Abstract: A method of recompleting or controlling the flow of a formation which is inaccessible through the original wellbore and which is losing valuable hydrocarbons to another formation. A second borehole is formed in close proximity to the first wellbore, and at least the bottom end of the new borehole is slanted until it penetrates the hydrocarbon bearing formation within shooting distance of the bottom end of the first wellbore. A large casing gun is run downhole through the new borehole. All of the shaped charges of the gun are oriented in the same direction. Indexing means are included by which all of the shaped charges of the gun are oriented to fire towards the casing of the first wellbore. After the gun is discharged, cement is pumped down the borehole, through the tunnels formed by the shaped charges, and into the perforations of the wellbore casing, thereby killing the flow of hydrocarbons from the damaged wellbore.

Abstract: A pressure actuated vent assembly for completing a slanted wellbore. The assembly is connected in series relationship within a tubing string at a location below a packer, and the packer elements are located between the casing and the tubing string, thereby dividing the casing annulus into an upper and lower annular area. The vent assembly includes a ported sliding sleeve which is slidably received about a ported main body member. The sleeve is held into position by a shear pin. Guide pins maintain the ports of the sleeve and main body member aligned with one another. When pressure is applied to the inside of the tubing, the sliding sleeve is forced to slide from an upper closed position, in a downward direction, where the sleeve locks into the opened position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for completing a highly unconsolidated formation located downhole in a cased borehole in one trip. A tool string is run downhole into the borehole on the end of a tubing string. The tool string includes a perforating gun, a gravel packing tool, and packer means. The gravel packing tool includes a removable mandrel and a sand screen. The casing is perforated by running a gun firing device down through the tubing string and mandrel, and the well is free flowed to clean up the perforated formation. The sand screen is next positioned near the perforations and the packer means employed at each end of the screen to straddle and pack-off the perforated pay zone.

Abstract: A borehole is formed down into the ground and extends towards an underlying pay zone, and then is turned horizontally through the pay zone, and then continues back up towards the surface of the earth; so that the resultant borehole is continuous from an inlet to an outlet, with the inlet and outlet being spaced from one another. When the free end of the drill string arrives at the outlet, one end of a casing string is attached thereto, and the casing string is pulled back through the entire borehole so that the borehole is cased from the outlet to the inlet, or vice versa. The casing is perforated adjacent to the pay zone so that the hydrocarbons may flow from the pay zone into the interior of the casing. Production is achieved through either of the spaced inlet or outlet; or, by using one vertical length of the borehole to force fluid to flow through the entire borehole, thereby forcing the production to the surface.

Abstract: A pressure actuated vent assembly for completing a slanted wellbore. The assembly is connected in series relationship within a tubing string at a location below a packer, and the packer elements are located between the casing and the tubing string, thereby dividing the casing annulus into an upper and lower annular area. The vent assembly includes a ported sliding sleeve which is slidably received about a ported main body member. The sleeve is held into position by a shear pin. Guide pins maintain the ports of the sleeve and main body member aligned with one another. When pressure is applied to the inside of the tubing, the sliding sleeve is forced to slide from an upper closed position, in a downward direction, where the sleeve locks into the opened position.

Abstract: A casing gun is suspended downhole adjacent to a hydrocarbon containing formation by attaching the gun to the end of a tubing string. A packer device isolates the lower downhole casing annulus from the upper casing annulus. The casing gun has a firing head located at the upper end thereof which is actuated in response to impact. A vent assembly underlies the packer and is connected in series relationship respective to the gun firing head and the packer. A specially constructed bar device is dropped into a lubricator at the wellhead and travels down the interior of the tubing string, where the bar impacts against a sliding sleeve of the vent assembly, thereby moving the sleeve and opening a port which communicates the interior of the tubing string with the lower casing annulus. The bar continues to travel downhole until it impacts against the firing head, thereby detonating the perforating gun.