Method and apparatus for formation isolation in a well
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore that passes through a formation, comprising:
- a flow conduit capable of receiving a fluid flow from the formation; and
an isolation system coupled to the flow conduit and comprising;
a housing having one or more side ports; and
one or more uni-directional flow control devices mounted in the corresponding one or more side ports, the uni-directional flow control devices being adapted to be opened by fluid flow from the formation and to be closed by pressure from a fluid column in the flow conduit when the fluid flow is shut off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An isolation system and method for use in a wellbore that passes through a formation includes a flow conduit capable of receiving a fluid flow from the formation and an isolation system coupled to the flow conduit and including one or more uni-directional flow control devices. Each uni-directional flow control device may be ball-type check valve, plate-type check valve, and flapper-type check valve. The one or more uni-directional flow control devices are adapted to be opened by fluid flow from the formation and to be closed by pressure from a fluid column in the flow conduit when the fluid flow is shut off. In another arrangement, an isolation system and method includes a valve, a string having a flow conduit (e.g., tubing, flow tube, etc.) and a lower end, and an actuation tool (e.g., a shifting tool) attached to the lower end of the string and adapted to operate the valve if the string is lowered into or raised out of the wellbore.
102 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore that passes through a formation, comprising:
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a flow conduit capable of receiving a fluid flow from the formation; and
an isolation system coupled to the flow conduit and comprising;
a housing having one or more side ports; and
one or more uni-directional flow control devices mounted in the corresponding one or more side ports, the uni-directional flow control devices being adapted to be opened by fluid flow from the formation and to be closed by pressure from a fluid column in the flow conduit when the fluid flow is shut off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
a tubular housing having an inner bore, the one or more uni-directional flow control devices mounted in the tubular housing, the one or more flow control devices adapted to enable fluid flow between an annular region outside the housing and the housing inner bore.
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9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the isolation system comprises plural uni-directional flow control devices, and wherein the housing comprises plural side ports.
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10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an isolation valve that is positioned downstream of the one or more uni-directional flow control devices and that is actuatable to an open position, the isolation valve having a path through which an intervention tool is passable.
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11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the isolation valve comprises a ball valve.
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12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a removable plug positioned downstream of the one or more uni-directional flow control devices.
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13. An apparatus for use in a wellbore that passes through a formation, comprising:
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a flow conduit capable of receiving a fluid flow from the formation; and
an isolation system coupled to the flow conduit and comprising one or more uni-directional flow control devices, the uni-directional flow control devices being adapted to be opened by fluid flow from the formation and to be closed by pressure from a fluid column in the flow conduit when the fluid flow is shut off, wherein each of the one or more flow control devices includes a housing having one or more side ports and an inner bore, one or more check valves to control fluid flow through the one or more side ports to or from the inner bore, and at least one sleeve moveable by fluid pressure in the inner bore to sealably cover the one or more side ports. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for use in a wellbore that passes through a formation, comprising:
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an isolation device for positioning in the wellbore above the formation, the isolation device having a housing and one or more uni-directional flow restrictors, the housing having an inner bore extending along an entire length of the isolation device, the inner bore unobstructed by the one or more uni-directional flow restrictors, the one or more flow restrictors adapted to open in response to fluid flow from the formation and to close in response to fluid pressure in an opposite direction, and the isolation device further comprising a valve provided to control flow through the inner bore, the valve in the open position providing full bore access through the inner bore and the valve in the closed position to block fluid flow through the inner bore. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of operating a well, comprising:
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generating fluid flow through an isolation apparatus having one or more uni-directional flow devices from a formation into a flow conduit during normal operation, the isolation apparatus having an inner bore unobstructed by the one or more uni-directional flow devices;
applying a pressure in the well to close the one or more uni-directional flow devices to isolate the formation; and
running an intervention tool through the isolation apparatus inner bore and past the one or more uni-directional flow devices. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:
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a flow conduit capable of receiving a fluid flow from the formation; and
an isolation system coupled to the flow conduit and including one or more uni-directional flow control devices, wherein each of the one or more flow control devices includes a housing having one or more side ports and an inner bore, one or more check valves to control fluid flow through the one or more side ports to or from the inner bore, and at least one sleeve moveable by fluid pressure in the inner bore to sealably cover the one or more side ports, the one or more uni-directional flow control devices being adapted to be opened by fluid flow from the formation and to be closed by pressure from a fluid column in the flow conduit when the fluid flow is shut off. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An apparatus for use in a wellbore that passes through a formation, comprising:
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a flow conduit capable of receiving a fluid flow from the formation;
an isolation system coupled to the flow conduit and comprising one or more uni-directional flow control devices, the uni-directional flow control devices being adapted to be opened by fluid flow from the formation and to be closed by pressure from a fluid column in the flow conduit when the fluid flow is shut off; and
a pump adapted to create fluid flow from the formation into the flow conduit, wherein each of the one or more uni-directional flow control devices is selected from the group consisting of a plate-type check valve and a flapper-type check valve. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification