US3040811A - Subsurface safety valve - Google Patents

Description

H. PISTOLE ETAL SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVE June 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1959 WELL FLUIDS FIG. IO.

Sill.

FIG.

June 26, 1962 H. Pls-roLE ETAL sUBsURRAcE SAFETY VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1959 FLOW LINE FIG l5.

FIG. I4.

PUMP

RESERVOIR NAR@ FIG. 5.

INVENTORS.

0N M. MCFARLAND, EORGE BO'ER,

LLAA

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,040,811 SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVE Harry Pistoie and Martin E. r1`rue, Houston, and William A. Pitts, Bellaire, and .loe V. Morse, .lon M. McFarland and George Boer, Houston, Tex., assignors, by mesue assignments to Jersey Production Research Company,

rlulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 808,430 Claims. (Cl. 166-72) This invention concerns a Ihydraulically operated subsurface safety valve or storm choke.

It is known to equip wells with subsurface safety valves to stop the flow of production fluids when for some reason the wells production cannot be controlled. Valves of this type have been especially useful in offshore wells to prevent blowouts when excessive llow from the well resulting from damage to the well head or other surface equipment caused by storms, floating objects, or other happenings necessitate halting of production.

Many of these valves are flow velocity operated; that is, they are designed to close off the production flow conduit when the velocity of vthe iiuids ovving through the valve reaches a predetermined value. These velocity type valves are disadvantageous in that they cannot be periodically tested without flowing the well at a high rate for a short period of time to cause closure of the valve.

Other type safety valves employ an external lluid pressure originating at the surface to maintain the Valve open and depend upon release of this fluid pressure to cause `the valve to automatically close.

The safety valve of the invention, which is an improvement in this latter type valve, comprises briefly, a tubular conduit for carrying production fluids to the surface arranged in a well pipe; a subsurface closure means for permitting and preventing fluid llow through the conduit; pressure responsive means for actuating the closure means; means for iiuidly communicating the annulus between the conduit and the well pipe and the pressure responsive means; pac-ker means for closingV` olf the annulus; means at the surface for supplying fluid pressure to the annulus whereby duid pressure applied to the annulus actuates the closure means to open position and release of annu-lus lluid pressure actuates the closure means to closed position. In a preferred embodiment, a pressure equalizing opening positioned below the packer means is provided to iluidly communicate the annulus and the flow path through the tubular conduit. The invention includes a control system at the surface for bleeding the fluid pressure in the annulus when surface conditions, as, for example, excessive heat, excessive wind velocity, excessive wave height or force, impact, etc., require closing off the flow of production luids. A valved port may be provided above Ithe packer means to maintain a pressure dilferential between the annulus and the tubular conduit and to lnuidly communicate the annulus and the ow path through the tubular conduit for equalizing pressure and for permitting lluid circulation therebetween. The llow path provided by the tubular conduit is preferably of substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length. This feature is important since it prevents the accumulation of sand carried by the production uids. Since the production uids from many wells contain free sand, accumulation of this sand along any part of the flow path presents a problem. Sand accumulation is a disadvantageous feature in many of the velocity type safety valve installations.

Another important aspect of the present invention is the use of the annulus between the production fluid iiow passage or conduit and the tubing or well pipe as the path for the external Ifluid pressure used to actuate the safety valve. This construction eliminates the need for an additional tubing string or pipe to conduct the valve actuating fluid pressure from the surface to the valve which is the manner of operation in all known valves of this type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a subsurface safety valve that is easily installed and operated; that overcomes the problem of sand accumulation; that eliminates the need for a separate valve actuating fluid pressure pipe string; that is reliable; and that has other improvements and advantages over known safety valves which will be apparent from a more detailed description of the invention which follows.

Referring briefly to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, partly sectional view of the lower portion of the valve assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the upper portion of the valve assembly connected to a running tool;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on lines 3 3` of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on lines 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical, partly sectional Views of the lower portion of the valve assembly and illustrate a preferred embodiment employing an equalizing valve;

FIG. 7 is a vertical, partly sectional view of the lower portion of the valve assembly showing the slips initially set in the tubing string and the pis-ton member and attached mandrel in a lower position;

FIG. -8 is a view similar to that of FG. 7 showing the upper portion of the Valve assembly of FIG. 7 and also showing the running tool replaced by a conduit extending to the eat'ths surface;

FIG. 9 is a View taken on lines 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the piston member and attached mandrel in a still lower position and the valve element open;

FIGS. 1l and 12 are views similar to that of FIG. 7 illustrating two positions of a modied valve assembly;

FIG. 13 is a vertical, partly sectional View of a p0rtion of the valve assembly illustrating a still further modication; and

FIG. 14 is a partly schematic view illustrating surface apparatus connected to well head equipment.

n rl`he valve assembly of the invention generally designated .1li is shown in the figures arranged in a tubing therethrough. A collar 16 having a downwardly and in- Wardly tapering annular lower shoulder 17 is connected to the upper end of housing 15. Spring biased arms 18 connected to the lower end of running tool 12 releasably engage shoulder 17. Housing 15 also includes a plurality of radially spaced slots 19 (see FIG. 3) and an inwardly, upwardly tapering exterior surface 21. A sleeve 22 provided with a fishing head 23 adapted to engage with a fishing tool and carrying a plurality of radially 'spaced slip arms 24 (see FIG, 4) provided with serrated surfaces `25 adjacent their lower ends is slidably arranged on housing 15. Slip arms 24 engage inclined surface 2:1 in a manner such that downward movement of sleeve 22 relative to housing 15 causes slip arms 24 to rnover outwardly and embed serrations 25 in the wall of tubing string 11. Opposed cup packers 26 and 27 are arranged on housing 15 and function to seal olf the annulus A between housing 15 andtubing string 11. Above opport 31 fluidly communicating the interior and exterior thereof. Also adjacent port 31, housing 15 is provided with a recessed section 32.

A iiapper valve 35 biased to the closed position by means of a spring 36 is connected to the lower end of housing 15 and is adapted to permit and prevent flow of well iluids upwardly through the bore of the housing. A tubular member or mandrel 40 is vmovably arranged in the bore of housing :15. Lugs 41 arranged on mandrel 40 extend through and are movable along slots 19 of housing 15 (see FIG. 3). Bottom surfaces 43 of lugs 41 are adapted to engage an annular shoulder 33 formed on sleeve 22. Adjacent the recessed section 32 of housing 15, mandrel 40 is provided with a. piston member 42 which forms an expansible pressure chamber 37 between port 31 and piston member 42. Spaced sealing members 44 are provided on piston member 42 to seal oit" the space between the interior of housing 15 and piston member 42 and sealing member 45 is provided on housing 15 abQVe recessed section 32 to seal oft the space between mandrel 40 and the interior of housing 15. A spring 46 -arranged in recess32 below piston member 42 biases piston `member42 and connected mandrel 40upwardly. Y Additional sealing members 47 and 48 aregprovided for sealing ofi the space between .the mandrel and the housing. Also, an opening 49 fluidly communicating the in terior and'exterior of housing 15 is provided for the release of fluid trapped below piston member 42. A hollow stinger 50 provided with a lower opening 51 and an open upper end is screw-threadedly connected to running tool 12. The open upper end of stinger 50 connects to ports 52 provided in running tool 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. and 6, a spring biased equalizing valve 54 is mounted in the lower end of a modified housing 15a below packers 26, 27. A mandrel 46a moditied by having a portion ot the lower end tapered inwardly and downwardly is adapted to engage Vand open valve 54 against the bias of the spring to fluidly communicate the interior of mandrel 40a and the exterior of housing 15a upon downward movement thereof.

In the illustration of FIGS. 7 and 8, running tool 12 and stinger 50 connected thereto have been disconnected from collar 16 and removed from tubing string 11. A production pipe 55 which is substantially of the same diameter as that of the bore of mandrel 40 and which has connected to the lower end thereof an adapter latching sub 56 provided with latching arms 57 (see FIG. 9) adapted to releasably engage surface 17 of collar `16 has replaced running tool 12. Sub 56 is provided with Y a sealing member 58 adapted to seal 05 the space between collar 16 and sub 56. Slip arms 24 are engaged with sitioned adjacent closed apper valve 35.

