Subsurface safety valve lock out and communication tool and method for use of the same

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6523614
  • Patent Number
    6,523,614
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, April 19, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 25, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A communication tool (100) for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve (50) is disclosed. The tool (100) has a first section (102) and a second section (132) that are initially coupled together. A set of axial locating keys (112) is operably attached to the first section (102) and is engagably positionable within a profile (62). A radial cutting device (148) is radially extendable through a window (152) of the second section (132). A circumferential locating key (140) is operably attached to the second section (132) and is engagably positionable within a pocket (66) of the safety valve (50) when the first and second sections (102, 132) are decoupled, thereby circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device (148) with the non annular hydraulic chamber (60).
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates in general, to the operation of a subsurface safety valve installed in the tubing of a subterranean wellbore and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for locking out a subsurface safety valve and communicating hydraulic fluid through the subsurface safety valve.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




One or more subsurface safety valves are commonly installed as part of the tubing string within oil and gas wells to protect against unwanted communication of high pressure and high temperature formation fluids to the surface. These subsurface safety valves are designed to shut in production from the formation in response to a variety of abnormal and potentially dangerous conditions.




As these subsurface safety valves are built into the tubing string, these valves are typically referred to as tubing retrievable safety valves (“TRSV”). TRSVs are normally operated by hydraulic fluid pressure which is typically controlled at the surface and transmitted to the TRSV via a hydraulic fluid line. Hydraulic fluid pressure must be applied to the TRSV to place the TRSV in the open position. When hydraulic fluid pressure is lost, the TRSV will operate to the closed position to prevent formation fluids from traveling therethrough. As such, TRSVs are fail safe valves.




As TRSVs are often subjected to years of service in severe operating conditions, failure of TRSVs may occur. For example, a TRSV in the closed position may leak. Alternatively, a TRSV in the closed position may not properly open. Because of the potential for disaster in the absence of a properly functioning TRSV, it is vital that the malfunctioning TRSV be promptly replaced or repaired.




As TRSVs are typically incorporated into the tubing string, removal of the tubing string to replace or repair the malfunctioning TRSV is required. As such, the costs associated with replacing or repairing the malfunctioning TRSV is quite high. It has been found, however, that a wireline retrievable safety valve (“WRSV”) may be inserted inside the original TRSV and operated to provide the same safety function as the original TRSV. These insert valves are designed to be lowered into place from the surface via wireline and locked inside the original TRSV. This approach can be a much more efficient and cost-effective alternative to pulling the tubing string to replace or repair the malfunctioning TRSV.




One type of WRSV that can take over the full functionality of the original TRSV requires that the hydraulic fluid from the control system be communicated through the original TRSV to the inserted WRSV. In traditional TRSVs, this communication path for the hydraulic fluid is established through a pre-machined radial bore extending from the hydraulic chamber to the interior of the TRSV. Once a failure in the TRSV has been detected, this communication path is established by first shifting a built-in lock out sleeve within the TRSV to its locked out position and shearing a shear plug that is installed within the radial bore.




It has been found, however, that operating conventional TRSVs to the locked out position and establishing this communication path has several inherent drawbacks. To begin with, the inclusion of such built-in lock out sleeves in each TRSV increases the cost of the TRSV, particularly in light of the fact that the built-in lock out sleeves are not used in the vast majority of installations. In addition, since these built-in lock out sleeves are not operated for extended periods of time, in most cases years, they may become inoperable before their use is required. Also, it has been found, that the communication path of the pre-machined radial bore creates a potential leak path for formation fluids up through the hydraulic control system. As noted above, TRSVs are intended to operate under abnormal well conditions and serve a vital and potentially lifesaving function. Hence, if such an abnormal condition occurred when one TRSV has been locked out, even if other safety valves have closed the tubing string, high pressure formation fluids may travel to the surface through the hydraulic line.




In addition, manufacturing a TRSV with this radial bore requires several high-precision drilling and thread tapping operations in a difficult-to-machine material. Any mistake in the cutting of these features necessitates that the entire upper subassembly of the TRSV be scrapped. The manufacturing of the radial bore also adds considerable expense to the TRSV, while at the same time reducing the overall reliability of the finished product. Additionally, these added expenses add complexity that must be built into every installed TRSV, while it will only be put to use in some small fraction thereof.




Attempts have been made to overcome these problems. For example, attempts have been made to communicate hydraulic control to a WRSV through a TRSV using a radial cutting tool to create a fluid passageway from an annular hydraulic chamber in the TRSV to the interior of the TRSV such that hydraulic control may be communicated to the insert WRSV. It has been found, however, that such radial cutting tools are not suitable for creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber of a rod piston operated TRSVs.




Therefore, a need has arisen for an apparatus and method for establishing a communication path for hydraulic fluid to a WRSV from a failed rod piston operated TRSV. A need has also arisen for such an apparatus and method that do not require a built-in lock out sleeve in the rod piston operated TRSV. Further, a need has arisen for such an apparatus and method that do not require the rod piston operated TRSV to have a pre-machined radial bore that creates the potential for formation fluids to travel up through the hydraulic control line.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention disclosed herein comprises an apparatus and method for establishing a communication path for hydraulic fluid to a wireline retrievable safety valve from a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve. The apparatus and method of the present invention do not require a built-in lock out sleeve in the rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve. Likewise, the apparatus and method of the present invention avoid the potential for formation fluids to travel up through the hydraulic control line associated with a pre-drilled radial bore in the tubing retrievable safety valve.




In broad terms, the apparatus of the present invention allows hydraulic control to be communicated from a non annular hydraulic chamber of a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve to the interior thereof so that the hydraulic fluid may, for example, be used to operate a wireline retrievable safety valve. This may become necessary when a malfunction of the rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve is detected and a need exists to otherwise achieve the functionality of the rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve.




The rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention has a housing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough. The safety valve also has a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof. A valve closure member is mounted in the housing to control fluid flow through the longitudinal bore by operating between closed and opened positions. A flow tube is disposed within the housing and is used to shift the valve closure member between the closed and opened positions. A rod piston, which is slidably disposed in the non annular hydraulic chamber of the housing, is operably coupled to the flow tube. The safety valve of the present invention also has a pocket in the longitudinal bore.




In one embodiment of the present invention a communication tool is used to establish a communication path between the non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion of the safety valve and the interior of the safety valve. In this embodiment, the communication tool has a first section and a second section that are initially coupled together using a shear pin or other suitable coupling device. A set of axial locating keys is operably attached to the first section of the tool and is engagably positionable within a profile of the safety valve. The tool includes a radial cutting device that is radially extendable through a window of the second section. For example, the radial cutting device may include a carrier having an insert removably attached thereto and a punch rod slidably operable relative to the carrier to radially outwardly extend the insert exteriorly of the second section.




The tool also includes a circumferential locating key that is operably attached to the second section of the tool. The circumferential locating key is engagably positionable within the pocket of the safety valve. Specifically, when the first and second sections of the tool are decoupled, the second section rotations relative to the first section until the circumferential locating key engages the pocket, thereby circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber. A torsional biasing device such as a spiral wound torsion spring places a torsional load between the first and second sections such that when the first and second sections are decoupled, the second section rotates relative to the first section. A collet spring may be used to radially outwardly bias the circumferential locating key such that the circumferential locating key will engage the pocket, thereby stopping the rotation of the second section relative to the first section. Once the circumferential locating key has engaged the pocket, the radial cutting device will be axially and circumferentially aligned with the non annular hydraulic chamber. Through operation of the radial cutting device, a communication path is created from the non annular hydraulic fluid chamber to the interior of the safety valve.




As such, hydraulic fluid may now be communicated down the existing hydraulic lines to the interior of the tubing. Once this communication path exists, for example, a wireline retrievable safety valve may be positioned within the rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve such that the hydraulic fluid pressure from the hydraulic system may be communicated to a wireline retrievable safety valve.




In another embodiment of the present invention, a lock out and communication tool is used to lock out the safety valve and then establish a communication path between the non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion of the safety valve and the interior of the safety valve. In this embodiment, the lock out and communication tool is lowered into the safety valve until the lock out and communication tool engages the flow tube. The lock out and communication tool may then downwardly shift the flow tube, either alone or in conjunction with an increase in the hydraulic pressure acting on the rod piston, to operate the valve closure member from the closed position to the fully open position. Alternatively, if the safety valve is already in the open position, the lock out and communication tool simply prevents movement of the flow tube to maintain the safety valve in the open position. Thereafter, the lock out and communication tool interacts with the safety valve as described above with reference to the communication tool to communicate hydraulic fluid from the non annular hydraulic fluid chamber to the interior of the safety valve.




