Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Oil Tools, Inc.

Baker International Inc.

Joseph F Donovan

Michael H Johnson

John V Salerni

Daniel James Turick

Jefferson P Ashton

John E Gaidry

Larry J Quebedeaux

Larry A Watkins

Gregg W Stout

Elmer R Peterson

John Barton Weirich

Phillip W Schmuck

Edward C Spatz

Paulo S Tubel

John W Harrell

Dick Lee Knox

Jerald Ray Rider

John L Bearden

Gordon Lee Besser

Michael J Naquin, Sr

Michael J Naquin

Donald N Yates, Jr

Roger P Herbert

Jack D Spencer

Christopher L Gann

J V Henry

Larry J Quebedeau

Wallace Wf Leung

The present invention provides methods for forming multiple wellbores from a single location. A relatively large diameter main wellbore is drilled to a known depth. A plurality of spaced apart wellbores are formed from the bottom of the main wellbore, wherein at least one such wellbore is a production wellbore for producing hydrocarbons from subsurface formations. Wellhead equipment for each production wellbore is installed at main wellbore bottom. Additional devices or equipment are also placed in the main wellbore, preferably near the bottom. Such equipment may include a fluid processing apparatus, chemical injection equipment for injecting chemicals or additives into the wellbores, compressors for injecting compressed gas into one or more of the production wellbores or for transporting a gas to the surface, robotics devices for placing and/or removing devices or materials from the wellbores, a control unit for monitoring and controlling apparatus and devices in the main wellbore and the production wellbore, and any other desired equipment for performing a useful function relating any of the wellbores. A secondary access wellbore may be formed from the main wellbore or the surface for storing apparatus that is used to monitor and/or control the operation of devises in the production wellbores during the various stages in the life of such wellbores. Some of the equipment deployed in the main wellbore is prefabricated and may be retrieved. selective redundant equipment is provided to allow uninterrupted production from the various wellbores.

Method of forming and servicing wellbores from a main wellbore

An improved electrical submersible pump is disclosed in which a processor downhole is utilized to monitor one or more subsurface conditions, to record data, and to alter at least one operating condition of the electrical submersible pump. Novel uses are described for downhole gas compression, the delivery of particulate matter to wellbore sites, and for the disposal of waste.

Electrical submersible pump and methods for enhanced utilization of electrical submersible pumps in the completion and production of wellbores

The present invention provides multi-branched wellbore systems and methods for forming and utilizing such wellbores. An access wellbore is formed substantially in a non-producing formation. From the access wellbore are drilled one or more branch wellbore into producing formations and into non-producing formations. Additional branch wellbores may be formed from the access wellbore or the branch wellbores. Seals between the access wellbore and the production wellbores are formed outside the hydrocarbon-bearing formations. Flow control devices and other devices are installed outside the access wellbore, thereby utilizing the access wellbore primarily for transporting fluids during production of hydrocarbons. The distance between the access wellbore and any other desired formation, such as the producing formations, is determined during drilling of the access wellbore, preferably by utilizing acoustic sensors deployed in a drilling assembly. The distance between the access wellbore and the various formations is utilized for adjusting the drilling path of the access. The branch wellbores may be utilized for storing equipment, processing and/or treating fluids, compressing gas, and redirecting gas and water downhole to improve hydrocarbon production.

Multi-lateral wellbore systems and methods for forming same

A system for producing a field is disclosed. The field includes a main access well with a first branch well extending therefrom. A separator for separating oil and water is placed in the first branch well. In an alternate embodiment, the separator may be contained within the main access well. A second branch well may also extend from the main access well and may contain a disposal assembly that is operatively associated with the separator. The first and second branch wells may intersect the same reservoir or different reservoirs.

Method and apparatus for well bore construction

A method and assembly for completing a well is disclosed. Generally, the method comprises the steps of positioning a stationary string in the well at a first position. The stationary string will have connected thereto a completion device for completing the well to a reservoir and a detachment apparatus for detaching the completion device from the stationary string. The method further comprises the steps of positioning a secondary string in the well, with the secondary string having a cooperating detachment apparatus for detaching the completion member from the stationary string. Next, the completion member is detached from the stationary string and attached to the secondary string, and the completion member is positioned at a second position which corresponds to a hydrocarbon zone. In one embodiment, the stationary string is a production tubing string, and the production tubing is attached to an isolation safety valve member for isolating the well from pressure.

