Side pocket mandrel for gas lift and chemical injection operations

Abstract

A side pocket mandrel can include a side pocket proximate a flow passage extending longitudinally through a body, the side pocket having at least one seal bore formed therein configured to sealingly engage with a valve positioned in the side pocket, a flow path that permits communication between a control line port and an inlet port of the side pocket, and at least one other flow path that permits communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body. A method can include connecting a control line to a control line port on a body of a side pocket mandrel, the side pocket mandrel including a flow path between the control line port and a side pocket in the body, and installing at least one plug, thereby preventing fluid communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body via at least one other flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A side pocket mandrel for use with a subterranean well, the side pocket mandrel comprising:
 a side pocket proximate a flow passage extending longitudinally through a body, the side pocket having at least one seal bore formed therein configured to sealingly engage with a valve positioned in the side pocket;   a first flow path that permits communication between a control line port and an inlet port of the side pocket; and   at least one second flow path that permits communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 1 , further comprising a third flow path that permits communication between the flow passage and a discharge port of the side pocket. 
     
     
         3 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 1 , in which the seal bore is positioned longitudinally between the inlet port and the discharge port. 
     
     
         4 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one plug that prevents flow through the at least one second flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 1 , in which the body includes an opening formed therein and configured for conveyance of the valve between the flow passage and the side pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 1 , in which the valve comprises a gas lift valve. 
     
     
         7 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 1 , in which the at least one second flow path comprises multiple second flow paths. 
     
     
         8 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 7 , in which a flow area of each of the second flow paths is greater than a flow area of the first flow path. 
     
     
         9 . A method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 connecting a control line to a control line port on a body of a side pocket mandrel, the side pocket mandrel including a first flow path between the control line port and a side pocket in the body; and   installing at least one plug, thereby preventing fluid communication between the side pocket and an exterior of the body via at least one second flow path.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising installing a chemical injection valve in the side pocket. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the chemical injection valve installing comprises sealingly engaging the chemical injection valve with seal bores in the side pocket mandrel, and the control line connecting comprises permitting communication between the control line and an annular space between the seal bores via the first flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming a third flow path, thereby permitting communication between a discharge port and a flow passage extending longitudinally through a body of the side pocket mandrel, at least one of the seal bores being positioned longitudinally between the second flow path and the discharge port. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , in which the at least one plug comprises multiple plugs, the at least one second flow path comprises multiple second flow paths, and each of the plugs prevents fluid communication through a respective one of the second flow paths. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , in which each of the second flow paths has a flow area greater than a flow area of the first flow path. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising flowing a chemical treatment through the first flow path while the plug prevents flow through the second flow path. 
     
     
         16 . A side pocket mandrel for use with a subterranean well, the side pocket mandrel comprising:
 a body with a flow passage extending longitudinally through the body;   a side pocket proximate the flow passage and having spaced apart seal bores formed therein;   a first flow path that permits communication between a control line port and an annular space disposed longitudinally between the seal bores;   at least one second flow path configured to permit communication between the annular space and an exterior of the body; and   a plug that prevents the communication between the annular space and the exterior of the body via the second flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 16 , in which the body includes an opening formed therein and configured for conveyance of a valve between the flow passage and the side pocket. 
     
     
         18 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 17 , further comprising a third flow path configured to permit communication between a discharge port and the flow passage, the seal bores being positioned between the opening and the discharge port. 
     
     
         19 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 17 , in which the valve comprises a chemical injection valve. 
     
     
         20 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 17 , in which the valve comprises a gas lift valve. 
     
     
         21 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 16 , in which the plug is removable from the body, the communication between the annular space and the exterior of the body being permitted in response to removal of the plug from the body. 
     
     
         22 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 16 , in which the at least one second flow path comprises multiple second flow paths. 
     
     
         23 . The side pocket mandrel of  claim 16 , in which a flow area of the second flow path is greater than a flow area of the first flow path.