Downhole ported shifting sleeve

摘要

A pump assembly for recovering hydrocarbons from downhole wells. The pump assembly comprising a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of a first circumferential seal means situated within production tubing when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position. A downhole ported sleeve is further provided and comprises a first port means and a second port means. The ported sleeve is adapted to move within a seal sub comprising a lower seal means and an upper seal means. The first port means is positioned between the lower seal means and the upper seal means when the pump assembly is removed from the well, thereby preventing pressurized fluids and/or gases from reaching surface. A method for sealing a well upon removal of a pump is further disclosed.

主权项

1. A downhole apparatus for preventing at least one of fluids and gases within a hydrocarbon formation from having communication with surface, the downhole apparatus comprising:
production tubing comprising a first circumferential seal means; a pump assembly having a lower end and comprising:
a pump; anda seating surface constructed and arranged to sealingly engage said first circumferential seal means; a seal sub positionable proximate said lower end of said pump assembly and comprising a lower circumferential seal means and an upper circumferential seal means longitudinally spaced-apart from each other within said seal sub; a ported sleeve longitudinally spaced apart from said seating surface on the pump assembly and releasably coupled to said lower end of said pump assembly, constructed and arranged to sealingly engage said upper circumferential seal means and said lower circumferential seal means and for linear movement within said seal sub from a producing position to a sealing position, the ported sleeve comprising:
first port means proximate a lower end of said sleeve; andsecond port means proximate an upper end of the sleeve; and a releasable latch means on said lower end of said pump assembly, constructed and arranged for releasably coupling said ported sleeve; wherein said ported sleeve is moveable from said producing position in which said first port means is positioned below said lower circumferential seal means and said second port means is positioned above said upper circumferential seal means to said sealing position in which said first port means is positioned between said lower circumferential seal means and said upper circumferential seal means and said releasable latch means de-couples from said ported sleeve when said pump assembly is raised from a downhole operative position.