US3051242A

US3051242A - Multiple zone control apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3051242A
Application number: US594845A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard O Chamberlain; Jr Charles E Wakefield
Original assignee: Richfield Oil Corp
Current assignee: Richfield Oil Corp
Priority date: 1956-06-29
Filing date: 1956-06-29
Publication date: 1962-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1962 R.o.cHAMBl-:RLA1N ETAL 3,05L242 MULTIPLE ZONE CONTROL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m m w m Flled June 29 1956 RICHARD 0. CHAMBERLAIN CHARLES E. WAKEFIELD JR.

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ATTORNEYS Aug. 28, 1962 R. o. CHAMBERLAIN ETAL. 3,051,242

MULTIPLE ZONE CONTROL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1956 ATTORNEY5 Aug. 28, 1962 R. o. CHAMBERLAIN ETAL 3,051,242

MULTIPLE ZONE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed June 29, 195e s sheets-sheet s l2` 5 lo l i4 i! 24 '4 Jil 1'6 9 f) A j .fi 54 29a i* 29 z \26 H e 26 l| l E Il j INVENTORS RICHARD O. CHAMBERLAIN CHARILS E. WAKEFIELD JR.

BY W, .144

ATTORNEYS 3,05L242 MULTELE ZONE CGNTRL APPARA'K'US Richard 0. Chamberlain, Caliente Ranch, and Charles E. Wakefield, Sir., Bakerslield, Calif., assignors to Richneld Oil Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Fiied Enne 29, F556, Ser. No. 594,845 6 Claims. (Si. 165-185) This invention relates to `an apparatus for use in systems adapted for selectively controlling the ilow of oil, gas or other iluid from or into a plurality of vertically spaced formations adjacent a well bore. More' particularly, this invention is concerned with means for facilitating removal from a well of an apparatus designed to block ow from an adjacent formation.

-ln our copending application Serial No. 473,782, led December 8, 1954, now Patent No. 2,869,645, lwe have disclosed a system for controlling flow of iluids injected into and removed from a plurality of vertically spaced producing formations adjacent a cased well bore. We also have disclosed in that application and in our copending application Serial No. 489,245, filed February 18, 1955, now abandoned, certain control structures for use in the described system. As discussed in our prior applications, for maximum efciency in controlling wells having a plurality of vertically spaced producing formations it is essential that control means employed be removable or insertable without the necessity of removing or otherwise disturbing other control members at different levels.

ln a system where control of fluid ow is being exercised at a plurality of vertically spaced points in a well, itis often desired to stop flow into or from the Well tubing at a given level. This can be done in the systems of our said copending applications by using flow control members or valves at the given level which shutoff communication between the tubing and the adjacent formation. The usual control means of our system comprises an enlongated valve control member which is placed in a valve seat at a desired level in the well. The valve seat is offset from the vertical aXis of the tubing so that the valve control member can pass through the tubing past the valve seat. The valve member is centrally bored and iiuid passes through the bore in going from the tubing to the formation or vice versa.

When it is desired to cutoif communication with a given formation, a special flow control member is placed in the tubing in a valve seat opposite that formation. The central bore of this flow control member is occupied so that liuid cannot traverse the bore. This could be accomplished by providing a solid flow control member, i.e. one having no through bore; however, in order that the control members be usable under a variety of flow conditions, they are preferably constructed so that a solid but removable member (for convenience referred to as a solid bean) can be placed across the bore. Thus the bore of the usual liow control member becomes blanked-oi in simple fashion. As explained in our copending applications, the solid bean can be replaced by a member or bean having an orifice therethrough of a given size to provide a desired flow rate through the control member.

This system of well operation has in general proved satisfactory; however, difficulty has been experienced in removing flow control members from their valve seats when the bore of the control member is occupied by a solid bean. For instance, in those cases where the pressure within the low string is greater than the reservoir pressure opposite the level of the `solid bean, a rather large force can develop as a result of the differential pressure to cause the control member to be held firmly in position in the valve seat even if the anchoring means for the control member be released. Inasmuch as fishing tools used for placing or removing these control members are run in on a small, piano-type wire line, this differential force frequently cannot be overcome before breaking the line. The instant application is directed to a flow control member modified to eliminate such differential ressures and facilitate removal of the member from the well tubing. This removal might be effected in order that the solid bean can be replaced by an orificed member establishing regulated flow to a given vertical position of the well bore.

Gur invention will 'be most readily understood by reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of the lower portion of a valve control member of the present invention having an orice plugging rod inserted in the bore of valve control member and an aperture disposed in its bottom conical section.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical partial section of an embodiment of an upper portion of a valve control member of the present invention showing a suitable latching means and the relationship of the oriiice plugging rod to the latching member.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section of the lower portion of a second embodiment of a valve control member of the present invention having a short orifice plugging rod inserted in the bore ofthe valve control member.

FGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view vw'th parts broken away, of the valve control member of FIG- URE l disposed within a Valve seat of a tubing section ywithin a weil casing.

FIGURE 5 also is a fragmentary elevational View with parts broken away, of the valve control member of FG- URE 3 disposed within the valve seat of a tubing section within a well casing.

Fl-'GURE 6 is a partial vertical section of the latching medmber showing cut-away slots to permit its rotation, an

FlGURE 7 is a top view taken along section B--B of FlGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 shows a tool used to remove the valve control member from the valve seat.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURES 3 and 5 constitute one embodiment o-f the invention and FGURES 1 and 4 a second embodiment. Both embodiments hold in common the following members designated by like numerals: the numeral '9 designates a perforated -well casing and i@ represents a tubing section which is provided with a through bore S and with laterally enlarged portion 12 intermediate its ends. Section 1li is advantageously adapted at its ends to be engaged in a tubing or pipe string in a well bore. In the laterally enlarged portion l2 is a generally circular valve seat i4. As shown, valve seat i4 is dened by the outer wall of the laterally enlarged portion 12 of the piping section iii and wall i6. The wall i6 separates the valve seat 14, along a portion of its length, from horizontal communica-tion with the through bore S of piping section iti. Strap 1.8 is provided to facilitate retention of the valve control member within the valve seat. Advantageously retaining means 18 can be formed by removing a section `of wall 16 to provide a ring-like retaining member.

Disposed within the valve seat of the laterally enlarged portion l2 of piping section iti is the centrally bored valve co'ntrol member means Zit. Advantageously, valve means Ztl may be composed of a plurality of threadingly engaged sections comprising an upper portion 22, an intermediate portion 24 and a bottom portion 26. The valve means can be a single unitary structure adapted to have the characteristics disclosed below or it may be composed of a plurality of sections as illustrated. When the control member 2t? is composed of a plurality of separable sections it should be understood that suitable O rings such as at 48 in FIG-

URES

1 and 3, can be included where an absolute seal is desired. Inserted within bored valve member of both FIGURES l and 3 is bean plugging rod 69, threadedly engaged to cylindrical member 61 (FIGURE 2) in the upper portion 22 of vvalve means 20. The upper portions 22 of the separate embodiments are similar and the common structure is shown in FIGURES 2 and 6 to 8.

The two embodiments differ as follows. A removable restricted orice member or bean member `can be placed within the bottom portion 26 as designated by numeral 36 in FIGURE Vl, or at a point in member 24 below the aperture 21 as designated by 25 in FIGURE 3. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 the rod 60 extends longitudinally downward to enter the orifice of bean member 36. In the embodiment of FIGURE 3 a solid bean 38 occupies the position of member 36 in FIGURE l and a relatively short rod 60 is utilized, extending downwardly to enter the oriiice of bean member 25. Solid bean 38 is not a necessity in the embodiment of FIGURE 3. The lower ends of the rods 60 are sized to prevent any substantial fluid ow through the members and 36. If desired, but less advantageously, the orifice can be lformed by the walls of member 20 or the orifice could simply be the bore of member 20. To prevent fluid leakage or by-pass, the beans 36 or 2S can be supplied with G rings 36h or 25h respectively.V The

removable orifice members

36 and 25 have their longitudinal axis in substantial `alignment with the axis of the bore of the valve means 20 above and below it. The dia-meter of the throat of the restricted oriiice may Vary and when effective in restricting flow is less than the diameter of the bore of the valve control member 20.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 4 uid flow between a formation opposite the section 10 and the bore of the Valve means is elected through an aperture 44a as in `the inwardly tapering valve seat bottom 44 of the laterally enlarged piping section 12. With this arrangement, an aperture 42 is provided in the end conical section of the bottom portion 26 of the valve means 20 to communicate the bore ofthe valve means 20 and aperture 44a. Therefore the fluid flow path in FIGURES 1 and 4 includes apertures y44a and 42, the orifice of member 36 and

apertures

21 and 37 with lower seal 54 providing a flow barrier around the valve body. Y

In the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 5, instead of apertures 44a and 42, an aperture 29 is provided in the intermediate portion 24 above the blank bean 3S. Apertures 29a are provided in valve seat 1.4 opposite aperture 29. The fluid flow path in FIGURES 3 and 5 is through apertures 29a and 29, the orifice of member 25 and

apertures

21 and 37 with an lupper seal 54 provided between the valve seat and the Valve control member between

apertures

29 and 21.

