Abstract: A single bore packer is modified by a dual flow seal unit for gas lift completion. This permits the operator to inject lift gas into the upper casing annulus at the well head, bypass the hanger packer and conduct the lift gas into the suspended production tubing below the fluid level. The dual flow seal assembly is sealed internally against the packer mandrel, with the lift gas being conducted through a bypass flow passage between the seal mandrel and the packer mandrel, and being discharged into the lower casing annulus through a discharge port formed through the packer mandrel below the packer seal element package. The hang weight load of the production tubing is decoupled with respect to the packer seal elements by a set of internal ratchet slips which transfers the hang weight load from the packer mandrel onto the anchor slips and well casing at a location below the seal element package.

Abstract: A single bore packer is modified by a dual flow seal unit for gas lift completion. This permits the operator to inject lift gas into the upper casing annulus at the well head, bypass the hanger packer and conduct the lift gas into the suspended production tubing below the fluid level. The dual flow seal assembly is sealed internally against the packer mandrel, with the lift gas being conducted through a bypass flow passage between the seal mandrel and the packer mandrel, and being discharged into the lower casing annulus through a discharge port formed through the packer mandrel below the packer seal element package. The hang weight load of the production tubing is decoupled with respect to the packer seal elements by a set of internal ratchet slips which transfers the hang weight load from the packer mandrel onto the anchor slips and well casing at a location below the seal element package.

Abstract: An improved seal element especially for well packers having multiple mandrels, the improvement providing slits therein of various configurations which allow the seal element to be expanded to sealing condition in response to longitudinal compression such that the resultant stresses created within the element body are minimized in that they are substantially evenly distributed therethrough, thus enabling the multiple packer to seal more readily and to withstand greater pressure differentials.

Abstract: A packer is locked onto a service tool by separation shear pins during a run-in operation. The separation shear pins are decoupled with respect to run-in handling forces by a set of transfer support lugs. The transfer support lugs carry the weight of the packer and the hang weight of equipment supported by the packer so that no weight is applied to the shear pins during a run-in operation. The packer is set and its hang load is transferred to the separation shear pins after the packer is set by the application of hydraulic pressure against an annular piston carried on the service tool. The piston is locked during run-in by a group of transit shear pins. Movement of the annular piston shears the transit pins and unsupports a collet latch to permit retraction of the transfer support lugs and disengagement of the service tool mandrel from the packer.

Abstract: A system for releasably anchoring well tools within a tubing string at a preselected downhole location. The system includes a running tool, locking mandrel, and landing nipple. Control fluid pressure is used to ensure positive engagement of the locking mandrel within the landing nipple prior to releasing the running tool from the locking mandrel. The locking mandrel and running tool are particularly useful for installation of surface controlled subsurface safety valves. However, the system can be used to install a wide variety of flow control devices and/or well tools.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating or completing wells to provide surface controlled subsurface safety systems in the wells, whether at the time of original completion or when the well is reworked or reequipped. A method and apparatus is provided for installing receptacles at the upper ends of one or more lower well flow conductors left in place in the well below the surface for receiving the lower ends of corresponding upper flow conductor sections having surface controlled subsurface safety valves connected therein for controlling undesired flow from the well through said lower flow conductors in the event of an emergency, disaster or accident damaging the surface flow controlling system or threatening the integrity thereof. A hanger or packer may be installed in the well casing below the surface for supporting the upper ends of the lower flow conductor or conductors therebelow and providing means for connecting receptacles at the upper ends of said lower flow conductors above such hanger or packer.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating or completing wells to provide surface controlled subsurface safety systems in the wells, whether at the time of original completion or when the well is reworked or re-equipped. A method and apparatus is provided for installing receptacles at the upper ends of one or more lower well flow conductors left in place in the well below the surface for receiving the lower ends of corresponding upper flow conductor sections having surface controlled subsurface safety valves connected therein for controlling undesired flow from the well through said lower flow conductors in the event of an emergency, disaster or accident damaging the surface flow controlling system or threatening the integrity thereof. A hanger or packer may be installed in the well casing below the surface for supporting the upper ends of the lower flow conductor or conductors therebelow and providing means for connecting receptacles at the upper ends of said lower flow conductors above such hanger or packer.

Abstract: A well packer and service seal unit for setting the packer in a well bore and depositing a gravel or slurry pack within the well bore. The packer includes a tubular mandrel connectible with a tubing handling string and adapted to support a gravel pack sand screen below the packer, a setting sleeve, top slips, bottom slips, internal slips, and seal elements supported on the mandrel for holding the packer in a well casing against a pressure differential in either direction and sealing with the casing to isolate a producing zone in the well bore. The service seal unit is insertable into the packer for supporting the packer as it is lowered in the well bore, setting the packer, and directing fluid flow to place the gravel or slurry pack in the well bore around the screen below the packer seal elements.

Abstract: A well tool such as a multiple packer which is held in the well against downward movement by engagement of the tool with the well casing such as through a no-go shoulder and held against upward movement by a latch system which after the tool is in place in the well is moved axially along the tool upwardly into engagement with a no-go shoulder in the casing and secured at this point. The tool is removed by releasing the latch assembly.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating or completing wells to provide surface controlled subsurface safety systems in the wells, whether at the time of original completion or when the well is reworked or reequipped. A method and apparatus is provided for installing receptacles at the upper ends of one or more lower well flow conductors left in place in the well below the surface for receiving the lower ends of corresponding upper flow conductor sections having surface controlled subsurface safety valves connected therein for controlling undesired flow from the well through said lower flow conductors in the event of an emergency, disaster or accident damaging the surface flow controlling system or threatening the integrity thereof. A hanger or packer may be installed in the well casing below the surface for supporting the upper ends of the lower flow conductor or conductors therebelow and providing means for connecting receptacles at the upper ends of said lower flow conductors above such hanger or packer.

Abstract: Precompletion apparatus for use in air drilling and casing a problem formation in a well including a casing landing nipple at the lower end of a first string of solid well casing installed by suitable conventional techniques, an expendable plug for engagement in the casing landing nipple to plug a well bore after air drilling below the casing landing nipple to control the well during inserting of a slotted liner, an expending shoe for engaging and displacing the plug downwardly from the landing nipple, a slotted well bore casing for lining a well bore along a problem formation which has been air drilled, and a casing hanger for supporting the slotted liner along the air drilled portion of the well bore from the landing nipple. The plug and hanger each have locking keys engageable with a casing landing nipple and expandable seals for sealing with a seal surface along the casing landing nipple.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incrementally treating a section of an earth formation around a well to improve fluid flow into the well.

Abstract: Precompletion apparatus for use in air drilling and casing a problem formation in a well including a casing landing nipple at the lower end of a first string of solid well casing installed by suitable conventional techniques, an expendable plug for engagement in the casing landing nipple to plug a well bore after air drilling below the casing landing nipple to control the well during inserting of a slotted liner, an expending shoe for engaging and displacing the plug downwardly from the landing nipple, a slotted well bore casing for lining a well bore along a problem formation which has been air drilled, and a casing hanger for supporting the slotted liner along the air drilled portion of the well bore from the landing nipple. The plug and hanger each have locking keys engageable with a casing landing nipple and expandable seals for sealing with a seal surface along the casing landing nipple.

Abstract: A well casing hanger for suspending a string of tubing from an outer casing landing nipple, with the hanger structure automatically engaging the nipple structure and latched to a locked state withstanding either suspended weight or upward pull in tension. Hanger structure release is provided by rotation of a member operating a threaded coupling on the upper end of the hanger-operating mandrel through providing a recess to accommodate internal lugs of locking keys so they can be cammed inwardly and unlocked with lifting upward movement of the hanger structure from the landing nipple.

Abstract: A method of incrementally treating a section of an earth formation around a well to improve fluid flow into the well. The method includes the steps of installing a well casing provided with spaced landing nipples, perforating and treating a bottom portion of the formation by suitable standard procedures including employing a packer in the casing above the location of perforation and treating, running a retrievable plug into the well bore, releasably locking the plug at one of the landing nipples above the first location of perforation and treating, running a perforator into the well above the plug and perforating the casing above the plug, treating the formation through the perforations above the plug, and thereafter sequentially treating the formation at selected depths up the hole by engaging the plug with a combination overshot handling tool and perforator to lift the plug upwardly and install the plug at the next landing nipple above the previously perforated and treated zone.

Abstract: Precompletion apparatus for use in air drilling and casing a problem formation in a well including a casing landing nipple at the lower end of a first string of solid well casing installed by suitable conventional techniques, an expendable plug for engagement in the casing landing nipple to plug a well bore after air drilling below the casing landing nipple to control the well during inserting of a slotted liner, an expending shoe for engaging and displacing the plug downwardly from the landing nipple, a slotted well bore casing for lining a well bore along a problem formation which has been air drilled, and a casing hanger for supporting the slotted liner along the air drilled portion of the well bore from the landing nipple. The plug and hanger each have locking keys engagable with a casing landing nipple and expandable seals for sealing with a seal surface along the casing landing nipple.

Abstract: A well tubing system for releasably coupling lower tubing strings with upper tubing strings in a well bore without rotation from the surface including a well packer on a plurality of lower tubing strings, a first flow coupling and guide sleeve on the upper end of the packer, and a second flow coupling and guide head on the lower ends of the upper tubing strings. The upper tubing strings and guide head are connected with and disconnected from the guide sleeve on the packer by longitudinal motion only. The guide head has spiral guide surfaces leading to a vertical orienting slot. The guide sleeve includes a guide lug which engages the guide head guide surfaces and slot to rotate the head and upper tubing strings to the desired orientation. In alternate forms of the invention means are provided for the running and retrieving of either one or both of the upper tubing strings independently of the other of the strings after the initial connection of the guide head into the guide sleeve in the well bore.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating wells to provide surface controlled subsurface safety systems in the wells, whether previously completed wells or newly completed wells. A method and apparatus is provided for installing receptacles in the well flow conductors below the surface for receiving surface controlled subsurface safety valves therein for controlling undesired flow from the well in the event of emergency, disaster or accident damaging the well surface flow controlling system or threatening the integrity thereof. Also, a method and apparatus is provided for installing a hanger for well flow conductors in the well casing below the surface for supporting the flow conductor or conductors in the well casing below the surface and then installing the receptacles in the well flow conductors below the surface for receiving surface controlled subsurface safety valves therein.