GRAVEL PACK-CIRCULATING SLEEVE WITH HYDRAULIC LOCK

摘要

A system and method for selectively locking open or close a gravel pack-circulating sleeve is disclosed. The sleeve is movably coupled to a first chamber containing a fluid. The first chamber is fluidly connected to a second chamber through a fluid flow controller. Shifting of the sleeve between open and closed positions is resisted by a the fluid flow controller. The resistance to fluid flow can reduce or eliminate inadvertent shifting of the sleeve due to short bumps and small loads upon the sleeve. To overcome the resistance to fluid flow and to shift the sleeve, a continuous load can be applied to the sleeve.

主权项

1. A port assembly, comprising:
a port sleeve shiftable between a closed position at which the port sleeve is operable to substantially prevent fluid flow through a port and an open position at which the port sleeve is operable to substantially allow fluid flow through the port; a first chamber operable to change in volume in response to movement of the port sleeve, the first chamber including an incompressible fluid; and a fluid flow controller operable to control flow of the incompressible fluid between the first chamber and a second chamber.