FIG. l0 shows the piston member 42 and attached mandrel -40 in still another position. Valve 35 is open in this position of mandrel 40.

The elements of FIGS. 11 and l2 are the same as those described with regard to FIGS. l and 2 except the piston member and housing have been modified. Thus, in FIGS. 11 and 12, a piston member 42a is provided with a spring biased combination fluid circulation and equalizing valve 65 which is adapted to maintain a dif- `ferential pressure between annulus A land production FIG. 13 differs from the apparatus of FIGS. l and 2 in that a fluid circulation or equalizing check valve 65a is arranged in an adapter sub 56a. This valve functions the same as valve 65; that is, it can be used to equalize pressure and to circulate iiuids between production pipe string 55 and annulus A.

The control system shown in FIG. 14 includes a well head, generally designated 70, mounted on a casing 71 and provided with a suitable hanger assembly 72 for supporting tubing string 11. Any desired packer arrangement for closing off the annulus surrounding pipe string 55 may be provided. For example, as shown, a blowout preventer 73v provided with a suitable packol'r' 74 is arranged on well head 70. Master valve 75, a pressure gauge 76, and anges 77 and 78 to which are connected a flow conduit 79 and a pressurizing conduit 80, respectively, are provided on well head 70. Conduit 79, which I lluidly communicates with the open upper end of pipe tubing string 11 and the lower end of mandrel 40 is postring 55, as shown, is provided with a valve 81. Conduit 80 connects at one end to annulus A below packoi 74 and at the other end to a `r-way control valve, generally designated 82. A hydraulic pump 83 connects to valve 82 by means of conduit 84 and a reservoir 89 of pump 83 connects to valve 82 by way of a conduit 85. A fluid pressure actuated spring biased diaphragm type valve 86, adapted to open upon release of lfluid pressure on the diaphragm, is connected in conduit 85. A conduit 37 connects the diaphragm o'f valve 86 to flow conduit 79. A conduit 88 interconnects valve 82 and conduit 87. The three positions of valve 82 are designated 1, 2, and 3. When in position l, conduits 80, 87, 88, and 84 are interconnected and hydraulic pressure from pump 83 lluidly communicates with both annulus A and pipe string 55. In position 2, conduits 80 and 84 are interconnected and hydraulic pump 83 fluidly communicates with annulus A. In position 3, conduits 80 and 85 are interconnected thereby fluidly communicating reservoir 89 and annulus A. In operation, the valve assembly 10 connected to the running tool 12 provided with stinger 50 is lowered in tubing string 11 by means of wire line 13 to `a desired depth. Stinger 50 holds dapper valve 35 in the open position against the bias of spring 36 during the running-in operation. Well uids may circulate through the hollow stinger via opening 51 and the open upper end of stinger 50 and through connected passages 52 in the running tool 12. Slip arms 24 are in retracted position, as shown in FIGS. l and 2. At the desired depth, theV wire line 13 is jerked upwardly which causes upward movement of housing 15. Since sleeve 22 and slip arms 24 are slidable on housing 15, serrations 25 are forced into engagement with tubing string 11 as slip arms 24 travel downwardly relative to tapered surface 21. After slip arms 24 have engaged tubing string 11, arms 18 of running tool 12 are disengaged from collar 16 by pulling up on cable 13. `Stinger50 connected to running tool 12 also moves upwardly within housing 15- and permits spring 36 to close flapper valve 35. Running tool 12 and connected stinger 50 then are removed from tubing string 11. When -ilapper valve 35 closes, pressure of the well iluids exerts an upward force on housing 15 which causes serrations 25 of slip arms 24 -to more rmly engage the wall of tubing string 11, as seen in FIG. 7. Then pipe string 55 and connected sub 56 are run-in tubing string 11 until latch arms 57 engage shouider 17 of collar 16.V Seal 58 seals oi iluid communication between annulus A and the interior of housing 15 and pipe string V55.

