US3799269A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety means for well flow control
Assignee: Macco Oil Tool Co Inc
•
Filing: 1972-04-03
•
Granted: 1974-03-26
•
Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract Two self-contained, subsurface operated, subsurface safety valves are positioned at vertically spaced locations within a well production tubing. The upper valve closes automatically when the tubing pressure falls below a predetermined low value and the lower valve closes automatically when the tubing pressure rises above a predetermined high value. The system is surface operated by closing the wellhead which permits the tubing pressure to rise to the high value, closing the lower valve. Reopening the wellhead permits the tubing pressure to drop to the low value, closing the upper valve. The valves may also be remotely or surface operated by dropping the wellhead pressure to the low pressure value which closes the upper and then the lower valves. Both valves also close automatically when well damage permits uncontrolled well flow which causes tubing pressure to drop to the low value. If well damage terminates or limits flow, the tubing pressure rises to automatically shut in the high pressure valve. Both valves may be reopened by pressuring from the wellhead. The preferred form of the high pressure valve of the present invention includes means for reopening the valve by increasing the wellhead pressure above that required to close the valve. For this purpose, a pressure sensitive actuator in the valve is reengagably detachable from the valve closure elements. The invention includes methods for automatically or remotely closing a well, for reopening the well, and for testing valve operation. A modified form of the invention employs flow rate responsive valves rather than pressure responsive valves. In the modified form, one valve closes when the flow exceeds a predetermined rate and the other valve closes when the flow drops below a predetermined rate.
Inventors
- 👤 J Brown
- 👤 J Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:43
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/08; E21B34/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of remotely or automatically operating valve means and control means anchored in a well conduit at a point below the surface of a well comprising the steps of: a. partially or completely closing said well conduit above said valve and control means; b. allowing the pressure in said conduit to rise to a first pressure level to which said control means is automatically responsive for closing said valve means and blocking said conduit; and c. raising the pressure in said conduit above said valve means to a second pressure level higher than said first level whereby said control means is operatively disconnected from said valve means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of remotely or automatically operating valve means and control means anchored in a well conduit at a point below the surface of a well comprising the steps of: a. partially or completely closing said well conduit above said valve and control means; b. allowing the pressure in said conduit to rise to a first pressure level to which said control means is automatically responsive for closing said valve means and blocking said conduit; and c. raising the pressure in said conduit above said valve means to a second pressure level higher than said first level whereby said control means is operatively disconnected from said valve means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and the additional step of: d. raising the pressure in said conduit above said valve means to a third pressure level higher than said second level whereby the pressures above and below said valve means are substantially equal allowing said valve means to be opened.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 3 and the additional step of: e. reopening said well conduit above said valve and control means and allowing the pressure in said conduit at said valve means to fall to a fourth pressure level lower than said first pressure level whereby said control means is operatively reconnected with said valve means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said second level is higher than the pressure below said valve means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 3 in which said well conduit is partially or completely closed above said valve and control means by manipulating the valve near the surface of said well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as defined in claim 4 in which a second valve and control means are anchored in said conduit at a point between the first mentioned valve and control means and the surface of said well, and said well conduit is closed above said first valve and control means by lowering the pressure in said conduit above said second valve means to a level below said first pressure level to which said second control means is automatically responsive for closing said second valve means and blocking said conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic safety system for terminating flow through a well conduit included in a well comprising: a. first valve means anchored in said well conduit at some point below the surface of said well, said first valve means including means for terminating flow through said conduit in response to pressures below a first pressure level in said conduit; and b. second valve means anchored in said well conduit at some point below said well surface, said second valve means including means for terminating flow through said conduit in response to pressures in said conduit above a second pressure level, higher than said first level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic safety system for terminating flow through a well conduit included in a well comprising: a. first valve means anchored in said well conduit at some point below the surface of said well, said first valve means including means for terminating flow through said conduit in response to pressures below a first pressure level in said conduit; and b. second valve means anchored in said well conduit at some point below said well surface, said second valve means including means for terminating flow through said conduit in response to pressures in said conduit above a second pressure level, higher than said first level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 7 wherein said second valve means further includes reopening means for reopening said second valve means in response to pressures in said well conduit above said second pressure level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 7 wherein said second valve means is anchored in said well conduit at a point below said first valve means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 9 wherein: a. said second valve means includes a closure member, a seat member and a self-contained control means; and b. said self-contained control means is connected to said closure member and responsive to said second pressure level to bring said closure and seat members into sealing engagement with each other for blocking flow through said conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second valve means are movable through said conduit and include means for retrievably anchoring and sealing said valve means at a subsurface location within said well conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second valve means include reopening means for moving said valve means to open position in response to pressure supplied to said well conduit above said valve means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 10 wherein said self-contained control means includes bellows actuator means for opening and closing said closure members to respectively permit or terminate flow through said conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 13 wherein said bellows actuator means is linked to said closure member by releasable locking means for operatively disconnecting said closure member from movement of said bellows actuator means in response to pressures in said well conduit above a thiRd pressure level higher than said second pressure level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic system as defined in claim 14 wherein said bellows actuator means further includes relocking means for reengaging said closure member in response to a reduction of pressure in said conduit to a level below said second pressure level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic safety valve means for regulating flow through a well conduit comprising: a. closure means movable between open and closed positions for respectively permitting or terminating flow through said conduit; b. movable control means connected through connecting means with said closure means for moving said closure means between open and closed positions; c. closing means included with said control means for closing said closure means when the pressure acting on said control means exceeds a first predetermined value; and d. reopening means included with said control means for reopening said closure means when the pressure acting on said control means is raised above said first pressure value and exceeds a second higher pressure value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic safety valve means for regulating flow through a well conduit comprising: a. closure means movable between open and closed positions for respectively permitting or terminating flow through said conduit; b. movable control means connected through connecting means with said closure means for moving said closure means between open and closed positions; c. closing means included with said control means for closing said closure means when the pressure acting on said control means exceeds a first predetermined value; and d. reopening means included with said control means for reopening said closure means when the pressure acting on said control means is raised above said first pressure value and exceeds a second higher pressure value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 16 wherein said valve means is movable through said conduit and includes means for retrievably anchoring said valve means at a subsurface location within said well conduit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 17 further including spring biasing means for urging said closure members toward open position when said closure means are closed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 17 further including locking means for maintaining said valve closure means in fully opened position while the pressure acting on said control means is below said first pressure value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 19 wherein said valve means is movable through said conduit and includes means for retrievably anchoring said valve means at a subsurface location within said well conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 20 wherein said control means includes bellows means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 21 further including incompressible fluids and protective valving means for protecting said bellows means from over contraction and over expansion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 20 wherein said connecting means includes releasable means for separating said control means from said closure means when the pressure acting on said control means exceeds a second pressure value which is higher than said first value.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 23 further including biasing means operative at pressures in excess of a third pressure value, higher than said second value for returning said closure means to open position when said control means and closure means are separated.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 24 wherein said connecting means further includes reengageable means for reengaging said control means and said closure means when the pressure acting on said control means falls below said first pressure value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 25 wherein said control means includes bellows means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic safety valve means as defined in claim 26 further including incompressible fluids and protective valving means for protecting said bellows means from over contraction and over expansion.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of remotely or automatically operating first and second valve means and control means anchored in a well conduit at points below the surface of a well, said second valve and control means being anchored in said conduit at a point between said first valve and control means and the surface of said well, comprising the steps of: a. partially or completely closing said well conduit above said first valve and control means; b. allowing the pressure in said conduit to rise to a first pressure level to which said first control means is automatically responsive for closing said first valve means and blocking said conduit; and c. closing said well conduit above said first valve and control means by lowering the pressure in said conduit above said second valve means to a level, below said first pressure level, to which said second control means is automatically responsive to closing said second valve means and blocking said conduit.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of remotely or automatically operating first and second valve means and control means anchored in a well conduit at points below the surface of a well, said second valve and control means being anchored in said conduit at a point between said first valve and control means and the surface of said well, comprising the steps of: a. partially or completely closing said well conduit above said first valve and control means; b. allowing the pressure in said conduit to rise to a first pressure level to which said first control means is automatically responsive for closing said first valve means and blocking said conduit; and c. closing said well conduit above said first valve and control means by lowering the pressure in said conduit above said second valve means to a level, below said first pressure level, to which said second control means is automatically responsive to closing said second valve means and blocking said conduit.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of controlling flow of well fluids through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluid through said conduit at a point above a first subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluid caused by said restriction or termination of flow, with such method including the prior step of reducing restriction to fluid flow in said conduit at a point above a second subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluid caused by said restriction reduction, said second valve being located above said first valve whereby said closure of said second valve restricts or terminates fluid flow through said conduit to cause closure of said first valve.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of controlling flow of well fluids through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluid through said conduit at a point above a first subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluid caused by said restriction or termination of flow, with such method including the prior step of reducing restriction to fluid flow in said conduit at a point above a second subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluid caused by said restriction reduction, said second valve being located above said first valve whereby said closure of said second valve restricts or terminates fluid flow through said conduit to cause closure of said first valve.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 29 including the step of reopening said first and second valves by applying pressure to said conduit above said valve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as defined in claim 29 wherein said first valve closed in response to the flow of fluids through said conduit at a rate below a first predetermined flow rate and said second valve closes in response to the flow of fluids through said conduit at a rate above a second predetermined flow rate, higher than said first rate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 29 wherein said first valve closes when the pressure of fluids in said conduit exceeds a first value and said second valve closes when the fluid pressure drops below a second value, below said first pressure value.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling the flow of well fluid through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluids through said conduit at a point above a first subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluids caused by said restriction or termination of flow and reopening said first valve by applying pressure to said conduit from above said first valve.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling the flow of well fluid through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluids through said conduit at a point above a first subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluids caused by said restriction or termination of flow and reopening said first valve by applying pressure to said conduit from above said first valve.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of controlling flow of well fluids through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluids through said conduit at a point above a first subsurface valve which closes in response to the flow of fluids through said conduit at a rate below a predetermined minimum flow rate.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of controlling flow of well fluids through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluids through said conduit at a point above a first subsurface valve which closes in response to the flow of fluids through said conduit at a rate below a predetermined minimum flow rate.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of controlling flow of well fluids through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluids through said conduit at a point above a subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluids caused by said restriction or termination of flow and reopening said valve by pressurizing said conduit above said closed valve to a pressure in excess of the pressure in said conduit below said valve.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of controlling flow of well fluids through a well conduit comprising restricting or terminating the flow of well fluids through said conduit at a point above a subsurface valve which closes in response to a predetermined characteristic of said fluids caused by said restriction or termination of flow and reopening said valve by pressurizing said conduit above said closed valve to a pressure in excess of the pressure in said conduit below said valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3065793A
Cited
US3065794A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |