US20100175887A1 - Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper - Google Patents
Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100175887A1 US20100175887A1 US12/351,609 US35160909A US2010175887A1 US 20100175887 A1 US20100175887 A1 US 20100175887A1 US 35160909 A US35160909 A US 35160909A US 2010175887 A1 US2010175887 A1 US 2010175887A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- flapper
- bore
- plunger member
- end portion
- leaf spring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
- E21B34/10—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
- E21B34/101—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole with means for equalizing fluid pressure above and below the valve
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
- E21B2200/05—Flapper valves
Definitions
- This invention relates to subsurface safety valves for deployment in hydrocarbon producing wells, particularly subsurface safety valves comprising flappers.
- a hydrocarbon producing well will include a subsurface safety valve to seal off a section of production tubing in the event of an emergency, e.g., damage to the well head.
- This type of valve is usually activated from the surface using a hydraulic control system with control lines that run from the surface to the subsurface safety valve.
- the valve typically comprises a valve housing and a closure member used to seal the production tubing in the well bore.
- the closure member typically used is a flapper which is hingedly attached to the valve housing and rotatable throughout an arc of ninety degrees between an open and closed position.
- the control system uses hydraulic pressure to move a hollow tube, usually referred to as a flowtube, downwardly against the flapper and a return spring, thereby disposing the flapper in an open position such that hydrocarbons may flow in the production tubing.
- a hollow tube usually referred to as a flowtube
- a return spring thereby disposing the flapper in an open position such that hydrocarbons may flow in the production tubing.
- an equalizing or bleed valve assembly typically comprises a plunger or like member, a spring, and hardware to fasten the spring and plunger to the flapper.
- the plunger typically biased against the flapper by the spring, is displaced to allow the pressure differential to dissipate across the flapper thereby reducing the difficulty in disposing the flapper in an open position.
- a flapper comprising a durable and efficient flapper valve assembly capable of dissipating a pressure differential across the flapper.
- the flapper valve assembly is designed to withstand high external forces created by the slamming of the flapper when closing by requiring no additional hardware to fasten the components of the flapper valve assembly to the flapper.
- One embodiment of the present invention provides a flapper for use as a component of a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore having well bore fluids.
- the flapper comprises a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough.
- the flapper body further forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore.
- the flapper also comprises a plunger member sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore, the plunger member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion.
- the flapper comprises a leaf spring comprising a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, the primary end portion of the leaf spring detachably attached to the second end portion of the plunger member and unattached to the flapper body and the secondary end portion of the leaf spring being sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove and to bias the plunger member into the flapper valve bore.
- Forces exerted on the flapper body when rotating between an open state and a closed state during use of the safety valve urge at least a portion of the leaf spring into the groove. In this way, the components of the flapper maintain their structural relationship with one another despite being exposed to the forces associated with the repeated opening and closing of the safety valve during operation.
- Another embodiment of this invention is a method for equalizing differential pressure across a safety valve deployed in a well bore having well bore fluids.
- the method comprises deploying the safety valve in the well bore.
- the safety valve comprises a flapper, wherein the flapper comprises a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough.
- the flapper body further forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore.
- the method further comprises biasing a plunger member in the flapper valve bore by coupling the plunger member to a leaf spring comprising a primary end portion and a secondary end portion.
- the plunger member is sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore and further comprises a first end portion and a second end portion.
- the primary end portion of the leaf spring is coupled to the second end portion of the plunger member.
- the secondary end portion of the leaf spring is sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove.
- the method further comprises displacing the plunger member to allow fluid to flow from a portion of the well bore having higher pressure to a portion of the well bore having lower pressure. Displacing the plunger member causes the primary end portion of the leaf spring to rotate about the latitudinal axis of the flapper, whereby the pressure differential across the safety valve is equalized.
- another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for retaining a flapper valve in a flapper in a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore.
- the method comprises providing a flapper valve bore in the flapper.
- the flapper valve bore extends through the flapper and the flapper further defines a groove extending distally from the flapper valve bore.
- the method further comprises biasing a plunger member into the flapper valve bore by coupling the plunger member to a leaf spring.
- the leaf spring is disposed in the groove and extends distally from the plunger member. The leaf spring is urged into the groove when forces are exerted on the flapper and thereby retains the plunger member in the flapper valve bore.
- FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a subsurface safety valve, wherein the flapper is in a closed state consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a subsurface safety valve, wherein the flapper is in a open state consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a flapper consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a flapper body and a flapper valve consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a flapper consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plunger member comprising a plurality of fluid pathways consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a plunger member comprising a plunger member bore and a plurality of fluid pathways consistent with one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a plunger member comprising a plunger member bore and a plurality of fluid pathways consistent with one embodiment of the present invention
- FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a subsurface safety valve 10 consistent with at least one embodiment of the present invention.
- Subsurface safety valve 10 When deployed in a well bore (not shown), subsurface safety valve 10 is commonly incorporated into the production tubing (not shown).
- Subsurface safety valve 10 includes a valve housing 12 comprising a first end portion 14 and a second end portion 16 .
- First end portion 14 of the housing 12 is threaded for attachment to an adjacent string of production tubing (not shown) and second end portion 16 of the housing 12 is threaded for attachment with an adjacent section of production tubing (not shown).
- the valve housing 12 further defines a bore 18 for fluid flow there through.
- the valve housing 12 further includes an enlarged central portion 20 , wherein an annular valve seat 22 is secured within the central portion 20 .
- the subsurface safety valve 10 would function to inhibit fluid flow from the direction of the second end portion 16 to the first end portion 14 of the valve housing 12 .
- the second end portion 16 will be considered upstream to the first end portion 14 .
- subsurface safety valve 10 further comprises a flapper 24 , wherein the flapper 24 is hingedly secured to the valve seat 22 by hinge pin 26 .
- the flapper 24 may rotate about the hinge pin 26 in approximately a 90° range of motion, between an open state (shown in FIG. 2 ) and a closed state, as shown in FIG. 1 .
- flapper 24 In the closed state, flapper 24 is in contact and seated on the valve seat 22 , thereby forming a sealing relationship with the valve seat 22 .
- a torsion spring biases the flapper 24 in a closed state, as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the subsurface safety valve 10 inhibits fluid flow from the upstream portion of the well bore to the downstream portion of the well bore.
- the flapper 24 further comprises a pressure equalizing assembly 28 , the structure and function of which will be discussed further below.
- An actuation member 30 which may be a conventional actuation tube or sleeve, is disposed within the housing bore 18 downstream of the valve seat 22 and may be shifted along the longitudinal axis of the housing bore 18 , typically by means of hydraulic pressure or shifting tools; however, actuation member 30 may be shifted by other means known in the art. Actuation member 30 is shifted between an upper position (as shown in FIG. 1 ) and a lower position (as shown in FIG. 2 ). Actuation member 30 comprises a lower end portion 32 , the lower end portion 32 may be substantially flat. Actuation member 30 is shifted to allow the flapper 24 to rotate between open and closed states depending on the position of the actuation member 30 .
- Flapper 24 comprises a flapper body 34 , wherein the flapper body 34 is curved.
- the flapper body 34 is a generally saddle-shaped disc, wherein the flapper body 34 is arcuately curved to provide a curvature that approximately matches the interior surface of the housing 12 .
- the flapper body 34 arcuately curves away from a latitudinal axis of the flapper body 34 when viewed from the upstream face 38 of the flapper 24 .
- the flapper body 34 is curved in order to allow for a smaller outer diameter of the valve housing 12 while increasing the surface sealing contact between the flapper body 34 and the valve seat 22 .
- the flapper body 24 further forms a rounded radial perimeter 36 that is sized and configured to retain a sealing relationship with the valve seat 22 when the flapper 24 is in contact with the valve seat 22 .
- the flapper body 34 comprises an upstream face 38 and a downstream face 40 , the upstream face 38 receiving the fluid pressure from the upstream portion of the well bore when the flapper 24 is in a closed state.
- the downstream face 40 comprises contact portions (not shown), the contact portions sized and configured to be contacted by the actuation member 30 to facilitate the rotation of the flapper 24 between states.
- the contact portions may be substantially flat so that the contact portions may contact the lower end portion 32 of the actuation member 30 in a mating fashion.
- the flapper body 34 further forms at least one hinge component 42 , illustrated as a hinge, sized and configured for hinged attachment to the safety valve 10 , wherein the hinged component 42 extends radially from the flapper body.
