US3664427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Well flow controlling systems, methods and apparatus
Assignee: OTIC ENGINEERING CORP
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Filing: 1970-11-23
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A well flow controlling system, method and apparatus for wells having a plurality of flow conductors therein for establishing flow communication between pairs of the flow conductors at a point down-hole in the well by opening normally closed valve means and positively holding the valve means open during operations of circulating or flowing fluids through the conductors in the well until it is desired to close the valve to shut off flow communication between the pairs of conductors. The valve is pressure operable to open position by pressure of fluids in the conduits and is held open mechanically to permit the flow or circulation of fluids at pressures lower than the pressure required to open the valve. The valve is also fluid pressure operable for movement to closed position. A pressure responsive valve for controlling fluid flow between a pair of well flow conduits connected together by a cross-flow passage at a subsurface point in a well to provide U-tube flow communication between the conduits to permit circulation of fluids through the conduits to move well tools into and out of the well through one or the other of the conduits or to perform other service or production operations in the well. The valve is positively mechanically held in open position when moved to such open position to permit circulation of fluids at pressures lower than the pressures required to move the valve to open or closed positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Michael Deaton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:54
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/004; E21B23/006; E21B23/02; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/10; E21B34/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of operating a well having a pair of flow conductors therein with a cross-flow passage means connecting the conductors in flow communication with each other at a down-hole point in the well, comprising: disposing a movable closure for the cross-flow passage means between the two conductors in one of said flow conductors; moving the closure means to open position by means of fluid pressure in one of the flow conductors to permit flow through the cross-flow passage members between the conductors; positively holding the closure means in open position for circulating fluids through the cross-flow passage means at pressures lower than the pressure required to move the closure means to open position or to closed position; and subsequently closing the closure means to cut off flow through the cross-flow passage means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of operating a well having a pair of flow conductors therein with a cross-flow passage means connecting the conductors in flow communication with each other at a down-hole point in the well, comprising: disposing a movable closure for the cross-flow passage means between the two conductors in one of said flow conductors; moving the closure means to open position by means of fluid pressure in one of the flow conductors to permit flow through the cross-flow passage members between the conductors; positively holding the closure means in open position for circulating fluids through the cross-flow passage means at pressures lower than the pressure required to move the closure means to open position or to closed position; and subsequently closing the closure means to cut off flow through the cross-flow passage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of holding the closure in open position comprises: positively latching the closure means in said open position by mechanical latching means; then releasing the mechanical latch by the pressures in both said flow conductors for moving the closure means to closed position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a well having a pair of side-by-side flow conductors disposed therein and connected by cross-flow passage means at a position down-hole in the well which includes: installing pressure responsive closure means in one of the conductors adjacent the cross-flow passage means for controlling flow of fluids through said crossflow passage means; moving said closure means to open position by means of fluid pressure in the flow conductor in which the closure means is disposed; and mechanically latching the closure means in open position for permitting fluids to be circulated through the cross-flow passage means at pressures lower than the pressure required to move the closure means to open position.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a well having a pair of side-by-side flow conductors disposed therein and connected by cross-flow passage means at a position down-hole in the well which includes: installing pressure responsive closure means in one of the conductors adjacent the cross-flow passage means for controlling flow of fluids through said crossflow passage means; moving said closure means to open position by means of fluid pressure in the flow conductor in which the closure means is disposed; and mechanically latching the closure means in open position for permitting fluids to be circulated through the cross-flow passage means at pressures lower than the pressure required to move the closure means to open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of operating a well of the character set forth in claim 3 including the step of: circulating fluids through the flow conductors and the cross-flow passaGe means while the closure means is in open position to move well tools into or out of one of the flow conductors or to perform other well service operations on the well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of the character set forth in claim 4 which includes the additional step of releasing the mechanical latch for the closure means, and moving the closure means to closed position by fluid pressure present in the flow conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
A well operating system for a well in which a plurality of flow conductors are disposed in parallel side-by-side relationship therein and wherein a pair of said conductors are connected together in flow communication by cross-flow passage means at a point down-hole in the well, including: pressure responsive valve means disposed in one of the flow conductors adjacent the cross-flow passage means for controlling flow through said cross-flow passage means; means for conducting fluid pressure through said one flow conductor to said pressure responsive valve means to move the same to open position to establish flow through said cross-flow passage means; mechanical latching means connected with said valve means engageable when said valve means is moved from closed to open position to latch said valve in open position; and means for releasing said latching means in response to fluid pressure present in the flow conductors to permit said valve to move to closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
A well operating system for a well in which a plurality of flow conductors are disposed in parallel side-by-side relationship therein and wherein a pair of said conductors are connected together in flow communication by cross-flow passage means at a point down-hole in the well, including: pressure responsive valve means disposed in one of the flow conductors adjacent the cross-flow passage means for controlling flow through said cross-flow passage means; means for conducting fluid pressure through said one flow conductor to said pressure responsive valve means to move the same to open position to establish flow through said cross-flow passage means; mechanical latching means connected with said valve means engageable when said valve means is moved from closed to open position to latch said valve in open position; and means for releasing said latching means in response to fluid pressure present in the flow conductors to permit said valve to move to closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A system of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein the cross-flow passage means includes: a pair of tubular nipples having longitudinal by-pass means communicating the upper and lower ends thereof with the bores thereof above and below the lateral flow passage connecting the tubular nipples; locking and sealing surfaces in at least one of said tubular nipples for seating the pressure responsive valve means in sealed flow controlling position in the nipple; and sealing means on said valve means for sealing between said valve means and the locking and sealing surfaces of said tubular nipple to direct flow from said flow conductor through the valve to the passage of the cross-flow passage means, whereby the valve means controls flow through the cross-flow passage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein said valve means includes: latching means connected with the valve means and engageable for positively holding the valve means in open position and releasable to permit the valve means to move to closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein the valve means has means resiliently biasing the valve means to closed position, and the valve means is movable to open position against said means resiliently biasing the valve to closed position; and said latching means comprises mechanical latching means engageable for positively mechanically holding the valve means in open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
215 words
A circulation control valve assembly adapted to be connected to a pair of side-by-side flow conductors for establishing flow communication therebetween and controlling flow of fluids through said flow conductors by means of said flow communication between said conductors including: a cross-flow passage member having a pair of side-by-side tubular members adapted to be connected at their opposite ends to the pair of flow conductors in flow communication with said flow conductors; said cross-flow passage means having a flow conductor joining said pair of tubular members and providing a cross-flow passage between the bores of the tubular members for conducting fluids between the bores of said members; pressure responsive valve means disposed in one of said tubular members adjacent the cross-flow passage means for controlling flow through said cross-flow conductor between the tubular members; means on the tubular member in which the valve means is disposed for conducting fluids to said valve means to act on said valve means to move the same to open position to establish flow communication through the cross-flow conductor between the tubular members; and latcHing means on said valve means engageable to positively hold said valve assembly in open position and releasable to permit said valve assembly to move to closed position to shut off flow through the cross-flow conductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
215 words
A circulation control valve assembly adapted to be connected to a pair of side-by-side flow conductors for establishing flow communication therebetween and controlling flow of fluids through said flow conductors by means of said flow communication between said conductors including: a cross-flow passage member having a pair of side-by-side tubular members adapted to be connected at their opposite ends to the pair of flow conductors in flow communication with said flow conductors; said cross-flow passage means having a flow conductor joining said pair of tubular members and providing a cross-flow passage between the bores of the tubular members for conducting fluids between the bores of said members; pressure responsive valve means disposed in one of said tubular members adjacent the cross-flow passage means for controlling flow through said cross-flow conductor between the tubular members; means on the tubular member in which the valve means is disposed for conducting fluids to said valve means to act on said valve means to move the same to open position to establish flow communication through the cross-flow conductor between the tubular members; and latcHing means on said valve means engageable to positively hold said valve assembly in open position and releasable to permit said valve assembly to move to closed position to shut off flow through the cross-flow conductor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
A circulation control valve assembly of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein one of the tubular members is provided with locking and sealing surfaces in its bore for receiving the valve means therein in sealing position; means is provided on said valve means for releasably anchoring and sealing said valve means in position in said tubular member in position controlling flow through the cross-flow conductor between the tubular members; and means is provided on the tubular member in which said valve means is disposed for conducting fluids from one end of said bore of said tubular member to the valve means locked therein to move the valve means to open position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A circulating valve assembly of the character set forth in claim 11 wherein the latching means on the valve assembly comprises: means operable by longitudinal reciprocating movement of the valve means between open and closed positions for engagement for mechanically holding the valve means in open position, and operable by further reciprocating movement of the valve means to release the latching means to permit the valve to move to closed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device of the character set forth in claim 11 wherein the valve means is biased to open position by a fluid pressure charge confined in the valve means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device of the character set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for conducting fluid from one end of the tubular member to the valve means to act thereon to open the same comprises: by-pass flow passage means communicating with the bore of the tubular member at the opposite ends thereof for conducting fluid between the ends of the tubular member to the valve means to act on the valve means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |