US3830306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Well control means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-22
•
Granted: 1974-08-20
•
Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Opening and closing of a subsurface safety valve in a well conduit is regulated by predetermined movement of a well conduit supported from an offshore production platform. In one form of the invention, release of support means employed to suspend the conduit in the well permits the conduit to move longitudinally to close the valve and in another embodiment, release of support permits the conduit to rotate to close the valve. Slip joints and/or hydraulic or mechanical tensioning means are employed for accommodating normal conduit movement to prevent such movement from operating the subsurface valve. Closing of the valves is regulated by heat sensitive, frangible sensors which release the conduit support upon the occurrence of fire, explosion, impact with a vessel, or other damaging occurrence. A master control system is employed for closing subsurface and/or surface valves in all of the wells supported by the platform in the event of closure of any one of the wells. Means may also be provided for closing or opening the subsurface and/or surface valves in one or all of the wells with equipment responsive to a remotely generated command signal. The subsurface valves may be retrievable and in one embodiment of the invention, dual valves are employed with retrieval of one of the valves closing the remaining valve and replacement of the valve automatically reopening the closed valve. In another embodiment, closure of the subsurface valve also closes the annular area between the conduit and the well casing to provide a packer back-up valve.
Inventors
- 👤 C Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:47
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/16; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/03; E21B2200/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An assembly for regulating the flow of effluents through a well comprising: a. releasable support means for supporting a conduit in said well; b. sensor means connected to said support means and responsive to one or more predetermined conditions at said well to automatically release said support means; c. flow control means connected with said conduit and operable upon predetermined movement of said conduit following release of said support means to regulate the flow of effluents through the well; and d. compensating means associated with said conduit accommodating normal well condition induced movement of said conduit for preventing said induced movement from operating said flow control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
An assembly for regulating the flow of effluents through a well comprising: a. releasable support means for supporting a conduit in said well; b. sensor means connected to said support means and responsive to one or more predetermined conditions at said well to automatically release said support means; c. flow control means connected with said conduit and operable upon predetermined movement of said conduit following release of said support means to regulate the flow of effluents through the well; and d. compensating means associated with said conduit accommodating normal well condition induced movement of said conduit for preventing said induced movement from operating said flow control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including remotely operable control means for releasing said support means by a remotely generated command signal to release support of said conduit and close said flow control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensor means includes heat fusible means and frangible means disposed adjacent the well surface for permitting said conduit to move longitudinally upon the occurrence of a predetermined temperature which ruptures said heat fusible means or a predetermined physical movement which ruptures said frangible means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including: a. mounting means for retrievably placing valve means in operating position within said conduit whereby said valve means may be retrieved to the well surface through said conduit; b. first and second valves in said valve means; and c. means for closing said first valve to terminate flow through said conduit when said second valve is removed from operative position and means for opening said first valve when said second valve is placed in operative position within said conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said conduit extends between said support means and an anchoring means disposed in said well; b. said anchoring means is operable to secure said conduit to a substantially fixed part of said well; and c. said compensating means includes tensioning means connected with said conduit for maintaining substantially constant tension in said conduit between said support means and said anchoring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
An assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. said anchoring means including packer means for isolating a portion of said well; b. said conduit includes a surface extending flow passage in fluid flow communication through said flow control means with said isolated portion of said well; and c. said flow control means includes valve means for opening or closing said flow passage to permit or terminate the flow of fluids from said isolated well portion, through said flow passage to the surface of said well.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said compensating means incluDes telescoping joint means between two connecting sections of said conduit whereby said conduit may elongate and foreshorten longitudinally at said joint means without operating said flow control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
An assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein: a. one of said connecting sections is fixed vertically relative to said support means; b. said telescoping joint means forms sealed chamber means enclosing a chamber which varies in volume as said conduit moves longitudinally relative to said support means; c. said sealed chamber is equipped with a pressurized fluid for supporting said conduit above a predetermined vertical position in said telescoping joint means; d. said compensating means includes means for maintaining a substantially constant pressure on said pressurizing fluid; and e. said sensor means includes pressure release means for causing a pressure reduction in said chamber upon the occurrence of said one or more predetermined conditions whereby said conduit is permitted to move longitudinally through said well below said predetermined vertical position to close said flow control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said compensating means includes tensioning means connected with said conduit for maintaining a predetermined minimum tension in said conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said tensioning means includes mechanical suspension means for supporting said conduit in said well and tension detecting means for detecting the tension in said conduit and means responsive to said tension detecting means for moving said conduit longitudinally to maintain a substantially constant tension in said conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
An assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. said conduit includes a confined, longitudinal flow passage extending between an isolated well zone and the surface of said well; and b. said flow control means includes valve means operable upon predetermined movement of said conduit to open or close said flow passage to respectively permit or terminate flow of effluents from said isolated well zone through said confined flow passage to said well surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as defined in claim 11 in which said valve means includes mounting means for retrievably placing said valve means in operating position within said conduit whereby said valve means may be retrieved to the well surface through said conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said flow control means includes valve means operable for opening or closing said conduit to regulate effluent flow through said conduit; and b. said valve means is operable to open or close said conduit by predetermined movement of said conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said valve means is operable to open and close said conduit by longitudinal movement of said conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said support means includes release means operable for releasing support of said conduit to permit said conduit to move longitudinally under the influence of gravity for closing said valve means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as defined in claim 15 in which said valve means includes mounting means for retrievably placing said valve means in operating position within said conduit whereby said valve means may be retrieved to the well surface through said conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly as defined in claim 15 further including remotely operable control means for operating said release means by a remotely generated command signal to release support of said conduit and close said valve means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein: a. said valve means includes biasing means tending to maintain said valve in normally open position; and b. longitudinal movement of said conduit overcomes said biasing means to close said valve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein: a. said valve means includes biasing means tending to maintain said valve in normally open position; B. said biasing means includes spring means; c. longitudinal lowering of said conduit beyond a predetermined amount compresses said spring means to close said valve; and d. longitudinal raising of said conduit permits said valve to open under the influence of said spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein: a. said compensating means includes hydraulic suspension means for supporting said conduit in said well and means for maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure in said suspension means; and b. said suspension means includes means for accommodating longitudinal movement of said conduit and said conduit is connected with an expansion chamber whereby longitudinal movement of said conduit changes the volume confined within said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein: a. said conduit cooperates with a second relatively fixed concentric conduit to form an annular expansion chamber having a variable volume which changes upon longitudinal movement of said conduit with respect to said fixed conduit, and b. pressure line means communicate with said annular chamber for regulating the pressure within said chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said pressure line means extends longitudinally into said annular chamber and said conduit telescopes over and is movable longitudinally with respect to said pressure line whereby pressure communication is maintained between said line and said chamber as said conduit moves longitudinally.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly as defined in claim 21 further including a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular chambers communicating with said pressure line for increasing the support force exerted by said hydraulic fluid acting in said chambers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
An assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein: a. said conduit includes a confined, longitudinal flow passage extending between an isolated well zone and the surface of said well; and b. said valve means is operable upon said predetermined longitudinal movement of said conduit to open or close said flow passage to respectively permit or terminate flow of effluents from said isolated well zone through said confined flow passage to said well surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
An assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein: a. said first mentioned conduit extends longitudinally through a second well conduit; b. an annular flow passage extends longitudinally between said first mentioned conduit and said second conduit; and c. said first mentioned conduit and said second conduit carry second valving means operable when said first mentioned conduit is moved longitudinally through said second conduit to open and close said annular flow passage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
An assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein: a. said first mentioned conduit extends longitudinally through a second well conduit; b. an annular flow passage extends longitudinally between said first mentioned conduit and said second conduit; and c. flow passage openings extend through the wall of said first mentioned conduit into communication with said annular flow passage at a point above said valve means whereby effluents flow from said isolated zone into said confined longitudinal passage, through said valve means and through said annular passage to the well surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said compensating means includes hydraulic suspension means for supporting said conduit in said well and means for maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure in said suspension means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly as defined in claim 27 in which said sensor means comprises pressure release means for causing a pressure reduction in said suspension means upon the occurrence of said one or more predetermined conditions whereby said conduit is permitted to move longitudinally through said well to close said valve means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly as defined in claim 28 further including: a. surface valve means connected with said conduit for permitting oR terminating effluent flow from said conduit; and b. condition responsive control means connected to said surface valve means for closing said surface valve means in response to the occurrence of said one or more predetermined conditions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
An assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein said condition responsive control means includes hydraulic pressure means in pressure communication with said hydraulic suspension means for permitting said surface valve means to close when the hydraulic pressure acting in said hydraulic suspension means or said hydraulic pressure means falls below a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said pressure release means includes heat sensitive means connected with said suspension means and operable when exposed to a predetermined temperature to release said hydraulic pressure in said suspension means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as defined in claim 31 wherein said valve means includes ball type valve means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as defined in claim 31 wherein said valve means include flapper type valve means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
120 words
An assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein: a. said conduit extends between said support means and an anchoring means disposed in said well; b. said anchoring means is operable to secure said conduit to a substantially fixed part of said well; c. said flow control means includes a first length of conduit fixed with respect to said anchoring means and extending toward the well surface; d. said flow control means includes a second length of conduit connected with said first length and movable longitudinally with respect to said first length; and e. said valve means may be operably connected with said first and second conduit lengths whereby longitudinal movement of said first length opens and closes said valve means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as defined in claim 34 wherein said valve means includes first and second valves and means for closing said first valve to terminate flow through said conduit when said second valve is removed from operative position within said conduit and means for opening said first valve when said second valve is placed in operative position within said conduit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as defined in claim 35 wherein said first and second valves include ball type valve means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as defined in claim 35 wherein said first and second valves include flapper type valve means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
125 words
An assembly for regulating the flow of effluents through a well comprising: a. releasable support means for supporting a conduit in said well; b. sensor means connected to said support means and responsive to one or more predetermined conditions at said well to automatically release said support means; and c. flow control means connected with said conduit and operable upon predetermined movement of said conduit following release of said support means to regulate the flow of effluents through the well; d. said control means being operable to open and close said conduit by rotary movement of said conduit; e. said support means including release means operable for releasing torque forces in said conduit to permit said conduit to rotate and close said flow control means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
125 words
An assembly for regulating the flow of effluents through a well comprising: a. releasable support means for supporting a conduit in said well; b. sensor means connected to said support means and responsive to one or more predetermined conditions at said well to automatically release said support means; and c. flow control means connected with said conduit and operable upon predetermined movement of said conduit following release of said support means to regulate the flow of effluents through the well; d. said control means being operable to open and close said conduit by rotary movement of said conduit; e. said support means including release means operable for releasing torque forces in said conduit to permit said conduit to rotate and close said flow control means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as defined in claim 38 further including compensating means for maintaining a substantially constant torque in said conduit to accommodate normal well condition induced movement of said conduit whereby said induced movement is prevented from operating said flow control means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
152 words
A well control system for regulating the flow of effluents through a plurality of wells comprising: a. support means for supporting a conduit in each of said wells; b. flow control means connected with each of said conduits and operable upon predetermined movement of said conduits to regulate the flow of effluents through each of said wells; c. release means included in each of said support means operable for releasing support of said conduit to permit said predetermined moveMent; d. control means connecting said release means in each of said support means for releasing support of all of said conduits when support of one of said conduits is released; e. surface valve means connected with each of said conduits for permitting or terminating effluent flow from said conduit; and f. second condition responsive control means for closing said surface valve means in response to the occurrence of one or more predetermined conditions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
152 words
A well control system for regulating the flow of effluents through a plurality of wells comprising: a. support means for supporting a conduit in each of said wells; b. flow control means connected with each of said conduits and operable upon predetermined movement of said conduits to regulate the flow of effluents through each of said wells; c. release means included in each of said support means operable for releasing support of said conduit to permit said predetermined moveMent; d. control means connecting said release means in each of said support means for releasing support of all of said conduits when support of one of said conduits is released; e. surface valve means connected with each of said conduits for permitting or terminating effluent flow from said conduit; and f. second condition responsive control means for closing said surface valve means in response to the occurrence of one or more predetermined conditions.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 40 further including remotely operable actuating means for operating said release means by a remotely generated command signal to release support of said conduits for terminating effluent flow through said conduits.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
55 words
A well control system as defined in claim 40 wherein said support means includes hydraulic suspension means containing an hydraulic fluid and actuable in response to a predetermined reduction in pressure of said hydraulic fluid to release said conduits for longitudinal movement under the influence of gravity to thereby close said conduits to effluent flow.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
55 words
A well control system as defined in claim 42 wherein said release means includes heat fusible and frangible sensing means connected with said hydraulic suspension means for permitting said predetermined reduction in the pressure of said hydraulic fluid upon subjecting said sensing means to a temperature or a physical movement which ruptures said sensing means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
A well control system as defined in claim 40 wherein each of said conduits includes compensating means accommodating normal well condition induced movement of said conduits for preventing said induced movement from operating said flow control means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
A well control system as defined in claim 44 wherein each of said flow control means includes valve means having means for retrievably placing said valve means in operating position within said conduit whereby said valve means may be retrieved and positioned through said conduit.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
124 words
A subsurface safety valve for use with a well structure on an offshore platform comprising: a support means supporting a well conduit from said platform for conducting effluents from said well through said conduit to a wellhead on said platform; b subsurface valve means included in said conduit and movable between opened and closed positions to regulate the flow of well effluents through said conduit; c valve operating means included with said valve means and said conduit means for moving said valve means between open and closed positions by predetermined longitudinal movement of said conduit; and d compensating means for accommodating normal well condition induced movement of said conduit for preventing said induced movement from moving said valve means between opened and closed positions.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
124 words
A subsurface safety valve for use with a well structure on an offshore platform comprising: a support means supporting a well conduit from said platform for conducting effluents from said well through said conduit to a wellhead on said platform; b subsurface valve means included in said conduit and movable between opened and closed positions to regulate the flow of well effluents through said conduit; c valve operating means included with said valve means and said conduit means for moving said valve means between open and closed positions by predetermined longitudinal movement of said conduit; and d compensating means for accommodating normal well condition induced movement of said conduit for preventing said induced movement from moving said valve means between opened and closed positions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
88 words
A safety valve as defined in claim 46 wherein: a said conduit connects to a packer anchored at a subsurface location within said well; b said valve operating means includes a relatively fixed conduit section connected with said packer and a relatively movable conduit section suspended from said platform; and c said compensating means includes telescoping joint means between first and second connecting sections of said conduit for accommodating normal, well condition induced longitudinal movement in said conduit to prevent such induced movement from operating said valve means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
104 words
A safety valve as defined in claim 47 wherein: a said telescoping joint means forms sealed chamber means enclosing a chamber which varies in volume as said connecting sections telescope longitudinally relative to each other; b said chamber is equipped with a pressurized fluid for controlling the longitudinal telescoping overlap between said two connecting sections by regulating the pressure of said fluid; and c said first connecting section is supported by said platform whereby a predetermined reduction of the pressure of said fluid permits said second section to moVe longitudinally under the influence of gravity to the extent required to operate said valve means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
45 words
A safety valve as defined in claim 48 further including pressure control means for maintaining a substantially constant pressure in said fluid for maintaining substantially constant tension forces in said conduit as said conduit elongates and foreshortens longitudinally under the influence of normal well conditions.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
52 words
A safety valve as defined in claim 48 further including sensing means connected with said pressurizing fluid and operative upon the occurrence of a predetermined temperature or physical movement to cause a reduction in the pressure of said fluid whereby said valve means is operated to terminate effluent flow through said conduit.
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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) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |