Abstract: A method for opening a port through the wall of a ported sub including: providing a sub with a port through its tubular side wall; providing a hydraulically actuable valve to cover the port, the valve being actuable to move away from a position covering the port to thereby open the port; increasing pressure within the sub to create a pressure differential across the valve to move the valve toward the low pressure side, while the port remains closed by the valve; thereafter, reducing pressure within the sub to reduce the pressure differential; and driving the valve to move it away from a position covering the port.

Abstract: A tubing string assembly is disclosed for fluid treatment of a wellbore. The tubing string can be used for staged wellbore fluid treatment where a selected segment of the wellbore is treated, while other segments are sealed off. The tubing string can also be used where a ported tubing string is required to be run in in a pressure tight condition and later is needed to be in an open-port condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for fluid treatment of a borehole includes: a tubular body having a long axis and an upper end, a first port extending through the wall of the tubular body, a second port extending through the wall of the tubular body, the second port having a fluid inflow control mechanism positioned to control the flow of fluid into the tubular body through the port, the first port being configurable from an open position to a closed position; and a controller to actuate the first port into the closed position, a set time after the first port is placed into the open position.

Abstract: A method for opening a port through the wall of a ported sub including providing a sub with a port through its tubular side wall and providing a hydraulically actuatable valve to cover the port, the valve being actuatable to move away from a position covering the port to thereby open the port. The method further includes increasing pressure within the sub to create a pressure differential across the valve to move the valve toward the low pressure side, while the port remains closed by the valve, thereafter reducing pressure within the sub to reduce the pressure differential and driving the valve to move it away from a position covering the port.

Abstract: A tubing string assembly is disclosed for fluid treatment of a wellbore. The tubing string can be used for staged wellbore fluid treatment where a selected segment of the wellbore is treated, while other segments are sealed off. The tubing string can also be used where a ported tubing string is required to be run in a pressure tight condition and later is needed to be in an open-port condition.

Abstract: A kobe sub includes a kobe installed in a port of the sub, the kobe includes a cap portion accessible in the inner bore, a base mounted in the port and connected to the cap portion, a channel extending through the base and closed by the cap portion; and an inflow controller positioned to control fluid flowing through the channel toward the inner bore when the cap portion is opened; and a port opening tool for opening the cap portion. The kobe may be employed with a frac port.

Abstract: A wellbore tool, a wellbore fluid treatment string and a method with an indexing mechanism including a crown ratchet sleeve. The indexing mechanism can be shifted through one or more inactive positions before finally shifting into an active condition. The indexing mechanism is particularly useful with a plug that lands in a seat to impart an axially directed force on the mechanism before passing through the seat.

Abstract: A tubing string assembly for fluid treatment of a wellbore includes substantially pressure holding closures spaced along the tubing string, which each close at least one port through the tubing string wall. The closures are openable by a sleeve drivable through the tubing string inner bore.

Abstract: A stage tool for reverse annular cementing a wellbore, comprising: a main body including a tubular wall with an outer surface and a longitudinal bore extending from a top end to a bottom end; a fluid port through the tubular wall providing fluidic access between the longitudinal bore and the outer surface; and a valve for controlling flow through the fluid port between the outer surface and the inner bore, the valve including a closure for the fluid port and a check valve for permitting one way flow through the fluid port in a direction from the outer surface to the inner bore, the check valve being normally inactive and only acting on fluid flows through the fluid port when activated. The stage tool may be run in closed and opened for cementing by hydraulic actuation of the valve. After sufficient cement has been introduced to the annulus, the stage tool fluid port can be closed to hold the cement in the annulus.

Abstract: A tubing string assembly for fluid treatment of a wellbore includes substantially pressure holding closures spaced along the tubing string, which each close at least one port through the tubing string wall. The closures are openable by a sleeve drivable through the tubing string inner bore.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve valve for wellbore operations includes: a tubular body including a tubular wall including an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner bore; a fluid port extending through the tubular wall and providing fluidic communication between the outer surface and the inner bore; a sliding sleeve in the inner bore slidably moveable between a port closed position and a port open position, the sliding sleeve including a ball seat on which a plug is landed to move the sleeve from the port closed position to the port open position; an initial sleeve holding mechanism for holding the sliding sleeve in the port closed position, the initial sleeve holding mechanism selected to be overcome by landing a plug on the ball seat to move the sliding sleeve; and a second sleeve holding mechanism for holding the sliding sleeve in the port closed position after the sliding sleeve is reclosed from the port open position to the port closed position, the second sleeve holding mechanism selected to be overcome b

Abstract: A method for isolating a perforated interval of a well, the well including a casing liner having a wall with a plurality of perforations therethrough forming the perforated interval, the method comprising: providing a tool including a tubular body including an inner diameter and an outer surface, a first open end and a second open end, the first and second open ends providing access to the inner diameter; and a sealing element to isolate a mid region of the outer surface from the first open end and the second open end; positioning the tool in the well with the tubular first open end adjacent and above an uppermost perforation of the perforated interval and the second open end adjacent and below a lowermost perforation of the perforated interval; and installing the tool in the well with the sealing element sealing between the tubular body and the casing wall above the uppermost perforation of the perforated interval and below the lowermost perforation of the perforated interval to isolate fluid flow between th

Abstract: To address concerns of kobe plug cap portions being inadvertently removed, for example, by abutment with strings or tools passing thereby, a shielding structure may be employed to protect the cap against inadvertent removal. The port opening tool useful with the kobe plug is selected to overcome the shielding structure to open the kobe plug. To address concerns of a portion of the kobe plug becoming loose in the tubing string inner bore, a capturing mechanism may be provided that captures the cap portion after it is removed to open the kobe plug and prevented the cap portion from becoming loose in the inner bore of the tubing string.

Abstract: To address concerns of kobe plug cap portions being inadvertently removed, for example, by abutment with strings or tools passing thereby, a shielding structure may be employed to protect the cap against inadvertent removal. The port opening tool useful with the kobe plug is selected to overcome the shielding structure to open the kobe plug. To address concerns of a portion of the kobe plug becoming loose in the tubing string inner bore, a capturing mechanism may be provided that captures the cap portion after it is removed to open the kobe plug and prevented the cap portion from becoming loose in the inner bore of the tubing string.

Abstract: An actuator switch for actuation of a downhole tool, the actuator switch comprising: a rheomagnetic fluid having a state convertible between a liquid and a solid by the application of a magnetic field thereto, a change in the state of the rheomagnetic fluid acting to actuate the downhole tool; and a magnet installed in the tool and moveable relative to the rheomagnetic fluid to apply or remove the magnetic field to the rheomagnetic fluid, the magnet being moved by through tubing operations in an inner diameter of the downhole tool.

Abstract: A wellbore packer for setting one or more packing elements in a borehole having an open hole section. The wellbore packer comprises a port-less mandrel configured with one or more packing elements and one or more setting mechanisms. The setting mechanism is responsive to a to a driving force and configured to set the packing elements in the borehole, wherein the driving force is not tubing string pressure.

Abstract: A method for isolating a perforated interval of a well, the well including a casing liner having a wall with a plurality of perforations therethrough forming the perforated interval, the method comprising: providing a tool including a tubular body including an inner diameter and an outer surface, a first open end and a second open end, the first and second open ends providing access to the inner diameter; and a sealing element to isolate a mid region of the outer surface from the first open end and the second open end; positioning the tool in the well with the tubular first open end adjacent and above an uppermost perforation of the perforated interval and the second open end adjacent and below a lowermost perforation of the perforated interval; and installing the tool in the well with the sealing element sealing between the tubular body and the casing wall above the uppermost perforation of the perforated interval and below the lowermost perforation of the perforated interval to isolate fluid flow between th

Abstract: A wellbore treatment apparatus includes: a tubing string including a wall defining an inner diameter and a port extending through the wall, the port closed by a closure including a plug-actuated sliding sleeve; and a port opening apparatus including a wireline deployable through the inner diameter of the tubing string to extend to a position adjacent the plug-actuated sliding sleeve and an actuator plug carried on and axially slideable along the wireline, the actuator plug sized to land in the plug-actuated sliding sleeve to actuate the plug-actuated sliding sleeve, while remaining on the wireline. The apparatus can be employed in a method by running the tubing string into a well, placing the slickline in the string and running the actuator plug along the wireline to land on and actuate a sleeve in the string.

Abstract: A back-up ring assembly for a wellbore packer that acts as an extrusion limiter for a packing element and engages the wellbore bore, also operating as a slip to anchor the packer in place. A wellbore packer includes a single structure that acts both to back up the extrusion of the packing element and to engage the wellbore wall. For example, the structure is a back-up ring that includes a gripping structure on its outer wall-contacting surface.

Abstract: A tubing string assembly is disclosed for fluid treatment of a wellbore. The tubing string can be used for staged wellbore fluid treatment where a selected segment of the wellbore is treated, while other segments are sealed off. The tubing string can also be used where a ported tubing string is required to be run in in a pressure tight condition and later is needed to be in an open-port condition.