Downhole disaster valve with dump unit

Claim 2

In a disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, dump means connected to said flow line and to said source to dump the control fluid in response to a change in the relationship between the pressure of produCtion fluid in said flow line and the pressure from said source: a subsurface valve assembly having a body provided with a production fluid outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer, an inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, a valve sleeve having a central passage therethrough and shiftable in said body between a first position allowing communication between said outlet and said inlet and a second position closing off communication between said outlet and said inlet, and closure means releasably engageable in said central passage of said valve sleeve to close said central passage, said closure means being responsive to pressure in said well pipe below said packer and pressure in said tubing for shifting said sleeve valve.

Claim 3

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said control fluid conduit comprising a tube string having said packer therein below said subsurface valve assembly, said body being a tubular member having a passage therethrough including said inlet, said body being in said tubing string, and said outlet including apart opening laterally in said body above said packer.

Claim 4

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said control fluid conduit comprising a tubing string having said packer therein below said subsurface valve assembly, said body being a tubular member having a passage therethrough including said inlet, said body being in said tubing string, and said outlet including a port opening laterally in said body above said packer, said valve sleeve being oppositely axially shiftable in said body passage responsive to pressure of control fluid in said tubing string and pressure of well production fluid in said body passage when said closure means is in said central passage of said valve sleeve.

Claim 5

In a disaster a valve system as defined in claim 1, said control fluid conduit comprising a tubing string having said packer therein below said subsurface valve assembly, said body being a tubular member having a passage therethrough including said inlet, said body being in said tubing string, and said outlet including a port opening laterally in said body above said packer, said valve sleeve being oppositely axially shiftable in said body passage responsive to pressure of control fluid in said tubing string and pressure of well production fluid in said body passage when said closure means is in said central passage of said valve sleeve, said valve sleeve having equal oppositely facing cross-sectional areas exposed to fluid in said body passage when said closure means is removed from said central passage of said valve sleeve.

Claim 6

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said control fluid conduit comprising a tubing string having said packer therein below said subsurface valve assembly, said body being a tubular member having a passage therethrough including said inlet, said body being in said tubing string, and said outlet including a port opening laterally in said body above said packer, said valve sleeve being oppositely axially shiftable in said body passage responsive to pressure of control fluid in said tubing string and pressure of well production fluid in said body passage when said closure means including a plug sealingly engageable in said valve sleeve, and said plug and said valve sleeve having releasable latch means for releasably retaining said plug in said valve sleeve.

Claim 7

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said control fluid conduit comprising a tubing string having said packer therein below a said subsurface valve assembly, said body being a tubular member having a passage therethrough including said inlet, said body being in said tubing string, and said outlet including a port opening laterally in said body above said packer, said valve sleeve being oppositely axially shiftable in said body passage responsive to pressure of control fluid in said tubing string and pressure of well production fluid in said body passage when said closure means is in said central passage Of said valve sleeve, said closure means including a plug sealingly engageable in said valve sleeve, and said plug and said valve sleeve having releasable latch means for releasably retaining said plug in said valve sleeve, said plug having means for enabling running said plug on a wire line tool into said valve sleeve and removing said plug from said valve sleeve by a wire line tool.

Claim 8

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said control fluid conduit comprising a tubing string having said packer therein below said subsurface valve assembly, said body being a tubular member having a passage therethrough including said inlet, said body being in said tubing string, and said outlet including a port opening laterally in said body above said packer, said valve sleeve being oppositely axially shiftable in said body passage responsive to pressure of control fluid in said tubing string and pressure of well production fluid in said body passage when said closure means is in said central passage of said valve sleeve, said closure means including a plug sealingly engageable in said valve sleeve, said plug and said valve sleeve having releasable latch means for releasably retaining said plug in said valve sleeve, said plug having means for enabling running said plug from said valve sleeve by a wire line tool, and said latch means including means for releasing the same responsive to engagement of said plug by the wire line removing tool.

Claim 9

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said closure means including a plug sealingly engageable in said valve sleeve, and said plug and said valve sleeve having releasable latch means for releasably retaining said plug in said valve sleeve.

