US3710860A - Petroleum well safety valve - Google Patents

Petroleum well safety valve Download PDF

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Publication number
US3710860A
US3710860A US00167784A US3710860DA US3710860A US 3710860 A US3710860 A US 3710860A US 00167784 A US00167784 A US 00167784A US 3710860D A US3710860D A US 3710860DA US 3710860 A US3710860 A US 3710860A
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Prior art keywords
valve
piston
throughbore
ball
valve body
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US00167784A
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English (en)
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M Holbert
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Vetco Gray LLC
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Gray Tool Co
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Assigned to GRAY TOOL COMPANY, A CORP. OF TEX. reassignment GRAY TOOL COMPANY, A CORP. OF TEX. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: COMBUSTION ENGINEERING, INC.
Assigned to CITIBANK, N.A., reassignment CITIBANK, N.A., SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: VETCO GRAY INC., A DE. CORP.
Assigned to VETCO GRAY INC., reassignment VETCO GRAY INC., MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). TEXAS, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 14, 1986 & DECEMBER 17, 1986. Assignors: GRAY TOOL COMPANY, A TX. CORP. (INTO), VETCO OFFSHORE INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. (CHANGED TO)
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
    • E21B34/02—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in well heads
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
    • E21B2200/03—Valves operated by gear mechanisms, e.g. rack and pinion mechanisms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
    • E21B2200/04—Ball valves
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/7722—Line condition change responsive valves
    • Y10T137/7781—With separate connected fluid reactor surface
    • Y10T137/7782—With manual or external control for line valve
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/7722—Line condition change responsive valves
    • Y10T137/7781—With separate connected fluid reactor surface
    • Y10T137/7793—With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]
    • Y10T137/7831—With mechanical movement between actuator and valve

Definitions

  • PETROLEUM WELL SAFETY VALVE [75] Inventor: Marvin L. Holbert, Jr., Houston,
  • the valve Preferably installed in the well head, the valve incorporates a differential pressure operated piston exposed to a fluid pressure supply on one side for maintaining the valve in an open condition when desired and exposed to subterranean pressures on the opposite side, so that when the subterranean pressure rises above a predetermined amount the valve closes.
  • the valve may be economically installed in existing wells, e.g. offshore dual wells on multiple well platforms to provide internal blowout and anti-fire protection for wells which presently have no effective positive closure for shutting in the well in an emergency, such as an incipient blowout or a fire,
  • Patentee Patent No. Issue Date R. L. Fletcher I,255,l47 Feb. 5, I9I8 J. C. Fortune l,8l4,549 July l4, l93l B. H. Scott l,8l8,508 Aug. ll, 193i M. L. hacker 2,162,578 .lune I3, I939 C. E. Burt et al. 2,l89,703 Feb. 6, I940 L. O. Goodwin 2,354,3l July 25, I944 T. M. Ragan 2,624,412 Jan. 6, I953 J. R. Baker 2,630,865 Mar. I0, I95] J. R. Baker et al. 2,84I,l7l July I, I958 H. H.
  • the valve Preferably installed in the well head, the valve incorporates a differential pressure-operated piston exposed to a fluid pressure supply on one side for maintaining the valve in an open condition when desired and exposed to subterranean pressures on the opposite side, so that when the subterranean pressure rises above a predetermined amount the valve closes.
  • the valve may be economically installed in existing wells, e.g. offshore dual wells on multiple well platforms to provide internal blowout and anti-fire protection for wells which presently have no effective positive closure for shutting in the well in an emergency, such as an incipient blowout or a fire.
  • a ball-type and a gate-type embodiment of the valve are disclosed.
  • the gate valve embodiment in the preferred form includes a check valve on the blind portion of the gate, oriented to permit forcible introduction of fluids into the well when the gate is closed.
  • the gate and ball versions include specially designed operators.
  • FIG. I is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a balltype embodiment of the valve
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially alone line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the valve ball, retainer/stop and operator of the valve embodiment of FIG. I;
  • FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a gatetype embodiment of the valve
  • FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the gate of the FIG. 4 embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.
  • the element 10 is a tubing bonnet or a lower portion thereof.
  • the II] is the bonnet, it is designed to be mounted upon the tubing head (bolted-type flange connections are illustrated; Grayloc clamp connections could be provided instead, as could other clamp-type connections).
  • a master valve of the christmas tree would mount upon the tubing head, although in some instances the master valve housing could be cast integrally with the tubing bonnet.
  • the upper ends of the tubing hangers (not depicted) extend into and seal with the tapered lower ends 12 of the longitudinal throughbores 14 of the tubing bonnet.
  • valve of the invention is equally applicable to single and multiple completions.
  • An example of the location of a tubing head bonnet in a well head is shown on page 2245 of the l970-7l Edition of the Composite Catalog of Oilfield Equipment and Services, Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas.
  • the upper ends of the bores I4 are also tapered, by preference, to receive double tapered sealing cones which also seal with correspondingly oppositely tapered bores in the lower ends of the corresponding bores of the master valve (see pages 2242, 2245, 2247 and 2251 of the aforementioned Composite Catalog).
  • the bore 14 necks down and is provided with a downwardly facing, concave, spherically curved, annular valve seat I6 which may be integrally formed, or provided on a replaceable element.
  • a valve ball 18 is shown disposed within the bore 14 against the seat 16.
  • a retainer and stop element 20 supports the ball for 90 degree rotation between the open condition depicted in FIG. 2 and a closed condition wherein the diametric passageway 22 through the ball is completely out of registry with the bore 14.
  • the retainer and stop element 20 is shown held in place in the bore 14 by a snap ring 24 which is accepted in a circumferential notch 26 in the bore 14.
  • the element 30 includes an annular body 32 having an upwardly facing, concave, spherically curved annular valve seat 34 machined into the radially inner corner of the upper end surface thereof.
  • An arm 36 projects axially upwardly from one point on the radially outer corner of the upper end surface of the retainer body 32.
  • the arm 36 near its upper extent is provided with a horizontally opening socket 38 of circular section.
  • valve ball 18 has a portion of the spherically curved exterior surface thereof machined away to provide a trunnion or axle 40 centrally of a generally triangular recess 42 which runs out on one side at 44 and includes as its two other sides shoulders 46 and 48 disposed at right angles to one another and lying in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion 40. The latter is disposed midway between the intersections of the ball passageway 22, on a radian of the ball.
  • the trunnion 40 is received in the socket 38 to journal rotation of the ball while the spherical exterior of the ball is engaged between the seats 16 and 34. If necessary, one or both of the seats may be spring biased to increase their seating pressure against the ball and either surface 16 or 34 may be provided with a resilient annular sealing member disposed in an annular groove therein.
  • valve ball Diametrically opposite the trunnion 40, the valve ball is shown provided with a socket 50 of non-circular cross-sectional shape, a hexagonal socket being de picted.
