US3821984A

US3821984A - Emergency valve shut-off assembly for offshore multiple well pipes

Info

Publication number: US3821984A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Lee
Original assignee: Fishing Tools Inc
Current assignee: Fishing Tools Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-07
Filing date: 1972-06-05
Publication date: 1974-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-02

Abstract

An emergency valve shut-off assembly for offshore multiple concentric well pipes, wherein one or more control valves disposed in the innermost tubing string or strings of the multiple concentric well pipes may be operated in an emergency, such as at the beginning of a well blow-out, to cut off the flow of well fluid to the surface, thereby preventing spillage, fire and other pollution and disastrous consequences accompanying an offshore well which has blown out of control. Such assembly may be manually operated by a diver underwater, or remotely by a power actuator.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Lee 1 July 2, 1974 1 1 EMERGENCY VALVE SHUT-OFF 2,092.261 9/1937 Rector 166/86 F H L 2,964,290 12/1960 Mueller 251/291 OF S ORE MULTIP E 3,104,862 9/1963 Pearson 251/315 X 3,115,934 12/1963 Rector [66/75 A [75] Inventor: William T. Lee, Gretna, La, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 Assigneei Fishing Tools, Harvey, 646,259 7/1928 France 137/594 22 F1 cl: 5 1972 1 l e June Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan U PP N05 259,670 Assistant Examiner Richard Gerard 1 Related Application Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmPravel, Wilson & Matthews [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 232,559, March 7,

1972, abandoned. [57] ABSTRACT An emergency valve shut-off assembly for offshore [52] US. (:1 166/85, 137/315, 166/86, multiple eeneentrie Well P p wh r in ne or more 166/89, 251/1, 251/292, 251/293, 251/315 control valves disposed in the innermost tubing string [51] Int. Cl. E211) 33/06, F16k 31/143 0r ngs o the m l iple concentric well pipes may be [58] Field of Search 251/1, 85, 102, 104, 128, Operated in an g y, such as a the beginning of 251/148, 291-293, 315; 285/137 A, 25 27; a well blow-out, to cut off the flow of well fluid to the 166/54.1, 75 A, 86, 89, 97; 137/377 surface, thereby preventing spillage, fire and other pollution and disastrous consequences accompanying [56] Ref re Cit d an offshore well which has blown out of control. Such UNITED STATES PATENTS assembly may be manually operated by a diver under- 1 162 935 12/1915 Lange 251/292 x water or remotely by a power actuator 1 ,589:894 22 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 6/1926 Mueller 137/382 PATENTEUJUL 2 1974 SHEEI 1 OF 7 PATENTEDJuL 2 1914 saw 7 or '71 EMERGENCY VALVE SHUT-OFF ASSEMBLY FOR OFFSHORE MULTIPLE WELL PIPES CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation in part of United States Patent application Ser. No. 232,559 filed Mar. 7, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is apparatus for controlling oil well blowouts at offshore wells.

Because of the pollution, waste, and danger of well blowouts, particularly at offshore wells, much effort has been expended in the past to develop satisfactory equipment and methods to shut off the well flow when a blowout is anticipated or begins, or as soon thereafter as possible. A typical effort known to applicant has been directed towards procedures and equipment which destroy or damage the well pipe to shut off the well flow, such as disclosed in Offshore magazine for May, 1970.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a valve shut-off assembly for closing one or more valves in a well pipe string to shut off the flow of oil, gas or other well fluid to the surface in the event of a blowout or anticipated blowout, to thereby prevent spillage, fire and other pollution and consequences accompanying a well blowout. With the present invention, the valve or valves in the innermost pipe string or strings are interconnected through the valve shut-off assembly for operation from the outermost well pipe, either by a diver manually or by a power actuator which may be controlled at the surface or a point remote from the well.

After the well flow has been closed off with the apparatus of this invention, the well may be brought under control by any known means, and then the valve or valves may be reopened for normal operation, whereby control of the well is positively accomplished without damage to the well pipes themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating two outer well pipes or casings with an innerwell pipe or tubing, with the inner pipe having a rotatable valve therein and with each of the outer well pipes having an emergency valve shut-off assembly mounted therewith;

FIG. 2 is a view taken generally on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating a portion of the rotatable valve in the inner well pipe;

FIG. 3 is sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 44 of FIG. 6, illustrating a modified form of the invention wherein three inner well pipes are positioned within the first outer well pipe, and with each of the inner well pipes having a rotatable valve therein;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 to show an end view of a valve drive connection for one of the valves;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form thereof, wherein the same inside diameter for each of the outer well pipes is provided above and below the valve shut-off assemblies, and the plurality of inner well pipes with a valve at each of them is also provided;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 to show the type of drive lug preferably employed and is an alternate to the form of drive lug illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 6, but showing only a single inner well pipe with a single valve therein, and illustrating the running in or removal of the inner well pipe relative to the first outer well pipe;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 6 to illustrate further details thereof;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention, showing the ball valve of FIG. 1 in the closed position, and showing only one of the outer well pipes with the single inner well pipe, and with a power actuator connected to the valve shut-off assembly; and

FIG. 11 is a view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10 to illustrate further details with respect to the power actuator of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view partly in elevation of another modified form of this invention, wherein a plurality of valve shut-off assemblies areillustrated with progressively increasing diameters from the inner tubing outwardly to the outermost well pipe; and

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of this invention, illustrating a still further modification, wherein a single valve shut-off assembly extends through a plurality of the concentrically disposed well pipes for actuating a valve in the central pipe or tubing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings the letter T designates generally the inner pipe or tubing string having a rotatable valve V therein. The inner pipe or tubing string P is disposed in at least one outer well pipe, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, in the first outer well pipe P-1 and a second outer well pipe P-2. It will be appreciated that the invention may be used with any number of such outer well pipes, as will be more evident hereinafter, A shut-off valve assembly A-l is operably mounted in a lateral opening 10 in the first well pipe P-1, and a similar valve shut-off assembly A-2 is mounted in a lateral opening in the second outer well pipe P-2. As will be hereinafter explained in detail, the shut-off valve assemblies A-1 and A-2 are inalignment with each other and are aligned for operating the valve V by a power source or by a diver manually engaging the external part of the outermost valve shut-off assembly A-2, whereby the valve V may be moved to the closed position in an emergency to shut off the flow of well fluid upwardly through the tubing string T to thereby prevent a blowout and consequent loss of oil or other petroleum products from the well so as to prevent spillage, fire and other pollution and damage which would otherwise result from such a blowout.

Considering the invention more in detail, and particularly the form illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the valve shut ring 12b or other suitable sealing means formed of rub- I her or similar material disposed between the insert 12 and the surface of the opening to form a seal therebetween which remains effective at all times, even during the rotation of the insert 12. The insert 12 is removably positioned in the opening 10 and is retained therein by split snap rings 14 and 15 or any similar releasable holding means, as will be more evident hereinafter.

A drive element is mounted with the insert 12 for longitudinal movement relative thereto and for rotational movement together with the insert 12. The drive element 20 thus has lugs 20a which project radially from the main body thereof and which extend into suitable slots 12c formed in the insert 12. A spring or other resilient member 22 is disposed in the recess 12a of the insert 12 for engagement with the drive element 20, and preferably, the spring 22 fits into a pocket 20b of the drive element 20 to urge the drive element 20 in a direction towards the bore of the pipe or casing T-l. A stop ring 23 is retained with the insert 12, or is formed as a part thereof and it is held in position by the inner split ring 15 so as to limit the extent of the inward movement of the drive element 20. When the stop ring 23 is made removable, the drive element 20 may be separated from the insert 12 for the replacement or repair of an annular seal 20c on the drive element 20 which, together with a shoulder 20d serves as a piston for fluid operation, as will be hereinafter explained.

The drive element has a drive head 202 which preferably has crossing lugs such as vertical lug 20fand hori zontal lug 20g which are adapted to fit within a recess of the general configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, as will be more evident hereinafter. The vertical lug 20f is preferably semi-cylindrical in shape, or at least it has its upper portion curved as shown, and the horizontal lug 20g is similarly curved in a horizontal plane.

The insert 12 is formed with a drive recess 12d which is formed in the same crossing configuration as the lugs 20fand 20g, the shape ofwhich is illustrated in FIG. 5, as will be more evident hereinafterv v In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the valve V is a rotatable ball valve of known construction which has the central ball element with a longitudinal bore 30a therethrough which is substantially of the same diameter as the bore 31 in the tubing stringT above and below the valve V. Thus, when the valve V is in the open position, the full bore opening through the tubing string T is available through the valve V so that no interference to normal operations is encountered by reason of the valve V being disposed in the string T. The valve V is rotatable from the open position of FIG. 1 to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 10, as will be more evident hereinafter. The valve body is rotatably mounted in two separate upper and

lower valve seats

32 and 33, respectively which are disposed in a tubing adapter section 35 threaded between two of the sections of the tubing T. The ball element 30 has a bearing lug or pin 30b suitably mounted in a pair of bearing cylinders 36 and 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in any known manner to permit limited rotation of the valve element 30 therein. To control the extent of rotational movement of the valve element 30, the bearing member 30b preferably has stop lugs 300 formed therewith and which are adapted to engage corresponding stop lugs 36a and 37a on the bearing

members

36 and 37, respectively (FIG. 2). The ball element 30 has another bearing lug 30d on its opposite side from the bearing lug 30b and which is operably connected by flat surfaces on its sides (FIG. 10) with corresponding flat surfaces 38a in a drive section 38 which is mounted with the valve element 30 (FIGS. 1 and 10). The drive sec tion 38 has a drive recess 38b which preferably has crossing indentations or grooves corresponding to that shown in FIG. 5, as will be more evident hereinafter. for receiving the crossing lugs 20f and 20g of the valve shut-off assembly A-l. Suitable seals as illustrated in the drawing are provided with the valve V.

Except for dimensions, the comparison of which may be clearly seen in FIG. 1, the second valve shut-off assembly A-2 is preferably identical to the assembly A-] and therefore it has identical numbers, but preceded by the prefix numeral 1 to distinguish the parts from that of the assembly A-l. Thus, the shut-off assembly A-2 has crossing lugs f and 120g which fit within the corresponding crossing grooves or recesses formed in the drive recess 12d of the insert 12 so that rotation of the drive element 120 is imparted to the insert 12, as will be more evident hereinafter. The recess 112d of the valve shut-off assembly A-2 is the same as the recess 12d, and it is set back into the wall of the casing or pipe string P-2 so as to receive a protective plate or cover 40 which is preferably connected by bolts 40a or other suitable attaching means which may be readily removed by a diver, assuming that the portion of the pipes wherein the assemblies A-1 and A-2 are located are below the water at an offshore location. In any event, the removal of the protector plate or cover 40 exposes the drive recess 112d to the area externally of the pipe string P-2 so that a suitable drive tool such as a wrench having the appropriate lugs which will fit into the recesses in the drive recess 112d may be used for manually operating the assemblies A-2 and A-1 for imparting rotational movement to the valve element 30 to move same to the closed position of FIG. 10. Of course, explained hereinafter, power means may also be used for moving such assemblies to impart the rotational movement to the valve element 30 for closing same. It should also be understood that the particular shapes and sizes of the adapter sections of the pipes P-1 and P-2 illustrated in FIG. 1 are merely illustrative and will vary with particular manufacturers or individuals using the apparatus of this invention so long as they can be properly positioned in a well and seated therein.

For example, the adapter section 42 of the pipe string P-l is formed with an alignment lug 420 which is adapted to be aligned with a longitudinally fitted into a corresponding longitudinal recess 43a in the adapter section 43 of the pipe string P-2. At the final seated position of the pipe P-l in the pipe P-2, a shoulder 42b below the alignment lug 42a rests upon a seat 43b at the bottom of the recess 43a. One or more water or mud or fluid circulation may be obtained in the annulus between the pipes P-1 and P-2 in the known manner.

Similarly, the adapter 35 on the inner tubing string T has an alignment lug 350 which is adapted to be longitudinally aligned with a longitudinal slot 42d in the pipe string adapter section 42 so as to seat the shoulder 35b on the bottom 42c of the groove 42d. The

alignment lugs

42a and 35a assure the alignment of the shut-off assemblies A-l, A-2, and the drive section 38 of the valve V so that the driveheads and lugs therewith on each of the shut-off assemblies are in alignment with each other and with the drive openings or grooves of the drive section 38. A water or mud course or passage 35c (FIGS. 1 and 3) provides for the circulation or flow of mud or fluid in the annulus between the inner tubing T and the first outer well pipe P-I. It is to be noted that the inside diameter 42f of the first well pipe P-l above the valve V is greater than the inside diameter 42g therebelow so as to provide the alignment means between the tubing T and the well pipe P-l. Similarly, the inside diameter 43c of the second well pipe P-2 is larger than the inside diameter 43d below the valve V so as to provide for the alignment means between the pipe string P-ll and the pipe string P-2, as explained above.

pipe P-2 is lowered with the cover plate 40 in position as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the pipe string P-l is lowered into the pipe string P-2 and it is rotated to align the alignment lug 42a with the alignment slot 43a, which automatically aligns the valve shut-off assembly A-I with the valve shut off assembly A-2 from a radial direction. Because of the curved upper surface on the vertical drive lug lf of the assembly A-2, the drive element I20 is urged outwardly to compress the spring 122 to thereby move the drive element 120 a sufficient distance outwardly so that the pipe string P-l may move downwardly to position the assembly A-] at the same horizontal elevation and therefore in alignment with the assembly A-2. When the lugs 120f and 120g are in alignment with the corresponding openings or grooves in the drive recess 12d of the insert 12, the resilient means or spring 122 acts to move such lugs l20f and 120g into such recess 120' as shown in FIG. I. Thereafter, the tubing string T is lowered into the well pipe P-I. If the lower shoulder 35b of the alignment lug 35a engages the upper surface 42h rather than aligning with the longitudinal slot 42d, the tubing string T is simply rotated until the alignment lug 35a is in vertical alignment with the longitudinal slot 42d which then permits the tubing string T to lower further until the shoulder 35!; seats upon the shoulder 42e. Also, during the valve element 30 is rotated from the open position (FIG. 1) to the closed position (FIG. 10).

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-9 in particular, wherein certain modifications of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 are illustrated. The firstmodification of FIGS. 4-9 includes the use of multiple inner tubing strings T-l, T-2 and T-3 in place of the single inner tubsuch lowering, the drive element 20 is forced outwardly to compress the spring 22 and so as to enable the drive section 38 to become horizontally aligned with the drive element 20 so that thereafter the drive lugs 20f and 20g may enter the corresponding grooves in the drive section 38.

The valve V is in the open position of FIG. 1 during normal operating conditions so that it does not interfere with well operations therethrough. In the event of an emergency condition in the well which indicates that a blowout may occur, or at the beginning of such a blowout, or as soon thereafter as possible, the valve V is rotated to the closed position by a diver entering the water surrounding the pipe P-2, removing the plate 40 and manually or otherwise rotating the insert 112 by a tool having drive lugs engaging in the grooves of the drive recess 112a. The rotational movement of the insert 112 is transmitted to the drive element 120 which in turn drives the insert 12 and the drive element 20 so as to rotate the drive section 38 of the valve V, whereby ing string T of FIG. 1. Such tubing strings T-I through T-3 are each provided with a segmental adapter section 135, with valves V-l, V2 and V-3 disposed therein, each of which corresponds with the valve V but may be of any conventional construction so as to provide a rotatable valve element with a valve bore 130a therethrough which is substantially of the inside diameter of the tubing string therewith. Each of the valves V-l through V-3 has a valve drive section 138 corresponding to the valve drive section 38 of FIG. I and which has crossing grooves 138a and l38b (FIGS. 4 and 5). As best seen in FIG. 4, the adapter sections are arcuate sectors, each of which occupies 120 and has inner surfaces 135a which abut with the corresponding surfaces 135d on the adjacent adapter sections 135 (FIG. 4). Fluid courses or passages 1350 are formed by mating passage sections in the adjacent sectors or segments 135 so that fluid may flow in the annular space around the tubes T-l through T-3 and within the outer well pipe P-3 which surrounds same (FIG. 6).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, two well pipes P-3 and P-4 are illustrated which are concentrically disposed with respect to each other, but it will be understood that they are merely illustrative of the fact that a plurality of the concentrically disposed wellpipes may be utilized with the apparatus of this invention. The well pipe P-3 has three valve shut-off assemblies A-3 mounted in lateral openings 210 through the wall of an adapter section 142 of the string P-3. Assuming that there are the three tubing strings T-l, T-2 and T-3 disposed internally of the well pipe P-3, there would then be a shutoff valve assembly A-3 for each of the valves V-I, V-2 and V-3, only one of which is actually seen in FIG. 6.

The construction of each of the valve shut-off assemblies A-3 may be identical to the valve shut-off assembly A-1 and therefore the parts thereof bear the same letters and/or numerals, with the prefix 2 for the most part, but the drive heat is modified as explained below. Thus, the drive head has a drive lug 220f which extends substantially vertically and which is seen in detail in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Assuming that each of the assemblies A-3 has only the vertical drive lug 220f, then it will be understood that such lugs enter only the vertically extending drive grooves 138a of the drive sections 138. The purpose of the modified construction of FIG. 7 for the drive head is to facilitate the removal of the tubing strings T-I, T-2 and TS because the single lug 220f permits the retraction or outward movement of each of the drive. elements 220 against the spring 222 to enable the longitudinal upward movement of each of the tubing strings T-l, T-2 and T-3 for a release thereof from engagement with the drive lugs 220 In the event the drive head is modified so as to include the horizontal drive lug which would correspond with the horizontal drive lug 20g of FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that the retraction of the drive elements 220 could be accomplished, using the piston arrangement with the seal 200 of the assembly A-I, but such assembly requires fluid pressure internally of the pipe P-l acting on the seal c and the shoulder 20d to hydraulically force the drive element 20 to the retracted position for a retrieval of the tubing string T. The modified construction of FIG. 6 permits a mechanical retraction of the drive elements 220 as previously noted. The second outer well pipe P-4 has an opening 310 therein corresponding to each of the openings 210 and adapted to be radially and horizontally aligned therewith. Each of the three openings 310 has a valve shut-off assembly A-4 therein which is in all respects preferably identical with the assemblies A-l or A2 and therefore the parts thereof bear the same numerals or letters with the prefix 3. A cover or protective plate 140, corresponding to'the plate 40 is bolted or is otherwise releasably secured to the adapter section 143 of the well pipe P-4 by any suitable means such as the bolts 140a. It will be appreciated that each of the assemblies A-4 has such a protective plate 140 and it will also be understood that each of the valves V-l, V-2 and 3 may be separately actuated from externally of the outermost pipe P-4, manually or with power means, as previously explained in connection with FIG. 1.

It should also be noted in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, the inside diameter 142fof the well pipe P-3 is the same as the inside diameter of the tubing below the adapter section 142 and thus below the values V-l, V-2 and V-3. Similarly, the inside diameter 1430 of the well pipe P4 is the same above and below the adapter section 143 and the valves V-l, V-2 and V-3. Because of such difference in the construction of the

adapter sections

142 and 143 compared to the

adapter sections

42 and 43, respectively, the means for aligning .the shut-off assemblies A-3 and A4 with each other and with the valves is modified as hereinafter explained.

For aligning each shut-off assembly A-3 with one assembly A-4 (whether there is only one of each, or whether there are two or three or more of each to be aligned to correspond with the valves V-l, V-2 and V-3) an aligning ring 60 is provided, having an alignment recess 60a formed therein (FIGS. 6 and 9). Such recess 60a is adapted to be aligned with an alignment lug or spline 143a of the adapter section 143 (FIG. 9). The ring 60 is actually a split ring which is adapted to be initially assembled in a recess 142a of the adapter section 142 and held therein by a releasable sleeve 65 disposed thereabove and which is held in position by a shear pin 66, which is shown as having been sheared in FIG. 6. When the alignment ring 60 is in the expanded position of FIGS. 6 and 9, it has a gap 60b between its ends 600, but when the ring 60 is compressed into the recess 142a and is held therein by the cylinder 65 and also its contact with the inside surface 1436 of the pipe string P-4, such gap 60b is essentially closed or is reduced so that the ring 60 is of a smaller diameter than it is when in the fully expanded position of FIG. 6. The fully expanded position is accomplished for the alignment means 60 by reason of the enlarged inside diameter 143f which enables the ring 60 to expand outwardly by its own resilience to the size illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9 so as to leave the gap 60b. After the ring 60 has thus expanded and after it has entered the recess or enlarged diameter portion 143b of the adapter section 143, the lower substantially annular edge or surface 60d (FIG. 6) is adapted to engage the upper shoulder 1430 if the recess 60a is not aligned with the lug 143a.

On the other hand, by a rotation of the pipe P-3, the recess 60a may be brought into longitudinal alignment with thelug 143a so that the lower substantially annular surface or edge 60d may be lowered until it engages the bottom 143b of the enlarged diameter portion l43f. At that time, the ring 60 is normally still in the lower recess 142a because there can be no relative longitudinal movement therebetween until one or more internal alignment recesses 60e are longitudinally aligned with corresponding alignment lugs 14219. When such alignment occurs, then, the only thing preventing downward movement of the adapter section 142 relative to the retaining sleeve 65 is the shear pin 66, which may be readily sheared by lowering the pipe P-3 causing the adapter section 142 to move downwardly until the upper end of the sleeve 65 engages a stop ring 67 mounted on the adapter section 142 (FIG. 6). At that time, the shut-off assemblies A-3 and A4 are fully aligned both radially ahd horizontally, it being understood that the drive elements 320 are retracted and then moved outwardly by the springs 322 in the same manner as explained heretofore in connection with the seating and alignment of the assemblies A-1 and A-2.

When the three tubing strings T-l, T-2, and T-3 are run into the first outer well pipe P-3, they each have an aligning shoe 70 (FIGS. 6 and 9). In view of the difficulty of normally running all three tubing strings T-l, T-2, and T-3 into the well at the same time, usually only one of such tubing strings is run initially and dummy sectors in place of the other two sectors or adapter sections 135 are run on retrievable wireline assemblies or the like. The same may be utilized for running the second tubing string, employing a single dummy sector 135 at that time. In any event, the seating of the alignment shoe 70 may best be understood by a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 8. FIG. 8 shows the alignment shoe 70 in the running-in position, wherein it is retracted by reason of its engagement with the inside bore 142) so that the springs 70a are compressed. The alignment shoe is prevented from moving longitudinally relative to the adapter section 135 by means of a pair of shear pins 70b.

The alignment shoe 70 has laterally extending guide dogs 700 which are positioned inwardly of a longitudinal slot 135k when the alignment shoe 70 is in the retracted position of FIG. 8, but which are adapted to be aligned therewith after the pins 70b have been sheared so as to permitthe dogs, 700 to enter such slots 135k and-guide same during relative longitudinal movement between the adapter section 135 and the alignment shoe 70, as will be more evident hereinafter.

For assembly purposes initially, a retainer plate of substantially the same shape as the external portion of the alignment shoe 70 is provided in a recess p. The lower part of the alignment shoe 70 rests upon or is disposed just above the retainer plate 75 when the alignment shoe 70 is in the retracted position for running in as shown in FIG. 8. Such retainer plate 75 does not actually move and therefore, except for assembly purposes, it could be a part of the adapter section 135.

When the shoe 70 enters an enlarged diameter portion 142p of the adapter section 142, the springs 70a urge the shoe 70 outwardly to the increased diameter at such annular enlarged diameter portion 142p. It is to be noted that the shear pins 70b permit such sliding movement, even though they do not permit the relative longitudinal movement between the shoe 70 and the adapter section 135. The lower edge or surface 701) of the shoe 70 engages a shoulder l42r which is annular except for a longitudinal recess 142s for each of the shoes 70. Upon such engagement, continued downward pressure or weight or the tubing string T-l causes a shearing of the shear pins 70b, and since the dogs 70c are then aligned with the slots 135k, the adapter section 135 with the rest of the pipe P-3 may be moved downwardly relative to the shoe 70 so that it reaches the uppermost position shown in FIG. 6, with its upper surface 70s in engagement with the upper end of the pocket l35r. If the shoulder 70a is still resting upon the shoulder 142r, the pipe P-3 is rotated until the shoe 70 is longitudinally aligned with the recess 142s, at which time continued lowering of the pipe P-3 positions the alignment shoe 70 in such recess 142s (FIGS. 6 and 9).

