Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Christian F Bayne

David S Bishop

Marc Samuelson

David A Bilberry

Kelly D Ireland

Kirby Glen Schrader

Rockni Van Clief

Leo E Hill, Jr

Benn A Voll

James R Zachman

Perry Douglas Baycroft

John E Britt

Kim Tijerina

Bennett M Richard

Yang Xu

Robert O'Brien

Jason Allen

Michael W Norris

Donald Powell Lauderdale

Thomas Gary Corbett

Conner S George

Edward J Zisk, Jr

Michael Manera

Graeme H Falconer

Robert D Morton

Steve Stringfellow

Matthew S Kebodeaux

Connor S George

Herbert P Dhuet

J Todd Broome

Steve B Hodges

An inverted seal including a disintegrable body, one or more inside dimension seals disposed in the body. A method for removing an inverted seal from a downhole environment including exposing the body of the inverted seal to a condition to which it is responsive, disintegrating a portion of the body. A method for deploying a conventional seal after an inverted seal in a borehole including positioning an inverted seal in a downhole location, utilizing the inverted seal for its intended purpose, removing at least a portion of a body of the inverted seal, running a conventional seal further downhole of the location of the inverted seal.

Selectively disengagable sealing system

An apparatus for use in a wellbore contains a flow control device for use in a wellbore that includes a bore that provides a first flow path and a second flow path via an annulus around the first flow path. The apparatus further includes a closing device that closes the second flow path when the closing device is mechanically moved in a first direction and an opening device that opens the second flow path when a fluid under pressure is supplied to the annulus when a valve is closed.

Wellbore strings containing annular flow valves and methods of use thereof

An isolation system is disclosed that contains: a lower wet connect portion, a central production tubing, an isolation device associated with the central production tubing, and at least one communication line, wherein the at least one communication line is associated with the lower wet connect portion and is disposed through an inside diameter of the isolation device. Further, a method for isolating a lower completion is disclosed that includes: conveying an isolation assembly to the lower completion, the isolation assembly including: a lower wet isolation device; and routing the at least one communication line through an inside diameter of the isolation device. Further a completion system is disclosed that contains a lower completion system and an isolation system associated with the lower completion system.

Wellbore isolation system with communication lines

An isolation system is disclosed that contains a lower wet connect portion; a central production tubing; an isolation device associated with the central production tubing, and at least one control line. Further at least one control line is associated with the lower wet connect portion and is disposed through an inside diameter of the isolation device. Further method for isolating a lower completion is disclosed that includes conveying an isolation assembly to the lower completion, the isolation assembly including a lower wet connect portion, at least one control line, a central production tubing, and an isolation device, and routing the at least one control line through an inside diameter of the isolation device. Further completion system is disclosed that contains a lower completion system and an isolation system associated with the lower completion system.

A method of installing multi-trip completions in a borehole. The method includes interfacing a health monitoring system with a first section of the multi-trip completions, the health monitoring system configured to engage with at least one of a first control line and first equipment of the first section. Running the health monitoring system and the first section downhole to a selected position within the borehole; storing information about a health of the at least one of the first control line and first equipment of the first section within the health monitoring system. Removing the health monitoring system from the borehole while leaving the first section within the borehole; accessing the information from the health monitoring system; and, determining, based on the information, whether or not to run a second section having a second control line into the borehole. The second control line configured to connect with the first control line.

Downhole health monitoring system and method

This invention involves a method of securing pipe (also referred to as a 'string of tools') when driving off a subsea well or sealing off a well in onshore applications where there is an emergency by grabbing the pipe before it is cut. A pipe ram then is closed on the pipe before a shear ram is actuated to cut the pipe. In subsea applications, the top of the pipe may then be raised clear of the blowout preventer within a marine riser. A blind ram and annular preventer can then be closed above the remnant of the pipe being retained by the pipe catcher. The pipe above the cut is removed through the marine riser and the marine riser itself is then disconnected. The rig is then driven off the well. If the well is reactivated the steps are reversed but the well is safely secured before the blowout preventer components are opened. The pipe supported by the catcher is independently supported before the catcher is released and the pipe lifted through the riser.

Drive off method from subsea well with pipe retention capability

A transition piece is provided near an end of a screen assembly to allow transition from a lighter weight and collapse resistant pipe under the screen sections to a heavier wall and higher collapse strength pipe between the top of the screen and the isolation packer. When a screen out occurs, the heavier wall pipe can handle the new pressures that are applied to the formation and to the tubular to try to collapse it. The screen portion can still be built with thinner wall pipe as the screen out condition protects that pipe from collapse pressure because the fully gravel packed annular space keeps the surface applied pump pressure from exerting a collapse force on the base pipe under the screen.

Screen saver sub

A method and apparatus for running a liner into a well bore, hanging the liner to a casing, perforating the liner, cementing the liner in, setting a liner packer, and establishing sand control, all in one trip.