It should be observed that the restricted orifice member receiving rod 60 to be effective in stopping flow to and from the formation must be placed between the aperture communicating the bore of the valve control means 20 with the bore of the piping section S and the aperture communicating the bore of the valve means with the exterior of section 10 and thus with the well formation via casing 9.

To sealingly seat the valve means 20 of either of the embodiments in the drawings 'within their respective valve seats, resilient packing seals 54 are provided. By placing the seal 54 between the aperture communicating the bore of the valve means with the bore of the piping section and the aperture communicating the bore of the valve means with the formation through the valve seat, flow of uid to and from the formation can be prevented from passing through the length of the valve seat unless it passes by means of the bore in the valve means. These seals may be of any construction and be disposed on either the valve seat or valve body but resilient seals on the valve body are preferred.

The upper portion 22 of the valve means 20 includes head 2S (refer to FIGURE 2) associated therewith and Y adapted to permit engagement with a well stringing tool (not shown in FIGURE 8) which is capable of inserting the valve means into and removing the valve means from the valve seat (see U.S. Patent No. 2,679,903). Circumferentially disposed about the upper portion 22 is a shouldered projection 30. Shoulder 30 engages retaining means 18 (FIGURE 4) so that the valve means 20 is prevented from moving downwardly into the valve seat to an extent further than desired. Spaced below the shoulder 30 is a latching means 32 which is rotatably mounted on a pin 67 horizontally positioned through opposing -walls of the upper portion 22 of valve control member. The latch cam 32 includes a latching finger 33 which projects outwardly through vertical slot 56 when in horizontal position. Except for the necessary modifications, the latching member may take the form and operate as described in U.S. Patent No. 2,679,903 to permit latching engagement with the lower side of the retaining means 18.

The modifications involve a center opening 66 (refer to FIGURES 6 and 7) directly through latch cam 32 and pin 67 to permit the free passage of bean plugging rod 60, and cut-away

slots

71, 72, 73 and 74 joining center opening 66 to allow for rotation of the latching means. As shown in FIGURE 6, the

slots

71, 72, 73 and 74 are out away from cam latch 32 at angles of approximately or 45 from the center opening to the periphery of the latch cam 32. The slots are cut away from each side of center opening 66 through which bean plugging rod 60 passes at approximately the middle section of latch cam 32 (see FIGURE 7). Consequently, even though the bean plugging rod passes through the latch cam, it is able .to rotate when it is desired to remove the valve means 20.

33 is in the horizontal position of FIGURE 2. Then pin 61 is inserted to hold these parts in this relationship. With the bean plugging rod in this position member 20 can be latched into a desired valve seat of the tubing string since spring 65 at one end is attached to cam 32 and at the other end engages the side of member 22 in a manner to'permit upward movement of projection 33 while it passes by strap 18. Spring 65 tends to force the cam 32 in a clockwise direction and will move projection 33 until it points downwardly suicient to be retracted into slot 56 of member 22. Downward movement of member 33 is stopped by rod 61. As a consequence of the latching of member 20 in the valve seat flow from the adjacent formation is blocked. Installation of member 20 can be accomplished as described in U.S. Patent No..

To remove the valve control member 20, fishing tool is lowered to engage the under portion of the conical projection 28 of the upper portion 22 of the valve means. By raising the tool, the pin-62 which connects slidable rod 63 to the body member 64 is sheared and by reason of the resulting upward movement of the rod 63, the latch cam 32 is released from the cylindrical catch member 61 and rotates on horizontally positioned pin 67 so that the nger 33 is retracted through the vertical slot 56 by the action of the spring 65. At the same time, the bean plugging rod, being threadedly connected to the cylindrical catch member 61' or rod- 63, moves upwardly so that the. bottom end of the bean plugging rod is withdrawn from the hole in the bean thereby opening the bean. The opening-of the bean equalizes the pressure within the flow string with the pressure in the formation opposite said tools. Equalizing the pressure in the inside and outside of the-valve means thus allows the valve control member to be easily withdrawn from the tubular valve seat.Y Y

