Internally sealable perforable nipple for downhole well applications

摘要

A longitudinally spaced series of tubular nipple structures are installed in a well flow conductor operatively extended through a subterranean well bore. Each nipple structure has a thinned-wall, increased interior diameter longitudinal section through which a plurality of fluid flow openings laterally extend, and an interior side surface annular tool locator recess, with each such recess having a profile different than those of all of the other tool locator recesses. The thinned-wall longitudinal sections of the nipples facilitate the formation of the flow openings therein. To seal off the flow openings in any selected one of these longitudinal nipple sections, a radially expandable tubular metal patch is supported on a setting tool which is lowered into the well flow conductor. A locator member complementarily and lockably receivable by the locator recess of the selected nipple is also supported on the tool. When the locator member snaps into releasably locked engagement with such locator recess, the patch member is automatically positioned in a predetermined longitudinal orientation coaxially with the longitudinal nipple section whose flow openings are to be sealed off. An expander portion of the setting tool is then pulled through the patch member to radially expand it into sealing engagement with the interior side surface of the selected longitudinal nipple section. Due to the increased interior diameter of the longitudinal nipple section, the tubular patch member installed therein does not decrease the drift diameter of the well flow conductor.