U.S. patent number 3,815,675 [Application Number 05/255,629] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-11 for wireline operated subsurface safety valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Esso Production Research Company. Invention is credited to Beldon A. Peters.
United States Patent |
3,815,675 |
Peters |
June 11, 1974 |
WIRELINE OPERATED SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVE
Abstract
A subsurface safety valve system for controlling the flow of
production oil and/or gas fluids through a well pipe. The valve
assembly is installed in the well pipe a predetermined depth below
the surface. A wireline connects the valve assembly to surface
facilities which include apparatus for maintaining sufficient
tension on the wireline to hold the valve assembly to permit the
valve assembly to close. A valve element closes off flow of fluids
through the valve assembly by upward movement of a valve element
actuator, the same direction as the upward flow of the production
well fluids.
Inventors: |
Peters; Beldon A. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Esso Production Research
Company (Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
22969195 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/255,629 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/72; 251/73;
166/332.3; 166/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
34/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
34/00 (20060101); E21B 34/16 (20060101); E21b
033/03 (); E21b 043/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/72,224S
;251/73 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schneider; John S.
Claims
Having fully described the apparatus, objects, advantages, and
operation of my invention, I claim:
1. A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline
which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which
provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from
subsurface formations comprising:
a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of
fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow
of fluids through said flow path;
valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and
connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element
in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is
applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to
move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on
said wireline;
said actuating means comprising:
fluid pressure means responsive to said tensional force applied to
said wireline for actuating said valve element to its open
position; and
biasing means for moving said valve element to its closed position
upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.
2. A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline
which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which
provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from
subsurface formations comprising:
a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of
fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow
of fluids through said flow path;
valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and
connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element
in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is
applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to
move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on
said wireline;
said actuating means comprising:
a first outer tubular member;
a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member;
a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member;
said valve element being positioned between said second and third
tubular members;
a sleeve piston arranged in the space between said first tubular
member and said second tubular member and said third tubular member
and said valve element;
means connecting said sleeve piston to said valve element for
moving said valve element (1) from an open to a closed position
upon movement of said sleeve piston from its lower to its upper
position and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of
said sleeve piston from its upper to its lower position;
a closed fluid pressure system responsive to said tensional force
applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid
pressure force to said sleeve piston to move said valve element to
its open position; and
biasing means arranged in the space between said first and third
tubular members for urging said sleeve piston upwardly to move said
valve element to its closed position.
3. A valve assembly as recited in claim 2 in which said third
tubular member contains a shoulder on its outer surface for
limiting downward movement of said sleeve piston.
4. A valve assembly as recited in claim 3 including a screened port
formed in said third tubular member fluidly communicating the
interior of said valve assembly and the space in which said biasing
means is arranged.
5. A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline
which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which
provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from
subsurface formations comprising:
a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of
fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow
of fluids through said flow path;
valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and
connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element
in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is
applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to
move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on
said wireline;
said valve element comprising a ball valve and said actuating means
comprising:
a first outer tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged
upper portion;
a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member having an outwardly extending enlarged
upper portion;
a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member;
said ball valve being positioned between said second and third
tubular members;
a first sleeve piston arranged between said first tubular member
and said second and third tubular members and said ball valve;
biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said
third tubular member and abutting the lower end of said sleeve
piston to urge said sleeve piston upwardly;
means connecting said first sleeve piston and said ball valve
capable of rotating said ball valve (1) from an open to a closed
position upon movement of said first sleeve piston upwardly and (2)
from a closed to an open position upon movement of said first
sleeve piston downwardly;
a first fluid chamber formed between the lower end of said enlarged
portion of said second tubular member and the upper end of said
first sleeve piston and between said first and second tubular
members;
a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner wall of said second
tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion
slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said
first tubular member;
a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged
portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the
enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner
wall of said second tubular member and outer wall of said second
sleeve piston;
a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first
tubular member and the outer wall of the enlarged upper portion of
said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first
and second fluid chambers; and
the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said
wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said
wireline, fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through
said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first
sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to
rotate said ball valve to its open position.
6. A valve assembly as recited in claim 5 in which the wall of said
sleeve piston contains oppositely disposed openings for
accommodating said outer periphery of said ball valve.
7. A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline
which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which
provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from
subsurface formations comprising:
a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of
fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow
of fluids through said flow path;
valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and
connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element
in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is
applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to
move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on
said wireline;
said actuating means comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from
said first tubular member;
a sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between said
first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower
end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower
positions, the lower portion of said sleeve piston being spaced
from said first tubular member;
said valve element being positioned on the lower end of said sleeve
piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said
first tubular member;
the lower end of said sleeve piston containing openings above said
valve element to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly
when said sleeve piston is in its lower position;
a closed fluid pressure system responsive to tensional force
applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid
pressure force to said sleeve piston; and
biasing means arranged in the space between said first tubular
member and said sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston
upwardly.
8. A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline
which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which
provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from
subsurface formations comprising:
a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of
fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow
of fluids through said flow path;
valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and
connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element
in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is
applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to
move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on
said wireline;
said valve element comprising a cup-shaped seal and said actuating
means comprising:
a first tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper
portion;
a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from
said first tubular member and having upper and lower portions;
a first sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between
said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the
lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower
positions;
said cup-shaped seal being arranged on the lower end of said first
sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of
said first tubular member;
the lower end of said first sleeve piston containing openings to
permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said first
sleeve piston is in its lowermost position;
biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said
first sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston
upwardly;
a first fluid chamber formed by the space between said first
tubular member and the lower portion of said second tubular member
above said first sleeve piston;
a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner wall of said second
tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion
slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said
first tubular member;
a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged
portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the
enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner
wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and the
outer wall of said second sleeve piston;
a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first
tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said
second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and
second fluid chambers; and
the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said
wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline
fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said
passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve
piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means until said
openings in said first sleeve piston are below the lower end of
said first tubular member.
9. A subsurface safety valve system for controlling flow of fluids
through a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for
upwardly flowing well fluids produced from subsurface formations
comprising:
a valve assembly arranged in said well pipe including a valve
element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through
said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids
through said flow path and valve element actuating means connected
to said valve element and including means movable downwardly for
actuating said valve element to its open position and biasing means
movable upwardly to urge said valve element to its closed position;
and
a wireline attached to said actuating means for maintaining said
valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional
force is applied to said wireline, said biasing means of said
actuating means moving said valve element to its closed position
upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.
10. A subsurface safety valve system as recited in claim 9
including means connected to said wireline for releasably
maintaining said tensional force on said wireline.
11. A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said actuating
means comprises:
fluid pressure means responsive to said tensional force applied to
said wireline for actuating said valve element to its open
position; and
biasing means for moving said valve element to its closed position
upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.
12. A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said actuating
means comprises:
a first outer tubular member;
a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member;
a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member;
said valve element being positioned between said second and third
tubular members;
a sleeve piston arranged in the space between said first tubular
member and said second tubular member and said third tubular member
and said valve element;
means connecting said sleeve piston to said valve element for
moving said valve element (1) from an open to a closed position
upon movement of said sleeve piston from its lower to its upper
position and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of
said sleeve piston from its upper to its lower position;
a closed fluid pressure system responsive to said tensional force
applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid
pressure force to said sleeve piston to move said sleeve piston
upwardly and move said valve element to its open position; and
biasing means arranged in the space between said first and third
tubular members for urging said sleeve piston upwardly and move
said valve element to its closed position.
13. A valve system as recited in claim 12 in which said third
tubular member is provided with a shoulder on its outer wall for
limiting downward movement of said sleeve piston.
14. A valve system as recited in claim 13 including a screened port
formed in said third tubular member fluidly communicating the
interior of said valve assembly and the space in which said biasing
means is arranged.
15. A valve system as recited in claim 14 including means connected
to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force on
said wireline.
