U.S. patent number 3,854,502 [Application Number 05/381,481] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-17 for method and apparatus for an equalizing valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hydril Company. Invention is credited to James D. Mott.
United States Patent |
3,854,502 |
Mott |
December 17, 1974 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN EQUALIZING VALVE
Abstract
An apparatus for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve
including a rotatable ball closure member for controlling flow of
fluid through the valve and a by-pass flow means for equalizing
fluid pressure about the closed ball when desired. The by-pass flow
means is operable either by opening the flow means while blocking
opening rotation of the ball or automatically when rotating the
ball open to enable flow through the valve. A method of operating
the equalizing valve is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Mott; James D. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Hydril Company (Houston,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
26909252 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/381,481 |
Filed: |
July 23, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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214685 |
Jan 3, 1972 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/629;
166/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
34/102 (20130101); E21B 34/101 (20130101); Y10T
137/86936 (20150401); E21B 2200/04 (20200501) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
34/00 (20060101); E21B 34/10 (20060101); F16k
011/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/629,630,630.14,630.15 ;166/224 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nilson; Robert G.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 214,685, filed Jan.
3, 1972, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A subsurface safety valve adapted for mounting with a well
conduit for controlling flow of fluid through the well conduit at a
subsurface location in the well including:
a. a flow housing having a bore therethrough communicating with a
flow passage of the well conduit above and below the safety
valve;
b. bore closure means mounted with said flow housing for movement
to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through the
flow passage and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid
through the flow passage of the well conduit;
c. means with said flow housing for effecting operating movement of
said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions,
said means for effecting movement moving said bore closure means to
the open position in response to a first control signal
communicated from the surface through a first control means;
d. fluid pressure equalizing means for enabling desired fluid
communication about said bore closure means when said bore closure
means is in the closed position to substantially balance the urging
of the fluid pressure on said bore closure means; and
e. means for operating said fluid pressure equalizing means to
equalize the fluid pressure about said bore closure means in
response to a second control signal communicated to said flow
housing from the surface through a second control means independent
of the well conduit and said first control means wherein fluid
pressure urging on said bore closure means may be equalized.
2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said means for effecting movement of said bore closure means
operates said fluid pressure equalizing means to balance the urging
of the fluid pressure on said bore closure means prior to
commencing to move said bore closure means to the open position
wherein the fluid pressure urging is automatically offset prior to
opening movement of said bore closure means.
3. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said bore closure means includes a ball member rotatable to and
from the open and closed positions and having a flow port formed
therethrough for enabling fluid communication through said flow
port when said ball is in the open position and with said flow port
moving to a position for enabling said ball member to block flow of
fluid when said ball is rotated to the closed position wherein said
ball member rotates to control the flow of fluid.
4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for
effecting movement of said bore closure means includes:
a. pivot means for rotating said ball to and from the open and
closed positions; and
b. an operator assembly movably disposed in said bore of said flow
housing for co-acting with said pivot means to effect rotation of
said ball when said operator moves a predetermined distance wherein
the safety valve is operated.
5. The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
said fluid pressure equalizing means is mounted with said operator
assembly to enable the desired fluid communication about said ball
member when said operator moves less than the predetermined
distance to effect opening rotation of said ball wherein the fluid
pressure is offset before said ball rotates open to enable
flow.
6. A subsurface safety valve adapted for connection in a well
conduit to form a portion thereof;
a. a flow housing having a bore therethrough communicating with a
flow passage of the well conduit above and below the safety
valve;
b. a ball-type bore closure means mounted in said bore of said flow
housing which is movable to and from an open position enabling flow
of fluid through said bore and to and from a closed position
blocking flow of fluid through said bore;
c. means with said flow housing for effecting operating movement of
said bore closure means to and from the open and closed
positions;
d. fluid pressure equalizing means for enabling desired fluid
communication about said bore closure means when said bore closure
means is in the closed position to substantially balance the urging
of the fluid pressure on said bore closure means;
e. means for operating said fluid pressure equalizing means while
blocking operating movement of said bore closure means from the
closed position;
f. pivot means for rotating said ball to and from the open and
closed position; and
g. an operator assembly movably disposed in said bore of said flow
housing for co-acting with said pivot means to effect rotation of
said ball when said operator moves a predetermined distance,
h. said operator assembly and said flow housing forming an
expansible by-pass operating chamber therebetween, with said
operator assembly having a pressure responsive surface thereon in
communication with said by-pass operating chamber for urging
movement of said operator assembly a sufficient distance to operate
said fluid pressure equalizing means to enable desired fluid
communication about said ball while blocking movement of the
operator assembly to the predetermined distance to effect operation
of said ball in response to the urging of the fluid pressure in
said by-pass operating chamber wherein the pressure urging on the
ball is offset.
7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein:
said operator assembly and said flow housing forming a second
expansible ball operating chamber therebetween, said operator
assembly having a second pressure responsive surface thereon
communicating with said second chamber for urging movement of said
operator assembly to operate said fluid pressure equalizing means
to enable the desired fluid communication about the said ball
before rotating open said ball in response to the urging of the
fluid pressure in said second chamber wherein the pressure urging
on said ball is offset prior to rotating open said ball.
8. The structure as set forth in claim 7, including:
a. by-pass control means for controlling the fluid pressure in said
by-pass operating chamber urging on said operator assembly; and
b. ball operating control means for controlling the fluid pressure
in said second chamber urging on said operator assembly wherein the
movement of said operator mechanism is controlled.
9. The structure as set forth in claim 7, including:
a. said operator assembly having a first member operably connected
to a second member for enabling limited relative movement
therebetween with said first member mounting said first and said
second pressure responsive surfaces and said second member operably
engaging said ball; and
b. said fluid pressure equalizing means mounted with said first
member for enabling the desired fluid communication prior to said
first member effecting movement of said second member to rotate
open said ball wherein the fluid pressure urging on said ball is
offset.
10. A safety valve adapted to be mounted with a well conduit for
controlling flow of well fluids through the well conduit at a
subsurface location in a well, including:
a flow housing having a bore therethrough communicating with a flow
passage of the well conduit above and below the safety valve;
bore closure means mounted with said flow housing for movement to
and from an open position for enabling flow of well fluids through
the flow passage of the well conduit and a closed position for
blocking flow of well fluids through the well conduit;
first expansible chamber means for effecting operating movement of
said bore closure means to the open position in response to a first
control fluid pressure communicated into said first expansible
chamber;
fluid pressure equalizing means for enabling desired well fluid
communication about said bore closure means when said bore closure
means is in the closed position to substantially balance the urging
of well fluid pressure on said bore closure means; and
second expansible chamber means for operating said fluid pressure
equalizing means to substantially balance the urging of well fluid
pressure on said bore closure means in response to a second control
fluid pressure communicated into said second expansible chamber
wherein well fluid pressure urging on said bore closure means may
be equalized.
11. The structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein:
said bore closure means including a member rotating to and from the
open and closed position.
12. The structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein:
said rotating member moving downwardly in said bore when rotating
to the open position.
13. The structure as set forth in claim 10, including:
first control fluid conduit means for communicating the first
control fluid pressure into said first expansible chamber from the
surface; and
second control fluid conduit means for communicating the second
control fluid pressure into said second expensible chamber from the
surface wherein the safety valve is controlled from the surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of a valve and more
particularly to a subsurface safety valve having a rotatable ball
closure means and a flow by-pass means for equalizing fluid
pressure urging on the ball.
Prior art production tubing retrievable valves have sought, until
now unsuccessfully, to provide a long and reliable operating life
for a safety valve to shut in a well at a subsurface location. The
cost in time and in lost production from the well along with the
expense incurred in pulling the tubing to replace defective valves
have been prime factors in limiting widespread use and acceptance
of these valves. More importantly, the failure of a faulty safety
valve to operate could result in a catastrophic well blow-out with
all of the attendant hazards to life and property therefrom as well
as in environment damage from the escaping hydrocarbons and other
well fluids.
Having sealing surfaces shielded from the well flow, a low inherent
flow resistance and numerous other desirable characteristics have
made rotatable ball valves a preferred type of valve for subsurface
well service. One drawback in using rotatable ball valves has been
that when the ball was rotated to the open position while holding a
large pressure differential thereacross, the ball and valve sealing
surfaces were frequently scored, galled or otherwise damaged which
would thereafter enable leakage through the valve. The initial high
velocity flow, as the ball was rotated open, cut, eroded or
otherwise damaged the valve sealing surfaces which would also
enable leakage through the valve. Prior attempts to incorporate a
flow by-pass to equalize the fluid pressure about the ball prior to
rotating open the ball such as disclosed in my co-pending United
States Patent Application, Ser. No. 72,034, now abandoned, utilized
the same operating means to effect operation of the ball and the
flow by-pass. With such arrangement, an operator at the well head
was unable to ascertain that pressure equalization across the ball
was effected by the by-pass valve or by the potentially damaging
partial rotation of the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method of operating and apparatus for a surface controlled
subsurface safety valve including a flow housing having a bore
therethrough and a rotatable ball type bore closure member movably
disposed in the bore to control flow of fluid therethrough. The
valve also includes a by-pass flow means for equalizing the fluid
pressure about the ball that is operable either independently when
desired of the ball operation or automatically when rotating open
the ball. The method includes the steps of blocking movement of the
ball while flowing fluid about the ball to equalize the fluid
pressure and thereafter releasing and rotating the ball to the open
position for enabling flow through the valve.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved
apparatus for an equalizing valve.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved method for operating an equalizing valve.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved apparatus for an equalizing valve having independent modes
of operation for effecting pressure equalization and for operating
the valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views, partially in section, illustrating
the equalizing valve of the present invention with the ball rotated
closed;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are views, similar to FIGS. 1A and 1B,
respectively, illustrating the equalizing valve of the present
invention enabling pressure equalization about the closed ball
while blocking movement of the ball; and
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views, similar to FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively,
illustrating the equalizing valve of the present invention, with
the ball rotated to the open position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The equalizing valve of the present invention, generally designated
V, is illustrated in the Figs. with the upper portion thereof
illustrated in the A reference figure and the lower portion thereof
in the B reference figure. The equalizing valve V includes a flow
control housing or assembly F and a movable bore closure means C
operably connected therewith for controlling flow of fluid through
the valve V. The flow control housing F further includes means for
moving the bore closure means C to and from open and closed
positions for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve V and
a means for equalizing the fluid pressure urging on the bore
closure means C before moving the bore closure means C to enable
flow of fluid through the valve V.
The flow control housing F includes a tubular member 10 which
extends downwardly from an upper annular shoulder 10a (FIG. 1A) to
a lower annular shoulder 10b (FIG. 2B) and which has a
longitudinally extending bore 11 formed therethrough. The tubular
member 10 mounts suitable fastening means for securing the tubular
member 10 with a well conduit or production tubing T above and
below the valve V such as an upper threaded box connection 12,
adjacent the shoulder 10a, and a threaded lower pin connection 13,
adjacent to the shoulder 10b. The threaded connections 12 and 13
enable connection of the tubular member 10 in the production tubing
T at any desired subsurface location in a well to form a portion of
the production tubing T with the bore 11 of the tubular member 10
communicating with a bore X of the production tubing T above and
below the tubular member 10 to enable flow of fluid through the
bore X of the production tubing T to flow through the bore 11 of
the tubular member 10 in producing or flowing hydrocarbons and the
like from the well.
Preferably, both for simplicity and ease of assembly, the tubular
member 10 includes an upper sleeve member 10c, an intermediate
sleeve member 10d and a lower sleeve member 10e which are secured
together by suitable fastening means to provide the single tubular
member 10 unit. The intermediate sleeve 10d is fastened to the
upper sleeve 10c and the lower sleeve 10e by threaded engagement at
10f and 10g respectively, and is secured thereto against
inadvertent disengagement by suitable anti-rotation members (not
illustrated). The sleeve 10d and the sleeve 10e mount O-rings 14
and 15 thereon, respectively, adjacent the threads 10f and 10g to
block leakage of fluid along the engaged threads 10f and 10g about
the sleeve 10d.
The bore closure means C includes a ball member 20 having a flow
port or opening 20a formed therethrough and which is movably
disposed in the bore 11 of the tubular member 10 between an open
position (FIG. 3B) for enabling flow of fluid through the bore 11
of the tubular member 10 and a closed position (FIG. 1B) blocking
flow of fluid through the bore 11 of the tubular member 10. The
flow control housing F includes a pivot means P and an operator
assembly S for co-acting together to effect movement of the ball 20
to and from the open and closed positions.
The pivot means P includes a pivot sleeve 30 positioned in the bore
11 of the tubular member 10 and secured thereto concentrically
adjacent the lower portion of the ball 20. The ball 20 includes a
spherical outer sealing surface 20b with two separate portions of
the ball 20 removed to form a pair of parallel flat surfaces 20c
with each of the circular flat surfaces 20c having an elongated,
radially extending recess 20d formed therein for receiving an
eccentrically positioned inwardly extending pin 30a secured with
the sleeve 30 for operably connecting the ball 20 with the tubular
member 10. Movement of the center of the ball 20 relative to the
eccentric pins 30a will rotate the ball 20 to the closed position
when the center of the ball 20 is above the pivot pins 30a (FIG.
1B) and to the open position when the center of the ball 20 is
below the pivot pins 30a (FIG. 3B). One skilled in the art may vary
this arrangement to close the ball 20 in the lower position and to
rotate the ball 20 open in the upper position.
Reference is made to my co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.
72,034, entitled "PRESSURE OPERATED SAFETY VALVE WITH LOCK MEANS,"
filed Sept. 14, 1970, for a more detailed disclosure of the
rotational operation of the ball 20.
The sleeve 30 may be secured to the tubular member 10 by any
suitable fastening means, such as the lug receiving slot system
illustrated. The intermediate sleeve 10d of the tubular member 10
includes a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs 10h with each lug
10h having a flat downwardly facing locking shoulder 10i formed
thereon for engaging the pivot sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 includes an
annular recess 30b formed in the outer surface 30c thereof having a
flat upwardly facing annular shoulder surface 30d thereof for
engaging the locking surface 10i of the lugs 10h to block upward
movement of the sleeve 30 relative to the tubular member 10. The
outer surface 30c of the sleeve 30 has a plurality of
longitudinally extending recesses 30e formed therein for enabling
the movement of the sleeve 30 relative to the lugs 10h to enable
the locking shoulders 10i and 30d to be brought into engagement by
relative rotation of the sleeve 30 and the tubular member 10 when
the annular recess 30 b is aligned with the lugs 10h. The locking
shoulders 10i and 30d are maintained in engagement by a spacer
sleeve 31, positioned below the sleeve 30 and engaging a lower
annular shoulder 30f thereof and an upwardly facing annular
shoulder 10j of the sleeve 10e to block downward movement of the
sleeve 30 relative to the tubular member 10.
The operator assembly S includes a sleeve or wash pipe 40 movably
disposed in the bore 11 below the ball 20 and in engagement
therewith and a spring or urging means 41 for effecting
longitudinal operating movement of the ball 20. The wash pipe 40
includes an upper constant diameter outer surface 40a adjacent an
inner diameter surface 30g of the sleeve 30 and a lower constant
diameter surface 40b adjacent a bore 11 defining surface 10k of the
sleeve 10e concentrically positioning the wash pipe 40 in the bore
11 for guiding longitudinal movement of the wash pipe 40 in the
bore 11 between an upper position (FIG. 1B) and a lower position
(FIG. 3B). The wash pipe 40 further includes a constant diameter
inner surface 40c defining a longitudinal bore 40d extending
through the wash pipe 40 communicating with the bore 11 for
enabling flow of fluid through the equalizing valve V and an
upwardly facing arcuate annular shoulder 40e in engagement with the
spherical surface 20b of the ball 20. The wash pipe 40 includes an
annular collar 40f formed thereon above the guide surface 40b
having a downwardly facing annular shoulder 40g formed thereon
engaging the spring 41 concentrically positioned between the
tubular member 10 and the wash pipe 40 above the upwardly facing
shoulder 10j to provide an upwardly urging to the washpipe 40 to
move the wash pipe 40 and the ball 20 to the upper position for
rotating the ball 20 closed.
As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the operator assembly S further includes
an upper or first operating sleeve 50 and a second or lower
operating sleeve 60 both of which are located in the bore 11 above
the ball 20. The lower operating sleeve 60 extends downwardly from
an upwardly facing annular shoulder 60a to a downwardly facing
annular shoulder 60b adjacent the ball 20. The sleeve 60 includes a
constant diameter outer surface 60c in engagement with an inwardly
projecting annular collar 10m of the tubular member for
concentrically positioning the sleeve 60 in the bore 11 and for
guiding longitudinal movement of the lower sleeve 60 between an
upper position (FIG. 1B) and a lower position (FIG. 3B). The sleeve
60 includes an inner surface 60d having an inwardly projecting
valve seat ring mounting annular collar 60e formed thereon adjacent
the ball 20 and an annular recess 60f formed therein adjacent the
annular shoulder 60a. The collar 60e provides a downwardly facing
annular shoulder surface 60g for mounting a seat ring 61 with the
sleeve 60 to effect an annular seal between the spherical surface
20b of the ball 20 and a downwardly facing sealing surface 61a of
the seal ring 61. The seal so effected blocks upward flow of fluid
through the bore 11 between the ball 20 and the seat ring 61. The
seat ring 61 mounts an O-ring 62 thereon for effecting a seal with
the sleeve 60 to block leakage of fluid therebetween.
The upper operating sleeve 50 extends upwardly from a lower annular
shoulder 50a, adjacent the sleeve 60 (FIG. 1B), to an upper annular
shoulder 50b and includes a constant diameter inner surface 50c
defining a bore 50d aligned longitudinally with and communicating
with a bore 60h formed by the surface 60c of the sleeve 60 to
enable flow of fluid through the bore 11 above the ball 20. The
sleeve 50 is also longitudinally moveable between an upper position
(FIGS. 1A and 1B) and a lower position (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
The operating sleeves 50 and 60 are operably connected to enable
limited longitudinal relative compound movement therebetween by a
pair of spaced annular collars 50e and 50f (FIG. 1B) formed on the
outer surface 50g of the sleeve 50 for receiving therebetween a
portion of a pin member 63, secured to the sleeve 60 by suitable
fastening means such as threaded engagement at 63a. The pin 63 is
in engagement with the collar 50f when the sleeves 50 and 60 are in
the relative extended positions (FIG. 1B) and which move toward the
annular collar 50e when the sleeve 50 telescopes into the bore 60h
of the sleeve 60. In the fully compressed or engaged positions
(FIG. 3B) the annular collar 50e is brought into engagement with
the upwardly facing shoulder 60a of the sleeve 60 to block further
telescoping movement of the sleeve 50 into the bore 60h of the
sleeve 60.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the operator assembly S includes an
urging means or spring 51 for urging movement of the sleeve 50 to
the upper position which is concentrically mounted about the
exterior surface 50g of the sleeve 50 between a collar 50i formed
thereon to provide a downwardly facing annular shoulder 50j and an
upwardly facing annular shoulder 10n of the tubular member 10.