. We claim: H

1. An apparatus comprisingv an elongated, generally cylindrical member having a longitudinal bore, a rst aperture through the wall of said cylindrical member communicating with said rbore, a second aperture through the wall of said cylindrical member communicating with said bore and vertically spaced below said first aperture, a removable member in said bore between said first and second apertures and having a through longitudinal orice, retractable means in said bore extendable to plug said orice for preventing iluid iiow through the bore between said first and second apertures, means for releasably holding said retractable means in how-preventing position, a member pivotally mounted in said cylindrical member, means biasing said pivotally mounted member towards a position in which it does not extend radially beyond said cylindrical member, means associated with said retractable means for positioning said pivotally mounted means so that it projects outwardly lfrom said cylindrical member when said retractable means is held in dow-preventing position, and means for releasing said holding means and said means for positioning said pivotally mounted member in projecting position so that the retractable means can be withdrawn from tluid ilow-preventing position when the pivotally mounted member is biased towards the position in which it does not extend radially beyond said cylindrical member.

2. An apparatus comprising an elongated, generally cylindrical member having a longitudinal bore, a first aperture through the Wall of said cylindrical member communicating with said bore, a second aperture through the wall of said cylindrical member communicating with said bore and vertically spaced below said iirst aperture, a removable member in said bore between said rst and second apertures and having a through longitudinal orice, retractable means in said bore extendable to plug said oriice for preventing iluid iiow through the bore between said first and second apertures and sliding in said cylindrical member above said rst aperture, a frangible pin preventing relative movement between said retractable means and said cylindrical member and holding said retractable means in now-preventing position, a cam pivotally mounted in said cylindrical member above said first aperture and below the portion of the retractable means sliding in said cylindrical member, a spring associated with said cam biasing the cam so that it does not extend radially beyond said cylindrical member, means associated with said retractable means for holding said cam so that it projects outwardly from said cylindrical member when said frangible pin is unbroken, said retractable means extending through said cam perpendicular to its pivotal axis, said retractable means being provided with an upwardly extending projection adapted to be engaged by a well tool so that an upward force on the projection breaks the frangible pin to permit said spring to bias said cam to a non-projecting position and the withdrawal of the retractable means from said orice.

3. An apparatus comprising a pipe section having a through bore and having a laterally enlarged portion intermediate the ends of said section, a generally cylindrical, elongated valve seat in said laterally enlarged portion, said valve seat being in communication with the bore of said pipe section and having an opening communicating externally of said pipe section, a longitudinally bored control means removably disposed in said Valve seat, said control means being adapted to be removed and inserted in said valve seat by a well tool insertable into said pipe section, said control means, valve seat and laterally enlarged portion of said pipe section being proportioned to enable the control means to pass through said pipe section bore, a first aperture in said control means communicating with the bore of said control means and the bore of said pipe section, a second aperture in said control means vertically displaced from said iirst aperture and communicating with the bore of said control means and the opening in the valve seat communicating externally of said pipe section, ow preventing means disposed between the Valve seat and control means intermediate the iirst and second apertures in the control means, means to sealingly separate the internal portion of the valve seat communicating with the second aperture from communication with the bore of said pipe section except through said control means bore, said control means having retractable means in its bore extendable to plug a reduced area within said bore between said first and second apertures for preventing fluid ow through the bore between said Iirst and second apertures, means for releasably holding said retractable means in flow preventing position and means for releasing said holding means so that the retractable means can be withdrawn to a position permitting fluid flow from said iirst to said second apertures and through said control means bore.

