IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,441,454
Granted Patent B2
US 9,441,454 · App. 13/738,713 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Gravel pack apparatus having actuated valves

Inventors: John P. Broussard (Kingwood, TX); Christopher A. Hall (Cypress, TX); Ronald van Petegem (Montgomery, TX)
Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
E21B34/06E21B43/045E21B43/08E21B2034/002E21B2034/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,441,454
App. No.
13/738,713
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device and method allows a bore valve in the washpipe and in certain instances a port valve or sliding sleeve to open or close upon command from the surface so that gravel slurry may be placed in a wellbore.

Claims (41)

1. A gravel packing apparatus for a well having a screen assembly disposed in the well, the screen assembly having an interior, an outlet, and a screen, the apparatus comprising:

a tool having an internal passage and defining first and second ports, the tool positioning in the interior of the screen assembly, the first and second ports configured to communicate the internal passage of the tool with the interior of the screen assembly, the first port placed in communication with the screen, the second port placed in communication with the outlet;

a first valve disposed on the tool and controlling fluid communication through the internal passage;

a second valve disposed on the tool and controlling fluid communication through the second port;

a third valve disposed on the tool and controlling fluid communication directly between first and second points outside the tool on both sides of an intermediate position between the first and second points at which the tool positions in the interior of the screen assembly, the first point being outside the tool and uphole of the interior of the screen assembly, the second point being outside the tool and inside the interior of the screen assembly;

a signal receiver disposed on the tool; and

at least one actuator disposed on the tool and operating the first, second, and third valves in response to the signal receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a linear or rotary actuator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises:

a first rotated position relative to the internal passage of the tool and allowing fluid flow through the internal passage of the tool; and

a second rotated position relative to the internal passage of the tool and preventing flow through the internal passage of the tool.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a butterfly valve or a ball valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal receiver comprises a radio frequency identification device receiver or a pressure pulse receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second valve comprises:

a first linear position relative to the internal passage of the tool and preventing fluid flow through the second port in the tool; and

a second linear position relative to the internal passage of the tool and allowing fluid flow through the second port in the tool.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second valve comprises a sliding sleeve disposed in the internal passage of the tool and movable between the first and second positions, the sliding sleeve in the first position closing the second port, the sliding sleeve in the second position opening the second port.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a crossover passage communicating the internal passage of the tool downhole of the second port with outside the tool uphole of the second port.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a first configuration having the first valve opened and having the second valve closed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a second configuration having the first valve closed and having the second valve opened.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tool in a reverse circulation configuration has the first valve closed, the second valve opened, and the third valve opened, the third valve communicating reverse circulation from outside the tool uphole of the interior of the screen assembly to outside the tool inside the interior of the screen assembly, the second valve communicating the reverse circulation from inside the interior of the screen assembly into the internal passage of the tool.

12. A method of communicating fluid in a well having a screen assembly disposed in the well, the screen assembly having an interior, an outlet, and a screen, the method comprising:

positioning a tool into the interior of the screen assembly, the tool having an internal passage, a first port in communication with the screen, and a second port in communication with the outlet;

communicating one or more signals downhole to the tool; and

configuring the tool with the one or more signals by:

actuating a first valve on the tool to control fluid communication through the internal passage of the tool,

actuating a second valve on the tool to control fluid communication through the second port in the tool; and

actuating a third valve on the tool to control fluid communication directly between first and second points outside the tool on both sides of an intermediate position between the first and second points at which the tool positions in the interior of the screen assembly, the first point being outside the tool and uphole of the interior of the screen assembly, the second point being outside the tool and inside the interior of the screen assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the tool into the interior of the screen assembly comprises sealing the second port on the tool in fluid communication with the outlet on the screen assembly.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein communicating the one or more signals downhole to the tool comprises communicating the one or more signals with one or more radio frequency identification devices or pressure pulses.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein actuating the first valve on the tool to control fluid communication through the internal passage of the tool comprises preventing fluid flow from the first port through the internal passage by closing the first valve.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein actuating the first valve on the tool to control fluid communication through the internal passage of the tool comprises allowing fluid flow from the first port through the internal passage by opening the first valve.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein actuating the second valve on the tool to control fluid communication through the second port of the tool comprises preventing fluid flow between the internal passage and the second port by closing the second valve.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein actuating the second valve on the tool to control fluid communication through the second port of the tool comprises allowing fluid flow from the internal passage through the second port by opening the second valve.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising permitting fluid communication of the internal passage downhole of the second port with outside the tool uphole of the second port.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein configuring the tool with the one or more signals comprises configuring the tool for run-in into the screen assembly by actuating the first valve opened, and actuating the second valve closed.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein configuring the tool with the one or more signals comprises configuring the tool for gravel pack in the screen assembly by actuating the first valve closed, and actuating the second valve opened.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein configuring the tool with the one or more signals comprises configuring the tool for reverse circulation by having the first valve closed, the second valve opened, and the third valve opened.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:

communicating reverse circulation outside the tool uphole of the interior of the screen assembly through the opened third valve to outside the tool inside the interior of the screen assembly, and

communicating the reverse circulation from inside the interior of the screen assembly through the opened second valve into the internal passage of the tool.

Assignments (10)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034526/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2013
From: HALL, CHRISTOPHER A.; VAN PETEGEM, RONALD
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 029880/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: BROUSSARD, JOHN P.
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 029607/0245 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 13661710 · Oct 26, 2012
Related Publication 20140116693A1 · May 1, 2014