Abstract: An improved blast liner assembly for use in gravel packing or fracturing operations wherein solid materials, in slurry form, are flowed out of the flowbore of a working tool and into the annulus of a wellbore. The blast liner is a cylindrical member that provides a protective shield to the interior retaining section. An angular flow diverter is provided within the blast liner and has a plurality of angled flow diversion channels formed into the inner surface of the blast liner body. Flow of slurry through the blast liner will cause the blast liner to rotate within the retaining section due to the reaction forces imparted to the blast liner from diverting the slurry flow. In this manner, the impingement area presented by the blast liner is increased, and the life of the blast liner extended. The blast liner may also be caused to move axially within the retaining section to further increase the impingement area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for installation of oil field tubulars, such as liners, is disclosed. The invention allows positioning of a liner with assurances that rotational forces or pressure applied within or outside the work string will not actuate the packer or the release assembly above the packer. Specific deliberate steps must be taken in order that rotational forces or applied pressure actuate the packer setting assembly and the disconnect assembly. The preliminary deliberate steps which must be taken also incorporate a feature of converting a gravel pack crossover assembly from the flow through mode to the crossover mode to facilitate the gravel placement. Circulation or reverse circulation to promote removal of debris upon insertion of the assembly without fear of actuation of the packer and disconnect assembly are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for installation of oil field tubulars, such as liners, is disclosed. The invention allows positioning of a liner with assurances that rotational forces or pressure applied within or outside the work string will actuate the packer or the release assembly above the packer. Specific deliberate steps must be taken in order that rotational forces or applied pressure actuate the packer setting assembly and the disconnect assembly. The preliminary deliberate steps which must be taken also incorporate a feature of converting a gravel pack crossover assembly from the flow through mode to the crossover mode to facilitate the gravel placement. Circulation or reverse circulation to promote removal debris upon insertion of the assembly without fear of actuation of the packer and disconnect assembly are also provided.

Abstract: An auger gravel pack assembly for installation in a gravel packed well includes a fluid loss control closure member retained in a body disposed in a tubing assembly or "work string" between the gravel pack screen and a running tool and cup-packer assembly. A ball-type closure member is retained by releasable fingers connected to a piston which is responsive to fluid pressure applied through the work string to effect release of the closure ball to engage a seat and substantially prevent flow of fluid from the work string or the wellbore annulus into and through the gravel pack screen after installation of the screen into the gravel pack. Ports in the assembly above the closure member allow fluid to flow between the wellbore annulus and the work string to prevent pressure buildup between the gravel pack and the cup-packer during installation of the screen.

Abstract: A gravel pack screen assembly includes a bit or sub having a flow passage which may accept a wash pipe. The wash pipe may be inserted past a flapper-type closure member which moves to a closed position upon withdrawal of the wash pipe after completion of the installation of the gravel pack assembly. The closure member can be formed of a porous material to permit the flow of liquid through the bit or sub flow passage into the interior of the gravel pack screen but to prevent flow of gravel packing or produced sand into the interior of the screen. The closure member may serve as a backup to a conventional one-way valve and permit additional gravel pack material to be placed in the flow passage upon completion of the gravel pack installation and in the event of early or late failure of the one-way valve.

Abstract: An auger gravel pack screen or other wellbore device is driven by a workstring which includes a torque-limiting device interposed therein to limit the maximum torque exerted on the screen during augering into a gravel packing in a well bore. The torque-limiting device includes driving and driven mandrels with removable shear pin support parts connected to the mandrels, respectively, and supporting plural shear pins through which driving torque is exerted on the device. An alternate embodiment includes a slip clutch with cooperating lobed clutch members. An axially translatable nut is disposed in a fluid-filled chamber between the mandrels and is operable to permit controlled rotation of the mandrels relative to each other when the limit torque is exceeded to absorb torsional deflection energy built up in the workstring without damaging the workstring or the gravel pack screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the completion of non-vertical, including horizontally disposed, portions of a deviated well bore traversing a production formation. To facilitate the insertion of a gravel packing tool string through the curved portion of the well bore, stabilizer elements are maintained in a radially retracted position and then operated to engage the well bore after the tool string is run-in. An anti-rotation tool may be incorporated for connecting the work string to the left hand threads conventionally provided on a conventional packer in order to permit rotation of the entire tool string to facilitate passage through the curved portion of the well bore. Two gravel packing modifications are disclosed, the one employing a single packer and a cross-over tool located at the top end of a plurality of serially connected screens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the completion of non-vertical, including horizontally disposed, portions of a deviated well bore traversing a production formation. To facilitate the insertion of a gravel packing tool string through the curved portion of the well bore, stabilizer elements are maintained in a radially retracted position and then operated to engage the well bore after the tool string is run-in. An anti-rotation tool may be incorporated for connecting the work string to the left hand threads conventionally provided on a conventional packer in order to permit rotation of the entire tool string to facilitate passage through the curved portion of the well bore. Two gravel packing modifications are disclosed, the one employing a single packer and a cross-over tool located at the top end of a plurality of serially connected screens.

