Packer washout assembly

Abstract

A packer washout assembly for removing debris from a well bore is disclosed. The packer washout assembly includes a tubing string positioned in the well bore and forming an annulus with the well bore. A packer is interposed in the tubing string and is sealable against the interior of the well bore. A packer washout sub is connected to an upper end of the packer. The packer washout sub includes a mandrel having at least one fluid flow port extending through a sidewall and a rupture disk positioned in the fluid flow port of the mandrel. The rupture disk is adapted to rupture upon the application of a predetermined pressure within the fluid passage of the mandrel so as to place the fluid passage in fluid communication with the annulus to permit fluid to pass through the fluid port from the mandrel to the annulus and thereby circulate fluid over the top of the packer so as to wash debris from the top of the packer.

1 . A packer washout assembly for removing debris from a well bore, comprising: 
 a tubing string positioned in the well bore and forming an annulus with the well bore;    a packer interposed in the tubing string and sealable against the interior of the well bore, the packer having an upper end and a lower end;    a packer washout sub comprising: 
 a mandrel having an upper end connected to the tubing string, a lower end connected to the upper end of the packer, and a sidewall extending from the upper end to the lower end, the sidewall defining a fluid passage extending from the upper end to the lower end, the mandrel having at least one fluid flow port extending through the sidewall; and  
 a closure member positioned in the fluid flow port of the mandrel, the closure member adapted to open upon the application of a predetermined pressure within the fluid passage of the mandrel so as to place the fluid passage in fluid communication with the annulus to permit fluid to pass through the fluid port from the mandrel to the annulus and thereby circulate fluid over the top of the packer so as to wash debris from the top of the packer.  
   
   
   
       2 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid ports, each fluid port has a closure member positioned therein.  
   
   
       3 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid flow ports extending through the sidewall, the fluid ports longitudinally axially aligned from the lower end to the upper end of the mandrel, each fluid flow port having a closure member positioned therein.  
   
   
       4 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid flow ports extending through the sidewall, the fluid ports arranged in a helical pattern about the sidewall of the mandrel, each fluid flow port having a closure member positioned therein.  
   
   
       5 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid flow ports extending through the sidewall, the fluid ports circumferentially spaced an equal distance about the mandrel, each fluid flow port having a closure member positioned therein.  
   
   
       6 . A packer washout assembly for removing debris from a well bore, comprising: 
 a tubing string positioned in the well bore and forming an annulus with the well bore;    a packer interposed in the tubing string and sealable against the interior of the well bore, the packer having an upper end and a lower end;    a packer washout sub comprising: 
 a mandrel having an upper end connected to the tubing string, a lower end connected to the upper end of the packer, and a sidewall extending from the upper end to the lower end, the sidewall defining a fluid passage extending from the upper end to the lower end, the mandrel having at least one fluid flow port extending through the sidewall; and  
 a rupture disk positioned in the fluid flow port of the mandrel, the rupture disk adapted to open upon the application of a predetermined pressure within the fluid passage of the mandrel so as to place the fluid passage in fluid communication with the annulus to permit fluid to pass through the fluid port from the mandrel to the annulus and thereby circulate fluid over the top of the packer so as to wash debris from the top of the packer.  
   
   
   
       7 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 6  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid ports, each fluid port having a rupture disk positioned therein.  
   
   
       8 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 6  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid flow ports extending through the sidewall, the fluid ports longitudinally axially aligned from the lower end to the upper end of the mandrel, each fluid flow port having a rupture disk positioned therein.  
   
   
       9 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 6  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid flow ports extending through the sidewall, the fluid ports arranged in a helical pattern about the sidewall of the mandrel, each fluid flow port having a rupture disk positioned therein.  
   
   
       10 . The packer washout assembly of  claim 6  wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of fluid flow ports extending through the sidewall, the fluid ports circumferentially spaced an equal distance about the mandrel, each fluid flow port having a rupture disk positioned therein.  
   
   
       11 . A method for removing debris from the top of a packer sealed against a well bore, comprising: 
 producing fluid through a tubing string positioned in the well bore, the tubing string forming an annulus with the well bore, the tubing string having a packer interposed therein, the packer sealed against the interior of the well bore and the packer having an upper end and a lower end, the tubing string further having a packer washout sub, the packer washout sub comprising: 
 a mandrel having an upper end connected to the tubing string, a lower end connected to the upper end of the packer, and a sidewall extending from the upper end to the lower end, the sidewall defining a fluid passage extending from the upper end to the lower end, the mandrel having at least one fluid flow port extending through the sidewall; and  
 a rupture disk positioned in the fluid flow port of the mandrel;  
   sealing the tubing string; and    pressurizing the tubing string to a sufficient pressure to rupture the rupture disk of the packer washout sub so as to place the fluid passage of the mandrel in fluid communication with the annulus to permit fluid to pass through the fluid port from the mandrel to the annulus and thereby circulate fluid over the top of the packer so as to wash debris from the top of the packer.    
   
   
       12 . A method for removing debris from the top of a packer sealed against a well bore, comprising: 
 providing a tubing string in the well bore so that the tubing string forms an annulus with the well bore, the tubing string having a packer interposed therein, the packer sealed against the interior of the well bore and the packer having an upper end and a lower end, the tubing string further having a packer washout sub, the packer washout sub comprising: 
 a mandrel having an upper end connected to the tubing string, a lower end connected to the upper end of the packer, and a sidewall extending from the upper end to the lower end, the sidewall defining a fluid passage extending from the upper end to the lower end, the mandrel having at least one fluid flow port extending through the sidewall; and  
 a rupture disk positioned in the fluid flow port of the mandrel;  
   sealing the tubing string; and    pressurizing the tubing string to a sufficient pressure to rupture the rupture disk of the packer washout sub so as to place the fluid passage of the mandrel in fluid communication with the annulus to permit fluid to pass through the fluid port from the mandrel to the annulus and thereby circulate fluid over the top of the packer so as to wash debris from the top of the packer.