`VWhen utilizing the preferred embodiment illustrated Vin FIGS. 5 and 6, the surface connections, shown in FIG. 14, are made-up and valve 82 is placed in position 2 which connects hydraulic pump 83 to annulus A only and pres-V sure in annulus Ais increased to above'well pressure tov which places the lower end of mandrel 40a adjacent ilapper4 valve 35 causes the tapered surfaceV of mandrel 40a to engage valve 54 to open valve 54 .against the bias of the spring. Opening of valve 54 uidly communicates and thereby equalizes fluid pressures between the the interior of housing 15a below sealing member 48 and the interior of mandrel` 40a and the exterior of housing 15a. Once the Well pressure has equalized through valve 54, additional uid pressure applied to annulus A causes piston member 42 to move further downwardly against the bias of spring 46. In this movement the lower end of mandrel 40a engages apper valve 35 and moves this valve tothe open position shown in FIG. against the bias of spring 35. Also, as seen in this ligure, lugs 41 move downwardly until the bottom surfaces 43 thereof engage annulus shoulder 33 formed on sleeve 22 to lock slips 24 in .the outward or tubing engaged position.

If the preferred equalizing valve embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, is not employed then valve 82 is initially placed in position 1 which connects pump 83 to annulus A via conduit 80 and to pipe string 55 via conduits 88, 87, and 79. Hydraulic pressure then is applied to annulus A and Ito pipe string 55 simultaneously until the hydraulic pressure equals well pressure. At this time, valve 82 is moved to position 2 which connects hydraulic pump 83 to annulus A only and pressure within pipe string 55 is maintained while hydraulic pressure in annulus A is increased to above well pressure to cause movement of piston member 42 downwardly against the bias of spring 46. Initial movement of piston member 42 carries the lower end of mandrel 40 to adjacent apper valve 35, as seen in FIG. 7. Additional movement of piston member 42 downwardly forces mandrel 40 to engage liapper valve 35 and move the valve to the open position against the bias of spring 36, as seen in FIG. 10. Within FIGS. 7 and 10, the dark arrows designate the direction of flow of the pressurizing iluids and the light arrows designate the ow direction of production uids.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 and l2 permits circulation of fluids such as hot oil or solvent as well as equalization of pressure. To operate, valve 82 is placed in position 2 and fluid is pumped into annulus A and through aligned port 66 and check Valve 65 (see FIG. 1l) into mandrel 40. Pumping is continued until fluid pressure within mandrel 40 equals well pressure. Then, -because the predetermined pressure dilerential maintained by check valve `65 is suicient to overcome the biases of springs 46 and 36, piston member 42a and mandrel 40 move downwardly (see FIG. 12) until valve 35 is opened. Upon downward movement of piston member 42a sealing members 44 close orf uid communication between check valve 65 and port 66.

With the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 11 fluids can be circulated Ithrough conduit 80, down annulus A, through aligned port 66 and check valve 65, up mandrel 40 and pipe string 55 and through open valve 8'1.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13 is the same as that described for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The essential diierence between the two embodiments resides in the position of the check valve. In FIG. 13 check valve 65a is mounted in a stationary sub 56a and there is no feature of sealing olf this check valve as there is in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12.

In the described embodiments, when valve 3-5 is in the open position, as seen in FIG. l0, valve 82 is moved to position 3 which connects conduit S0 and conduit 85. In this position, uids are produced through mandrel 40 (or 40a) and pipe string 55 and conduit 79. A decrease in uid pressure in conduit 87 caused by a decrease in fluid pressure to a predetermined value through conduit 79 causes diaphragm valve 86 to open. When this occurs, the annulus pressure bleeds through conduit 80, conduit 85, and open valve S6 into reservoir 89. Upon release of annulus pressure, piston member 42 moves upwardly under the bias of spring 46 and well pressure acting below the piston member 42 causes mandrel 40 to be retracted 5 f into housing and Valve 35 closes under the bias o spring 36 and Well pressure. Although, as described, valve 86 is designated a valve which opens only in response to a decrease in uid pressure, it may be ,of the type which opens in response to increased pressure as well as decreased pressure. Additionally, while the arrangement is described with regard to preventing blowouts or other pressure changes, any other type of control system is to be considered as within the scope of the invention; for example, the surface apparatus may provide for bleeding hydraulic iluid pressure from the annulus when excessive heat, or excessive wind velocity, or excessive wave height, or excessive wave force, or impact from surface objects require closing-olf of production iluids.

It is to be emphasized that in the open position, valve 35 provides a full opening. 'Because the bores of mandrel 40 (or 40a), sub 56 (or 56a) and pipe string 55 are substantially the same diameter as the diameter ofthe valve 35 opening, sand cannot settle on the valve or within the valve because this straight through type design does not have an increased ow area to cause sand accumulation.

When -it is desired to remove the safety valve from tubing string 111, arms 57 of sub 56 are disengaged from collar v16 by pulling up on pipe string 55 and removing this detachable appara-tus from the borehole. Then, a ishing tool is lowered in tubing string 11 and engaged withv fishing head 23. Slip arms 2-4 are disengaged from tubing string -11 and the valve assembly 10 is removed through tubing string 11 to the surface.

A production casing would be mounted in well head 60; however for purposes of simplicity only casing 71 is shown. Also, although not shown, tubing string 11 is provided with a tubing-casing packer above the production zone in order to direct production fluid ilow upwardly through the tubing string to the safety valve.

Having fully described the objects, nature, and -appara- -tus of the invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling lluid flow through a tubing arranged in a borehole comprising a housing positioned in said tubing and having a bore therethrough land provided with a port iluidly communicating the interior and exterior thereof; first valve means arranged on the lower end of said housing and movable between an open position adapted to permit, and a closed position adapted to prevent upwardly directed liuid ilow therethrough; first biasing means arranged on said lirst Valve means adapted to urge said rst valve means to the closed position; packer means arranged on said housing below said port in the annulus between said housing and said tubing and engaging said tubing wall to prevent iluid flow therepast; longitudinally movable means arranged within said housing adapted to move downwardly to engage and move said first valve means to its open position, said movable means also being provided with a piston member below said port adapted to move said movable means downwardly upon application of iluid pressure to said piston member; second biasing means arranged in said housing and engaging said piston member adapted to urge said movable means up'- Wardly out of engagement with said first valve means; normally closed second valve means arranged on said housing below said packer means adapted to open upon engagement with said movable means to fluidly communicate and equalize uid pressure between the interior and exterior of saidhousing; a production pipe string connected to the upper end of said housing and extending to the earths sur-face adapted to provide an isolated flow path for said well luids; and fluid pressure supply means connected to said tubing and iluidly communicating with said annulus adapted to supply uid pressure to said piston member via said annulus and said port -to move said piston member and connected movable means downwardly against the bias of said second biasing means to engage and move said first valve means against the bias of said rst biasing means from its closed to its opened position, the release of tluid pressure in said annulus permitting move upwardly under the bias of said second biasing means topermit said rst valve means to close under the bias of said lirst biasing means. n

2.' Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means connected to said Huid pressure supply means adapted to releaseuid pressure in said annulus inl response to variation in pressure of produced well iluids.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including an additional port arranged on said housing above said packer means and a one-way, spring-biased valve arranged on said piston member cooperating when aligned to permit fluid flow .from said annulu's ,to the interior of said tubular member.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including a one-way, spring-biased valve arranged on said production pipe string =forpermitting fluid 110W from said annulus to the interior of said pipe string. Y

5. Apparatus as recitedk in claim 2 wherein the opening of said rst valve means and the bores of said movable means and said production pipe string are substantially equal in cross-sectional areas.

References Cited in the ile of this patentV l UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,563 Wells Mar. 10, 1936 2,104,660 Long Ian. 4, 1938 2,351,322 Crake June 13, 1944 2,368,428 Saurenman Jan. 30, 1945 2,780,290 Natho Feb. 5, 1957 2,780,291 Westling Feb. 5, 1957 2,785,755 Endean Mar. 19, 1957 2,813,588 OReilly Nov. 19, 1957

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