The operator assembly S further includes a first or operating
piston ring member 52 and an equalizing flow or bypass operating
piston ring 53 which are concentrically mounted about the sleeve 50
and movable relative thereto which are located above the collar
50i. The rings 52 and 53 are movable relative to both the tubular
member 10 and the slide 50 in response to fluid pressure urgings
thereon to effect operation of the equalizing valve V. The collar
50i also forms an upwardly facing annular shoulder 50k which
engages a downwardly facing annular shoulder 52a of the piston ring
member 52 which is blocked from longitudinal upward movement by
partial engagement of an upwardly facing annular shoulder 52b with
the downwardly facing annular shoulder 10p of the tubular member 10
to provide an upward movement limit stop for the sleeve 50. The
ring 53 is blocked from upward movement when an upwardly facing
annular shoulder 53a partially engages the downwardly facing
annular shoulder 10q of the tubular member 10. The second piston
ring 53 includes a downwardly facing annular shoulder 53b partially
engaging a detent 54 secured in an annular recess 50m formed in the
outer surface 50g of the sleeve 50 to block downward movement of
the piston ring 53 relative to the sleeve 50. The operating piston
ring 52 includes a pair of O-rings 52c and 52d for slidably sealing
with the sleeve 50 and the tubular member 10 to block leakage of
fluid between the piston ring 52 and the sleeve 50 and the tubular
member 10, respectively. The ring 53 is slidably sealed to the
sleeve 50 and the tubular member 10 by O-rings 53c and 53d,
respectively, to block leakage of fluid about the piston 53. The
operator assembly S further includes a pair of O-rings 16 and 17
for slidably sealing between the tubular member 10 and the sleeve
50 above the piston ring 53 and below the spring 51,
respectively.
By sealing against leakage of fluid in this manner, the operator
assembly S thus includes three annular expansible chambers for
providing pressure urging on the piston rings 52 and 53 to effect
valve operating movement of the piston rings 52 and 53. The fluid
seals effected by the O-rings 52c and 52d, 14 and 17, define an
annular expansible chamber 71 formed between the sleeve 50 and the
tubular member 10 below the piston ring 52 for enabling fluid
pressure in the chamber 71 to urge on the pressure responsive
annular shoulder 52a for urging upward movement of the piston ring
52. The fluid seals effected by the O-rings 52 c, 52d, 53c and 53d
define an annular expansible chamber 72 formed between the sleeve
50 and the tubular member 10 between the piston rings 52 and 53.
Fluid pressure in the chamber 72 will urge on the upwardly facing
annular shoulder 52b of the piston ring 52 for urging the piston
ring 52 to move downwardly and also urges on the downwardly facing
annular shoulder 53b of the piston ring 53 for urging the piston
ring 53 to move upwardly. The seals effected by the O-rings 53c,
53d and 16 form a third annular expansible chamber 73 between the
sleeve 50 and the tubular member 10 which is located above the
piston ring 53. Fluid pressure in the expansible chamber 73 urges
on the upwardly facing shoulder surface 53a of the piston ring 53
for urging the piston 53 to move downwardly in response to the
fluid pressure urging thereon.
The operator assembly S provides a means for controlling the fluid
pressure communicated into the expansible chambers 71, 72 and 73 to
effect desired operation of the equalizing valve V, including a
pair of control fluid conduits 81 and 82 formed in the tubular
member 10 and a pair of tubings 91 and 92 communicating with a
fluid pressure means, such as a pump and the like (not illustrated)
at the surface. Tubings 91 and 92 independently communicate fluid
pressure from the surface to the subsurface location of the
equalizing valve V, for controlling the operation thereof as is
well known in the art.
