Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120097397 | Fracturing System and Method - A system and method for fracturing a stage of a multiple stage hydrocarbon production well. One embodiment of the system comprises at least one ported sleeve assembly and a flapper assembly positioned downwell of the ported sleeve assembly. Each ported sleeve assembly comprises a ported housing having a plurality of ports disposed radially therethrough; a first sleeve at least partially within the ported housing and moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the first sleeve is radially positioned between the plurality of ports and the flowpath. The first sleeve has an exterior surface, a first slot formed in the first exterior surface, and a first engagement surface having a first inner diameter. A first guiding member is fixed relative to the ported housing and positionable within the first slot. A first compression spring positioned between the a upper end of the first sleeve and the ported housing, the first compression spring being under compression when the first sleeve is in the first position. The flapper assembly comprises a flapper seal; a flapper plate rotatable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein in the opened position fluid flow in the downwell direction through the flapper seal is at least substantially unimpeded, and wherein in the closed position the flapper plate is engaged against the flapper seal to at least substantially prevent fluid flow through the flapper seal in the downwell direction; a second sleeve moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position at least a portion of the second sleeve is radially positioned between the flapper plate and the flowpath, the second sleeve having a second exterior surface, a second slot formed in the second exterior surface, and a second engagement surface having a second inner diameter; a second guiding member fixed relative to the flapper seal and positionable within the second walking jay slot; and a second compression spring positioned between an upper end of the second sleeve and the flapper seal, the second compression spring being under compression when the second sleeve is in the second position. | 04-26-2012 |
20120261131 | Assembly for Actuating a Downhole Tool - A valve seat assembly for actuating a connected downhole tool. The connected downhole tool may be mechanically connected, such as a sleeve positionable between flow ports through a housing, or hydraulically connected, such as through establishing a fluid communication path to the tool to cause actuation thereof. The valve seat assembly generally has a seating element with an having an inlet and an outlet; and a counting element configured to keep a tally of the number times a first pressure at the inlet exceeds a second pressure at the outlet by at least a pre-determined amount. | 10-18-2012 |
20120279723 | Downhole Tool - A downhole tool comprising an inner sleeve with a plurality of sleeve ports and a housing positioned radially outwardly of the inner sleeve and having a plurality of housing ports, with the housing and inner sleeve partially defining a space radially therebetween. The space is occupied by a shifting sleeve. A fluid path extends between the interior flowpath of the tool and the space. A fluid control device, occupies at least portion of the fluid path, and may selectively permit fluid flow, and thus pressure communication, into the space to cause a differential pressure across the shifting sleeve. When a sufficient differential pressure is reached, the shifting sleeve is moved from a first position to a second position, which opens the communication paths through the housing and sleeve ports between the interior flowpath and exterior of the tool. | 11-08-2012 |
20130068474 | Downhole System and Apparatus Incorporating Valve Assembly with Resilient Deformable Engaging Element - An apparatus, system and method relating to a valve assembly for use in a subterranean well for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons. The valve assembly comprises an engaging element with a resilient portion having a first shape when a first pressure differential is applied across the engaging element in a direction and a second shape when a second pressure differential is applied across the element in the direction; a receiving element having sealing section; wherein the engaging element is engagable with the first receiving element to substantially prevent the flow of fluids through the sealing section a pressure differential is applied to the engaging element that is less than a first pressure differential; wherein the engaging element is extrudable through the first receiving element by applying a second pressure differential that is greater than the first pressure differential. | 03-21-2013 |
20130068475 | Multistage Production System Incorporating Valve Assembly With Collapsible or Expandable C-Ring - A valve assembly, and related system and method, with an annular sleeve having an inner surface with a diameter, a first cylindrical outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending between the inner surface and the first cylindrical outer surface. The annular sleeve includes a second cylindrical outer surface having a different diameter than the first cylindrical outer surface. A first C-ring having a body with a seating surface, opposing terminal ends, and an outer diameter extending from the body is at least partially within the inner surface of the sleeve. A coil spring is positioned around a portion of the sleeve and in an annular space at least partially defined by an annular body and the second cylindrical outer surface. | 03-21-2013 |
20140034294 | Fracturing System and Method - A system and method comprising at least one ported sleeve assembly and a flapper assembly positioned downwell of the ported sleeve assembly. The system provides for the use of multiple ported sleeve assemblies for each stage of a hydrocarbon producing well that can be opened with a single element, and multiple stages, each have the ability to be opened with a single element size. | 02-06-2014 |
20140069654 | Downhole Tool Incorporating Flapper Assembly - A downhole tool incorporating a sleeve assembly with an actuatable element, such as the seat of a plug-and-seat combination, and a seal assembly, such as a flapper seal assembly. The sleeve assembly is movable between a first position, in which the seal assembly is opened and inhibited from closing by contact with the sleeve assembly, and a second position in which the seal assembly is closed. Upon closing of the flapper assembly, the downhole tool may withstand higher pressures with reduced risk of failure to maintain a pressure differential across the tool. | 03-13-2014 |