  • the passageway 14 is intersected by a grease chamber 52 for supplying lubricating grease to the exterior of the valve ball.
  • valves With reference to FIG. 1, the right-most of the two valves is shown in detail and the left one, which is a mirror image duplicate thereof, is suggested in more general outline.
  • the valves are oriented so that the two trunnions 40 lie laterally adjacent one another in axial alignment, while the hexagonal sockets 50 thereof face outwardly of the outer sides of the valve balls.
  • tubing head safety valve housing is further provided with a horizontal bore 54 in longitudinal alignment with the hexagonal socket 50.
  • the bore 54 which is at first generally cylindrical, becomes enlarged frustoconically at 56, is then threaded in another cylindrical segment at $8, is cylindrically enlarged again at 60, then frustoconically again at 62 and finally in another threaded cylindrical segment 64 which intersects the exterior of the housing 10.
  • a pinion 66 is provided with teeth 68 its outer periphery and is fixed on a shaft 70 intermediate the ends of the shaft.
  • the inner end of the shaft is provided with a shaped portion 72 of a non-circular cross-sectional shape which is complementary with that of the socket 50.
  • the portion 72 is received in the socket 50 so that rotation of the shaft causes coordinate rotation of the valve ball.
  • the shaft 70 is journaled for rotation in the bore 54 at 74 and 76 with the pinion positioned radially adjacent the bore portion 60.
  • a packing nut 78 is shown having a frustoconically tapered forward portion 80 provided with a circumferential, radially outwardly opening recess in which a sealing ring 82 is received. Behind its tapered portion 80, the nut 78 is exteriorly threaded at 84. The rear of the nut is provided with wrenching tabs 86 so the nut may be threaded into the bore at 58,84 so as to have its portion 80 in engagement with the bore portion 56 and sealed therewith at 82.
  • an axially extensive, radially inwardly opening, circumferential groove 90 which receives chevron packing 92 or its equivalent, for sealing with the exterior of the shaft 70 journaled there.
  • a bearing plug 94 is shown having a frustoconically tapered forward portion 96 provided with a circumferential, radially outwardly opening recess in which a sealing ring 98 is received. Behind its tapered portion 96, the plug 94 is exteriorly threaded at 100. The rear of the plug is provided with a non-circular wrenching socket 102 so the plug may be threaded into the bore 54 at 64,100 so as to have its portion 96 in engagement with the bore portion 62 and sealed therewith at 98.
  • the inner end of the plug 94 is provided with a longitudinally extending, radially inwardly opening socket 104 which receives the outer end of the shaft 70. Near its mouth, the socket 104 is radially enlarged to provide a circumferential recess 106 that receives an annular bearing element 108, e.g. made of lubricious plastic material for rotatively supporting the shaft with respect to the plug 94.
  • an annular bearing element 108 e.g. made of lubricious plastic material for rotatively supporting the shaft with respect to the plug 94.
  • the bore 54 is intersected at right angles intermediate its longitudinal extent, and specifically within its portion 60 by a horizontal bore 110.
  • the longitudinal axis of the bore 110 lies above the longitudinal axis of the bore 54.
  • the bore 110 intersects the grease chamber 52 to become a continuation thereof. (A plug H2 closes off the outer end of the direct line 52.) From intersection with the grease chamber, the bore 110 continues, generally cylindrically, to intersection with the bore 54. as aforesaid, then on to a first cylindrical enlargement at 114, a frustoconical enlargement at 116, a cylindrical, internally threaded portion at 118, another enlargement producing an outwardly facing annular shoulder at [20 and finally to another cylindrical, internally threaded portion at 122.
  • the portion 114 is intersected by a bore 124 generally parallel to the bore 54 which is provided with a grease fitting at [26 to constitute a grease injection port for replenishing grease within the system and for providing grease to the grease chamber 52 for lubricating the valve ball. Periodically, grease may be forced in through the grease fitting under sufficient pressure to displace substantially all of the old grease within the system to purge contaminated grease.
  • a breather port 128 communicates between the exterior of the housing and the bore 110 adjacent the shoulder 120.
  • the bore 110 receives a shaft 130 whose inner end is slotted at 132 to pass grease and to communicate pressure. A short distance back from the inner end begins a long exteriorly threaded portion I34 whose threads I36 are configured to mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear 66.
  • the shaft 130 is radially enlarged to provide a circumferentially extending band 138 having an outwardly facing frustoconically curved sealing surface I40 which constitutes the outer end surface of the band 138.
  • the shaft 130 is generally cylindrical and smooth in the region 142 proceeding to its outer end 144 which mounts a piston 146.
  • the shaft end portion 144 is shown being exteriorly threaded to mount the piston via a complementary internally threaded socket 148 in the back face of the piston, but alternative mounting arrangements could have been provided.
  • the piston 146 is generally disk-shaped with a circumferentially extending, radially outwardly opening, O-ring receiving groove 150 in the radially outer peripheral surface thereof.
  • the groove 150 receives an O-ring seal assembly 152.
  • the inner end of the shaft 130 as shown is of sufficiently great diameter to be self-journaled in the bore 110 for longitudinal sliding (and rotation under certain circumstances) therein.
