Abstract: A stage tool used in a wellbore has a housing consisting of two sub-housings that couple together. A first sleeve is movably disposed in the housing bore and is held closed with a temporary connection relative to a side port of the housing. The first sleeve has a first seat of millable material. A second sleeve is also movably disposed in the housing bore and is held opened with a temporary connection relative to the side port. The second sleeve has a second seat of millable material. An opening plug is landed on the first seat so pressure can break the connection and shift the first sleeve open relative to the side port. After pumping cement out of the tool, a closing plug is pumped to the second seat so pressure can break the connection and shift the second sleeve closed relative to the side port. The first sleeve includes a bypass that allows for fluid to pass beyond the seated plug.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shielding apparatus for high-depth groundwater well pollution prevention grouting comprising: a shielding portion which is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a grouting casing installed in an excavation hole in the ground and compressed to be in close contact with a hollow wall of the excavation hole; a compression portion which is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the grouting casing and formed to descend toward the shielding portion and brings the shielding portion into close contact with the hollow wall of the excavation hole to guide the excavation hole to be sealed; and a pressure equalization injection tube portion which is connected with the compression portion on the outer circumferential surface of the grouting casing and lowers the compression portion by water pressure generated by supplying water from the outside through a water supply tube.

Abstract: A packer that includes a mandrel, primary and secondary opening seats attached to an interior of the mandrel, a landing seat attached to the interior of the mandrel, a packer element attached to an exterior of the mandrel, and a closing seat attached to the interior of the mandrel. The secondary opening seat may be between the primary opening seat and the landing seat, and the primary opening seat may be between the closing seat and the secondary opening seat. The primary opening seat engages an opening plug and moves from a first position covering an opening to a second position not covering the opening, and the secondary opening seat engages the primary opening seat and moves from a first position covering a port to a second position not covering the port.

Abstract: A packer that includes a mandrel, primary and secondary opening seats attached to an interior of the mandrel, a landing seat attached to the interior of the mandrel, a packer element attached to an exterior of the mandrel, and a closing seat attached to the interior of the mandrel. The secondary opening seat may be between the primary opening seat and the landing seat, and the primary opening seat may be between the closing seat and the secondary opening seat. The primary opening seat engages an opening plug and moves from a first position covering an opening to a second position not covering the opening, and the secondary opening seat engages the primary opening seat and moves from a first position covering a port to a second position not covering the port.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly to be run with a well tubular having openings provided in the wall and for being arranged in a well bore and thereby forming a space between said tubing and the well bore surface. The assembly comprising: first fluid control means and second fluid control means being provided in another opening in said well tubular. The assembly further having a set of packers for sealing of the space between said tubing and the well bore surface, said set of packers being positioned such that a part the tubular having both first and second fluid control means is located between the set of packers. The first fluid control means is adapted such that it is capable of blocking fluid flow from the interior of said well tubular to said space between said tubing and the well bore surface. The second fluid control means is adapted such that it is capable of blocking fluid flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly to be run with a well tubular having openings provided in the wall and for being arranged in a well bore and thereby forming a space between said tubing and the well bore surface. The assembly comprising: first fluid control means and second fluid control means being provided in another opening in said well tubular. The assembly further having a set of packers for sealing of the space between said tubing and the well bore surface, said set of packers being positioned such that a part the tubular having both first and second fluid control means is located between the set of packers. The first fluid control means is adapted such that it is capable of blocking fluid flow from the interior of said well tubular to said space between said tubing and the well bore surface. The second fluid control means is adapted such that it is capable of blocking fluid flow from said space between said tubing and the well bore surface to the interior of said well tubular.

Abstract: A tandem packer seals a wellbore annulus with first and second seals. The packer has a body defining a bore therethrough and has a shoulder disposed on the body. A compressible element is disposed on the body adjacent the shoulder. A piston is movably disposed on the body adjacent the compressible element and is activated by fluid pressure communicated through a port in the packer's bore. When actuated, the piston fits between the compressible element and the body to initially expand it outward. With further fluid pressure, the piston compresses the compressible element against the shoulder to expand the element radially outward and produce a first seal with a surrounding surface. A swellable element also disposed on the body is swellable in the presence of an agent and expands radially outward to produce a second seal with the surrounding surface.

Abstract: Plugging a side pocket mandrel using a swelling plug. A system for plugging a port in a side pocket of a mandrel in a subterranean well includes a plugging device installed in the side pocket of the mandrel, the plugging device including a swellable seal material, whereby the seal material swells at least after installation of the plugging device in the side pocket to thereby prevent fluid transfer through the port. A method of plugging a port in a side pocket of a mandrel in a subterranean well includes the steps of: providing the plugging device with a swellable seal material; installing the plugging device in the side pocket; and the seal material swelling in the side pocket, thereby preventing fluid transfer through the port.

Abstract: The invention is a sealing system, such as a packer, that is used in a wellbore to seal against an exterior surface, such as a casing or open wellbore. The sealing system includes a swellable material that swells from an unexpanded state to an expanded state thereby creating a seal when the swellable material comes into contact with a triggering fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for downhole formation testing including use of a probe having inner and outer channels adapted to collect or inject injecting fluids from or to a formation accessed by a borehole. The probe straddles one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations and uses the inner channels to collect fluid.

Abstract: A retrievable packer assembly for use in operations into wellbores is provided. The packer assembly comprises a continuous mandrel with a valve body including seal cups to seal against an inner surface of a casing, and a gap defined between the valve body and the mandrel to permit or prevent circulation of fluid between the interior of the mandrel and a section of the casing above the seal cups in response to the movement of the valve body.

Abstract: Plugging a side pocket mandrel using a swelling plug. A system for plugging a port in a side pocket of a mandrel in a subterranean well includes a plugging device installed in the side pocket of the mandrel, the plugging device including a swellable seal material, whereby the seal material swells at least after installation of the plugging device in the side pocket to thereby prevent fluid transfer through the port. A method of plugging a port in a side pocket of a mandrel in a subterranean well includes the steps of: providing the plugging device with a swellable seal material; installing the plugging device in the side pocket; and the seal material swelling in the side pocket, thereby preventing fluid transfer through the port.

Abstract: A method of controlling the pressure of a casing annulus in a subterranean well that includes injecting into the casing annulus a composition including a base fluid and a polymer coated colloidal solid material. The polymer coated colloidal solid material includes: a solid particle having an weight average particle diameter (d50) of less than two microns, and a polymeric dispersing agent coated onto the surface of the solid particle during the comminution (i.e. grinding) process utilized to make the colloidal particles. The polymeric dispersing agent may be a water soluble polymer having a molecular weight of at least 2000 Daltons. The solid particulate material may be selected from materials having of specific gravity of at least 2.68 and preferably the solid particulate material may be selected from barium sulfate (barite), calcium carbonate, dolomite, ilmenite, hematite, olivine, siderite, strontium sulfate, combinations and mixtures of these-and other similar solids.

Abstract: A barrier forming apparatus is deployable through a conduit component in a well. The apparatus has a snap latch that removably couples to a work string. A mandrel element in the apparatus is selectively moveable with the coupling element. A plurality of locator dogs on the apparatus are spring biased and are activated when pressure is applied to a piston in the apparatus, which release the locator dogs. Once activated, the locator dogs engage a first grove the in the conduit component. When the work string is pulled up while the apparatus is held by the locator dogs, a plurality of locking dogs are activated by movement of a mandrel element caused by the work string. The locking dogs engage second grooves in the conduit component. Continued pulling of the work string moves a cone attached to a distal end of the mandrel element, and the moving cone deforms a barrier element positioned between an end of the apparatus' housing and the cone.

Abstract: Downhole plug, especially designed for closing an annular conduit in an oil or gas well, under high pressure and temperature. It has two radially expandable ring elements 13, 15, which are arranged on a carrying cylindrical element 32, between two mutually axially movable pressure elements 12, 14, having an expansion sleeve in between. The ring elements can, by insertion of the downhole plug in a well, be expanded from an inner position, seen radially, to a sealing position against the wall of the well. The radially expandable ring elements 13, 15, comprises a closed series of circumferentially overlapping seal elements 13A, 15 A. By the expanding movement they are mutually moved in the circumferential direction, thereby maintaining a seal against each other. They form an outer sealing surface 38, which can provide a seal against a cylindrical pipe wall, and they have an inwards facing sealing surface 47.

Abstract: A sand control screen assembly (60) comprises a base pipe (62) having at least one opening (64) that allows fluid flow therethrough and a filter medium (66) positioned about the exterior of the base pipe (62) that allows fluid flow therethrough and prevents particulate flow therethrough. An inflatable seal member (72) is disposed within the at least one opening (64) of the base pipe (62) and controls fluid flow through the at least one opening (64). An inflation fluid source (74) is in fluid communication with the inflatable seal member (72) and provides an inflation fluid to the inflatable seal member (72) to selectively urge the inflatable seal member (72) into sealing engagement with the at least one opening (64).

Abstract: A method and a system for testing a borehole in an underground formation by the use of so-called closed chamber testing. When carrying out the method, a test or production pipe (5) is carried down the borehole, where the test pipe can be closed at its upper end and at its lower end is provided with a downhole assembly (6) comprising equipment for testing of fluid flow from the formation (3), the annulus (23) between the test pipe (5) and a casing (20) in the borehole being shut off during the test by a gasket (22) at a desired depth, and fluid from the formation being allowed to flow through the test pipe (5) to a collecting tank (9) coupled to the test pipe via a flow head (4) at the upper end of the test pipe (5).

Abstract: Inflation control arrangement including a non-oriented continuous strand material bound between concentric layers of elastomeric material in an inflatable tool. Where the continuous strand material is located, inflation will be delayed.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in setting packers and other fluid actuated devices includes a tubular body (222), a valve (228) for controlling the flow of well fluid through a port (234) in the body (222) and a valve actuator (224) mounted on the body (222) and movable relative thereto, to open the valve (228) by application of well fluid pressure. The well fluid may flow through the open valve (228) to set a packer or actuate a device.

Abstract: Apparatus for completing a subterranean well and associated methods provide economical and efficient well completions. In one described embodiment, a well completion apparatus includes a packer which is settable by application of a compressive axial force thereto. The packer sealingly engages a wellbore of the well when set therein, but does not anchor to the wellbore. The apparatus further includes a screen and an attachment device. The attachment device permits the apparatus to be attached to another packer previously set and anchored within the wellbore.

Abstract: A bypass valve, particularly useful for allowing a tubing string to fill or drain during tripping in and tripping out, is disclosed. The bypass valve can be used in conjunction with a downhole motor operated through a tubing string. The bypass valve features a movable tapered valve member which has a smaller taper than the valve seat to prevent dragging the sealing element across sharp edges as the valve closes. Ports are provided through the valve to conduct upstream pressure in the valve behind the sealing element so that upon contact of the sealing element on the valve member with the seat, a boost force is applied to help retain the seal.

Abstract: A casing tensioning system applies tension to a string of casing between a subsea wellhead and a surface wellhead. The tensioning system has an outer hanger with a load ring and a ratchet ring that engage a mandrel. The mandrel is connected into the string of casing. The outer hanger has a disengaged position and an engaged position. When running, the outer hanger lands on a load shoulder in the surface wellhead while the casing hanger is in the disengaged position. The operator subsequently lowers the casing and latches the casing to the subsea wellhead. The operator then removes the casing running tool. The operator sets an annulus seal using a seal running tool. The annulus seal actuates a release member to cause the ratchet ring to move to the collapsed engaged position. After the seal is set the operator pulls tension on the casing.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus is provided for sealing between concentric relatively moveable tubular members. The sealing apparatus is comprised of a plurality of retainer seal rings, made of a high temperature thermoplastic, and between each retainer seal ring is a thermoplastic seal ring constructed of a normal temperature service thermoplastic. The thermoplastic seal rings are alternately spaced with the high temperature thermoplastic retainer seal rings. The retainer seal rings and the thermoplastic seal rings are cylindrical rings having a radial cross-section of a general chevron shape. Energization to press both sets of seals into sealing engagement with the two relatively moveable tubular members is accomplished by the interaction of an axial interference fit between alternating seal rings, a diametrical interference fit between the relatively moveable wellbore surfaces and the seal rings, and wellbore fluid pressure.