20140076578 | Downhole Tool - A downhole tool comprising an inner sleeve with a plurality of sleeve ports and a housing positioned radially outwardly of the inner sleeve and having a plurality of housing ports, with the housing and inner sleeve partially defining a space radially therebetween. The space is occupied by a shifting sleeve. A fluid path extends between the interior flowpath of the tool and the space. A fluid control device, such as a burst disk, occupies at least portion of the fluid path. In one state, the shifting sleeve is in a first position between the housing ports and the sleeve ports to prevent fluid flow between the interior flowpath and exterior of the tool. The fluid control device may selectively permit fluid flow, and thus pressure communication, into the annular space to cause a differential pressure across the shifting sleeve. When a sufficient differential pressure is reached, the shifting sleeve is moved to a second position, which opens the communication paths through the housing and sleeve ports between the interior flowpath and exterior flowpath of the tool. | 03-20-2014 |
20140102722 | Downhole System and Method for Facilitating Remedial Work - A downhole system and related method, the system comprising an annulus sealing device having a flow path therethrough, a first side, a second side, and a sealing element; a latch element positioned at the first side of the annulus sealing device; at least one check valve assembly positioned at the second side of the annulus sealing device, the at least one check valve assembly having an annular seat, a seat-engaging element rotatably movable relative to the annular seat, and a biasing member urging the seat-engaging element toward the annular seat element; a rigid elongate member extending at least partially through the latch element and having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end; and a fluid communication path between the annular seat and through the latch element at least partially defined by the rigid elongate member. | 04-17-2014 |
20140116721 | Downhole Tools, System and Method of Using - A downhole tool comprising a nested sleeve moveable from a closed position to an open position following actuation of a fluid control device. The fluid control device may selectively permit fluid flow, and thus pressure communication, into the annular space to cause a differential pressure across the shifting sleeve, and thereby moving the shifting sleeve to an open position. A static plug seat is positioned in the tubing or casing upwell of the downhole tool. When the shifting sleeve is opened, fluid flow is established through the static plug seat, allowing a dissolvable or disintegrable ball or other plug to engage the plug seat, preventing fluid flow past the plug seat to the opened downhole tool, thereby permitting pressurization of the tubing or casing, such as for a pressure test. Disintegration of the ball allows fluid communication to be re-established with the downhole tool, permitting fluid to flow through the tubing for subsequent operations. | 05-01-2014 |
20140158368 | Flow bypass device and method - Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for re-directing fluid flow from the interior of tubing placed in a well to the exterior of the tubing by use of selectively actuatable valves operable by engagement of a plug on a plug seat. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed may provide a flowback bypass for the flow of fluids around obstructions in the tubing when those obstructions occur at a predicted location within the tubing. The systems, devices and methods may also include a locking system operable by, among other things, plug and plug seat valves, and such locking system may be used to prevent opening of the flowback bypass until after a predetermined event has occurred. | 06-12-2014 |
20140246207 | Fracturing System and Method - A system and method comprising at least one ported sleeve assembly and a flapper assembly positioned downwell of the ported sleeve assembly. The system provides for the use of multiple ported sleeve assemblies for each stage of a hydrocarbon producing well that can be opened with a single element, and multiple stages, each have thFracturinge ability to be opened with a single element size. | 09-04-2014 |
20140251636 | Downhole Tools, System and Method of Using - The present disclosure relates to downhole tools, including downhole valves, which actuate via a pressure differential created across a shifting element having one or more pressure surfaces isolated from fluid, and fluid pressure, flowing through the interior flowpath. Embodiment downhole tools of the present disclosure may actuate in response to, among other signals, fluid pressure in the interior flowpath of the tool and fluid pressure communicated to a pressure surface of the shifting sleeve from the exterior of the tool. Certain embodiments may also have an outlet connector whereby fluid pressure from the downhole tool may be communicated to its exterior, including to additional tools in the tubing strings via flowlines connecting the two tools. | 09-11-2014 |
20140318816 | Downhole Tools With Ball Trap - The described embodiments relate to a downhole tool that can capture a ball in a trap to prevent both upwell and downwell movement of the ball. Further, certain embodiments described herein may prevent fluid from flowing past a captured ball in either the upwell or downwell directions. Ball and seat valves incorporating such ball trap assemblies can be used to create a bi-directional plug which prevents fluid flow in either direction when the ball trap is engaged with an appropriately configured ball. | 10-30-2014 |
20150068752 | Flow Bypass Device and Method - Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for re-directing fluid flow from the interior of tubing placed in a well to the exterior of the tubing by use of selectively actuatable valves operable by engagement of a plug on a plug seat. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed may provide a flowback bypass for the flow of fluids around obstructions in the tubing when those obstructions occur at a predicted location within the tubing. The systems, devices and methods may also include a locking system operable by, among other things, plug and plug seat valves, and such locking system may be used to prevent opening of the flowback bypass until after a predetermined event has occurred. | 03-12-2015 |