  • the outer end region 142 is journaled and sealed with respect to the bore by a packing nut 154 which is substantially identical in design to the packing nut 78. That is, it has a frustoconically tapered forward portion 156 provided with a circumferential, radially outwardly opening recess in which a sealing ring 158 is received. Behind its tapered portion 156, the nut 154 is exteriorly threaded at 160. The rear of the nut is provided with wrenching tabs 162 so the nut may be threaded into the bore at 118,160 so as to have its portion 156 in engagement with the bore portion 116 and sealed therewith at I58.
  • an axially extensive, radially inwardly opening, circumferentially extending groove 166 which receives chevron packing 168 or its equivalent, for sealing with the shaft portion 142 journaled there.
  • the inner end of the nut I54, radially adjacent the emergence of the through-bore 164 is provided with a frustoconical recess forming a seat 170 complementary to the sealing surface 140 on the shaft 130 band 138.
  • the seal I40 engages the seat 170, metal on metal, to provide for positive sealing in an instance where high temperatures from a fire may have damaged the chevron packing.
  • the piston 146 is housed within a cup-shaped cylinder member I72 which threads into the outer end portion I22 of the bore 110 at 174.
  • the member 172 has a cylindrical inner sidewall 176 which is sealingly engaged by the O-ring 152.
  • the cylinder member end In axial alignment with the piston shaft 130, the cylinder member end is provided with an opening 178 and the outer end of the piston is provided with an indicator/manual actuator 180 which protrudes toward visibility and accessibility through the opening 178. Visibility of the member 180 through the opening 178 indicates that the valve is in a closed condition.
  • a coil spring 182 is preferably installed between the back of the piston and the packing nut 154 to ensure return of the valve to a closed condition upon release of external pressure.
  • the valve may be manually operated by pulling, pushing or turning the indicator/manual actuator 180.
  • the breather port 128 allows air to be exhausted from behind the piston during opening of the valve and for admission of air to the expanding space behind the piston during closing of the valve in order to avoid interfering with smooth sliding of the piston.
  • the element 210 is a tubing bonnet or a lower portion thereof, as described in relation to element 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the upper ends oftubing hangers (not depicted) extend into and seal with the tapered lower ends 212 of the two longitudinal throughbores 214 of the tubing bonnet. (A dual, sideby-side completion is depicted.)
  • the principles of the valve of FIGS. 4-6 are equally applicable to single and multiple completions.
  • each bore 214 above the tapered seats 212, includes a circumferential seat 216 for receipt of a snap ring retainer 218, a cylindrically curved portion 220 (intersected laterally intermediate its longitudinal extent by a gate chamber 222), a frustoconically tapered portion 224, an annular seat 226 which faces the gate chamber 222, an axially short cylindrically curved portion 226 and a frustoconically flaring portion 228 leading to the upper end of the bonnet 210.
  • each bore 214 receives an annular valve seat member 230 in the form of a tu bular element having a right, flat lower end surface 232 adapted and positioned to seat against the valve gate 234 (to be further described below) and an upper exteriorly tapered end region 236,238 adapted to seat and seal with the portions 226,224.
  • a circumferential groove 240 in the region 238 receives a resilient seal ring 242 as an initial seal for the metal-on-metal seal established at 238,224).
  • the snap ring retainer 218 supports an annular spacer 244 that serves as a support for a stack of spring washers 246.
  • the spring washers resiliently bias a tubular driver sleeve 248 which they support, into contact with the underside of the valve gate 234.
  • the upper end 250 of the driver sleeve 248 is generally cylindrically curved so it is upwardly concave.
  • Each gate chamber 222 is generally cylindrical in transverse cross-sectional shape, the bore 253 which forms it communicates through the bonnet at one end 254.
  • the gate itself 234 is a part-cylindrical element constituting sufficiently angularly more than half a right circular cylinder that the gate is securely, longitudinally slidably received in the gate chamber 222.
  • the gate 234 has a rounded lower side 256 in sliding contact with the driver sleeve upper end surface 250 and a flat upper side in sliding contact with the flat lower end surface 232 of the valve seat member 230.
  • the members and portions 244, 246, 248, 230 and 226 have substantially equal internal diameters to provide a generally cylindrical passageway 258.
  • the gate 234 (FIGS. and 6 orientation) has a port 260 vertically through it nearer its right end.
  • the port 260 has a diameter substantially matching that of the members 244, 246, 248, 230 and 226 so that when each valve is open its longitudinal passageway is unobstructed.
  • the gate 234 is blind" to the left of the port 258, except that it may be provided with e.g. a ball check valve 262 so oriented that when the gate is closed, i.e. moved rightwardly, so that the port 260 is out of registry with the passageway 258 and the check valve 262 is in registry with the passageway 258, fluid may be pumped down into the well which has been provided with the bonnet 210.
  • a ball check valve 262 so oriented that when the gate is closed, i.e. moved rightwardly, so that the port 260 is out of registry with the passageway 258 and the check valve 262 is in registry with the passageway 258, fluid may be pumped down into the well which has been provided with the bonnet 210.
  • In order to open the check valve 262 it is necessary to pressurize the fluid to be admitted to a degree sufficient to overcome the pressure from below tending to seat the ball-check 264 of the check valve, and the spring force upwardly incumbent upon the ballcheck 264 due to the spring 266.