16. A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said valve
element comprises a ball valve; and said actuating means
comprises:
a first outer tubular member having an upper portion of decreased
inner diameter;
a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member having an upper portion of increased
inner and outer diameters;
a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from
said first tubular member;
said ball valve being positioned between said second and third
tubular members;
a first sleeve piston arranged between said first tubular member
and said second and third tubular members and said ball valve;
biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said
third tubular member and abutting the lower end of said first
sleeve piston to urge said first sleeve piston upwardly;
means connecting said first sleeve piston and said ball valve
capable of rotating said ball valve (1) from an open to a closed
position upon movement of said
first sleeve piston upwardly and (2) from a closed to an open
position upon movement of said first sleeve piston downwardly;
a first fluid chamber confined between the lower end of said upper
portion of said second tubular member and the upper end of said
first sleeve piston and between the lower portions of said first
and second tubular members;
a second sleeve piston having an upper portion slidable on the
inner wall of the upper portion of said first tubular member and
having a lower portion of increased diameter slidable on the inner
wall of said upper portion of said second tubular member;
a second fluid chamber confined between the lower end of the upper
portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the lower
portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of
the upper portion of said second tubular member and the outer wall
of the upper portion of said second sleeve piston;
a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first
tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said
second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and
second fluid chambers;
the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said
wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline
fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said
passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve
piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to actuate
the ball valve to its open position and when said tensional force
on said wireline is released said biasing means forces said first
sleeve piston upwardly to actuate the ball valve to its closed
position and said fluid is forced from said first fluid chamber
through said passageway into said second fluid chamber.
17. A valve system as recited in claim 16 in which the wall of said
sleeve piston contains oppositely disposed openings for
accommodating the outer periphery of said ball valve.
18. A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said actuating
means comprises:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from
said first tubular member;
a sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between the first
and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of
said first tubular member and having upper and lower positions, the
lower portion of said sleeve piston being spaced from said first
tubular member;
said valve element being positioned on the lower end of said sleeve
piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said
first tubular member;
the lower end of said sleeve piston containing openings above said
valve element to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly
when said sleeve piston is in its lower position;
a closed fluid pressure system responsive to tensional force
applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid
pressure force to said sleeve piston; and
biasing means arranged in the space between said first tubular
member and said sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston
upwardly.
19. A valve system as recited in claim 18 including a screened port
formed in said sleeve piston fluidly communicating the interior of
said valve assembly and the space in which said biasing means is
arranged.
20. A valve system as recited in claim 18 including means connected
to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force on
the wireline.
21. A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said valve
element comprises a cup-shaped seal; and
said actuating means comprises:
a first tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper
portion;
a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from
said first tubular member and having upper and lower portions;
a first sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between
said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the
lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower
portions;
the cup-shaped seal being arranged on the lower end of said first
sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of
said first tubular member;
the lower end of said first sleeve piston containing openings to
permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said first
sleeve piston is in its lowermost position;
biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said
first sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston
upwardly;
a first fluid chamber formed between said first tubular member and
the lower portion of said second tubular member above said first
sleeve piston;
a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner wall of the upper
portion of said second tubular member and having an inner extending
enlarged lower portion slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged
upper portion of said first tubular member;
a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged
portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the
enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner
wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and the
outer wall of said second sleeve piston;
a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first
tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said
second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and
second fluid chambers; and
the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attached to said
wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline
fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said
passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve
piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to move
said opening in said first sleeve piston below the lower end of
said furst tubular member. 22A valve system as recited in claim 21
including means connected to said wireline adjacent the surface for
releasably maintaining said tensional force on said
wireline. 23. A valve system as recited in claim 22 wherein said
means connected to said wireline at the surface includes releasable
fluid
pressure means. 24. A valve system as recited in claim 23 including
a paraffin scraper attached to the lower end of said wireline; said
wireline being releasable from connection to said valve actuating
means for pulling said paraffin scraper upwardly through said well
pipe.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns subsurface safety valves for use in
well production pipe strings and, in particular, subsurface safety
valves controlled from the surface. The well production pipe string
provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from
subsurface formations.
Many of the present methods for controlling subsurface safety
valves from the surface require recompletion procedures which are
often very expensive in existing wells. Subsurface valves which are
controlled by hydraulic communication from the surface through a
control pipe or line are seriously limited as to depth because of
the hydrostatic pressure created by the control liquid in the
control pipe (unless precharged gas loading is used to overcome the
hydrostatic pressure). In addition, undetected leaks in the control
pipe may cause premature valve closure. In the present invention, a
subsurface valve is operated by a wireline which connects the valve
to the surface. It is controlled at the surface but does not
require the complicated downhole equipment required in the
hydraulic power systems used to control subsurface valves from the
surface. It has the advantageous features of being operable
independent of the pressure in the well and independent of the
depth at which it is located and it avoids expensive downhole
operations. The valve also has the desirable feature of closing in
the same direction as the fluid movement, namely, upward through
the well bore. Such upward closure movement is desired because when
the valve closes, pressure below the valve closure will be higher
than that above the closure. This additional force upward assists
the valve actuator which closes the valve element. Since the force
which keeps the valve element open is downward, provision has been
made so that the upward tension applied by the control wireline
causes a downward force on the actuator for the valve element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A subsurface safety valve assembly positionable in a well pipe used
to produce oil and/or gas fluids and controllable by a wireline
which extends to the surface, includes a valve element having an
open position and a closed position to permit and prevent flow of
fluids, respectively, through the well pipe and means attachable to
a wireline and connected to the valve element for maintaining the
valve element in its open position when a predetermined force is
applied to the wireline and for permitting the valve element to
move to its closed position upon removal of the force on the
wireline.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the safety valve system of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical view, partly in section, of the valve assembly
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
and
FIGS. 4 and 5 are vertical views, partly in section, of another
embodiment of the safety valve assembly in its open and closed
positions, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a well casing pipe 11 is shown arranged in a
well 10. Casing pipe 11 penetrates a subsurface formation 12 which
is, along with casing pipe 11, perforated as at 13. The casing pipe
supports a surface well head assembly 14 and a tubing string 15. A
packer 16 seals the annulus between casing pipe 11 and tubing
string 15. A landing nipple 17 is provided in the wall of tubing
string 15 above packer 16. A christmas tree assembly 18 is mounted
on well head assembly 14 and is provided with a flow-line 19
containing a wing valve 20.
A lubricator tube 21 is connected to the upper end of tree assembly
18. Lubricator 21 is provided with a wireline sealing means 22, a
fluid inlet connection 23 above sealing means 22 and a vent opening
24 at the upper end of lubricator tube 21. A piston 25 is slidably
arranged in lubricator tube 21 above sealing means 22.
A source of control fluid under pressure, indicated at 26, is
connected by a conduit 27 to inlet connection 23 to supply
hydraulic pressure to the underside of piston 25. A conduit 28 is
connected to a control for hydraulically openable, spring-closable
wing valve 20. Hydraulic pressure from control source 26 maintains
valve 20 in the open position. Heat sensitive connectors 30 and 31
are provided in conduits 27 and 28, respectively, to open those
conduits to the atmosphere (or otherwise release pressure from the
cylinder formed by lubricator 21 and from the actuators of valve
20) at a predetermined temperature.
A safety valve assembly, generally designated 40, is positioned in
the lower end of tubing string 15 and is locked in landing nipple
17 by locking dogs 41. Seal means 42 closes off the annulus between
the valve assembly and the tubing string. An internal running and
retrieving collar 43 (see FIG. 2) is positioned at the upper end of
valve assembly 40. A suitable collar of this type is illustrated on
page 3882 of the 1970-197l edition of the Composite Catalog of Oil
Field Equipment and Services, published by World Oil. The lower
portion 44 of valve assembly 40 houses the valve components as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. An overshot latch 45, internally connected
into valve assembly 40, is attached by a wireline or cable 46 to
piston 25 in lubricator tube 21 (see FIG. 1). A paraffin scraper
43' may be attached to the lower end of wireline 46.
As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, valve assembly 40 includes an outer
tubular member 44 and inner upper and lower tubular members 49a and
49b concentric to and spaced from tubular member 44. Numeral 49
generally designates tubular members 49a and 49b as well as sleeve
seats 53a and 53b which sealingly engage the outer surface of a
ball valve member 54 as at 53c and 53c'. Seats 53a and 53b are
machined to provide an internally spherical surface for all areas
of closure on the ball valve. A stop shoulder 49c is formed on the
exterior wall of section 49b. A cylindrical member 50 is threadedly
attached to the upper end of tubular member 49a and with its wall
64 forms a space 64a.