Method of drilling and completing wells

The invention comprises a tool with at least one extending member which causes the fluids moving in the wellbore after perforation to increase in velocity. The velocity is further increased by an auxiliary flowpath which permits the addition of fluid from the surface or from elsewhere in the wellbore or formation to be pumped to mix with the other fluids being produced after perforation. The auxiliary fluid further increases velocity, thus improving the ability of the mixture of formation and auxiliary fluid to entrain debris and remove it from the wellbore.

Method and apparatus for removing debris from a wellbore

An apparatus is provided for use on a subterranean well conduit. The apparatus comprises a cylindrically shaped inner tubular member having an interior and exterior walls. A fluid flow passageway is provided within the interior wall and a fluid flow passage extends from the interior of the tubular member through the exterior wall and in communication with the fluid flow passageway. Retention mesh means are disposed around the exterior of the tubular member and pass across the fluid flow passage means having a fluid flow openings therethrough, the retention mesh means preventing particulate solids in a fluid permeable bed of the apparatus from passing into the fluid flow passage and into the fluid flow passageway through the subterranean conduit. The fluid permeable bed of particulate solids, such as sand, bauxite, glass beads, or the like, is placed around the exterior of the retention mesh and is sized to prevent effectively all particulate matter in the well from passing inwardly through the fluid permeable bed and through the fluid flow passage means and into the fluid flow passageway when the conduit and the apparatus are positioned within the well. A fluid permeable housing is positioned around and exterior of said fluid permeable bed has fluid passages therethrough which are sized to permit well production fluids to pass interiorly through the housing but to prevent effectively all of the particulate solids of the fluid permeable bed from passing exteriorly through the housing and into the well.

Gravel pack screen having retention mesh support and fluid permeable

An apparatus is provided for use on a subterranean well conduit. The apparatus comprises a cylindrically shaped inner tubular member having an interior and exterior walls. A fluid flow passageway is provided within the interior wall and a fluid flow passage extends from the interior of the tubular member through the exterior wall and in communication with the fluid flow passageway. Retention means are disposed around the exterior of the tubular member and pass across the fluid flow passage means having a fluid flow openings therethrough, the retention means preventing particulate solids in a fluid permeable bed of the apparatus from passing into the fluid flow passage and into the fluid flow passageway through the subterranean conduit. The fluid permeable bed of particulate solids, such as sand, bauxite, glass beads, or the like, is placed around the exterior of the retention and is sized to prevent effectively all particulate matter in the well from passing inwardly through the fluid permeable bed and through the fluid flow passage means and into the fluid flow passageway when the conduit and the apparatus are positioned within the well. A fluid permeable housing is positioned around and exterior of said fluid permeable bed has fluid passages therethrough which are sized to permit well production fluids to pass interiorly through the housing but to prevent effectively all of the particulate solids of the fluid permeable bed from passing exteriorly through the housing and into the well. The retention means has a cross-sectionsl area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outer fluid permeable housing and directly interfaces circumferentially around and on and is directly secured to the inner tubular member.

Gravel pack screen having retention means and fluid permeable

A method and device are shown for monitoring the level of particulate matter in a stream of hydrocarbons produced from a well bore. A downstream filter is installed within a surface conduit which communicates with the production conduit for trapping particulate matter in the stream of hydrocarbons passing within the surface conduit. The contents of the downstream filter are sampled over predetermined intervals to determine information regarding the type and amount of particulate matter trapped. The production rate of produced hydrocarbons is adjusted based upon the information gathered.

Surface sand detection monitoring device and method

The invention features a perforating gun, with an external auger, which can be mounted to a tubing string. The auger facilitates removal of the gun after the sand is placed in the perforations. The perforating gun with external auger promotes the clean-up of the debris from the perforations after the gun is shot and facilitates the movement of the gun out of the sand. The sand can be spotted near the perforations without exposure to the formation of any kill fluids. The perforating gun with external auger need not be moved prior to admission of sand into the perforations. The assembly can be used so that preferred fluids, such as stimulating fluids, can be used to circulate the sand until the sand has been spotted adjacent the formation, whereupon the stimulating fluid is squeezed into the formation, leaving the sand in the perforations. The amount of fluid displaced into the formation is minimized and the selection of fluid helps to stimulate the subsequent flow during production.

