Abstract: An isolation valve for a downhole well completion system having a one piece frangible, ceramic sealing element and an extrusion resistant resiliently faced valve seat and a method for the use thereof is presented. Said sealing element is biased to the closed position and rotatable within a sealing element chamber from an open position during run in to a closed position as a result of the withdrawal of a wash pipe and a protector tube from the valve bore. Said frangible sealing element cooperates with said extrusion resistant valve seat to provide a reliable pressure resistant seal. After recovery of completion fluids from the well bore and pressure testing of the production string, the frangible sealing element is shattered by impacting with a tooth-faced blind box hammer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new and novel poppet type safety valve useful in flow conduits in fluid storage well systems. The safety valve is programmable to automatically close at various predetermined ratios of production mass flow rate-ambient pressure to prevent undesirable high flow rates or uncontrolled out-flow of fluid stored in a reservoir if the flow conduit or wellhead is damaged. This safety valve is lowered into and locked and sealed in a landing nipple in the well conduit. The safety valve has a variable bias which biases the valve member toward open position and a variable flow restrictor which is automatically actuated by a sensing actuator continually sensing reservoir pressure to vary the restricted annular flow area between the valve housing and inside of the well conduit for closure at the desired flow rate. The valve element has a through flow passage with locking recesses in the flow passage into which the sensing actuator may be releasably locked.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sliding sleeve valve and a selective pressure operated shifting tool engageable in the selected sleeve valve for shifting the valve sleeve between open and closed positions. The sleeve valve is connectible in a well conduit and is especially useful in highly deviated and horizontal wells. The sleeve valve has a longitudinal flow passage through, centralizers for centralizing the valve in well conduits, longitudinal flow slots on the valve body and ports connecting the flow slots and flow passage. The pressure operated shifting tool is connected to reeled tubing by a quick disconnect. The shifting tool includes an invertible shifting module which may be inverted to shift the valve sleeve to closed or open position. The shifting tool keys are locked retracted for running and on complete shifting of the sleeve are automatically released from the valve sleeve and returned to locked retracted position for retrieving.

Abstract: In the disclosed pressure operated valve, a sleeve valve controlling flow between outside and inside the valve is releasably connected in a housing when the sleeve valve is in open position. Pressure on a ball sealingly engaging the sleeve valve operates the sleeve valve from open to latched closed to disconnect positions and expends the sleeve valve from the housing.

Abstract: An earth well completion apparatus and method wherein a work string equipped for jet washing downhole filtration devices, such as well screens and for back washing said downhole filtration devices and containing multiple ball catcher subs which utilize the same drop ball to prevent the inadvertent operation of hydraulically powered tools as well as to permanently valve closed a portion of said work string is concentrically disposed in a production string and run in said well simultaneously. Said ball catcher sub which prevents the inadvertent actuation of said hydraulically operated tools is contained within the main fluid bore of said work string and has an expellable inner collar with an outwardly biased catcher ring which, when expelled, shears hollow shearable means thereby actuating said tool.

Abstract: A method and system for deploying electric submersible pumps in oil wells using reeled tubing, comprising providing reeled tubing (10), providing an electric submersible pump (20) and connecting it to one end of the reeled tubing (10), providing electric cable (22) and connecting one end of it to the electric submersible pump (20), aligning the electric cable (22) with the reeled tubing (10), using clamps (28) to attach the electrical cable (22) to the reeled tubing (10), inserting the electric submersible pump (20) into a wellbore (18), and injecting sufficient reeled tubing (10) and electrical cable (22) into the wellbore (18) to lower the electric submersible pump (20) to a desired level.

Abstract: A flow control valve system for production of wells such as by gas lift including a downhole valve electrically or pressure pulse controlled from the surface including a valve having apparatus for controlling the flow rate through the valve by varying the valve orifice size over a continuous range and maintaining the orifice size constant when desired. Both rotary and poppet type valves are disclosed. Valve orifice size and well conditions are monitored downhole and transmitted to the surface for control of the valve.

Abstract: A new gravel packing system is provided whereby a well may be perforated, gravel packed and placed on production with a single trip of the tool string into the well. The system will include a crossover assembly which has a closure mechanism operatively associated therewith. The closure mechanism may be operated to preclude downward fluid flow through the crossover tool, to establish at least a portion of a downward gravel pack slurry flow path, and to establish at least a part of a carrier fluid return flow path. At the conclusion of a gravel pack operation, the closure member may be either withdrawn from the assembly or expelled to the bottom of the wellbore, leaving the tool to be placed on production without tripping the tool string.

Abstract: An electrically actuated downhole system for controlling and monitoring the flow of gas from a gas lift petroleum well in which a borehole penetrates at least two spacially separated geological production zones, and at least two strings of parallel tubing extend along the interior of a well casing, each string being associated with a separate production zone. Connected to each string is a gas lift valve associated with the string's respective spacially separated production zone. A single source of pressurized gas is connected to the casing at the wellhead to provide a source of lift gas. A control unit located at the surface independently controls and monitors the size of the flow control aperture of each gas lift valve to control the production of fluids from each separate production zone. Control cables carry readings from downhole pressure and flow-rate sensors to the control unit, and in response, carry control signals back to each gas lift valve to control its aperture size.

Abstract: A flapper valve assembly when closed permits flow through in one direction and prevents flow in the opposite direction. When open, two way flow may occur and the flapper valve member is biased toward closed position, to sealingly engage an annular seat, by one or more springs in the wall of the flapper valve housing. This structure provides a greater closing force applied to the flapper valve through a tension member connected to the flapper valve hinge. Three forms of tension members are disclosed.