The tubing 91 communicates with the expansible chambers 71 and 73
through the flow channel 81, which is preferably formed in the
tubular member 10 to communicate the controlled fluid pressure
introduced into the tubing 91 at the surface directly into both
chambers 71 and 73. The flow channel 81 extends downwardly from the
threaded engagement 91a of the tubing 91 with tubular member 10 to
a location adjacent the spring 51 and includes an enlarged portion
81a adjacent the threaded portion 91a of the conduit 91 for
enabling communication therebetween and a pair of horizontally
disposed ports 81b and 81c for communicating the flow channel 81
with the expansible chamber 73 above the piston ring 53 and the
expansible chamber 71 below the piston ring 52 respectively. Thus,
fluid pressure communicated through the conduit 91 will urge on the
annular surface 53a to move the piston ring 53 downwardly and will
urge on the annular surface 52a for moving the piston ring 52
upwardly.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the flow channel 82 extends downwardly
from an enlarged area 82a communicating with the conduit 92
adjacent the threaded engagement 92a of the conduit 92 with the
tubular member 10 to a horizontally disposed flow port 82b for
communicating the control fluid pressure in the conduit 92 into the
expansible chamber 72. The control fluid pressure introduced into
the conduit 92 and the expansible chamber 72 urges on the shoulder
53b for imparting movement to the piston 53 and also urges on the
shoulder 52b for moving the piston ring 52 downwardly. By
controlling the pressure differential across the piston rings 52
and 53, the operation of the equalizing valve is also
controlled.
With the control fluid pressure in the conduit 92 and the
expansible chamber 72 greater than the fluid pressure in the
conduit 91 and the expansible chambers 71 and 73, a pressure
differential urging across the piston ring 52 is established for
moving the piston ring 52 downwardly. The downward movement of the
piston ring 52 by engagement of the surface 52a with the collar 50i
will also overcome the spring 51 and move the sleeve 50 downwardly
in response to the fluid pressure in the expansible chamber 72. The
piston ring 53 will move upwardly in response to the pressure
differential also established thereacross until it engages the
shoulder 10g.
When the control fluid pressure in the conduit 91 communicated into
the expansible chamber 71 is greater than the pressure in the
chamber 72, the pressure differential will urge upwardly on the
shoulder 52a of the O-ring 52 to maintain the ring 52 in engagement
with the shoulder 10p of the tubular member 10. This same greater
control fluid pressure is communicated into the expansible chamber
73 to urge on the shoulder 53a of the piston ring 53 for moving the
piston ring 53 downwardly which by engagement with detent 54 will
move the sleeve 50 downwardly until the lower shoulder 53b of the
piston ring 53 engages the upper shoulder 52b of the piston 52. The
piston ring 52 includes a greater radial thickness than the piston
ring 53 for providing a greater effective surface area upon which
the fluid pressure communicated through the conduit 91 may urge on.
Thus, the piston ring 53 will move downwardly into engagement with
the piston ring 52 where it will be blocked from further downward
movement by the same greater fluid pressure. Therefore, the fluid
pressure in the conduit 91 will effect downward movement of the
sleeve 50 to an intermediate position while insuring that the
sleeve 50 may not move below this intermediate position.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the sleeve 50 includes an upwardly
facing tapered annular shoulder 50n formed on the collar 50e and
mounting an O-ring 55 in recess thereon for effecting a fluid seal
with a tapered downwardly facing annular sealing shoulder 10r of
the tubular member 10 when the sleeve 50 is in the upper position.
The sleeve 50 includes a flow equalization means or by-pass ports
50q formed through the sleeve 50 immediately above the annular
shoulder 50n. Downward movement of the sleeve 50 to either the
lower or intermediate position will space the O-ring 55 from the
surface 10r to eliminate the seal therebetween and enable flow of
fluid through the ports 50q.
In the use and operation of the present invention, the equalizing
valve V is connected in the desired location in a production tubing
using the box and pin threaded connections 12 and 13, respectively,
as is well known in the art, for enabling the equalizing valve V to
form a portion of the production tubing T. The control fluid
pressure tubings 91 and 92 are connected and the equalizing valve V
is lowered into the well with the production tubing T. When the
equalizing valve V is at the desired subsurface location, the
production tubing T is suitably supported and the well is enabled
to produce through the bore X of the production tubing T.
When it is desired to produce hydrocarbons and other fluids from
the well, the control fluid pressure in the conduit 91 is increased
while venting the fluid in the conduit 92 to establish pressure
differentials across the piston rings 52 and 53. The pressure in
the expansible chamber 73 urges the piston ring 53 to move
downwardly from the upper position (FIG. 1A) into engagement with
the piston ring 52 (FIG. 2A) where it is blocked from further
downward movement by the same fluid pressure communicated into the
expansible chamber 71 urging upwardly on the piston ring 52. The
limited downward movement of the piston ring 53 moves the sleeve 50
by engagement with detent 54, to the intermediate position (FIGS.
2A and 2B) which spaces the O-ring 55 from the surface 10r. This
movement thus enables fluid flow through the plurality of by-pass
ports 50q about the ball 20 to equalize the pressure differential
across the ball 20 while insuring that the ball 20 is blocked from
rotating open. The leakage of fluid about the wash pipe 40 between
the ball 20 and the tubular member 10 is sufficient to communicate
the well pressure below the closed ball 20 to the area between the
sleeve 60 and the tubular member 10 where it will flow through the
ports 50q into the bore 11 above the ball 20. When the operator
observes that the well shut in pressure has been achieved at the
surface, the control fluid pressure in the conduit 91 is reduced
and the sleeve 50 will be moved back to the upper position by the
urging of spring 51.
With the sleeve 50 back in the upper position fluid pressure in the
conduit 92 is increased, while venting the conduit 91 for
introducing fluid pressure into the expansible chamber 72 to
establish pressure differentials across the piston ring 53 and the
piston ring 52. The pressure differential across the piston ring 53
will maintain the piston ring 53 in engagement with shoulder 10q of
the tubular member 10. The pressure differential across the piston
ring 52 will overcome the upwardly urging of the spring 51 to move
the sleeve 50 downwardly in a telscoping relation with the sleeve
60. Initially, the O-ring 55 is spaced from the wall 10r of the
tubular member 10 to automatically equalize the fluid pressure in
the bore 11 above and below the ball 20 through the ports 50q when
rotating the ball 20 open. Continued downward movement of the
sleeve 50 brings a downwardly facing annular shoulder 50r of the
collar 50e into engagement with the shoulder 60a of the sleeve 60
while overcoming the upwardly urging of the spring 65 for moving
the sleeves 50 and 60 to the lower position as a unit. Subsequent
downward movement overcomes the urging of the spring 41 for moving
the wash pipe 40 and the ball 20 longitudinally downward along with
the sleeves 50 and 60 for effecting opening rotation of the ball
20. In addition to reducing wear and possible damage to the
spherical surface 20b of the ball and the seating surface 61a of
the seat ring 61 during rotation of the ball, the by-pass port 50q
also enables the ball 20 to move downwardly with a smaller urging
pressure in the expansible chamber 72 by reducing the effect of the
well pressure resisting movement of the ball 20.
When it is desirable to rotate the ball 20 closed to block the flow
of well fluids through the bore X of the production tubing T, the
pressure in the conduit 92 is vented or otherwise reduced for
enabling the urging of the strongest spring 41 to urge the engaged
ball 20 upwardly for rotating the ball 20 closed.
When the ball 20 is rotated closed, the annular seals effected
between the ball 20 and the seat ring 61 and by the O-rings 55 and
64, block upwardly flow of fluid through the bore 11 of the tubular
member 10. It will also be appreciated that by sealing the sleeve
60 with the O-ring 64 in the position illustrated, the pressure
differential urging on the sleeve 60 to move the sleeve 60 upwardly
will be quite small and the urging of the weakest spring 65 will be
more than sufficient to maintain the sealing surface 61a of the
seat ring 61 in engagement with the ball 20.
Whenever there is a substantial pressure differential across the
ball 20, the pressure should be equalized thereacross by injecting
or introducing control fluid pressure into the conduit 91 for
equalizing the fluid pressure urging on the ball 20 prior to
introducing control fluid pressure through the conduit 92 for
rotating the ball 20 open to enable the well to produce.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated construction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *