Baker International Inc.

Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Oil Tools, Inc.

Atlantic Richfield Company

Phillip W Schmuck

John V Salerni

Gregg W Stout

Joseph F Donovan

Steven Rowell Hayter

James R Zachman

Charles W Kinney

Floyd L Scott, Jr

John W Kenneday

H Mitchell Cornette

Michael J Naquin, Sr

Rodney J Wetzel

An apparatus and method for installation of oil field tubulars, such as liners, is disclosed. The invention allows positioning of a liner with assurances that rotational forces or pressure applied within or outside the work string will not actuate the packer or the release assembly above the packer. Specific deliberate steps must be taken in order that rotational forces or applied pressure actuate the packer setting assembly and the disconnect assembly. The preliminary deliberate steps which must be taken also incorporate a feature of converting a gravel pack crossover assembly from the flow through mode to the crossover mode to facilitate the gravel placement. Circulation or reverse circulation to promote removal of debris upon insertion of the assembly without fear of actuation of the packer and disconnect assembly are also provided. A retention system to ensure the continuing functioning of the crossover assembly in the crossover mode is provided such that if differential forces on the sealing member are reduced to a very low value, the retaining mechanism acts to keep the sealing member against the seat to ensure continuing viability of operation of the crossover assembly during the placement of gravel. The unlocking is accomplished with a series of steps which involve reuse of an auxiliary sealing member in at least two positions in the wellbore.

Failsafe liner installation assembly and method

An apparatus and method for installation of oil field tubulars, such as liners, is disclosed. The invention allows positioning of a liner with assurances that rotational forces or pressure applied within or outside the work string will actuate the packer or the release assembly above the packer. Specific deliberate steps must be taken in order that rotational forces or applied pressure actuate the packer setting assembly and the disconnect assembly. The preliminary deliberate steps which must be taken also incorporate a feature of converting a gravel pack crossover assembly from the flow through mode to the crossover mode to facilitate the gravel placement. Circulation or reverse circulation to promote removal debris upon insertion of the assembly without fear of actuation of the packer and disconnect assembly are also provided. A retention system to ensure the continuing functioning of the crossover assembly in the crossover mode is provided such that if differential forces on the sealing member are reduced to a very low value, the retaining mechanism acts to keep the sealing member against the seat to ensure continuing viability of operation of the crossover assembly during the placement of gravel. The unlocking is accomplished with a series of steps which invoice reuse of an auxiliary sealing member in at least two positions in the wellbore.

An auger gravel pack assembly for installation in a gravel packed well includes a fluid loss control closure member retained in a body disposed in a tubing assembly or 'work string' between the gravel pack screen and a running tool and cup-packer assembly. A ball-type closure member is retained by releasable fingers connected to a piston which is responsive to fluid pressure applied through the work string to effect release of the closure ball to engage a seat and substantially prevent flow of fluid from the work string or the wellbore annulus into and through the gravel pack screen after installation of the screen into the gravel pack. Ports in the assembly above the closure member allow fluid to flow between the wellbore annulus and the work string to prevent pressure buildup between the gravel pack and the cup-packer during installation of the screen.

Fluid loss control system for gravel pack assembly

A well servicing assembly utilizes a plug mechanism for preventing fluid loss into a formation. The assembly includes a string of tubing which carries a packer, a perforating gun, a running tool, and a latch assembly. After perforating, the operator pulls the tubing upward, leaving the packer in place. The latch assembly engages the packer. The latch assembly has a plug contained therein which prevents downward flow of fluid through the packer as the tubing string is retrieved to the surface. After removing the perforating gun, the tubing string may be again lowered and re-engaged with the latch assembly. The latch assembly may be then repositioned below the packer.

