BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
`AND
`BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD
`BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
`OPERATIONS, C.
`Exhibit 1022
`Exhibit 1022
`Page 1 of 13
`
`

`
`Jan. 9, 1951
`
`2,53 7,066
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`Filed July 24, 1944
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`BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
`Exhibit 1022
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`Page 1 of 13
`Page 1 of 13
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`2,537,066
`J. o. LEWIS
`JUL 9. 1951
`Aprmws pox coumouxuc FLUID pnanucmc rommxous
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`Filed July 24, 1944
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`J_ O’ LEWIS
`APPARRTUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID PRODUCING FORH£TIONS
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`Filed July 24, 1944
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`Page 4 of 13
`Page 4 of 13
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`

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`Jan. 9, 1951
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`J.C1 LEWNIS
`
`2,537,066
`
`APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID PRODUCING FORHATIDNS
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`Filed July 24, 1944
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`Jan. 9, 1951
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`APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FiUID PRODUCING FORHATIONS
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`Filed July 24. 1944
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`Page 6 of 13
`Page 6 of 13
`
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`

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`2,537,055
`J. o. LEWIS
`Jam 9. 1951
`I
`APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID PRODUCING FORHATIDNS
`
`Filed July 24, 1944
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`INVEN TOR.
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`BYJAME5 0. Lewis
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`Page 7 of 13
`Page 7 of 13
`
`

`
`Patented Jan. 9, 1951
`
`2,537,066
`
`UNITED
`
`STATES PATENT OFFICE
`2,531,066
`
`APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID
`PRODUCING FORMATIONS
`
`James 0. Lewis, Houston, Tex.
`
`Application July 24-, 194-1, Serial No. 546,875
`1.0 Claims.
`(Cl. 166-21
`
`I
`The invention pertains to an improved appa-
`ratus for increasing the recovery from gas and
`oil from wells while reducing the expense of such
`recovery and more especially in fields where there
`are a plurality of producing sands or where there
`are thick producing sands.
`It is one of the objects of the invention to equip
`a well so that production from various forma-
`tions may be accomplished either independently
`or simultaneously.
`Another object is to produce a well to obtain the
`maximum production therefrom by excluding the
`more permeable of a plurality of formations so as
`to exclude water permeating such formation while
`continuing to produce from other less permeable
`formations.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2
`the oil fields. I then insert a flow pipe within the
`casing on which are set packers which will seal
`between each group of perforations and prevent
`migration from one part of the formation to the
`other through the annular space between the pipe
`and the casing.
`In each section of the pipe be-
`tween the packers, I include a coupling through
`which there is a port to permit fluids to enter the
`flow pipe. the couplings being adapted to receive
`and to anchor in place a packer sleeve which can
`be lowered into the pipe on a wire line and an-
`chored into position without killing the well by
`introducing mud or liquids which is expensive
`and may be harmful to the producing formation.
`The sleeve so introduced into the pipe can either
`blank off the port or it may contain an orifice of
`predetermined capacity which will regulate the
`flow from that part of the formation. Sleeves
`can be set at any or all ports and withdrawn at
`will though it is to be noted that the upper sleeves
`must be withdrawn before the lower sleeves can
`be introduced or withdrawn.
`Another object is to provide an apparatus for
`producing well formations whereby all or any part
`of a formation may be produced while other
`parts or formations are temporarily closed to
`production.
`By use of this device, I can separate a formation
`into as many parts as is wanted and I can blank
`off any port-s I want or I can regulate the fluid
`flow out of every port or if I am using the well to
`inject fluids. and I can regulate or shut oi! the
`now into any part of the formation.
`Still another object is to equip a well to either
`flow from, inject to, or exclude various parts or
`one or more formations.
`Among the advantages gained by my invention
`are, that I can in turn shut off all but one part
`of the formation and test it separately for gas.
`oil or water contents and for pressure or for its
`capacity to produce fluids or to receive fluids in-
`jected from the surface and the undesirable parts
`can then be excluded from production thus re-
`ducing or prohibiting the entry of water. free gas
`or dry gas. Or I can proportion the fluids from
`or into different parts of the formation by means
`of orifice size in the sleeve. Because of the better
`control of the formations, I can open to produc-
`tion a thicker section of producing formations
`thus speeding up recovery or reducing the num-
`ber of wells needed without sacrificing the ad-
`vantages of
`less production expense and less
`trapping of oil in the formations.
