Packing tube isolation device

Abstract

A packing tube isolation assembly, which includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a sealing member. The first conduit extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a tube disposable in a wellbore and has an opening defined in the first conduit. The second conduit fluidly connects to an annulus of the wellbore and to the opening of the first conduit, and is disposed at an angle with respect to the first conduit. The sealing member is disposed adjacent the second conduit and is configured to move into and substantially obstruct the second conduit when the second conduit is at least partially packed with a gravel slurry.

1 . A packing tube isolation assembly, comprising:
 a first conduit extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a tube disposed in a wellbore and having an opening defined in the first conduit;   a second conduit fluidly connected to an annulus of the wellbore and to the opening of the first conduit; and   a sealing member disposed adjacent the second conduit and configured to substantially obstruct the second conduit when the second conduit is at least partially packed with a gravel slurry.   
     
     
         2 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is movable from a first position where sealing member allows fluid communication through the second conduit, to a second position where the sealing member blocks fluid communication through the second conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing member comprises a slidable member configured to increasingly extend out of the housing and into the second conduit as the sealing member moves toward the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a restraining element, wherein the restraining element locks the sealing member in at least one of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         5 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a flapper having a first flapper position in which at least a portion of the flapper is substantially parallel to the second conduit and opposes the sealing member from moving to the second position, and a second position in which the flapper extends at least partially through the second conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing at least partially containing the sealing member in the first position and including:
 an inlet in fluid communication with the first conduit and an interior of the housing; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the interior of the housing and the annulus of the wellbore, and disposed on an opposite side of the sealing member from the inlet.   
     
     
         7 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a flow control device disposed in the inlet and configured to block fluid communication through the inlet until a pressure differential between the first conduit and the annulus of the wellbore reaches an activation level. 
     
     
         8 . The packing tube isolation assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the flow control device comprises at least one of a rupture disk and a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         9 . A system for gravel packing a well, comprising:
 a tube at least partially disposed in the well; and   first and second packing tube isolation assemblies disposed around the tube, each comprising:
 a first conduit having an opening formed through a wall thereof; 
 a second conduit connected to the first conduit at the opening, in fluid communication therewith and with the well; and 
 a sealing member disposed adjacent the second conduit and configured to block the second conduit when a pressure differential between the well and the first conduit reaches an activation level. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing member comprises a sliding sleeve, a flapper valve, a check valve, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a housing connected with the second conduit and at least partially containing the sealing member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises an inlet in fluid communication with the first conduit and a first space defined between the sealing member and the housing, and an outlet in fluid communication with the well and a second space formed between the sealing member and the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a flow control device is disposed at least partially in the inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the flow control device comprises a rupture disk configured to rupture when the pressure differential reaches the activation level, such that fluid communication through the inlet moves the sealing member. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the flow control device comprises a pressure relief valve configured to open when the pressure differential reaches the activation level, such that fluid communication through the inlet moves the sealing member. 
     
     
         16 . A method of isolating a packing tube, comprising:
 supplying a gravel slurry through a first conduit;   channeling at least a portion of the gravel slurry from the first conduit to a second conduit;   distributing the gravel slurry to a portion of an annulus of a wellbore through one or more outlets defined in the second conduit;   actuating a sealing member connected to the second conduit when the second conduit is at least partially packed with gravel slurry; and   isolating at least a portion of the second conduit from the first conduit with the sealing member.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein actuating the sealing member comprises actuating a flow control device positioned between the first conduit and the sealing device with a pressure differential between the portion of the annulus of the wellbore and the first conduit to place the first conduit in fluid communication with the sealing member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein actuating the sealing member further comprises: sliding the sealing member from inside a housing into the second conduit; and
 blocking the second conduit with the sealing member.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein actuating the flow control device comprises opening a pressure relief valve or rupturing a disk in the flow control device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein actuating the sealing member comprises sliding the sealing member into the second conduit to block the second conduit by applying the pressure differential across the sealing member.