One method of the present invention that utilizes the communication tool involves inserting the communication tool into the safety valve, locking the communication tool within the safety valve with the safety valve in a valve open position, axially aligning the radially cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber, circumferentially aligning the radially cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber and penetrating the radially cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber to create a communication path between the non annular hydraulic chamber and the interior of the safety valve.




In addition, a method of the present invention that utilizes the lock out and communication tool involves engaging the flow tube of the safety valve with the lock out and communication tool, retrieving the lock out and communication tool from the safety valve and maintaining the safety valve in the valve open position by preventing movement of the rod piston with an insert that is left in place within the sidewall portion when the remainder of the radial cutting tool is retracted.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




For a more complete understanding of the present invention, including its features and advantages, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals identify like parts and in which:





FIG. 1

is a schematic illustration of an offshore production platform wherein a wireline retrievable safety valve is being lowered into a tubing retrievable safety valve to take over the functionality thereof;





FIGS. 2A-2B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention in its valve closed position;





FIGS. 3A-3B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention in its valve open position;





FIGS. 4A-4B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a communication tool of the present invention;





FIGS. 5A-5B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a communication tool of the present invention in its running position and disposed in a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention;





FIGS. 6A-6B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a communication tool of the present invention in its locked position and disposed in a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention;





FIGS. 7A-7B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a communication tool of the present invention in its orienting position and disposed in a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention;





FIGS. 8A-8B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a communication tool of the present invention in its perforating position and disposed in a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention;





FIGS. 9A-9B

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a communication tool of the present invention in its retrieving position and still substantially disposed in a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention; and





FIGS. 10A-10C

are cross sectional views of successive axial sections of a lock out and communication tool of the present invention disposed in a rod piston operated tubing retrievable safety valve of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the invention.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, an offshore oil and gas production platform having a wireline retrievable safety valve lowered into a tubing retrievable safety valve is schematically illustrated and generally designated


10


. A semi-submersible platform


12


is centered over a submerged oil and gas formation


14


located below sea floor


16


. Wellhead


18


is located on deck


20


of platform


12


. Well


22


extends through the sea


24


and penetrates the various earth strata including formation


14


to form wellbore


26


. Disposed within wellbore


26


is casing


28


. Disposed within casing


28


and extending from wellhead


18


is production tubing


30


. A pair of seal assemblies


32


,


34


provide a seal between tubing


30


and casing


28


to prevent the flow of production fluids therebetween. During production, formation fluids enter wellbore


26


through perforations


36


in casing


28


and travel into tubing


30


to wellhead


18


.




Coupled within tubing


30


is a tubing retrievable safety valve


38


. As is well known in the art, multiple tubing retrievable safety valves are commonly installed as part of tubing string


30


to shut in production from formation


14


in response to a variety of abnormal and potentially dangerous conditions. For convenience of illustration, however, only tubing retrievable safety valve


38


is shown.




Tubing retrievable safety valve


38


is operated by hydraulic fluid pressure communicated thereto from surface installation


40


and hydraulic fluid control conduit


42


. Hydraulic fluid pressure must be applied to tubing retrievable safety valve


38


to place tubing retrievable safety valve


38


in the open position. When hydraulic fluid pressure is lost, tubing retrievable safety valve


38


will operate to the closed position to prevent formation fluids from traveling therethrough.




If, for example, tubing retrievable safety valve


38


is unable to properly seal in the closed position or does not properly open after being in the closed position, tubing retrievable safety valve


38


must typically be repaired or replaced. In the present invention, however, the functionality of tubing retrievable safety valve


38


may be replaced by wireline retrievable safety valve


44


, which may be installed within tubing retrievable safety valve


38


via wireline assembly


46


including wireline


48


. Once in place within tubing retrievable safety valve


38


, wireline retrievable safety valve


44


will be operated by hydraulic fluid pressure communicated thereto from surface installation


40


and hydraulic fluid line


42


through tubing retrievable safety valve


38


. As with the original configuration of tubing retrievable safety valve


38


, the hydraulic fluid pressure must be applied to wireline retrievable safety valve


44


to place wireline retrievable safety valve


44


in the open position. If hydraulic fluid pressure is lost, wireline retrievable safety valve


44


will operate to the closed position to prevent formation fluids from traveling therethrough.




Even though

FIG. 1

depicts a cased vertical well, it should be noted by one skilled in the art that the present invention is equally well-suited for uncased wells, deviated wells or horizontal wells. Also, even though

FIG. 1

depicts an offshore operation, it should be noted by one skilled in the art that the present invention is equally well-suited for use in onshore operations.




Referring now to

FIGS. 2A and 2B

, therein is depicted cross sectional views of successive axial sections a tubing retrievable safety valve embodying principles of the present invention that is representatively illustrated and generally designated


50


. Safety valve


50


may be connected directly in series with production tubing


30


of FIG.


1


. Safety valve


50


has a substantially cylindrical outer housing


52


that includes top connector subassembly


54


, intermediate housing subassembly


56


and bottom connector subassembly


58


which are threadedly and sealing coupled together.




It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as top, bottom, above, below, upper, lower, upward, downward, etc. are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure and the downward direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure. As such, it is to be understood that the downhole components described herein may be operated in vertical, horizontal, inverted or inclined orientations without deviating from the principles of the present invention.




Top connector subassembly


54


includes a substantially cylindrical longitudinal bore


60


that serves as a hydraulic fluid chamber. Top connector subassembly


54


also includes a profile


62


and a radially reduced area


64


. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, top connector subassembly


54


has a pocket


66


. In the illustrated embodiment, the center of pocket


66


is circumferentially displaced 180 degrees from longitudinal bore


60


. It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that pocket


60


could alternatively be displaced circumferentially from longitudinal bore


60


at many other angles. Likewise, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that more than one pocket


60


could be used. In that configuration, the multiple pockets


60


could be displaced axially from one another along the interior surface of top connector subassembly


54


.




Hydraulic control pressure is communicated to longitudinal bore


60


of safety valve


50


via control conduit


42


of

FIG. 1. A

rod piston


68


is received in slidable, sealed engagement against longitudinal bore


60


. Rod piston


68


is connected to a flow tube adapter


70


which is threadedly connected to a flow tube


72


. Flow tube


72


has profile


74


and a downwardly facing annular shoulder


76


.




A flapper plate


78


is pivotally mounted onto a hinge subassembly


80


which is disposed within intermediate housing subassembly


56


. A valve seat


82


is defined within hinge subassembly


80


. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that while the illustrated embodiment depicts flapper plate


78


as the valve closure mechanism of safety valve


50


, other types of safety valves including those having different types of valve closure mechanisms may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention, such valve closure mechanisms including, but not limited to, rotating balls, reciprocating poppets and the like.




In normal operation, flapper plate


78


pivots about pivot pin


84


and is biased to the valve closed position by a spring (not pictured). When safety valve


50


must be operated from the valve closed position, depicted in

FIGS. 2A-2B

, to the valve opened position, depicted in

FIGS. 3A-3B

, hydraulic fluid enters longitudinal bore


60


and acts on rod piston


68


. As the downward hydraulic force against rod piston


68


exceeds the upward bias force of spiral wound compression spring


86


, flow tube


72


moves downwardly with rod piston


68


. As flow tube


72


continues to move downwardly, flow tube


72


contacts flapper closure plate


78


and forces flapper closure plate


78


to the open position.




When safety valve


50


must be operated from the valve open position to the valve closed position, hydraulic pressure is released from conduit


42


such that spring


86


acts on shoulder


76


and upwardly bias flow tube


72


. As flow tube


72


is retracted, flapper closure plate


78


will rotate about pin


84


and seal on seat


82


.




If safety valve


50


becomes unable to properly seal in the closed position or does not properly open after being in the closed position, it is desirable to reestablish the functionality of safety valve


50


without removal of tubing


30


. In the present invention this is achieved by inserting a lock out and communication tool into the central bore of safety valve


50


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 4A-4B

, therein is depicted cross sectional views of successive axial sections a lock out and communication tool embodying principles of the present invention that is representatively illustrated and generally designated


100


. Communication tool


100


has an outer housing


102


. Outer housing


102


has an upper subassembly


104


that has a radially reduced interior section


106


. Outer housing


102


also has a key retainer subassembly


108


including windows


110


and a set of axial locating keys


112


. In addition, outer housing


102


has a lower housing subassembly


114


.




Slidably disposed within outer housing


102


is upper mandrel


116


that is securably coupled to expander mandrel


118


by attachment members


120


. Upper mandrel


116


carries a plurality of dogs


122


. Partially disposed and slidably received within upper mandrel


116


is a fish neck


124


including a fish neck mandrel


126


and a fish neck mandrel extension


128


. Partially disposed and slidably received within fish neck mandrel


126


and fish neck mandrel extension


128


is a punch rod


130


. Punch rod


130


extends down through communication tool


100


and is partially disposed and selectively slidably received within main mandrel


132


.




Punch rod


130


and main mandrel


132


are initially fixed relative to one another by shear pin


134


. Main mandrel


132


is also initially fixed relative to lower housing subassembly


114


of outer housing


102


by shear pins


136


. Shear pins


136


not only prevent relative axial movement between main mandrel


132


and lower housing subassembly


114


but also prevent relative rotation between main mandrel


132


and lower housing subassembly


114


. A torsional load is initially carried between main mandrel


132


and lower housing subassembly


114


. This torsional load is created by spiral wound torsion spring


138


.




Attached to main mandrel


132


is a circumferential locating key


140


on the upper end of collet spring


142


. Circumferential locating key


140


includes a retaining pin


144


that limits the outward radial movement of circumferential locating key


140


from main mandrel


132


. Disposed within main mandrel


132


is a carrier


146


that has an insert


148


on the outer surface thereof. Insert


148


includes an internal fluid passageway


150


. Carrier


146


and insert


148


are radially extendable through window


152


of main mandrel


132


. Main mandrel


132


has a downwardly facing annual shoulder


154


.




The operation of communication tool


100


of the present invention will now be described relative to safety valve


50


of the present invention with reference to

FIGS. 5A-5B

,


6


A-


6


B,


7


A-


7


B,


8


A-


8


B and


9


A-


9


B. In

FIGS. 5A-5B

, communication tool


100


is in its running configuration. Communication tool


100


is positioned within the longitudinal central bore of safety valve


50


. As communication tool


100


is lowered into safety valve


50


, downwardly facing annular shoulder


154


of main mandrel


132


contacts profile


74


of flow tube


72


. Main mandrel


132


may downwardly shift flow tube


72


, either alone or in conjunction with an increase in the hydraulic pressure within longitudinal chamber


60


, operating flapper closure plate


78


from the closed position, see

FIGS. 2A-2B

, to the fully open position, see

FIGS. 3A-3B

. Alternatively, if safety valve


50


is already in the open position, main mandrel


132


simply holds flow tube


72


in the downward position to maintain safety valve


50


in the open position. Communication tool


100


moves downwardly relative to outer housing


52


of safety valve


50


until axial locating keys


112


of communication tool


100


engage profile


62


of safety valve


50


.




Once axial locating keys


112


of communication tool


100


engage profile


62


of safety valve


50


, downward jarring on communication tool


100


shifts fish neck


124


along with fish neck mandrel


126


, fish neck mandrel extension


128


, upper mandrel


116


and expander mandrel


118


downwardly relative to safety mandrel


50


and punch rod


130


. This downward movement shifts expander mandrel


118


behind axial locating keys


112


which locks axial locating keys


112


into profile


62


, as best seen in

FIGS. 6A-6B

.




In this locked configuration of communication tool


100


, dogs


122


are aligned with radially reduced interior section


106


of upper housing subassembly


104


. As such, additional downward jarring on communication tool


100


outwardly shifts dogs


122


which allows fish neck mandrel extension


128


to move downwardly. This allows the lower surface of fish neck


124


to contact the upper surface of punch rod


130


. Continued downward jarring with a sufficient and predetermined force shears pins


136


, as best seen in FIGS.


