Tools and methods for use in completion of a wellbore

Abstract

A ported tubular is provided for use in casing a wellbore, to permit selective access to the adjacent formation during completion operations. A system and method for completing a wellbore using the ported tubular are also provided. Ports within the wellbore casing may be opened, isolated, or otherwise accessed to deliver treatment to the formation through the ports.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sliding sleeve for use in a casing string comprising:
 a. an outer tubular member with one or more treatment ports, wherein the outer tubular has an indention to receive an inner tubular;   b. an inner tubular member that is slidably engaged with the outer tubular member and is shorter than the indention in the outer tubular, such that when the inner tubular member is in an open position the one or more treatment ports are open to the interior of the inner tubular member;   c. a sealing element between the inner and outer tubular members, wherein when the inner tubular member is in a closed position the one or more treatment ports of the outer tubular are covered by the inner tubular member and closed to the interior of the inner tubular member;   d. wherein the inner tubular member has no feature that is engagable by any tool other than a gripping tool that exerts pressure radially outward directly on the inner tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding sleeve for use in a casing string recited in  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the inner tubular member is substantially identical to the inner surface of the outer tubular member adjacent the indention. 
     
     
         3 . A sliding sleeve for use in a casing string comprising:
 a. an outer tubular member with one or more treatment ports, wherein the outer tubular member has an indention sized and configured to receive an inner tubular member;   b. an inner tubular member that is slidably engaged within the indention of the outer tubular member and is shorter than the indention in the outer tubular, such that when the inner tubular member is in an open position the one or more treatment ports are open to the interior of the inner tubular member;   c. a sealing element between the inner and outer tubular members, wherein when the inner tubular member is in a closed position the one or more treatment ports of the outer tubular member are covered by the inner tubular member and closed to the interior of the inner tubular member;   d. wherein the inner tubular member is sized and configured to slide in response to based on the application of a longitudinal mechanical force, and further wherein the inner tubular member has no profile or other feature configured to mate with a tool creating the mechanical force.   
     
     
         4 . A sliding sleeve for use in a casing string comprising:
 a. an outer tubular member with one or more treatment ports, wherein the outer tubular has an indention to receive an inner tubular member;   b. an inner tubular member that is slidably engaged within the indention of the outer tubular member and is shorter than the indention in the outer tubular member, such that when the inner tubular member is in an open position the one or more treatment ports are open to the interior of the inner tubular member;   c. a sealing element between the inner and outer tubular wherein, when the inner tubular member is in a closed position, the one or more treatment ports of the outer tubular member are covered by the inner tubular and closed to the interior of the inner tubular member;   d. wherein the inner tubular member may only be engaged by a gripping member that exerts pressure radially outward.   
     
     
         5 . The sliding sleeve for use in a casing string recited in  claim 4  wherein the inner tubular member may only be engaged by a gripping member that comprises a sealing member, a packer, slips, metal seals, elastomeric seals, chevron seals or molded seals. 
     
     
         6 . The sliding sleeve for use in a casing string recited in  claim 4  wherein engagement of the inner tubular member by a gripping member provides a hydraulic seal and the inner tubular member may be moved longitudinally within the indention by the application of mechanical force and/or hydraulic pressure. 
     
     
         7 . A sliding sleeve configured for use in a well casing string comprising:
 a. an outer tubular member with at least one through hole, the outer tubular member having a first portion with a first length and a first inside diameter (i.d.) and a second portion having a second length and a second i.d. that is greater than the first i.d.; and,   b. an inner tubular member within the second portion of the outer tubular member and configured for sliding engagement with the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member having an inside diameter substantially equal to the first inside diameter of the outer tubular member and a length that is less than the second length of the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member configured such that when the inner tubular member is in a first closed position, the at least one through hole in the outer tubular member is covered by the inner tubular member and when the inner tubular member is in a second open position, the at least one through hole is open to the interior of the inner tubular member,   wherein the inner surface of the inner tubular member is devoid of any engagement profile.   
     
     
         8 . The sliding sleeve recited in  claim 7  further comprising:
 a sealing element between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular positioned such that, when the inner tubular member is in the closed position, the at least one through hole in the outer tubular member is sealed off from the interior of the inner tubular member. 
 
     
     
         9 . The sliding sleeve recited in  claim 7  wherein the i.d. of the inner tubular member is substantially equal to the i.d. of a well casing joint with which the outer tubular member is sized and configured to mate. 
     
     
         10 . The sliding sleeve recited in  claim 7  wherein the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member are sized and configured such that the inner tubular member may slide within the second portion of the outer tubular member from the first closed position to the second open position solely by frictional engagement between the inner surface of the inner tubular member and a downhole tool. 
     
     
         11 . The sliding sleeve recited in  claim 10  wherein the frictional engagement between the inner surface of the inner tubular member and a downhole tool solely results from pressure applied radially outward by the downhole tool against the inner surface of the inner tubular member. 
     
     
         12 . The sliding sleeve recited in  claim 10  wherein the frictional engagement between the inner surface of the inner tubular member and a downhole tool provides a hydraulic seal and the inner tubular member may slide within the second portion of the outer tubular member by application of mechanical force and/or hydraulic pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The sliding sleeve of  claim 7  wherein the difference between the length of the second portion of the outer tubular member and the length of the inner tubular member creates a gap between an end of the inner tubular member and an end of the second portion of the outer tubular member said gap configured to mate with a location device on a downhole tool. 
     
     
         14 . The sliding sleeve of  claim 13  wherein the gap created by the difference between the length of the second portion of the outer tubular member and the length of the inner tubular member is a profiled gap configured to mate with a location device on a downhole tool. 
     
     
         15 . The sliding sleeve of  claim 13  wherein, when the inner tubular member slides within the second portion of the outer tubular member from the first closed position to the second open position, the gap between an end of the inner tubular member and an end of the second portion of the outer tubular member is substantially closed. 
     
     
         16 . The sliding sleeve of  claim 15  wherein the closed gap is configured such that a location device on a downhole tool will not be engaged when moved past the closed gap.