4. An apparatus comprising a pipe section having a through bore and having a laterally enlarged portion intermediate the ends of said section, a generally cylindrical, elongated valve seat in said laterally enlarged portion, said valve seat being in communication with the bore of said pipe section and having an opening communicating externally of said pipe section, a longitudinally bored control means removably disposed in said valve seat, said control means being adapted to be removed and inserted in said valve seat by a well tool insertable into said pipe section, said control means, valve seat and laterally enlarged portion of said pipe section being proportioned to enable the control means to pass through asid pipe section bore, a rst aperture in said control means communicating with the bore of said control means and the bore of said pipe section, a second aperture in said control means vertically placed below said rst aperture and communicating with the bore of said control means and the opening in the valve seat communicating externally of said pipe section, ow preventing means disposed between the valve seat and control means intermediate the iirst and second apertures in the control means, means to sealingly separate the internal portion of the valve seat communicating with the second aperture from communication with the bore of said pipe section except through said control means bore, said control means having a removable restricted orifice member in its bore between said iirst and second apertures, retractable means in said control means bore extendable to plug said oriiice for preventing fluid flow through the bore between said first and second apertures, means for releasably holding said retractable means in -iiow preventing position and means for releasing said holding means so that the retractable means can be withdrawn from the oriiice plugging position, and latch means for retaining said control means in said valve seat when said retractable means is in flow-preventing position.

5. An apparatus comprising a pipe section having a through bore and having a laterally enlarged portion intermediate the ends of said section, a generally cylindrical, elongated valve seat in said laterally enlarged portion, said valve seat being in communication with the bore of said pipe section and having an opening communicating externally of said pipe section, a longitudinally bored control means removably disposed in said valve seat, said control means being adapted to be removed and inserted in said valve seat by a well tool insertable into said pipe section, said control means, valve seat and laterally enlarged portion of said pipe section being proportioned to enable the control means to pass through said pipe section bore, a first aperture in said control means communicating with the bore of said control means and the bore of said pipe section, a second aperture in said control means vertically placed below said first aperture and communicating with the bore of said control means and the opening in the valve seat communicating externally of said pipe section, flow preventing means disposed between the valve seat and control meansV intermediate the rst and second apertures in thecontrol means, means to sealingly vseparate the internal portion of theY valve seat communicating with the second aperture from communication with'the bore of said pipe section except through said control means bore, said control means having a removable restricted orice member in its bore between said irst and second apertures, retractable means in said control means bore extendable to plug said orifice for preventing uid dow through the bore between said first and second apertures, means for releasably holding said retractable means in owpreventing position, a member pivotally mounted in said control means, means biasing said pivotally mounted member towards a position 'in which it does not extend radially beyond said control means, means associated with said retractable means for positioning said pivotaily mounted means so that it projects outwardly from said control means to latch it in said valve seat when said retractable'means is held in now-preventing position, and

eans for releasing said holding means and said means for positioning said pivotally mounted member in projecting position so that the retractable `means can be withdrawn from uid flow-preventing position when the pivotally mounted member is biased towards the position in which it does not extend radially beyond said control means.

6. An apparatus comprising a pipe section having a through bore and having ,a laterally enlarged portion intermediate the ends of said section, a generally cylindrical, elongated valve seat in said laterallyenlarged portion, said valve seat being in communication with the bore of said pipe section and having an opening communicating externally of saidpipe section, a longitudinally bored control means removablydisposed in said valve seat, said control means being adapted to be removed and inserted in said valve seat by a well tool insertable into said pipe section, said control means, valve seat and laterally enlarged portion of said pipe section being proportioned toV enable the control means to pass through said pipe section bore, a iirst aperture in said control means communicating with the Vbore of said control means and the bore of said pipe section, ,a second aperture in said` control means Vvertically placed below said iirst aperture and communicating with the bore of said O or control and ythe opening inthe valve seat communicating externally of said pipe section, owrpreventing means disposed between thezvalve seat and control means intermediate the first and second apertures in the control means, means to sealingly separate the internal portion of the valve seat communicating with the second aperture from communication with the bore of said pipe section except through said control means bore, said control means having a removable restricted orifice member in its bore between said first and second apertures, retractable means in said control means bore extendable to plug said oritice for preventing fluid flow through the bore between said first and second apertures and sliding in said control means above said tiret aperture, a frangible pin preventing relative movement between said retractable means and said control means and holding said retractable means in flow-preventing position, a cam pivotally mounted in said control means above said rst aperture and below the portion of the retractable means sliding in said control means, a spring associated with said cam biasing the cam so that it does not extend radially beyond said control means, means associated with said retractable means for holding said cam so that it projects outwardly from said control means to latch it in said valve seat when said frangible pin is unbroken, said retractable means extending through said cam perpendicular to its pivotal axis, said retractable means being provided with an upwardly extending projection adapted to be engaged by a welltool so that an upward force on the projection breaks the frangible pin to permit said spring to bias said cam to a non-projecting position and the Withdrawal of the retractable means from said orice.

References Cited in the tile orr this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y