A sleeve piston 55 provided with suitable seals 9 is concentrically
and slidably arranged between tubular member 44 and tubular members
49a and 49b and seats 53a and 53b and ball valve 54. A pressure
chamber 60 is formed above sleeve piston 55 and a spring chamber 61
containing a compression spring 62 is formed below sleeve piston
55. Shoulder 49c limits the downward movement of sleeve piston 55.
Compression spring 62 abuts the lower end 55a of sleeve piston 55
and a shoulder 63 formed by the nose portion 51 of lower section
49b and biases or urges sleeve piston 55 upwardly.
Oppositely disposed windows 56 are formed in the walls of sleeve
piston 55 to accommodate the outer periphery of ball valve 54. The
inner wall section of sleeve piston 55, perpendicular to windows 56
and adjacent thereto are milled to form oppositely disposed flat
surfaces 57 which engage the flat surfaces of ball valve 54.
Actuating pins 58 are fixed in the flat walls of the sleeve piston
and extend into eccentrically located slots 59 formed in the flat
surfaces of ball valve 54, such that upward movement of sleeve
piston 55 causes ball valve to rotate on its axis and close off the
flow passageway through tubular members 49a and 49b. Downward
movement of sleeve piston 55 from the closed position of ball valve
54 causes the ball valve to rotate to its open position shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
The lower end of a sleeve piston 67 contains an annular shoulder
which is slidable along the wall 64 of cylindrical member 50 in the
space indicated at 64a. The annular shoulder contains a sealing
ring 68 which engages the interior of wall 64. The upper reduced
diameter sleeve portion 69 of piston 67 is slidable in the bore of
an upper section 52 of the valve assembly which is threaded to
tubular member 44. Sleeve portion 69 engages a seal 72 located in
the bore wall of section 52. A pressure chamber 73 is formed
thereby which fluidly communicates with chamber 60 through opening
65 and passageway 66. Fluid outlet ports 70 are provided in the
upper end of piston 67 and an upwardly extending latching spear 71
is arranged on the uppermost end of piston 67.
The wall of lower tubular member 49b contains a screened port 74
for passage of well fluids into and from spring chamber 61. Spear
71 of piston 67 is connected to wireline 46 by the overshot
latching means 45, the operation of which is well known to the art.
Chamber 73, passageway 66, and chamber 60, together with hydraulic
fluid contained therein form a closed hydraulic system.
The operation of the embodiment of the subsurface safety valve
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is as follows. Valve assembly 40
is run in tubing string 15 and latched therein in accordance with
conventional procedures. When installing the valve assembly sleeve
piston 55 is in its uppermost position under the bias of
compression spring 62 and piston 67 is in its lowermost position
and ball valve 54 is closed. The closed hydraulic system has been
filled with hydraulic fluid. Wireline seal 22 in lubricator tube 21
is open and overshot latch 45 is run on wireline 46 and latched to
spear 71 of piston 67. Piston 25 in lubricator tube 21 is attached
to wireline 46. Seal 22 is closed on wireline 46 and hydraulic
pressure from source 25 is supplied through conduit 27 and inlet 23
to the underside of piston 25 moving piston 25 upwardly in
lubricator tube 21 and applying thereby a tensional force to
wireline 46. The upward force on wireline 46 causes piston 67 to
move upwardly forcing hydraulic fluid in chamber 73 to move into
chamber 60, thereby forcing sleeve piston 55 downwardly to its
lowermost position against stop shoulder 49c and causing ball valve
54 to rotate to its full open position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A
predetermined tensional force is maintained on wireline 46 by fluid
pressure supplied from source 26 to maintain ball valve 54 in its
open position. Hydraulic fluid is also supplied through conduit 28
to wing valve 20 to maintain valve 20 open. Well fluids flow from
formation 12 through open safety valve assembly 40, tubing string
15, and flow line 19. Loss of hydraulic pressure from lubricator
tube 21 releases the tensional force on wireline 46 which permits
compression spring 62 to move sleeve piston 55 upwardly thereby
rotating ball valve 54 to its closed position. Well fluids below
ball valve 54 also pass through screened port 74 to add additional
force against the underside of sleeve piston 55 to aid in closing
the ball valve.
Paraffin scraper 43', attached to wireline 46, may be pulled
upwardly through well pipe 15 whenever it is deemed necessary to
remove paraffin from the wall of the well pipe. Wireline 46 is
unlatched from and latched to the valve assembly in a manner well
known in the art.
Another embodiment of the subsurface valve assembly, generally
designated 80 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Only the lower changed
portion of the valve assembly is illustrated. The upper portion of
the valve assembly is the same as the upper portion of the valve
assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. A tubular member 81, having
an opening 82 in the lower end, has positioned in its upper end a
concentric tubular member 83 which comprises a lower section 83a,
an enlarged diameter upper section 83b (equivalent to cylindrical
member 50 of FIGS. 2 and 3) and an annular shoulder 84 formed
therebetween. Upper section 83b forms a space 85 (equivalent to
space 64a of FIGS. 2 and 3) in which a piston, not shown, such as
67 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 reciprocates. A fluid passageway 86 is
formed between tubular member 81 and section 83b.
A concentric sleeve member 88, which includes an upper enlarged
diameter section 88a and a lower reduced diameter section 88b, is
slidably arranged in the lower end of tubular member 81. The
connection between the upper and lower sections 88a and 88b forms a
downwardly facing shoulder 87. Upper section 88a forms a sleeve
piston in the annulus between tubular member 81 and section 83a
which is slidable between upper shoulder 84 and a lower shoulder 89
formed on the inner wall of tubular member 81. Seals 90 and 91
engage the walls of section 83a and tubular member 81,
respectively. Reduced diameter section 88b extends downwardly
through opening 82 and below the lower end of tubular member 81.
The annulus above sleeve piston 88a between tubular member 81 and
lower section 83a forms a chamber 92 and the annulus below the
sleeve piston 88a between tubular member 81 and section 88b forms a
spring chamber 93. A compression spring 94 is confined in chamber
93 and abuts shoulder 87 and a lower shoulder 95 formed at the
lower end of tubular member 81. In FIG. 4 sleeve member 88 is
illustrated in its lowermost position. Fluid entry ports 99 are
formed in section 88b just above the lower end thereof. An upwardly
facing cup-shaped seal member 96 is attached to the lower end of
section 88b by bolt 97 and washer 98. When section 88b is in its
lowermost position ports 99 are below the lower end of tubular
member 81 and open to well fluid flow. The upper annular edge 100
of seal member 96 abuts and seals against the lower end. 101 of
tubular member 81 when section 88b is raised to its uppermost
position as shown in FIG. 5. In this upper position, ports 99 are
positioned within the lower end of tubular member 81 and fluid flow
through the valve assembly is closed off. A screened port 102 is
provided in section 88b for entry of well fluid to chamber 93 below
section 88a. After the valve has closed as shown in FIG. 5 well
pressure below the valve assists in maintaining the valve
closed.
In operation of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 when
hydraulic fluid pressure in chamber 92 is released by releasing
tension on wireline 46, as previously described herein with respect
to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, spring 94 moves
sleeve member 88 upwardly moving ports 99 within tubular member 81
and forcing seal member 96 to seal against the lower end of tubular
member 81.
While connectors 30 and 31 in conduits 27 and 28 are described as
heat sensitive, in that they would dissolve or disintegrate under a
high temperature to cause release of fluid pressure in conduits 27
and 28 and the resulting closure of the subsurface valve assembly
and the wing valve, other devices sensitive to, for example,
increased pressure or impact might be used instead.
The nose portion 51 of lower tubular member 49b and the upper
section 52 both threaded to tubular member 44 and cylindrical
member 50 threaded to tubular member 49a are shown as separate
components in order to facilitate construction of the valve
assembly. Any one or all of these components may be formed integral
with the tubular member to which it is screw threadedly
connected.
Further, instead of the piston-cylinder-fluid pressure arrangement
for maintaining a correct tension on the wireline, shown and
described herein for purposes of illustration, other arrangements
may be used. Thus, the wireline could be directly connected to a
surface winch or drum on which the torque and thereby the correct
tension on the wireline may be maintained by, for example, a
hydraulic gear pump or other suitable means. Other means, such as
pressure or impact responsive means, for automatically releasing
tension on the wireline may be substituted for or used together
with the heat sensitive means illustrated. Of course, tensional
force on the wireline may be released manually.
Other changes and modifications may be made in the illustrative
embodiments of the invention shown and/or described herein without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
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