Claims
- 1. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing at a subsurface location in a well, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at its upper and lower ends to a well tubing with said bore in alignment with the bore of the well tubing;
- a valve disposed in the bore of said housing for movement to and from an open position for enabling upwardly flow in said bore and a closed positions for blocking upwardly flow through said bore;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions for controlling upwardly flow in the bore of the well tubing in response to a remote control signal; and
- lock means for mechanically locking said valve in the open position to prevent closing the valve for enabling repeated passages of well tools through said bore, said means for mechanically locking said valve selectively releasable to unlock said valve to enable closing of said valve to resume control of upwardly flow.
- 2. A pressure operated safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at its upper and lower ends to a well tubing with said bore in alignment with the bore of the well tubing;
- a valve disposed in the bore of said housing for movement to and from open position enabling upwardly flow through said bore and the bore of the well tubing and closed position for blocking upwardly flow;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions for controlling upwardly flow in said bore in response to a remote control signal;
- lock means for mechanically locking said valve in the open position in a releasable manner to prevent closing the valve, said lock means actuated by a preselected well tool disposed in said bore with the preselected well tool removable from said bore and the bore of the well tubing to enable upwardly flow through the bore of the well tubing with said valve locked open;
- a valve actuator sleeve longitudinally movable in said housing relative thereto;
- pivot means fixed in said housing and co-acting with said valve for causing the valve to rotate upon longitudinal movement of said sleeve;
- spring means to normally urge said valve actuator sleeve in an upward direction to close said valve to thereby close off fluid flow upwardly through said bore of said housing; and
- control fluid pressure actuated means for longitudinally urging said valve actuator sleeve downwardly so as to overcome the upward force of said spring.
- 3. A pressure operated safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at its upper and lower ends to a well tubing with said bore in alignment with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open and closed positions;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions;
- lock means in said housing for mechanically locking said valve in the open position in a releasable manner to prevent fluid pressure from thereafter closing the valve, said lock means including;
- a piston disposed in said housing for longitudinal downward movement when a predetermined downward pressure acts thereon;
- a locking detent movable downwardly with said piston; and
- a locking recess in said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when laterally aligned therewith.
- 4. A pressure operated safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at its upper and lower ends to a well tubing with said bore in alignment with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open and closed positions;
- valve acuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions;
- lock means in said housing for mechanically locking said valve in the open position to prevent fluid pressure from thereafter closing the valve;
- a piston disposed in said housing for longitudinal downward movement when a predetermined downward pressure acts thereon;
- a locking detent movable downwardly with said piston;
- a locking recess in said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when laterally aligned therewith; and
- a valve actuator sleeve disposed inwardly of said piston and movable independently of said piston during the normal opening and closing of said valve.
- 5. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein:
- said lock means includes a locking sleeve; and
- said valve actuator sleeve has means therewith engageable by said locking sleeve when said locking sleeve is in engagement with said locking detent and said locking detent is in said locking recess to thereby lock said valve actuator sleeve to said housing to prevent relative movement therebetween.
- 6. The structure set forth in claim 5, including:
- resilient means preventing said detent from becoming laterally aligned with said recess until a predetermined pressure differential acts across said piston to move same downwardly.
- 7. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein:
- a tubular portion has a first port means above said piston and a second port means below said piston for normally providing equal fluid pressure above and below said piston; and
- said first port means and said second port means being spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a bridge plug therebetween whereby a greater fluid pressure may be developed above said piston for moving same downwardly to laterally align said detent with said locking recess.
- 8. A pressure operated safety valve for mounting in a well tubing comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well tubing and having threads at its lower end;
- an adapter having threads connected to the threads on the lower end of said housing and adapted for connection to tubing therebelow;
- a ball-type valve having a flow passage therethrough which has substantially the same internal diameter as the internal diameter of the bore of the well tubing;
- a valve actuator sleeve mounted in said housing for longitudinal movement relative to said housing for moving said valve to and from open and closed positions;
- said sleeve including an upper sleeve section and a lower sleeve section;
- eccentric pivot means disposed between said housing and said valve;
- retaining means confined longitudinally between the said pivot means and said adapter for holding said pivot means longitudinally fixed relative to said housing but permitting longitudinal removal of said pivot means upon a release of said adapter from said housing;
- said valve having spherical surfaces of greater maximum diameter than the inside diameter of the threads on the lower end of said housing; and
- said threads on the lower end of said housing being axially cut away to provide four longitudinal slots for the longitudinal passage of said ball-type valve therethrough when said valve is disposed in the transverse closed position.
- 9. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at its upper and lower ends to a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a valve disposed in the bore of said housing for movement to and from an open position for enabling upwardly flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and a closed position for closing off upwardly flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions to control the upwardly flow; and
- lock means for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter prevent closing of the safety valve for enabling repeated passages of well tools through said bore.
- 10. The structure set forth in claim 9, including:
- fluid control means for operating said valve actuator means.
- 11. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- housing having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close off flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions; and
- lock means for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter maintain the valve in the open position wherein the safety valve operation is stopped, said lock means actuated to lock by a well tool withdrawable from said bore and the well tubing without releasing said lock means.
- 12. The structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein said valve actuator means includes:
- a valve actuator member movable in said housing relative thereto; and
- pivot means co-acting with said ball-type valve for causing the valve to rotate to and from the open and closed positions upon relative movement between said pivot means and said ball-type valve.
- 13. The structure set forth in claim 11, wherein said lock means includes:
- a piston disposed in said housing for movement therein when a directional pressure acts thereon for rotating said ball-type valve open;
- a locking detent movable with said piston;
- a locking recess formed in a surface of said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when said ball-type valve is rotated open and in which said detent is locked by said piston wherein said detent locks said ball-type valve open.
- 14. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- housing having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close off flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions;
- lock means in said housing for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter maintain the valve in the open position wherein the safety valve operation is stopped;
- a valve actuator member movable in said housing relative thereto;
- pivot means co-acting with said ball-type valve for causing the valve to rotate to and from the open and closed positions upon relative movement between said pivot means and said ball-type valve
- spring means to normally urge said valve actuator member to move in a first direction to close said valve to thereby close off fluid flow through said bore of said housing; and
- control fluid pressure means for urging said valve actuator sleeve to move in a second direction to overcome the force of said spring means and to establish a predetermined pressure which must thereafter be developed in said bore of said housing to automatically move said valve actuator member to close said valve.
- 15. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- housing having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close off flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions; and
- lock means in said housing for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter maintain the valve in the open position wherein the safety valve operation is stopped;
- piston disposed in said housing for movement therein when a directional pressure acts thereon for rotating said ball-type valve open;
- a locking detent movable with said piston;
- a locking recess formed in a surface of said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when said ball-type valve is rotated open and in which said detent is locked by said piston wherein said detent locks said ball-type valve open;
- a valve actuator member disposed in said bore of said housing and movable independently of said piston during the normal opening and closing of said valve.
- 16. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- housing having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close off flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions;
- lock means in said housing for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter maintain the valve in the open position wherein the safety valve operation is stopped;
- a piston disposed in said housing for movement therein when a directional pressure acts thereon for rotating said ball-type valve open;
- a locking detent movable with said piston;
- a locking recess formed in a surface of said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when said ball-type valve is rotated open and in which said detent is locked by said piston wherein said detent locks said ball-type valve open;
- a valve actuator member disposed in said bore of said housing and movable independently of said piston during the normal opening and closing of said valve
- said lock means includes a locking member disposed in said housing; and
- said valve actuator member having means therewith engagable by said locking member when said locking member engages with said locking detent locked in said locking recess to lock said valve actuator member with said housing to prevent movement thereof for rotating said ball-type valve closed.
- 17. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- housing having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close off flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions;
- lock means in said housing for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter maintain the valve in the open position wherein the safety valve operation is stopped;
- a piston disposed in said housing for movement therein when a directional pressure acts thereon for rotating said ball-type valve open;
- a locking detent movable with said piston;
- a locking recess formed in a surface of said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when said ball-type valve is rotated open and in which said detent is locked by said piston wherein said detent locks said ball-type valve open;
- a valve actuator member disposed in said bore of said housing and movable independently of said piston during the normal opening and closing of said valve
- said valve actuator member and said housing form a chamber therebetween having a first port means above said piston received in said chamber and a second port means below said piston for normally providing equal fluid pressure above and below said piston; and
- said first port means and said second port means being spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a bridge plug therebetween wherein a greater fluid pressure may be developed in said chamber for moving said piston to lock said detent in said locking recess.
- 18. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- housing having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close off flow of fluid through said bore of said housing;
- valve actuator means disposed in said housing for imparting rotational movement to said valve to move it to and from the open and closed positions;
- lock means in said housing for releasably locking said valve in the open position to thereafter maintain the valve in the open position wherein the safety valve operation is stopped;
- a piston disposed in said housing for movement therein when a directional pressure acts thereon for rotating said ball-type valve open;
- a locking detent movable with said piston;
- a locking recess formed in a surface of said housing into which said detent is adapted to move when said ball-type valve is rotated open and in which said detent is locked by said piston wherein said detent locks said ball-type valve open;
- resilient means preventing said detent from aligning with said locking recess until a predetermined pressure differential acts across said piston to move said piston for locking said locking detent in said locking recess.
