Sleeve valves

Abstract

A sleeve valve for use in a casing string in a treatment zone or formation includes a tubular housing defining a housing bore and one or more ports; and an inner sleeve including friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing. The inner sleeve is axially shiftable within the housing between a closed sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are obstructed, and an open sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are unobstructed, thereby allowing fluid flow from the housing bore to the treatment zone or the formation. Systems and packerless fracturing methods including the sleeve valve are also provided.

1 . A sleeve valve for use in a casing string in a treatment zone or formation comprising:
 a tubular housing defining a housing bore and one or more housing ports;   an inner sleeve comprising friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing,   the inner sleeve being axially shiftable within the housing between a closed sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are obstructed, and an open sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are unobstructed, thereby allowing fluid flow from the housing bore to the treatment zone or the formation and production.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , further comprising annular detent grooves defined in an inner surface of the housing for receiving the friction rings therein. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve valve of  claim 2 , wherein the annular detent grooves define barb surfaces corresponding to latch surfaces of the friction rings for engagement. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve valve of  claim 2 , further comprising retaining rings for securing the friction rings about the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve valve of  claim 4 , wherein the inner sleeve defines annular retaining grooves for receiving the retaining rings therein, the friction rings defining corresponding central annular grooves configured to fit over the retaining rings. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve defines a profile configured for engagement and shifting by a shifting tool operatively connected to the sleeve valve. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve valve of  claim 6 , wherein the profile comprises annular grooves, an annular rib, first tapered shoulders, and second tapered shoulders. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , further comprising sealing elements secured about the inner sleeve, the sealing elements being received in annular seal grooves defined in an inner surface of the sleeve housing. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve valve of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing elements comprise “S”-seals. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , further comprising top and bottom threaded connectors for coupling the sleeve valve to first and second casing sections. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve valve of  claim 10 , wherein the top threaded connector is internally threaded for coupling the sleeve valve to a first pin end of the first casing section, and externally threaded for coupling to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve valve of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom threaded connector is externally threaded for coupling the sleeve valve to the second casing section. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve valve of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom threaded connector is internally threaded for coupling the sleeve valve to a second pin end of the second casing section. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve valve of  claim 10 , further comprising sealing elements between the top threaded connector and the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve valve of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing elements comprise first and second elastomeric O-rings and a central ring therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more housing ports are positioned at an uphole end of the housing, and the inner sleeve is shiftable from an uphole sleeve position to a downhole sleeve position. 
     
     
         17 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more housing ports are positioned at a downhole end of the housing, and the inner sleeve is shiftable from a downhole sleeve position to an uphole sleeve position. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeve valve of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines upper and lower inner annular shoulders in the bore forming upper and lower stops for the inner sleeve; or wherein the housing and the inner sleeve are elongated. 
     
     
         19 . A system for use in a casing string in a treatment zone or formation comprising:
 a first casing section comprising a first pin end;   a second casing section comprising either internal threads or a second pin end;   a sleeve assembly comprising:
 a tubular housing defining a housing bore and one or more housing ports; 
 an inner sleeve comprising friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing, 
 the inner sleeve being axially shiftable within the housing between a closed sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are obstructed, and an open sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are unobstructed, thereby allowing fluid flow from the housing bore to the treatment zone or the formation and production. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method for fracturing comprising:
 providing a casing string without packers in a treatment zone or formation, wherein the casing string comprises a plurality of sleeve valves,
 each sleeve valve comprising a tubular housing defining a housing bore and one or more housing ports; an inner sleeve comprising sealing elements secured about the inner sleeve and friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing, the inner sleeve being axially shiftable within the housing between a closed sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are obstructed, and an open sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are unobstructed, thereby allowing fluid flow from the housing bore to the treatment zone or the formation and production; 
   opening a first sleeve valve in a first wellbore zone, with other sleeve valves being closed with the sealing elements of the other sleeve valves effectively sealing and the friction rings as back-up in event of failure of the sealing elements;   in a first fracturing step, pumping fracturing fluid through the first sleeve valve to the treatment zone or the formation to form one or more fractures therethrough;   closing the first sleeve valve after completion of the first fracturing step;   opening a second sleeve valve in a second wellbore zone, with the first and other sleeve valves being closed with the sealing elements of the first and other sleeve valves effectively sealing and the friction rings as back-up in event of failure of the sealing elements;   in a second fracturing step, pumping additional fracturing fluid through the second sleeve valve to the treatment zone or the formation to form one or more fractures therethrough;   closing the second sleeve valve after completion of the second fracturing step; and repeating opening, fracturing, and closing steps sequentially for one or more of the other sleeve valves.