Abstract: A connector for connecting tubing to a component in a downhole well completion system in which a sub is provided for connection to the component and a sleeve extends over a portion of the sub to define a mandrel for receiving the tubing. A plurality of locking slips extend in windows provided through the sub and are forced into locking engagement with the reeled tubing as the sleeve is advanced over the sub to transfer axial and torsional loads from the component to the tubing.

Abstract: A gas lift valve mandrel especially adapted for mounting on reeled tubing used in a well including a mandrel body in at least two sections comprising a gas lift valve adapter and a clamp which are secured together around the tubing, the adapter including structure for mounting a gas lift valve and flow passages communicating into the gas lift valve and into a bore through the mandrel through which the tubing extends, the flow passage in the adapter communicating with a port in the tubing when the mandrel is mounted on the tubing and further including a seal in the adapter for sealing with the tubing around the port into the tubing. An alternate form of the mandrel includes a pipe plug hole and a pipe plug in the adapter for access to the flow passage in the adapter to drill the port into the tubing when the mandrel is mounted on the tubing during the mounting procedure. The mandrel is readily secured on the tubing at desired locations as the tubing is run into a well.

Abstract: A packing assembly which is connectable to reeled tubing and which can be inserted in and pushed through a wellbore tube by the reeled tubing. The packing assembly is hydraulically set in a locking and sealing position in the wellbore by fluid introduced from the reeled tubing and, after use, is hydraulically released and removed from the wellbore. An actuating apparatus is provided for hydraulically actuating the packing assembly and can be converted in a manner to pull the packing assembly from the wellbore. Prior to the removal of the packing assembly from the wellbore, the wellbore fluid pressure is equalized across the packing assembly.

Abstract: A device for connecting between two tubular members that are inserted in an oil and gas earth well in a manner to permit a quick release, yet prevent relative rotation between the tubular members. The device is adapted to pass fluid between the tubular member in their connected position.

Abstract: A casing shut-in valve system (74) having a flapper valve assembly (34) and a shift head assembly (76); the flapper valve assembly (34) having an upper body member (36), lower body member (38), flow sleeve (40), valve seat sleeve member (42), flapper (54), flapper hinge assembly (56), and a plurality of spring strut assemblies (58) disposed on opposite sides of the flapper hinge assembly; the shift head assembly (76) having key housing (134) with bit sub (144) rotatably mounted in bearing (152), a plurality of outwardly biased shift keys (80), and a load equalizer plate (138) at each end of the key housing; the shift head assembly (76) being adapted to selectively open or close the valve by engaging and moving the flow sleeve (40) between defined upper and lower positions, thereby controlling the movement of flapper (54) through an angle (128) of rotation that is less than 90 degrees, and preferably about 45 degrees.

Abstract: A running and pulling tool is disclosed which is releasably connectible to a fishing neck on a well tool. The running pulling tool has an elongate mandrel on which a connector having dogs is slidably mounted for connecting to and releasing the dogs from a fishing neck. The connector is positioned in a first connecting position by a retainer which is moveable to a position permitting movement of the connector to a second position releasing from the fishing neck. A latch releasably positions the retainer in position for retaining the connector in the first position. The running pulling tool may be used to run and anchor a well tool in a well conduit and to retrieve an anchored well tool.

Abstract: A retrievable subsurface safety valve positioned in a well conduit is actuated to close by a predetermined flow rate through the safety valve. A valve member having a sealing surface is moveable by flow to sealingly engage an annular seat in the valve, closing the valve to flow. All forms of the invention safety valve have retrievable variable weight assemblies which releasably lock in the valve member for varying the flow rate at which each valve closes. In two invention forms, the weight assemblies when retrieved from the valve members leave the valve members open for passage of well tools through the valve members. In one invention form, the valve housing has a variable bias for biasing the valve member toward open position and this safety valve may be operated to expend the seat, housing and valve member with or without the variable weight assembly.

Abstract: A compact, retrievable packer has a unitary mandrel body which is intersected by one or more longitudinal production bores. The running length of the packer is reduced and premature set/release are prevented by a lock assembly which releasably locks the lower setting wedge to the packer mandrel. The lock assembly includes one or more locking dogs mounted within mandrel pockets for radial extension and retraction. The locking dogs are extended into an annular slot formed between a retainer collar and the packer mandrel. The lower setting wedge is secured by threaded engagement with the retainer collar. When the locking dogs are extended, the lower setting wedge is blocked against longitudinal displacement, thereby opposing setting forces applied to anchor slips. The locking dogs are held in the locked position by brace rods which are releasably blocked by a shifting sleeve mounted in one of the packer mandrel bores.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve has a valve seat and an upwardly closing flapper plate whose sealing surfaces each have a matched spherical radius of curvature. The sealing surface of the valve seat is a concave spherical segment and the sealing surface of the flapper plate is a convex spherical segment. The matching spherical surfaces are lapped together to provide a metal-to-metal seal along the interface between the nested convex and concave sealing surfaces. This permits angular displacement of the flapper plate relative to the valve seat without interrupting positive sealing engagement. The concave spherical seating surface of the safety valve seat will tolerate a limited amount of misalignment of the flapper plate which sometimes occurs during operation of the safety valve under high flow rate, high differential pressure conditions.

Abstract: A method for introducing reeled tubing into oil and gas wells, in which a relatively stiff pipe segment is connected to the leading end of the reeled tubing before the reeled tubing is introduced into the well. The reeled tubing, with the pipe segment attached to its leading end, is unwound from its reel and the pipe segment reduces damage to the wall of the well and jamming of the reeled tubing in the well as the tubing passes through the well.