7


A-


7


B. When pins


136


shear, this allows punch rod


130


and main mandrel


132


to move axially downwardly relative to housing


102


and expander mandrel


118


of communication tool


100


and safety valve


50


. This downward movement axially aligns carrier


146


and insert


148


with radially reduced area


64


and axially aligns circumferential locating key


140


with pocket


66


of safety valve


50


.




In addition, when pins


136


shear, this allows punch rod


130


and main mandrel


132


to rotate relative to housing


102


and expander mandrel


118


of communication tool


100


and safety valve


50


due to the torsional force stored in torsion spring


138


. This rotational movement circumferentially aligns carrier


146


and insert


148


with longitudinal bore


60


of safety valve


50


. This is achieved due to the interaction of circumferential locating key


140


and pocket


66


. Specifically, as punch rod


130


and main mandrel


132


rotate relative to safety valve


50


, collet spring


142


radially outwardly biases circumferential locating key


140


. Thus, when circumferential locating key


140


becomes circumferentially aligned with pocket


66


, circumferential locating key


140


moves radially outwardly into pocket


66


stopping the rotation of punch rod


130


and main mandrel


132


relative to safety valve


50


. By axially and circumferentially aligning circumferential locating key


140


with pocket


66


, carrier


146


and insert


148


become axially and circumferentially aligned with longitudinal bore


60


of safety valve


50


.




Once carrier


146


and insert


148


are axially and circumferentially aligned with longitudinal bore


60


of safety valve


50


, communication tool


100


is in its perforating position, as depicted in

FIGS. 8A-8B

. In this configuration, additional downward jarring on communication tool


100


, of a sufficient and predetermined force, shears pin


134


which allow punch rod


130


to move downwardly relative to main mandrel


132


. As punch rod


130


move downwardly, insert


148


penetrates radially reduced region


64


of safety valve


50


. The depth of entry of insert


148


into radially reduced region


64


is determined by the number of jars applied to punch rod


130


. The number of jars applied to punch rod


130


is predetermined based upon factors such as the thickness of radially reduced region


64


and the type of material selected for outer housing


52


.




With the use of communication tool


100


of the present invention, fluid passageway


150


of insert


148


provides a communication path for hydraulic fluid from longitudinal bore


60


to the interior of safety valve


50


. Once insert


148


is fixed within radially reduced region


64


, communication tool


100


may be retrieved to the surface, as depicted in

FIGS. 9A-9B

. In this configuration, punch rod


130


has retracted from behind carrier


146


, fish neck mandrel extension


128


has retracted from behind keys


106


and expander mandrel


118


has retracted from behind axial locating keys


112


which allows communication tool


100


to release from safety valve


50


. Insert


148


now prevents the upward movement of rod piston


68


and flow tube


72


which in turn prevents closure of flapper closure plate


78


, thereby locking out safety valve


50


. In addition, flow passageway


150


of insert


148


allow for the communication of hydraulic fluid from longitudinal bore


60


to the interior of safety valve


50


which can be used, for example, to operate a wireline retrievable subsurface safety valve that is inserted into locked out safety valve


50


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 10A-10C

, therein is depicted cross sectional views of successive axial sections a lock out and communication tool embodying principles of the present invention that is representatively illustrated and generally designated


200


. The communication tool portion of lock out and communication tool


200


has an outer housing


202


. Outer housing


202


has an upper subassembly


204


that has a radially reduced interior section


206


. Outer housing


202


also has a key retainer subassembly


208


including windows


210


and a set of axial locating keys


212


. In addition, outer housing


202


has a lower housing subassembly


214


.




Slidably disposed within outer housing


202


is upper mandrel


216


that is securably coupled to expander mandrel


218


by attachment members


220


. Upper mandrel


216


carries a plurality of dogs


222


. Partially disposed and slidably received within upper mandrel


216


is a fish neck


224


including a fish neck mandrel


226


and a fish neck mandrel extension


228


. Partially disposed and slidably received within fish neck mandrel


226


and fish neck mandrel extension


228


is a punch rod


230


. Punch rod


230


extends down through lock out and communication tool


200


and is partially disposed and selectively slidably received within main mandrel


232


and main mandrel extension


260


of the lock out portion of lock out and communication tool


200


.




