Tools and methods for use in completion of a wellbore

• US 8,794,331 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc. (NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ncs Oilfield Services Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Getzlaf, Donald, Stromquist, Marty, Nipper, Robert, Willems, Timothy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): COY, NICOLE A
• Application Number:
  US13/100,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20120090847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 166/334.1, 166/319
• US Class Current: 166/334.1
• 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.

Claims

1. A ported tubular for installation within 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, the housing adapted for installation within a wellbore;

a port closure sleeve disposed against the tubular housing and slidable with respect to the housing, the port closure sleeve shiftable between a first, upper position relative to the housing and a second, lower position relative to the housing to open and close the ports, 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; and

a location profile configured to position a shifting tool within the housing with respect to the port closure sleeve, wherein the location profile is collapsed when the sleeve is shifted to the second, lower position to open the ports.

2. The ported tubular as in claim 1, wherein the location profile comprises a profiled surface along an innermost surface of the housing or sleeve, the profiled surface sized and spaced to mechanically engage a location device carried on a shifting tool deployed on tubing string.

3. The ported tubular as in claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of the cylindrical wall of the port closure sleeve tubular;

is not less than a minimum inside diameter of tubular segments adjacent the ported tubular segment.

4. The ported tubular as recited in claim 1, wherein the location profile is positioned below the port closure sleeve.

5. The ported tubular as recited in claim 1, wherein the port closure sleeve is secured to the housing in the closed position by at least one shear pin.

6. The ported tubular as recited in claim 1, wherein the port closure sleeve is configured to shift in a downhole direction to open the fluid flow ports.

7. A ported tubular for installation within 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, the housing adapted for installation within a wellbore;

a port closure sleeve disposed against the tubular housing and slidable with respect to the housing to open and close the ports, 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; and

a trap ring comprising an engageable profile along the inner surface of the tubular housing configured to engage a lock ring coupled to an adjacent surface of the sleeve, the trap ring configured to lock a slided position of the sleeve with respect to the housing.

8. The ported tubular as recited in claim 7, wherein the lock ring cornprises a snap ring.

9. The ported tubular as recited in claim 7, wherein the port closure sleeve is secured to the housing in the dosed position by at least one shear pin.

10. The ported tubular as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one end surface of the port closure sleeve is planar and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;

of the port closure sleeve.

11. The ported tubular as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one end surface of the port closure sleeve is beveled.