Well tools

Claim 2

A well tool for controlling circulation with a tubing string in a well bore comprising: housing means adapted for connection in said tubing string and having port means for communicating the interior of said tubing string with the exterior thereof; tubular valve means longitudinally movable within said housing means between first and second positions for opening and closing said port means; and seal means for sealing between said housing means and said valve means defining first and second oppositely facing surfaces on said valve means, one of said surfaces being and defining a second area on said valve means responsive to pressure applied to said tool through said tubing string for closing said valve means.

Claim 3

A well tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seal means includes first and second spaced seals sealing between said housing means and said valve means at longitudinally spaced locations along said valve means defining said first and second pressure responsive surfaces on said valve means and said valve means includes a side port opening through said valve means between said first and second seal means for applying fluid pressure through said valve means to said second area of said valve means for moving said valve means to a closed position responsive to said fluid pressure.

Claim 4

A well tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve means is provided with a shoulder surface for engagement of an opening tool for mechanically opening said valve means.

Claim 5

A well tool in accordance with claim 3 including a third seal carried by a head end of said valve means and a seal surface defined in said housing means engaged by said third seal when said valve means is closed.

Claim 6

A well tool in accordance with claim 4 including a protective sleeve on said valve means for telescoping over said third seal to protect said seal against flow cutting as said valve means moves between closed and open positions.

Claim 7

A well tool in accordance with claim 5 including spring means between said valve means and said protective sleeve for biasing said sleeve toward said thrid seal.

Claim 8

A well tool in accordance with claim 6 in combination with an opening tool comprising a body having a shoulder engageable with said shoulder surface on said valve means for urging said valve means from a closed to an open position, a seal means on said body for sealing between said body and a bore surface of said housing above said valve means, said body having a bore for bypassing fluid through said body during movement of said opening tool through said tubing string, and a valve in said bore of said body movable to an open position when said opening tool is lowered through said tubing string to said well tool and to a closed position responsive to fluid pressure applied in said tubing string above said opening tool for moving said valve means of said well tool from a closed to an open position.

Claim 9

A well tool in accordance with claim 6 in combination with a closing tool adapted to be lowered through said tubing string into said valve means of said well tool, said closing tool having a body mandrel provided with a longitudinal bore and a side port, seal means on said body mandrel above and below said side port in said body mandrel for sealing with surfaces of said valve means above and below said side port in said valve means for directing fluid pressure from within said closing tool to an annular space within said well tool housing around said valve means of said well toll between said first and second seals to close said well tool responsive to said fluid pressure, and a check valve in said closing tool body mandrel below said side port in said mandrel to bypass fluid through said body mandrel during downward movement of said closing tool in said tubing string and to close said bore through said body mandrel responsive to pressure in said body mandrel above said check valve for applying said fluid pressure to said well tool for closing said valve means of said well tool.

Claim 10

A well tool in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing means is provided with internal recesses above and below said valve means for selective engagement of operating bosses of opening and closing tools to selectively open and close said well tool when a plurality of said tools are installed in tandem in a well.

Claim 11

A well tool in accordance with claim 9 wherein said valve means includes an internal operating recess for engagement by a closing tool to permit application of mechanical force to said valve means simultaneously with fluid force for closing said valve means.

Claim 12

A well tool in accordance with claim 10 in combination with an opening tool comprising a body mandrel having a bore therethrough, a check valve at the upper end of said body mandrel for permitting upward flow through said body mandrel while lowering said tool into a well and for closing said tool against downward flow when applying an opening fluid pressure to said tool in said well, a collet on said body mandrel having radially movable collet fingers provided with external bosses adapted to fit an internal recess in said well tool housing at the upper end of said valve means and said collet fingers having downwardly facing operating shoulders for engagement with said shoulder surface on said valve means to move said valve means downwardly to an open position, said collet fingers having downwardly extending retaining flanges, a collet finger latch assembly longitudinally movable on said body mandrel of said opening tool for engaging and restraining said collet fingers contracted inwardly during downward movement of said opening tool and for engaging a downwardly facing shoulder responsive to upward movement of said opening tool to activate said collet latch assembly for releasing said collet fingers for outward movement to positions for engaging said valve means upon downward movement of said opening tool, and said body mandrel of said opening tool having an external locking flange for engaging inside faces of said collet fingers to hold said collet fingers outwardly while moving said valve means downwardly.

Claim 13

A well tool in accordance with claim 10 in combination with a closing tool comprising a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an upper operating collet on said body mandrel adapted to engage said internal recess in said valve means of said well tool at one relative position of said collet on said body mandrel and to release from said valve means at a second relative position on said body mandrel, a housing sleeve movable on said body mandrel and having slots for bosses on said upper operating collet, spaced seals along said housing sleeve for sealing with said valve means of said well tool, said housing sleeve having a side port for communicating through said sleeve between said spaced seals to conduct fluid pressure from within said closing tool through said housing sleeve into said side port of said valve means for closing valve means responsive to said fluid pressure, a lower collet on said housing sleeve, said lower collet having external collet finger profiles matching corresponding operating recesses within the well tool housing means of one of said well tools within a well bore for selectively engaging said recesses when closing said valve means of said well tool, latch means holDing said lower collet contracted while said opening tool is lowered in a tubing string and releasing said collet responsive to upward movement of said opening tool in said tubing string, and a check valve in said housing sleeve below said body mandrel to permit fluids to bypass said closing tool while lowering said tool in said tubing string and adapted to close responsive to fluid pressure in said tool above said check valve for developing pressure in said closing tool sufficient to actuate said valve means of said well tool.

Claim 14

A well tool for use in a tubing string in a well bore to control communication between said tubing string and said bore around said tubing string comprising: a tubular housing adapted to be connected in said tubing string to form a longitudinal section of said string, said housing having a side port for communication with said well bore around said housing, said housing having a first enlarged bore portion extending above and below said side port defining a seal surface in said housing above said side port; said housing having a second further enlarged bore portion concentric with the shorter than said first enlarged bore portion extending from above said side port to below said side port to accommodate a protective sleeve; said tubular housing having a third bore portion smaller than said first bore portion below said first bore portion; an internal snap ring in a recess provided along said third bore portion of said tubular housing; a lower ring seal disposed in a recess along said third bore portion of said housing below said snap ring; a tubular valve slidably disposed within said tubular housing for longitudinal movement between a first upper closed position at which said valve engages said seal surface of said housing above said side port and a second lower open position at which said side port of said housing is uncovered by said valve, a lower end portion of said valve extending through said lower seal, said valve having a head portion provided with external seals for sealing with said seal surface of said first bore portion of said tubular housing above said side port, said valve having an external flange spaced from said head portion, said flange being provided with an external annular recess, an upper ring seal in said external annular recess of said flange on said valve member for sealing with the surface of said first bore portion of said tubular housing below said second bore portion of said housing, said upper ring seal sealing along a circle with said housing greater in diameter than the circle line of sealing of said lower ring seal with said valve defining a downwardly facing area on said valve; said valve having a side port below said external flange on said valve for applying a fluid pressure between said upper and lower ring seals to said downwardly facing area for closing said valve by fluid pressure; a protective sleeve slidably disposed on said valve; said sleeve having an internal lower end flange; said sleeve being adapted to engage a stop shoulder in said tubular housing above said side port to protect said seals on said valve head portion from flow cutting while said valve is being moved between open and closed positions; a spring around said valve between said external flange on said valve and said flange of said protective sleeve for biasing said protective sleeve over said seals of said head portion of said valve as said head portion is telescoped into said protective sleeve; said sleeve being retracted with said head portion of said valve when said valve is moved downwardly to said second open position to open said side port of said housing; and said valve having longitudinally spaced external annular locking recesses to receive said split ring in said tubular housing for releasably locking said valve at each of said closed and said open positions.

Claim 15

A well tool for use in a tubing string in a well bore to control communication between said tubing string and said bore around said tubing string comprising: a tubular housing adapted to be connected in said tubing string to form a longitudinal section of said string, said housing having a side port for communication with said well bore around said housing, said housing having a first enlarged bore portion extending above and below said side port defining a seal surface in said housing above said side port; said housing having a second further enlarged bore portion concentric with the shorter than said first enlarged bore portion extending from above said side port to below said side port to accommodate a protective sleeve; said tubular housing having a third bore portion smaller than said first bore portion below said first bore portion; an internal snap ring in a recess provided along said third bore portion of said tubular housing; a lower ring seal disposed in a recess along said third bore portion of said housing below said snap ring; a tubular valve slidably disposed within said tubular housing for longitudinal movement between a first upper closed position at which said valve engages said seal surface of said housing above said side port and a second lower open position at which said side port of said housing is uncovered by said valve, a lower end portion of said valve extending through said lower seal, said valve having a head portion provided with external seals for sealing with said seal surface of said first bore portion of said tubular housing above said side port, said valve having an external flange spaced from said head portion, said flange being provided with an external annular recess, an upper ring seal in said external annular recess of said flange on said valve member for sealing with the surface of said first bore portion of said tubular housing below said second bore portion of said housing, said upper ring seal sealing along a circle with said housing greater in diameter than the circle line of sealing of said lower ring seal with said valve defining a downwardly facing area on said valve; said valve having a side port below said external flange on said valve for applying a fluid pressure between said upper and lower ring seals to said downwardly facing area for closing said valve by fluid pressure; a protective sleeve slidably disposed on said valve; said sleeve having an internal lower end flange; said sleeve being adapted to engage a stop shoulder in said tubular housing above said side port to protect said seals on said valve head portion from flow cutting while said valve is being moved between open and closed positions; a spring around said valve between said external flange on said valve and said flange of said protective sleeve for biasing said protective sleeve over said seals of said head portion of said valve as said head portion is telescoped into said protective sleeve; said sleeve being retracted with said head portion of said valve when said valve is moved downwardly to said second open position to open said side port of said housing; and said valve having longitudinally spaced external annular locking recesses to receive said split ring in said tubular housing for releasably locking said valve at each of said closed and said open positions.

Claim 16

A well tool in accordance with claim 13 in combination with an opening tool comprising a tubular body having a shoulder surface engageable with a head portion oF said tubular valve of said well tool for moving said tubular valve downwardly to an open position; external ring seal means carried by said tubular body for sealing with the bore of said housing above said first enlarged bore portion of said housing, a valve seat member connected with the upper end of said tubular well tool housing; a cage member connected with said tubular housing around said valve seat member and extending upwardly therefrom, said cage member having side port means for fluid bypass into said tubular housing; a valve member on a stem movably disposed in said cage member for engagement with said valve seat member responsive to a downward force on said valve member to permit application of a fluid pressure to said opening tool and said well toll valve from above said housing, said valve of said opening tool being movable upwardly to permit fluid bypass from below said tool through said tubular housing and valve seat member outwardly through said side port means of said cage member, and a fishing head connected with said stem for handling said opening tool in a tubing string.

Claim 17

A well tool in accordance with claim 13 in combination with a closing tool comprising a tubular mandrel having an enlarged head portion provided with external seals for sealing with a bore surface of said well tool housing above said valve member; longitudinally spaced external seals on said mandrel for sealing with the bore of said tubular valve of said well tool above and below said side port in said valve, said tubular mandrel having a side port between said spaced external seals for communicating fluid pressure from the bore of said tubular mandrel into an annular spaced defined around said tubular mandrel within said well tool valve between said external spaced seals on said tubular mandrel; port means in said closing tool tubular mandrel below the lower of said external seals on said tubular mandrel; and a releasable check valve secured in said tubular mandrel above said port means in the lower end thereof for permitting fluid bypass upwardly through said closing tool during downward movement of said tool in a tubing string while preventing downward flow through said closing tool to permit application of fluid pressure above said tool through said side port in said tubular mandrel between said external ring seals on said mandrel to communicate a fluid pressure into said well tool when said closing tool is in operative position in said well tool for pumping the tubular valve of said well tool closed.

Claim 18

A well tool in accordance with claim 13 including an internal operating recess in the head portion of said valve member of said tool for engagement by an operating member of a closing tool for application of a mechanical force to assist in closing said tubular valve on said well tool in combination with a fluid pressure induced force for pumping said tubular valve closed, said tubular housing of said well tool having an operating recess defined by an enlarged bore portion in the upper end of said housing above said first enlarged bore portion and above said tubular valve when said valve is at an upper closed position for receiving collet members on a selctive opening tool for engaging the head portion of said tubular valve when opening said well tool with said opening tool, and said well tool housing having internal annular operating recesses along a lower end portion thereof below said valve member of said well tool for receiving collet fingers having external bosses of a defined configuration to permit selective operation of any one of said well tools when a plurality of said tools are included in a tubing string.

Claim 19

A well tool in accordance with claim 16 in combination with an opening tool comprising a tubular body mandrel, a valve seat at the upper end of said body mandrel, a cage member secured with said body mandrel around said valve seat, said cage member being provided with bypass port means above said valve seat, a valve member confined in said cage member for moveMent between open and closed positions relative to said valve seat to shut off flow downwardly through said valve seat responsive to a downward force on said valve member above said tool and to permit upward flow through said valve seat and outwardly through said side port means in said cage member responsive to downward movement of said opening tool in a well bore; a fishing head secured with said valve member for handling said opening tool in a well bore; an operating collet releasably secured on said tubular mandrel for engagement with the head portion of the tubular valve of said well tool for forcing said valve downwardly to an open position when said collet is in a normal expanded relationship, said collet having external bosses receivable in said operating recess of said well tool housing above said valve member; said tubular mandrel having an external annular flange engageable with inner faces of said operating collet for locking said collet in an expanded relationship in said tubular valve head portion when a downward force is applied to said fishing head of said opening tool, and a collet latch assembly on said tubular mandrel below said operating collet, said latch assembly being releasably engageable with said operating collet for holding said collet contracted during downward movement of said opening tool in a tubing string and said latch assembly being engageable with a downwardly facing shoulder surface for moving said assembly downwardly responsive to upward movement of said opening tool in a well bore to move said latch assembly to a collet release position at a desired depth within said well bore for permitting said operating collet to expand preparatory to engaging said collet with said tubular valve of said well tool in opening said valve.

Claim 20

A well tool in accordance with claim 16 in combination with a valve closing tool comprising a tubular body mandrel having a fishing head for handling said closing tool in a well bore; an upper operating collet movably supported on said tubular mandrel for engagement with said internal operating recess in said head portion of said tubular valve to apply an upward mechanical force to said tubular valve responsive to lifting said body mandrel within said well tool bore; said body mandrel having an external flange adapted to be positioned behind within said operating collet to hold said collet in an expanded engaging relationship with said head portion of said tubular valve; a slidable housing sleeve on said mandrel, said housing sleeve extending below the lower end of said body mandrel and having a head portion slidable on said body mandrel above said upper operating collet, said head portion having external seals for sealing within said well tool housing above said tubular valve and having internal seals for sealing around said body mandrel, said housing sleeve having longitudinal slots to permit said upper operating collet on said body mandrel to extend through said housing sleeve to engage said head portion of said well tool tubular valve; longitudinally spaced external seals on said housing sleeve for engagement with the bore surface of said tubular valve above and below said side port of said valve; said housing sleeve having side ports between said spaced external seals for communicating fluid pressure from the bore of said body mandrel to said side port in said tubular valve of said well tool to permit fluid pressure to be applied to said tubular valve for pumping said valve upwardly to a closed position; a bypass check valve in said housing sleeve below said tubular body mandrel to close said closing tool against downward fluid flow to permit application of fluid pressure to said side port in said housing sleeve, said check valve being adapted to open responsive to upward fluid flow in said closing tool to allow said closing tool to be lowered in a tubing string in a well bore, said check valve being releasably engaged to permit said check valve to be displaced downwardly when said tool is to be removed from a well bore to allow downward bypass of fluids through said well tool; said housing sleeve having bypass port means below said check valve when said check valve is releasably locked in an upper operating position; and a lower operating collet on said housing sleeve engageable with said selective operating recesses within said well tool housing at the lower end of said housing for selectively locking said closing tool against downward movement in said well tool housing, said lower collet having latch means for releasably holding said collet contracted during downward movement of said closing tool in a tubing string and being adapted to release said collet for expansion responsive to upward movement of said closing tool in a tubing string.

Claim 21

An opening tool for opening a sliding sleeve valve used in a well bore comprising: a body having a shoulder engageable with a shoulder surface on valve means of said sliding sleeve valve for urging said valve means from a closed to an open position; seal means on said body for sealing between said body and a bore surface of the housing of said sleeve valve; said body having a bore for bypassing fluid through said body during movement of said opening tool through a tubing string; and a valve in said bore of said body movable to an open position when said opening tool is lowered through said tubing string to said sleeve valve and movable to a closed position responsive to fluid pressure applied in said tubing string above said opening tool for moving said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve from a closed to an open position.

Claim 22

An opening tool for opening a sliding sleeve valve used in a well bore comprising: a body having a shoulder engageable with a shoulder surface on valve means of said sliding sleeve valve for urging said valve means from a closed to an open position; seal means on said body for sealing between said body and a bore surface of the housing of said sleeve valve; said body having a bore for bypassing fluid through said body during movement of said opening tool through a tubing string; and a valve in said bore of said body movable to an open position when said opening tool is lowered through said tubing string to said sleeve valve and movable to a closed position responsive to fluid pressure applied in said tubing string above said opening tool for moving said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve from a closed to an open position.

Claim 23

A closing tool for moving a valve means of a sliding sleeve valve for use in a well bore from an open position to a closed position, said closing tool comprising: a body mandrel provided with a longitudinal bore and a side port; seal means on said body mandrel above and below said side port for sealing with internal bore surfaces of said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve above and below a side port in said valve means for directing fluid pressure from within said closing tool to annular space within the housing of said sliding sleeve valve around said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve between upper and lower seals in said sliding sleeve valve to pump said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve to a closed position responsive to fluid pressure directed to said closing tool; and a check valve in said body mandrel below said side port in said mandrel to bypass fluids through said body mandrel during downward movement of the closing tool in said well bore and to close said bore of said body mandrel responsive to pressure in said body mandrel above said check valve for applying said fluid pressure to said sliding sleeve valve for closing said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve.

Claim 24

A closing tool for moving a valve means of a sliding sleeve valve for use in a well bore from an open position to a closed position, said closing tool comprising: a body mandrel provided with a longitudinal bore and a side port; seal means on said body mandrel above and below said side port for sealing with internal bore surfaces of said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve above and below a side port in said valve means for directing fluid pressure from within said closing tool to annular space within the housing of said sliding sleeve valve around said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve between upper and lower seals in said sliding sleeve valve to pump said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve to a closed position responsive to fluid pressure directed to said closing tool; and a check valve in said body mandrel below said side port in said mandrel to bypass fluids through said body mandrel during downward movement of the closing tool in said well bore and to close said bore of said body mandrel responsive to pressure in said body mandrel above said check valve for applying said fluid pressure to said sliding sleeve valve for closing said valve means of said sliding sleeve valve.

Claim 25

An opening tool for moving a valve member of a sliding sleeve valve for use in a well bore from a closed position to an open position comprising: a body mandrel having a bore therethrough; a check valve at the upper end of said body mandrel for permitting upward flow through said body mandrel while lowering said opening tool into a well bore and for closing said tool against downward flow when applying an opening fluid pressure to said tool in said well bore; a collet on said body mandrel having radially movable collet fingers provided with external bosses adapted to fit an internal recess in a housing of said sliding sleeve valve at the upper end of the valve element of said sliding sleeve valve, said collet fingers having downwardly facing operating shoulders for engagement with a shoulder surface of said valve element to move said valve element downwardly to an open position, said collet fingers having downwardly extending retaining flanges; a collet finger latch assembly longitudinally movable on said body mandrel of said opening tool for engaging and restraining said collet fingers at radially contracted positions during downward movement of said opening tool and for engaging a downwardly facing shoulder witHin said well bore responsive to upward movement of said opening tool in said well bore to activate said collet latch assembly releasing said collet fingers for outward movement to positions for engaging said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve upon downward movement of said opening tool; and said body mandrel of said opening tool having an external locking flange for engaging inside faces of said collet fingers to hold said collet fingers outwardly while moving said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve downwardly.

Claim 26

An opening tool for moving a valve member of a sliding sleeve valve for use in a well bore from a closed position to an open position comprising: a body mandrel having a bore therethrough; a check valve at the upper end of said body mandrel for permitting upward flow through said body mandrel while lowering said opening tool into a well bore and for closing said tool against downward flow when applying an opening fluid pressure to said tool in said well bore; a collet on said body mandrel having radially movable collet fingers provided with external bosses adapted to fit an internal recess in a housing of said sliding sleeve valve at the upper end of the valve element of said sliding sleeve valve, said collet fingers having downwardly facing operating shoulders for engagement with a shoulder surface of said valve element to move said valve element downwardly to an open position, said collet fingers having downwardly extending retaining flanges; a collet finger latch assembly longitudinally movable on said body mandrel of said opening tool for engaging and restraining said collet fingers at radially contracted positions during downward movement of said opening tool and for engaging a downwardly facing shoulder witHin said well bore responsive to upward movement of said opening tool in said well bore to activate said collet latch assembly releasing said collet fingers for outward movement to positions for engaging said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve upon downward movement of said opening tool; and said body mandrel of said opening tool having an external locking flange for engaging inside faces of said collet fingers to hold said collet fingers outwardly while moving said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve downwardly.

Claim 27

A closing tool for closing a valve member of a sliding sleeve valve for use in a well bore comprising: a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough; an upper operating collet on said body mandrel adapted to engage an internal operating recess in a valve member of said sliding sleeve valve at one relative position of said collet on said body mandrel and to release from said valve member at a second relative position of said collet on said body mandrel; a housing sleeve movable on said body mandrel having slots for projection of operating bosses on said upper operating collet outwardly of the outer face of said housing; spaced seals along said housing sleeve for sealing with said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve; said housing sleeve being provided with a side port for communicating through said sleeve between said spaced seals to conduct control fluid pressure from within said closing tool through said housing sleeve into a side port of said valve member of the sliding sleeve valve for closing said valve member responsive to said control fluid pressure; a lower operating collet on said housing sleeve, said lower collet having external collet finger profiles matching corresponding operating recesses within the housing of said sliding sleeve valve for selectively engaging said operating recesses for closing the valve member of said sliding sleeve valve; latch means holding said lower operating collet contracted while said opening tool is lowered in a tubing string and for releasing said lower operating collet responsive to upward movement of said opening tool in said tool string; and a check valve in said housing sleeve below said body mandrel to permit control fluids to bypass the closing tool while lowering said tool in said tubing string and adapted to close responsive to control fluid pressure in said tool above said check valve for developing sufficient pressure in said closing tool to actuate said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve.

Claim 28

A closing tool for closing a valve member of a sliding sleeve valve for use in a well bore comprising: a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough; an upper operating collet on said body mandrel adapted to engage an internal operating recess in a valve member of said sliding sleeve valve at one relative position of said collet on said body mandrel and to release from said valve member at a second relative position of said collet on said body mandrel; a housing sleeve movable on said body mandrel having slots for projection of operating bosses on said upper operating collet outwardly of the outer face of said housing; spaced seals along said housing sleeve for sealing with said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve; said housing sleeve being provided with a side port for communicating through said sleeve between said spaced seals to conduct control fluid pressure from within said closing tool through said housing sleeve into a side port of said valve member of the sliding sleeve valve for closing said valve member responsive to said control fluid pressure; a lower operating collet on said housing sleeve, said lower collet having external collet finger profiles matching corresponding operating recesses within the housing of said sliding sleeve valve for selectively engaging said operating recesses for closing the valve member of said sliding sleeve valve; latch means holding said lower operating collet contracted while said opening tool is lowered in a tubing string and for releasing said lower operating collet responsive to upward movement of said opening tool in said tool string; and a check valve in said housing sleeve below said body mandrel to permit control fluids to bypass the closing tool while lowering said tool in said tubing string and adapted to close responsive to control fluid pressure in said tool above said check valve for developing sufficient pressure in said closing tool to actuate said valve member of said sliding sleeve valve.