Abstract: A method of deploying a well screen and associated apparatus provide convenient and economical completion operations within subterranean wells. In a disclosed embodiment, a method of positioning a screen includes attaching the screen to a completion string before stimulation operations are performed on a formation. Initially, the screen is spaced apart from the formation. After the stimulation operations are performed, the screen is positioned opposite the formation and packers are set above and below the screen. In order to thus position the screen, a work string is inserted into the completion string, the screen is attached to the work string, and the screen is released from the completion string. After the packers are set, the work string may be retrieved and the formation placed in production. The screen and packers prevent flow of particulate material from the formation into the completion string. Other methods are provided as well.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of communicating data and control signals between a down hole well tool and surface equipment wherein variations in the tension of the line supporting the tool from a reference tension value established with the well tool in place for operation are imposed at one location on the support line and detected at another location on said support line said variations in tension being coded in frequency, magnitude, polarity or duration or combinations thereof to convey the data and control signals between the two locations.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods for performing operations within a subterranean well overcome many disadvantages associated with perforating and fracturing and/or gravel packing in a single trip of a work string into the well. In a preferred embodiment, a method of producing fluids from a formation intersected by the well includes the step of setting a packer having a relatively large seal bore formed therethrough in the well before running the work string into the well. After the formation is perforated, the work string is displaced to position a seal assembly on the work string in the seal bore, thereby displacing the perforating guns through the packer, positioning a screen opposite the perforated formation, and enabling performance of gravel packing operations thereafter.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a sand-control screen jacket to a base pipe comprising a base pipe connector securably engaged with the sand-control screen jacket, an internal slip member slidably disposed between the base pipe connector and the base pipe and a jam nut securably engaging the base pipe connector such that the internal slip member slides toward the base pipe connector increasing the friction between the internal slip member and the base pipe, thereby securing the sand-control screen jacket to the base pipe. The base pipe connector may further comprises a plurality of sealant ports through which sealant is injected affecting an additional seal between the base pipe connector and the base pipe. The sealant ports may accept a lock pin therein after sealant is injected.

Abstract: In a parent wellbore casing, full bore access to the portion of the casing beneath a lateral bore liner portion therein is provided using a specially designed tubular retrievable anchor assembly hydraulically set within the casing above the liner portion and having a depending mill guide portion. A milling pipe with a first rotary mill is extended through the anchor assembly, with the mill being laterally deflected by the guide to mill a partial opening through the bottom side wall of the liner portion. The milling pipe is then withdrawn from the casing, the first mill replaced with a second rotary mill, and a specially designed tubular retrieval collet coaxially secured to the milling pipe. The milling pipe is then extended downwardly through the anchor assembly, the second mill used to enlarge the initial liner opening, and the collet snapped into the anchor assembly. The anchor assembly is then retrieved by pulling up on the milling pipe to release the anchor assembly which is removed from the casing.

Abstract: A screen provides increased erosion resistance and collapse resistance without uneconomical overcompensation and without requiring an increase in the screen's outer diameter. In a preferred embodiment, a sand control screen has a support material radially between a tubular base pipe and a filtering portion. The support material radially outwardly supports the filtering portion to help prevent radially inward collapse of the filtering portion. In another preferred embodiment, a screen has a coating applied to a filtering portion's exterior surface. The coating may alternatively or combinatively provide erosion resistance, radially inwardly retain a support material, and selectively vary flow through the filtering portion.

