Multiple Port Crossover Tool with Port Selection Feature

Abstract

A crossover for gravel packing has multiple outlets that are selectively covered as they wear from erosion with the covering of an outlet exposing another for slurry flow to continue. Outlets are selected by a series of balls that get larger and land on progressively higher and larger seats on sleeves. As a sleeve shifts to cover a spent outlet it moves away from a new outlet for continuation of slurry flow to the outlet opened by virtue of the shifting sleeve.

1 . A flow diversion assembly for a ported subterranean tool inserted from a surface, comprising:
 a housing having a passage therein and at least a first and a second port for exit of flow from said passage;   at least one valve member in said passage selectively covering one of said first and second ports.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said valve member movable from a first position where said first port is uncovered and said second port is covered to a second position where said first port is covered and said second port is uncovered.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said valve member moves in a single axial direction.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said valve member comprises a seat that accepts an object to close off a path through said valve member to allow pressure applied to said object on said seat to move said valve member.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said valve member comprises a sleeve having a sleeve passage therethrough defined by a wall that has no wall openings.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said valve member locks to said housing in said second position.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first and second ports comprise a plurality of ports at least two said ports being axially spaced.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 at least two said ports are axially spaced and aligned.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 at least two said ports are located side by side and circumferentially spaced.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said at least one valve member comprises a plurality of valve members.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 there are one fewer valve members than the number of said ports.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said valve members each comprise a seat that accepts an object to close off a path through said valve member to allow pressure applied to said object on said seat to move said valve member;   said valve members are disposed adjacent said ports with said seat associated with said valve member closest to the surface having the largest seat with said seat size declining in other valve members in a direction away from the surface.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said lowermost port furthest from the surface is initially open;   said ports are serially opened by sequential movement of said valve members by sequential landing of objects of increasing size on seats of valve members in a direction toward the surface.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said ports are sequentially closed starting with said lowermost port by sequential movement of said valve members by sequential landing of objects of increasing size on seats of valve members in a direction toward the surface.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 shifting of one valve member opens or closes more than one port.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said valve members each comprise a sleeve having a sleeve passage therethrough defined by a wall that has no wall openings.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said valve members each comprise a sleeve having a sleeve passage therethrough defined by a wall that has at least one wall opening that is aligned with a port in one of said first and said second positions of said valve member.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said seats comprise a tapered annular surface;   said objects comprise spheres.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said spheres are retained on respective seats for subsequent removal to the surface with said housing.   
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said ports are aligned and axially spaced.