`It is also an object of the invention to so equip
`a well that all or any part of a formation may be
`Page 8 of 13
`Page 8 of 13
`
`Another object of the invention is to equip a
`well to yield the maximum production by exclud-
`ing water intrusion from the bottom of the well.
`Another object of the invention is to obtain
`the maximum oil production from a well due to
`the inherent gas pressure of the well by producing
`from formations where the maximum utility of
`the gas pressure is employed.
`Another object of the invention is to obtain the
`maximum production from a well where the flow
`is due to formation draining down a dip and the
`gas cap is in the higher portion of the reservoir
`by controlling the flow from the formations to
`minimize gas intrusion.
`It is also an object of the invention to control
`the more permeable formations in a gas recycling
`system so as to extract the maximum production
`from less permeable formations.
`Another object of the invention is to produce '
`independently from a plurality of formations hav-
`ing unlike permeabilities or unlike products either
`simultaneously or independently.
`Still another object of the invention is to pro-
`duce a well where various producing formations
`while being isolated from each other are not
`plugged off. cemented off. nor are foreign mate-
`rials introduced into the formations.
`My invention is an improved apparatus for ac-
`complishing these purposes whereby it becomes
`practical to separate the formations into more
`parts at less expense and either shut a part on
`or open it or regulate the amount of flow there-
`from at less expense and less chance of harming
`the well. This I do preferably by first sealing all
`the formations one from the other behind the
`casing by cement and then perforating through
`the casing and cement into the parts of the for-
`mation to be produced leaving unperforated cas-
`ing between. This step follows usual practices in
`
`BI}
`
`40
`
`56
`
`

`
`2,537,003
`
`3
`opened. closed, or controlled in order to permit
`testing for oil, gas or water, pressure, and capacity
`to produce or receive fluids.
`It is to be understood that though I show my
`preferred apparatus I can accomplish the same
`purposes by variants. For example. where the
`producing formation is firm, it is sometimes pos-
`sible to set packers directly against the formation
`and to do away with casing through the produc-
`tive section with cement behind. Or pipe can
`be cemented in and sections opposite the produc-
`ing parts can be reamed or shot out instead of
`opening the sand to production through perfora-
`tions. Or packers can be attached to the casing
`between the groups of perforations and the now
`pipe run through them, each packer being
`equipped to seal against the flow pipe as well as
`against the casing.
`I can also use other devices
`for opening, sealing or regulating the flow from
`each separated part of the productive section into
`the pipe.
`Where a well penetrates several productive
`formations, it has been usual to cement in casing.
`open up one or two of the formations and when
`they are depleted, to cement them off and open
`up a new formation production. This requires
`that the well be killed with mud and worked over
`each time a change is made. By my device. all
`of the formations can be perforated upon when
`the well is first completed. each formation sepa-
`rated by packers the manner set forth and blank
`sleeves set against all by the formation to be
`produced first. Later, when this is depleted. it
`can be blanked off and the blank removed from
`an undepleted formation at slight cost.
`It is still another object of the invention to
`pack off between a plurality of formations which
`have been perforated through the casing and
`then the formation opened or closed at will to
`produce or exclude any one or more of such
`formations.
`I know of no means whereby a number of
`formations can be separated and controlled in-
`dependently or when one formation can be sub-
`divided into several parts and each part con-
`trolled independently by mechanical means and
`the control exercised through a single flow pipe.
`It is to the control by mechanical means of sev-
`eral separated formations or separated parts of
`one formation, through a single flow pipe, that
`my invention is directed.
`It is to be noted that though better results
`can be obtained by grouping the perforations and
`leaving blank casing between where a packer
`can be set. that I can set packers to divide a
`producing section that has already been perfo-
`rated though usually not so effectively. Also, I
`can adapt my device to look within the recess
`between adjacent flow pipe sections in the usual
`coupling joint and I can close perforations that
`have been made through the tubing either be-
`fore the tubing had been inserted in the well or
`after the tubing had been inserted in the well.
`In this manner, I can adapt my invention often
`to existing conditions in an old well.
`Other and further objects of the invention will
`be readily apparent when the following descrip-
`tion is considered in connection with the accom-
`panying drawings wherein:
`Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a vertical sec-
`tional view of a well which has been equipped
`with the apparatus for practicing the method
`of the invention where a plurality of productive
`formations have been encountered in spaced re-
`
`4
`lation and where packers are attached to the
`flow pipe.
`Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view diagrammati-
`cally iilustrating the equipment for practicing
`the method of the invention where a relatively
`thick formation having no natural subdivisions
`has been encountered, and where packers are
`attached to the casing.
`Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating
`the internal construction of a coupling.
`flow
`ports and a closure sleeve.
`Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines
`4—il and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3 to illustrate
`the arrangement of the structure.
`Fig. 6 is a broken detailed sectional view illus-
`trating a form of closure sleeve having a control
`orifice or flow port therein.
`Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating
`the setting tool and the manner of locating a
`control sleeve.
`Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line B—8 of
`Fig. 7.
`Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a
`withdrawing tool for removing a control sleeve.
`Figs. 10 and 11 are sections taken on the lines
`I£l—-Ill and II—Il respectively on Fig. 9.
`Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a modified
`form of control sleeve where a check valve per-
`mits now into the well, but prohibits now from
`the well into the formation.
`Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line
`I3—l3 of Fig. 12.
`Fig. 14 is another modified form of the control
`sleeve which permits flow from the well into the
`formation, but prohibits a return flow.
`Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a well
`which has been equipped with apparatus for
`practicing the invention where a plurality of
`producing formations in one group are spaced
`by a thick impermeable strata from other for-
`mations which are to be produced. so as to pro-
`duce two independent and separate flow pipes.
`Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view of a modified
`form of coupling and closure sleeve whereby a
`flow may be conducted vertically through the
`coupling and also a separated flow permitted into
`the interior of the control sleeve.
`Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line l'l——l'l
`of Fig. 16.
`Fig. 18 shows still another modified form of
`closure wherein the lower end of the closure is
`either completely closed with a plug or a con-
`trol choke.
`In Fig. 1 a well bore 2 has been drilled through
`a plurality of formations such as the impervious
`formations 3 which have spaced between them
`the permeable formations such as the gas forma-
`tion A, an oil formation B, a water formation C
`and additional oil formations D and E. Some of
`these formations are to be produced while others
`are to be blanked off to exclude production. To
`equip the well the casing 4 has been run into po-
`sition and a body of cement 5 has been pumped
`down through the casing and upwardly there-
`around so as to fill the space between the wall of
`the well bore 2 and the outside of the casing 4.
`During the drilling operations or prior to or
`subsequent to the setting of
`the casing it is
`usual to make a survey or to in some other man-
`ner obtain a log of the well so as to locate the
`respective elevations of the impervious forma-
`tions 3 and the productive formations A. and so
`forth. With this information before him, the
`operator is enabled to perforate the casing at the
`desired elevations in order to prepare for com-
`
`Page 9 of 13
`Page 9 of 13
`
`20
`
`30
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`$537,038;
`
`pietion and production of the well. These per-
`Iorations are shown generally by the perforations
`B which are shown as having been made at each
`or! the formations A to E inclusive and no per-
`forations have been made at the impervious for-
`mations 3.
`The foregoing operations are usually conduct-
`ed while the well
`is filled with a drilling fluid
`having suflicient specific gravity to prevent the
`inflow of fluids from the formation. When these
`perforations have been made,
`the production
`string of pipe 8 is run into position in the well
`bore. This tubing may be run into 130531011 Either
`before or after the drilling mud has been washed
`fnom the well and replaced either with water or
`oil or some other liquid having a lesser specific
`gravity so as to encourage inflow into the well.
`This production string or tubing 8 has been il-
`lustrated diagrammatically as having been pro-
`vided with couplings 9 which are so spaced and
`arranged in the string that the couplings will he
`opposite the formations A to E inclusive.
`Arranged on the outside of the production
`string 8 are a. plurality of packers III which are
`arranged to close the area I! between the pro-
`duction string and the inside of the casing.
`These packers may be of any desired form which
`may maintain a seal and provide a producing
`chamber such as It at each of the formations A
`to E inclusive.
`It will be observed that each of
`these chambers I
`I is open to but a single produc-
`ing formation and is excluded on the inside of
`the casing by the packers Ill from the other pro-
`ductive formations above and below it and. of
`course, the cement 5 on the outside of the casing
`forms a seal with each impermeable strata such
`as 3. Thus with the construction and arrange-
`ment of Fig. 1 flve different formations have been
`opened into the well bore and may be produced.
`controlled. or closed on at will. Such closing off
`or control is accomplished by means of a control
`sleeve |3, one of which has been illustrated at
`each of the formations A and C. These sleeves.
`as will be hereinafter described. are capable of
`either closing the ports [4 in the respective cou-
`plings 8 or controlling the flow therethrough de-
`pending upon the type of closure or sleeve which
`is positioned adjacent the coupling.
