Baker Hughes Corporation

Robert D Morton

Christian F Bayne

Perry Douglas Baycroft

Rami J Jasser

Multiple producing zones separated by a non-producing zone are gravel packed together. The non-producing zone has locations to take returns so as to get a consistent pack in the non-producing zone. The production string features external seals and/or an internal plug so that no matter which producing zone is aligned to produce, the screens in the non-producing zone are selectively isolated so that the producing zone that is not intended to be produced has only the path through the gravel pack to get to the actual zone being produced. Since the annulus can be long and full of gravel this path will make flow from the zone that is not of interest minimal into the flow from the zone of interest without using a packer between pairs of spaced apart producing zones.

Multiple zone isolation method

A downhole valve features a flow port that can be selectively obstructed by a pressure actuated sleeve that is movable in a pin and slot mechanism to rotate while being cycled up and down by application and removal of pressure in a cyclical manner. When the sleeve is cycled to the port closed position, a flapper mounted near its upper end can fall on a seat on the sleeve to allow pressure to be applied to the flapper and sleeve, causing the sleeve to move to a position that will prevent fluid loss from the tubular string into the formation. The Closed flapper allows pressure cycles of the sleeve. A double closure against fluid loss can be affected.

Multi-purpose pressure operated downhole valve

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.

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Kingwood, TX, United States of America

Robert D Morton