Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited

Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Darcy Technologies Limited

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

David H Grant

Stephen Edmund Bruce

Ewan Colin Smith

Scott E Wallace

David Allan Noblett

Stephen Kent

Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson

Grant Adams

Dominic Patrick Joseph McCann

David Stephenson

Dominic Patrick McCann

Neil Andrew Simpson

John Alasdair MacDonald Cameron

Colin Jones

Gary John Smart

Andrew David James Cameron

A method comprises operating a first valve arrangement and a second valve arrangement from a locked first configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is closed, to a locked second configuration, in which the first port is open and the second port is closed. The method comprises operating the first valve arrangement and the second valve arrangement from the locked second configuration to a third configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is open; and moving the first valve arrangement to a third intermediate configuration between a second intermediate configuration and the third configuration, in which the first valve arrangement is locked, the second valve arrangement is locked and the first and second ports are closed.

Downhole apparatus with a valve arrangement

The present invention relates to a downhole apparatus and a valve arrangement for a downhole apparatus having a tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof; and a method of operating a valve arrangement of a downhole apparatus. The valve arrangement has at least one locked configuration and the first port provides fluid communication with a tool or a device which is a sand control element having at least one fluid deformable device. The present invention also provides a method of setting a sand control completion, extending the sand control filter element thereof to a wellbore surface and isolating the reservoir from an upper portion of the wellbore.

There is provided a sandscreen joint () capable of providing zonal isolation. The ends of the portion of the () are capable of extension on activation of the sandscreen (), including transition areas (), which are coated with an elastomer sleeve (). On activation of the sandscreen (), the sleeve () is pushed out into contact with the bore wall and serves to isolate the zone on one side of the activated sleeve () from the zone on the other side of the sleeve (). Thus, the provision of the sleeve () on the activated sandscreen () may prevent fluid from flowing axially along the bore between the bore wall and sandscreen. This may serve to protect the weave at the transition area (), preventing axial flow through the transition areas ().

Downhole apparatus

A tubular has a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The tubular is initially in the retracted configuration and run into a bore at least partially lined with filter cake. The tubular is extended such that a filter cake-disrupting member mounted on the tubular defines high points or otherwise has an outer surface of varying radial extent for disrupting or disturbing the filter cake.

Downhole apparatus for disrupting filter cake

A downhole apparatus including a tubular body, first and second ports in a wall of the body, and a fluid pressure-responsive valve arrangement having a locked first configuration associated with a first pressure in which the first port is open and the second port is closed, an unlocked second configuration associated with a second pressure higher than the first pressure in which the first port is open and the second port is closed, and a third configuration associated with a third pressure lower than the second pressure in which the second port is open and the first port is closed.

A sandscreen joint is capable of providing zonal isolation. The ends of a portion of the sandscreen are capable of extension on activation of the sandscreen, including transition areas, which are coated with an elastomer sleeve. On activation of the sandscreen, the sleeve is pushed out into contact with the bore wall and serves to isolate the zone on one side of the activated sleeve from the zone on the other side of the sleeve. Thus, the sleeve on the activated sandscreen may prevent fluid from flowing axially along the bore between the bore wall and sandscreen. This may protect the weave at the transition area, preventing axial flow through the transition areas.

A method of injecting fluid into a formation, comprises exerting a mechanical force on a wall of a bore extending through a formation to modify the permeability of the formation; and injecting fluid into the modified formation. The mechanical force is exerted through inflation of at least one pressure deformable member mounted on a base member with a retaining ring.

Downhole method and apparatus

A method of injecting fluid into a formation, comprises exerting a mechanical force on a wall of a bore extending through a formation to modify the permeability of the formation; and injecting fluid into the modified formation. The mechanical force may be exerted through inflation of at least one pressure deformable member mounted on a base member. The base member may be a base pipe. The pressure deformable member may be a hollow or tubular member mounted externally of the base pipe.

A method of injecting fluid into a formation, comprises exerting a mechanical force on a wall of a bore extending through a formation to modify the permeability of the formation; and injecting fluid into the modified formation. The mechanical force may be exerted through inflation of at least one pressure deformable member mounted on a base member. The base member may be a base pipe. The pressure deformable member may be a hollow or tubular member mounted externally of the base pipe. A plurality of pressure deformable members are provided.

An apparatus for isolating at least a portion of a tubular for use in a wellbore comprising a first, inner tubular in the form of carrier tube and a second, outer tubular in the form of protective shroud, coupled to the carrier tube. One or more aperture is provided in a wall of the carrier tube for permitting fluid transfer through the tube and one or more aperture is provided to permit fluid transfer through the shroud. A sealing layer is disposed on a surface of the shroud, the sealing layer defining a first configuration permitting fluid flow through the apertures and, on exposure to a selected reactant, adopting a second configuration to restrict fluid flow through the apertures, the sealing layer adapted to return from the second configuration to the first configuration where concentration of the selected reactant falls below a selected threshold.

Method and apparatus for isolating tubing with a swellable seal

A tubing expansion device is adapted to be advanced axially, without rotation, through tubing to be expanded. The device comprises a body and a plurality of expansion members mounted on the body, the expansion members being independently radially movable. The expansion members may be rotatable, or may be non-rotating.

Tubing expansion

A tubing expansion device () is adapted to be advanced axially, without rotation, through tubing () to be expanded. The device () comprises a body () and a plurality of expansion members () mounted on the body (), the expansion members () being independently radially movable. The expansion members may be rotatable, or may be non-rotating.

A method of expanding tubing comprises the steps: providing a length of expandable tubing; locating an expansion tool, such as a cone, in the tubing; and applying impulses to the tool to drive the tool through the tubing and expand the tubing to a larger diameter. The tubing may be located downhole and may have a solid wall or a slotted wall.

Growing community of inventors

Ellon, United Kingdom

David H Grant