Abstract: A downhole shut-in tool includes in one aspect a pilot valve which when opened places a differential pressure across a piston which in turn operably engages a shut-in valve element to close the shut-in tool. An electronic timer assembly and electric drive motor are provided for controlling the action of the pilot valve. The drive motor is controlled by a load sensor which senses that the motor has stalled when an actuator engages a movement limiting abutment. In another aspect a pilot value is provided which can selectively communicate the pressure differential across the piston so as to repeatedly open and close the shut-in valve element. Efficient methods of drawdown and buildup testing using such an automated multiple operating shut-in tool are provided. Associated automated sampling tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic setting apparatus has an isolation sleeve which covers setting ports and prevents entry of hydraulic setting fluid into a pressure settable tool such as an inflatable packer or a hydraulic packer. The mandrel of the setting tool is mechanically coupled to the mandrel of the pressure settable completion tool by a guide tube which provides an enlarged counterbore chamber. The guide tube is intersected by radial setting ports which permit entry of the pressurized fluid for pressurizing a hydraulic pressure chamber in the completion tool. A shiftable isolation sleeve opens and closes the setting ports. A radially outwardly biased split C-ring is engaged against the bore of the isolation sleeve. Longitudinal travel of the split C-ring is limited by a shear collar which is releasably pinned to the isolation sleeve.

Abstract: A coiled tubing conveyed sampling apparatus includes an actuator housing having a housing interior and having a proximal housing end including a connector for connecting the housing to a coiled tubing string so that a tubing bore of the coiled tubing string is communicated with the housing interior. A one-way check valve is disposed in the housing interior and allows well fluid from the well bore to fill the tubing bore of the coiled tubing string as the sampling apparatus is run into the well. The check valve isolates the tubing bore of the coiled tubing string from the well when pressure in the tubing bore exceeds pressure in the well. A sampling tool is attached to a lower end of the actuator housing.

Abstract: A modular perforating gun system for use in perforating a well. The system comprises a lower perforating gun module or section which may be supported in a variety of ways adjacent to a well formation to be perforated. The system further comprises at least one additional perforating gun module or section which is positioned above the lower perforating gun module. After firing, any number of the perforating gun modules may be individually retrieved from the wellbore without killing the well and subsequently replaced as necessary.

Abstract: A production nipple is suspended within an uncased bore hole in a slimhole/monobore completion. A deposit of cement is conveyed through the nipple and is spotted in the annulus across the face of the uncased well bore, with the nipple and cement deposit thereafter being perforated by a small diameter perforating gun. The production nipple has a thin walled section which is characterized by reduced resistance to perforation by a shaped explosive charge. The perforating gun is accurately positioned in registration with the dedicated nipple section by an annular locator slot formed on a coupling sub, which is engagable by a resilient latch arm carried by the perforating gun.

Abstract: An electromechanical detector structure is used to sense and log the joints in a downhole jointed tubular structure, such as a well bore casing or production tubing, in a subterranean well. The detector is lowered into the tubular structure on an elongated positioning member, representatively a slick line, through a series of joints to be logged, and then pulled upwardly through the joints. As the detector passes upwardly through each joint it electromagnetically senses the joint and responsively generates an electric output signal. The output signal is used to momentarily drive a drag structure portion of the detector into forcible, motion inhibiting contact with the interior surface of the tubular structure. This, in turn, momentarily creates a detectable tension increase in the elongated positioning member.

Abstract: A hydraulic release mechanism for retrieving a stock downhole tool from a well casing having an elongated, cylindrical jack body, a piston carried in a bore in the jack body and a latching portion carried co-axially by the jack body for connecting with the stock tool. The piston is movable within the jack body under the influence of fluid pressure from a first position to a second position. The movement of the piston to a position intermediate its first and second positions causes an anchor slip member to ramp over a wedge member and expand radially outward against the well casing to restrain further longitudinal movement of the piston in the casing. A shearable element prevents relative motion between the anchor slip member and the jack body until the anchor slip member is moved radially outward against the well casing.