Abstract: A retrievable mill guide and anchor assembly is provided for use in forming a side wall window in a vertical subterranean well casing for subsequent connection to the casing of a lateral bore liner member extending through the casing window. The mill guide extends upwardly from the top end or the anchor. With the assembly in its run-in orientation, a milling pipe with a first mill bit on its lower end is releasably locked within the upper mill guide end, and pressurized fluid within the milling pipe is used to hydraulically set the anchor in the casing. After the anchor is set, the first mill bit is rotated, lowered and deflected by the mill guide to engage and form an initial opening in the casing side wall. The milling pipe is then removed from the casing, the first mill bit is replaced with a second mill bit, and a specially designed retrieval collet is installed on the milling pipe.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing and sampling open-hole oil and gas wells. The apparatus includes a packer, a surge chamber, a closure valve which may be opened to flow fluid into the surge chamber, and a sampler. The surge chamber may be one of a pair of surge chambers, and the closure valve may be one of a pair of closure valves so that two surges may be carried out prior to obtaining a fluid sample in the sampler. In operation, the packer is placed in a set position by setting down weight. The closure valves are also actuated when weight is set down. The first closure valve has a first predetermined time delay before opening so that the packer may be set, and the second closure valve has a second predetermined time delay so that the packer may be set and the first closure valve opened before a fluid sample is captured. By opening a vent tool at an upper end of the uppermost surge chamber, formation fluid may be forced back into the formation or zone of interest by a bull-heading operation.

Abstract: A linear indexing apparatus and associated methods of using same provide convenient operation of tools in a subterranean wellbore. In a preferred embodiment, a linear indexing apparatus has an outer tubular housing and a tubular mandrel axially slidably disposed within the housing. Two sets of slips are utilized to incrementally displace the mandrel relative to the housing. A piston associated with one of the sets of slips permits the mandrel to be incrementally indexed in response to a series of repeated applications of a predetermined differential pressure.

Abstract: A travel joint provides economical manufacture, installation, service, and operation thereof. The travel joint substantially reduces the number of parts potentially exposed to corrosive fluid, eliminates cavities wherein such corrosive fluid may become trapped, and substantially reduces the number of dynamic and static seals required for its operation. Additionally, a torque transmitting member is utilized to prevent torquing through threaded service breaks in the travel joint. In a preferred embodiment, a travel joint has a tubular upper case, a torque collar rotationally and axially coupled to the upper case, a tubular mandrel axially slidably received in the upper case and torque collar, and rotationally coupled to the torque collar, and an adapter which axially and radially inwardly retains the torque collar.

Abstract: A tool connector is provided for downhole use in oil and gas fields. The tool connector includes a stinger and a stinger receptacle. The stinger is adapted to be stabbed into the stinger receptacle. A loaded engaging member movable between a running position before the stinger is stabbed into the stinger receptacle and a latched position when the stinger is stabbed into the stinger receptacle to latch the stinger and the stinger receptacle together. A release member retains the loaded engaging member in the running position. When the stinger is stabbed into the stinger receptacle and a set force is applied to the stinger and stinger receptacle, the release member releases the loaded engaging member to move to the latched position and latch the stinger and the stinger receptacle together. According to a second aspect of the invention, the tool connector is releasable, further including a releasable stop member to stop the engaging member in the latched position.

Abstract: A system for selective production from, and stimulation of, subterranean production zones while improving productivity and enhancing control of the well. Portions of a production tubing string and an internal stimulation/shifter string are assembled and run together as completion segments. Consecutive completion segments, with each segment including packers that surround sleeves and terminate at the upper end in a well control valve, are run into the cased wellbore so that the acid flow ports operated by sleeve valve assemblies are placed proximate the perforations of prospective production zones. The production zones are then stimulated as the stimulation/shifter string is moved progressively outward placing acid at each consecutive zone. The stimulation/shifter string is then removed from the production tubing string, mechanically closing the well control valve assembly by tubing manipulation.

Abstract: A flexible linear shaped charge for discharging a high speed jet to penetrate a target comprising an outer housing which includes a sheath and the high speed jet, the high speed jet being integral with the sheath, and an explosive core disposed within the outer housing between the sheath and the high speed jet, the outer housing comprising a low density matrix mixed with a high density heavy metal powder to increase the confinement of the explosive core, thereby improving the performance of the shaped charge.

