Wireline operated subsurface safety valve

Claim 2

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said actuating means comprising: fluid pressure means responsive to said tensional force applied to said wireline for actuating said valve element to its open position; and biasing means for moving said valve element to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 3

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said actuating means comprising: a first outer tubular member; a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; said valve element being positioned between said second and third tubular members; a sleeve piston arranged in the space between said first tubular member and said second tubular member and said third tubular member and said valve element; means connecting said sleeve piston to said valve element for moving said valve element (1) from an open to a closed position upon movement of said sleeve piston from its lower to its upper position and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of said sleeve piston from its upper to its lower position; a closed fluid pressure system responsive to said tensional force applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid pressure force to said sleeve piston to move said valve element to its open position; and biasing means arranged in the space between said first and third tubular members for urging said sleeve piston upwardly to move said valve element to its closed position.

Claim 4

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said actuating means comprising: a first outer tubular member; a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; said valve element being positioned between said second and third tubular members; a sleeve piston arranged in the space between said first tubular member and said second tubular member and said third tubular member and said valve element; means connecting said sleeve piston to said valve element for moving said valve element (1) from an open to a closed position upon movement of said sleeve piston from its lower to its upper position and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of said sleeve piston from its upper to its lower position; a closed fluid pressure system responsive to said tensional force applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid pressure force to said sleeve piston to move said valve element to its open position; and biasing means arranged in the space between said first and third tubular members for urging said sleeve piston upwardly to move said valve element to its closed position.

Claim 5

A valve assembly as recited in claim 2 in which said third tubular member contains a shoulder on its outer surface for limiting downward movement of said sleeve piston.

Claim 6

A valve assembly as recited in claim 3 including a screened port formed in said third tubular member fluidly communicating the interior of said valve assembly and the space in which said biasing means is arranged.

Claim 7

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said valve element comprising a ball valve and said actuating means comprising: a first outer tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member having an outwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; said ball valve being positioned between said second and third tubular members; a first sleeve piston arranged between said first tubular member and said second and third tubular members and said ball valve; biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said third tubular member and abutting the lower end of said sleeve piston to urge said sleeve piston upwardly; means connecting said first sleeve piston and said ball valve capable of rotating said ball valve (1) from an open to a closed position upon movement of said first sleeve piston upwardly and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of said first sleeve piston downwardly; a first fluid chamber formed between the lower end of said enlarged portion of said second tubular member and the upper end of said first sleeve piston and between said first and second tubular members; a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner wall of said second tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said first tubular member; a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of said second tubular member and outer wall of said second sleeve piston; a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first tubular member and the outer wall of the enlarged upper portion of said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and second fluid chambers; and the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline, fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to roTate said ball valve to its open position.

Claim 8

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said valve element comprising a ball valve and said actuating means comprising: a first outer tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member having an outwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; said ball valve being positioned between said second and third tubular members; a first sleeve piston arranged between said first tubular member and said second and third tubular members and said ball valve; biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said third tubular member and abutting the lower end of said sleeve piston to urge said sleeve piston upwardly; means connecting said first sleeve piston and said ball valve capable of rotating said ball valve (1) from an open to a closed position upon movement of said first sleeve piston upwardly and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of said first sleeve piston downwardly; a first fluid chamber formed between the lower end of said enlarged portion of said second tubular member and the upper end of said first sleeve piston and between said first and second tubular members; a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner wall of said second tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said first tubular member; a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of said second tubular member and outer wall of said second sleeve piston; a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first tubular member and the outer wall of the enlarged upper portion of said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and second fluid chambers; and the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline, fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to roTate said ball valve to its open position.

Claim 9

A valve assembly as recited in claim 5 in which the wall of said sleeve piston contains oppositely disposed openings for accommodating said outer periphery of said ball valve.

Claim 10

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said actuating means comprising: a first tubular member; a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from said first tubular member; a sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower positions, the lower portion of said sleeve piston being spaced from said first tubular member; said valve element being positioned on the lower end of said sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said first tubular member; the lower end of said sleeve piston containing openings above said valve element to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said sleeve piston is in its lower position; a closed fluid pressure system responsive to tensional force applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid pressure force to said sleeve piston; and biasing means arranged in the space between said first tubular member and said sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston upwardly.

Claim 11

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said actuating means comprising: a first tubular member; a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from said first tubular member; a sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower positions, the lower portion of said sleeve piston being spaced from said first tubular member; said valve element being positioned on the lower end of said sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said first tubular member; the lower end of said sleeve piston containing openings above said valve element to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said sleeve piston is in its lower position; a closed fluid pressure system responsive to tensional force applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid pressure force to said sleeve piston; and biasing means arranged in the space between said first tubular member and said sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston upwardly.

Claim 12

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said valve element comprising a cup-shaped seal and said actuating means comprising: a first tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from said first tubular member and having upper and lower portions; a first sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower positions; said cup-shaped seal being arranged on the lower end of said first sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said first tubular member; the lower end of said first sleeve piston containing openings to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said first sleeve piston is in its lowermost position; biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said first sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston upwardly; a first fluid chamber formed by the space between said first tubular member and the lower portion of said second tubular member above said first sleeve piston; a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner Wall of said second tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said first tubular member; a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and the outer wall of said second sleeve piston; a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and second fluid chambers; and the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means until said openings in said first sleeve piston are below the lower end of said first tubular member.

Claim 13

A subsurface safety valve assembly controllable by a wireline which extends to the surface and positionable in a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a movable valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path; valve element actuating means attachable to said wireline and connected to said valve element for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline and for permitting said valve element to move to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline; said valve element comprising a cup-shaped seal and said actuating means comprising: a first tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from said first tubular member and having upper and lower portions; a first sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower positions; said cup-shaped seal being arranged on the lower end of said first sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said first tubular member; the lower end of said first sleeve piston containing openings to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said first sleeve piston is in its lowermost position; biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said first sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston upwardly; a first fluid chamber formed by the space between said first tubular member and the lower portion of said second tubular member above said first sleeve piston; a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner Wall of said second tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said first tubular member; a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and the outer wall of said second sleeve piston; a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and second fluid chambers; and the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means until said openings in said first sleeve piston are below the lower end of said first tubular member.

Claim 14

A subsurface safety valve system for controlling flow of fluids through a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for upwardly flowing well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a valve assembly arranged in said well pipe including a valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path and valve element actuating means connected to said valve element and including means movable downwardly for actuating said valve element to its open position and biasing means movable upwardly to urge said valve element to its closed position; and a wireline attached to said actuating means for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline, said biasing means of said actuating means moving said valve element to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 15

A subsurface safety valve system for controlling flow of fluids through a well pipe which provides a flow path to the surface for upwardly flowing well fluids produced from subsurface formations comprising: a valve assembly arranged in said well pipe including a valve element having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through said flow path and valve element actuating means connected to said valve element and including means movable downwardly for actuating said valve element to its open position and biasing means movable upwardly to urge said valve element to its closed position; and a wireline attached to said actuating means for maintaining said valve element in its open position when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline, said biasing means of said actuating means moving said valve element to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 16

A subsurface safety valve system as recited in claim 9 including means connected to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 17

A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said actuating means comprises: fluid pressure means responsive to said tensional force applied to said wireline for actuating said valve element to its open position; and biasing means for moving said valve element to its closed position upon removal of said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 18

A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said actuating means comprises: a first outer tubular member; a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; said valve element being positioned between said second and third tubular members; a sleeve piston arranged in the space between said first tubular member and said second tubular member and said third tubular member and said valve element; means connecting said sleeve piston to said valve element for moving said valve element (1) from an open to a closed position upon movement of said sleeve piston from its lower to its upper position and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of said sleeve piston from its upper to its lower position; a closed fluid pressure system responsive to said tensional force applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid pressure force to said sleeve piston to move said sleeve piston upwardly and move said valve element to its open position; and biasing means arranged in the space between said first and third tubular members for urging said sleeve piston upwardly and move said valve element to its closed position.

Claim 19

A valve system as recited in claim 12 in whiCh said third tubular member is provided with a shoulder on its outer wall for limiting downward movement of said sleeve piston.

Claim 20

A valve system as recited in claim 13 including a screened port formed in said third tubular member fluidly communicating the interior of said valve assembly and the space in which said biasing means is arranged.

Claim 21

A valve system as recited in claim 14 including means connected to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 22

A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said valve element comprises a ball valve; and said actuating means comprises: a first outer tubular member having an upper portion of decreased inner diameter; a second upper inner tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member having an upper portion of increased inner and outer diameters; a third inner lower tubular member concentric to and spaced from said first tubular member; said ball valve being positioned between said second and third tubular members; a first sleeve piston arranged between said first tubular member and said second and third tubular members and said ball valve; biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said third tubular member and abutting the lower end of said first sleeve piston to urge said first sleeve piston upwardly; means connecting said first sleeve piston and said ball valve capable of rotating said ball valve (1) from an open to a closed position upon movement of said first sleeve piston upwardly and (2) from a closed to an open position upon movement of said first sleeve piston downwardly; a first fluid chamber confined between the lower end of said upper portion of said second tubular member and the upper end of said first sleeve piston and between the lower portions of said first and second tubular members; a second sleeve piston having an upper portion slidable on the inner wall of the upper portion of said first tubular member and having a lower portion of increased diameter slidable on the inner wall of said upper portion of said second tubular member; a second fluid chamber confined between the lower end of the upper portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the lower portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said second sleeve piston; a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and second fluid chambers; the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attachable to said wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to actuate the ball valve to its open position and when said tensional force on said wireline is released said biasing means forces said first sleeve piston upwardly to actuate the ball valve to its closed position and said fluid is forced from said first fluid chamber through said passageway into said second fluid chamber.

Claim 23

A valve system as recited in claim 16 in which the wall of said sleeve piston contains oppositely disposed openings for accommodating the outer periphery of said ball valve.

Claim 24

A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said actuating means comprises: a first tubular member; a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from said first tubular member; a sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between the first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower positions, the lower portion of said sleeve piston being spaced from said first tubular member; said valve element being positioned on the lower end of said sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said first tubular member; the lower end of said sleeve piston containing openings above said valve element to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said sleeve piston is in its lower position; a closed fluid pressure system responsive to tensional force applied to said wireline for applying a downwardly directed fluid pressure force to said sleeve piston; and biasing means arranged in the space between said first tubular member and said sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston upwardly.

Claim 25

A valve system as recited in claim 18 including a screened port formed in said sleeve piston fluidly communicating the interior of said valve assembly and the space in which said biasing means is arranged.

Claim 26

A valve system as recited in claim 18 including means connected to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force on the wireline.

Claim 27

A valve system as recited in claim 9 in which said valve element comprises a cup-shaped seal; and said actuating means comprises: a first tubular member having an inwardly extending enlarged upper portion; a second tubular member within, concentric to and spaced apart from said first tubular member and having upper and lower portions; a first sleeve piston extending upwardly into the space between said first and second tubular members and downwardly through the lower end of said first tubular member and having upper and lower portions; the cup-shaped seal being arranged on the lower end of said first sleeve piston and capable of sealingly engaging the lower end of said first tubular member; the lower end of said first sleeve piston containing openings to permit fluids to flow through said valve assembly when said first sleeve piston is in its lowermost position; biasing means arranged between said first tubular member and said first sleeve piston adapted to bias said sleeve piston upwardly; a first fluid chamber formed between said first tubular member and the lower portion of said second tubular member above said first sleeve piston; a second sleeve piston slidable on the inner wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and having an inner extending enlarged lower portion slidable on the inner wall of said enlarged upper portion of said first tubular member; a second fluid chamber formed between the lower end of the enlarged portion of said first tubular member and the upper end of the enlarged portion of said second sleeve piston and between the inner wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member and the outer wall of said second sleeve piston; a fluid passageway formed between the inner wall of said first tubular member and the outer wall of the upper portion of said second tubular member fluidly communicating with said first and second fluid chambers; and the upper end of said second sleeve piston being attached to said wireline whereby when a tensional force is applied to said wireline fluid is forced from said second fluid chamber through said passageway into said first fluid chamber to force said first sleeve piston downwardly against the bias of said biasing means to move said opening in said first sleeve piston below the lower end of said furst tubular member. 22 A valve system as recited in claim 21 including means connected to said wireline adjacent the surface for releasably maintaining said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 28

A valve system as recited in claim 22 wherein said means connected to said wireline at the surface includes releasable fluid pressure means.

Claim 29

A valve system as recited in claim 23 including a paraffin scraper attached to the lower end of said wireline; said wireline being releasable from connection to said valve actuating means for pulling said paraffin scraper upwardly through said well pipe.