`In some in-
`stances the upper and lower packers II) as seen
`in Fig. 1 may be omitted and as indicated before.
`the packers may be of any desired type carried
`by either the tubing string 8 or by the casing 4
`so long as they are capable of forming a barrier
`between the casing and tubing or production
`string.
`omitting the details of construction of the ap-
`paratus lt seems obvious that an arrangement
`such as shown in Fig.
`1 permits a selective or
`simultaneous opening, closing or controlling of
`the various formations to admit gas. oil or water,
`or to exclude such products at will. and to co-
`mingle or exclude the various oil formations de-
`pending upon the conditions and circumstances
`encountered with a view of obtaining the maxi-
`mum production in the most economical manner.
`Fig. 2 shows an arrangement which is applied
`to a well bore 2 having a casing I cemented at
`5 in a thick formation F which is composed of a
`gas area IS, an oil area IE and a water area i‘!
`which will occur in the order shown with the
`gas at the top, the oil in the middle and the water
`below because of their relative specific gravities.
`Under such conditions. it is often desirable to
`close oil’, control, or flow the well from difierent
`elevations in the thick formation so as to obtain
`
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`
`20
`
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`
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`
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`the maximum productive effect from the ingres-
`ent pressures occurring in the formation and to
`prevent the intrusion of either gas or water if the
`oil is being produced.
`In this arrangement the
`production string 8 has been run into position
`with the couplings 9 thereon located opposite the
`perforations 6 so as to Provide ports I! at the
`desired elevations.
`In Fig. 2 the upper series
`of ports have been located in the gas area. the
`four series of ports have been located in the oil
`area IE and another series have been located in
`the water area I1. The packers I0 have been
`provided between the series of openings so that
`any particular section of the formation may be
`produced while excluding or controlling produc-
`tion from other sections of the formation. The
`closure or control sleeves 1.3 have been shown as
`disposed in the couplings 9 opposite the gas and
`the water formations while all of the couplings
`at the oil formations -have been illustrated as re-
`maining open.
`With a formation such as shown in Fig. 2 which
`may have considerable dip as shown by the in-
`clination of the impermeable stratum 3 at the
`top of the figure. the gas-oil contact may subside
`or the oil-water contact may rise to higher levels
`depending upon pressures, rates of flow and other
`conditions so that the elevation at which produc-
`tion is to be obtained may be changed. Thus the
`upper area of the oil section may be denuded of
`oil and occupied by the gas and the lower portion
`may be denuded of oil and occupied by the water.
`The ports 1:4 in the production string 8 have
`been -shown as disposed in the couplings 8, but, of
`course.
`it is obvious that they may be formed
`either directly in the pipe or in the coupling and
`that they may be provided before the pipe and
`couplings are lowered into the well or with known
`equipment they can be formed by a gun perfora-
`tion through the pipe to provide an opening of
`the desired size.
`It is to be understood, of course.
`that the various series of perforations may be
`spaced as desired with suitable blank pipe sec-
`tions and packers arranged between the various
`series of openings.
`In order to close on’, control or open the ports
`of the various formations. devices have been ar-
`ranged which can be inserted and removed at will
`at the various locations in order to obtain the
`results desired.
`In Fig. 3 a section of pipe 20 has been illus-
`trated and this section. may be a diagrammatic
`showing of either the production pipe ll or the
`coupling 9 as the case may be. and it has been
`provided with the ports 14 extending radially
`therethrough.
`In order to close off the ports II or control the
`rate of
`flow the-rethrough a closure sleeve or
`member 2| has been shown as having been
`lowered through the pipe 20 and located in posi-
`tion so as to close the ports Id. This sleeve 2|
`is made up of a cylindrical section or body 22 hav-
`ing a plurality of radial openings 22‘ therein ad-
`jacent the upper end, which openings are ar-
`ranged to receive the lugs 23 mounted on the
`spring fingers 24 whose lower ends 25 are dis-
`posed against a shoulder 26 in the sleeve 22.
`These fingers are held in place by a tube 21
`threaded at 2|!
`inside of the member 22. The
`lugs 23 are of a size to move outwardly into the
`annular recess 3|! formed in. the inner periphery
`of the pipe 20 so that when the closure member
`2| arrives at the desired elevation it will be locked
`in place by these spring fingers and lugs.
`In order to close on the ports I4
`
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`skirt all will move in between the fingers 24 and
`member 2| is provided with a series of packing
`the sleeve 22 so as to cause the fingers 2! and
`rings 3| arranged outside of the tube 21 and dis-
`the lugs 23 to move inwardly and be released
`posed upon a shoulder 32 thereon which is pro-
`from the recess 3|). This inward movement
`vided due to the external rib 33. This rib is Of
`causes the shoulder as on the lugs to engage over
`the same size as the sleeve 22 so as to have a slid-
`the shoulder 58 on the extension arms 53 so that
`ing fit on the inside of the pipe 2|}.
`In order to
`the closure member is securely locked to the
`provide a. seal below the rib 33 another 58?: 01'
`withdrawing tool. Upward movement of
`the
`packing cups 3! have been shown about the tube
`withdrawing tool raises the closure assembly with
`21 below the rib and these lmckings are confined
`it so that it may be withdrawn from position to
`by a collar 35 threaded at 36 on the lower end or
`be replaced with a different type of assembly to
`the tube.
`It will be noted that this collar is
`permit either closure or controlled flow or to be
`beveled at 31 to direct the well flow therethrough.
`replaced with another unit.
`The tube 21 is also beveled at its ends for the
`With the closure or control units so far pro-
`same purpose. The upper end of the sleeve 22
`vided it is contemplated that the flow from the
`is beveled at 33 so as to provide an inwardly in-
`various formations will he directed into the pro-
`clined surface while the fingers 24 are beveled
`duction string or tubing 8 so that the products
`outwardly at 35 so as to form a tapered pocket
`will be co-mingled and flow or be -pumped to the
`III. This pocket will
`is arranged to receive the
`surface.
`skirt 4! of a setting tool 42 which is best seen in
`It seems obvious that the introduction and re-
`Fig. 1 as including a mandrel 43 and the skirt II
`moval of
`these closure units may be accom-
`threaded at N thereon in spaced relation to the
`plished in any desired manner as by the use of
`extension 45 which has a beveled face 46 thereon.
`a string of small or macaroni pipe, or by means
`This setting tool is arranged to be positioned as
`of a. wire line, either of which may be passed
`shown in Fig. 7 by having the skirt 4| forced into
`I- :,v
`through a suitable stufiing box at the well head
`the pocket Ml so as to cause the fingers 24 and the -
`so that control or the pressures can be had at
`lugs 23 to be sprung inwardly to retract the lugs
`all times and it will be unnecessary to kill the
`inside of the Periphery of the sleeve 22.
`In this
`well during these operations, which is of sub-
`manner the closure sleeve 2| can be lowered
`stantial advantage and avoids injury or damage
`through the pipe 2|!
`to the desired position
`to the well.
`whereupon if the setting tool 12 is moved sharply
`With the arrangement and control units above
`upward the inertia of the closure member will
`described it seems obvious that the various sleeves
`cause the skirt III to withdraw from between the
`to close or control the flow can be set in sequence
`fingers 24 and the sleeve 22. This permits the
`with the lower unit being positioned first and the
`fingers to spring outwardly to engage the inner
`other units being subsequently positioned. Of
`surface of the pipe 2|). Additional upward move-
`course, if one of the lower units is to be replaced
`ment of the setting tool 42 will cause the shoulder
`or another type of unit substituted, it will be
`41 thereon to move against the lower edge 48 of
`necessary to remove the other closure units above
`the lugs 23 on the fingers 26 and cause the closure
`it in the assembly.
`member to move upwardly until the lugs 23 ar-
`Quite often the various formations which are
`rive at the elevation of the recess 30 whereupon
`to be opened into the well are not of the same
`they will snap outwardly into the recess and the
`pressure and it may be desirable to provide a
`shoulder 48 will in this manner release from the
`control unit which will permit either inflow or
`shoulder ill‘. The setting tool can now be raised
`outflow as to a particular location thus restrict-
`upwardly and the operator is advised by such
`ing the flow to one direction. For instance, the
`movement
`that the closure member has been
`flow from a high pressure formation might enter
`properly set and locked in position.
`the production pipe and move along to a for-
`Fig. 6 shows a. modified arrangement of the
`mation having a lesser pressure and flow out
`closure member 2! wherein the rib 33 has been
`into that
`lower pressure formation.
`In order
`provided with the control passages 50 which will
`to control such a situation a unit such as shown
`be of a size to control the rate of flow through the
`in Fig. 12 may be provided.
`In this unit the
`ports H from the particular formation which is
`tube 21 may be arranged of such a length and a
`being produced. The passage 5|! is inclined up-
`thickness as to provide an inlet passage 60 to
`wardly to facilitate the flow and prevent sand
`conduct the liquid from the l‘-‘flit Is. This pas-
`blasting. The remaining portion or the closure
`sage may be directed upwardly into a chamber
`assembly 2| can be identical with that shown in
`El having a seat 62 at one end and a stop shoulder
`Fig. 3 and it may be set with the tool 12 of Fig.
