US2681705A - Shutoff apparatus for dual production wells - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1,954 R. A. TAPPMEYER sHUToFF APPARATUS FOR DUAL PRODUCTION WELLS.

4. Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5, 1951 FIGJ June 22, 1954 l R, A, TAPPMEYER 2,681,705

SHUTOFF APPARATUS FOR DUAL PRODUCTION WELLS Filed June 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 22, 1954 R. A. TAPPMEYER sHuToFF APPARATUS FOR DUAL PRODUCTION wELLs 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1951 FIG.7

invenJror June 22, 1954 R. A.YTAPPMEYER SHUTOFF APPARATUS`FOR- DUAL PRODUCTION WELLS Filed June 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nveni'or RAW mager' Fxae Patented June 22, 1954 SHUTOFF APPARATUS FOR DUAL PRODUCTIN WELLS Ronald A. Tappmeyer, Houston, Tex., assigner to Shell Development Company,

Emeryville, Calif.,

a corporation of Delaware Application June 5, 1951, Serial No. 229,937

(Cl. ISG- 114) 6 Claims. l

This invention relates to well equipment for controlling the production from a plurality of producing zones in an oil or gas well, and pertains more particularly to means for shutting off the production from a plurality of Zones within a well when well production equipment is being serviced, repaired or replaced.

In oil wells and gas wells the well bores frequently penetrate two or more productive Zones or strata. Under these conditions it is highly desirable to produce from the several zones in such a manner that the now from each of the several zones may be independently handled and controlled. In the case of naturally flowing multiple zone wells, or in wells where a dual articial lift installation is employed, it is almost always necessary to load the well with oil, water, or drilling mud when down-the-hole equipment is pulled or removed from the well for servicing. The purpose of loading a well in this manner is twofold: To prevent commingling of the products of the two producing zones in the case of dually completed wells, and to eliminate the need of a blowout preventer, when pulling tubing, to control the well in the event that the well tends to head or flow naturally during servicing operations. The loading of wells during servicing operations is undesirable in that it is an expensive operation and the producing zones may be damaged or contaminated by contact of loading liquid.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide means for shutting off well production without the necessity of loading or killing a well while servicing equipment used in a well having a plurality of producing zones,

Another object of this invention is to provide well equipment for establishing and maintaining a separate or independent iiow of uid from the upper and lower productive Zones of a multiple Zone well being dually produced. i

A further object of this invention is to provide equipment for use in conjunction with two concentric production tubings which provides for the simultaneous production of fluid from spaced productive zones, the production from each zone being handled by one of the production tubings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide well flow control equipment for use in conjunction with two concentric production tubings for producing a multiple zone well, said well fiow control equipment being controlled or operated by manipulation of the central or innermost production tubing.

Another object of this invention is to provide shut-ofi equipment for wells produced by means of the dual gas-lift system described in my copending application Dual Gas-Lift System, Serial No. 177,990, led August 7, 1950.

These and other objects of this invention will be understood from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figures l, 6, 7 and 8 are vertical views, partly in cross section, of different embodiments of the present invention installed in a well borehole which traverses two producing zones or strata.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of a valve member of the present control apparatus, said view showing the valve in both its open and closed positions.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed view, in vertical crosssection of another embodiment of a valvel assembly for use with the present well control apparatus.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the well control apparatus of the present invention is shown as being positioned in a well borehole Ill which traverses at least two producing zones ll and i 2. The borehole IB may be cased or uncased but is preferably lined with a casing I3 which is perforated, as at I4 and I5, at the level of the producing formations II and I2. lin general, the well control apparatus comprises a pair of concentric tubing strings I6 and Il, for conducting iiuid from the two productive zones II and I2 of the well, and packers IS and I9 together with sliding sleeve valves 20 and 2l for isolating the :fluids from formations II and I 2 and directing them to separate tubing strings i8 and I'i, respectively.

The packers I8 and I 9 are carried on the outer tubing string I'I at a level respectively below and above the upper producing formation I2. While in certain embodiments of the present invention the upper packer I9 may be eliminated, it is essential that the lower packer I8 be positioned between the producing formations Il and I2, The packers I 8 and I9 may be of any suitable xed or expansible type, the latter type being actuated by manipulation of the tubing string Il, by hydraulic action, or by any other method well known in the art.

