US3724475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Subsurface safety valve
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1970-12-16
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Granted: 1973-04-03
•
Expires: 1990-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A subsurface safety valve capable of being installed in and retrieved from a well tubing string is held open by a spring and is closed by well pressure. Erosion from well fluids and/or a predetermined flow rate of well fluids through the valve will cause the valve to close.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ruppel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:22
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/04; E21B2200/05; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7784; Y10T137/7785
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A subsurface valve for controlling flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: a valve housing; tubular means arranged in said valve housing and forming a flow path through said valve housing and movable between first and second positions; said tubular means including a sub forming a narrowed flow passageway in said flow path; a valve member arranged in said valve housing movable in response to movement of said tubular means to an open position for permitting flow of fluids through said flow path and to a closed position for preventing flow of fluids through said flow path; biasing means arranged in said valve housing for urging said tubular means to said first position thereof; a fluid pressure chamber formed in said valve housing initially sealed off from fluid communication with said flow path; piston means arranged in said fluid pressure chamber and connected to said tubular means and responsive to pressure differential in said fluid pressure chamber to move said tubular means; and openable means on said tubular means initially closing off fluid communication between said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber and capable of opening to fluidly communicate said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A subsurface valve for controlling flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: a valve housing; tubular means arranged in said valve housing and forming a flow path through said valve housing and movable between first and second positions; said tubular means including a sub forming a narrowed flow passageway in said flow path; a valve member arranged in said valve housing movable in response to movement of said tubular means to an open position for permitting flow of fluids through said flow path and to a closed position for preventing flow of fluids through said flow path; biasing means arranged in said valve housing for urging said tubular means to said first position thereof; a fluid pressure chamber formed in said valve housing initially sealed off from fluid communication with said flow path; piston means arranged in said fluid pressure chamber and connected to said tubular means and responsive to pressure differential in said fluid pressure chamber to move said tubular means; and openable means on said tubular means initially closing off fluid communication between said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber and capable of opening to fluidly communicate said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 1 in which said valve housing is arranged in said well pipe and when said openable means has opened, well pipe fluid pressure acts on said piston means to urge said tubular means to said second position thereof against the bias of said biasing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 2 wherein said openable means on said tubular means comprises holes formed in said sub extending from the outer wall oF said sub towards but not initially penetrating the inner wall of said sub, said holes being opened to expose said fluid pressure chamber to well pipe fluid pressure when the inner wall of said sub has eroded a preselected amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 2 in which said tubular means moves in response to an increased pressure differential across said sub and said openable means on said tubular means comprises holes formed in said tubular means initially closing off fluid communication between said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber when said tubular means is in said first position thereof and permitting fluid communication between said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber upon movement of said tubular means from said first position thereof towards said second position thereof in response to an increased pressure differential across said sub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 2 in which said tubular means moves in response to an increased pressure differential across said sub and wherein said openable means on said tubular means comprises (1) holes formed in said sub extending from the outer wall of said sub towards but not initially penetrating the inner wall of said sub, said holes being opened to expose said fluid pressure chamber to well pipe fluid pressure when the inner wall of said sub has eroded a preselected amount and (2) holes formed in said tubular means initially closing off fluid communication between said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber when said tubular means is in said first position thereof and permitting fluid communication between said flow path and said fluid pressure chamber upon movement of said tubular means from said first position thereof towards said second position thereof in response to an increased pressure differential across said sub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 2 including means surrounding said valve housing for closing off the space between said valve housing and said well pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 2 including a chamber confining said biasing means; said valve member closing when said tubular means moves from said first to said second position thereof and opening when said tubular means moves from said second to said first position thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 7 including seal means on said piston means engaging said valve housing for sealing off said chambers from each other; and sealing means at the ends of said chambers engaging said tubular means for sealing off the ends of said chambers from said well pipe fluid pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 8 in which said sealing means at the ends of said chambers are balanced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 9 in which said chambers contain gas at lesser pressure than said well pipe fluid pressure prior to exposure of said fluid pressure chamber to said well pipe fluid pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 10 in which said lesser gas pressure is atmospheric pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A subsurface safety valve as recited in claim 1 in which said valve member comprises a rotatable ball valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A subsurface safety valve as recited in claim 1 in which said valve member comprises a spring-biased, clapper-type valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
184 words
A subsurface valve for controlling flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: a valve housing; tubular means arranged in said valve housing and forming a flow path through said valve housing and movable between first and second positions; a valve member movable in response to movement of said tubular means to an open position for permitting flow of fluids through said flow path and to a closed position for preventing flow of fluids through said flow path; biasing means arranged in said valve housing for urging said tubular means to said first position thereof; a fluid pressure chamber arranged between said tubular means and said valve housing initially sealed oFf from fluid communication with said flow path; piston means connected to said tubular means and arranged in said fluid pressure chamber and responsive to pressure differential in said fluid pressure chamber to move said tubular means; and means arranged on said tubular means and extending into said flow path and capable of being eroded by well fluids passing through said flow path to fluidly communicate said fluid pressure chamber and said flow path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
184 words
A subsurface valve for controlling flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: a valve housing; tubular means arranged in said valve housing and forming a flow path through said valve housing and movable between first and second positions; a valve member movable in response to movement of said tubular means to an open position for permitting flow of fluids through said flow path and to a closed position for preventing flow of fluids through said flow path; biasing means arranged in said valve housing for urging said tubular means to said first position thereof; a fluid pressure chamber arranged between said tubular means and said valve housing initially sealed oFf from fluid communication with said flow path; piston means connected to said tubular means and arranged in said fluid pressure chamber and responsive to pressure differential in said fluid pressure chamber to move said tubular means; and means arranged on said tubular means and extending into said flow path and capable of being eroded by well fluids passing through said flow path to fluidly communicate said fluid pressure chamber and said flow path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 14 in which said valve housing is arranged in said well pipe and when said means extending into said flow path has eroded to fluidly communicate said fluid pressure chamber and said flow path, well pipe fluid pressure acts on said piston means to urge said tubular means to said second position thereof against the bias of said biasing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 15 including means surrounding said valve housing for closing off the space between said valve housing and said well pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 16 including a chamber confining said biasing means; said valve member closing when said tubular means moves from said first to said second position thereof and opening when said tubular means moves from said second to said first position thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 17 including seal means on said piston means engaging said valve housing for sealing off said chambers from each other; and sealing means at the ends of said chambers engaging said tubular means for sealing off the ends of said chambers from said well pipe fluid pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 18 in which said sealing means at the ends of said chambers are balanced.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A subsurface valve as recited in claim 19 in which said chambers contain gas to lesser pressure than said well pipe fluid pressure prior to exposure of said fluid pressure chamber to said well pipe fluid pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A subsurface safety valve as recited in claim 14 in which said valve member comprises a rotatable ball valve.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A subsurface safety valve as recited in claim 14 in which said valve member comprises a spring-biased, clapper-type valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |