Tools and methods for use in completion of a wellbore

• US 10,344,561 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc. (NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc. (NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Getzlaf, Donald, Stromquist, Marty, Nipper, Robert, Willems, Timothy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coy, Nicole
• Application Number:
  US14/855,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20160003003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/00 Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1085 Wear protectors; Blast joints; Hard facing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/20 Flexible or articulated drilling pipes , e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/01 for anchoring the tools or the like E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/02 for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/127 with inflatable sleeve E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/129 with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/134 Bridging plugs
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/063 Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc E21B34/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/14 operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools E21B34/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/00 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells applicable only to water E03B
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/114 Perforators using direct fluid action on the wall to be perforated, e.g. abrasive jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 : Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 : by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 : reinforcing fractures by propping
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 : Measuring temperature or pressure

Abstract

A ported tubular is provided for use in casing a wellbore, to permit selective access to the adjacent formation during completion operations. A system and method for completing a wellbore using the ported tubular are also provided. Ports within the wellbore casing may be opened, isolated, or otherwise accessed to deliver treatment to the formation through the ports, using a tool assembly deployed on tubing or wireline.

Claims

1. A ported tubular configured for installation in a casing string comprising a plurality of casing joints having a nominal inside diameter for a wellbore to provide selective access to the adjacent formation, the ported tubular comprising:

a tubular housing comprising one or more lateral fluid flow ports within a section of the tubular housing having a first length and a larger inside diameter than the nominal inside diameter of the casing joints, the tubular housing adapted for installation within a wellbore;

a port closure sleeve disposed against the tubular housing within the section having a larger inside diameter and slidable with respect to the tubular housing to open and close the ports, the port closure sleeve having a second length less than the first length thereby creating a radially enlarged annular space within the section having a larger inside diameter and adjacent an end of the port closure sleeve; and

a locating profile below and adjacent the port closure sleeve configured to engage a shifting tool within the tubular housing, the locating profile consisting essentially of the radially enlarged annular space,

wherein the port closure sleeve consists essentially of a tubular having a first end surface, an opposing second end surface, and a cylindrical wall extending from the first end surface to the second end surface, the cylindrical wall having a single, invariant, inside diameter that is not less than the nominal inside diameter of the casing joints.

2. The ported tubular as in claim 1, wherein the locating profile comprises a profiled surface along the innermost surface of the tubular housing, the profiled surface sized and configured for engaging a location device carried on a shifting tool deployable on tubing string.

3. The ported tubular as in claim 1, wherein the locating profile is detectable by a wireline logging tool.

4. The ported tubular as in claim 1, wherein the port closure sleeve has an inner surface that is free of any engagement profile.

5. The ported tubular as in claim 1, further comprising

a braking mechanism for deceleration of the sliding sleeve within the tubular housing.

6. The ported tubular as in claim 5, wherein the tubular housing comprises an interference profile engageable with the sliding sleeve.

7. The ported tubular as in claim 1, wherein the tubular housing comprises a shoulder defining an axial limit to the extent of movement of the sliding sleeve within the tubular housing.

8. The ported tubular as in claim 7, wherein the sliding sleeve is tapered at a leading edge for abutment against the shoulder.

9. The ported tubular as in claim 7, wherein the internal diameter of the tubular housing narrows towards the shoulder to provide an interference fit between the tapered leading edge of the sliding sleeve and the shoulder of the tubular housing.