Well fluid loss plug assembly and method

A method and apparatus for effecting the assembly and arming a multisection perforating gun for a subterranean well. Each of the gun sections has a plurality of vertically and angularly spaced shaped charge containers disposed with the primer ends located in concentric fashion about the vertical axis of the gun, thus defining an axial passage communicating with the bores of hollow nipples which respectively effect securement of one gun section to the next adjacent gun section. In one modification, a continuous primer cord is stored on a reel below the lowermost gun section and is then pulled successively upwardly through each of the additional gun sections as they are assembled. In another modification, each of the gun sections is provided with a length of fusible guide tubing interposed between the inner primer ends of all of such shaped charges and the continuous length of primer cord is fed downwardly through the axial passage defined by such guide tubing. During assembly of the gun sections, they may be successively lowered into the well so that when assembly is complete, all of the shaped charges are below the well surface before the gun is armed by the attachment of the primer cord to a booster charge.

Boosterless perforating gun

Boosterless perforating gun and method of assembly

The invention provides a method and apparatus for effecting the perforating of a well casing and the gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing with one trip into the well of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus. This desirable objective is accomplished by a design of the crossover mandrel normally employed in gravel packing apparatus. The mandrel disclosed herein provides, in its run-in position, a continuous axial passage through its entire length, permitting a detonating bar to be dropped therethrough to actuate a perforating gun. Subsequent to the perforation operation, a ball is dropped and seated on an annular sleeve carried within the hollow mandrel which permits the development of internal pressure within the mandrel. Such internal pressure is employed not only to effect the setting of a fluid pressure actuated packer but also to shift the ball supporting sleeve downwardly and uncover a crossover port in the mandrel which permits the gravel packing operation to be carried out conventionally.

One trip perforating and gravel pack system

A method and apparatus are provided for effecting the automatic closing of the bore of a subterranean well conduit upon the withdrawal of a tubular work string or production string from the conduit and the reopening of such bore upon the reinsertion of a tubular string. A biased shiftable valving element is held in an open position by an actuator sleeve which is operatively connected to an inserted tubular string so as to move with such string only a limited distance during either the insertion or the withdrawal movement thereof and permits the valving element to close when the inserted tubular string is withdrawn to prevent fluid remaining in the well from draining into the formation. When the shiftable valve is in a closed position, fluid conduit means divert any fluid pressure building up above the closed position of the valve to a piston element, disposed below the valve, which produces a force on the valve opposing the effects of such pressure build up and maintaining the valve in the closed position until the subsequent insertion of a tubular work string or production string.

Formation protection valve apparatus and method

Apparatus is provided for running, setting and anchoring a liner in a well bore casing, comprising inner and outer bodies with expander and gripping means carried on the bodies to provide means for gripping engagement with casing. A running tool is secured to the bodies and defines drag means thereon to resist longitudinal travel while the apparatus is being mechanically set. A piston element is carried on the running tool and is responsive to fluid pressure entrappable in a piston pressure chamber to hydraulically set the hanger. Mechanical setting means are provided and may be activated to set the hanger upon failure of the hydraulic activation means.

Hydraulically set liner hanger and running tool with backup mechanical

An apparatus and method are provided for running, setting and anchoring a liner in a well bore casing, said apparatus being connectable to a tubular member extendible to the top of the well. The apparatus comprises an inner longitudinally extending body with an outer longitudinally extending body being around the inner body. Connection means on one of said inner and outer bodies are provided for connection of a liner extending below the apparatus. Expander means are carried on one of the inner and outer bodies, with gripping means being carried on the other of the inner and outer bodies. The gripping means are engagable with the expander means such that the gripping means are shifted into gripping engagement with the casing. A manipulatable tubular running tool is releasably secured to the inner and outer bodies. Drag means are mounted on the running tool and are slidable longitudinally along the casing, the drag means resisting longitudinal travel of the apparatus while in the well bore with sufficient frictional force to support the weight of one of the inner and outer bodies therebelow. Disengaging means are provided for selective disengagement of the running tool from the inner and outer bodies. Setting means are carried on the running tool and are operably associated with the drag means, the setting means being responsive to manipulation of the running tool to longitudinally shift one of the inner and outer bodies with respect to the other of the inner and outer bodies to anchor the liner to the casing. Wiper means selectively disengagable from the running tool are provided together with means for disengagement of the wiper means from the running tool. Side seal means are carried on the running tool to detect disengagementof the running tool from the inner and outer bodies.

Growing community of inventors

New Waverly, TX, United States of America

Phillip W Schmuck