US20110088908A1 - Flapper valve - Google Patents
Flapper valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110088908A1 US20110088908A1 US12/579,972 US57997209A US2011088908A1 US 20110088908 A1 US20110088908 A1 US 20110088908A1 US 57997209 A US57997209 A US 57997209A US 2011088908 A1 US2011088908 A1 US 2011088908A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- flapper
- downhole valve
- housing
- valve
- flow tube
- 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
Links
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- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
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- 150000002825 nitriles Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 abstract description 26
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
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- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 13
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 13
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- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000008210 memory foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK 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
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK 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
- E21B34/102—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK 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
- Flapper valves have been used for an extended period of time. Such devices are useful whenever it is necessary to cause a fluid to move into the downhole environment from a remote location such as a surface location.
- Flapper valves come in a number of forms but not uncommonly are configured as tubing retrievable injection valves (TRIV), for example.
- TOV tubing retrievable injection valves
- Such valves often comprise a flapper that articulates and a flow tube that translates through a position occupied by the flapper when closed, thereby maintaining the flapper in an open position throughout the injection cycle. The open position is so maintained by the flow tube structurally pushing the flapper out of the way (causing rotation about its pivot) when the flapper valve is in the open position. While such flapper valves work well for their intended purposes, improvement is always desirable whether that improvement be in performance, cost reduction or both.
- a flapper for a downhole valve including a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position.
- a downhole valve including a housing; a flow tube moveably disposed in the housing; and a flapper articulated to the housing, the flapper including a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a flapper valve as disclosed herein in a closed position.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the valve of FIG. 1 in an open position.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the flapper valve disclosed herein, the portion circumscribed by line 3 - 3 in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of a flapper valve in a closed position.
- FIG. 5 is and alternate embodiment of a flapper valve in an opened position.
- valve 10 such as a flapper valve includes a relatively short flow tube 12 disposed in operable communication with a relatively short housing 14 .
- the flapper valve 10 further includes a flapper 16 articulated to the housing 14 at a pivot point 18 .
- a seal 20 is disposed at the housing 14 and positioned for interaction with the flapper 16 when the flapper valve 10 is in the closed position. More specifically, the seal 20 ensures that the flapper 16 when closed will form a fluid tight interface with the housing 14 .
- Such seals are common and tend to be relatively soft. This makes them vulnerable to flow cutting and hence they require protection. Protection in the illustrated configuration is provided by a flow tube that need be only long enough to extend past the seal 20 when the flapper 16 is open. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the flow tube would not function to open the flapper 16 as is the case in many prior art valves but rather stops short of interacting physically with the flapper 16 .
- this configuration it is the flow of injection fluid that opens and maintains the flapper 16 in the open position.
- the flow tube in this configuration then has only to protect the seal 20 , which it does in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- an extension spring 22 in operable communication with the flow tube 12 and the housing 14 will automatically move the flow tube 12 to the operational position when the flapper 16 is opened, that opening being due solely to flow or to flow in combination with another opening impetus.
- the flapper 16 itself comprises an erosion resistance that is either surface concentrated such as in the form of a coating or a surface layer or may be erosion resistant for a greater percentage of the flapper 16 , including but not limited to the entire flapper being composed of erosion resistant material. This configuration allows the use of the valve 10 with high injection flow rates without a flow tube 12 being long enough to cover the flapper 16 .
- the surface 28 may be of the flapper itself or may be of a material attached to the flapper.
- the surface 28 is formed by providing a conformable material 30 attached to the flapper 16 .
- the conformable material 30 will assume the shape of the inside surface 24 upon contact therewith and prevent any significant turbulent fluid from urging the flapper 16 away from the surface 24 during injection.
- This embodiment allows for irregularities in the surface 24 to be accounted for without knowing what those irregularities might be.
- the tubing string in which the valve 10 is installed may have experienced flow cutting or erosion or may have become deformed during run in and resultingly does not necessarily present a cylindrical geometry at the surface 24 for a preconceived surface 28 to geometrically mate with.
- conformable material 30 provides a wider range of functional success in reducing any potential volumes within which turbulent fluids might otherwise act.
- Conformable materials include but are not limited to rubber, nitrile, foams (including shape memory foam), etc.
- the material may be a nonconformable material attached to the flapper or may be the flapper itself.
- the material may geometrically mate well with the inside surface 24 and perform substantially as does the conformable material or may geometrically mate less well with the surface 24 but in any event, the material 30 will be formed to substantially geometrically mate with the surface 24 and accordingly will substantially displace turbulent fluid from the volume defined between the surface 28 and the surface 24 . Due to the reduction in turbulent fluid in this location, impetus on the flapper 16 to move into the flow path of the injection fluid is reduced or eliminated.
- the torsion spring 19 operates to oppose the force of flowing injection fluid but without sufficient energy to overcome the force of the flowing fluid.
- the flapper 16 then will be opened by the flowing fluid but will close automatically upon cessation of flow of the injection fluid.
- the torsion spring is configured with a greater spring force than the extension spring 22 such that the flow tube may be pushed back to its unactuated position by the flapper 16 through the impetus of the torsion spring 18 .
- the flapper may further include a magnetic component 32 that is attractive to the tubing 26 or to another magnetic component 34 disposed in the tubing 26 .
- the magnet(s) either singly or in combination act to maintain the flapper 16 in contact with the surface 24 thereby reducing any available volume into which fluid may flow which consequently reduces any possible impetus for the flapper 16 to move into the injection flow.
- the attractive force of the magnets it is in one embodiment, it is not necessary to have the surface 28 or material 30 of FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate such an embodiment.
- a flapper valve 100 that ensures the flapper stays in the open position regardless of turbulence is illustrated. Illustrated is a housing 101 having a magnet housing 102 disposed therein. The magnet housing is axially movable within the housing 101 and is fluid sealed thereto by one or more seal 104 .
- the magnet housing 102 supports a magnetic field generating component 106 that comprises a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.
- the magnet housing 102 is biased by a compression spring 108 that may be a coil spring as illustrated or any other type of spring that provides resilience in compression.
- the spring 108 is maintained in position by a shoulder 110 in the housing 101 and a flapper sub 112 that bounds the annular space in which the spring 108 is located.
- the flapper sub 112 is a non movable component that is at least partially composed of a nonmagnetic material, the part being where a magnetic field would need to pass through the sub 112 . This area is labeled 115 .
- the sub 112 is anchored by suitable means 114 at recess 116 in housing 101 .
- the suitable means 114 may be one or more fasteners such as threaded fasteners, welding, adhesive, press fit, etc. at an end of flapper sub 112 opposite the means 114 is a pivot 118 and torsion spring 120 that together allow pivotal movement of a flapper 122 and a bias of the flapper 122 to its closed position (illustrated in FIG. 4 ).
- a flapper seat 124 and a seal 126 thereat Adjacent a portion of the flapper 112 is a flapper seat 124 and a seal 126 thereat.
- Seat 124 may be attached to flapper sub 112 at and by, for example, thread 128 .
- a flow tube 130 is positioned radially inwardly of the seat 124 and is moveable therein.
- the flow tube is connected to a tension spring 132 that is also connected to the flapper seat 124 .
- the tension spring 132 tends to bias the flow tube toward the flapper 122 such that when the flapper 122 is in an open position the flow tube will protect the seal 126 from erosion due to fluid flow.
- the flow tube 130 need merely extend a small distance past the seal to provide this protection.
- the tension spring 132 is sufficient in spring rate only to move the flow tube 130 to the protective position but is insufficient to prevent closure of the flapper 122 based upon input from the torsion spring 120 .
- This configuration ensures that the flapper 122 will close properly when it is supposed to without the flow tube interfering with the closure.
- the flapper 122 is provided with a magnetic field generating component 136 , which in one embodiment comprises a permanent magnet but may be configured as an electromagnet.
- the exposed surface of the component 136 will be of an opposing magnetic pole to the exposed surface of the component 106 . It is inconsequential which one of the two is north or south pole oriented.
- a fluid 138 is applied in the direction of flow arrow 140 toward the flapper valve 100 .
- the fluid 138 forces the flapper to swing open (position depicted in FIG. 5 ), and simultaneously through fluid drag, moves the magnet housing 102 in the same direction as fluid movement.
- This action causes the magnetic field generating component 106 to move along with the magnet housing 102 to a position where the arcuate movement of magnetic field generating component 136 will be in register therewith, the movement of component 136 being dependent upon the pivoting movement of flapper 122 . Because the two components 106 and 136 are aligned and positioned in proximity to one another as well as being oppositely poled, the flapper is magnetically held in the open position and hence out of the flow of fluid 138 .
- the spring force of the torsion spring 120 is insufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between components 106 and 136 and therefore is of no consequence with respect to maintaining the flapper 122 in the open position.
- the flapper of a valve of this type must close when injection is stopped. This action is also unimpeded because as soon as the fluid drag on the magnet housing 102 is relieved, secondary to a pause in the flow of fluid 138 , the compression spring 108 will elongate and force the magnet housing 102 to move to the closed position of FIG. 4 . This will cause the magnetic field generating component 106 to slide away from the magnetic field generating component 136 thereby substantially reducing the attractive force therebetween.
- the flapper is hence free to close under the impetus of the torsion spring 120 .
- the magnetic field generating components need not be on both sides of the resulting attractive interface but rather one could simply be a magnetically responsive material such as a ferrous metal.
- a reduced attractive force would result but if the component used has a sufficiently potent field, it would still function as noted above.
- Sliding action would still be used to break the interface wither by moving a nonmagnetic material into proximity with the components while the magnetically responsive material is slidingly moved away or a configuration where a sliding movement would simply position the field generating component farther away from a responsive material such as by sliding one of the structural features described in a direction that allows a recess to be aligned with the filed generating component.
- the recess would position a responsive material far enough away from the field generating component to reduce the attractive force to a magnitude less than a closing force supplied by the torsion spring.
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Lift Valve (AREA)
Abstract
A flapper for a downhole valve including a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position. The surface reduces an amount of fluid that can exist between the flapper and a housing member thereby reducing the effect of turbulence on the flapper. The geometrically mating surface may be a hard surface that is configured to mate or may be a softer surface that will self conform.
Description
- In the downhole drilling and completion industry flapper valves have been used for an extended period of time. Such devices are useful whenever it is necessary to cause a fluid to move into the downhole environment from a remote location such as a surface location. Flapper valves come in a number of forms but not uncommonly are configured as tubing retrievable injection valves (TRIV), for example. Such valves often comprise a flapper that articulates and a flow tube that translates through a position occupied by the flapper when closed, thereby maintaining the flapper in an open position throughout the injection cycle. The open position is so maintained by the flow tube structurally pushing the flapper out of the way (causing rotation about its pivot) when the flapper valve is in the open position. While such flapper valves work well for their intended purposes, improvement is always desirable whether that improvement be in performance, cost reduction or both.
- A flapper for a downhole valve including a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position.
- A downhole valve including a housing; a flow tube moveably disposed in the housing; and a flapper articulated to the housing, the flapper including a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position.
- Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a flapper valve as disclosed herein in a closed position. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the valve ofFIG. 1 in an open position. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the flapper valve disclosed herein, the portion circumscribed by line 3-3 inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of a flapper valve in a closed position. -
FIG. 5 is and alternate embodiment of a flapper valve in an opened position. - Referring to
FIG. 1 ,valve 10 such as a flapper valve includes a relativelyshort flow tube 12 disposed in operable communication with a relativelyshort housing 14. Theflapper valve 10 further includes aflapper 16 articulated to thehousing 14 at apivot point 18. Aseal 20 is disposed at thehousing 14 and positioned for interaction with theflapper 16 when theflapper valve 10 is in the closed position. More specifically, theseal 20 ensures that theflapper 16 when closed will form a fluid tight interface with thehousing 14. Such seals are common and tend to be relatively soft. This makes them vulnerable to flow cutting and hence they require protection. Protection in the illustrated configuration is provided by a flow tube that need be only long enough to extend past theseal 20 when theflapper 16 is open. This is illustrated inFIG. 2 . Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that as illustrated, the flow tube would not function to open theflapper 16 as is the case in many prior art valves but rather stops short of interacting physically with theflapper 16. In this configuration, it is the flow of injection fluid that opens and maintains theflapper 16 in the open position. The flow tube in this configuration then has only to protect theseal 20, which it does in the position illustrated inFIG. 2 . It is noted that it is possible to apply the concepts herein to a valve with a longer flow tube that also has function to open theflapper 16 but such function is not necessary to the teaching herein. In either case, anextension spring 22 in operable communication with theflow tube 12 and thehousing 14 will automatically move theflow tube 12 to the operational position when theflapper 16 is opened, that opening being due solely to flow or to flow in combination with another opening impetus. - The
flapper 16 itself comprises an erosion resistance that is either surface concentrated such as in the form of a coating or a surface layer or may be erosion resistant for a greater percentage of theflapper 16, including but not limited to the entire flapper being composed of erosion resistant material. This configuration allows the use of thevalve 10 with high injection flow rates without aflow tube 12 being long enough to cover theflapper 16. - Because the flapper is exposed to flow during use of the
valve 10 due to a short flow tube, fluid dynamics considerations are of importance when they are traditionally irrelevant to the flapper. The fluid flowing past and in contact with theflapper 16 causes turbulence behind theflapper 16 adjacent aninside surface 24 of a tubular 26 in which thevalve 10 is installed. The turbulence can cause the flapper to move into the flow stream and not stay against thesurface 24. This is a hindrance to injection and hence is to be avoided. The problem is exacerbated by higher injection rates. In order to address this issue the inventor hereof has determined that the effect of turbulence with respect to its ability to move the flapper into the injection flow can be minimized by reducing the fluid volume between asurface 28 of theflapper 16 and thesurface 24. It is to be noted that thesurface 28 may be of the flapper itself or may be of a material attached to the flapper. In one embodiment, thesurface 28 is formed by providing aconformable material 30 attached to theflapper 16. Theconformable material 30 will assume the shape of theinside surface 24 upon contact therewith and prevent any significant turbulent fluid from urging theflapper 16 away from thesurface 24 during injection. This embodiment allows for irregularities in thesurface 24 to be accounted for without knowing what those irregularities might be. More specifically, the tubing string in which thevalve 10 is installed may have experienced flow cutting or erosion or may have become deformed during run in and resultingly does not necessarily present a cylindrical geometry at thesurface 24 for apreconceived surface 28 to geometrically mate with. In such situation aconformable material 30 provides a wider range of functional success in reducing any potential volumes within which turbulent fluids might otherwise act. Conformable materials include but are not limited to rubber, nitrile, foams (including shape memory foam), etc. In other embodiments, the material may be a nonconformable material attached to the flapper or may be the flapper itself. In such cases, the material may geometrically mate well with theinside surface 24 and perform substantially as does the conformable material or may geometrically mate less well with thesurface 24 but in any event, thematerial 30 will be formed to substantially geometrically mate with thesurface 24 and accordingly will substantially displace turbulent fluid from the volume defined between thesurface 28 and thesurface 24. Due to the reduction in turbulent fluid in this location, impetus on theflapper 16 to move into the flow path of the injection fluid is reduced or eliminated. - Still referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , thetorsion spring 19 operates to oppose the force of flowing injection fluid but without sufficient energy to overcome the force of the flowing fluid. Theflapper 16 then will be opened by the flowing fluid but will close automatically upon cessation of flow of the injection fluid. In one embodiment, the torsion spring is configured with a greater spring force than theextension spring 22 such that the flow tube may be pushed back to its unactuated position by theflapper 16 through the impetus of thetorsion spring 18. - In addition to the foregoing, and referring to
FIG. 3 , the flapper may further include amagnetic component 32 that is attractive to thetubing 26 or to anothermagnetic component 34 disposed in thetubing 26. The magnet(s) either singly or in combination act to maintain theflapper 16 in contact with thesurface 24 thereby reducing any available volume into which fluid may flow which consequently reduces any possible impetus for theflapper 16 to move into the injection flow. In addition, because of the attractive force of the magnets, it is in one embodiment, it is not necessary to have thesurface 28 ormaterial 30 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 .FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate such an embodiment. With respect to releasing the magnetic attraction of any of the embodiments herein that include magnetic field generating components whether of opposing poles or only one sided and attractive to a ferrous material, a sliding action will be used. For an understanding of such an action and one embodiment of a configuration capable of producing the sliding action, seeFIGS. 4 and 5 and the description thereof hereinbelow. - Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5 simultaneously, an embodiment of aflapper valve 100 that ensures the flapper stays in the open position regardless of turbulence is illustrated. Illustrated is ahousing 101 having amagnet housing 102 disposed therein. The magnet housing is axially movable within thehousing 101 and is fluid sealed thereto by one ormore seal 104. Themagnet housing 102 supports a magneticfield generating component 106 that comprises a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. Themagnet housing 102 is biased by acompression spring 108 that may be a coil spring as illustrated or any other type of spring that provides resilience in compression. Thespring 108 is maintained in position by ashoulder 110 in thehousing 101 and aflapper sub 112 that bounds the annular space in which thespring 108 is located. Theflapper sub 112 is a non movable component that is at least partially composed of a nonmagnetic material, the part being where a magnetic field would need to pass through thesub 112. This area is labeled 115. Thesub 112 is anchored bysuitable means 114 atrecess 116 inhousing 101. The suitable means 114 may be one or more fasteners such as threaded fasteners, welding, adhesive, press fit, etc. at an end offlapper sub 112 opposite themeans 114 is apivot 118 andtorsion spring 120 that together allow pivotal movement of aflapper 122 and a bias of theflapper 122 to its closed position (illustrated inFIG. 4 ). Adjacent a portion of theflapper 112 is aflapper seat 124 and aseal 126 thereat.Seat 124 may be attached toflapper sub 112 at and by, for example,thread 128. Aflow tube 130 is positioned radially inwardly of theseat 124 and is moveable therein. The flow tube is connected to atension spring 132 that is also connected to theflapper seat 124. Thetension spring 132 tends to bias the flow tube toward theflapper 122 such that when theflapper 122 is in an open position the flow tube will protect theseal 126 from erosion due to fluid flow. Theflow tube 130 need merely extend a small distance past the seal to provide this protection. It is to be understood that thetension spring 132 is sufficient in spring rate only to move theflow tube 130 to the protective position but is insufficient to prevent closure of theflapper 122 based upon input from thetorsion spring 120. This configuration ensures that theflapper 122 will close properly when it is supposed to without the flow tube interfering with the closure. Finally, theflapper 122 is provided with a magneticfield generating component 136, which in one embodiment comprises a permanent magnet but may be configured as an electromagnet. In one embodiment the exposed surface of thecomponent 136 will be of an opposing magnetic pole to the exposed surface of thecomponent 106. It is inconsequential which one of the two is north or south pole oriented. - In operation, a fluid 138 is applied in the direction of
flow arrow 140 toward theflapper valve 100. The fluid 138 forces the flapper to swing open (position depicted inFIG. 5 ), and simultaneously through fluid drag, moves themagnet housing 102 in the same direction as fluid movement. This action causes the magneticfield generating component 106 to move along with themagnet housing 102 to a position where the arcuate movement of magneticfield generating component 136 will be in register therewith, the movement ofcomponent 136 being dependent upon the pivoting movement offlapper 122. Because the twocomponents fluid 138. By design the spring force of thetorsion spring 120 is insufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction betweencomponents flapper 122 in the open position. As one of skill in the art will recognize, the flapper of a valve of this type must close when injection is stopped. This action is also unimpeded because as soon as the fluid drag on themagnet housing 102 is relieved, secondary to a pause in the flow offluid 138, thecompression spring 108 will elongate and force themagnet housing 102 to move to the closed position ofFIG. 4 . This will cause the magneticfield generating component 106 to slide away from the magneticfield generating component 136 thereby substantially reducing the attractive force therebetween. The flapper is hence free to close under the impetus of thetorsion spring 120. - In other embodiments, it is noted that the magnetic field generating components need not be on both sides of the resulting attractive interface but rather one could simply be a magnetically responsive material such as a ferrous metal. A reduced attractive force would result but if the component used has a sufficiently potent field, it would still function as noted above. Sliding action would still be used to break the interface wither by moving a nonmagnetic material into proximity with the components while the magnetically responsive material is slidingly moved away or a configuration where a sliding movement would simply position the field generating component farther away from a responsive material such as by sliding one of the structural features described in a direction that allows a recess to be aligned with the filed generating component. In such an embodiment the recess would position a responsive material far enough away from the field generating component to reduce the attractive force to a magnitude less than a closing force supplied by the torsion spring.
- While one or more embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
Claims (20)
1. A flapper for a downhole valve comprises a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position.
2. A flapper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface is a surface of the flapper.
3. A flapper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface comprises a material disposed as a part of the flapper.
4. A flapper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the material is conformable.
5. A flapper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the material is rubber.
6. A flapper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the material is nitrile.
7. A flapper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the material is foam.
8. A downhole valve comprising:
a housing;
a flow tube moveably disposed in the housing; and
a flapper articulated to the housing, the flapper including a surface configured to substantially geometrically mate with a tubular section within which the flapper is mounted when in an open position.
9. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 8 further including an extension spring disposed between the flow tube and the housing.
10. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flow tube has a length sufficient to protect a flapper seal in the housing when the valve is in an open position.
11. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flapper includes erosion resistance.
12. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein the erosion resistance is supplied by a coating on the flapper.
13. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein the flapper material is erosion resistant.
14. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the surface configured to substantially geometrically mate is a surface of the flapper.
15. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the surface configured to substantially geometrically mate is a material on the flapper.
16. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 15 wherein the material is conformable.
17. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 15 wherein the material is foam.
18. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 15 wherein the material is rubber.
19. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flapper includes at least one magnetic field producing component.
20. A downhole valve as claimed in claim 19 wherein the housing includes at least one attractively poled magnetic field producing component.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/579,972 US20110088908A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2009-10-15 | Flapper valve |
US13/567,583 US20120298371A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2012-08-06 | Flapper valve |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/579,972 US20110088908A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2009-10-15 | Flapper valve |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/567,583 Continuation US20120298371A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2012-08-06 | Flapper valve |
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US20110088908A1 true US20110088908A1 (en) | 2011-04-21 |
Family
ID=43878415
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US12/579,972 Abandoned US20110088908A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2009-10-15 | Flapper valve |
US13/567,583 Abandoned US20120298371A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2012-08-06 | Flapper valve |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/567,583 Abandoned US20120298371A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 | 2012-08-06 | Flapper valve |
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Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100294376A1 (en) * | 2009-05-22 | 2010-11-25 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Two-way actuator and method |
US20110155391A1 (en) * | 2009-12-30 | 2011-06-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Gas lift barrier valve |
US20130062071A1 (en) * | 2011-09-14 | 2013-03-14 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Minimal travel flow control device |
US20130341034A1 (en) * | 2012-06-25 | 2013-12-26 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Flapper retention devices and methods |
WO2013079926A3 (en) * | 2011-11-28 | 2014-03-06 | Churchill Drilling Tools Limited | Drill string check valve |
US9140097B2 (en) | 2010-01-04 | 2015-09-22 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Wellbore treatment apparatus and method |
US9366109B2 (en) | 2010-11-19 | 2016-06-14 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Kobe sub, wellbore tubing string apparatus and method |
US9797221B2 (en) | 2010-09-23 | 2017-10-24 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Apparatus and method for fluid treatment of a well |
US20180347301A1 (en) * | 2015-12-03 | 2018-12-06 | Drilltools Limited | Valve assembly |
US11199073B2 (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2021-12-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Plug with a resettable closure member |
US11215031B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-04 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve with shiftable valve sleeve |
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US11215026B2 (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-04 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11230906B2 (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-25 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11359460B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-06-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11359456B2 (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2022-06-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Plug with a resettable closure member |
US11365605B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-06-21 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11391118B2 (en) | 2020-01-31 | 2022-07-19 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Plug with resettable closure member |
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US8955543B2 (en) * | 2010-05-24 | 2015-02-17 | Blackhawk Specialty Tools, Llc | Large bore auto-fill float equipment |
GB2489267B (en) * | 2011-03-23 | 2015-06-10 | David Bell Conner | Wellbore valve assembly |
ITMI20130997A1 (en) * | 2013-06-17 | 2014-12-18 | Had Engineering S R L | DEVICE TO ENSURE THE CONTINUOUS CIRCULATION IN THE DRILLING OF THE WELLS |
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US4996028A (en) * | 1989-02-15 | 1991-02-26 | Exxon Research And Engineering Company | Trickle valve |
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US20100294376A1 (en) * | 2009-05-22 | 2010-11-25 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Two-way actuator and method |
US8104505B2 (en) * | 2009-05-22 | 2012-01-31 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Two-way actuator and method |
US20110155391A1 (en) * | 2009-12-30 | 2011-06-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Gas lift barrier valve |
US8651188B2 (en) * | 2009-12-30 | 2014-02-18 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Gas lift barrier valve |
US9140097B2 (en) | 2010-01-04 | 2015-09-22 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Wellbore treatment apparatus and method |
US9970274B2 (en) | 2010-01-04 | 2018-05-15 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Wellbore treatment apparatus and method |
US9797221B2 (en) | 2010-09-23 | 2017-10-24 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Apparatus and method for fluid treatment of a well |
US9366109B2 (en) | 2010-11-19 | 2016-06-14 | Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. | Kobe sub, wellbore tubing string apparatus and method |
US20130062071A1 (en) * | 2011-09-14 | 2013-03-14 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Minimal travel flow control device |
WO2013079926A3 (en) * | 2011-11-28 | 2014-03-06 | Churchill Drilling Tools Limited | Drill string check valve |
US10088064B2 (en) | 2011-11-28 | 2018-10-02 | Churchill Drilling Tools Limited | Drill string check valve |
US20130341034A1 (en) * | 2012-06-25 | 2013-12-26 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Flapper retention devices and methods |
US20180347301A1 (en) * | 2015-12-03 | 2018-12-06 | Drilltools Limited | Valve assembly |
US11519233B2 (en) * | 2015-12-03 | 2022-12-06 | Drilltools Limited | Valve assembly |
US11199073B2 (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2021-12-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Plug with a resettable closure member |
US11359456B2 (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2022-06-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Plug with a resettable closure member |
US11391118B2 (en) | 2020-01-31 | 2022-07-19 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Plug with resettable closure member |
US11215031B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-04 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve with shiftable valve sleeve |
US11215030B2 (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-04 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve with shiftable valve seat |
US11215028B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-04 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11215026B2 (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-04 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11230906B2 (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2022-01-25 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11359460B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-06-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
US11365605B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 | 2022-06-21 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Locking backpressure valve |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:XU, YANG;REEL/FRAME:023670/0226 Effective date: 20091016 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |