Patents Examined by Thomas A. Boach
  • Patent number: 6591913
    Abstract: A system and method for lessening impact on Christmas trees during downhole operations involving Christmas trees, by way of example and not limitation such as cementing processes. The system comprises an outer housing defining a chamber, a lubricator assembly disposed in the outer housing, and an inner sleeve slidably disposable within the chamber. The method uses the system of the present invention by inserting the inner sleeve into the lubricator assembly; lowering the inner sleeve into the Christmas tree to a predetermined position extending into a tubing hanger associated with the tree; introducing fluids through a fluid line coupled to the lubricator assembly, the fluids passing through a conduit within the inner sleeve into the wellbore; and retrieving the lubricator assembly upon completion of fluid introduction into the wellbore. In alternative embodiments, the inner sleeve may be retracted and withdrawn with the lubricator assembly upon completion of fluid introduction into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Reaux, Dan T. Benson, Donald L. Thorne