Abstract: A casing inflation packer for use in a casing string in a well bore. The apparatus includes a housing connected in the casing string. An inflatable packer portion on the housing sealingly engages the well bore when inflated. An inflation passageway is defined between a housing central opening and the packer. A rupture disc is initially disposed between the central opening and the inflation passageway for preventing communication therebetween. The rupture disc ruptures in response to a first predetermined pressure, thereby placing the central opening in communication with the packer through the inflation passageway. A slidable control valve is disposed in the inflation passageway and is initially shearably held in an open position. Upon application of a second predetermined pressure across the valve, the valve is moved to a closed position, thus preventing overinflation of the packer and also preventing deflation thereof.

Abstract: A fracture oriented completion tool system for use in a casing string in a wellbore. The completion tool comprises a casing valve having a radioactive source therein, the orientation of which may be determined by use of a detector apparatus, such as a rotational gamma ray detector. The casing valve thus may be aligned with the fracture of a zone of interest in the well. A plurality of casing valves may be used, with at least one having a radioactive source. A swivel connection may be used to interconnect the casing valve so that housing ports therein may be aligned as the casing is run into the wellbore. In one preferred embodiment, the swivel connection is a locking swivel connection. A method of positioning a casing string in the well utilizing the completion tool is also disclosed.

Abstract: A coiled tubing operated full opening completion tool system for use in a well bore. The tool system comprises a completion tool, such as a casing valve, disposed in a well casing. The tool system further comprises a positioner tool for opening and closing a sliding sleeve in the casing valve. A hydraulically actuated operating cylinder section, including opening and closing cylinder sections, is used to actuate the positioner tool to open and close the casing valve sleeve. Hydraulic slips lock the tool in position in the well bore during actuation. The tool further comprises a jetting tool which is hydraulically actuated between an open position thereof in which fluid in the tool is communicated through a jetting nozzle aligned with a port in the casing tool and a closed position. A J-slot and lug are provided in the positioner tool for controlling the longitudinal position thereof during opening and closing of the casing valve sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cementing tool for cementing multiple stages within a well. The assembly includes a housing assembly which defines one or more cementing ports. A first sleeve assembly is retained within the housing and is movable from a first position, where the sleeve covers the port, and thereby precludes fluid flow therethrough, to a second position wherein the sleeve opens the cementing port. The apparatus also includes a second sleeve assembly which is movable from a first position away from the cementing port to a second position wherein the sleeve assembly covers the port. The first sleeve is cooperatively configured with the housing assembly to provide engaging surfaces which resist rotation of the first sleeve relative to the housing. Additionally, the first sleeve and the second sleeve assembly are configured to limit relative rotation when the two pieces are longitudinally adjacent one another.

Abstract: A stage cementer and inflation packer apparatus. The apparatus comprises a mandrel with an external closing sleeve and an operating sleeve interlocked therewith. Below the operating sleeve is an opening sleeve. The opening sleeve is mechanically acutated by a pump-down plug in a plug-operated embodiment or by a differential pressure acting on the opening sleeve in a hydraulically operated embodiment, to actuate the opening sleeve to allow inflation of the packer element. A back check valve prevents the packer from deflating. After the packer is inflated, additional pressure is applied which ruptures a rupture disc to open a port to the well annulus above the set packer element. Cementing may be carried out through this port, and after the cementing operating, a plug engages the operating sleeve to move the operating sleeve in the external closure sleeve, thereby closing the cementing port.

Abstract: A multiple stage inflation packer with secondary opening rupture disc. The inflatable packer comprises a case with a closing sleeve, an opening sleeve and a releasing sleeve therein. An opening plug is dropped into the casing string and is allowed to free fall, or is pumped down, to actuate the opening sleeve to allow inflation of the packer element. A back check valve prevents the packer from deflating. After the packer is inflated, additional pressure is applied which ruptures a rupture disc to open a port to the well annulus above the set packer element. Cementing may be carried out through this port, and after the cementing operation, a closing plug is pumped down the well casing behind the cement to actuate the releasing sleeve and move the closing sleeve to seal off the ports. Another check valve insures that pressure is equalized on both sides of the rupture disc as the packer is run into the well bore.

Abstract: The improved poppet valve of the present invention comprises a simpler and shorter valve which meets or exceeds prior art performance characteristics while being easier and cheaper to make and to fabricate into a float collar or float shoe. The improved poppet valve of the present invention comprises a tubular one-piece body having flange means on the exterior thereof, and a downward-facing valve seat at the bottom interior thereof, with a valve guide spider thereabove. A dome-shaped poppet valve seats on the aforesaid valve seat, and has coaxially secured thereto a upwardly extending stem bolt which protrudes through and above the valve body guide spider. A spring disposed about the stem bolt biases it upwardly, acting on the top surface of the spider and on a lower surface of a spring retention cap secured to the top of the stem bolt. In such a manner, the poppet valve is biased into engagement with the valve body seat at the lower end of the valve assembly.

Abstract: An automatic fill-up floating apparatus usable in a float collar or a float shoe in a casing string. The apparatus includes a housing having a back check valve positioned therein. A spring biases the valve toward a closed position. A filling body is disposed across an opening at a lower end of the housing and includes a flow passage therethrough. The filling body is shearably pinned to a valve stem extending from the valve and has a holding position in which the valve is held in an open position. A resilient washer is annularly positioned around the valve stem and above the filling body. The washer is free to move upwardly in response to upward movement of flow through the flow passage in the filling body as the casing string is lowered into a well. The floating apparatus may be tripped by pumping fluid downwardly through the casing strings such that the washer is forced against the filling body, sealingly covering the flow passage therethrough.

Abstract: A retrievable well packer includes a packer mandrel with an expandable packing element disposed about the mandrel. Upper and lower shoes are received about the mandrel above and below the expandable packing element for compressibly engaging the packing element. A slip assembly is received about the mandrel for anchoring the packer within the well bore. Upper and lower wedges are received about the mandrel above and below the slip assembly for wedging the slip assembly radially outward upon longitudinal compression of the packing element. The mandrel is nonrotatably connected to each of the upper and lower shoes and upper and lower wedges for preventing rotation of those components relative to the mandrel in the event the packer must be milled out of a well bore. The mandrel is initially releasably longitudinally locked relative to the lower wedge by a releasing collet attached to a lower end of the mandrel and having radially outward extending lugs received within a groove of the lower wedge.

Abstract: A system is provided for gravel-packing a zone of a well. An operating string of the system includes a liner hanger setting tool. A liner string is concentrically disposed about the operating string and has its upper end detachably connected to a lower end of the liner hanger setting tool. The liner hanger setting tool includes a rotatable ball valve disposed in a housing bore thereof. The liner string and operating string are lowered together on an outer drill pipe string into the well until a liner hanger of the liner string is located at a desired location. Then the liner hanger is set within the well at a desired location in response to an increase in pressure within the outer tubing string. Then the ball valve of the liner hanger setting tool is opened in response to an increase in pressure within a well annulus.

Abstract: A system is provided for gravel-packing a zone of a well. The system includes a liner hanger setting apparatus for setting a liner hanger located below the apparatus within the well. The liner hanger setting apparatus includes a housing having a housing bore disposed therethrough. A ball valve is disposed in the housing and has a ball valve bore disposed therethrough. The ball valve is rotatable between an initial closed position and an open position wherein the ball valve bore is aligned with the housing bore. A differential pressure responsive liner setting assembly is operably associated with the housing for setting the liner hanger in response to an increase in fluid pressure within an upper portion of the housing bore above the initially closed ball valve.

Abstract: Apparatus adapted to be lowered on a tubing string for setting a gravel pack at the bottom of a well. Conduits provide a gravel-slurry flow path from the bottom of the tubing to a screen which is suspended from a housing at the lower end of the conduits. A packer is provided between the tubing and the housing for sealing the well bore during gravel packing. When the screen hits the bottom of the well, a clutch connected between the housing and the conduit disengages to prevent transmission of tubing movement to the screen during the gravel packing process. Upon packing completion, tubing string rotation releases the screen to permit raising of the apparatus on the tubing string.