Additionally, suitable packer or closure means are provided between the tubing strings I6 and il at a point below the upper sleeve valve 2l to prevent the intermixing of the uids from the two producing Zones II and I2. In the present packing material may be provided between nipi ple 22 and shoe 2li to insure a iluidtight seal. It is realized that an expansible packer, carried on the inner tubing string it may be used instead of the packer means formed by the top 22 of the slide valve 2li.

As shown in Figure l, a collar is secured to the outer surface or" the inner tubing string i6 for actuating said sleeve valve 2l in a manner which will be described hereinbelow.

The sleeve valve 2i of Figure l is shown in detail in Figure 2 as comprising a sleeve member 26 slidably mounted within a section ofthe outer tubing string il. The outside diameter ci the sleeve member 26 is substantially equal to the insidediameter of the tubing i'l whereby a substantial luidtight rit is formed between the members 25 and Vi. The tubing il is provided with a plurality of perfora-tions 23 while the sleeve 26 is provided with an equal number of perforations 32. The two sets of periorations 28 and 32 are spaced to register with each other when the valve sleeve 26 is in its open position. Additionally, the space between the perforations is substantially greater than the size of the perorations whereby the perforations are closed by a slight axial displacement of the sleeve 2li within the tubing Vi.

The sleeve member 26 is perferably provided with one or more annular grooves St above and below the perforations 32, said grooves being adapted to contain therein suitable sealing elements suchv as O-rings, piston rings, or any suitable packing material. An effective seal between the sleeve 2t and the tubing H prevents well fluid from entering ports 28 and flowing into the bore 33 of the tubing il when the sleeve valve is in its closed position, as shown in the right hand half of Figure 2. To insure ports 23 remaining in alignment with port 32 during repeated opening andclosing of the sleeve valve, the sleeve is provided with a key 39 tted for sliding movement in a keyway il cut in the wall of the tubing Il as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Aixed to one end of the sleeve member 26 are locking means for limiting its travel or axial displacement within the tubing il. The locking means comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of rocker elements lll pivotally mounted by pins 43 in slots 45 in the lower end of the sleeve 26. Threadably secured to the lower end of a tubing section and to the upper end of an adjacent tubing section of the string H is aI special coupling 42 having a pair of spaced annular grooves 49 and 5i) formed in the inner wall. The ends of the rocker element 4l have a hammerhead shape with one face 5i or 52 at each end of the rocker elements adapted to seat within one of the annular grooves 49 or 50, Each rocker element il is formed in an angular manner about its pivot pin 43 so that when one end 52 oi the rocker is positioned in groove 5i) the opposite end 5i is raised from the surface of the coupling 58.

When any rocker has one end 5| raised from the surface of the coupling 48, the inner face 55 of that end extends into the annular space 5l between the sleeve 25 and the inner tubing string I6 at distance sufcient to be engaged by the collar 25 carried on the tubing string IB. Preferably the inner faces 56 of the ends of the rocker element ii are shaped to form a shoulder against which the collar 25 may act. When the outer face 52 of the rocker Qi is positioned in groove 5E, the clearance between that end of the rocker and the inner tubing string iii is sufcient to permit the passage of the collar 25 therethrough.

in the event that the iiuids from the two production ZonesV li and l2 may be intermingled temporarily without undueV harm, the use of the collar 25 may be omitted and a shoe 24 of suitable size and shape may be employed to open valve 2i as it passes therethrough prior to opening valve 22 when it seats in nipple 22.

A longitudinal recess 58 may be outv in the inner wall of the coupling 48 intermediate the grooves 159 and 59. A suitable spring 59 is mounted in said recess 58, one end of said spring being anchored to the wall of the coupling 48 by a bolt Si). The spring maintains a pressure on one arm of the rocker element di at all times thereby forcing the arm into the annular space 5i surrounding the tubing i5 while the other arm is pvoted so that its head 52 is forced into groove 52. As the sleeve 253 and attached rocker element il are moved upwardly from the position shown in the left-hand half of Figure 2, the central pivoted portion of the rocker element passes over the spring 59 until it assumes the position shown in the right-hand half of Figure 2.