Claim 10

a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said closure means including a plug sealingly engageable in said valve sleeve, and said plug and said valve sleeve having releasable latch means for releasably retaining said plug in said valve sleeve, said plug having means for enabling running said plug on a wire line tool into said valve sleeve and removing said plug from said valve sleeve by a wire line tool.

Claim 11

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said closure means including a plug sealingly engageable in said valve sleeve, and said plug and said valve sleeve having releasable latch means for releasably retaining said plug in said valve sleeve, said plug having means for enabling running said plug on a wire line tool into said valve sleeve and removing said plug from said valve sleeve by a wire line tool, and said latch means including means for releasing the same responsive to engagement of said plug by the wire line removing tool.

Claim 12

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said outlet in said body including a laterally opening port said, valve sleeve having a first section provided with a port and an unported second section, said port in said body and said port in said ported section of said valve sleeve being in adjacent relation when said valve sleeve is in said first position, and said unported section of said valve sleeve and said port in said body being in adjacent relation when said valve sleeve is in said second position. 12 In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said outlet in said body including a laterally opening port, said valve sleeve having a first section provided with a port and an unported second section, said port in said body and said port in ported section of said valve l sleeve being adjacent relation when said valve sleeve is in said first position, and said unported section of said valve sleeve and said port in said body being in adjacent relation when said valve sleeve is in said second position, said body and said valve sleeve having longitudinally extended key and keyway means interengaged to align said port in said body and said port in said valve sleeve.

Claim 13

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said dump means comprising a body having a bore communicating with said control fluid pressure soUrce and with said flow line, said body also having a vent, and piston means in said bore responsive to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid for opening said vent in response to a change in the relationship between said flow line pressure and said control fluid pressure.

Claim 14

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 1, said dump means comprising a body having a bore communicating with said control fluid pressure source and with said flow line, said body also having a vent, and piston means in said bore responsive to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid for opening said vent in response to a change in the relationship between said flow line pressure and said control fluid pressure, said dump unit also including vent means for shifting said piston means to a position closing said vent.

Claim 15

In a disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, subsurface valve means having an outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and an inlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, said valve means including a valve member movable between a first position closing said valve means and a second position at which said valve means is open responsive to change in the relationship of pressure at said inlet and pressure in said control fluid tubing: dump means responsive to the pressure of production fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid pressure source for dumping said control fluid tubing in response to a change in the pressure of the production fluid in the flow line, said dump means comprising a body having a vent outlet, piston means in said body exposed to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said source and movable to one position for closing said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said flow line exceeds the force on said piston means derived from said source, said piston means being movable to another position to open said vent outlet when the force on said piston derived from said flow line, said dump means including reset means for moving said piston means to and holding said piston means in said one position to allow initiation of flow of production fluid through said flow line, said reset means having a passage therein for communicating said flow line with said body.

Claim 16

In a disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, subsurface valve means having an outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and an inlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, said valve means including a valve member movable between a first position closing said valve means and a second position at which said valve means is open responsive to change in the relationship of pressure at said inlet and pressure in said control fluid tubing: dump means responsive to the pressure of production fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid pressure source for dumping said control fluid tubing in response to a change in the pressure of the production fluid in the flow line, said dump means comprising a body having a vent outlet, piston means in said body exposed to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said source and movable to one position for closing said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said flow line exceeds the force on said piston means derived from said source, said piston means being movable to another position to open said vent outlet when the force on said piston derived from said flow line, said dump means including reset means for moving said piston means to and holding said piston means in said one position to allow initiation of flow of production fluid through said flow line, said reset means having a passage therein for communicating said flow line with said body.

Claim 17

In disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, subsurface valve means having an outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and an inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, said valve means including a valve member movable between a first position closing said valve means and a second position at which said valve means is open responsive to change in the relationship of pressure at said inlet and pressure in said control fluid tubing: dump means responsive to the pressure of production fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid pressure source for dumping said control fluid tubing in response to a change in the pressure of the production fluid in the flow line, said dump means comprising a body having a vent outlet, piston means in said body exposed to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said source and movable to one position for closing said vent outlet when the force on said piston means from said flow line exceeds the force on said pIston means derived from said source, said piston means being movable to another position to open said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said source exceeds the force on said piston derived from said flow line, said system also including means for venting the fluid pressure derived from the flow line to test close said subsurface valve means.

Claim 18

In disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, subsurface valve means having an outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and an inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, said valve means including a valve member movable between a first position closing said valve means and a second position at which said valve means is open responsive to change in the relationship of pressure at said inlet and pressure in said control fluid tubing: dump means responsive to the pressure of production fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid pressure source for dumping said control fluid tubing in response to a change in the pressure of the production fluid in the flow line, said dump means comprising a body having a vent outlet, piston means in said body exposed to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said source and movable to one position for closing said vent outlet when the force on said piston means from said flow line exceeds the force on said pIston means derived from said source, said piston means being movable to another position to open said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said source exceeds the force on said piston derived from said flow line, said system also including means for venting the fluid pressure derived from the flow line to test close said subsurface valve means.

Claim 19

In a disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, subsurface valve means having an outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and an inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, said valve means including a valve means and a second position at which said valve means is open responsive to change in the relationship of pressure at said inlet and pressure in said control fluid tubing: dump means responsive to the pressure of production fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid pressure source for dumping said control fluid tubing in response to a change in the pressure of the production fluid in the flow line, said dump means comprising a body having a vent outlet, piston means in said body exposed to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said source and movable to one position for closing said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said flow line exceeds the force on said piston means derived from said source, said piston means being movable to another position to open said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said source exceeds the force on said piston derived from said flow line, said body having a first bore communicating with said control fluid tubing and with said source, said body having a second bore axially spaced from said first bore and communicating with said flow line, said piston means including a first piston axially shiftable in said for first bore, a second piston axially shiftable in said second bore, a rod interconnecting said pistons, and said body having another bore between said first and second bores communicating with said vent outlet, said first piston being movable from said first bore into said another bore to communicate said source with said vent outlet.

Claim 20

In a disaster valve system for a well having a production well pipe communicating with a producing earth zone, a packer in said well pipe, a control fluid tubing in said well pipe, a flow line for conducting production fluid from said well pipe, a source of control fluid pressure for pressurizing said control fluid tubing, subsurface valve means having an outlet communicating with said well pipe above said packer and an inlet communicating with said well pipe below said packer, said valve means including a valve means and a second position at which said valve means is open responsive to change in the relationship of pressure at said inlet and pressure in said control fluid tubing: dump means responsive to the pressure of production fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said control fluid pressure source for dumping said control fluid tubing in response to a change in the pressure of the production fluid in the flow line, said dump means comprising a body having a vent outlet, piston means in said body exposed to the pressure of fluid in said flow line and to the pressure of said source and movable to one position for closing said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said flow line exceeds the force on said piston means derived from said source, said piston means being movable to another position to open said vent outlet when the force on said piston means derived from said source exceeds the force on said piston derived from said flow line, said body having a first bore communicating with said control fluid tubing and with said source, said body having a second bore axially spaced from said first bore and communicating with said flow line, said piston means including a first piston axially shiftable in said for first bore, a second piston axially shiftable in said second bore, a rod interconnecting said pistons, and said body having another bore between said first and second bores communicating with said vent outlet, said first piston being movable from said first bore into said another bore to communicate said source with said vent outlet.

Claim 21

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 17, said body having a wall therein between said second piston and said another bore through which said rod reciprocably extends, and vent valve means communicating with said second bore between said wall and said second piston.

Claim 22

In a disaster valve system as defined in claim 17, said body having a wall therein between said second piston and said another bore through which said rod reciprocably extends, vent valve means communicating with said second bore between said wall and said second piston, said rod having a passage leading to said second bore at the other side of said second piston from said wall, said passage in said rod opening between said wall and said second piston when said second piston and said first piston move to a position opening said vent outlet, and including sealing means between said rod and said wall for closing off said passage in said rod from said second bore when said second piston and said first piston move to a position closing said vent outlet.