Well cross-over apparatus for selective communication of flow passages in a well installation

Claim 2

A well system for producing and servicing a well comprising: means defining a plurality of flow passages in a well; means defining a cross-over connection between at least two of said flow passages; and valve means disposed in a first of said flow passages for controlling communication between at least two of said flow passages through said cross-over connection, said valve means isolating said two flow passages from each other at a first position of said valve means and communicating said two flow passages with each other at a second position of said valve means, said valve means being movable between said positions responsive only to a pressure valve exterior of said first flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first flow passage.

Claim 3

A well system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve means at said second position isolates the portion of said first flow passage below said valve means from the remainder of said flow passages while communicating at least said two flow passages.

Claim 4

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the fluid pressure in said first flow passage during normal well production at said first position of said valve means is higher than the pressure exterior of said first passage, a relative increase in which moves said valve means to said second poSition.

Claim 5

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first flow passage is defined by a flow conductor adapted to be supported in a well, and said valve means is disposed in said flow conductor at means including said cross-over connection to communicate said connection with said flow conductor when said valve means is at said second position and to isolate said flow conductor below said valve means from said connection when said valve means is at said first position.

Claim 6

A well system in accordance with claim 4 including a landing nipple comprising a hollow body member spaced within said flow conductor defining a bore in which said valve means is disposed, said cross-over connection opening into said bore, means defining a valve seat in said body member for engagement by said valve means at said second position, and means defining a port communicating said bore of said body member with a space in said flow conductor around said body member whereby fluid flows through said space from below said valve means into said flow conductor above said valve means when said valve means is at said first position.

Claim 7

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein first and second flow passages are defined by two flow conductors interconnected by said cross-over connection, said flow conductors being isolated from the casing annulus of said well, said valve means being engaged in a first of said conductors defining said first flow passage, said first conductor having a by-pass for flow around said valve means when said valve means is at said first position between said by-pass and said cross-over connection and said by-pass permitting communication through said cross-over connection to said second flow conductor from said first flow conductor above said valve means when said valve means is at said second position, said valve means being movable from said first to said second position by a pressure in said second flow conductor higher than the pressure in said first flow conductor.

Claim 8

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein first and second flow passages are defined by first and second flow conductors and a third flow passage is defined by the casing annulus in said well around said flow conductors, said cross-over connection interconnecting said first and second flow conductors port means provided in said first conductor spaced above said cross-over connection communicating with said third flow passage, a by-pass line connected at opposite ends at spaced locations into said first flow conductor, the lower end of said by-pass line connecting into said first flow conductor at a location spaced below said cross-over connection, said valve means being disposed in said first flow conductor at a location permitting fluid flow around said valve means from below said valve means to above said valve means through said by-pass line when said valve means is at a first position, said valve means including an upper valve member disposed and movable between said cross-over connection and said port to said third flow passage whereby said third flow passage is isolated at all times from said cross-over connection and said valve member is responsive to pressure in said third flow passage, and said valve means includes a second valve member movable with said first valve member and disposed at said first position of said valve means between said cross-over connection and said lower end of said by-pass line into said first flow conductor whereby said flow conductors are isolated from each other at said first position of said valve means, said second valve member moving at the said second position of said valve means to a position below said connection of said lower end of said by-pass line into said first flow conductor for communicating said first and second flow conductors with each other while isolating the lower portion of said first flow conductor below said valve means.

Claim 9

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein first and second flow passages are defined by flow conductors in said well and a third flow passage is defined by a well annulus around said flow conductors, said cross-over connection interconnecting said first and second conductors, said first conductor having a port spaced above said cross-over connection communicating said conductor with said third flow passage, said valve means being disposed in said first flow conductor, said first flow conductor having a by-pass line connected at an upper end into said flow conductor above said valve means and at a lower end into said flow conductor below said cross-over connection, said valve means having spaced first and second valve members, at said first position of said valve means said first valve member being disposed between said port to said third flow passage and said cross-over connection and said second valve member being disposed between said cross-over connection and the connection of said lower end of said by-pass line into said first flow conductor whereby said first and second flow conductors are isolated each from the other and said third flow passage is isolated from both of said flow conductors, said valve means being movable to said second position at which said first valve member is disposed between said cross-over connection and said connection of said lower end of said by-pass line into said first flow conductor and said second valve member is disposed in said first flow conductor below said connection of said lower end of said by-pass line to said flow conductor whereby said third flow passage and said second flow conductor communicate with each other through said cross-over connection and said side port in said first flow conductor, said lower portion of said first flow conductor is isolated from the upper portion of said conductor, and said upper portion of said first flow conductor is isolated from said second flow conductor, said valve being movable to said second position responsive to a pressure in said third flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first flow conductor.

Claim 10

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein first and second flow passages are defined by first and second flow conductors and said cross-over connection interconnects said conductors, said first conductor having a port spaced above said cross-over connection communicating with a third flow passage defined in said well around said flow conductors, said valve means being disposed in said first flow conductor, a by-pass line along said first flow conductor around said valve means connected at an upper end to said first flow conductor above said valve means and at a lower end below said cross-over connection, said valve means including a movable valve member for isolating said first and second flow conductors from each other and from said third flow passage at a first valve position while allowing upward flow along said first flow conductor and said by-pass line, and said valve member at a second position communicating said second flow conductor with said third flow passage through said cross-over connection while isolating upper and lower portions of said first flow conductor from each other and from said second flow conductor and said third flow passage, said valve member being movable to said second position responsive to a pressure in said third flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first flow conductor.

Claim 11

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein first and second flow passages are defined by first and second flow conductors and said cross-over connection interconnects said flow conductors, a third flow passage is defined by the annular space in said well around said flow conductors, said first flow conductor having a side port spaced above said cross-over connection communicating with said third flow passage, said valve means being disposed in said first flow conductor, a by-pass line connected along said first flow conductor around said valve means, the upper end of said by-pass line being connected into said first flow conductor abOve said valve means and the lower end of said by-pass line being connected into said first flow conductor at a location spaced below said cross-over connection, said valve means including a valve member having means at a first position for isolating said first and second flow conductors from each other and from said third flow passage while permitting flow along said first conductor and by-pass line, said valve member having means at a second position communicating said third flow passage with the portion of said first flow conductor above said valve means while isolating the portion of said first flow conductor below said valve means and isolating said second flow conductor from said first conductor and said third flow passage, said valve member being movable to said second position responsive to a pressure in said third flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first conductor.

Claim 12

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second flow passages are defined by first and second flow conductors interconnected by said cross-over connection and a third flow passage is defined by the annular space around said flow conductors, said first flow conductor having a side port above said cross-over connection communicating with said third flow passage, said valve means being disposed in said first flow conductor at said cross-over connection, a by-pass line connected into said first flow conductor, the upper end of said by-pass line being connected into said conductor above said valve means, and the lower end of said by-pass line being connected into said conductor at a location spaced below said cross-over connection, said valve means including a valve member movable in said flow conductor and having means for isolating said first and second flow conductors and said third flow passage from each other at a first position while permitting flow along said first conductor and by-pass line, and at a second valve member position for communicating said first conductor above said valve means with said second flow conductor through said cross-over connection while isolating said third flow passage and said first conductor below said valve means, said valve member being movable to said second position responsive to a pressure in said third flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first flow passage.

Claim 13

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein first and second flow passages are defined by first and second flow conductors interconnected by said cross-over connection and a third flow passage is defined by an annular space in said well around said flow conductors, said first flow conductor having a port spaced above said cross-over connection communicating with said third flow passage, said valve means being disposed in said first flow conductor, a by-pass line connected into said first flow conductor from above said valve means to a location spaced below said cross-over connection, said valve means including a valve member having means for isolating said first and second flow conductors and said third flow passage from each other while permitting flow along said first conductor and by-pass line at a first valve member position and at a second valve member position isolating a lower portion of said first conductor below said valve means while communicating said flow conductor above said valve means with said third flow passage and with said second flow conductor through said cross-over connection, said valve member being movable to said second position responsive to a pressure in said first flow passage below the pressure in said third flow passage.

Claim 14

A well system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second flow passages are defined by first and second flow conductors and said cross-over connection connects said conductors, means for supporting a valve in said first conductor at said cross-over connection, said valve being movable between a first position at which said first and second flow conductors are isolated from each other anD a second position at which said first conductor above said valve is communicated with said second flow conductor and the portion of said first conductor below said valve is isolated, and a valve in said second flow conductor at said cross-over connection movable between a first position at which said flow conductors communicate through said cross-over connection and a second position at which said flow conductors are isolated from each other at said cross-over connection.

Claim 15

A well system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said valve in said second flow conductor is a sliding sleeve valve.

Claim 16

A well system in accordance with claim 2 including means defining first and second flow passages comprising first and second flow conductors interconnected by said cross-over connection, said valve means being releasably lockable in either of said flow conductors at said cross-over connection, a by-pass line connected into each of said flow conductors from above said valve means to a location spaced below said cross-over connection, said valve means having a valve member disposed at a first position between said cross-over connection and the connection of the lower end of the by-pass line into the flow conductor in which said valve means is locked whereby at said first position of said valve member said first and second flow conductors are isolated from each other, and said valve member being movable to a second position responsive to a pressure in the other flow conductor in excess of the pressure in the flow conductor in which said valve means is locked, said valve member isolating the lower portion of the flow conductor in which said valve means is locked and communicating the upper portion of such flow conductor with the other flow conductor through said cross-over connection.

Claim 17

A well system for producing and servicing a well comprising: means defining a plurality of flow passages in said well for well fluids and service fluids flow; means for cross flow between at least two of said flow passages; and means for supporting a valve in a first of said flow passages for selectively isolating and communicating said two passages connected with said cross-flow means responsive only to a pressure exterior of said first flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first flow passage.

Claim 18

A well system for producing and servicing a well comprising: means defining a plurality of flow passages in said well for well fluids and service fluids flow; means for cross flow between at least two of said flow passages; and means for supporting a valve in a first of said flow passages for selectively isolating and communicating said two passages connected with said cross-flow means responsive only to a pressure exterior of said first flow passage in excess of the pressure in said first flow passage.

Claim 19

A well system in accordance with claim 16 including a flow control valve in said valve supporting means, said valve being movable between a first valve position at which said two flow passages communicatable through said cross flow passage are isolated from each other and a second valve member position at which said two flow passages communicate with each other, said valve being movable between said positions responsive to a pressure differential across said valve means between said first flow passage and one of said flow passages other than said first flow passage.

Claim 20

A well system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said two flow passages connected with said means for cross flow are defined by first and second flow conductors, said first flow conductor having a side-pocket landing nipple having a side pocket for said valve and communicating with said means for cross flow.

Claim 21

A well system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said second flow conductor includes a side-pocket type landing nipple, and the side pockets of both of said landing nipples communicate through said means for cross flow.

Claim 22

A well system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said landing nipples are longitudinally aligned with each other.

Claim 23

A well system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said landing nipples are displaced longitudinally from each other and nested together in an over-under relationship, and said means for cross flow is defined by conduit means extending longitudinally between side ports in said side pockets of said landing nipples.

Claim 24

A well system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said two flow passages are defined in an integral unit for connection with first and secOnd flow conductors, one side of said unit having a longitudinally extending side-pocket type landing nipple and the other side of said unit having a longitudinal flow passage, and said unit having said means for cross flow connecting the side pocket of said landing nipple and said longitudinal flow passage.

Claim 25

A well system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said two flow passages are defined in an integral unit having side-by-side side-pocket type landing nipples formed therein, the side pockets of said nipples communicating through said means for cross flow whereby said valve is positionable in either of said side pockets for controlling flow between said landing nipples.