Method and apparatus for a subsurface safety valve operating with differential annular pressure

Claim 2

A subsurface safety valve apparatus for connecting in a production tubing positioned in a well casing and sealed to the well casing by a packer for directing the flows of fluids produced by a well through a flow passage of the production tubing including: a flow housing having a bore therethrough adapted for connection in the production tubing to form a portion thereof with said bore in communication with a flow passage of the production tubing for enabling flow of fluid through said bore; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore and to and from a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means with said flow housing for effecting a fluid seal between said flow housing and the well casing to divide the annular area between the production tubing and the well casing above the packer into a lower reservoir below the fluid seal and an upper reservoir above the fluid seal; and means with said flow housing for effecting movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position in response to the fluid pressure differential between said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir wherein the safety valve is operated.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: greater fluid pressure in the upper reservoir moves said bore closure means to the open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore wherein the safety valve is operated open.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: greater fluid pressure in the lower reservoir moves said bore closure means to the closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore wherein the safety valve is operated closed.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bore closure means includes: a ball member having a flow part formed therethrough which is rotatable to and from the open position for enabling flow of fluid through said flow port and the closed position where said ball member blocks flow of fluid through said bore of said housing wherein the flow is contolled by rotation of said ball member.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including: means with said flow housing for mounting said flow housing with the well casing for supporting said flow housing in the well casing.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said flow housing further includes: means for releasing the connected production tubing above said flow housing to enable removal of the portion of the production tubing above the flow housing from the well while supporting said flow housing in the well casing.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir effects movement of the said bore closure means to the closed position when the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir exceeds the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir wherein the safety valve is operated closed.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir effects movement of said bore closure means to the open position when the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir exceeds the fluid pressure in the said lower reservoir by a predetermined pressure wherein the safety valve is operated open.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for effecting movement of said bore closure means includes: a. an operator member movably mounted with said flow housing having a first pressure responsive surface and a second pressure responsive surface and which is operably connected with said bore closure means for effecting movement thereof; b. said first pressure responsive surface communicating with said upper reservoir for urging movement of said operator in response to the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir to move said bore closure means to the open position; and c. said second pressure responsive surface communicating with said lower reservoir for urging movement of said operator in response to the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir to move said bore closure means to the closed position wherein differential fluid pressure in said first and said second reservoir operate the safety valve.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said bore closure means including a ball member having a flow port formed therethrough which is rotated to the open position enabling flow of fluid through said flow port and to the closed position where said ball member blocks flow of fluid through said bore of said housing; and said means for effecting movement of said bore closure means including pivot means for coacting with said operator member for imparting rotation to said ball member when there is relative movement between said pivot means aNd said ball wherein the safety valve is operated by rotation of the ball member.

Claim 12

The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said operator member moves said pivot means relative to said ball member for rotating said ball member to and from the open and closed positions wherein the safety valve is operated.

Claim 13

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including: means for releasably locking said bore closure means in the open position to thereafter block movement of said bore closure means to the closed position in response to fluid pressure changes in the upper and lower reservoir wherein the safety valve is rendered inoperative.

Claim 14

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said means for releasably locking said bore closure means is operated by a predetermined directional pressure in said bore of said flow housing wherein the directional pressure controls operation of the safety valve.

Claim 15

the apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for releasably locking said bore closure means includes: a. a locking sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said flow housing operably connected with said bore closure means for moving said bore closure means to the open position when the predetermined directional pressure urges on said locking sleeve; b. a detent disposed in said bore of said tubular member and movable with said locking sleeve; c. a recess formed in a surface of said flow housing into which said detent moves when said locking sleeve moves said bore closure means to the open position; and d. a locking piston disposed in said bore of said housing and movable in response to the predetermined directional pressure urging thereon to lock said detent in said recess wherein said detent blocks movement of said locking sleeve and said bore closure means from the open position.

Claim 16

A subsurface safety valve for connecting in a production tubing positioned in a well casting, including: a flow housing having a bore therethrough adapted for connection in the production tubing to form a portion thereof with said bore in communication with a flow passage of the production tubing for enabling flow of fluid through said bore; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said and a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means with said flow housing for effecting movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position in response to a fluid pressure change in an annular area between the production tubing and the well casing above the flow housing; means for releasably locking said bore closure means in the open position to thereafter block movement of said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the fluid pressure change in the annular area between the production tubing and the well casing, said means for releasably locking said bore closure means is operated by a predetermined directional pressure in said bore of said flow housing and includes; a locking sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said flow housing operably connected with said bore closure means for moving said bore closure means to the open position when the predetermined directional pressure urges on said locking sleeve; a detent disposed in said bore of said tubular member and movable with said locking sleeve; a recess formed in a surface of said flow housing into which said detent moves when said locking sleeve moves said bore closure means to the open position; and a locking piston disposed in said bore of said housing and movable in response to the predetermined directional pressure urging thereon to lock said detent in said recess wherein said detent blocks movement of said locking sleeve and said bore closure means from the open position.

Claim 17

A subsurface safety valve for connecting in a production tubing positioned in a well casting, including: a flow housing having a bore therethrough adapted for connection in the production tubing to form a portion thereof with said bore in communication with a flow passage of the production tubing for enabling flow of fluid through said bore; bore closure means disposed in said bore for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said and a closed position blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means with said flow housing for effecting movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position in response to a fluid pressure change in an annular area between the production tubing and the well casing above the flow housing; means for releasably locking said bore closure means in the open position to thereafter block movement of said bore closure means to the closed position in response to the fluid pressure change in the annular area between the production tubing and the well casing, said means for releasably locking said bore closure means is operated by a predetermined directional pressure in said bore of said flow housing and includes; a locking sleeve movably disposed in said bore of said flow housing operably connected with said bore closure means for moving said bore closure means to the open position when the predetermined directional pressure urges on said locking sleeve; a detent disposed in said bore of said tubular member and movable with said locking sleeve; a recess formed in a surface of said flow housing into which said detent moves when said locking sleeve moves said bore closure means to the open position; and a locking piston disposed in said bore of said housing and movable in response to the predetermined directional pressure urging thereon to lock said detent in said recess wherein said detent blocks movement of said locking sleeve and said bore closure means from the open position.

Claim 20

The method as set forth in claim 16, including the steps of: a. decreasing the pressure in the upper reservoir communicated to the safety valve for opening the safety valve; and b. closing the safety valve to block flow of fluid through the production tubing in response to the fluid pressure in the lower reservoir exceeding the fluid pressure in the upper reservoir wherein the safety valve is closed.

Claim 21

The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the steps of opening the safety valve include the steps of: moving an operator member of the safety valve in response to the urging of the increased fluid pressure in the upper reservoir; rotating the flow blocking member to an open position for enabling flow through the production tubing when the operator member moves in response to the urging of the increased fluid pressure in the upper reservoir;

Claim 22

The method as set forth in claim 18, including the steps of: moving the operator member of the safety valve in response to the urging of the fluid pressure in the lower reservior exceeding the urging of the fluid pressure in the upper reservior; and rotating the flow blocking member to a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through the production tubing when the operator member moves in response to the urging of the fluid pressure in the lower reservoir exceeding the urging of the fluid pressure in the upper reservoir, wherein the safety valve is closed.