`63 at the other end. A ball check valve 51 is ar-
`7.
`It seems obvious that either a closure or a
`ranged for movement in this chamber. A dis-
`controlled passage assembly may be set at an ele-
`charge opening 65 leads into the interior pas-
`vation depending upon whether the formation at
`sage 55 so that a flow entering the unit will lift
`that elevation is to be closed off or subjected to
`the check ball 64 upwardly to the position shown
`a controlled flow.
`in Fig. 12. This movement
`is caused by the
`Fig. 9 illustrates the construction and the
`equalizing passage 61 formed in the unit.
`In
`manner of removing a closure assembly by using
`event the pressure in the interior of the unit
`a withdrawing or retrieving tool 52. This tool
`‘P7 v
`v should exceed that at the port I4, then, of course,
`is operated on a string of pipe such as 53 or it
`the force of gravity would cause the ball 64 to
`may be connected to a wire line and is formed
`drop down to the seat 62 so as to effect a closure.
`with the annular skirt 6| the same as the setting
`In this manner the flow would enter the ports
`tool 42. The extension 45, however, of the tool
`14 only so long as the pressure was predominant
`42 as seen in Fig. 7 has been modified by form-
`on the outside of the unit.
`ing a plurality of slits 55 therein to provide the
`Any desired number of these check valves may
`spring arms 56, each of which has a beveled face
`be provided, two having been illustrated in Fig.
`51 and a shoulder 58. When this tool is lowered
`12. With this arrangement there may be an in-
`into position the beveled face 5'! will cause the
`flow, but no outflow as to that formation con-
`arms 58 to be compressed toward each other so
`as to pass inside or the fingers 24 and then the 75 trolled by a unit or this type.
`
`(11!
`
`45
`
`50
`
`in GI
`
`70
`
`Page 11 of 13
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`2,537,066
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`In some instances it may be desirable to force
`a fluid into a formation and prevent any back
`flow into the tubing. The closure unit of Fig. 14
`is arranged to accommodate such a procedure
`and the parts of the unit of Fig. 12 have been
`reversed so that the check valve seats when there
`is a predominant pressure on the outside. tending
`to flow into the well which will cause closing of
`the check valve.
`In some instances where it is desirable to con-
`duct
`two columns of fluid to the surface as a
`separate and independent production from a
`different formation, it is desirable to permit the
`now from one formation to pass the coupling or
`unit which controls the now from another for-
`mation. A structure to accomplish this function
`is shown in Fig. 16 where the pipe 2|! is shown
`as having a coupling ‘ill therein which is formed
`with inlet ports I! as previously described. This
`coupling ‘III
`is ‘of special construction however
`in that it has a plurality of bores or passages
`‘ll circumferentially arranged therein as seen in
`Fig. 1'! and these passages will permit a flow
`from the annular space 12 in the pipe 20 through
`the coupling ‘HI and into the annular space 1'3 -
`thereabove. The production pipe or tube 8 is
`then connected to the inlet ports I! by a closure
`unit 15 which is shown as having been incorpo-
`rated in the form of a coupling 18 between the
`sections of the tubing. This unit 15 is provided
`with packing 11 above and below the inlet pas-
`sages 1B which open into the ports I4. When the
`production string is run into position this cou-
`pling 15 will be in the position seen in Fig. 16.
`The recess so which is arranged to receive the
`locking lugs 23 is shown as having been formed
`inside of this coupling so as to receive a suitable
`control unit such as that shown in either Figs. 3,
`9. 12 or 14.
`In this manner the flow from one
`unit will extend through the central passage 66
`in the production string or tuhin.P§ 8 while another
`flow can be had through the pipe 20 so that two
`independent columns of liquid may be conducted
`to the surface.
`While the closure units have been described as _
`being locked in an annular recess such as 3-’)
`formed on the Inside of the pipe it seems clear
`that they may be arranged to engage in the spaces
`between the pipe ends inside of a coupling of
`conventional construction which would avoid the
`expense of a special recess. The ports, however,
`would have to be properly positioned in the pipe
`with respect
`to such connection.
`In other in-
`stances the slceve valve or control unit could be
`positioned by anchoring it in suitable openings or
`holes In the pipe and, of course, the unit may be
`used as a flow valve to control only