Perforating gun with auger

An apparatus is provided for use on a subterranean well conduit. The apparatus comprises a cylindrically shaped inner tubular member having an interior and exterior walls. A fluid flow passageway is provided within the interior wall and a fluid flow passage extends from the interior of the tubular member through the exterior wall and in communication with the fluid flow passageway. Retention means are disposed around the exterior of the tubular member and pass across the fluid flow passage means having a fluid flow openings therethrough, the retention means preventing particulate solids in a fluid permeable bed of the apparatus from passing into the fluid flow passage and into the fluid flow passageway through the subterranean conduit. The fluid permeable bed of particulate solids, such as sand, bauxite, glass beads, or the like, is placed around the exterior of the retention and is sized to prevent effectively all particulate matter in the well from passing inwardly through the fluid permeable bed and through the fluid flow passage means and into the fluid flow passageway when the conduit and the apparatus are positioned within the well. A fluid permeable housing is positioned around and exterior of said fluid permeable bed has fluid passages therethrough which are sized to permit well production fluids to pass interiorly through the housing but to prevent effectively all of the particulate solids of the fluid permeable bed from passing exteriorly through the housing and into the well. The retention means has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outer fluid permeable housing and directly interfaces circumferentially around and on and is directly secured to the inner tubular member.

An insulation jacket and method are provided for a tubing carried perforating gun for a subterranean well. A tubular housing is secured at one end to a tubular conduit with a firing head disposed interiorly within the housing. A perforating gun is activated by the firing head and carried by the housing. A tubular heat shield is concentrically disposed around the exterior of the housing and is sealingly secured relative to an end of the housing. An annular area is defined between the interior of the heat shield and the exterior of the housing with a fluid passageway extending from the interior of the housing through the annular area and communicating with the exterior of the heat shield. The heat shield configuration may also be utilized to provide an annular wash area for washing particulate matter away from the perforating gun as it is being introduced into the well. A cooling fluid may be introduced into the well during or incremental to running of the tubing into the well and circulated through the fluid passageway.

Tubing carried perforating gun with insulation jacket

A method and apparatus for effecting the completion of non-vertical, including horizontally disposed, portions of a deviated well bore traversing a production formation. To facilitate the insertion of a gravel packing tool string through the curved portion of the well bore, stabilizer elements are maintained in a radially retracted position and then operated to engage the well bore after the tool string is run-in. An anti-rotation tool may be incorporated for connecting the work string to the left hand threads conventionally provided on a conventional packer in order to permit rotation of the entire tool string to facilitate passage through the curved portion of the well bore. Two gravel packing modifications are disclosed, the one employing a single packer and a cross-over tool located at the top end of a plurality of serially connected screens. In the other modification, a plurality of gravel packing sections, including stabilizers, screens, a sleeve valve housing and a packer are serially connected together and run-in. A cross-over tool is then inserted by a separate tubular work string to be initially positioned adjacent the lowermost packer to accomplish the packing of the lowermost screens and then moved to the next packer to successively effect the gravel packing of all of the gravel packing sections.

Method for completing a non-vertical portion of a subterranean well bore

A method and apparatus for effecting the completion of non-vertical, including horizontally disposed, portions of a deviated well bore traversing a production formation. To facilitate the insertion of a gravel packing tool string through the curved portion of the well bore, stabilizer elements are maintained in a radially retracted position and then operated to engage the well bore after the tool string is run-in. An anti-rotation tool may be incorporated for connecting the work string to the left hand threads conventionally provided on a conventional packer in order to permit rotation of the entire tool string to facilitate passage through the curved portion of the well bore. Two gravel packing modifications are disclosed, the one employing a single packer and a cross-over tool located at the top end of a plurality of serially connected screens. In the order modification, a plurality of gravel packing sections, including stabilizers, screens, a sleeve valve housing and a packer are serially connected together and run-in. A cross-over tool is then inserted by a separate tubular work string to be initially positioned adjacent the lowermost packer to accomplish the packing of the lowermost screens and then moved to the next packer to successively effect the gravel packing of all of the gravel packing sections.

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Joseph F Donovan