Abstract: A transition member (130) coupled between first and second slurry delivery devices (132, 134) for maintaining fluid slurry velocity therethrough is disclosed. Each slurry delivery device (132, 134) has a slurry passageway (144, 164) having a cross sectional area. The transition member (130) includes a transition passageway (200) operable to provide fluid communication between the slurry passageways (144, 164) of the slurry delivery devices (132, 134). The cross sectional area of at least a portion of the transition passageway (200) approximates the cross sectional area of the slurry passageways (144, 164) of the slurry delivery devices (132, 134). This allows the transition member (130) to maintain the fluid slurry velocity above the settling velocity of the slurry.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fracturing different levels of a completion interval in a well. A workstring lowers a fracturing string which, in turn, is comprised of a base pipe which is blank except for perforated sections spaced along its length. Screen may be provided over said sections to block the flow of sand into the base pipe. An alternate flow path (e.g. shunt tubes) extends along the base pipe and has one or more outlets spaced along its length. A slurry is flowed into the annulus surrounding the fracturing string. As liquid is lost from the slurry, sand from the slurry will form bridges at said perforated sections thereby isolating portions of the annulus. Slurry then flows through the shunts tube(s) and out into the isolated portions to fracture the different levels in the completion interval.

Abstract: A method of progressively gravel packing is provided which enables individual sections of a continuous wellbore portion to be gravel packed in succession. In a described embodiment, multiple well screens are positioned in a wellbore. A continuous portion of the wellbore is isolated using, for example, one or more packers, with the well screens being disposed in the isolated portion. The isolated wellbore portion is then progressively gravel packed in successive individual predetermined sections of the isolated wellbore portion.

Abstract: A tool string for use in a well includes a filter sub (or trapped pressure regulator sub) that is used with other components to reduce trapped pressure. The filter sub filters out debris that may occur from various types of downhole operations, such as perforating operations. By filtering out larger debris, only gases, liquids, and smaller particles are allowed to enter various components of the tool string. Without the presence of larger solid debris inside certain components of the tool string, the likelihood of plugs being formed is reduced so that gases and liquids can more readily pass out of the tool string as the tool string is retrieved to the surface of the well and the well hydrostatic pressure decreases.

Abstract: This invention provides improved apparatus and methods for completing a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore. One embodiment of the present invention is a wellbore completion comprising a plurality of longitudinal gravel pack sections disposed within a well, the gravel pack sections are capable of imposing a predetermined substantially radial flow restriction upon fluid production flowing radially through the gravel pack section. At least one of the gravel pack sections creating a radial flow restriction that is different from the radial flow restriction of at least one other gravel pack section. The gravel pack sections can comprise graded gravel material having an effective permeability within a predetermined range when placed in the well.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in completing a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore include a tubular member having a first segment and a second segment, each segment containing a longitudinal bore. The tubular member forms an annulus between itself and the wellbore wall. At least one screen member at least partially encloses and is coupled to a second segment of the tubular member. The screen member and the enclosed second segment of the tubular member both have openings that allow fluid communication between the longitudinal bore of the tubular member and the wellbore. The apparatus includes an alternate flowpath member having a wall, upper and lower ends, and at least one aperture in its wall. The apertures are small enough to substantially prevent passage of particulate material. The alternate flowpath member extends longitudinally along a portion of the wellbore and creates a communication path for fluid flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fracturing a formation or gravel packing a borehole extending through an unconsolidated subterranean zone in a formation includes a screen assembly having a length adapted for disposal adjacent the unconsolidated subterranean zone and includes a plurality of screens mounted on a base member with adjacent base members being connected by a sub having an aperture in the wall thereof. A flow-control service assembly is disposed within the bore of the screen assembly and includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member includes a plurality of ports that communicate with the apertures in the screen assembly. The apertures in the screen assembly are disposed along the length of screen assembly at predetermined intervals. The inner tubular member and outer tubular member form an inner annulus, the outer tubular member and screen assembly form a medial annulus, and the screen assembly forms an outer annulus with the wall of the borehole.

Abstract: A method and well tool for using a low-viscosity slurry to gravel pack a completion interval. The well tool is comprised of a screen and at least one alternate flowpath which is initially closed to flow by a valve means. Once a sand bridge is formed in the completion interval, the pressure of the pumped slurry increases which, in turn, opens the valve means to allow flow through the alternate flowpath. Preferably, a plurality of flowpaths of different lengths are provided, all of which include valve means which are adapted to open at different pressures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a well bore is provided. A base pipe having an outer surface and an inner bore is provided. A first screen jacket is placed therearound. A second screen jacket is positioned adjacent the first screen jacket around the base pipe. An annular space is defined between the outer surface of the base pipe and each screen jacket. A sleeve is disposed between the adjacent screen jackets and an isolated fluid flow path is created between the annular space defined by the first screen jacket and the annular space defined by the second screen jacket.

Abstract: Underground cavities containing liquid contaminants are remediated by drilling directionally through the cavity and then pulling back pipe with a slotted section extending through the cavity. The pipe is supplied on reels in lengths much longer than in the prior art, thus avoiding the joining by butt welding of successive short lengths of pipe as in the prior art. Slots are preferably cut parallel to the axis of the pipe or at a angle in respect to the axis instead of being cut radially as in the prior art, so that a much greater portion of the pipe circumference remains joined together, thereby substantially increasing the axial strength of the pipe.

Abstract: A filter for subterranean environments includes an inner support member, a filter body containing a filter medium disposed around the inner support member, and at least one end connector connected to a lengthwise end of the filter body and sealed against the inner support member without being welded to the inner support member. The end connector may be restrained from movement relative to the inner support member in a lengthwise direction of the inner support member, without being welded to the inner support member, to resist axial forces acting on the filter during installation or operation in a well. Alternatively, the end connector may be capable of movement with respect to the inner support member in a lengthwise direction of the inner support member to enable the filter to undergo thermal expansion without damage to the filter body or other portions of the filter.

Abstract: An adjustable flow rate screen assembly and associated methods of completing a subterranean well provide variable flow rates through downhole sand control screens without restricting access to the well and without requiring overly restrictive screens to be utilized in gravel packing operations. In a preferred embodiment, a screen assembly has a tubular restrictor housing with a flow passage formed thereon, a tubular ported housing having ports formed radially therethrough and providing fluid communication with the flow passage, and a tubular selector sleeve with an opening formed radially therethrough and permitting fluid communication with a selected one of the ports.

Abstract: A well liner having a selective isolation screen with a limited or less restrictive seal. The well liner includes an elongate base pipe having openings therethrough; surrounded by circumferentially spaced, longitudinal extending spacer bars for forming an inner annulus; one or more annular cylindrical sleeves secured to the exterior of the base pipe; and a continuous wire wrapping surround the spacer bars except at interrupted areas where the isolated permeable seal sections are placed. These seal sections are located at predetermined vertical locations corresponding to specific well requirements of varying lengths and production formations within the wellbore. The continuous wire wrapping and spacer bars are inverted within the permeable seal sections so that the wire wrapping substantially fills the inner annulus and a multitude of spacer bars spaced approximately equal to or slightly larger than the spaces between the wire wrapping form the outer most surface of the seal sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gravel packing wherein a gravel slurry is distributed to different points of a wellbore annulus from a internal passage within the apparatus thereby protecting the passage from damage during operation. The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of gravel screen units which are connected together at the lower end of a workstring. Each gravelscreen unit is comprised of a gravel screen and a valve-outlet assembly which, in turn, is comprised of a collar having an outlet and a valve for opening and closing the outlet. A washpipe is positioned within the workstring and provides a passage for delivering the slurry internally to the outlets in each of the valve-outlet assemblies. The valves are closed when the washpipe is removed.

Abstract: A well strainer is provided which includes a plurality of stacked, annular, filter segments with each segment including a plurality of elongate, arcuate, threaded rod receiving slots, ramped bearing surfaces near each slot, and position indicators in the vicinity of the ramped bearing surfaces and slots. The gap between adjacent annular filter segments is selected by rotating one segment relative to another to a desired position whereat indicator points are received within respective indicator sockets. Guide members adjacent the ramped bearing surfaces help to keep adjacent filter segments in true superimposed relation.

Abstract: A gravel prepack production system characterized by a flexible gravel prepack comprising an inner tube and a plurality of discrete annular filter elements carried on the inner tube and longitudinally spaced therealong by spacers. The tube is free to flex at the segments thereof intermediate the relatively rigid filter elements to enable the gravel prepack to traverse even severe doglegs in the well. The filter elements and spacers may be strung onto the inner tube at the production site to configure the gravel prepack to the particular application as by selecting a desired spacing between the filter elements.

Abstract: A well structure suitable for use as a shallow well having a large diameter includes a well curb, and one or more water intake segments mounted in a part of the well curb. Each water intake segments includes a frame made of a vertically arranged pair of flanges extending in the circumferential direction and a laterally arranged pair of flanges extending in the axial direction, the frame having a form which constitute a part of a cylinder, a screen element such as wires and wire supporting rods secured to the frame, and one or more reinforcing members secured at ends thereof to either of the vertically arranged pair of flanges or the laterally arranged pair of flanges for reinforcing the frame.

Abstract: An apertured pipe segment is disclosed which is of injection moulded plastics construction and can be used to form a well screen or sub-soil drainage pipe. Each aperture comprises a longitudinally extending inner slot which extends from a slot mouth inwardly and is defined by inwardly diverging slot walls, and an outer slot which extends from the outside of the pipe segment inwardly to the slot mouth. The smallest width of the outer slot is greater than the width of the slot mouth. The inner slot is open longitudinally to one end of the pipe segment and the outer slot is open longitudinally to the other end of the pipe segment. The pipe segments can thus be made by an inexpensive two-part mould not requiring collapsible cores.

Abstract: A method for setting a gravel pack in an oil well through tubing situation includes the steps of running a tool body into the well using an electric wireline. The tool body is precisely positioned relative to the surrounding casing, and radially extending members attached to the tool are used to center the tool body in the well bore. Sand control media such as a gravel pack is disposed in the well annulus circumferentially about the tool body using a dump bailer. The use of radially extending members allow the tool body to pass through restricted diameter openings such as in production tubing, fittings, nipples, pressure control device, packers, valves and the like.

Abstract: A well screen centralizer with a longitudinal flow passage therethrough which has a well screen insert that increases the producing area of the well screen by reducing the amount of blank non-producing tubing length usually used to accommodate non-well screen insert centralizers. A method for constructing a well screen centralizer and a method for inserting well screens into a well bore that includes welding the couplings to the well screens and using a well screen assembly and support stand.

Abstract: A bore screen for use in filtering fluids which are extracted from bores or wells and which comprises a stack of annular plastics material rings which are clamped together in face-to-face relationship. Each ring is formed on opposite, first and second, faces with aligned, circumferentially spaced bearing pads, the bearing pads on the first face of successive rings contacting those on the second face of adjacent rings and serving to space the rings apart. The bearing pads on the first face of each ring are formed with stepped projections and those which are on the second face of each ring are formed with complementary stepped recesses, and the bearing pads mate in such a way that the spacing between adjacent rings is changed as one ring is rotated relative to another and different pairs of bearing pads are brought into contact with one another.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprising a tubular strainer element co-axially arranged within the body of the bit and being provided with narrow axial slots arranged to prevent solid debris from passing to the nozzles of the bit. The self-cleaning ability of the strainer element is enhanced by increasing the bore of the strainer element in the region below the slots.

Abstract: In order to draw water free of sand from a well bored into a water-bearing strata a cylindrical permeable body is located concentrically within the perforated wall of the well. The cylindrical body may in turn comprise concentric outer and inner slotted tubes with a permeable cylinder or a granulate therebetween. The lower end of the cylindrical body is closed and the upper end is connected to a pump.

Abstract: A pre-packed well point is provided having a central tube perforated only at the bottom end thereof. Coaxial with the inner tube is an outer screen and the inner and outer tubes are joined by suitable top and bottom end caps. Packed between the outer screen and the inner tube is a mass of particulate matter, such as gravel, glass nodules, activated carbon, polypropylene or, preferably, perlite. The pre-packed well point is inserted in the ground into position by vertically augering into the ground utilizing a hollow auger whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pre-packed well point. The bottom of the hollow auger is a separable bit. The hollow auger is driven into place by a portable drive mechanism mounted on a vehicle. When the hollow auger is driven, it drills a hole into the ground, with the spiral channels removing the dirt from the hole as it is being formed. When the auger reaches the desired depth, it is raised a short distance from the bottom of the hole.