Abstract: A downhole tool for early formation evaluation is disclosed. The tool comprising a housing having a fluid passageway and a mandrel having an interior volume. The mandrel is slidably disposed within the housing and has a plurality of axial positions relative to the housing. The mandrel is slidably operated responsive to the fluid pressure within the interior volume such that the mandrel cycles through said plurality of positions. A retractor sleeve is operably associated with the housing and the mandrel for engaging the mandrel and slidably urging the mandrel relative to the housing. The retractor sleeve is slidably operated responsive to the fluid pressure within the interior volume. A seal assembly is slidably disposed around the housing. The seal assembly includes a floating piston.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods of using the apparatus provide ease forming an opening from a first wellbore to a second wellbore, the first wellbore having a portion thereof which intersects the second wellbore. In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus has a cutting device disposed within a housing and a series of spaced apart nozzles directed radially outward from the housing. In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus is axially, rotationally, and radially alignable relative to the liner of the first wellbore. The cutting device is connected to the nozzles. The nozzles direct a discharge from the cutting device radially outward to cut into the tubular structure.

Abstract: A gravel pack apparatus and associated method of completing subterranean wells provides convenient and economical gravel packing operations, permitting a sand control screen to be run into the well attached to the apparatus which is, in turn, attached to production tubing, and further permitting the tubing to be detached from the screen. In a preferred embodiment, a gravel pack apparatus has interoperable valve and tubing release portions. The valve portion may be closed after the gravel packing operation is completed. Closure of the valve portion activates the release portion, permitting the apparatus to be separated.

Abstract: An annular safety valve system provides a retrievable annular safety valve and packer. In a preferred embodiment, an annular safety valve system has an annular safety valve connected to an upper tubing string extending to the earth's surface. The annular safety valve is initially connected to the hydraulically set packer which has no openings through an inner mandrel thereof. The safety valve is retrievable separate from the packer after the packer has been set. The safety valve is rotated relative to the packer in order to release the safety valve from the packer. As the safety valve is rotated, a setting line of the packer is severed. Other transmission lines, electrical wires, etc. may be severed as well. The safety valve may then be raised to the earth's surface with the tubing above it. A replacement safety valve is also provided for installing in the packer after the prior safety valve is retrieved.

Abstract: An automatic downhole pump assembly comprising a housing, a sleeve slidably disposed within the housing, a piston defining an interior volume, the piston slidably disposed within the sleeve and within the housing such that a fluid pressure within the interior volume causes the sleeve to oscillate relative to the housing and causes the piston to oscillate relative to the sleeve and the housing, and a pump which is operably associated with the piston such that fluid is pumped through the pump assembly as the piston oscillates relative to the housing.

Abstract: A drainage pipe section for a horizontal subterranean well has a base pipe coaxially circumscribed by a tubular structure having a longitudinally intermediate portion defined by a sand screen assembly. An annular flow passage is formed between the base pipe and the tubular structure and communicates with the interior of the base pipe via base pipe sidewall openings positioned inwardly adjacent opposite end portions of the tubular structure. Annular adjustable flow control members having variable length labyrinth passages recessed into their outer sides are coaxially interposed in the annular flow passage between the opposite ends of the sand screen assembly and the base pipe sidewall openings. The flow control members are sealed within the annular flow passage by means of a rubber coating adhered to their outer side surfaces, and an adhesive type sealant material injected into annular spaces between the flow control members and facing portions of the base pipe.

Abstract: Installed in the tubing string portion of an offshore well rig are a vertically spaced pair of tubular well line protective devices. The upper device extends vertically through the openings in the rig floor and the rotary table thereon, and the lower device is positioned between a pair of sealing rams within an open upper end portion of the riser through which the tubing downwardly extends. Each protective device has a main body portion which is radially enlarged relative to the balance of the tubing string, and a removable side insert portion. Well lines, such as control, chemical and balancing lines, are extended through axial openings combinatively defined by each body and associated insert, with the insert shielding the lines from damage at the protective device location. The removable insert is illustrated in an all metal construction, used in the upper device, and an all elastomeric material construction or an elastomer-faced metal construction used in the lower device.