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`FILE HiSTORY
`
`US 6.006,838
`
`PATENT:
`
`8,006,838
`
`INVENTORS: Whiteley, T. G.
`
`Lehr, Douglas J.
`
`Martin, Michael A.
`
`Atchley, Dennis
`
`TITLE:
`
`Apparatus and method for stimulating
`multiple production zones in a wellbore
`
`APPLICATION
`NO:
`FILED:
`
`US199816991 GA
`12 OCT 1998
`
`ISSUED:
`
`28 DEC 1999
`
`COMPILED;
`
`20 JAN 2016
`
`3
`
`

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`,(\
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`£1
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`CLAIMSALLOWED
`Tote! Claims
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`NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED
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`Primary Examiner
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`Cl I:)Tha Ilirminal ______rru:Inlhs of
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`
`6,006,838
`
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STIMULATING MULTIPLE
`
`PRODUCION ZONES IN WELLBORE
`
`Date
`10-15-1998
`10-21-1998
`10-26-1998
`12-22-1998
`12-28-1998
`01-28-1999
`02-18-1999
`02-23-1999
`04-14-1999
`04-14-1999
`05-28-1999
`05-28-1999
`06-10-1999
`06-18-1999
`06-1 8-1 999
`06-24-l 999
`09-20- 1 999
`09-20- 1999
`09-20-l 999
`09-20-1999
`09-20-l 999
`09-2 8- 1 999
`1 l-24-l 999
`1 1-3 0-1999
`1 2-1 7-] 999
`1 2-1 7-1 999
`1 2-28-1 999
`07-1 0-2002
`07-1 3 -2 007
`01-14-2016
`
`Transaction History
`
`Transaction Descri tion
`Initial Exam Team nn
`IFW Scan & PACR Auto Securi Review
`Notice Mailed-—A lication Incom lete--Filin; Date Assined
`A n lication Is Now Comletc
`A 0 lication Dis atched fmm OIPE
`Case Dockcted to Examiner in GAU
`Non-Final Re'ection
`Mail Non-Final Rc'ection
`Information Disclosure Statement IDS Filed
`
`Information Disclosure S1atement (IDS) Filed
`Affidavit(s) (Rule 131 or 132) or Exhibitgsg Received
`Res - onse afier Non-Final Action
`Date Forwarded to Examiner
`Mail Notice of Allowance
`
`Notice of Allowance Data Verification Comgleted
`Examiner Interview Summ Record PTOL - 413)
`Worlcflow - Drawings Finished
`Workflow - Drawings Majched with File at Contractor
`Worlctlow - Drawings Received at Contractor
`Workflow - Drawings Sent to Contractor
`Issue Fee Payment Verified
`Workflow - File Sent to Contractor
`
`Workflow — Comglete WF Records for Drawings
`Agglication Is Considered Read}; for Issue
`Issue Notification Mailed
`Issue Notification Mailed
`Recordation of Patent Grant Mailed
`Post Issue Communication — Certificate of Correction
`
`Correspondence Address Change
`File Marked Found
`
`5
`
`

`
`
`
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`51' PATENT APPLICATION
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`SEARCH NOTES
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`9
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`United States Patent
`Whiteley el al.
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`I19]
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`1111
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`Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,006,838
`Doc. 28, [999
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`A11 apparatus and mclhod for suiccliwly stimulating a
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`plurality of jet pas5agc\v:y5 arc exposed In the ccnlral
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`10
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`6,006,838
`
`FIG. 1
`
`20
`
`11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec.28, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`6,006,838
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec.28, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of3
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`6,006,838
`
`1!!M'
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`13
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`

`
`1
`APBRRATIJS AND METHOD FOR
`ST!M'UI.ATING MULTIPLE PRODUCTION
`ZONES IN A WELLBORE
`
`6,006,838
`
`2
`seat than the module immediately below it. Each of the jet
`passageways may include a jet nozzle.
`In another embodiment, the housing may include an
`interchangeable nozzle body wherein the jet passageways
`extend radially thrnuy: the nozzle body. The housing may
`further comprise a top sub connected to the upper end ol the
`nomle body and a bottom sub connected to the lowerend of
`the nozzle body.
`Each module may further comprise one or more radially
`extending flow ports in the shining sleeve beneath the ball
`seal which communicates with one or more How ports in the
`housing when the shifting sleeve is in the open position.
`Another etrtburiitrtent oi" the present invention is directed
`to an amrnbly for selectively stimulating a plurality of
`producing zo in an oil and gas vmll txtmpritiing a plurality
`of modules Lnnnecllatl in a tailpipe string wherein each
`module comprises a housing having at central passageway
`lherethmuglil, one or rranru jutting passageways extending
`radially through the lnusing, and a shifiablc. sleeve mounted
`in the central passageway of the module. wherein the
`ahitlable sleeve is movcahle from a closed position over the
`jet pamagcways to an open position whereby thcjel pas-
`sageways are in communication with the central passageway
`of the housing, and wherein the shihable sleeve is adapted
`to receive an actuating means for shilling the shiftable
`sleeve from the closed position to the open position. The
`actuating means may include hails. darts. bats. plug; or
`similar devices.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`1.) FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cutaway of an assembly for
`selectively stimulating a plurality of producing -stones in an
`npenhole wellbore.
`2.) FIG. 2 shows a partial cutaway of one embodiment of
`tr module used in the afictnbly shown in FIG. 1.
`3.) 516.3 illustrates the module of FIG. 2 with the shilling
`sleeve in the open position.
`4.) FIG. 4 shows a partial cutaway of an alternative
`emltodiment of a module for use in all tuwembly for selecn
`lively stimulating a plurality of producing mates in a well-
`bone.
`
`DESCRIPIION OF l'l.l..US'l'RA'l'IV"E
`EM'BODlMEN'I'S
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`"This invention relates to an apparatus and method for
`stimulating producing mum of an openhole wcllhore in oil
`and gas wells. More panicttlarly. the invention relates to an
`assembly for selectively stinaulaling a wcllbore without the
`use of openholn inflatable packers. The assembly is espe-
`cially suited to perform a combination of matrix acidizing
`jcbsand near wcllbore erosion jobs at a number oEp1tnduc-
`irrg zones in the wellbore in a single trip.
`l’reviotL-sly, operators who were interested in stimulating ,5
`multiple producing zones in an openhole wellbore could
`stimulate the zones one zone at a time by using a worlrxrring
`and an openhole inflatable paclner. Such a method and
`asembly required the operator to set an inflatable paamer (or
`other similar apparatus) above earth zone of interest to be
`stimulated and then. following the stimulation job. to release
`the packer (or packers) and trip the packer assembly to a new
`location where it would be reset for the next stirnutatinnjnb.
`This prncodtlre would be repeated for each desired mm: of
`intetmt. However, because of the tripping lime and the 25
`clifiirzully in setting and maintaining the seal in infiatahlc
`packers in o'penl:to_le wellborcs, sucha method was both time
`consuming and relatively unneliahle. Furthermore, openltotr:
`inflatable padrers (or other similar devices) are expensive to
`rent or to purchase. As a result of the relative unreliability
`and coat of using openhole inflatable packers. such assem-
`blies prove to be uneconomic-at in marginal fields such as
`fields in the Permian Basin region oftttvtest Texas and Eastern
`New Mexico.
`The assembly nfthe present invention does not require ‘an
`irrllalablr: packer and isvery economical to build and main-
`tain. ‘Thus, an operatm can use the present invention for a
`small incremental cost over what it costs to perlorm an acid
`job and receives the benefits of not only a matrix acidizing
`treatment, but canalso enlaanu: the flow in the near wellbore
`region by eroding away near wclibore skin damage. In
`addition. the present invention allows an operator to accu-
`rately position an amembly in a wellhore to ensure that the
`pnorlucing zones of interest are stimulated.
`SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION
`
`J5
`
`45
`
`S0
`
`One embodiment ofthe present invention is directed to an
`amemhly for selectively stimulating a plurality of producing
`zones in an oil and gas well comprising a tailpipe string, a
`plurality of modules spaced in the tailpipe string at prede-
`ltrrlnifltbtl locations, Wltercilt each modttlte comprises a bolas-
`ing having a‘ central passageway thcrcthmugh, a plurality of
`jetting passageways extending radially tlnouglt the housing,
`and a shifting sleeve sliclsbty mounted within the housing
`wherein the shifiing sleeve is movable from it closed 55
`position over the jet passageways to an _opcrt position
`whereby the jet passageways are in communication with the
`central pasageway of the housing and whertein the shilling
`sleeve iucludcsa ball seat for receiving an actuating hall For
`shitting the shifling sleeve Ennm the closed position to the no
`open position. The lowermost module in the amrnbiy is
`adapted to receive an actuating ball and each successive
`module in the assembly is adapted to receive a
`larger
`actuating ball than the tnudltle iutmedlalely below it. The
`size of the ball seat will dilfar from module to module with as
`the lowerrnost module having the smallest ball seat and each
`.-.ur:cessiv°e module in the assembly will have a larger ball
`
`The illustrative embodiments described herein provide an
`apparatus and method for selectively stimulating multiple
`production stones or intervals within a subterranean oil or
`gaswell in a single trip. Petsons of ordinary skill in the art.
`having the benefit of the present rlisclostlre. will recognize
`that the teachings of the present tlisclostmt: will lint] appli-
`cation in any number of alternative etnbodiments employing
`the general
`teachings of the illustrative embodiments.
`Therefore, the described direetstern assembly and method of
`using the same to selectively stimulate producing zones in I
`wetlbore are meant
`to be illustrative and not
`limiting.
`Accordingly, while the present invention is well-suited for
`tuae in horizontal wellbores, the invention is only illustrated
`in the accompanying drawings l.|'.l a substantially w:t1ir:'al
`wcllbore. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand
`that terms such as“lowerrnost" and "uppermost" in terrnsof
`hnriauunlal wellborcs are relative indications of the distance
`or depth from the surface location of the wellbore.
`Ruficrriug to FIGS. 1-3. a preferred embodiment of an
`assembly for selectively stimulating producing norm in a
`subterranean wellbore will now be described. The direct-
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`
`6,006,838
`
`4
`4 but also oentratiacs the module and assembly in the
`wctlbore. Ccntrutizing coupling 40 includes a plurality of
`centraliaingri.bs,with adjacent fluid flow passageways ther-
`cbetween.
`As shown in FIG. I. an assembly for selectively stimu-
`lating a plurality cl':'ntervttls or targets in a wellborc includes
`a plurality of modules assembled in a tailpipe string. By
`varying the length of tailpipe between modules. an operator
`can space the individual modules so that a module is
`adjacent each desired producing interval or target
`to be
`stiuuttated. The Selectivity is provided by varying the size of
`the landing seat. 35 on shifting sleeve 22. The lowennost
`module 20 will have the smallest ball seat 35,
`i.e.,
`the
`smallest internal diameter of any of the modules. for catch-
`ing the mallest ball. The next to last module in the assembly
`will have a sliflltly larger hall seal 35 and so on until the
`uppt:ll'l'IDst module, which will have ll: largest hall seat, i.e.,
`the largest internal diameter of any of the modules. Thus. the
`actuating halls for the assembly will increase in diameter as
`one moves from the lowermost module to tho uppennosl
`module.
`In operation. the assembly of FIG. 1 is run into the
`wetliroto suspended from pacttier 3. The packer is set in the
`production casing near the casing shoe at a predetermined
`location. Tailpipc 4 and modules 5. 10. 15 and 20 extend
`beneath the casing shoe into the open l!1t:tie.'rl:tc modules are
`spaced apart
`in the tailpipe string in that each particular
`module will be adjacent
`to a producing none that
`the
`operator desires to stimulate. ‘Hie stimulation treatment
`begins with the lowermost zone and works its way up the
`weltbore. An appropriate sized hall is dropped or pumped
`down the wcrtrstring and into the assembly until it lands on
`seat 35 ofshifiing sleeve 22 in the lowermost module 20.
`Pressure '5 increased inside the work string and assembly
`until the force acting across the actuating ball and ball seat
`exceeds the shear value for shear screw 50. Once shear
`screw 30 is sheared. shifting sleeve 22 is shifted downward
`to the treating positio against shoulder 42 of housing 21. As
`shown in FIG. 3. when the shifting sleeve is in the open or
`treating position. jet ncczles 24 are in communication with
`central passageway 25. Once landed, ball 3'!‘ prevents acid
`from
`out the bottom M Ihe assembly. Acid 55 then
`pumped at a desired rate through jet nozzles 24 to acidic:
`and erode the wetlbore adjacent the jet nodules The kinetic
`energy created by pumping the acid through thejel nozzles
`mechanically erode away the nearwellbore formation darn-
`agc adjacent the nozzles as illustrated in FIG. 3.
`Upon completion of the acid stimulation treatment of the
`lowermost zone or target, a slightly larger ball is dropped or
`pumped down the wurltstring into the assembly where it
`passes thmttglt the upper modules and lands on the ball seat
`of module 15. Prtefitsre is again increased inside the work-
`striog to shill the shifting sleeve from the closed position to
`the open position so that the jet nozzles ct’ module 15 are
`exposed. Acid is then pumped through the jet nozzles of
`module 15 to acidize and erode the weiibore adjacent the
`module. The ball in module 15 prevents acid from flovrirtg
`down to module 20.
`The remainder of the zones of interest or targets are
`selectively acidized or heated by dropping or pumping
`successively larger balls into the assembly and repeating the
`above-r.lescribed sequence. Upon completion of the stimu-
`lation treatment ofall zones. the packer can be released from
`the production casing and the assembly can be pulled out of
`the well.
`The assembly allows an operator to selectively stimulate
`a number of producing cones in a wetlbore in I single trip.
`
`3
`stem assembly 1 includes a plurality of modules which are
`attaclnd to a tailpipe 4 (shown in cutaway to tteflecl
`the
`longitudinal distance between the modules). The assembly
`in FIG. 1 includes modules 5, 10, 15 and 2|}. Tailpipe 4 is
`suspended from service packer 3 which is set inside casing 5
`6, Ihcntte the openhole weilbnne 2. The service packer may
`be. for example. it compression packer. such as an SD-1 or
`MR1221] packer available Erom Bl Services Company. A
`twrltstring of tubing, drillpipe or the title extends from
`packer 3 to the surface. The tailpipe string, being suspended
`from picker 3. extentkirrtn theopenhole beneath the casing
`shoe. in a preferred embodiment, modules 5, 10, 15 and III
`are spaced in the tailpipe suing at predetennined locations
`so that an individual module is adjacent a producing zone
`desired to be stimulated. The tailpipe string may be com-
`prised of tubing, drillpipe or the like and the length of
`tailpipe between adjacent modules will depend on the dis»
`tance between the producing macs or targets of interest.
`Alternatively, it will he understood that the packer mold be
`rmet at difierent locations in the ing to locate one or more
`modules of the amembly adjacent one or more producing
`zones or targets of intenmt. In other words,
`the entire
`assembly can be repositioned within the wetlborc to more
`accurately position some ofthe modules without tripping the
`assembly out of the wellborc.
`Asshowu in FIG. 2, each module comprises a generally
`tubular-iuaaped housing 21 which include; a threaded upper
`and lower end for connecting the module to the tailpipe
`string. Central passageway 25 extends longitudinally
`through housing 21. Etttih module includa sllifiing sleeve
`22. which is adapted for longitudinal movement along the
`inner wall of housing 21. Shifting-sleeve 22 includes one or
`more radially extending ports 38 which are arranged about
`the circumference of the sleeve. Housing 21 also includes
`one or more radially extending ports 27 circurnferentially
`spaced about the housing. The numherofportslfl in shifting
`sleeve 22 will correspond to the number of how ports 27' in
`housing 21. Shining sleeve 22 includes a landing seat or ball
`seat 35. The size of hall seat 35 will differ from module to
`module in the assembly, with the lowermost module 20
`having the smallest ball seat and the uppermost module 5
`having the largest hall seat.
`Housing 21 may include a plurality of nozzle holes 23
`which extend radially through the wall of housing 21 For
`receiving interchangeable jet notnrles 24. let nrmles 24 may
`be held in nozzle holes 23 by any suitable means such as
`mating threads. snap rings. welding or the like. Jet nozzles
`may come in a wide variety of orifice sizes. The side of the
`ncmle orilice may be predeterrnined to achieve the dircd
`fluid hydraulics for a particular acid job. Some of acetate
`holes may be selectively blanked oil‘ to achieve the optimum
`flow rates and promote drops across the l'Etl.'l.Il.ll.l.lJg nozzles.
`In general, the number and size of the working jet nozzles
`will reflect the desired kinetic energy to be teed in treating
`a given pmduclng zone.
`Shifting sleeve 22 is initially attached to housing 21 in the
`closed position by one or more shear screws 3|] so that the
`shifting sleeve straddles jet holes 2-3.jet nozzles 24 and fluid
`flow ports 2?. Seats 32 seal the annular space between
`shifting sleeve 22 and housingilt. Elastomeric seats 32 may
`be o-ring seek, molded seals or other commonly used
`oilfield seals. The remaining components of the module may
`be manufactured from common oilfield materials. including
`various stool alloys.
`As shown in FIG. 3. centralizing coupling 40 may be
`attached to the lowermost end of housing 21. Centralizing
`c.oupl.ing 49 not only connects the module to lower tailpipe
`
`45
`
`15
`
`15
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`

`
`6,006,838
`
`5
`By dropping suooemivcly iarger actuating balls. an operator
`can ahilt a sleeve in successive modules and then squeeze
`and jet a desired volume of ltydroctttlorie acid or other type
`of acid into the producing mates of the interest. Fly diverting
`the acid through the nozzles in the rnodules, the acid will
`impact the wellbore. at high Velocity under squoeznrl pres-
`sures. The kinetic energy of the acid will erode away the
`wettbore and thereby create a cavern in addition to penetrat-
`ing the formation rock with the acid. The acidizing and
`wellbore erosion wilt enhance the ability of oil or other
`hydrocarbons to flow into the wellhore at these locations.
`The wellhore is thus treated both mechartically and choroi-
`calty by dissolving materials tha: are plugging the pores of
`the formation rock. such as fines, parallina. or claysor other
`materials that have reritaoeti the porosity antlior permeability
`of the formation. By jeuing a large cavern at the lace of the
`wtellbore, the refiatanoe to the flow of oil or gm into the
`wellbore is reduced. Although not
`limited to such
`application. the present invention is well suited for stimu-
`lating I calcareous formation with. for example, hydrochlo-
`ric acid.
`An alternative embodiment of a module for use in an
`assembly of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The
`module has a generally tubular shaped housing 51 oompris-
`ing top sub 45, nozzle body 41. and bottom sub 44. Central
`passageway 51 extends longitudinally through the module.
`The upper portion oftopsuhitl include; internal threads for
`connecting the module to upper tailpipe 4. Top sub 45
`includes external threads on its lower end for connecting top
`sub 45 to node body 42. Nmtzic body 42 includes internal
`threads for mating \Vil.lJ the external lllreatis of top sub 45.
`Noitzle body 42 alm inciurf external threads on its low-
`ermoatend for mating with internal threads on the upper end
`of bottom sub 44». Bottom sub 44 includes threads on its
`lowermost end for mating with internal threads on central-
`izing muplinp, -ill. Ceutralizing onupling 49 is throaclodly
`attached to the lower tailpipe 4.
`Nozzle body 42 may be further aecurerl to top sub 45 by
`one or more set screws51. Similarly. nozzle body 42 may be
`further scarred to bottom sob ttti by one or more set screws
`53. Nozzle body I12 has a plurality of radially extending
`nozzle ports S drilled thcrethrough. The nozzle ports 58
`extend about the cirotmferenoe oi‘ nozzle body 42. The
`numherand size of nmnvle ponssfl may vary from module
`to module depending on the fluid flow characteristics
`required for the riimulation treatment at each desired pro-
`clucing mne. By way of example, nozzle body 42 may
`include eight nozzle ports ranging in diameter from '/re to
`He ofan inch spaced approximately 45 agrees apart about
`the circumference of the nozzle body.
`Shifting sleeve 46 ‘u adapted For longitudinal movement
`Ilnng the inner wall of housing 51. Stave Ilfi incltrrhm one
`ormore radically extending flow ports 50. The annular spaoc
`between shilling sleeve 46 and the inner walls of top ml: alts,
`nozzle body 42. and bottom sub 44 is sealed by a plurality
`ofseals54.SleeveIl6isshit'lodlIromaolnsedpoeti1ion
`straddling nozrle ports 58 to the stimulating position shown
`in FIG. I by landing an appropriately sized shifting ball(not
`shown) on bail seat 6|). Sleeve 46 is initially held in the
`closed position by one or more ahear screws 48. Alter a
`shitting hall
`lands on seat til! (not shown).
`the tubular
`pressure is increased until shear screws 48 sites: allowing
`shifting sleeve '16 to he longitudinally moved downward to
`the stiztttrlating position. Shoulder 52 may be provided to
`stop the downward movement of sleeve 46. to the stimu-
`lating position. ltow ports 50 are aligned with a correspond-
`ing number of flow ports 65 in bottom sub 44. as shown by
`
`6
`the dotted line. Finvv ports 65 extend radially through the
`bottom sub and are spaced. for example, 45 degrees apart
`from shear screws 48 along the same plane.
`An operator can change the size and number of note
`ports in a module by using interchangeable nozzle bodies 41.
`The interchangeable nozzle bodies provide an operator an
`altenaative to the use of interchangeable jet ntmrles as
`described in the embodiment of FIG. 2. Nonte body-12 may
`be made of a variety of steel alloys commonly used in the oil
`industry or may be made of high chromium materials or heat
`treated metals to increase the erosion resistance of nozzle
`ports 58. The remaining portions oi the module. including
`top sub 45, bottom sub 44 and shifiing sleeve 46, can be
`id.
`Eaearlc of a variety of alert! alloys oomonly used in the oil
`Although dilierent emboditnents of a module are illus-
`trated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the method of selectively actuating
`the dilferent modules of an aesemhly can be more readily
`understood by comparing the rmpective ball seals of the
`modules in these figures. As can be seen,
`the intemal
`diameter of ball seat 60 in the module of FIG. 4 is substan-
`tially larger than the internal diameter oi hall out 35 in the
`module of FIG. 2. Thus, the actuating ball for seat 35 will
`easily pass through ball seat 60 and continue through the
`amembiy until it lands on seat 35 of the lower module.
`Therefore, an operatorcanaetectively actuate the modules in
`the amernhiy from the bottom up by dropping or displacing
`progrefiively larger actuating halls into the assembly,
`thereby allowing the operator to selectively stimulate a
`plurality of producing zones in a single trip.
`Although the embodiments described above are actuated
`by using successively larger balls,
`it should be readily
`understood that the modules can be actuated by other means.
`For example, the shifting sleeves of the modules could be
`easily adapted to be actuated by dropping or pumping down
`the aaemhly appropriately sized darts, hers, plugs, or the
`liltc. fltliernativciy, each shift-able sleeve may include a
`selective profile, such as an Otis “X” or "R" style profile,
`and the actuating means For a particular sleeve would
`incllfllr. I locking mechanism with a mating pmllle. In such
`an umbodirnetu. the actuating means would paasthtough all
`modules except the module that had a shifting sleeve with a
`mating profile.
`Other nurnemuschangesin the delailsofoonslrucliun and
`arrlltgemenl ofparls will bereadily Iwllfilll In those skilled
`in the art and which are enoonapassazd within the spirit oi’ the
`invention and the scope of the appenrterl claims
`What is claimed is
`1. An anon-mbly for selectively stimulating a plurality of
`pmllttciatg zones in an oil and gas well comprising:
`: tailpipe string,
`a plurality of modules spaced in the tailpipe string at
`predetermined locations. wherein each module oom-
`prises a housing having a central passageway
`theretlarough,
`a plurality of jetting pamagewaya extending radially
`through each housing, and
`a shifting sleeve slidably mounted within each housing,
`wherein the shining sleeve is moveahlu from a closed
`position over the jetting passageways to an open posi-
`tion whereby the jetting passageways are in commu-
`nication with the neutral passageway of each housing.
`and wherein the shitting sleeve includes a hall seat for
`receiving an actuating ball for shifting the shifting
`sleeve from the closed position to the open position.
`2. The assembly of claim I wherein the lntwennost
`module is adapted to receive an actuating hall and each
`
`5
`
`45
`
`55
`
`I55
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`16
`
`16
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`20
`
`J5
`
`(c) a shifiablc sleeve slidably mounted within the
`housing, wherein the shiflahle sleeve is adapted to
`receive an actuating ball for shifting the shifiable
`sleeve [tom a closed position over the jetting
`passageways to an open position whereby the
`jetting passageways are in communication with
`the central passageway of the housing:
`(E) selectively slilltlilllingcacll of the producing mum in
`succaminn from the lowonnost none to the uppcnnost
`znnc lront the module adjacent each zone by succes-
`sively moving the filliflalale sleeve la the BPEII position
`in each of the modules beginning with the lowermost
`module and finishing with the uppermost module by
`using a progressively larger actuating ball for each of
`the sttcoessive modules.
`17. The method of claim 16 Further comprising suspend-
`ing the assembly in an open hole portion of the wellbore.
`15. The method of claim 16 further comprising suspend-
`ing thc assembly lmm a packer and setting the packer imldc
`a camng proximate In an open hole portion ol the wellbone.
`19. The suelhod of claim lti wherein said selectively
`stimulating step comprises acidizing one or more of the
`producing mnea.
`2|}. The method of claim 16 Wlleltclla said selectively
`stimulating 811'-it mmpriscs jetting one or more of the pro-
`ducing zones to erode away near we-llbore formation dam-
`age.
`21. Amcthorl at stimulating multiple target zones within
`an oil and gas well in a single trip
`la) making up an assembly comprising a plurality of
`modules atrnnecled in a tailpipe string wherein each
`module comprises:
`(i) a housing having a central passageway extending
`longitudinally therethtough;
`(ii) one or more jetting passageways extending radially
`through the