- 19. A safety valve for mounting in a well tubing, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adapted to be connected at a first end to a well tubing and having threads at a second end;
- an adapter having threads connected to the threads on the second end of said housing and adapted for connection to the well tubing therebelow;
- a ball-type valve having a flow passage therethrough and a spherical surface portion thereof with said flow passage having substantially the same internal diameter as the internal diameter of the bore of the well tubing and said surface portion formed of a diameter greater than the inside diameter of said bore of said housing adjacent said second end; and
- said housing having a portion thereof removed adjacent said second end to enable passage of said ball-type valve into said bore of said housing wherein said ball is enabled to move longitudinally into said bore of said housing.
- 20. The invention as set forth in claim 19, wherein the removed portion of said housing includes:
- said removed portion adjacent said second end of said housing is axially cut away to provide four longitudinal slots for the longitudinal passage of said valve therethrough when said valve is disposed in the transverse closed position.
- 21. A valve for mounting in a well tubing having a bore therethrough comprising: p1 a housing having a bore therethrough and adapted to be mounted with a well tubing with said bore in communication with the bore of the well tubing;
- a ball-type valve disposed in the bore of said housing for rotational movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and to and from a closed position to close flow of fluid through said bore of said housing; and
- said ball-type valve having spherical surfaces of relative greater diameter than the inside diameter of a portion of said housing through which said ball-type valve is inserted in assembling the valve.
- 22. The structure as set forth in claim 21 wherein said portion of said housing having an inside diameter less than the relative greater diameter of said ball-valve is axially slotted to enable insertion of said ball-type valve into said bore of said housing.
- 23. The structure as set forth in claim 22 wherein said ball-type valve is disposed in a transverse closed position in moving through said axially slotted portion of said housing into said bore of said housing.
- 24. The structure as set forth in claim 21 wherein said housing portion is cut away to provide longitudinal slots to enable insertion of said ball-type valve into said bore of said housing.
- 25. The structure as set forth in claim 21 wherein the portion of said housing having an inside diameter less than the relative greater diameter of said ball-type valve forms threads for assembling the valve.
- 26. The structure as set forth in claim 21, including:
- said ball-type valve having a flow passage formed therethrough with said flow passage having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore of the well tubing.
- 27. A method of assembling in a well tool a rotatable ball-type valve having a portion of greater relative diameter than the diameter of the bore of a portion of the well tool housing through which the ball-type valve must pass in moving to the assembled position, including the steps of:
- forming a slot in the portion of the housing having a relatively smaller bore diameter through which the ball-type valve must pass during assembly of the well tool;
- turning the ball-type valve to position the maximum diameter portion thereof in the slots; and
- moving the ball-type valve through the relatively smaller bore diameter portion of the housing to the assembled position.
- 28. The method as set forth in claim 27, including the step of:
- receiving a pivot pin in the ball-type valve for effecting operating rotation thereof.
- 29. The method as set forth in claim 28, wherein the step of receiving a pivot pin includes rotation of the ball-type valve.
- 30. The method as set forth in claim 27, including the step of:
- engaging the ball-type valve with a seat for establishing sealing contact therebetween.
- 31. The method as set forth in claim 27, including the step of:
- forming a plurality of slots in the portion of the housing having a relatively smaller bore diameter through which the ball-type valve must pass during assembly of the well tool.
- 32. A well flow control system for a well having a flow conductor therein communicating with the producing formation in the bore of the well and supported at the surface by a well head assembly and having flow line connections at the surface, including:
- a flow control valve in said flow conductor having a valve closure member therein movable between positions opening and closing off flow through said valve;
- actuating means in said valve for actuating the valve closure means movable longitudinally of said valve for actuating said valve closure means between open and closed position;
- valve locking means in said valve initially in an inoperative position in said valve and movable to an operative position engaging said longitudinally movable valve actuating means to positively lock said valve actuating means in position holding said valve closure means open; and
- means releasably holding said locking means in position holding the valve open and releasable to unlock said valve locking means for movement from such position to the initial inoperative position to permit resumption of operation of the valve in a normal manner.
- 33. A well flow conductor valve including:
- a housing having means for connecting it in flow communication with a well flow conductor;
- valve means disposed in the housing and movable therein between open and closed positions for controlling flow through the housing;
- operating means in said housing movable longitudinally thereof for actuating said valve to move the same between open and closed positions;
- locking means in the housing initially in an inoperative position spaced from said operating means and movable to a position engaging said valve operating means to positively lock said valve operating means in position holding said valve in open position; and
- said locking means is releasably held in position locking said valve operating means in position holding the valve open, and is releasable from engagement with said valve actuating means for movement to said initial inoperative position to permit the valve to resume operation.