Punch rod


230


and main mandrel


232


are initially fixed relative to one another by shear pin


234


. Main mandrel


232


is also initially fixed relative to lower housing subassembly


214


of outer housing


202


by shear pins


236


. Shear pins


236


not only prevent relative axial movement between main mandrel


232


and lower housing subassembly


214


but also prevent relative rotation between main mandrel


232


and lower housing subassembly


214


. A torsional load is initially carried between main mandrel


232


and lower housing subassembly


214


. This torsional load is created by spiral wound torsion spring


238


.




Attached to main mandrel


232


is a circumferential locating key


240


on the upper end of collet spring


242


. Circumferential locating key


240


includes a retaining pin


244


that limits the outward radial movement of circumferential locating key


240


from main mandrel


232


. Disposed within main mandrel


232


is a carrier


246


that has an insert


248


on the outer surface thereof. Insert


248


includes an internal fluid passageway


250


. Carrier


246


and insert


248


are radially extendable through window


222


of main mandrel


232


. Main mandrel


232


is threadedly attached to main mandrel extension


260


. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock out portion of lock out and communication tool


200


also includes a lug


262


with contacts upper shoulder


74


, a telescoping section


264


and a ratchet section


266


. In addition, a piston the lock out portion of lock out and communication tool


200


includes a dimpling member


268


that is radially extendable through a window


270


.




In operation, as lock out and communication tool


200


is positioned within the longitudinal central bore of safety valve


50


as described above with reference to tool


100


, flapper closure plate


78


is operated from the closed position, see

FIGS. 2A-2B

, to the fully open position, see

FIGS. 3A-3B

. Lock out and communication tool


200


moves downwardly relative to outer housing


52


of safety valve


50


until axial locating keys


212


of lock out and communication tool


200


engage profile


62


of safety valve


50


and are locked therein.




In this locked configuration of lock out and communication tool


200


, shears pins


236


may be sheared in response to downward jarring which allows punch rod


230


and main mandrel


232


to move axially downwardly relative to housing


202


and expander mandrel


218


of lock out and communication tool


200


and safety valve


50


. As explained above, this downward movement axially aligns carrier


246


and insert


248


with radially reduced area


64


. In addition, circumferential locating key


240


is both axially and circumferentially aligned with pocket


66


of safety valve


50


.




By axially and circumferentially aligning circumferential locating key


240


with pocket


66


, carrier


246


and insert


248


become axially and circumferentially aligned with longitudinal bore


60


of safety valve


50


such that additional downward jarring on lock out and communication tool


200


of a sufficient and predetermined force shears pin


234


which allow punch rod


230


to move downwardly relative to main mandrel


232


and main mandrel extension


260


. As punch rod


230


move downwardly, insert


248


penetrates radially reduced region


64


of safety valve


50


. Further travel of punch rod


230


downwardly relative to main mandrel


232


and main mandrel extension


260


causes dimpling member


268


to contact and form a dimple in the inner wall of safety valve


50


which prevents upward travel of piston


68


after lock out and communication tool


200


is retrieved from safety valve


50


.




The unique interaction of lock out and communication tool


200


of the present invention with safety valve


50


of the present invention thus allow for the locking out of a rod piston operated safety valve and for the communication of its hydraulic fluid to operate, for example, an insert valve.




While this invention has been described with a reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.



Claims
  • 1. A method for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve having a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof, the method comprising the steps of:locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve; axially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber; circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber; and creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber.
  • 2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve further comprises engaging axial locating keys of the communication tool into a profile.
  • 3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of axially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises axially shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool.
  • 4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the step of axially shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool further comprises shearing a shear pin initially coupling the first section of the communication tool with the second section of the communication tool.
  • 5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises rotatably shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool.
  • 6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of rotatably shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool further comprises shearing a shear pin coupling the first section of the communication tool with the second section of the communication tool.
  • 7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket.
  • 8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket further comprises radially outwardly shifting the circumferential locating key with a collet spring attached to the communication tool.
  • 9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises radially outwardly shifting the radial cutting device with a punch rod.
  • 10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises disposing an insert having a fluid passageway in the sidewall portion of the tubing retrievable safety valve.
  • 11. A method for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve having a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof, the method comprising the steps of:locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve; axially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber by axially shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool; circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber by rotatably shifting the first section of the communication tool relative to the second section of the communication tool; and creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber.
  • 12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve further comprises engaging axial locating keys of the communication tool into a profile.
  • 13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the steps of axially and rotatably shifting the first section of the communication tool relative to the second section of the communication tool further comprises shearing a shear pin initially coupling the first section of the communication tool with the second section of the communication tool.
  • 14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket.
  • 15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket further comprises radially outwardly shifting the circumferential locating key with a collet spring attached to the communication tool.
  • 16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises radially outwardly shifting the radial cutting device with a punch rod.
  • 17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises disposing an insert having a fluid passageway in the sidewall portion of the tubing retrievable safety valve.
  • 18. A safety valve for downhole use in a well comprising:a housing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and having a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof; a valve closure member mounted in the housing to control fluid flow through the longitudinal bore, the valve closure member having closed and opened positions; a flow tube in the housing to shift the valve closure member between the closed and opened positions; a rod piston slidably disposed in the non annular hydraulic chamber of the housing, the rod piston operably coupled to the flow tube; and a pocket in the longitudinal bore for engaging a circumferential locating key of a communication tool whereby the circumferential locating key circumferentially aligns a radial cutting device of the communication tool with the non annular hydraulic chamber.
  • 19. The safety valve as recited in claim 18 further comprising a profile for receiving a set of axial locating key of the communication tool.
  • 20. The safety valve as recited in claim 18 wherein the sidewall portion has a radially reduced region and wherein the radial cutting device is axially and circumferentially aligned with the radially reduced region.
  • 21. The safety valve as recited in claim 18 in combination with a communication tool comprising:first and second sections that are initially coupled together; a set of axial locating keys operably attached to the first section that is engagably positionable within a profile of the safety valve; the radial cutting device radially extendable through a window of the second section; and the circumferential locating key operably attached to the second section and engagably positionable within the pocket of the safety valve when the first and second sections are decoupled.
US Referenced Citations (43)
Number Name Date Kind
3786865 Tausch et al. Jan 1974 A
3786866 Tausch et al. Jan 1974 A
3799258 Tausch Mar 1974 A
3981358 Watkins et al. Sep 1976 A
4077473 Watkins Mar 1978 A
4161960 Watkins Jul 1979 A
4201363 Arendt et al. May 1980 A
4215748 Pace et al. Aug 1980 A
4273194 Pringle et al. Jun 1981 A
4344602 Arendt Aug 1982 A
4356867 Carmody Nov 1982 A
4411316 Carmody Oct 1983 A
4449587 Rodenberger et al. May 1984 A
4454913 Guidry et al. Jun 1984 A
4475599 Akkerman Oct 1984 A
4542792 Akkerman Sep 1985 A
4574889 Pringle Mar 1986 A
4577694 Brakhage Jr. Mar 1986 A
4624315 Dickson et al. Nov 1986 A
4629002 Pringle Dec 1986 A
4703805 Morris Nov 1987 A
4709762 Pringle Dec 1987 A
4722399 Pringle Feb 1988 A
4723606 Vinzant et al. Feb 1988 A
4796705 Carmody et al. Jan 1989 A
4886115 Leggett et al. Dec 1989 A
4944351 Eriksen et al. Jul 1990 A
4951753 Eriksen Aug 1990 A
4967845 Shirk Nov 1990 A
4981177 Carmody et al. Jan 1991 A
5058682 Pringle Oct 1991 A
5127476 Dickson et al. Jul 1992 A
5165480 Wagoner et al. Nov 1992 A
5167284 Leismer Dec 1992 A
5226483 Williamson, Jr. Jul 1993 A
5249630 Meaders et al. Oct 1993 A
5343955 Williams Sep 1994 A
5496044 Beall et al. Mar 1996 A
5558153 Holcombe et al. Sep 1996 A
5598864 Johnston et al. Feb 1997 A
5799949 Beall et al. Sep 1998 A
5810083 Kilgore Sep 1998 A
6059041 Scott May 2000 A