One trip perforating, cementing, and sand management apparatus and method

A technique for providing auxiliary conduits in multi-trip completions is disclosed. The technique has particular applicability to liner mounted screens which are to be gravel packed. In the preferred embodiment, a protective shroud is run with the gravel pack screens with the auxiliary conduits disposed in between. The auxiliary conduits terminate in a quick connection at a liner top packer. The gravel packing equipment can optionally be secured in a flow relationship to the auxiliary conduits so as to control the gravel packing operation. Subsequent to the removal of the specialized equipment, the production tubing can be run with an auxiliary conduit or conduits for connection down hole to the auxiliary conduits coming from the liner top packer for a sealing connection. Thereafter, during production various data on the well can be obtained in real time despite the multiple trips necessary to accomplish completion. The various completion and/or production activities can also be accomplished using the auxiliary conduits such as actuation of down hole flow control devices, chemical injection, pressure measurement, distributed temperature sensing through fiber optics, as well as other down hole parameters.

Method of providing hydraulic/fiber conduits adjacent bottom hole assemblies for multi-step completions

A method is disclosed that allows for sequential treatment of two zones in a single trip while isolating the zones. A fluid loss valve prevents the column of fluid in the tubing from flowing into the lower formation until activated. Zone isolation is accomplished by manipulation of a port on a wash pipe attached to the crossover assembly.

Method for selectively treating two producing intervals in a single trip

The apparatus includes a gravel pack assembly comprising a gravel pack body and a crossover tool. The gravel pack body comprises a pressure set packer, one or more production screens and a plurality of axial position indexing lugs. The crossover tool comprises auxiliary flow chambers, packer by-pass channels, a crossover tool check valve and an axial position indexing collet. The gravel pack body and crossover tool are assembled coaxially as a cooperative unit by a threaded joint and the unit is threadably attached to the bottom end of a tool string for selective placement within the wellbore. Set of the packer secures the gravel pack body to the well casing and seals the casing annulus around the gravel pack assembly. A positive fluid pressure is maintained on the wellbore wall in the production zone throughout the gravel packing procedure and in particular, during the packer seal test interval when fluid pressure that is egual to or greater than the normal hydrostatic pressure is maintained on the production zone wall under the gravel pack body packer while greater test pressure above the hydrostatic is imposed in the wellbore annulus above the packer.

Method and apparatus for open hole gravel packing

A crossover tool is disclosed that permits access through to the wash pipe below after the conclusion of a known gravel packing operation. A ball is trapped to a sleeve after shifting it so as to allow flow through the crossover for acid treatment in the screen area and a reversing out procedure to remove excess acid. Alternatively, pressure delivered through the wash pipe can operate packers, as part of a gravel packing procedure as outlined in two steps in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,772 is a single trip. The acid treating or other downhole operation through the wash pipe can also be accomplished in a single trip with the gravel packing assembly.

Crossover Tool

The apparatus includes a gravel pack assembly comprising a gravel pack body and a crossover tool. The crossover tool comprises auxiliary flow chambers and channels around a casing packer and a crossover tool check valve. The gravel pack body and crossover tool are assembled coaxially as a cooperative unit by a threaded joint. The assembly is threadably attached to the bottom end of a tool string for selective placement within the wellbore. Set of the packer secures the gravel pack body to the well casing and seals the casing annulus around the gravel pack assembly. After setting the packer, the tool string is rotated to release the threaded assembly joint between the crossover tool and the gravel pack extension. The desired flow function is determined by selective axial positionment of the crossover tool within the gravel pack body. When the gravel pack is in place, the crossover tool is axially positioned to flush residual aggregate from the tool string bore. The gravel pack body is dedicated to the wellbore and the crossover tool withdrawn and replaced by a production tube.

The present invention provides apparatus and method for gravel packing open holes wherein hydrostatic pressure is maintained above the formation pressure (&ldquo;overburdened condition&rdquo;) throughout the gravel pack process. The apparatus includes a completion string which contains a flow restriction device, a crossover device and a packer each above and below the crossover device. The string is set in the wellbore with the flow restriction device adjacent the producing formation. The upper packer and the crossover device are set, which allows the gravel fluid to pass to the annulus, and return through the string. After gravel packing, the lower packer is set. The crossover device and the upper packer are retrieved from the wellbore leaving the flow restriction device and the lower packer in the wellbore. The system maintains the wellbore under overburdened condition throughout the gravel packing process.

Apparatus and method for open hold gravel packing

A completion assembly facilitates gravel-packing and fracturestimulation of closely spaced zones. The assembly includes a pair of spaced screens with a production packer in between. The production packer has a short bypass flowpath therethrough to allow fluids carrying the gravel to pass the production packer so that the upper and lower zones can be gravel-packed simultaneously, as well as fracture-stimulated simultaneously. Thereafter, the presence of the gravel in the bypass tube in the packer between the zones provides some limited isolation based on the permeability of the gravel found in the bypass passage and the pressure drop across that passage. Production then can follow from the lower zone, the upper zone, or both zones depending on the completion configuration.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Christian F Bayne