- 34. A well flow control system for a well having a flow conductor therein, including:
- a flow control valve in said flow conductor having a valve closure member therein movable between positions opening and closing off flow through said valve;
- actuating means in said valve for actuating the valve closure means movable longitudinally of said valve for actuating said valve closure means between open and closed position;
- valve locking means in said valve initially in an inoperative position in said valve and movable to an operative position engaging said longitudinally movable valve actuating means to positively lock said valve actuating means in position holding said valve closure means open; and
- means releasably holding said locking means in position holding the valve open and releasable to unlock said valve locking means for movement from such position to the initial inoperative position to permit resumption of operation of the valve in a normal manner.
- 35. A well flow conductor valve including:
- a housing having means for connecting it in flow communication with a well conductor;
- valve means disposed in the housing and movable therein between open and closed positions for controlling flow through the housing;
- operating means in said housing movable longitudinally thereof for actuating said valve to move the same between open and closed positions;
- locking means in the housing initially in an inoperative position and movable to a position engaging said valve operating means to positively lock said valve operating means in position holding said valve in open position; and
- said locking means is releasably held in position locking said valve operating means in position holding the valve open, and is releasable from engagement with said valve actuating means for movement to said initial inoperative position to permit the valve to resume operation.
- 36. A method of operating a well including:
- installing a flow conductor in said well for conducting fluids from a producing formation therein to the surface;
- controlling flow through said flow conductor by a valve in said flow conductor controlled by control fluid from the surface;
- moving said valve to open position independently of said control fluid from the surface;
- locking said valve in such open position for performing well servicing operations through the open valve; and
- providing a supplemental subsurface valve for control of fluid flow through the first valve while said first valve is held in the open position.
- 37. In a shutoff valve for wells, including:
- said valve including an elongated valve body having a passage extending therethrough;
- valve means in said body including a valve element shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open;
- means for shifting said valve member from said second position to said first position;
- control fluid pressure responsive means for shifting said valve member from said first position to said second position;
- said control fluid pressure responsive means including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber;
- valve operating means having an actuator sleeve having a piston exposed to control fluid pressure in said chamber;
- auxiliary shifting means operable by a tool movable into said passage for operably moving said actuator sleeve to move said valve element to said second position from said first position;
- said auxiliary shifting means including a shifting sleeve shiftable from an initial position to a position holding said valve element in said second position;
- said auxiliary shifting means including latch means for holding said shifting sleeve in said latter position;
- said latch means including a resilient latch ring interposed between said body and said shifting sleeve; and
- one of said shifting sleeves and said body having latch elements engageable by said latch ring when said shifting sleeve is in said latter position.
- 38. In a shutoff valve for wells, including:
- said valve including an elongated valve body having a passage extending therethrough;
- valve means in said body including a valve element shiftable between a first position closing said passage and a second position at which said passage is open;
- means for shifting said valve member from said second position to said first position;
- control fluid pressure responsive means for shifting said valve member from said first position to said second position;
- said control fluid pressure responsive means including means defining a control fluid pressure chamber;
- valve operating means having an actuator sleeve having a piston exposed to control fluid pressure in said chamber;
- auxiliary shifting means operable by a tool movable into said passage for operably moving said actuator sleeve to move said valve element to said second position from said first position;
- said auxiliary shifting means including a shifting sleeve in said passage shiftable from an initial position to a position holding said valve element in said second position;
- said auxiliary shifting means including latch means for holding said shifting sleeve in said latter position;
- said latch means including a resilient latch ring interposed between said body and said shifting sleeve; and
- one of said shifting sleeve and said body having latch elements engageable by said latch ring when said shifting sleeve is in said latter position and the other of said shifting sleeve and said body having means for forcing said latch ring into locking engagement with said latch elements to hold said shifting sleeve in said latter position.
- 39. A subsurface safety valve system for controlling flow of well fluids at a subsurface location in a well tubing in response to a control signal from the surface, including:
- a housing mountable in a well tubing at a subsurface location;
- a flow closure element operably mounted with said housing for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow through the well tubing and a closed position for blocking flow through the well tubing;
- actuator means for moving said flow closure element to and from the open and closed position in response to a control signal from the surface;
- lock means for securing said flow closure element in the open position; said lock means actuated by a tool removably positioned in said housing by movement through the well tubing to the subsurface location;
- said lock means is releasable to enable said closure element to move to the closed position after being locked open; and
- a second subsurface safety valve positioned in the well tubing adjacent said housing to control flow through the well tubing when said flow closure element is locked in the open position.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 256,194, filed May 23, 1972, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 72,034, filed Sept. 14, 1970.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
256194 |
May 1972 |
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Parent |
72034 |
Sep 1970 |
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