When the rocker element t! has its lower end 52 positioned in the lower annular grooveil, as shown in the left-hand section of Figure 2, the 4sleeve valve is in its open position with the iiuid port or perforation 28 in alignment with port 32 in the sleeve 2B. Likewise, when the upper end'i of the rocker element 4l is positioned in the upper annular groove '59, as shown in the right-hand section of Figure 2, the sleeve valve is'in its closed. position. The sleeve 26 is adapted to travel a distance suiiicient to completely close the iiuid ports in the tubing il asY shown. If desired, a rubber wiper element El may be secured in any suitable manner to the top of the sleeve element 28 to prevent sand or other solid material from accumulating behind the sleeve 26.

Another type of a sleeve valve of the present invention is shown at 20 in Figure l and in more detail in Figure 4. The valve comprises a short section of tubing 62 which may be connected to the lower end of the outer production tubing il in any suitable manner, as by being screwthreaded to a reducing nipple 63 which is in turn secured to the tubing I1. The lower end of the tubing section 52 may be closed by coupling a closure cap or plug 5d thereto, An annular recess 55 is provided in the inner wall of the tubing section 22 to contain va compression spring 6 6 therein.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement within the tubing section 62 is a sleeve 61 having a plurality of iiuid port 68 through the wall thereof which is spaced to register with an equal number of fluid port 69 through the wall ci the tubing section 62 when the valve assembly is in its open position. Suitable packing means, such as O-ring lumay be mounted in annular groove 'H in the outel` Wall of the sleeve 61 above and below the iiuid port E3 therein to form a fluidtight seal between the sleeve 6l and the tubing section 62.

Afxed to or formed on the outer wall of the sleeve 61 is an annular ange l2 adapted to eX- tend into the annular recess 65 in the inner wall of the tubing section, When the valve structure is assembled, the spring 65 forces said flange l2 up against the lower end 'F3 of the nipple 63, whereby the fluid ports B8 and 69 are out of alignment andthe valve assembly is in its closed position, as shown in Figure 4.

The bore 'i4 at the top of the sleeve 81 is tapered to form a seating shoulder 'i5 adapted to cooperate with the tapered shoe 24 (Figure 1) carried at the lower end of the inner production tubing l5. The upper end of the sleeve 5'! may be provided with a rubber wiper ring i6 which prevents sand from accumulating behind the sleeve B1. Likewise, in order to prevent sand and foreign matter from settling below the valve assembly and interferingwith its operation, an upwardly-pointing cone-shaped disk l? may be secured to the inner wall of the sleeve El below7 the lowerrnost iiuid port 68 therein to catch sand which would otherwise settle to the bottom and hinder the downward movement of sleeve 61. Preferably, a smallhole 'i8 is provided in the apex of the disk whereby the pressures on either side of said disk 'l1 will be equalized when the valve sleeve 61 slides up and down. Fluid entering the port 63 just above the disk 'l1 washes the upper face of the disk l? and prevents the accumulation of sand thereon, In order to maintain the port 68 of the sleeve Eil in vertical alignment with the port 69 of the tubing section 62, the latter is provided with a key i9 which extends inwardly to fit into a vertical keyway 89 cut in the outer wall of the sleeve 6l, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The apparatus of the present invention finds application in many control systems in wells traversing at least two production Zones which are produced through concentric production tubings. The present system is especially useful when used in a well being produced by gas lift wherein the gas lift equipment is carried by the innermost of two concentric production tubings as disclosed in my co-pending patent application entitled: Dual Gas-Lift System, Serial No. 177,990, filed August 7, 1950. Thus, when the innermost production tubing l5 which carries the gas lift equipment (not shown) is removed from the well for servicing oi said gas lift equipment, valve 2G is immediately closed when an upward pull is applied to the tubing It to remove its weight from the seating nipple 22 at the top of the valve.

As described with regard to Figure 4, when the weight of the production tubing l5 (Figure 1) is removed from the seating shoulder l5 (Figure 4) oi the sleeve 6l, the compression spring |66 acting against the flange l2 of the sleeve 67 raises the latter so that the iiuid port 68 is out of register with the port 69 and the valve is thus closed. As the inner production tubing is raised higher, the collar 25 (Figures l and 2) is also raised until it contacts the end 56 of the rocker element lll (Figure 2) which is raised together with the sleeve 2E of the valve from the position shown on the left-hand side of Figure 2 to that shown on `the right-hand side at which time the valve is closed. The inner tubing string It may then be removed from the well while the production from the upper zone I2 (Figure 1) is isolated between casing I3, tubing l1 and packers I8 and i9. At the same time the production from the lower zone H is contained between casing le and tubing ll' below packer I3. Hence, it will be seen that by employing the present well control equipment the production from the two zones Il and l2 is prevented from intermingling while gas lift equipment (not shown) carried on the inner production tubing i6 is removed from the well for servicing.

An alternate method of utilizing well shutoff valve described hereinabove with regard to Figures l and 5 is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the present well control equipment comprises a pair of sleeve valves 8l and B2 slidably mounted for limited vertical movement within the outer tubing S3 of concentric production tubings 83 and Sli.

The sleeve valves 8| and 82 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 are both of the type shown in Figure 4 and described hereinabove. Both sleeve valves 8l and 82 are provided with tapered seats for receiving tapered shoes 9S and 9i carried by the inner tubing 8i in spaced relationship. While the lower shoe al is solid in structure to form iiuidtight packer means with the top S2 of the lower sleeve valve 82, the upper shoe gli has a plurality of vertical nuid ports therethrough or is in the form oi a spider having a plurality of tapered ribs 93. The spaces between the ribs 93 serve as fluid passageways allowing fluid entering ports Q4 in the tubing 83 and port 95 in the open sleeve valve 8l to ilow up the production tubing 8d.

The diameter of the tapered seat 35 in the upper sleeve valve 8l is necessarily greater than that of the lower shoe 9| thus allowing the latter to pass through the sleeve Sl. The spacing between the shoes all and si carried by the inner tubing 84 is identical with the spacing be" tween the sleeve valves 3| and 82. Thus, when the inner tubing 84 is run into the well, the shoes B and Si contact the tapered seats of the sleeve valves 8l and 82 simultaneously to open the valves at the same time as the weight of the tubing Se forces the sleeves and 82 downwardly compressing springs el and et. Upon subsequently raising the tubing Si, the action of the springs Si and 58 forces the sleeves 8l and 2 upwardly to close the valves.

It is readily apparent from the above that the present well control apparatus may likewise be modified to comprise two sleeve valves identical with the valve 2l instead of two valves identical with Valve 2Q, as shown in Figure 6. Two valves of this type may be successively operated by a single collar 25 carried by the inner tubing string, or they may be simultaneously operated by providing the tubing with a pair oi" spaced collars.

An alternate arrangement of well shutoff valves according to the present invention is illustrated in Figure 7. The upper shutoff valve in this apparatus comprises a sleeve valve Si similar to that described with reference to Figure 4, said sleeve valve E1 being actuated by a spring 66 to close ports 68 in 'tubing section t2. The lower end of the sleeve @i is provided with an internal seating shoulder it@ on which the collar 25 seats to open the valve 5i. Sealing rings or cups itl are carried on the outer surface of the inner string IE below the collar 2t for forming a seal between the inner and outer 7 strings I6 and H at a point below the upper producing formation 12.-;

Secured to thelower endof the outer tubing il' by means of a collar 06 vis a tubular member i'l which serves 4as an extension of the outerv tubing. A packer IS is carried by the outer tubing il or its extension 08 at a point below the upper producing zone l2. If desired, a second packer i9 is positioned on the outer tubing string above the producing zone. Fixedly' Ysecuredv within the outer tubing extension ll is a periorate valve cage H38 havingfa seat its formed within the upper part thereof which is adapted to seat a ball |95. A spring E62 is positioned within the cage, 108 below the ball ille and normally seats the ball `|05 vagainst the valve seat Hill thus maintaining thevalve in a normally closed position.

The ball valve may be opened by a rod itt attached to the lower end of the seating shoe lfl by a perforate cap H0 which permits the flow of oil into the inner tubing string le. The rod w3 is of sumcient length to push and hold the ball Ili off its seat when the collar 25 has seated on shoulder IBO 'and opened sleeve valve Si. When. the inner tubing string le is removed for pulling and -servicing of equipment, sleeve valve 67 is returned to its closed position by spring G@ shuttingin the top zone i2 while the rod H13 is withdrawn with the tubing string i5 allowing spring H32 to force the ball let up against seat Hill and thus shut in the bottom zone ii. This arrangement of valves el and m5 has been found to be especially convenient in that, by employing a weak spring itil, fluid standing in the inner tubing l5 may be drained therefrom as the tubing is pulled from the well` thus eliminating the spilling of oil around the derriclr as the sections of tubing string are uncoupled.

claim as myrinvention:

l. Apparatus for use in a well having two veru tically spaced productive zones, said apparatus comprising a pairoi concentrically spaced pron duction tubings extending into the well with the lower ends thereof positioned below the upper production zone, the outer production tubing being closed at its lower'end, a packer carried on the outer tubing to seal o the well between said productive zones, first and second fluid port means through the walls or" said outer tubing disposed above and below the packer, iirst and second sleeve valve means each having a bore therethrough and slidably. mounted for limited axial movement on the inner walls of said outer tubing adjacent said iirst and second port means, respectively, said movement bringing said irst and second sleeve valve means into and out of register with said first and second iiuid port means in said tubing, means comprising at least one member exteriorly carried on the inner tubing and extending outwardly therefrom for openingY and closing said first sleeve valve means upon axial movement of said inner tubing in opposite directions, said means being adapted'to actuate, and pass through the first sleeve valve means` and subsequently engage and actuate said.. second sleeve valve means, and closure means in the annular space between said production tubings at a point intermediate said first and second port means.

2. VApparatus for use in a well having two vertically spaced productive Zones, said apparatus comprising a pairof concentrically spaced production tubings extending intothe well with the lower ends thereof lpositioned below the upper production'zone, the outer tubing being closed at its lower end, a packer carried on the outer tubing to seal off the well between said produc-` tive zones, irst and second iiuid port means through the walls'of said outer tubing disposed above and below thepacker, iirst and second sleeve valve means slidably mounted for limited axial movement on the inner walls oi said outer tubing adjacent said first and second port means,

respectively, said movement bringing said rst i and second sleeve valve meansv intoY and out of register with said. iirst and Asecond iiuid port means in said tubing, means comprising at least one member exteriorily carried on the inner tubing and extending outwardly therefrom for opening and closing said rst sleeve valve means upon axial movement of said inner tubing: in opposite directions, said means being adapted to actuate andpass through the rst sleeve valve means in register with said inner production tubing.

3. Apparatus for use in a well having two vertically spaced Vproductive Zones, said apparatus.

comprising a pair of concentrically spaced pro duction tubings extending into the well with the lower ends thereof positioned below the upper production Zone, the outer production tubing i beiing Aclosed at its lower end, a packer carried on the outer tubing to seal ori the well between said productive zones, irst and second iluid port means through the walls of said outer tubing disposed above and below the packer, first and seoi ond sleeve valve means slidably mounted for limited axial movement on the inner lwalls oi said outer tubing adjacent said first and second port means, respectively, said movement bringiing said rst andrsecond sleeve valve means into and out of register with said first and second iiuid .port means in said tubing, an annular member exteriorly aiiixed to the innerl tubing and having a diameter larger thanithatV of the inner tubingifor opening and closing said first sleevevalve means uponaxialmovement of said inner tubing in opposite directions, said annular member being adapted to actuate and pass through the rst sleeve valve means and subsequently engage and actuate said secondsleevei valve means, closure means in the annular space between said production tubings at a point intermediate said first and second portmeans, and

an axial bore through saidl closure means inA register with said inner production tubing.

4. Apparatus forvuse in a well having two Vvertically spaced productive zones, said apparatus comprisinga pair of concentrically spaced pro'- duction tubings extending into the .well withv the lower ends thereof positioned below the upper production zone, the outer production tubing be-V ing closed at its lower end, iirst and second .packers carried on the outer tubing to sealI` ofi the well above and below the upper productive Zone, nrst and second fluid port means through the walls of said outer tubing disposed above and below-the lower packer, iirst and second sleeve valve means slidably mounted for limitedraxial Y movement on the inner walls of said outer tubing, saidrmovement bringing said sleeve valve means into and out of register with said irst i and second iiuid port means in said tubing, locking means carried by said first sleeve valve means and extending into the bores thereof for limiting the movement of said valve means, an annular member exteriorly affixed to the inner tubing and extending outwardly therefrom for contacting said locking means to open and close said valve means upon axial movement of said inner tubing in opposite directions, said annular member being adapted to actuate and pass through the first sleeve valve means and subsequently engage and actuate said second sleeve valve means, closure means in the annular space between said production tubings at a point intermediate said iirst and second port means, and an axial bore through said closure means in register with said inner production tubing.

'5. Apparatus for use in a well having two vertically spaced productive zones, said apparatus comprising a pair of concentrically spaced production tubings extending into the well with the lower ends thereof positioned below the upper production zone, the outer production tubing being closed at its lower end, first and second packers carried on the outer tubing to seal od the well above and below the upper productive zone, rst and second fluid port means through the walls of said outer tubing disposed above and below the lower packer, upper and lower spring-loaded sleeve valve means slidably mounted for limited axial movement on the inner walls of said outer tubing, said movement bringing said sleeve valve means into and out of register with said rst and second iiuid port means in said tubing, locking means carried by said upper valve means and extending into the bore thereof for limiting the movement of said valve means, a collar exteriorly aiiixed to the inner tubing and extending outwardly therefrom for contacting said locking means to open and close said upper valve means upon axial movement of said inner tubing in opposite directions, said collar being adapted to actuate and pass through the upper sleeve valve means and subsequently engage and actuate said lower sleeve valve means, closure means aixed to the top of the lower sleeve valve means for closing the annular space between said production tubings, an axial bore through said closure means in register with said inner production tubing, a shoe carried on the lower end of said inner production tubing and adapted to seat Within the axial bore of said closure means, said lower l() sleeve valve means being opened by axial movement of said inner tubing when said shoe is seated in said closure means.

6. Apparatus for use in a well having two vertically spaced productive zones, said apparatus comprising a pair of concentrically spaced production tubings extending into the well with the lower ends thereof positioned below the upper production zone, the outer production tubing being closed at its lower end, rst and second packers carried on the outer tubing to seal oir the well above and below the upper productive zone, rst and second fluid port means through the walls of said outer tubing disposed above and below the lower packer, upper and lower sleeve valves slidably mounted for limited axial movement on the inner axial walls of said outer tubing, said movement bringing said sleeve valves into and out of register with said first and second uid port means in said tubing, springloaded locking means carried by said upper sleeve valve to limit the movement of said valve, an annular member exteriorly affixed to the inner tubing and having a diameter greater than said r tubing for contacting said locking means to open and close said upper valve upon axial movement of said inner tubing in opposite directions, said annular member being adapted to actuate and pass through the upper sleeve valve means and subsequently engage and actuate said lower sleeve valve means, closure means aiiixed to the top of the lower sleeve valve for closing the annular space between said production tubings at a point above said second port means, an axial bore through said closure means in register with said inner production tubing, an outwardly extending ilange affixed to the lower sleeve Valve, an annular recess in the inner wall of the outer tubing above said second port means, said ange being mounted for limited axial sliding movement within said recess, and spring means mounted in said recess and bearing against said iiange for normally closing said lower sleeve valve, said valve being opened by axial movement of the lower end of the inner tubing thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent-I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,277,380 Yancey Mar. 24, 1942 2,403,987 Lewis July 16, 1946

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