Abstract: A subsurface well flow control system includes a series of movable sleeve type flow control devices installed in a well flow conductor at various fluid-containing fracture zones, and a shifter tool movable through the conductor and operable to selectively shift any selected number of the sleeve portions of the flow control devices, in either direction between their open and closed positions, without removing the tool from the conductor. Radially retractable anchor and shifter key sets are carried in side wall openings of the tool body, and are respectively configured to be lockingly engaged with interior side surface groove sets on the body and movable sleeve portions of any of the flow control devices. The key sets are spring-biased radially outwardly toward extended positions, and an electromechanical drive system disposed within the tool body is operative to radially retract the key sets, and to axially drive the shifter key set toward or away from the anchor key set.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing multiple operations on a well in response to multiple fluid pressure increases. The system includes first and second pressure actuated firing heads and a source of actuating fluid pressure for the firing heads. A first selective communication device is provided for isolating the second firing head from the source of actuating fluid pressure until after the first firing head has been actuated and for then communicating the second firing head with the source of actuating fluid pressure in response to actuation of the first firing head. This system is particularly adapted for allowing pressure testing of a well upon a first fluid pressure increase, followed by perforation of the well upon a second fluid pressure increase.

Abstract: Methods of controlling a downhole tool in a well are disclosed wherein pressure change signals are introduced into a column of fluid standing in the well. The command signal includes at least one high level pressure change applied to the column of fluid. The high level pressure change includes a change from a first value to a second value, with the second value being at least about 1,000 psi above hydrostatic pressure of the column of fluid in the well, and with pressure being maintained at the second value for an interval of time corresponding to information stored in a control system of the downhole valve. A number of suitable command signal formats are disclosed, particularly including pressure drop signals.

Abstract: The flow apertures of a perforated mandrel are temporarily sealed by plugs which are made of a sacrificial material, for example, zinc, aluminum and magnesium. The sacrificial plugs prevent dirty completion fluid from passing through and in and out of the screen as it is run into the hole, thereby protecting the screen from plugging. During the time the screen mandrel is temporarily sealed by the sacrificial plugs, cleaning fluid is circulated through a work string and is returned through the annulus between the screen and the open well bore for removing filter cake, drilling debris and lost circulation material. After the annulus has been cleaned, the annulus is filled with an acid solution or caustic solution, which dissolves the sacrificial plugs. In an alternative embodiment, each sealing plug has a body portion and a stub portion which project into the mandrel bore. The sealing plug body portion is intersected by a vent pocket which is sealed by the stub portion.

Abstract: Methods of draw-down and build-up testing on existing production wells are disclosed. The testing may be accomplished without removing the production tubing string from the well. The production of the well is shut down and then a coiled tubing test string is run down into the production tubing string. The coiled tubing test string includes a coiled tubing string, a tester valve carried by the coiled tubing string, and a test packer carried by the coiled tubing string. The test packer is set within one of the casing bore and the production tubing bore above perforations which communicate the casing bore with a subsurface formation. Draw-down and build-up testing of the subsurface formation can then be accomplished by opening and closing the tester valve to selectively flow well fluid up through the coiled tubing string or shut in the coiled tubing string.

Abstract: A locking system which includes landing nipples connectable in a well flow conduit and a lock mandrel to which well flow control devices are connectable. The landing nipples have an unrestricted full bore flow passage with profiled locking and locating recesses having no square shoulders in the flow passage The lock mandrel may be lowered through full bore landing nipples and operated to automatically locate in the full bore landing nipple in which the lock mandrel is to be operated to lock and expand a seal system to sealingly engage the landing nipple. The lock mandrel employs locking keys having no square shoulders. The automatic locator device has locating keys having no square shoulders, which position the lock mandrel in the landing nipple. After operating, the lock mandrel is releasably retained locked and sealed in the landing nipple.

Abstract: A recirculating tool assembly is lowered on a length of coil tubing into the production tubing of a well completion to a location above side wall perforations in the production tubing which have become obstructed. The tool assembly includes an upper tool portion telescoped into and releasably latched within a lower sealing and tubing extension portion. Recirculating fluid is pumped down the coil tubing, flowed through a first tool assembly passage, and downwardly discharged into the production tubing. A portion of the discharged fluid is forced outwardly through the production tubing perforations to remove the obstructions therefrom, and the remainder of the discharged fluid is forced upwardly through a second tool assembly passage into the annulus between the coil tubing and the production tubing for return to the surface.

Abstract: A zonal isolation washpipe system for isolating a production zone which intersects a wellbore from communication with the surface comprises a seal assembly adapted for sealing engagement within the bore of a well packer disposed about the external circumference of one end of a tubular washpipe, a releasable connector system on the other end of the washpipe which provides means for retrieval of the washpipe from the well bore is placed in sealing engagement by a releasable telescoping expansion joint which is resistant to undesired or premature extension.When it is desired to place the isolated zone on production, a tubing perforator, such as a jet perforator which is commonly known in the art is lowered into the bore of the wash pipe to a location adjacent previously formed perforations in the casing and the wash pipe is perforated.A method for gravel packing a well using the described tools is also presented.

Abstract: A sand screen structure used to filter particulate matter from formation fluid entering a well bore is assembled from a plurality of generally tubular filter sections that may be axially snapped together in a manner facilitating the simultaneous interconnection of circumferentially spaced series of axially extending shunt tubes secured to and passing internally through each of the filter sections. By utilizing snap-fit interconnections between the filter sections, instead of conventional threaded connections, the assembly of the overall sand screen structure is made substantially easier and quicker, and the lengths of the blank, nonfiltering portions of the sand screen structure between its individual filter sections are substantially reduced. In an alternate embodiment of the sand screen structure the shunt tubes are secured within external side surface recesses of the filter section bodies.

Abstract: A pressure test and bypass valve for use in well testing. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a central opening therein and a mandrel slidably disposed in the central opening. A ball valve allows fluid flow through the central opening when in an open position and prevents fluid flow therethrough when in a closed position. A sleeve valve allows communication between the central opening and a well annulus when in an open position and prevents communication between the central opening and the well annulus when in a closed position. The ball valve and sleeve valve are actuated substantially simultaneously in response to well annulus pressure. A rupture disc is ruptured due to differential pressure thereacross. This allows well annulus pressure to act across a differential area on the mandrel such that the mandrel is moved relative to the housing, thereby actuating the valves.

Abstract: A prepack well screen assembly for separating particulate material from formation fluid has inner and outer screens concentrically mounted in radially spaced relation around a perforated mandrel, thereby defining a prepack annulus in which a plurality of spherical plastic members are disposed. The concentric inner screen includes longitudinally extending rib wires spaced circumferentially around the mandrel, and a screen wire wrapped externally about the rib wires in a longitudinally spaced pattern to define spaced screen apertures for conducting formation fluids through the inner screen. The outer screen is a cylindrical fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member which is radially spaced from the inner screen to form the prepack annulus. The particulate-restricting member includes rib wires which are spaced circumferentially around the inner screen within the prepack annulus, and an outer screen wire wrapped externally about the rib wires to define the annulus.

Abstract: A reciprocating full flow tester valve is provided with a shock absorber and tolerance adjustment device for absorbing an impact between a power mandrel of the tool and an operating assembly of the tool. An improved hydraulic impedance system is also provided for providing a time delay in telescopingly collapsing movement of the tool when weight is set down on the tool to open the tester valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising: a valve seat having a first end, a second end, and a valve seat passageway extending therethrough from said first end to said second end; a valve ball assembly rotatably positionable adjacent the second end of the valve seat passageway for selectively sealing the valve seat passageway; a first control arm connectable between the valve seat and the valve ball assembly, the connection between the first control arm and the valve ball assembly defining an axis of rotation for the valve ball assembly; a sealing member, reciprocatably positionable in the valve seat passageway adjacent the second end of the valve seat, for preventing fluid flow between the second end of the valve seat and the exterior of the valve ball assembly; and an urging member, positionable in the passageway, for urging the sealing member against the valve ball assembly.