Sliding sleeve valve assembly with sand screen

Abstract

A system and method for completing a well with multiple zones of production is provided, including a casing having a plurality of valves integrated therein for isolating each well zone, establishing communication between each underlying formation and the interior of the casing, delivering a treatment fluid to each of the multiple well zones, and filtering produced fluids from each underlying formation.

1 . A valve apparatus for use in a wellbore intersecting a reservoir, comprising:
 a housing being fixed to the wellbore proximate the reservoir by cement, the housing defining an inner bore and having a port for establishing a flow path between the reservoir and the inner bore of the housing;   a sliding sleeve arranged within the inner bore of the housing, and being adapted to shift between a closed position whereby the sliding sleeve interrupts the flow path between the reservoir and the inner bore of the housing and an open position whereby the flow path between the reservoir and the inner bore of the housing is substantially uninterrupted; and   a filtering assembly arranged within the inner bore of the housing axially adjacent to the sliding sleeve, the filtering assembly comprising: a perforated base pipe and a screen arranged between the housing and the perforated base pipe, the filtering assembly being adapted to shift between a filtering position wherein the screen is aligned with the port in the housing and a non-filtering position wherein the screen is not aligned with the port in the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The valve apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a protector adapted to engage the base pipe to isolate the screen from the inner bore of the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The valve apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the protector comprises:
 a removable mechanical sleeve formed around an inner surface of the base pipe having a profile for engagement with an actuator,   wherein the actuator is one selected from a group consisting of: a drop ball, a dart, and a service tool.   
   
   
       4 . The valve apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the protector comprises:
 a set of removable plugs inserted into the perforated base pipe and protruding radially inward toward the inner bore of the housing for engagement with an actuator,   wherein the actuator is one selected from a group consisting of: a drop ball, a dart, and a service tool.   
   
   
       5 . The valve apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the protector comprises:
 a sacrificial member formed around an inner surface of the base pipe, wherein the sacrificial member is formed from a dissolvable material.   
   
   
       6 . The valve apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a sealing mechanism connected to the housing and biased radially inward from the inner bore, the sealing mechanism being adapted to engage a work string extending from a surface location through the inner bore of the housing for delivering cement into the wellbore at a location below the housing. 
   
   
       7 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the filtering assembly further comprises a metering surface connected to the base pipe, the metering surface defining a radially-outward protruding profile counter to an inner surface of the housing, the radially-outward protruding profile adapted to meter the shifting of the filtering assembly. 
   
   
       8 . A method for use in a wellbore having a plurality of well zones, comprising:
 running a casing having a plurality of valves formed therein from a surface down into the wellbore such that each valve is proximate a well zone;   cementing the casing to the wellbore;   selecting a target valve proximate a target well zone;   opening the target valve to establish communication between the surface and the target well zone;   treating the target well zone by pumping a treatment fluid from the surface to the target well zone via the target valve; and   manipulating at least one valve into a filtering state;   filtering a production fluid flowing from at least one well zone into the casing; and   producing the production fluid to the surface.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein opening the target valve comprises:
 pumping a dart from the surface into the casing to move a sleeve in the target valve.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein opening the target valve comprises:
 dropping a ball from the surface into the casing to move a sleeve in the target valve.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein opening the target valve comprises:
 running a service tool into the well to the target valve of the target well zone; and   engaging a sleeve in the target valve with the service tool and shifting the sleeve.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein opening the target valve comprises:
 pressurizing a control line running from a location above the target valve to shift a sleeve in the target valve.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein manipulating at least one valve into a filtering state comprises:
 shifting a sand screen assembly over a port within the at least one valve, the screen assembly comprising: a perforated base pipe and a screen.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 protecting the screen with a removable sleeve arranged around the perforated base pipe; and   removing the sleeve from the perforated base pipe before producing the production fluid.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 protecting the sand screen with a sacrificial member arranged around the perforated base pipe; and   dissolving the sacrificial member before producing the production fluid.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 monitoring a well parameter proximate a well zone with a cable running from the surface to the well zone external the casing.   
   
   
       17 . A system for use in a wellbore having a plurality of well zones, comprising:
 a casing fixed to the wellbore by cement;   a plurality of valves connected to the casings, each valve comprising: (i) a flow port for establishing communication between the casing and one of the well zones, (ii) a sliding sleeve disposed therein for regulating communication via the flow port, and (iii) a filtering assembly disposed therein and axially adjacent to the sliding sleeve, the filtering assembly being adapted to shift between a filtering position wherein filtering assembly is aligned with the flow port and a non-filtering position wherein the filtering assembly is not aligned with the flow port;   a first actuator adapted to selectively shift the sliding sleeve of each of the plurality of valves; and   a second actuator adapted to selectively shift the filtering assembly of each of the plurality of valves.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first actuator is one selected from a group consisting of: (i) a drop ball selected to engage the sliding sleeve of each valve, (ii) a dart selected to engage the sliding sleeve of each valve, and (iii) a work string having an outer profile selected to engage the sliding sleeve of each valve and defining a tubular bore. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second actuator is one selected from a group consisting of: (i) a drop ball selected to engage the filtering assembly of each valve, (ii) a dart selected to engage the filtering assembly of each valve, and (iii) a work string having an outer profile selected to engage the filtering assembly of each valve and defining a tubular bore. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first actuator comprises a first control line connected between a surface location and a piston area above the sliding sleeve of an upper valve among the plurality of valves, and
 wherein the second actuator comprises a second control line connected between a piston area below the sliding sleeve of the upper valve and a piston area above the filtering assembly of a lower valve among the plurality of valves.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of valves further comprises:
 a removable protector tool for temporarily protecting the filtering assembly.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the work string further comprises:
 a sealing mechanism arranged above the outer profile, wherein the tubular bore extends below the sealing mechanism.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the work string further comprises:
 a first sealing mechanism arranged above the outer profile, wherein the tubular bore extends below the sealing mechanism; and   a removable second sealing mechanism arranged below the outer profile, wherein the tubular bore is temporarily interrupted by the second sealing mechanism.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the work string further comprises:
 a sealing mechanism arranged below the outer profile, wherein the tubular bore extends below the sealing mechanism.