US2994380A - Plural completion of wells - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 1, 1961 G. H. TAUSCH ET AL PLURAL COMPLETION OF WELLS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 FIG. 2.

FIG.

FIG. l0.

I III INVENTORS. GILBERT H. TAUSCH,

CHARLES B. CORLEY,JR., JOHN W. KENNEDAY,

Aug- 1, 19 G. H. TAUSCH ETAL PLURAL COMPLETION OF WELLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed May 5, 1958 INVENTORS.

R J H Y E TM UM A N T .N M E HBK \r S T Rm RN q BAH H HO GC Y B Aug. 1, 1961 e. H. TAUSCH ETAL PLURAL COMPLETION OF WELLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1958 INVENTORS. GILBERT H. TAUSCH, CHARLES B. CORLEY,JR., JOHN W. KENNEDAY,

Aug. 1, 1961 Filed May 5, 1958 ZIO G. H. TAUSCH ET AL PLURAL COMPLETIQN OF WELLS FIG. 8-

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. ILBERT H. TAUSCH,

OH W. KENNEDAY,

United States Patent ()fice Patented Aug. 1, 1961 2,994,380 'PLURAL C LETION OF WELLS Gilbert H. Tausch, Charles B. Corley, Jr., and John W.

Kenneday, Houston, Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa,

Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 732,846 13 Claims. (Cl. 166-191) The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for completing a well. More particularly, the invention is concerned with well completion operations in a plurality of vertically spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones. In its more specific aspects the invention is concerned with completion and servicing of wells in a plurality of vertically spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones in which fluid may flow simultaneously and separately through a plurality of pipe strings in said well.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending substantially parallel in said Well from the earths surface; first means connects the first of the pipe strings to the second of the pipe strings and provides a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings and second means spaced from the first connecting means connects the second of the pipe strings to a third of the pipe strings and provides a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings. Third means spaced vertically from the first and second means may be provided to interconnect the first and third pipe strings and provide a fluid passageway from the first to the third pipe string. Supporting means are provided in each of the pipe strings above the first and second connecting means or above the second and third connecting means. At least one retrievable conduit is sealingly positioned on a supporting means in one of the pipe strings with the tubular conduit extending in said one pipe string below said connecting means. Means are arranged in said one pipe string to seal between the tubular conduit and said one pipe string below the connecting means whereby fluid flow through each of the pipe strings is obtainable.

The present invention also involves a method for completing a well penetrating a plurality of productive subsurface earth strata which comprises arranging eccentrically in the well and extending from the earths surface three fluidly interconnected, substantially parallel pipes, the first pipe being fluidly interconnected with the second pipe, and the second pipe being fluidly interconnected with the third pipe vertically spaced from the connection with the first pipe. The first pipe is also fluidly connected with the third pipe vertically spaced from the connections between the first and second and second and third pipes. Each one of the pipes is then perforated in one of three hydrocarbon productive zones vertically spaced from each other. Thereafter, a retrievable open ended tubular conduit is lowered in the second of the pipe strings and is sealingly positioned above the fluid interconnections with the other pipes to extend below the fluid interconnections. The tubular conduit is then sealed in the second pipe above and below the fluid interconnections and then hydrocarbons are separately flowed from said three zones through said pipes.

The present invention is quite advantageous and useful in that by means of the arrangement of apparatus, it is possible to complete, produce and service a well without arranging tubing strings therein and allowing all operations to be performed with wire line tools such as tubular conduits, perforators, and the like.

In the mode and embodiments of the Present invention, it is possible to produce hydrocarbons, recomplete and service the well in the several zones, treat the well, seal perforated zones in the several pipe strings, conduct well stimulating operations, acidize and conduct the numeious treating operations which are performable in a we The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1a is a diagrammatic showing of a well equipped in the manner set forth herein for perforating;

FIGS. 1 to 4 are a stepwise illustration of the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a still further modification of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a isometric view with parts cut away of a further embodiment of the invention.

In the several figures of the drawing, the illustration and showing are intended to be and are schematic.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. la, numeral 11 designates a well bore drilled from the earths surface to penetrate a plurality of subsurface earth zones, horizons, strata, sands, formations, and the like, some of which may be productive of hydrocarbons and others of which are non-productive. For purposes of illustration only, it may be assumed that zones 12, 13 and 14 are productive of hydrocarbons, while there may be other zones located between the several productive zones which are non-productive.

Arranged in the well bore 11 are three eccentrically positioned side-by-side parallel pipe strings 15, 16, and 17. The pipe strings 15, v16, and 17 of the embodiments of FIG. 1a, and FIGS. 1 to 4, are substantially coextensive and extend to the earths surface and terminate there in a suitable well head not shown. The pipe strings 15, 16 and 17 are each provided with a supporting means 18, 19 and 20 which suitably may be a landing nipple and other means for supporting a tool in a pipe string. The first pipe string 15 is interconnected by connection means 21 with the second pipe string .16 and the second pipe string 16 is interconnected by connecting means 22 with the third pipe string 17. The connecting means 21 and 22 provide fluid passageways 23 and 24 for flow of fluid from one of the pipe strings to another of the pipe strings.

It may be seen that in the embodiments of FIG. 1a, and FIGS. 1 to 4, the three pipe strings are cemented in the well bore 11 with cement 25.

In order to perforate the pipe string 15, a perforator 26 is suitably lowered on a wire line 27 to the region of the zone 14 and there operated to form perforations 28 in the zone :14. The perforator 26 may suitably be a bullet or shaped charge perforator but may be a chemical perforator or a mechanical perforator as may be desired.

In order to perforate the zones 12 and 13, a perforator is lowered through the pipe strings 17 and 16 to a position adjacent the zones 12 and 13. Since the pipe strings .15, '16, and 17 are substantially co-extensive, means must be provided to avoid perforating the other pipe strings when the pipe strings :16 and 17 are being perforated. To this end the pipe strings 16 and 17 may be provided with, respectively, indexing means 29 and 30 and guide rails 31 and 32 for positioning a particular type of perforator or well tool on the guide rails 31 and 32. Suitably, a perforator 33, which may be one of the type as illustrated for perforator 26, provided with track engaging means 33a, is lowered on a wire line 34 and positioned by indexing means 29 on the guide rail or track 31 and then operated adjacent the region or zone 13 to form perforations 34 into the formation 13. Likewise, to perforate the pipe string 17 a perforator 35, provided with track engaging means 35a, which may be similar to perforator 33, is lowered on wire line 36 to a position adjacent the formation or zone 12 after being placed by indexing means 30 on track 32 and there operated to form perforations 37 penetrating into the formation 01' zone 12.

Equipment including the guide means, track member, and the perforator are described in U.S. Patent No, 2,- 781,098, issued to Walter J. Bielstein.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 1, when production is desired from the several zones a tubular conduit 38 is lowered on one of the wire lines such as has been illustrated and positioned in the second pipe string 16 on the supporting means 19 and sealed thereinby means of sealing means 39. The tubular conduit 38 is open ended and is sealed in the pipe string 16 with sealing means 40-positioned above the passageway 23 and below the passageway 24 with the sealing means 41 positioned below the passageway 23, the tubular conduit extending to a position below the connecting means 21 and 22. Thus, by means of the tubular conduit 38 and the sealing means 40 and'41, flow may then be obtained through the three pipe strings 15, 16, and 17 from zones 14, 13, and 12,

V flow from zone 12 proceeding up pipe string 17, flow from zone 13 proceeding up pipe string 16 through tubular conduit 38, while flow from the zone 14 is up the pipe string 15, the sealing means 40 and 41 and the seal 39 on the upper end of the tubular conduit 38 closing the passageways 23 and 24.

After production has been had from the three zones for. a particular length of time, it may be necessary and desirable to work over the zone 14. For example, this workover operation may involve sealing the perforations 28 with fluid cement or washing sand from the region of the perforations 28. For purpose of illustration only, a

fluid will be described as being flowed into the region of the perforations 28 and removed therefrom while production is continued through the pipe string 17.

[n order to accomplish this series of operation, referring now to FIG. 2 a tubular conduit 42 having a closed lower end 43 is lowered in the pipe string 16 and positioned on the supporting means 19 and sealed therein with sealing means 44; Spaced apart on the tubular conduit 42 are sealing means 45 and 46, which are positioned to seal above and below the passageway 23. that the tubular conduit 42 is provided with. a lateral passageway 47 which fluidly communicates with the passageway 23.

A second tubular conduit 48 is then lowered in the pipe string 15 and positioned on the supporting means 18 and sealed therein with sealing means 49. This tubular conduit 48 extends to the region of perforations 28 and allowsflow therefrom or thereto. It is to be noted that the seals 45 and 46 close the passageway 24 in conjunction with the seal 44. Thus, flow may be had upwardly or downwardly through pipe string 15 and through. tubular conduit 48 and through passageway 23 and through It is to be notedtubular conduit 42, flow proceeding in either direction as shown by the arrows, the closed lower end 43 closing oif production from the zone 13. Thus, it is possible to wash out the zone 14 or to position a treating reagent therein or to conduct any operation as may be desired. For example, if the perforations 28 are sealed with cement, excess fluid cement may be removed with a washing op eration and thereafter the zone 14 may be reperforated by lowering a gun perforator such as described in FIG. 1a. If it is desired to work over the zone 13, an operation may be conducted as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Generally, this embodiment and mode are similar to the showing of FIG. 2. In this particular operation, however, where the zone 13 is to be reworked or serviced, a tubular conduit suchas 42 having a closed lower end 43 is positioned on the supporting means 18 in pipe strin'g'IS and sealed by means of sealing means44, the seal 45 being omitted but the seal 46 sealing below the passageway 23 connecting with the pipe string 16. Asecond tubular conduit, in this instance tubular conduit 50, is lowered in pipe string 16 and sealingly positioned on the supporting means 19 with the seal 51 closing 011 the space between the pipe string 16 and the tubular conduit 50. The tubular conduit 50 is provided with a sealing means 52, which seals the pipe string 16 below the passageway 24 but above the passageway 23. By this arrangement of structural elements, it will be clear that production from zone 14 is closed off by the sealing means 46 and the closed lower end 43 of tubular conduit 42 and production from zone 12 may continue up the pipe string 17, but fluid may be flowed downwardly or upwardly from the zone 13 through the tubular conduit 50, for example, and thence through the passageway 23 and up the tubular conduit 42 through the lateral port 47 of the conduit 42. As noted, the flow may be downwardly through pipe string 15 and upwardly through pipe string 16 or downwardly through pipe string 16 and upwardly through pipe string 15. v p

When it is desired to rework the upper zone, a tubular conduit 53 is positioned on the supporting means 20'and sealed in the pipe string 17 with sealing means 54 and a tubular conduit 55 is positioned in the pipe string 16 on the supporting means 19 and sealed therein with seal ing, means 56, the tubular conduit 55 being provided with sealing means 57 and 58, which seal above and below the passageway 23 and below the passageway 24, allowing fluid communication with a lateral port 59in the tubular conduit 55. In this mode and arrangement of the apparatus, it will be clear that production may continue from zone 14 while production from zone 13 is terminated by the closed lower end 60 of the tubular conduit 55. Flow may be had upwardly or downwardly through pipe strings 16 and 17, with flow being provided to the zone 12 or removed from the zone 12 as has been indicated, the seals 56 and 57 allowing the flow to proceed through the passageway24 and lateral port 59 through the tubular conduit 55 into the tubing string 16 or in an opposite direction asmay be desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an embodiment is provided in which the three pipe strings15, 16 and 17 are interconnected. Thus, as shown in FIGS. Sand 6, pipe string 15 is connected to pipe string 16 by connecting means 21 forming passageway 23 and pipe string 16 is connected to pipe string 17 by connecting means 22 form ing' passageway 24. Pipe strings 1S and 17 are also interconnected by connection means 70 forming a passageway 71 between pipe'strings 15 and 17. It is to be noted that the three connecting means are vertically spaced apart; however, the connecting means need not be spaced apart vertically. I :Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that a tubular conduit such as 72 is arranged on a supporting means 73 "above the passageway 24 and is suitably sealed in-the pipe string 16 by sealing means 731;. The tubular conduit 72 is also provided with a sealing means 74 arranged above the passageway 23 in which it formsa seal with the wall of pipe string 16 at that point. The tubular conduit'72 is provided with a third sealing means 75 which seals between'the wall of the pipe string 16 and th'etubular conduit 72 at a point below'the passageway 23. Thus, the tubular conduit 72, in cooperation with seals 73a, 74 and 75, serves to close 011 passageways 23 and 24 and allows fluid to pass upwardly Pthrough the pipe string 16'entering the zone 13 through the perforations 34.

In pipe string 17 a tubular conduit 76 is positioned therein 'on' a supporting means 77 and is provided with a seal 78 to seal the wall of the pipe string 17,:the -seal 78 'being arranged above the passageway 71. Likewise, the tubular-conduit 76 is provided 'with a second seal 79 which forms a seal with'the interiorwall of pipe string 17 below the passageway 71, allowing'fluid tobe pro duced from zone 12 through perforations 37 upwardly through tubular conduit 76 and pipe string 17 to .the earths surface. Production may also be obtained from zone 14 through perforations 28, proceeding to the earth's surface through pipe string 15.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a still further modification of the present invention will be described. In the modification of FIG. 7 there is shown a casing 11a extending to a position above the uppermost formation or zone 12 and cemented in place by cement 11b. In this modification only the lower sections of the pipe strings are ce mented in the well bore 11. The three eccentrically placed, substantially parallel pipes 80, 81 and 82 comprise a bottom end assembly the pipes being properly aligned and clamped together as desired. The pipes 80, 81, and 82 are cemented in place in the well bore 11 by means of cement 83. It is to be noted that the bottom assembly comprised of pipes 80, 81 and 82 does not extend to the earths surface and cement '83 only extends to a point sufficient to cement the pipes 80', 81 and 82 in place. In order to achieve the desirable benefits of the present invention, retrievable pipe strings 84, 85 and 86 are run into the well bore 11 and are sealingly engaged with the pipes 80, 81 and 82, the pipe 84 sealingly engaging with the pipe 80 by means of a seal 87 and with a connecting assembly 88 by means of seal 87a. The pipe string '85 sealingly engages with the connecting assembly 88 by means of a sealing means 89. The pipe string 86 also sealingly engages with the connecting assembly 88 by means of seal 90-. It is to be noted that the assembly 88 is fluidly connected to the pipe string 84 by connecting means 91 in assembly 88 forming a fluid passageway 92 and has a fluid passageway means 93 providing a passageway 94. The connecting means 88 sealingly engages with the pipe string 81 by means of a seal 95 and with the pipe string 82 by means of seal 96.

Thus, with the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82 cemented in the well bore 11 by cement 83 and the pipe strings 84, 85 and 86 being run into the well bore and sealingly engaged with the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82, the advantage of retrievable pipe strings is provided with retrievable seal assemblies and interconnecting fluid passageways. The connecting assembly 88 may be connected with the pipe string 84, but it is within the purview of this invention to provide a separate connecting means 88, as shown, which may be lowered into the well bore 11 and engage sealingly both with the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82 and the pipe strings 84, 85 and 86 The seals are preferably carried on an element which is retrievable from the well but may be carried on either of the elements. 'Ihus seals 87, 95, and 96 are preferably carried by the connecting assembly 88 while the seals 87a, 89 and 90 are preferably carried by the pipe strings 84, 85, and 86, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 8, numerals 200, 201, and 202 designate 3 substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well. Pipe strings 200 and 202 have supporting means such as landing nipples 203 and 204 arranged therein. Pipe string 201 has a supporting means arranged therein adjacent the supporting means 203 and 204.

The three pipe strings 200, 201, and 202 are fluidly interconnected by connecting means 205, 206, and 207 arranged at the same level which provides a fluid passageway between each pipe string and the other two pipe strings. Shown in pipe string 200 is a ret-rievable tubular conduit 208 which is positioned on the supporting means 203 and which is provided with seals 209 and 210 arranged above and below the conduits 205 and 207. Arranged in the pipe string 202 on the supporting means 204 is a tubular conduit 211 which has a sealing means 212 arranged above the conduits 206 and 207 and a second sealing means 213 arranged below the conduits 206 and 207.

In pipe string 201 a supporting means 214, similar to supporting means 203 and 204, is provided above the con duits 205 and 206 and is designed to receive a tubular conduit, not shown, such as 208 or 210 with the tubular; conduit carrying seals like the tubular conduits 208 and The embodiment of FIG. 8 may be employed similarly to the embodiments of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. In this particular arrangement where the connecting means or conduits 205, 206, and 207 are arranged at the same level, it is possible to dispense with a sealing means on one of the tubular conduits arranged on the supporting means. Thus the three pipe strings 200, 201, and 202 may be used as shown for separate hydrocarbon production from vertically spaced apart zones. By eliminating the sealing means 213, for example, production may continue through pipe string 200 while workover fluid may be flowed down the pipe string 202 and thence upwardly into connecting means 206 and thence through pipe string 201 to the earths surface.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 may be employed similarly to the embodiments of FIGS. and 1 to 4. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is advantageous in that plug-back operations may be facilitated by insta lling landing nipples or supporting means in the lower ends of pipe strings 84, and 86 or in the connecting means. As shown in FIG. 7 a tubular conduit member 97 is sealingly supported on support member '98 in the pipe string 85 above the passageway 92 and is sealed in the connecting means 88 by sealing means 99 below the passageway 94 and the passageway 92 allowing fluid production separately through the pipe strings 80 and 84, 81 and 85, 82 and 86, respectively, from zones .14, 13 and 12 through perforations 100, 101 and 102 in the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82. The pipe strings 81 and 82, respectively, are suitably provided with indexing means 103 and track members 104 and indexing means 105 and track member 106 as has been described for the other embodiment.

Thus, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 7 and pipe strings 15, 16 and 17. This is quite advantageous and useful in that lifting equipment except wire line lifting equipment is not required. It will be manifest also that the present invention eliminates the employment of tubing strings and a casing in a well bore and requires only the several pipe strings to allow production from three zones and workover of the three zones.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipestrings arranged in a well bore and extending in said wellto the earths surface, means intermediate their ends con-. necting each of said pipe strings toanother of said pipe;

strings and providing a fluid passageway between the pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above the connecting means, at least one retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in one of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above the con-.

necting means, said tubular conduit extending in said one pipe string below said connecting means, and means sealing between said tubular conduit and said string below said connecting means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which three pipe strings are cemented in said well.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a;

one pipe lower section of each of said three pipe strings penetrating vertically spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones iscemented in said well and an upper section of each of said' three pipe strings is retrievably and sealingly connected to each of said lower sections.

4, Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 provided with a connecting means forming an intermediate section releasably connected to two of the upper sections and to two of the lower sections and in which sealing means are provided between the intermediate section and the upper and lower sections, said intermediate section being retrievable from the well.

- 5; Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said well to the earths surface, means intermediate their ends connecting each of said pipe strings to another of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above the connecting means, at least one retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in one of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above the connecting means, said tubular conduit extending in said one pipe string below said connecting means, means sealing between said tubular conduit and said one pipe string below said connecting means, and guide means tor positioning a tool in each of two of said pipe strings, the guide means in said two pipe strings being below the connecting means connecting said two pipe strings and being spaced vertically from each other.

6. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said well to the earths surface, first means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings, second means intermediate the ends of the second and third pipe strings spaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the second of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means, at least one retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in one of the pipe strings, said tubular conduit extending in said one pipe string below said connecting means, and means sealing between said tubular conduit and said one pipe string above and below said connecting means.

7. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said well to the earths surface, first means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their ends spaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the second of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means, a first retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in one of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above the con necting means and extending in said one pipe string below said connecting means, said one pipe string having fluid passageways connecting to the other pipe strings, said first tubular conduit having a lateral port fluidly communicating with the first fluid passageway and provided with a means closing the lower end of said first tubular conduit, means sealing between said first tubular conduit and said one pipe string and isolating said port rforfluid communication with the first fluid passageway, and a second retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supportingmeans in asealing engagement with a 8 a second of the pipe strings and extending in said second pipe string below the connecting, means. f

8. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said well to the earths surface, first means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings, second means intermedi.- ate their ends spaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the second of said pipe strings to' the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the second. and third pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means, a first retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in one of thepipe strings and extending in said one pipe string below said first connecting means, said first tubular conduit being provided with means closing said one pipe string and a lateral port fluidly communicating with meet the fluid passageways, means sealing between said first tubular conduit and said one pipe string above. and below said first connecting means, a second retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in a second of the pipe strings and extending below the second connecting means, and means sealing between said second tubular conduit and the second of said pipe strings above said second connecting means.

9. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said well to the earths surface, first means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their ends spaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the second of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means, a first retrievable tubular conduit sealingly positioned on the supporting means in the first of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above the first connecting means and extending in said first pipe string below said first connecting means, said first tubular conduit having a closed lower end and a lateral port fluidly communicating with the passageway between the second and first pipe strings, a second retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in sealing engagement therewith above the connecting means insaid second pipe string and extending in said second pipe string below said connecting means in said second pipe string, first means sealing between said first tubular conduit and said first pipe string below the first connecting 'r'ncans and second means sealing between the second tubular conduit and the second pipe string below the second connecting means but above the first connecting meansf l0.'Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said wellto the earths surface, first means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their ends connecting the second of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings. third means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and third pipe strings, supporting means in each of said pipe strings above said connecting means, at least one retrievable tubular conduit sealingly positioned on the supporting means in one of the pipe strings in'sealing engagement therewith above the connecting means, said tubular con 9 duit extending in said one pipe string below said connecting means, and means sealing between said tubular conduit and said one pipe string below said connecting means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which the connecting means are spaced vertically from each other.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which the connecting means are arranged in the well at the same level.

13. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore and extending in said well to the earths surface, first means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their ends spaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the second of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, third means intermediat their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings spaced vertically from the second connecting means and providing a fluid passageway between the first and third pipe strings, supporting means in each of said pipe strings above the connecting means, a first retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in the second of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above the connecting means between the second and third pipe strings, said first tubular conduit extending in said second pipe string below the connecting means between the first and second and between the second and third pipe strings, means sealing between said first tubular conduit and said second pipe string above and below said connecting means" between the first and second pipe strings, a second retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in the third pipe string in sealing engagement therewith above the connecting means between the first and third pipe strings, said second tubular conduit extending below the connecting means between the first and third pipe strings, and means sealing between said second tubular conduit and said third pipe string below said connecting means between the first and third pipe strings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,760,578 Tausch Aug. 28, 1956 2,785,754 True Mar. 19, 1957 2,844,205 Carothers June 22, 1958 2,850,099 Brown Sept. 2, 1958

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