Method for setting hydraulic packers that enable placement of gravel pack in a downhole oil and gas well

• US 5,620,050 A
• Filed: 12/28/1994
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Phil Barbee
• Inventors: Barbee, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hoang C.
• Application Number:
  US08/365,357
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 166/387, 166/120, 166/126, 166/77, 166/278, 166/51
• US Class Current: 166/278
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1294 characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1295 actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/04 Gravelling of wells

Abstract

A hydraulic oil and gas well downhole packer apparatus for use in a well casing below a wellhead and in combination with a coil tubing unit provides a tool body having a longitudinally extending tool bore and an upper end portion that connects to the lower free end of the coiled tubing unit during use. The tool body includes an inner elongated hollow mandrel with a hydraulic piston movable disposed upon the external surface of the mandrel. The piston is movable between an initial "running" position and a final "setting" position. An external sleeve is engaged by the piston when it moves between the running and setting positions, the external sleeve engaging slips that expand to anchor the tool body to the well casing. An annular packer member is expandable responsive to sliding movement of the external sleeve and is positioned below the slips for forming a seal between the tool body and the casing at a position near the lower end portion of the tool body.

Claims

1. A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well with a circulating gravel pack, said well having a wellhead at the earth'"'"'s surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, comprising the steps of:

a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead;

b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand;

c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing;

d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal;

e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal;

f) circulating the carrying fluid back to the earth'"'"'s surface via a channel that extends through the tool body from below the packer to a position above the packer;

g) wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve; and

h) further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips before transmitting gravel or coarse sand to the packer.

2. A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth'"'"'s surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, with a circulating gravel pack comprising the steps of:

a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead;

b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand;

c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing;

d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal;

e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal;

f) circulating the carrying fluid back to the earth'"'"'s surface via a channel that extends through the tool body from below the packer to a position above the packer; and

g) wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of expanding the packer and wherein the packer includes an annular resilient member that expands upon activation of the packer.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of screening carrying fluid that enters the well annulus and returning the screened fluid to the wellhead area.

5. A method of setting a packer in an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth'"'"'s surface and a well annulus defined by a well casing, comprising the steps of;

a) lowering a tool body that includes a packer into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead;

b) placing the packer in the well annulus and at a selected elevational position of the well casing;

c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing;

d) using shear pins to activate the packer in step "c" wherein coil tubing pressure is used to shear one or more pins;

e) applying tension to an upper end portion of the tool body; and

f) wherein in step "e", linkage in the tool body deactivates the packer responsive to tension that is applied to the upper end portion of the tool body.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein step "c" further comprises expanding the packer and wherein the packer includes an annular resilient member that expands upon activation of the packer.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the packer member has a valving member below the annular seal in step "c" and further comprising the step of transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid to the well annulus via the coil tubing, packer and valving member.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the valving member so that the gravel, coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal element.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of screening carrying fluid that enters the well annulus and returning the screened fluid to the wellhead area.

11. A method of gravel packing an oil and gas well having a wellhead at the earth'"'"'s surface, a well annulus, and a well casing, with a circulating gravel pack comprising the steps of:

a) lowering a tool body having a packer and a valving member into the well casing on a coil tubing string that includes a straight portion disposed in the well casing and a coiled portion on a reel that is positioned at the wellhead;

b) placing the tool body in the well casing and at a selected elevational position of the well casing to be packed with gravel or coarse sand;

c) activating the packer to form an annular seal against the casing by elevating pressure in the coil tubing;

d) opening the valving member at a position below the annular seal;

e) transmitting gravel or coarse sand in a carrying fluid via the coil tubing and packer bore to the opened valving member so that the gravel or coarse sand and carrying fluid enters the well annulus below the seal; and

f) using a return channel within the tool body and that extends above the seal to recirculate the carrying fluid from the bottom of the tool body back to the earth'"'"'s surface.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips before transmitting gravel or coarse sand to the packer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein in step "d" the valving member is a flapper type valve.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of expanding the packer and wherein the packer includes an annular resilient member that expands upon activation of the packer.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of screening the carrying fluid at a position near the bottom of the tool body and returning the screened carrying fluid to the wellhead area.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of anchoring the packer to the casing with slips.