Abstract: A fluid pressure activated firing head for a perforating gun disposed in a subterranean well by a packer is provided with a column of clean fluid overlying and filling the bore of the firing head but communicating with the casing annulus above the set packer. An annular fluid passage extends from the top of the clean fluid column through the set packer and ending in an inverted U-shaped annular passage. A pressure transmitting seal is mounted in the downwardly extending leg of the annular fluid passage to permit the entire fluid passage to be filled with clean fluid of a lighter density than the casing annulus fluids, thus insuring that casing annulus fluid can never enter the interior of the pressure activated firing head.

Abstract: A fluid pressure activated firing head for a perforating gun disposed in a subterranean well by a packer is provided with a column of clean fluid overlying and filling the bore of the firing head but communicating with the casing annulus above the set packer. A fluid passage is provided at the top of the conduit extending the clean fluid column through the packer, and the downwardly facing leg of the annular fluid passage is provided with a pressure transmitting seal to permit the entire fluid passage to be filled with clean fluid of a lighter density than the casing annulus fluids, thus insuring that casing annulus fluid can never enter the interior of the pressure activated firing head.

Abstract: A retrievable well packer and gravel packing system employing a multi-component packing element system is disclosed. The packing element system is expandable under axial compression to seal the annulus between a production or treatment tubing string and the well casing. The packing element system includes outer elastically deformable anti-extrusion backup rings and a central primary seal. A resilient member conformable to the surrounding countour, such as wire mesh, is employed between the central primary seal and each backup ring to allow retraction of the backup rings for retrieval.

Abstract: An apparatus for gravel packing a screen positioned adjacent the casing perforations of a subterranean well incorporates an annular sealing surface immediately above the gravel pack screen. A flapper valve is mounted for movement about a horizontal pivot axis into engagement with the annular valve seat. The flapper valve and the cooperating valve seat are both provided with spherical segment sealing surfaces so as to prevent leakage through the valve due to any misalignment of the pivot axis of the flapper valve with respect to the annular valve seat. With this apparatus, the withdrawal of the gravel packing apparatus at the completion of the gravel packing operations prevents the entry of undesired fluids and contaminates into the producing formation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for effecting the perforating of a well casing and the gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing with one trip into the well of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus. This desirable objective is accomplished by a design of the crossover mandrel normally employed in gravel packing apparatus. The mandrel disclosed herein provides, in its run-in position, a continuous axial passage through its entire length, permitting a detonating bar to be dropped therethrough to actuate a perforating gun. Subsequent to the perforation operation, a ball is dropped and seated on an annular sleeve carried within the hollow mandrel which permits the development of internal pressure within the mandrel.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved tool and method for effecting the washing of sand or particulates from casing perforations and channels in production formations in subterranean wells. The tool employed comprises an outer body suspended from a first tubing string and having vertically spaced seals in engagement with the casing wall above and below the set of casing perforations to be washed. Radial wash ports are provided in the outer body between the annular seals. An inner body, carried by a second tubing string is inserted within the first tubing string and outer body and effects a sealing engagement with the bore of the outer body at a location below the radial wash ports. Washing fluid is then introduced into the well through the annulus defined between the first and second tubing strings and the sand laden washing fluid is returned to the well surface through the bore of the inner body and the connected second tubing string.