Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Halliburton Company

Peter A Duhon

Kennedy J Brown

Byron D Mullen

Methods and apparatus provide desired levels of continuous fluid pressure in a portion of a wellbore during completion operations. In a described embodiment, a method permits continuous fluid communication between a tubular string extending to the earth's surface and a portion of a wellbore below a packer during testing of the packer. This fluid communication enables a desired fluid pressure to be continually applied to a filter cake lining the portion of the wellbore, to aid in preventing compromise of the filter cake and possible collapse of the wellbore portion. A packer test device included in the apparatus permits such fluid communication during testing of the packer.

Apparatus and methods for completing a subterranean well

A fluid loss device has a housing, a seal assembly, a running tool, and a plug. The housing of the fluid loss device is placed in a production string before a well bore is completed. The plug is attached to the running tool, and the running tool is attached to a wash pipe. The fluid loss device is activated by lifting the wash pipe and the running tool, thereby engaging the plug with the seal assembly, engaging the seal assembly with the housing, and severing the plug from the running tool. Activation of the fluid loss device inhibits fluid communication through the fluid loss device and reduces damage to the well structure behind the fluid loss device while completion operations are performed in other areas of the well bore. The fluid loss device is deactivated by forcing the plug through the fluid loss device with mechanical force or pressure, or by chemically eroding the diameter of the plug until the plug passes through the fluid loss device. Once the fluid loss device is deactivated, the isolated area of the well bore is reopened for access through the production string.

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Harvey, LA, United States of America

Peter A Duhon