US2094812A

US2094812A - Flow control heab

Info

Publication number: US2094812A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1937-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-05

Description

Oct-5, 1937. A. J. PENICK ET AL 2,094,312

FLOW CONTROL HEAD Filed Nov. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 5, 1937. A. J, PENICK ET AL. 2,094,812

' FLOW CONTROL HEAD Filed. Nov. 10, 1954 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/ 8 6 if /3 5 3 A; l7 2a lf f 2 4 /2 7 v 25 60 24 7" 15 3 6/ 51 2 u a2- 18% g; 20 48 34 W 13" l 1 lb /1 O 9 I I SVVO M A M MAL, fij/z/ufl Oct. 5, 1937. A; J. PENlCK ET AL $094,812

FLOW CONTROL HEAD Filed Nov. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Shet s 1 arrow, 4

Oct. 5, 1937. A. J. FENICK ET AL FLOW CONTROL HEAD Filed Nov. 10, 1954 4 sheets-snai Patented Oct. 5, 1937 FLOW CONTROL HEAD Arthur J. Penick and girby T. Penick, Houston, ex.

Application November 10, 1934, Serial No. 752,440

4 Claims. (01. 166-15) This invention relates to a flow control head.

An object of the invention is to provide a control head adapted to be attached to an outer pipe, or casing, in a well, to control the flow liquid, or gas, or both, from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described whereby the liquid and gas may be taken off separately from the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described whereby the fluid, either in the form of liquid or gas, flowing through the tubing and that flowing through the casing around the tubing may be taken off and delivered from the well through the same flow line or through separate flow lines.

A still further object of the invention is to provide. an apparatus by means of which the fluid flowing under pressure from the casing may be delivered into the tubing and forced downwardly therethrough to cleanse .the tubing should the same become clogged up, and by meansof which fluid flowing under pressure through the tubing may be delivered into the casing and forced downwardly into the casing for unclogging the casing should the latter become clogged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in apparatus'of the character described a novel type of valve, mechanism for controlling the flow lines and having valves arranged to act either simultaneously or alternatively to control the corresponding line,-

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of this character a novel type of tubing hanger equipped with novel means for securing the same in the head proper between the flow lines of the tubing and casing respectively.

' The invention discloses certain improvements over that type of tubing hanger and anchor support disclosed in our U. S. Patent No. 2,016,454 as well as certain movements over the controlling valve construction disclosed in our United States Patent No. 1,971,381.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accom-' panying drawings, whereinz- I Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the flow control head, shown partly in section.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view, showing a slightly modified form of tubing hanger.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line ttl of Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary sectional view showing a novel type of valve mechanism for controlling the flow lines.

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing a slightly modified form of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and

' Figure '7 shows a side elevation of that type shown in Figure 6 taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates a tubular head adapted to be connected in any preferred manner to the upper end of the outer pipe, or casing 2,. in the well. The head has an inside annular groove 3 forming a seat. The lower side of this groove is preferably formed with an abrupt shoulder t, and the upper side of the groove is preferably formed with an upwardly converging shoulder 5.

Secured in any preferred manner to the upper end of the head, there is a valve casing t having the passageway i therethrough which may be opened or closed by the one-way, rotatable valve removed for that purpose; 'or, the cap 9 may be removed and flow connections attached instead to the valve casing 6, if desired. There is a tubular hanger support it adapted to support the inner tubing ll, whose upper end may be connected to the hanger support in any preferred manner, as by threads. This support Ill has the external annular flange l2 thereon and surrounding, the support in, and resting on the flange l2 there is an annular cage it having the external annular groove M. This groove is of a dove-tailed formation having the upper and lower flanges l5, it, one of which may be welded in place in process of construction. The supporting segments ll are mounted in the groove [4, and are radially movable. Each segment has an upper flange l8, and a lower flange l9, engageable against the corresponding flanges l5, Hi, to retain the segments ii in place. After segments l! have been assembled in the groove I, one of the flanges I5 or IE may then be formed by welding process. The segments I1 are seated against the coil springs 20 which are interposed between said segments and the corresponding cage I3, and the segments are thereby held normally in their outer position.

In the form shown in Figure 2 there is a wedge ring 2I which surrounds the support In and which is mounted on the cage I3. This wedge ring has an upwardly and inwardly tapering. face 22 on which the slips 23 are mounted. These slips have the inner sides shaped to conform to the shape of and are seated on the tapering face 22 and have their outer sides provided with upwardly pitched teeth. On the slips 23 there is a ring 24 which closely surrounds the hanger support I0 and fits closely within the head I and on this ring there are the packing rings 25 which in turn support the metal ring 26. The packing ring 25 closely surrounds the support I0 and fits closely within the head I and a jam nut 21 is threaded on to the upper end of the support I0 and may be screwed down closely against the ring 26 to expand the packing to form a fluid-tight joint between the packing and support I0 and between the packing and the head I as well. A .flange 28 may be welded or otherwise secured to the upper end of the hanger support III to prevent the detachment of the jam nut beneath.

The upper end of the hanger support I0 may be internally threaded, as at 29, for the connection of a section of pipe thereto, whereby the tubing I I and the hanger therefor may be lowered into the head I. While the tubing is thus being let into the well, the valve casing 6 should be removed from the head I, and as the tubing hanger is lowered when supporting segments I1 register with the groove 3, said segments will be forced outwardly by the springs 20 and segments will land on the shoulder 4 and thus support the tubing hanger and tubing.

In the form shown in Figure 3, the packing rings 25 are located directly on the ring 24 which in this instance is, in turn, supported on the cage I3. In this form shown in Figure 3 the wedge ring 2| is located directly on the packing 25' and the slips 23 are located on the tapering face 22 of said wedge ring in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 2. These slips also have the external upwardly pitched teeth and also have the inside grooves 30. In this form the jam nut 21' threaded on to the upper end of the support II), has an external annular flange 3| which fits in the groove 30.

When the tubing has been located in the well and is supported on the shoulder 4, the

jam nut

21, or 21, as the case may be, may be screwed downwardly to expand the packer 25, as well as to force the slips 23, or 23', as the case may be, outwardly into engagement with the walls of the head I to anchor the tubing hanger and tubing so that they will not be blown out by internal pressure in the well, and the valve casing 6 with the cap 9 thereon may then be installed in place.

When it is desired to remove the tubing from the well, the

jam nut

21 or 21 as the case may be, may be unscrewed, that is, may be screwed upwardly to release the packing. When the form of hanger shown in Figure 2 is used, and the packing is released, this will ordinarily relieve the pressure on the slips 23 sufliciently to permit the tubing hanger and tubing to be withdrawn. When the form of hanger shown in Figure 3 is used, as the jam nut 21 is screwed upwardly, the

head I to permit the withdrawal of the tubing hanger and tubing. It is to be noted that the segments I1 are provided at their upper ends with the upwardly tapering faces 32, and upon upward movement of the tubing hanger these tapering faces 32 engage the tapering shoulder 5 to cause the retraction, or inward movement of the segments I1 to allow the hanger to move upwardly out of the tubing head I.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the head I has the upper and

lower valve housings

33, 34, preferably formed integrally therewith and of tubular formation and the head I has the upper and

lower outlets

35, 36, above and beneath the hanger respectively. Splined in the

housings

33, 34, are the

valves

31, 38, whose forward ends are preferably beveled forming the annular faces 39, 40. The outer ends of the

valve housings

33, 34, have the stufling boxes 4,I, 42, respectively, secured therein, and the rotatable valve stems 43, 44, work through said stuffing boxes and have swiveling connection therewith, but are confined against longitudinal movement. The inner ends of these stems are coarsely threaded through the nuts 45, 46, respectively of the

valves

31, 38, whereby upon rotation of a valve stem, the associated valve will be correspondingly moved into open or closed position as is obvious. A hand wheel 41 is provided for attachment to either of the stems to rotate thesame.

A tubular manifold 48 is provided and has the upper and lower annular flanges 49, 50, for connection to the mating flanges 5|, 52, on the forward ends of the

valve housings

33, 34 whereby the manifold 48 may be secured to said valve housings. This manifold has the upper and

lower outlet lines

53 and 54 controlled by

suitable gate valves

55, 56.

The forward ends of the

valve housings

33, 34 have the sleeve-like valve seats screwed therein through which the fluid flowing through the

outlets

35, 36 may enter the manifold 48. The

valves

31, 38, may be either simultaneously or alternatively actuated into seated positions against the seats 51, 58, or into open positions. Between the valve seats 51, 58, the manifold 48 is formed into a valve casing 59 in which there is located a one-Way rotatable valve 60 which is provided with a stem 6I whereby the valve 60 may be turned into open or closed position. In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, a modified form of valve mechanism for controlling the outflow of fluid into -the manifold 48 has been disclosed. In connection with the disclosure of this form, it is to be understood that the outlet from the head I above the hanger, and the valve mechanism for controlling said outlet, is identical with the outlet from the head beneath the hanger and the valve mechanism for controlling the same, as illustrated in Figure 5, only the lower outlet and valve mechanism being shown in said Figure 5. In this form, the outlet'36'has a sleeve-like valve seat 58' screwed therein and a tubular valve housing 62 extends out at approximately right angles to the tubing head and is preferably formed integrally therewith. Splined in the housing 62 there is a valve 63 and this valve has a threaded connection with the inner end of the stem 64 which is rotatable in, but confined against longitudinal movement relative to, the stuffing box 65 in the outer end of the said valve housing 62, and by the rotation of said stem, the valve may be actuated in the position against the seat 58' to close the outlet or may be actuated into open position to permit the flow of fluid through said outlet, as indicated in Figure 5. It is to be understood that in this form of construction shown in Figure 5, the head I is also provided with valve housings similar to the

housings

33, 34, to which the manifold 48 (Figure is connected. The lower housing referred to will be designated by the numeral 34a, andat its outlet end is provided with a sleevelike valve seat 58a, similar to the seat 68, and which may be controlled by the valve 38 (see Figure 1). These control valves of Figure 5, to wit, the

valves

36 and 63, are off-set relative to each other so that they maybe simultaneously moved into a position to close the seats 68', 58a, or to simultaneously open them, or they may be alternatively actuated into either of said positions. This simultaneous or alternative action of the

valve

38, 63, may be found desirable while making repairs or substitution of parts on the flow lines connected with them.

In the form shown in Figures 6, 7, there are the

gate valve casings

66, 61, connected into re- I spective out-

flow openings

35, 36, and these casings may be opened and closed by the

respective gate valves

68, 69. These valves are of conventional construction and may be opened and closed through the instrumentality of the hand wheels 10, H. In this form of the structure the manifold 48 is attached to the

respective valve housings

66, 61, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

In operation, the valve 60 may be opened and in. the form shown in Figure 1 with the

valves

31, 36, also open, the fluid from the well, be it either liquid or gas, may flow out into the manifold 48 and be led off through either, or both, of the

flow lines

53, 54, depending on whether or not the

valves

55, 66, are opened or closed, and a like result may beobtained when the form in Figure 5 is used, by opening both valves controlling the upper and lower outlets from the tubing head, and if the form shown in Figure 6 is employed, a like result can be obtained by opening the

valves

68 and 69. By closing the valve 60,

the out-flow from the casing may be led off through the line 54, or, the outlet from the casing may be closed by closing the valve 56 or the valve 36; and, with the valve 60 closed, the

out-flow of the well from the tubing may be led "oil? through the line 53, or may be closed off by closing the valve 65,.or the valve 31. In the form shown in Figure 6, it is obvious that by suitably manipulating the

valves

68, 69, the outlet from the tubing and the casing may be controlled at will, and the outlet from either or both may be let off through the

outlet line

63, or 54, or both of them by suitably manipulating the valve 60.

It sometimes happens that the tubing ll may become clogged up; in such case the

valves

65, 56, may be closed, and the valve 60 opened. The

upper valve

31 or 68 and the

lower valve

38 or 69 may also be opened, and the fluid under pressure may then flow from the casing and be forced down into the tubing to force out the clogging material and cleanse the tubing: or, on the otherhand, the casing may become clogged up, in

which case, with the valves set, as last above described, the fluid under pressure will flow up through the tubing and back down through the casing so as to force out the clogging material, relieving the congestion in the casing.

The drawings and description disclose what are now considered to be preferred forms of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a flow controlling apparatus, a tubular head adapted toibe attached to a pipe in a well, a tubular branch formed integrally with and extended laterally from the head and having an inside removable seat adjacent the head, a valve movable axially in said branch into one position to close the seat and into another position to open the seat, means for actuating the valve into either of said positions, a flow tube leading out from said branch, out beyond said seat, and being offset vertically with respect to said seat,

a valve seat within and adjacent the inner end of said tube, a valve movable axially with respect to said flow tube and arranged to control said last mentioned seat, means for actuating the last mentioned valve into open or closed position, said valves being independently movable and being arranged to simultaneously or alternatively open and close said seats.

2. A flow controlling apparatus comprising a tubular head having outlets at different elevations, a tubing hanger in the head adapted to support a tubing, means for supporting the hanger between the outlets, upper and lower valve housings of tubular formation on the head whose forward ends are formed with flanges, a valve in each housing movable axially with respect thereto for controlling the corresponding outlet, a tubular manifold connecting said outlets and having upper and lower flanges arranged to register with the corresponding housing flanges, means for securing said flanges together.

3, A flow controlling apparatus comprising a tubular head having outlets at different elevations, a tubing hanger in the head adapted to support a tubing, means for supporting the hanger between the outlets, upper and lower valve valve in said casing for controlling the flow of fluid through the manifold.

4. A flow controlling apparatus comprising a tubular head adapted to be attached to a pipe in a well and having a conduit leading outwardly therefrom, an inner removable valve seat at the inner end of said conduit, a valve. housing extended outwardly from the head in alignment with said seat, a valve in said housing movable into one position into cooperation with said seat to close the conduit and into another position to open the conduit, an outer valve seat around the conduit and offset with respect to the inner valve seat, a valve housing in alignment with said outer valve seat, a valve in said last mentioned housing movable into and out of cooperating relation with the outer valve seat to control said conduit, said valves being offset relative to each other so that they may be simultaneously, or alternatively opened and closed and a valve beyond the outer valve seat for opening and closing the conduit.

ARTHUR J. PENICK. IHRBY T. PENICK.