초록 ▼

A zone isolation assembly array (794) for a well (712) includes a first zone isolation assembly (722A) and a second zone isolation assembly (722B). The first zone isolation assembly (722A) selectively inhibits fluid communication between a first zone (726) and a second zone (728) of the well (712).

A zone isolation assembly array (794) for a well (712) includes a first zone isolation assembly (722A) and a second zone isolation assembly (722B). The first zone isolation assembly (722A) selectively inhibits fluid communication between a first zone (726) and a second zone (728) of the well (712). The second zone isolation assembly (722B) can be positioned between the first zone isolation assembly (722A) and a surface region (32) of the well (712) in an in-line manner. The second zone isolation assembly (722B) selectively inhibits fluid communication between the second zone (728) and a third zone (796) of the well (712). In another embodiment, the zone isolation assembly array (794) includes a first docking receiver (748A), a second docking receiver (748B), a first docking apparatus (750A) and a second docking apparatus (750B). The docking receivers (748A, 748B) can be positioned in an in-line manner. The second docking apparatus (750B) is coupled to the first docking apparatus (750A). The zone isolation assembly array (794) can also a first fluid collector (752A) and a second fluid collector (752B). The first fluid collector (752A) collects a first fluid (738) from within the first zone (726) when the first docking apparatus (750A) is in the engaged position. The second fluid collector (752B) collects a second fluid (740) from within the second zone (728) when the second docking apparatus (750B) is in the engaged position. The first fluid collector (752A) can collect the first fluid (738) in a different manner than the second fluid collector (752B) collects the second fluid (740).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A zone isolation assembly array for a subsurface well, the subsurface well including a surface region, a first zone, a second zone and a third zone, each zone being positioned at a different depth from one another below the surface region, the zone isolation assembly array co

What is claimed is: 1. A zone isolation assembly array for a subsurface well, the subsurface well including a surface region, a first zone, a second zone and a third zone, each zone being positioned at a different depth from one another below the surface region, the zone isolation assembly array comprising: a first docking receiver that is fixed within the subsurface well; a second docking receiver that is fixed within the subsurface well, the second docking receiver being positioned more proximate the surface region than the first docking receiver; a first docking apparatus that is adapted to be moved from the surface region to an engaged position with the first docking receiver to inhibit fluid communication between the first zone and the second zone; and a second docking apparatus that is coupled to the first docking apparatus, the second docking apparatus being adapted to be moved from the surface region to an engaged position with the second docking receiver to inhibit fluid communication between the second zone and the third zone, the second docking apparatus moving away from the engaged position at a different time than the first docking apparatus moves away from the engaged position. 2. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 wherein the first docking receiver has a shape that is different than a shape of the second docking receiver. 3. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 wherein the first docking apparatus and the second docking apparatus are different sizes from one another. 4. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 wherein the second docking receiver has a second lower receiver opening, and the first docking apparatus is adapted to move through the second lower receiver opening during movement of the first docking apparatus from the surface region to engagement with the first docking receiver. 5. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 wherein the first docking receiver and the second docking receiver are positioned in an in-line manner within the subsurface well. 6. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 further comprising a first fluid collector that is coupled to the first docking apparatus, the first fluid collector being adapted to collect a first fluid from within the first zone when the first docking apparatus is in the engaged position with the first docking receiver. 7. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 6 further comprising a second fluid collector that is coupled to the second docking apparatus, the second fluid collector being adapted to collect a second fluid from within the second zone when the second docking apparatus is in the engaged position with the second docking receiver. 8. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 7 wherein the first fluid collector collects the first fluid in a different manner than the second fluid collector collects the second fluid. 9. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 7 wherein the first fluid collector collects the first fluid in substantially the same manner as the second fluid collector collects the second fluid. 10. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 7 wherein the first fluid collector collects the first fluid simultaneously with the second fluid collector collecting the second fluid. 11. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 wherein the first docking receiver includes a first lower receiver opening positioned within the first zone, and the second docking receiver includes a second lower receiver opening positioned within the second zone, the second lower receiver opening being larger than the first lower receiver opening. 12. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 11 wherein the first zone isolation assembly includes a first fluid collector that is coupled to the first docking apparatus, the first fluid collector moving through the second lower receiver opening when the first docking apparatus moves from the surface region to the engaged position. 13. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 1 wherein at least one of the docking apparatuses is maintained in the engaged position substantially by a force of gravity. 14. A zone isolation assembly array for a subsurface well having a surface region, the subsurface well including a first zone, a second zone and a third zone, each zone being positioned at a different depth from one another within the subsurface well relative to the surface region, the zone isolation assembly array comprising: a first zone isolation assembly that moves between a disengaged position that allows fluid communication between the first zone and the second zone and an engaged position that inhibits fluid communication between the first zone and the second zone, the first zone isolation assembly including a first docking apparatus and a first docking receiver that receives the first docking apparatus into the engaged position; and a second zone isolation assembly that is positioned between the first zone isolation assembly and the surface region, the second zone isolation assembly moving between a disengaged position that allows fluid communication between the second zone and the third zone and an engaged position that inhibits fluid communication between the second zone and the third zone, the second zone isolation assembly including a second docking apparatus and a second docking receiver that receives the second docking apparatus into the engaged position; wherein the first docking apparatus and the second docking apparatus are coupled to one another, and wherein the first zone isolation assembly and the second zone isolation assembly each necessarily move from the engaged position to the disengaged position at different times. 15. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein the first zone isolation assembly includes a first lower receiver opening positioned within the first zone, and the second zone isolation assembly includes a second lower receiver opening positioned within the second zone, the second lower receiver opening being larger than the first lower receiver opening. 16. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 15 wherein a portion of the first zone isolation assembly moves through the second lower receiver opening. 17. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 16 wherein the first docking apparatus moves through the second lower receiver opening when the first docking apparatus moves from the surface region to the engaged position. 18. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 17 wherein the first zone isolation assembly includes a first fluid collector that is coupled to the first docking apparatus, the first fluid collector moving through the second lower receiver opening when the first docking apparatus moves from the surface region to the engaged position. 19. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein the first zone isolation assembly and the second isolation assembly are dissimilar from one another. 20. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein the first zone isolation assembly and the second isolation assembly are dissimilar in size. 21. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein the first zone isolation assembly and the second isolation assembly have a different configuration from one another. 22. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein the first zone isolation assembly and the second isolation assembly are positioned in an in-line manner within the subsurface well. 23. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 further comprising a third zone isolation assembly that is positioned between the second zone isolation assembly and the surface region, the third zone isolation assembly moving between a disengaged position that allows fluid communication between the third zone and a fourth zone of the subsurface well and an engaged position that inhibits fluid communication between the third zone and the fourth zone. 24. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein the first zone isolation assembly includes a first fluid collector that collects fluid from the first zone and the second zone isolation assembly includes a second fluid collector that collects fluid from the second zone when the zone isolation assemblies are each in the engaged position. 25. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 24 wherein the first fluid collector collects the first fluid in a different manner than the second fluid collector collects the second fluid. 26. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 24 wherein the first fluid collector collects the first fluid in substantially the same manner as the second fluid collector collects the second fluid. 27. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 24 wherein the first fluid collector collects the first fluid simultaneously with the second fluid collector collecting the second fluid. 28. The zone isolation assembly array of claim 14 wherein at least one of the zone isolation assemblies is maintained in the engaged position substantially by a force of gravity. 29. A method for isolating a plurality of zones within a subsurface well, the method comprising the steps of: positioning at different depths from one another within the subsurface well (i) a first zone isolation assembly having a portion that selectively moves from a disengaged position to an engaged position that inhibits fluid communication between a first zone and a second zone within the subsurface well, and (ii) a second zone isolation assembly having a portion that selectively moves from a disengaged position to an engaged position that inhibits fluid communication between the second zone and a third zone within the subsurface well; connecting the portion of the first zone isolation assembly with the portion of the second zone isolation assembly; and moving the portion of the second zone isolation assembly from the engaged position to the disengaged position without moving the portion of the first zone isolation assembly from the engaged position to the disengaged position. 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of positioning includes the first zone isolation assembly having a different configuration than the second zone isolation assembly. 31. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of collecting a first fluid from the first zone with a first fluid collector of the first zone isolation assembly when the portion of the first zone isolation assembly is in the engaged position, and collecting a second fluid from the second zone with a second fluid collector of the second zone isolation assembly when the portion of the second zone isolation assembly is in the engaged position. 32. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of positioning includes positioning the first zone isolation and the second zone isolation assembly in an in-line manner within the subsurface well. 33. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of moving the portion of the first zone isolation assembly through part of the second zone isolation assembly while moving the portion of the first zone isolation assembly between a surface region and the engaged position.