  • a strong coil spring 270 is received in the gate chamber bore 253 ahead of the gate 234.
  • the spring 270- abuts the inner end 272 of the bore 253 and the inner end 274 of the gate 234, urging the gate toward a gate-closed condition. Absent an overwhelming force intentionally exerted on the gate to urge it leftwards, the spring 270 will force the gate 234 to a gate-closed condition.
  • each gate 234 has a stem socket 278 which receives a valve stem 280 which may be moved longitudinally to open and close the gate.
  • the gate chamber bore 253 tapers frustoconically to provide an annular seating surface 282 which faces radially inwardly and toward the bore end 254.
  • the bore 253 has a first threaded portion 284, an unthreaded circumferentially grooved portion 286 and a second threaded portion 284.
  • a breather port 288 is provided in the element 210, communicating the grooved portion 286 of the bore 253 with the atmosphere exteriorly of the element 210.
  • the valve stem 280 is provided with two axially spaced circumferential ridges 290,292 at its inner end.
  • the inner ridge 290 fits in the stern socket 278 to connect the stem to the gate.
  • the outer ridge 292 lies just outside the stern socket and has an axially outwardly facing frustoconically curved annular seat surface 294 thereon.
  • a tapered annular plug 296 is received in the bore 253 with a tapered annular outer peripheral surface 298 thereof in metal surface-to-surface engagement with the tapered bore surface 282.
  • the plug 296, adjacent and surrounding the inner end of its throughbore 300 is provided with a frustoconically curved annular seat 302 which complements and is arranged to be engaged by and seal in metal surface-to-surface sealing contact with the annular seat surface 294 on the valve stem.
  • annular socket 304 Adjacent and recessed into the outer end of the bore of the plug 296, there is provided an annular socket 304 which receives a quantity of chevron packing 306.
  • the chevron packing seals between the plug 296 and the valve stem when the valve is partly or fully open. When the valve is fully closed, the chevron packing assumes a role secondary to the seal accomplished at 294,302.
  • cup-shaped cylinder member 314 which includes a tubular sidewall 316 and an outer end wall 318.
  • the sidewalls 316 is exteriorly threaded at 318' near its end opposite from its end wall end to permit threaded receipt of the cylinder member 314 at 284, capping the outer end of the bore 253.
  • the sidewall 316 may be threaded into the bore 253 until its inner end 320' abuts the outer end of the gland nut 308. Radially inwardly adjacent the groove 286, the sidewall 316 is provided with a plurality of ports 318' for communicating the inner end of the cylinder chamber 320 with the breather port 288 via the groove 286.
  • a piston 322 is slidably received for axial movement.
  • the piston 322 is shown being generally circular disk-shaped and having an outwardly opening circumferential groove 324 in its outer peripheral surface, for receipt of an O-ring seal member 326. The latter seals with the inner cylindrically curved sidewall surface 328 of the cylinder sidewall.
  • the outer end of the valve stem 280 is exteriorly threaded at 330 to accommodate threaded securement thereof in an internally threaded socket 332 in the, inner end of the piston 322.
  • a smaller internally threaded socket 334 in the outer end of the piston receives the inner exteriorly threaded end 336 of a combined visual indicator/manual actuator rod 338 whose outer end projects axially outwardly of the cylinder chamber through the end wall 318.
  • the end wall 318 is provided with an internally threaded opening 340 which threadably receives an exteriorly threaded annular nut having a resilient annular seal ring 342 fitted in a radially inwardly opening circumferential recess 344 in its bore 346.
  • the indicatorlactuator passes out through the bore 346 in sealing contact with the ring 342.
  • Pressure for urging the piston 322 to its inner position as depicted in FIG. 6 is admitted to the cylinder chamber at the outer corner thereof via a control pressure port 348. It is this pressure which is supplied to overcome the restoration force of the spring 270 and to thus maintain the valve in an open condition.
  • valve when using the gate valve embodiment, as when using the ball valve embodiment, of the safety valve of the invention, the valve is failclosed, is held open by the application of differential pressure to a fluid piston which functions as the actuator for the valve stem, has means which provide for manual push/pull actuation in the event of an unlikely failure condition, which externally indicates the position of the gate and which provides metal-to-metal seals for positive assurance that fire damage to a packing-type seal will not cause the safety valve to fail.
  • a safety valve for incorporation in the flow path of petroleum issuing from a petroleum well, comprising:
  • tubular housing forming a part of a petroleum well completion, said tubular housing having means defining a vertical throughbore through which petroleum issues from the well when said safety valve is in an open condition;
  • valve body movably interposed in said throughbore; means supporting said valve body in said throughbore for movement between a first position wherein said valve body completely obstructs the throughbore, providing a closed condition of the valve and a second position wherein said throughbore is substantially free of obstruction by said valve body, providing an open condition of the valve;
  • actuator means for moving said valve body between said two conditions thereof, the actuator means including: a piston slidably received in means defining a cylinder chamber;
  • outside source means communicating fluid pres sure to said chamber on one side of said piston in the sense to urge the piston toward the extreme wherein said valve body is in an open condition
  • fluid tight means enclosing said driving surface means and communicating with the throughbore of said tubular housing so that the petroleum issuing from said well via said throughbore tends to urge the piston toward the extreme wherein said valve is in a closed condition
  • valve body will move to the closed condition thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim I further comprising resilient means engaging at least one of said piston connecting means and said piston and biasing said piston toward the extreme thereof corresponding to the closed condition of the valve body for enhancing the fail-safety of the valve.
  • tubular housing comprises a portion of a tubing bonnet for a plural, side-by-side completion and said throughbore constitutes one of a plurality of such throughbores in said tubing bonnet.
  • valve body is a valve gate mounted for reciprocation between the two conditions thereof.
  • said gate includes a port which is axially aligned with said throughbore when said valve body is in the open condition thereof and a blind portion which completely obstructs the throughbore when said valve body is in the closed condition thereof; the blind portion of the valve gate including means defining a one-way check valve therein, communicating the upper side thereof with the lower side thereof in such unidirectional sense as to permit fluids to be pumped down through the throughbore and into the well while prohibiting escape of fluids from the well via said throughbore.
  • tubular housing further includes a lateral bore entering at one side thereof and intersecting said throughbore intermediate the vertical extent of said throughbore and having an inner end within said tubular housing;
  • valve gate being received in said lateral bore for sliding movement longitudinally of said valve gate and said lateral bore;
  • resilient spring means received in the segment of the lateral bore defined between said throughbore and said inner end, said spring means engaging said valve gate and said inner end and biasing the gate toward the closed condition thereof.
  • said gate includes cradle means on the opposite end thereof from said spring means; said valve stem having an enlarged portion adjacent the inner end thereof, said enlarged portion being received in said cradle means for connecting the valve stem to the valve gate and for disposing said driving surface means, at the inner end of said valve stem, within the lateral bore.
  • the safety valve of claim 8 further comprising visual indicator/manual actuator means secured coaxially on the opposite side of the piston'from the valve stem and protruding from the cylinder chamber through means defining an annular seal in the outer end of said cylinder chamber.
  • the safety valve of claim 10 further including:
  • valve body is a valve ball mounted for rotation between the two conditions thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 13 further including:
  • an integral ball retainer and stop element comprising a tubular seat portion having an axially projecting arm at one end thereof;
  • valve ball means defining a throughbore through said valve ball
  • valve ball means defining a notch in the exterior of said valve ball between the opposite end intersections of the valve ball throughbore with the exterior of the valve ball;
  • said sidewall portions being positioned to alternately engage opposite sides of said arm when said valve ball is in the two opposite conditions thereof to limit rotation of said ball to rotation between said two conditions thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 13 further comprising:
  • valve ball means defining a throughbore through the valve ball
  • axle means extending from diametrically opposite sides of said valve ball midway between the intersections of the ends of said valve ball throughbore with the exterior of the valve ball;
  • axle means extending axially in means defining a first lateral passageway extending outwardly in said tubular housing from an intersection with the throughbore of the tubular housing at said valve ball;
  • first and second annular bearing means in said first lateral passageway respectively proximally and distally of said valve ball;
  • annular bearing means journalling said one axle means between them;
  • piston shaft means secured to the inner side of said piston and extending in said second lateral passageway past said pinion;
  • journalling means at the inner end of said piston shaft journalling the piston shaft inner end with respect to the second lateral passageway for axial sliding movement therein;
  • annular packing means in said second lateral bore sealingly engaging said bore and said piston shaft to seal the piston receiving cylinder chamber from the second lateral bore inwardly of the annular packing means;
  • passage means communicating the throughbore of said tubular housing at the valve ball with the second lateral passageway axially inwardly beyond the inner end of the piston shaft;
  • the safety valve of Claim further including conduit means extending from externally of the tubular housing into communication with the second lateral bore inwardly of said annular packing; and means for introducing grease under pressure through said conduit means for lubricating said valve ball.
  • the safety valve of claim 16 further including interengageable annular metal seal members on said piston shaft outwardly from said rack and in said second lateral bore behind said piston, engaged when the valve ball is in a closed condition to obviate reliance on said packing for primary sealing when said valve ball is closed.
  • a built-in operator valve for incorporation in a flow path comprising:
  • tubular housing said tubular housing having means defining a vertical throughbore through which fluid may flow when said safety valve is in an open condition; a valve body movably interposed in said throughbore; means supporting said valve body in said throughbore for movement between a first position wherein said valve body completely obstructs the throughbore, providing a closed condition of the valve and a second position wherein said throughbore is substantially free of obstruction by said valve body, providing an open condition of the valve;
  • actuator means for moving said valve body between said two conditions thereof, the actuator means including:
  • outside source means communicating fluid pressure to said chamber on one side of said piston in the sense to urge the piston toward the extreme wherein said valve body is in an open condition
  • fluid tight means enclosing said driving surface means and communicating with the throughbore of said tubular housing so that the fluid flowing through said throughbore tends to urge the piston toward the extreme wherein said valve is in a closed condition
  • valve body will move to the closed condition thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 18 further comprising resilient means engaging at least one of said piston connecting means and said piston and biasing said piston toward the extreme thereof corresponding to the closed condition of the valve body for enhancing the fail-safety of the valve.
  • the safety valve of claim 18 wherein the tubular housing comprises a portion of a block for a multiplicity of like side-by-side safety valves and said throughbore constitutes one of a plurality of such throughbores in said block.
  • valve body is a valve gate mounted for reciprocation between the two conditions thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 21 wherein said gate in cludes a port which is axially aligned with said throughbore when said valve body is in the open condition thereof and a blind portion which completely obstructs the throughbore when said valve body is in the closed condition thereof; the blind portion of the valve gate including means defining a one-way check valve therein, communicating the upper side thereof with the lower side thereof in such unidirectional sense as to permit fluids to be pumped through the throughbore and beyond the safety valve in one direction while prohibiting escape of fluids via said throughbore in the opposite direction.
  • tubular housing further includes a lateral bore entering at one side thereof and intersecting said throughbore intermediate the vertical extent of said throughbore and having an inner end within said tubular housing;
  • valve gate being received in said lateral bore for sliding movement longitudinally of said valve gate and said lateral bore;
  • resilient spring means received in the segment of the lateral bore defined between said throughbore and said inner end, said spring means engaging said valve gate and said inner end and biasing the gate toward the closed condition thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 25 further comprising visual indicator/manual actuator means secured coaxially on the opposite side of the piston from the valve stem and protruding from the cylinder chamber through means defining an annular seal in the outer end of said cylinder chamber.
  • the safety valve of claim 27 further including:
  • valve body is a valve ball mounted for rotation between the two conditions thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 30 further including:
  • an integral ball retainer and stop element comprising a tubular seat portion having an axially projecting arm at one end thereof;
  • valve ball means defining a throughbore through said valve ball
  • valve ball means defining a notch in the exterior of said valve ball between the opposite end intersections of the valve ball throughbore with the exterior of the valve ball;
  • said sidewall portions being positioned to alternately engage opposite sides of said arm when said ball is in the two opposite conditions thereof to limit rotation of said ball to rotation between said two conditions thereof.
  • the safety valve of claim 30 further comprising:
  • valve ball means defining a throughbore through the valve ball
  • axle means extending from diametrically opposite sides of said valve ball midway between the intersections of the ends of said valve ball throughbore with the exterior of the valve ball;
  • axle means extending axially in means defining a first lateral passageway extending outwardly in said tubular housing from an intersection with the throughbore of the tubular housing at said valve ball;
  • first and second annular bearing means in said first lateral passageway respectively proximally and distally of said valve ball;
  • annular bearing means journalling said one axle means between them;
  • journalling means at the inner end of said piston shaft journalling the piston shaft inner end with respect to the second lateral passageway for axial sliding movement therein;
  • annular packing means in said second lateral bore sealingly engaging said bore and said piston shaft to seal the piston receiving cylinder chamber from the second lateral bore inwardly of the annular packing means;
  • passage means communicating the throughbore of said tubular housing at the valve ball with the second lateral passageway axially inwardly beyond the inner end of the piston shaft;
  • the safety valve of claim 32 further including conduit means extending from externally of the tubular housing into communication with the second lateral bore inwardly of said annular packing; and means for introducing grease under pressure through said conduit means for lubricating said valve ball.
  • the safety valve of claim 33 further including interengageable annular metal seal members on said piston shaft outwardly from said rack and in said second lateral bore behind said piston, engaged when the valve ball is in a closed condition to obviate reliance on said packing for primary sealing when said valve ball is closed.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Taps Or Cocks (AREA)
  • Lift Valve (AREA)
  • Mechanically-Actuated Valves (AREA)
US00167784A 1971-07-30 1971-07-30 Petroleum well safety valve Expired - Lifetime US3710860A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16778471A 1971-07-30 1971-07-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3710860A true US3710860A (en) 1973-01-16

Family

ID=22608816

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00167784A Expired - Lifetime US3710860A (en) 1971-07-30 1971-07-30 Petroleum well safety valve

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3710860A (de)
JP (1) JPS4910805A (de)
AU (1) AU441901B2 (de)
CA (1) CA946738A (de)
DE (1) DE2237239C3 (de)
FR (1) FR2148096B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1380746A (de)
IT (1) IT961747B (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3850237A (en) * 1971-11-01 1974-11-26 Vetco Offshore Ind Inc Mudline emergency shutoff for offshore wells
US3870101A (en) * 1973-04-25 1975-03-11 Baker Oil Tools Inc Removable subsea production test valve assembly
US4307745A (en) * 1978-10-27 1981-12-29 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Backseating and stop for valve operator
US5865246A (en) * 1995-06-05 1999-02-02 Petroleum Engineering Services Limited Ball valves
US20120318519A1 (en) * 2011-06-14 2012-12-20 Cameron International Corporation Apparatus and method for connecting fluid lines
CN107461174A (zh) * 2017-09-26 2017-12-12 西南石油大学 一种井下安全阀
WO2018104726A1 (en) * 2016-12-06 2018-06-14 Daliburgh Subsea Ltd Valve assembly

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2497032A (en) * 1944-07-31 1950-02-07 Edgar W Millard Automatic safety flow control
US2500883A (en) * 1945-06-15 1950-03-14 Gerotor May Corp Piston valve
US2998070A (en) * 1958-11-17 1961-08-29 Otis Eng Co Tamper proof manifold
US3035808A (en) * 1956-08-30 1962-05-22 Hydril Co Pressure responsive valve
US3115891A (en) * 1960-11-23 1963-12-31 United Aircraft Prod Combined shut-off and flow regulating valve
US3318386A (en) * 1955-01-26 1967-05-09 Garrett Well fluid flow regulator
US3419076A (en) * 1965-08-12 1968-12-31 Otis Eng Co Surface condition responsive subsurface safety valve system
US3509913A (en) * 1967-07-25 1970-05-05 Hydril Co Rotary plug well safety valve

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2497032A (en) * 1944-07-31 1950-02-07 Edgar W Millard Automatic safety flow control
US2500883A (en) * 1945-06-15 1950-03-14 Gerotor May Corp Piston valve
US3318386A (en) * 1955-01-26 1967-05-09 Garrett Well fluid flow regulator
US3035808A (en) * 1956-08-30 1962-05-22 Hydril Co Pressure responsive valve
US2998070A (en) * 1958-11-17 1961-08-29 Otis Eng Co Tamper proof manifold
US3115891A (en) * 1960-11-23 1963-12-31 United Aircraft Prod Combined shut-off and flow regulating valve
US3419076A (en) * 1965-08-12 1968-12-31 Otis Eng Co Surface condition responsive subsurface safety valve system
US3509913A (en) * 1967-07-25 1970-05-05 Hydril Co Rotary plug well safety valve

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3850237A (en) * 1971-11-01 1974-11-26 Vetco Offshore Ind Inc Mudline emergency shutoff for offshore wells
US3870101A (en) * 1973-04-25 1975-03-11 Baker Oil Tools Inc Removable subsea production test valve assembly
US4307745A (en) * 1978-10-27 1981-12-29 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Backseating and stop for valve operator
US5865246A (en) * 1995-06-05 1999-02-02 Petroleum Engineering Services Limited Ball valves
US20120318519A1 (en) * 2011-06-14 2012-12-20 Cameron International Corporation Apparatus and method for connecting fluid lines
US8960310B2 (en) * 2011-06-14 2015-02-24 Cameron International Corporation Apparatus and method for connecting fluid lines
US20150129235A1 (en) * 2011-06-14 2015-05-14 Cameron International Corporation Apparatus and Method for Connecting Fluid Lines
US9284809B2 (en) * 2011-06-14 2016-03-15 Cameron International Corporation Apparatus and method for connecting fluid lines
WO2018104726A1 (en) * 2016-12-06 2018-06-14 Daliburgh Subsea Ltd Valve assembly
GB2573220A (en) * 2016-12-06 2019-10-30 Daliburgh Subsea Ltd Valve assembly
CN107461174A (zh) * 2017-09-26 2017-12-12 西南石油大学 一种井下安全阀

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT961747B (it) 1973-12-10
JPS4910805A (de) 1974-01-30
CA946738A (en) 1974-05-07
DE2237239B2 (de) 1974-07-04
FR2148096B1 (de) 1978-03-03
AU441901B2 (en) 1973-11-08
GB1380746A (en) 1975-01-15
FR2148096A1 (de) 1973-03-16
DE2237239A1 (de) 1973-02-08
AU4509772A (en) 1973-11-08
DE2237239C3 (de) 1975-03-06

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Owner name: GRAY TOOL COMPANY, 7135 ARDMORE ST. HOUSTON, TEX.

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Effective date: 19820926

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Effective date: 19861124

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Effective date: 19861217