbore, the body having at least one control line groove formed on its outer surface with the at least one control line housed therein. The method also includes providing an assembly strung on the at least one control line. The assembly includes an element with at least one ring on each end thereof; at least one ring on each end of the element; a locking ring at an upper end of the assembly. The method further includes installing the assembly over the body to house the at least one control line between the body and the assembly.

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Kingwood, TX, United States of America

Brandon C Goodman