- flapper body 34 further forms a flapper valve bore 44 therethrough, the location of the flapper valve bore 44 being within the contact portion of the downstream face 40 of the flapper 24 .
- Flapper body 34 further forms a groove 46 proximate to the flapper bore 44 in the upstream face 38 of the flapper 24 .
- Groove 46 extends distally from the flapper valve bore 44 toward the portion of the flapper body 34 directly opposing the hinged component 42 .
- Flapper 24 further comprises a plunger member 48 , illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8 as a plunger, is sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore 44 .
- Plunger 48 is further sized and configured to shift within the flapper valve bore 44 ; however, plunger 48 forms a sealing relationship with the flapper valve bore 44 when disposed within the valve bore 44 .
- Plunger 48 comprises a first end portion 50 and a second end portion 52 , wherein the first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 protrudes above the downstream face 40 of the flapper 24 .
- the first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 may be substantially flat so that the substantially flat lower end portion 32 of the actuation member 30 may be in a mating fashion with the first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 when actuation member 30 is shifted and placed in contact with the first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 .
- Plunger 48 further forms a plunger member bore 54 therethrough, as illustrated as a plunger bore in FIGS. 7 and 8 .
- Plunger bore 54 comprises a first end 56 and a second end 58 , wherein the first end 56 is located at the first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 and is in fluid communication with the upstream portion of the well bore.
- Plunger 48 as illustrated, is cylindrical in form and further comprises a continuous sidewall 60 .
- Plunger 48 further forms at least one fluid pathway 62 in fluid communication with the plunger member bore 54 . Fluid pathway 62 extends from the plunger bore 54 to the sidewall 60 of the plunger 48 .
- Plunger bore 54 and fluid pathway 62 provide a fluid passageway 64 through the flapper valve bore 54 when the plunger 48 is disposed in the flapper valve bore 44 but is sufficiently displaced from the flapper valve bore 44 so that the fluid passageway 64 is in fluid communication with both an upstream side of the flapper 24 and a downstream side of the flapper 24 .
- flapper 24 further comprises a leaf spring 66 .
- leaf spring 66 extends distally from the flapper valve bore 44 .
- Leaf spring 66 comprises a primary end portion 68 and a secondary end portion 70 .
- the primary end portion 68 of the leaf spring 66 is detachably attached to the second end portion 52 of the plunger 48 and unattached to the flapper body 34 and the secondary end portion 70 of the leaf spring 66 is sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove 46 and to bias the plunger 48 into the flapper valve bore 44 .
- the primary end portion 68 of the leaf spring 66 may further define a leaf spring aperture 72 , wherein the second end portion 52 of the plunger 48 may be inserted through the leaf spring aperture 72 and mechanically coupled to the leaf spring 66 .
- the leaf spring 66 is received and retained in the groove 46 such that forces exerted on the flapper body 34 when rotating between an open state and a closed state during use of the safety valve 10 urge at least a portion of the leaf spring 66 into the groove 46 .
- Plunger 48 is movably disposed within the flapper valve bore 44 between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, fluid may flow through the fluid passageway 64 from the upstream portion of the well bore to the downstream portion of the well bore. In its normal state, plunger 48 is biased in the closed position by the leaf spring 66 such that the plunger 48 creates a sealing relationship with the flapper valve bore 44 so that fluid is unable to flow through the fluid passageway 64 . In the closed position, first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 extends above the contact portion (not shown) of the flapper body 34 .
- the subsurface safety valve 10 is opened by moving the flapper 24 from the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the open position illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- This is accomplished by displacing the actuation member 30 from its upper position shown in FIG. 1 downward toward the upstream portion of the well bore until the lower end portion 32 of the actuation member 30 contacts the first end portion 50 of the plunger 48 .
- This contact urges the plunger 48 into an open position, thereby compressing the leaf spring 66 . Fluid from the upstream portion of the well bore may now flow to the downstream portion of the well bore.
- pressure across the flapper 24 is reduced or equalized.
- the actuation member 30 As the actuation member 30 further moves in the upstream direction towards its lower position, the actuation member 30 contacts the contact portions of the flapper body 34 , thereby bringing the actuation member 30 and contact portions into mating contact and allows the flapper 24 to be urged into an open position as the actuation member 30 travels to its lower position.
- the actuation member 30 In order to close the subsurface safety valve 10 , the actuation member 30 is moved upwardly in the downstream direction towards the upper position of the actuation member 30 . As the actuation member 30 moves upward, the torsion spring (not shown) urges the flapper 24 towards its closed state.
- the flapper 24 When the production tubing (not shown) incorporating the subsurface safety valve 10 contains fluid flowing at a high flow rate or under significant pressure, the flapper 24 may slam shut against the valve seat 22 with tremendous force. This force actually aids in retaining the components of the pressure equalizing assembly 28 , namely the leaf spring 66 and plunger 48 , disposed in the flapper body 34 by urging the leaf spring 66 into the groove 46 when such forces slam the flapper 24 against the valve seat 22 .
- By providing a groove 46 in the flapper body 34 and minimizing the amount of hardware in the pressure equalizing assembly 28 it extremely unlikely that any component of the pressure equalizing assembly 28 would become dislodged from the subsurface safety
- the components of the subsurface safety valve may be made from high strength steel materials, composites or non-elastomeric materials.
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to subsurface safety valves for deployment in hydrocarbon producing wells, particularly subsurface safety valves comprising flappers.
- Typically, a hydrocarbon producing well will include a subsurface safety valve to seal off a section of production tubing in the event of an emergency, e.g., damage to the well head. This type of valve is usually activated from the surface using a hydraulic control system with control lines that run from the surface to the subsurface safety valve. The valve typically comprises a valve housing and a closure member used to seal the production tubing in the well bore. The closure member typically used is a flapper which is hingedly attached to the valve housing and rotatable throughout an arc of ninety degrees between an open and closed position. The control system uses hydraulic pressure to move a hollow tube, usually referred to as a flowtube, downwardly against the flapper and a return spring, thereby disposing the flapper in an open position such that hydrocarbons may flow in the production tubing. Once, the hydraulic pressure is lost in the system, the flow tube moves upwardly thereby allowing the return spring to bias the flapper in a closed position effectively sealing off from the surface the flow of hydrocarbons in the production tubing.
- Once the flapper is in the closed position, formation pressure accumulates on the upstream side of the flapper. This increase in pressure causes a high pressure differential across the flapper making the opening of the flapper difficult. One manner to solve this problem is to incorporate an equalizing or bleed valve assembly in the flapper. Such an equalizing valve assembly typically comprises a plunger or like member, a spring, and hardware to fasten the spring and plunger to the flapper. The plunger, typically biased against the flapper by the spring, is displaced to allow the pressure differential to dissipate across the flapper thereby reducing the difficulty in disposing the flapper in an open position.
- It now has become apparent that a need exists for a durable equalizing valve assembly which can withstand the extreme forces generated by the and on the flapper when it slams closed during use. The flapper is commonly exposed to extreme forces during closing. Those forces may damage the equalizing valve assembly components, especially the hardware used to fasten the equalizing valve assembly to the flapper.
- The present invention is deemed to meet the foregoing need, amongst others, by providing in at least one embodiment, a flapper comprising a durable and efficient flapper valve assembly capable of dissipating a pressure differential across the flapper. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the flapper valve assembly is designed to withstand high external forces created by the slamming of the flapper when closing by requiring no additional hardware to fasten the components of the flapper valve assembly to the flapper.
- One embodiment of the present invention provides a flapper for use as a component of a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore having well bore fluids. The flapper comprises a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough. The flapper body further forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore. The flapper also comprises a plunger member sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore, the plunger member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion. Additionally, the flapper comprises a leaf spring comprising a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, the primary end portion of the leaf spring detachably attached to the second end portion of the plunger member and unattached to the flapper body and the secondary end portion of the leaf spring being sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove and to bias the plunger member into the flapper valve bore. Forces exerted on the flapper body when rotating between an open state and a closed state during use of the safety valve urge at least a portion of the leaf spring into the groove. In this way, the components of the flapper maintain their structural relationship with one another despite being exposed to the forces associated with the repeated opening and closing of the safety valve during operation.
- Another embodiment of this invention is a method for equalizing differential pressure across a safety valve deployed in a well bore having well bore fluids. The method comprises deploying the safety valve in the well bore. The safety valve comprises a flapper, wherein the flapper comprises a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough. The flapper body further forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore. The method further comprises biasing a plunger member in the flapper valve bore by coupling the plunger member to a leaf spring comprising a primary end portion and a secondary end portion. The plunger member is sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore and further comprises a first end portion and a second end portion. The primary end portion of the leaf spring is coupled to the second end portion of the plunger member. The secondary end portion of the leaf spring is sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove. The method further comprises displacing the plunger member to allow fluid to flow from a portion of the well bore having higher pressure to a portion of the well bore having lower pressure. Displacing the plunger member causes the primary end portion of the leaf spring to rotate about the latitudinal axis of the flapper, whereby the pressure differential across the safety valve is equalized.
- Still yet, another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for retaining a flapper valve in a flapper in a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore. The method comprises providing a flapper valve bore in the flapper. The flapper valve bore extends through the flapper and the flapper further defines a groove extending distally from the flapper valve bore. The method further comprises biasing a plunger member into the flapper valve bore by coupling the plunger member to a leaf spring. The leaf spring is disposed in the groove and extends distally from the plunger member. The leaf spring is urged into the groove when forces are exerted on the flapper and thereby retains the plunger member in the flapper valve bore.
- These and other features of this invention will be still further apparent from the ensuing description, drawings, and appended claims.
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FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a subsurface safety valve, wherein the flapper is in a closed state consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a subsurface safety valve, wherein the flapper is in a open state consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a flapper consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a flapper body and a flapper valve consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a flapper consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plunger member comprising a plurality of fluid pathways consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a plunger member comprising a plunger member bore and a plurality of fluid pathways consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a plunger member comprising a plunger member bore and a plurality of fluid pathways consistent with one embodiment of the present invention - In each of the above figures, like numerals are used to refer to like or functionally like parts among the several figures.
- Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below as they might be employed in the construction and use of a subsurface safety valve flapper and methods according to the present invention. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be of course appreciated that in the development of such an actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
- Turning now to the figures,
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate asubsurface safety valve 10 consistent with at least one embodiment of the present invention. When deployed in a well bore (not shown),subsurface safety valve 10 is commonly incorporated into the production tubing (not shown).Subsurface safety valve 10 includes avalve housing 12 comprising afirst end portion 14 and asecond end portion 16.First end portion 14 of thehousing 12 is threaded for attachment to an adjacent string of production tubing (not shown) andsecond end portion 16 of thehousing 12 is threaded for attachment with an adjacent section of production tubing (not shown). Thevalve housing 12 further defines abore 18 for fluid flow there through. Thevalve housing 12 further includes an enlargedcentral portion 20, wherein anannular valve seat 22 is secured within thecentral portion 20. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , thesubsurface safety valve 10 would function to inhibit fluid flow from the direction of thesecond end portion 16 to thefirst end portion 14 of thevalve housing 12. Thus, thesecond end portion 16 will be considered upstream to thefirst end portion 14. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2 ,subsurface safety valve 10 further comprises aflapper 24, wherein theflapper 24 is hingedly secured to thevalve seat 22 byhinge pin 26. Theflapper 24 may rotate about thehinge pin 26 in approximately a 90° range of motion, between an open state (shown inFIG. 2 ) and a closed state, as shown inFIG. 1 . In the closed state,flapper 24 is in contact and seated on thevalve seat 22, thereby forming a sealing relationship with thevalve seat 22. A torsion spring (not shown) biases theflapper 24 in a closed state, as shown inFIG. 2 . With theflapper 24 andvalve seat 22 forming the sealing relationship as shown inFIG. 1 , thesubsurface safety valve 10 inhibits fluid flow from the upstream portion of the well bore to the downstream portion of the well bore. As illustrated, theflapper 24 further comprises apressure equalizing assembly 28, the structure and function of which will be discussed further below. - An
actuation member 30, which may be a conventional actuation tube or sleeve, is disposed within the housing bore 18 downstream of thevalve seat 22 and may be shifted along the longitudinal axis of the housing bore 18, typically by means of hydraulic pressure or shifting tools; however,actuation member 30 may be shifted by other means known in the art.Actuation member 30 is shifted between an upper position (as shown inFIG. 1 ) and a lower position (as shown inFIG. 2 ).Actuation member 30 comprises alower end portion 32, thelower end portion 32 may be substantially flat.Actuation member 30 is shifted to allow theflapper 24 to rotate between open and closed states depending on the position of theactuation member 30. - Turning now to
FIGS. 3 through 5 , theflapper 24 andpressure equalizing assembly 28 may be better understood.Flapper 24 comprises aflapper body 34, wherein theflapper body 34 is curved. Theflapper body 34 is a generally saddle-shaped disc, wherein theflapper body 34 is arcuately curved to provide a curvature that approximately matches the interior surface of thehousing 12. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 , theflapper body 34 arcuately curves away from a latitudinal axis of theflapper body 34 when viewed from theupstream face 38 of theflapper 24. Theflapper body 34 is curved in order to allow for a smaller outer diameter of thevalve housing 12 while increasing the surface sealing contact between theflapper body 34 and thevalve seat 22. Theflapper body 24 further forms a roundedradial perimeter 36 that is sized and configured to retain a sealing relationship with thevalve seat 22 when theflapper 24 is in contact with thevalve seat 22. Theflapper body 34 comprises anupstream face 38 and adownstream face 40, theupstream face 38 receiving the fluid pressure from the upstream portion of the well bore when theflapper 24 is in a closed state. Thedownstream face 40 comprises contact portions (not shown), the contact portions sized and configured to be contacted by theactuation member 30 to facilitate the rotation of theflapper 24 between states. The contact portions may be substantially flat so that the contact portions may contact thelower end portion 32 of theactuation member 30 in a mating fashion. Theflapper body 34 further forms at least onehinge component 42, illustrated as a hinge, sized and configured for hinged attachment to thesafety valve 10, wherein the hingedcomponent 42 extends radially from the flapper body. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 3 through 5 ,flapper body 34 further forms a flapper valve bore 44 therethrough, the location of the flapper valve bore 44 being within the contact portion of thedownstream face 40 of theflapper 24.Flapper body 34 further forms agroove 46 proximate to the flapper bore 44 in theupstream face 38 of theflapper 24.Groove 46 extends distally from the flapper valve bore 44 toward the portion of theflapper body 34 directly opposing the hingedcomponent 42. -
Flapper 24 further comprises aplunger member 48, illustrated inFIGS. 6 through 8 as a plunger, is sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore 44.Plunger 48 is further sized and configured to shift within the flapper valve bore 44; however, plunger 48 forms a sealing relationship with the flapper valve bore 44 when disposed within the valve bore 44.Plunger 48 comprises afirst end portion 50 and asecond end portion 52, wherein thefirst end portion 50 of theplunger 48 protrudes above thedownstream face 40 of theflapper 24. Thefirst end portion 50 of theplunger 48 may be substantially flat so that the substantially flatlower end portion 32 of theactuation member 30 may be in a mating fashion with thefirst end portion 50 of theplunger 48 whenactuation member 30 is shifted and placed in contact with thefirst end portion 50 of theplunger 48. -
