Remotely controllable subterranean oil well valve

Claim 2

A well pipe flow control apparatus adapted for placement below ground comprising in combination: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter slightly larger than the well pipe; b. a chamber extending from said casing transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing; c. blade means contained in said chamber and movable in a radial direction responsive to fluid pressure for shearing the well pipe positioned in said casing; d. external sealing means contained along a portion of said casing and disposed below said blade means, said external sealing means being responsive to and communicating with a pressurized fluid so that the pressurized fluid forces said external sealing means against the well pipe periphery to prevent the seepage of ground fluid therealong; and e. pipe holding means carried within the bottom portion of said casing so as to be disposed below said external sealing means, said pipe holding means being capable of locking the portion of the well pipe within said casing.

Claim 3

A well pipe flow control apparatus adapted for placement below ground comprising in combination: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter slightly larger than the well pipe; b. a chamber extending from said casing transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing; c. blade means contained in said chamber and movable in a radial direction responsive to fluid pressure for shearing the well pipe positioned in said casing; d. external sealing means contained along a portion of said casing and disposed below said blade means, said external sealing means being responsive to and communicating with a pressurized fluid so that the pressurized fluid forces said external sealing means against the well pipe periphery to prevent the seepage of ground fluid therealong; and e. pipe holding means carried within the bottom portion of said casing so as to be disposed below said external sealing means, said pipe holding means being capable of locking the portion of the well pipe within said casing.

Claim 4

A well pipe flow control apparatus adapted for placement below ground comprising in combination: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter slightly larger than the well pipe; b. a chamber extending from said casing transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing; c. blade means contained in said chamber and movable in a radial direction responsive to fluid pressure for shearing the well pipe positioned in said casing; d. external sealing means contained along a portion of said casing and disposed below said blade means, said external sealing means being responsive to and communicating with a pressurized fluid so that the pressurized fluid forces said external sealing means against the well pipe periphery to prevent the seepage of ground fluid therealong; and e. pipe holding means carried within the bottom portion of said casing so as to be disposed below said external sealing means, said pipe holding means being capable of locking the portion of the well pipe within said casing.

Claim 5

The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said blade means comprises: a. a housing defined by said casing; b. a piston disposed within one portion of said housing; c. a cutting tool slidable in said housing whereby on one end engages one face of said piston, the other end of said cutting tool containing a cutting edge, the cutting edge being disposed so as to be facing the well pipe; d. fluid pressure means coupled to a portion of said housing containing said piston; and e. sealing means disposed adjacent the well pipe and engaging a portion of said cutting tool so that when said fluid pressure means acts against said piston to cause said cutting tool to shear the well pipe, said sealing means will isolate and commpartmentalize the sheared well pipe from the unsheared section.

Claim 6

A flow control apparatus for a well pipe adapted for below ground placement comprising: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter suited for receiving a well pipe therein; b. a chamber contiguous with said casing; c. blade means arranged in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; d. means for moving said blade means whereby said blade means shears the well pipe without causing the crushing thereof; e. first sealing means cooperating with said blade means and said casing to define a valve for controlling the flow of fluid past said blade mEans; and f. external sealing means being contained along a portion of said casing and being disposed below said blade means, said external sealing means being responsive to and communicating with a pressurized fluid so that the pressurized fluid forces said external sealing means against the well pipe periphery to prevent seepage of ground fluid therealong.

Claim 7

A flow control apparatus for a well pipe adapted for below ground placement comprising: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter suited for receiving a well pipe therein; b. a chamber contiguous with said casing; c. blade means arranged in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; d. means for moving said blade means whereby said blade means shears the well pipe without causing the crushing thereof; e. first sealing means cooperating with said blade means and said casing to define a valve for controlling the flow of fluid past said blade mEans; and f. external sealing means being contained along a portion of said casing and being disposed below said blade means, said external sealing means being responsive to and communicating with a pressurized fluid so that the pressurized fluid forces said external sealing means against the well pipe periphery to prevent seepage of ground fluid therealong.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 further including: pipe holding means carried within the bottom portion of said casing so as to be disposed below said external sealing means, said pipe holding means being capable of locking the portion of the well pipe within said casing.

Claim 9

A flow control apparatus for a well pipe adapted for below ground level placement comprising: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter suited for receiving a well pipe therein; b. a chamber contiguous with said casing; c. blade means arranged in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; d. means for moving said blade means whereby said blade means shears the well pipe without causing the crushing thereof; and e. sealing means cooperating with said blade means and said casing to define a valve for controlling the flow of fluid past said blade means; and f. external sealing means further comprising a first collar disposed so as to be concentric about the well pipe, elastic sealing means positioned within said first collar and having an interior face juxtaposed against the well pipe periphery, a second, expansion collar interposed between the inside surface of said first collar and the exterior face of said elastic sealing means and hydraulic pressure means communicating with said first collar so that when hydraulic pressure is applied within said first collar said elastic sealing means will be forced against the well pipe periphery to thereby block the seepage of ground fluid.

Claim 10

A flow control apparatus for a well pipe adapted for below ground level placement comprising: a. a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse inside diameter suited for receiving a well pipe therein; b. a chamber contiguous with said casing; c. blade means arranged in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; d. means for moving said blade means whereby said blade means shears the well pipe without causing the crushing thereof; and e. sealing means cooperating with said blade means and said casing to define a valve for controlling the flow of fluid past said blade means; and f. external sealing means further comprising a first collar disposed so as to be concentric about the well pipe, elastic sealing means positioned within said first collar and having an interior face juxtaposed against the well pipe periphery, a second, expansion collar interposed between the inside surface of said first collar and the exterior face of said elastic sealing means and hydraulic pressure means communicating with said first collar so that when hydraulic pressure is applied within said first collar said elastic sealing means will be forced against the well pipe periphery to thereby block the seepage of ground fluid.