[Claim 1] (Amended) 1. A payload deployment tool (216, 316) comprising a housing (218, 318) having a coupler (233, 333) configured to couple to a fluid delivery conduit (114), characterized by: a pressure chamber (237, 337) in communication with the coupler; a plurality of payload chambers (230, 330) in communication with the pressure chamber, each of the payload chambers having an upstream opening (232, 332) and a downstream opening (236, 336); and a plurality of upstream pressure-rupturable seals (234, 334) respectively covering the upstream openings, wherein a pressure rating of a first one of the upstream pressure- rupturable seals (234, 334) is different than a pressure rating of a second one of the upstream pressure-rupturable seals (234, 334).

[Claim 2] The payload deployment tool of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of downstream pressure-rupturable seals (238, 338) respectively covering the downstream openings.

[Claim 3] The payload deployment tool of claim 1, wherein the coupler is threaded.

[Claim 4] (Cancelled). [Claim 5] The payload deployment tool of claim 4, wherein each of the downstream pressure-rupturable seals has a pressure rating lower than all of the pressure ratings of the upstream pressure-rupturable seals.

[Claim 6] The payload deployment tool of claim 1, wherein each of the payload chambers (230) extends parallel to a longitude of the tool, or wherein each of the payload chambers (330) extends laterally with respect to a longitude of the tool.

[Claim 7] The payload deployment tool of claim 1, further comprising a fluid passage (224, 324) in communication with the pressure chamber.

[Claim 8] The payload deployment tool of claim 7, wherein the fluid passage extends longitudinally from the fluid chamber to a distal end (222, 322) of the housing.

[Claim 9] The payload deployment tool of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of payloads (240, 340) respectively positioned within the plurality of payload chambers.

[Claim 10] The payload deployment tool of claim 9, wherein each of the payloads includes a unique chemical marker. [Claim 11 ] The payload deployment tool of claim 9, wherein each of the payloads includes a dissolvable material.

[Claim 12] (Amended) A payload deployment tool (216, 316) comprising a housing (218, 318) having a coupler (233, 333) configured to couple to a fluid delivery conduit (114), characterized by: a pressure chamber (237, 337) in communication with the coupler; a payload chamber (230, 330) in communication with the pressure chamber and having an upstream opening (232, 332) and a downstream opening (236, 336); an upstream pressure-rupturable seal (234, 334) configured to cover the upstream opening of the payload chamber; and a sphere (252) operable to seal the upstream opening (232, 332) of the payload chamber (230, 330) when acted upon by pressurized fluid within the fluid delivery conduit (114).

[Claim 13] The payload deployment tool of claim 12, further comprising a downstream pressure-rupturable seal (238, 338) configured to cover the downstream opening of the payload chamber.

26 [Claim 14] The payload deployment tool of claim 12, further comprising a fluid passage (224, 324) in communication with the pressure chamber.

[Claim 15] The payload deployment tool of claim 12, further comprising a payload (240, 340) positioned within the payload chamber.

[Claim 16] The payload deployment tool of claim 15, wherein the payload includes a unique chemical marker.

[Claim 17] The payload deployment tool of claim 15, wherein the payload includes a dissolvable material.

[Claim 18] The payload deployment tool of claim 12, wherein the payload chamber (230) extends parallel to a longitude of the tool, or wherein the payload chamber (330) extends laterally with respect to a longitude of the tool.

[Claim 19] A method of operating a payload deployment tool, the method comprising providing a payload deployment tool (216, 316) including a housing (218, 318) having a coupler (233, 333) configured to couple to a fluid delivery conduit (114), wherein the payload deployment tool is characterized by: a pressure chamber (237, 337) in communication with the coupler,

27 a plurality of payload chambers (230, 330) in communication with the pressure chamber, each of the payload chambers having an upstream opening (232, 332) and a downstream opening (236, 336), a plurality of upstream pressure-rupturable seals (234, 334) respectively covering the upstream openings, each of the upstream pressure-rupturable seals having a unique pressure rating, a plurality of downstream pressure-rupturable seals (238, 338) respectively covering the downstream openings, and a plurality of payloads (240, 340) respectively positioned within the plurality of payload chambers, wherein the method of operating the payload deployment tool is characterized by: attaching a fluid conduit (114) to the coupler (233, 333) of the payload deployment tool; operating a fluid source (122) to pump a fluid into the fluid conduit; lowering the payload deployment tool into a well (130) to a first stage (108a,

108b, 108c, 108d, . . . 108x) of the well; raising a pressure of the fluid to a level sufficient to rupture a first one of the upstream pressure-rupturable seals covering a first one of the payload chambers to deploy a first one of the plurality of payloads into the well; moving the payload deployment tool to a second stage (108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, . . . 108x) of the well; inserting a sphere (252) within the fluid conduit to seal the first one of the payload chambers; and

28 raising a pressure of the fluid to a level sufficient to rupture a second one of the upstream pressure-rupturable seals covering a second one of the payload chambers to deploy a second one of the plurality of payloads into the well.

29