Plunger 48 further forms a plunger member bore 54 therethrough, as illustrated as a plunger bore inFIGS. 7 and 8 . Plunger bore 54 comprises a first end 56 and asecond end 58, wherein the first end 56 is located at thefirst end portion 50 of theplunger 48 and is in fluid communication with the upstream portion of the well bore.Plunger 48, as illustrated, is cylindrical in form and further comprises acontinuous sidewall 60.Plunger 48 further forms at least onefluid pathway 62 in fluid communication with the plunger member bore 54.Fluid pathway 62 extends from the plunger bore 54 to thesidewall 60 of theplunger 48. Plunger bore 54 andfluid pathway 62 provide afluid passageway 64 through the flapper valve bore 54 when theplunger 48 is disposed in the flapper valve bore 44 but is sufficiently displaced from the flapper valve bore 44 so that thefluid passageway 64 is in fluid communication with both an upstream side of theflapper 24 and a downstream side of theflapper 24. - As shown in
FIGS. 3 through 5 ,flapper 24 further comprises aleaf spring 66. As illustrated,leaf spring 66 extends distally from the flapper valve bore 44.Leaf spring 66 comprises aprimary end portion 68 and asecondary end portion 70. Theprimary end portion 68 of theleaf spring 66 is detachably attached to thesecond end portion 52 of theplunger 48 and unattached to theflapper body 34 and thesecondary end portion 70 of theleaf spring 66 is sized and configured to be received and retained in thegroove 46 and to bias theplunger 48 into the flapper valve bore 44. Theprimary end portion 68 of theleaf spring 66 may further define aleaf spring aperture 72, wherein thesecond end portion 52 of theplunger 48 may be inserted through theleaf spring aperture 72 and mechanically coupled to theleaf spring 66. Theleaf spring 66 is received and retained in thegroove 46 such that forces exerted on theflapper body 34 when rotating between an open state and a closed state during use of thesafety valve 10 urge at least a portion of theleaf spring 66 into thegroove 46. -
Plunger 48 is movably disposed within the flapper valve bore 44 between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, fluid may flow through thefluid passageway 64 from the upstream portion of the well bore to the downstream portion of the well bore. In its normal state,plunger 48 is biased in the closed position by theleaf spring 66 such that theplunger 48 creates a sealing relationship with the flapper valve bore 44 so that fluid is unable to flow through thefluid passageway 64. In the closed position,first end portion 50 of theplunger 48 extends above the contact portion (not shown) of theflapper body 34. - In operation, the
subsurface safety valve 10 is opened by moving theflapper 24 from the closed position illustrated inFIG. 1 to the open position illustrated inFIG. 2 . This is accomplished by displacing theactuation member 30 from its upper position shown inFIG. 1 downward toward the upstream portion of the well bore until thelower end portion 32 of theactuation member 30 contacts thefirst end portion 50 of theplunger 48. This contact urges theplunger 48 into an open position, thereby compressing theleaf spring 66. Fluid from the upstream portion of the well bore may now flow to the downstream portion of the well bore. Thus, pressure across theflapper 24 is reduced or equalized. As theactuation member 30 further moves in the upstream direction towards its lower position, theactuation member 30 contacts the contact portions of theflapper body 34, thereby bringing theactuation member 30 and contact portions into mating contact and allows theflapper 24 to be urged into an open position as theactuation member 30 travels to its lower position. - In order to close the
subsurface safety valve 10, theactuation member 30 is moved upwardly in the downstream direction towards the upper position of theactuation member 30. As theactuation member 30 moves upward, the torsion spring (not shown) urges theflapper 24 towards its closed state. When the production tubing (not shown) incorporating thesubsurface safety valve 10 contains fluid flowing at a high flow rate or under significant pressure, theflapper 24 may slam shut against thevalve seat 22 with tremendous force. This force actually aids in retaining the components of thepressure equalizing assembly 28, namely theleaf spring 66 andplunger 48, disposed in theflapper body 34 by urging theleaf spring 66 into thegroove 46 when such forces slam theflapper 24 against thevalve seat 22. By providing agroove 46 in theflapper body 34 and minimizing the amount of hardware in thepressure equalizing assembly 28, it extremely unlikely that any component of thepressure equalizing assembly 28 would become dislodged from thesubsurface safety valve 10. - One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the components of the subsurface safety valve, including the flapper body and pressure equalizing assembly, may be made from high strength steel materials, composites or non-elastomeric materials.
- Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the description or a claim to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the text expressly indicates otherwise.
- This invention is susceptible to considerable variation within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims (15)
Priority Applications (10)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/351,609 US20100175887A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-01-09 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
SG2012048757A SG182984A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-12-08 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
SG200908159-7A SG163470A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-12-08 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
MYPI20095492 MY152650A (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-12-21 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
IE20120072A IE86204B1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2010-01-05 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
IE20110238A IE20110238A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2010-01-05 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
IE20100001A IE20100001A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2010-01-05 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
FR1050097A FR2941009B1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2010-01-08 | FLOW OF SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVE |
US13/009,171 US20110114335A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-01-19 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
US13/289,185 US8701781B2 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-11-04 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/351,609 US20100175887A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-01-09 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/009,171 Continuation US20110114335A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-01-19 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100175887A1 true US20100175887A1 (en) | 2010-07-15 |
Family
ID=42299126
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/351,609 Abandoned US20100175887A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-01-09 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
US13/009,171 Abandoned US20110114335A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-01-19 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
US13/289,185 Expired - Fee Related US8701781B2 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-11-04 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/009,171 Abandoned US20110114335A1 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-01-19 | Subsurface Safety Valve Flapper |
US13/289,185 Expired - Fee Related US8701781B2 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2011-11-04 | Subsurface safety valve flapper |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US20100175887A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2941009B1 (en) |
IE (3) | IE20100001A1 (en) |
MY (1) | MY152650A (en) |
SG (2) | SG182984A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140158362A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-12 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Flapper Equalizer with Integral Spring |
CN106321015A (en) * | 2016-08-18 | 2017-01-11 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Downhole switching device |
CN108167481A (en) * | 2018-01-16 | 2018-06-15 | 中国海洋石油集团有限公司 | A kind of underground one-way cock |
US10443348B2 (en) * | 2014-12-31 | 2019-10-15 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Flapper and seat with a hard and soft seal for a subsurface safety valve |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140034330A1 (en) * | 2012-07-31 | 2014-02-06 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Systems and methods for flow reduction or isolation in a wellbore |
US11377928B2 (en) | 2020-05-13 | 2022-07-05 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Downhole isolation valves with pressure relief |
US11396791B2 (en) | 2020-08-03 | 2022-07-26 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Equalizing cartridge for a flapper valve |
US11697977B2 (en) | 2021-01-14 | 2023-07-11 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Isolation valve for use in a wellbore |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4478286A (en) * | 1983-02-14 | 1984-10-23 | Baker Oil Tools, Inc. | Equalizing valve for subterranean wells |
US6079497A (en) * | 1997-06-03 | 2000-06-27 | Camco International Inc. | Pressure equalizing safety valve for subterranean wells |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6283217B1 (en) * | 1998-08-06 | 2001-09-04 | Schlumberger Technology Corp. | Axial equalizing valve |
US6328062B1 (en) * | 1999-01-13 | 2001-12-11 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Torsion spring connections for downhole flapper |
AU784461B2 (en) * | 2000-12-05 | 2006-04-06 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Equalizing flapper for down hole safety valves |
-
2009
- 2009-01-09 US US12/351,609 patent/US20100175887A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2009-12-08 SG SG2012048757A patent/SG182984A1/en unknown
- 2009-12-08 SG SG200908159-7A patent/SG163470A1/en unknown
- 2009-12-21 MY MYPI20095492 patent/MY152650A/en unknown
-
2010
- 2010-01-05 IE IE20100001A patent/IE20100001A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-01-05 IE IE20120072A patent/IE86204B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2010-01-05 IE IE20110238A patent/IE20110238A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-01-08 FR FR1050097A patent/FR2941009B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2011
- 2011-01-19 US US13/009,171 patent/US20110114335A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-11-04 US US13/289,185 patent/US8701781B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4478286A (en) * | 1983-02-14 | 1984-10-23 | Baker Oil Tools, Inc. | Equalizing valve for subterranean wells |
US6079497A (en) * | 1997-06-03 | 2000-06-27 | Camco International Inc. | Pressure equalizing safety valve for subterranean wells |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140158362A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-12 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Flapper Equalizer with Integral Spring |
US9255463B2 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2016-02-09 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Flapper equalizer with integral spring |
US10443348B2 (en) * | 2014-12-31 | 2019-10-15 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Flapper and seat with a hard and soft seal for a subsurface safety valve |
CN106321015A (en) * | 2016-08-18 | 2017-01-11 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Downhole switching device |
CN108167481A (en) * | 2018-01-16 | 2018-06-15 | 中国海洋石油集团有限公司 | A kind of underground one-way cock |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20110114335A1 (en) | 2011-05-19 |
IE20120072A1 (en) | 2012-04-11 |
US20120111575A1 (en) | 2012-05-10 |
IE86204B1 (en) | 2013-06-19 |
MY152650A (en) | 2014-10-31 |
SG182984A1 (en) | 2012-08-30 |
FR2941009A1 (en) | 2010-07-16 |
IE20100001A1 (en) | 2010-08-04 |
FR2941009B1 (en) | 2015-04-03 |
US8701781B2 (en) | 2014-04-22 |
SG163470A1 (en) | 2010-08-30 |
IE20110238A1 (en) | 2011-06-22 |
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Owner name: BJ SERVICES COMPANY, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:JANCHA, ROBERT;HENSCHEL, ROBERT C.;REEL/FRAME:022146/0191 Effective date: 20090114 |
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