Surface controlled float valve and inside blowout preventer drilling tool

Claim 2

A well tool adapted for mounting with a well conduit to control flow of fluid through the well conduit, including: a housing adapted for connection in a well conduit and having a bore extending therethrough for communicating the flow passage of the well conduit above and below said housing; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an opened position enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for substantially blocking flow of fluid through said bore; operator means mounted with said housing for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position in response to the urging of fluid pressure for effecting desired flow through the well conduit; and means mounted with said housing for releasably holding said bore closure means initially in the open position and actuated to release said bore closure means for fluid pressure operation by said operator means by a predetermined manipulation of said housing wherein bore closure means movement to control the flow is enabled.

Claim 3

The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the housing is manipulated to release said bore closure means for movement in response to sequentially applying and then removing the weight of tHe well conduit above said housing to said housing.

Claim 4

The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the housing is manipulated to release said bore closure means for movement in response to sequentially lowering and then lifting the well conduit in the well.

Claim 5

The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said means for holding said bore closure means in the open position includes latch means operably connected with said bore closure means and movably mounted with said housing between a locking position for holding said bore closure means in the open position and release position for enabling movement of said bore closure means to the closed position.

Claim 6

The structure as set forth in claim 1, including: an operator member mounted with said housing and movable to and from a first position for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the open position and to and from a second position for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the closed position wherein movement of said operator member controls flow of fluid through the well tool.

Claim 7

The structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said means for holding said bore closure means in the open position includes a latch means mounted with said housing and movable from a locking position operably engaging said operator to hold said operator in the first position to a released position for enabling operating movement of said operator member wherein said bore closure means is released for movement.

Claim 8

A well tool, including: a housing adapted for connection in a well conduit having a bore extending therethrough for communicating the flow passages of the well conduit above and below said housing; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an opened position enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for substantially blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means for releasably holding said bore closure means in the open position actuated to release said bore closure means by a predetermined manipulation of the well conduit; said means for holding said bore closure means in the open position includes a latch means mounted with said housing and movable from a locking position operably engaging said operator to hold said operator in the first position to a released position for enabling operating movement of said operator member; said housing having a first housing portion; and said housing having a second housing portion connected with said first housing portion and movable relative thereto to and from an extended position and a contracted position, said second housing portion mounting said latch means to effect movement of said latch means from the locking position to the released position for enabling movement of said bore closure means when said second housing portion sequentially moves to the contracted position and the extended position wherein said bore closure means is released.

Claim 9

A well tool, including: a housing adapted for connection in a well conduit having a bore extending therethrough for communicating the flow passages of the well conduit above and below said housing; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an opened position enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for substantially blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means for releasably holding said bore closure means in the open position actuated to release said bore closure means by a predetermined manipulation of the well conduit; said means for holding said bore closure means in the open position includes a latch means mounted with said housing and movable from a locking position operably engaging said operator to hold said operator in the first position to a released position for enabling operating movement of said operator member; said housing having a first housing portion; and said housing having a second housing portion connected with said first housing portion and movable relative thereto to and from an extended position and a contracted position, said second housing portion mounting said latch means to effect movement of said latch means from the locking position to the released position for enabling movement of said bore closure means when said second housing portion sequentially moves to the contracted position and the extended position wherein said bore closure means is released.

Claim 10

The structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said first housing portion connected with said second housing position to enable relative longitudinal movement therebetween while blocking relative circumferential rotational movement therebetween wherein the well tool is operable in a rotary drill string.

Claim 11

The structure as set forth in claim 7, including: means for dampening transmission of vibrations and shocks from said second housing portion to said first housing portion during drilling operations.

Claim 12

The structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein said latch means includes: a. said second housing portion having a window opening formed therein; b. a latch dog disposed in said opening and movable from an engaged position with said operator for holding said operator in the first position to a free position for enabling said operator to thereafter move to and from the first position and the second positions wherein movement of said bore closure means is enabled.

Claim 13

The structure as set forth in claim 10, including: a. a lock member mounted with said housing and movable from a locked position for securing said latch dog in the engaged position to a released position enabling said latch dog to move to the free position wherein said bore closure means is released; and b. said first housing portion engaging said lock member when said second housing portion is in the contracted position to thereafter move said lock member to the released position when said second housing portion moves to the extended position wherein said latch dog moves to the free position.

Claim 14

The structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein: a. said second housing portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced window openings formed therein; and b. a corresponding plurality of latch dogs disposed in each of said openings and movable from the engaged position to the free position.

Claim 15

The structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said bore closure means includes a ball member having a flow port formed therethrough for rotating to and from the open position to align said flow port with said bore for enabling the flow of fluid therethrough and the closed position for blocking the flow of fluid with said ball member.

Claim 16

The structure as set forth in claim 13, including: pivot means engaging said ball member and co-acting with said operator member for rotating said ball member to and from the open and closed position.

Claim 17

The structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said ball member moves longitudinally in rotating to and from the open and closed positions.

Claim 18

A well tool, including: a housing adapted for connection in a well conduit having a bore extending therethrough for communicating the flow passages of the well conduit above and below said housing; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an opened position enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for substantially blocking flow of fluid through said bore; and means for releasably holding said bore closure means in the open position actuated to release said bore closure means by a predetermined manipulation of the well conduit; an operator member mounted with said housing and movable to and from a first position for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the open position and to and from a second position for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the closed position. said operator member having a first pressure responsive surface communicating with said bore of said housing above said bore closure means to move said operator to the first position in response to the fluid pressure urging thereon; and said operator member having a second pressure responsive surface communicating with an area adjacent an exterior surface of said housing to move said operator to the second position in response to the fluid pressure urging thereon wherein the well tool operates in response to well pressures to control the flow.

Claim 19

A well tool, including: a housing adapted for connection in a well conduit having a bore extending therethrough for communicating the flow passages of the well conduit above and below said housing; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an opened position enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for substantially blocking flow of fluid through said bore; and means for releasably holding said bore closure means in the open position actuated to release said bore closure means by a predetermined manipulation of the well conduit; an operator member mounted with said housing and movable to and from a first position for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the open position and to and from a second position for effecting movement of said bore closure means to the closed position. said operator member having a first pressure responsive surface communicating with said bore of said housing above said bore closure means to move said operator to the first position in response to the fluid pressure urging thereon; and said operator member having a second pressure responsive surface communicating with an area adjacent an exterior surface of said housing to move said operator to the second position in response to the fluid pressure urging thereon wherein the well tool operates in response to well pressures to control the flow.

Claim 20

The structure as set forth in claim 16, including: spring means mounted with said housing for urging movement of said operator member to the second position for maintaining the bore closure means in the closed position when the urging of the fluid pressure on said first pressure responsive surface is less than the combined urging of the spring means and the fluid pressure of said second pressure responsive surface.

Claim 21

The structure as set forth in claim 16, including: a fluid seal positioned on said first pressure responsive surface to block communication of the fluid pressure in said bore of said housing above said bore closure means to a portion of said first pressure responsive surface when said operator member is in the second position and which enables communication of the fluid pressure in said bore of said housing above said bore closure means with said portion of said first pressure responsive surface when said operator commences to move to the first position wherein said operator movement averts partial opening of said bore closure means.