Assuming that dummy sections 135 were used for two of the tubing strings T-2 and T3 during such positioning of the shoe 70 on the tubing string T l, it is desirable to also have a retaining notch 70f in the lower surface of the shoe 70 for engagement with a projection 1421 in the adapter section 142 so that lateral shifting of the alignment lug 70 with respect to the adapter section 142 is prevented until the other tubing strings T-2 and T-3 have likewise been positioned with their align ment shoes 70 in corresponding recesses 1423.

The operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 4-9 is similar to the heretofore described with respect to FIGS. l-3, with the differences being as a result of the difference in the structures, as explained above. The compression of the spring 222 caused by an outward movement of the drive element 220 is illustrated in particular in FIG. 8, as previously explained, because of the single lug 220f shown in the alternate form of FIGS. 6 and 9, the drive element 220 may be mechanically moved inwardly for running in the tubing string or strings and for also retrieving them from the well pipe P-3. Upon aretrieval of the strings T-l T-2, and T3, or even a single tubing string T, employing such shoe 70, the shoe 70 with each string is urged inwardly to the retracted position of FIG. 8 by the engagement of its inclined upper shoulder 70g with the shoulder 142x. Thus, the tubing string or strings may be removed as desired from the outer well pipe P-3. Also, as noted above, any one of the valves V-l, V-2 or V-3 may be operated independently of each other, or they may all be operated simultaneously.

A power actuator M is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 for use with any form of the apparatus heretofore described in place of a manual operation of any of the I valve shut-off assemblies heretofore described. For

simplicity of illustration, FIG. 10 illustrates only the outer well pipe P 3, although it will be understood that a plurality of such outer pipes such as disclosed heretofore in connection with FIGS. 1 and 6 may be present when using the power actuator M of FIGS. 10 and 11. The outermost valve shut-off assembly which is designated A-I in FIG. 10 is operably connected to the power actuator M through its rotatable insert 12 which has the drive grooves therein as heretofore explained.

The poweractuator M has a body 80 which is at tached to the outermost pipe by suitable bolts 80a or any other suitable securing means.

. A rotatable operating member 82 having gear teeth 82a thereon is disposed in a central substantially circular recess or opening b in the body 80. The operating member 82 has an inwardly projecting cylindrical section 82b which is supported in a bearing or cylindrical opening 800 preferably having a fluid seal 80d therewith. The innermost end of the cylindrical portion 82b has drive lugs 82c and 82d corresponding to the drive lugs 20f and 203 which were heretofore described in connection with FIG. I. The configuration of such drive lugs 82c and 82d may vary, but it must correspond with the drive grooves or recesses in the outermost rotatable insert 12 of the outermost assembly A-l (FIG. 10

The operating member 82 also has an outwardly ex tending cylindrical portion 82e which fits within a cylindrical bearing member 82 which is preferably sepa rately mounted by bolts 83a or similar securing means. A fluid seal such as an O-ring 83b is also preferably provided around the cylindrical surface 826. An emergency drive recess for a wrench is provided at 82f.

The gear teeth 82a of the operating member 82 are engaged by rack teeth 85a of a rack 85 which is operated by fluid pressure or any other suitable source of power. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the rack 85 has a piston 86 therewith which operates within a cylinder 87 in the body 80. Fluid pipes 87a and 87b are connected to opposite sides of the piston 86 so that by introducing fluid to either side of the piston 86, the rack 85 may be moved longitudinally to thereby rotate the member 82 to impart rotational movement to the rotatable insert 12 and thus to the valve element 30 in the same manner as heretofore explained in connection with FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1 l, by introducing hydraulic or other fluid under pressure through the tubing 87a into the piston chamber or cylinder 87, the piston 86 is moved to the right to impart rotational movement to the operating member 82 in a clockwise direction so as to effect a movement of the member 30 from the open position of FIG. 1 to the closed position in FIG. 10. By introducing fluid under pressure into the tube 87, the reverse takes place so as to open the valve 30 after the well has been brought under control. It will be appreciated that the tubes 87a and 87b may be of indeterminate length and they preferably extend to a location which is remote from the well itself so that even though there is a fire or a blowout at the well, the valve or valves may be operated to close same to thereby bring the well under control.

In some instances, the shut-off assemblies such as A-1 and A-2 shown in FIG. 1 may be solid plugs mounted in the openings 10 and with releasable retaining means such as the snap rings l4, l5 and having seals such as seal ring 12b. Such plugs would be removable by a diver after removing the plate 40 so that direct access is provided to the drive section 38 for engaging same with a drive tool (not shown) having lugs corresponding to lugs 25f and 25g. For ease in releasing such plugs the diameter of the plug corresponding to A-2 and its opening 110 are larger than the plug corresponding to A-1 and its opening 10, and any outer pipes outwardly of P-2 would have successively larger plugs and openings therefor.

As illustrated in the modified form of the invention of FIG. 12, a plurality of valve shut-off assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 are disposed in progressively larger ports or openings 310 in concentrically disposed well pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7, respectively.

Each of the assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 is illustrated as being substantially a duplicate of the assemblies A-3 and A-4 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Therefore, the parts which correspond in the assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 to those in the assemblies A-3 and A-4 have the same numerals and/or letter designations, but with prefix 3 instead of the prefix 2. It will also be evident that the assemblies A-S, A-6 and A-7 are essentially the same as the assemblies A-1 and A-2 of FIG. 1. It will be observed in FIG. 12 that the dimensions of the assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 are different so as to accommodate each of the assemblies to the particular diameter of the port 310 and the thickness of the pipe for each of the well pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7. However, structurally, each of such assemblies is preferably the same as the other ones and it includes the basic components of the insert 312, with its recess 312a, seal ring 312k and longitudinal slots 312C. The drive element 320 is disposed for relative movement with respect to the insert 312 and is resiliently urged by a spring 322 so as to engage the drive lugs 20f and 20g on the drive head 202 with corresponding slots in the drive section 38, as heretofore explained.

The assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 are retained with their respective pipes by removable snap rings 314 and 315, as illustrated in FIG. 12. A cover plate 340 which is secured to the outermost pipe P-7 by screws 340a cover such plugs so that they are not inadvertantly actuated and so that they are also protected to some extent from the exposure to the salt water externally thereof when they are disposed at an offshore location for an extended period of time. The increasingly larger diameters of the ports 310 the pipes progress outwardly from the tubing string T-1 makes it easier to replace or insert different types of assemblies A-S, A-6 and A-7 when such is done under water. Thus, it is easier to insert the small diameter assembly A-5 through the larger diameter ports 310 of the pipes P-6 and P-7 under water than it would be if all of the diameters 310 of the pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7 were the same.

It should also be understood that with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, each of the assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 may be a solid plug which is positioned in each of the openings 310 and which may be removed by an underwater diver in the event the pipe strings are to be pulled from the well. Also, the solid plugs may be positioned initially underwater in place of the spring loaded assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 and then a diver may later substitute the spring loaded assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 for the solid plugs when it is desired to effect a removal of the pipes from the well. It will be understood that the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 12 insofar as rotating the valve 30 is concerned is the same as when the diameters of the ports 310 and their respective assemblies are the same.

In FIG. 13 a further modification of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the same three well pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7 are shown in conjunction with the same tubing string T-1. It is to be understood that the tubing string T-l in both FIGS. 12 and 13 preferably corresponds with that illustrated more in detail in FIG. 6, although the invention is not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the ports 310 of the well pipes P5, P-6 and P-7 are progressively larger in diameter from the tubing string T-l outwardly to the outermost pipe P-7. Such ports 310 may be the same ports 310 illustrated in FIG. 10, or they may be of different diameters. For the purposes of illustration and description by way of example, it is assumed that in FIGS. 12 and 13 the diameters 310 for the respective pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7 are the same in both forms.

In FIG. 13, a solid valve actuator A-7 is illustrated as being positioned in the ports 310 of the pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7. Such actuator A-8 thus corresponds to all three of the shut-off assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7 and it includes

body portions

412, 413 and 414 of different diameters to substantially correspond with the diameters of the ports 310 in the respective pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7.

At the inner end of the assembly A-8, a drive element 420 is provided which corresponds with the drive element 20 of the assembly A-l, and it has a drive head 420e which preferably has crossing lugs 420 and 420g which likewise correspond with the structure of the assembly A-l. The lugs 420 and 420g are adapted to fit within corresponding slots or grooves in the drive section 38 for rotating the valve 30, as explained heretofore in connection with the shut-off assemblies A-1 and

Suitable seal rings

412a, 413a and 414a are provided with each of the

body sections

412, 413 and 414, respectively of the assembly A-8. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the assembly or actuator A-8 is integral with the rotatable operating member 82 of the modified power actuator M-l. Such power actuator M-l corresponds to the power actuator M of FIGS. 10 and 11 and includes all the parts thereof, except that the operating member 82 of FIGS. 10 and 11 is modified so as to make such member 82 integral with the outermost body section 414 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 13. Accordingly, all of the parts of the power actuator M-l bear the same numerals and or letters as the actuator M of FIGS. 10 and 11 and it should be under stood that it operates in the same manner so as to impart rotational movement to the actuator assembly A-8 for turning the valve element 30 from the open position of FIG. 13 to the closed position of FIG. 10, and vice versa.

As a further modification, which requires no further illustration, it should be noted that the rotatable operating member 82 may be formed identically to that illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 so that it has the operating lugs 82c and 82d, in which case, the body section 414 would have a corresponding drive section and grooves for receiving such lugs 82c and 82d in the same manner as illustrated for the connection between the lugs 82c and 82d and the assembly A-1 of FIG. 10.

In the normaluse of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, the well pipes P-7, P-6 and P-5 would normally be run into the well with the assemblies A-7, A-6 and A-5 therein, respectively, or suitable solid plugs for closing the respective ports 310.

After the tubing string T-l is in position as illustrated in FIG. 13, then a diver is sent down into the water and he removes the plate 340 and the assemblies A-5, A-6 and A-7. He then substitutes the assembly A-8 with the power actuator M-l therewith. The actuator M-l is connected to the outermost well pipes such as the pipe P-7 with the bolts a or other suitable securing means. The power actuator M-l is connected to the surface with the source of hydraulic or other fluid through the lines 87a and 87b as heretofore explained in connecwell pipes P-5, P-6 or P-7, a diver is sent down and he removes the power actuator M-1 and the assembly A-S so that set for removal of the strings can be accomplished. The valve assemblies A-S, A-6 and A-7 may be inserted again at that time so that they are present dur ing the removal of the various well pipes from the well.

Although FIGS. 12 and 13 are illustrated with three pipes externally of the tubing string T-l, it will be understood that more or less than the three well pipes P-5, P-6 and P-7 may be utilized.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A valve shut-off assembly for a valve positioned in an inner pipe, wherein the assembly is mounted in an opening in the wall of an outer pipe, comprising:

a rotatable insert adapted to be mounted in said opening in the wall of the outer pipe for rotational movement relative thereto;

a driving element for driving engagement with said valve in the inner pipe;

means mounting said driving element with said rotatable insert for rotational movement together and for longitudinal movement of said driving element relative to said insert to effect a connection of said driving element with said valve; and

a resilient means for urging said driving element longitudinally in a direction towards the valve to be driven, but yieldable for longitudinal movement in the opposite direction to effect a disconnection of said driving element from the valve.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

seal means adapted to be disposed between said rotatable insert and the inside surface of said opening in the wall of the outer pipe.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said driving element is disposed towards the bore of the outer pipe; and I said rotatable insert has a drive section disposed towards the outer surface of the outer pipe for engagement by a driving means to rotate said insert.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, including:

power actuator means for driving engagement with said drive section for imparting rotational movement to said insert.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, including:

control means connected with said power actuator means and adapted to be located remotely from said actuator means.

6. The structure set forth in claim 3, including:

a removable cover plate adapted to be connected to the external surface of the outer pipe for covering said drive section of said insert for preventing inadvertent rotational movement of said insert.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said driving element has at least one semicircular driving lug therewith adapted to normally extend into the bore of the outer pipe for establishing a driving connection with the valve.

8. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said driving element has a pair of crossing driving lugs, with one of said lugs adapted to be disposed substantially vertically and having at least its upper surface curved to facilitate connection of said lugs with the valve.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

said rotatable insert having a bore serving as a cylinder;

said driving element having a piston therewith dis posed in said bore and exposed to fluid in the bore of the outer pipe for effectng a retraction of the driving element upon development of a predetermined amount of fluid pressure in the bore of the outer pipe.

10. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising:

an inner well pipehaving a rotatable valve therein which is normally open but which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough;

a valve drive connection on said valve exposed to the area externally of said inner pipe;

a first outer well pipe surrounding said inner well pipe and having a first lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said valve drive connection;

a first valve shut-off assembly disposed in said opening and having a driving element extending into the bore of said outer pipe for engagement with said valve drive connection, and also having a drive section exposed to the area externally of said outer pipe for permitting operation of said assembly to impart rotational movement to said valve;

a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer well pipe and having a lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said lateral opening in said first outer pipe; and

a second valve shut-off assembly disposed in said lateral opening of said second outer pipe and having a driving element extending into the bore of said second outer pipe for engagement with said drive section of said first valve shut-off assembly, and a second drive section exposed to the area externally of said second outer pipe for permitting operation of said shut-off assemblies to impart rotational movement to said valve.

IL'The structure set forth in claim 10, including:

first coacting alignment means between said inner pipe and said first outer pipe for aligning and retaining said inner pipe relative to said outer pipe to effect an alignment of said valve drive connection with said driving element of said first valve shut-off assembly; and

second coacting alignment means between said first outer pipe and said second outer pipe for aligning and retaining said first outer pipe relative to said second outer pipe to effect an alignment of said driving element of said second valve shut-off assembly with said drive section of said first valve shut-off assembly.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, including:

a second inner well pipe also disposed in said first outer pipe and having a rotatable valve therewith;

a valve drive connection on said valve with said second inner pipe;

said first outer well pipe having a second lateral opening through the wall thereof displaced circumferentially from said first lateral opening and in alignment with said valve drive connection on said valve with said second inner pipe; and

a second valve shut-off assembly disposed in said second opening and having a driving element for engagement with said valve drive connection with said second inner pipe and a drive section for permitting operation of said assembly in said second opening for imparting rotational movement to said valve in said second inner pipe.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12, including:

a third inner well pipe also disposed in said first outer pipe and having a rotatable valve therewith;

a valve drive connection on said valve with said third inner pipe;

said first outer well pipe having a third lateral opening through the wall thereof displaced circumferentially from said first and second lateral openings and in alignment with said valve drive connection on said valve with said third inner pipe; and

a third valve shut-off assembly disposed in said third opening and having a driving element for engagement with said valve drive connection with said third inner pipe and a drive section for permitting operation of said assembly in said third opening for imparting rotational movement to said valve in said third inner pipe.

14. The structure set forth in claim 13, including:

a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer well pipe and having a lateral opening through its wall corresponding to and in alignment with each of said first, second and third lateral openings in said first outer pipe; and

a valve shut-off assembly in each of said three lateral openings in said second outer pipe, each having a driving element engageable with the drive section of the valve shut-off assembly in said first outer well pipe with which it is aligned, and each having a drive section for operating same for thereby operating each of said three valves.

15. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising:

an inner well pipe having a rotatable valve therein which is normally open but which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough;

a first removable assembly disposed in said outer well pipe opening for operable engagement with said valve drive connection for manipulation from externally of the outer well pipe to effect a rotation of the valve;

a second removable assembly disposed in said outer well pipe opening-for operable engagement with said first removable assembly for manipulation of 16 said valve drive connection from externally of the second outer well pipe to effect a rotation of the valve.

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said removable assemblies are integral and form a unitary actuator assembly disposed in both of said lateral openings of said first and second outer well pipes.

17. The structure set forth in claim 16, including:

power actuator means mounted on said second outer well pipe and having an operating member operably connected with said unitary actuator assembly.

18. The structure set forth in claim 15, wherein:

the diameter of said lateral opening in said second outer well pipe is larger than the diameter of said lateral opening in said first outer well pipe, and the diameter of said second assembly is correspondingly larger than the diameter of said first assembly.

19. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising:

an inner well pipe having a rotatable valve therein which is normally openbut which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough;

a first valve shut-off assembly disposed in said opening and having a driving element extending into the bore of said outer pipe for engagement with said valve drive connection, and also having a drive section exposed to the area externally of said outer pipe for permitting operation of said assembly to impart rotational movement to said valve; and

a co-acting alignment means between said inner pipe and said outer pipe for automatically aligning said inner pipe relative to said outer pipe upon rotation of said inner pipe relative to said outer pipe to effect an alignment of said valve drive connection with said driving element of said valve shut-off assembly.

20. The structure set forth in claim 19, wherein the inside diameter of the first well pipe above and below said first valve shut-off assembly is substantially the same.

21. The structure set forth in claim 19, wherein:

the inside diameter of the first well pipe is larger above said first valve shut-off assembly than therebelow to provide a seating shoulder for said inner pipe in said first outer pipe.

22. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising:

a removable plug disposed in said outer well pipe opening for removal from said outer well pipe to 17 18 expose said valve drive connection for manipulaopening in said first outer pipe; and from externally of the Outer P to effect a second removable plug'disposed in said outer well a rotation of the valve i enin for removal from said sec d t a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer p pe p g on Ou er well pipe and having a lateral opening through its P to expose Said first removable P gwall substantially in alignment with said lateral

Claims

1. A valve shut-off assembly for a valve positioned in an inner pipe, wherein the assembly is mounted in an opening in the wall of an outer pipe, comprising: a rotatable insert adapted to be mounted in said opening in the wall of the outer pipe for rotational movement relative thereto; a driving element for driving engagement with said valve in the inner pipe; means mounting said driving element with said rotatable insert for rotational movement together and for longitudinal movement of said driving element relative to said insert to effect a connection of said driving element with said valve; and a resilient means for urging said driving element longitudinally in a direction towards the valve to be driven, but yieldable for longitudinal movement in the opposite direction to effect a disconnection of said driving element from the valve.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: seal means adapted to be disposed between said rotatable insert and the inside surface of said opening in the wall of the outer pipe.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said driving element is disposed towards the bore of the outer pipe; and said rotatable insert has a drive section disposed towards the outer surface of the outer pipe for engagement by a driving means to rotate said insert.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, including: power actuator means for driving engagement with said drive section for imparting rotational movement to said insert.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, including: control means connected with said power actuator means and adapted to be located remotely from said actuator means.

6. The structure set forth in claim 3, including: a removable cover plate adapted to be connected to the external surface of the outer pipe for covering said drive section of said insert for preventing inadvertent rotational movement of said insert.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said driving element has at least one semicircular driving lug therewith adapted to normally extend into the bore of the outer pipe for establishing a driving connection with the valve.

8. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said driving element has a pair of crossing driving lugs, with one of said lugs adapted to be disposed substantiallY vertically and having at least its upper surface curved to facilitate connection of said lugs with the valve.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said rotatable insert having a bore serving as a cylinder; said driving element having a piston therewith disposed in said bore and exposed to fluid in the bore of the outer pipe for effectng a retraction of the driving element upon development of a predetermined amount of fluid pressure in the bore of the outer pipe.

10. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising: an inner well pipe having a rotatable valve therein which is normally open but which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough; a valve drive connection on said valve exposed to the area externally of said inner pipe; a first outer well pipe surrounding said inner well pipe and having a first lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said valve drive connection; a first valve shut-off assembly disposed in said opening and having a driving element extending into the bore of said outer pipe for engagement with said valve drive connection, and also having a drive section exposed to the area externally of said outer pipe for permitting operation of said assembly to impart rotational movement to said valve; a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer well pipe and having a lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said lateral opening in said first outer pipe; and a second valve shut-off assembly disposed in said lateral opening of said second outer pipe and having a driving element extending into the bore of said second outer pipe for engagement with said drive section of said first valve shut-off assembly, and a second drive section exposed to the area externally of said second outer pipe for permitting operation of said shut-off assemblies to impart rotational movement to said valve.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, including: first coacting alignment means between said inner pipe and said first outer pipe for aligning and retaining said inner pipe relative to said outer pipe to effect an alignment of said valve drive connection with said driving element of said first valve shut-off assembly; and second coacting alignment means between said first outer pipe and said second outer pipe for aligning and retaining said first outer pipe relative to said second outer pipe to effect an alignment of said driving element of said second valve shut-off assembly with said drive section of said first valve shut-off assembly.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, including: a second inner well pipe also disposed in said first outer pipe and having a rotatable valve therewith; a valve drive connection on said valve with said second inner pipe; said first outer well pipe having a second lateral opening through the wall thereof displaced circumferentially from said first lateral opening and in alignment with said valve drive connection on said valve with said second inner pipe; and a second valve shut-off assembly disposed in said second opening and having a driving element for engagement with said valve drive connection with said second inner pipe and a drive section for permitting operation of said assembly in said second opening for imparting rotational movement to said valve in said second inner pipe.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12, including: a third inner well pipe also disposed in said first outer pipe and having a rotatable valve therewith; a valve drive connection on said valve with said third inner pipe; said first outer well pipe having a third lateral opening through the wall thereof displaced circumferentially from said first and second lateral openings and in alignment with said valve drive connection on said valve with said third inner pipe; and a third valve shut-off assembly disposed in said third opening and having a driving element for Engagement with said valve drive connection with said third inner pipe and a drive section for permitting operation of said assembly in said third opening for imparting rotational movement to said valve in said third inner pipe.

14. The structure set forth in claim 13, including: a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer well pipe and having a lateral opening through its wall corresponding to and in alignment with each of said first, second and third lateral openings in said first outer pipe; and a valve shut-off assembly in each of said three lateral openings in said second outer pipe, each having a driving element engageable with the drive section of the valve shut-off assembly in said first outer well pipe with which it is aligned, and each having a drive section for operating same for thereby operating each of said three valves.

15. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising: an inner well pipe having a rotatable valve therein which is normally open but which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough; a valve drive connection on said valve exposed to the area externally of said inner pipe; a first outer well pipe surrounding said inner well pipe and having a first lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said valve drive connection; a first removable assembly disposed in said outer well pipe opening for operable engagement with said valve drive connection for manipulation from externally of the outer well pipe to effect a rotation of the valve; a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer well pipe and having a lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said lateral opening in said first outer pipe; and a second removable assembly disposed in said outer well pipe opening for operable engagement with said first removable assembly for manipulation of said valve drive connection from externally of the second outer well pipe to effect a rotation of the valve.

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, wherein: said removable assemblies are integral and form a unitary actuator assembly disposed in both of said lateral openings of said first and second outer well pipes.

17. The structure set forth in claim 16, including: power actuator means mounted on said second outer well pipe and having an operating member operably connected with said unitary actuator assembly.

18. The structure set forth in claim 15, wherein: the diameter of said lateral opening in said second outer well pipe is larger than the diameter of said lateral opening in said first outer well pipe, and the diameter of said second assembly is correspondingly larger than the diameter of said first assembly.

19. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising: an inner well pipe having a rotatable valve therein which is normally open but which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough; a valve drive connection on said valve exposed to the area externally of said inner pipe; a first outer well pipe surrounding said inner well pipe and having a first lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said valve drive connection; a first valve shut-off assembly disposed in said opening and having a driving element extending into the bore of said outer pipe for engagement with said valve drive connection, and also having a drive section exposed to the area externally of said outer pipe for permitting operation of said assembly to impart rotational movement to said valve; and a co-acting alignment means between said inner pipe and said outer pipe for automatically aligning said inner pipe relative to said outer pipe upon rotation of said inner pipe relative to said outer pipe to effect an alignment of said valve drive connection with said driving element of said valve shut-off assembly.

21. The structure set forth in claim 19, wherein: the inside diameter of the first well pipe is larger above said first valve shut-off assembly than therebelow to provide a seating shoulder for said inner pipe in said first outer pipe.

22. An apparatus for controlling well blowouts, comprising: an inner well pipe having a rotatable valve therein which is normally open but which is rotatable to a closed position to close off flow therethrough; a valve drive connection on said valve exposed to the area externally of said inner pipe; a first outer well pipe surrounding said inner well pipe and having a first lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said valve drive connection; a removable plug disposed in said outer well pipe opening for removal from said outer well pipe to expose said valve drive connection for manipulation from externally of the outer well pipe to effect a rotation of the valve, a second outer well pipe surrounding said first outer well pipe and having a lateral opening through its wall substantially in alignment with said lateral opening in said first outer pipe; and a second removable plug disposed in said outer well pipe opening for removal from said second outer well pipe to expose said first removable plug.