Subsurface safety valve well tool operable by differential annular pressure

Claim 2

A subsurface safety valve well tool apparatus adapted for connecting in a production tubing to control flow of well fluids through the bore of the production tubing at a subsurface location in a well, including: a flow housing having a bore formed therethrough and comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said housing 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 mounted with said housing and disposed in said bore for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means mounted with said flow housing for effecting movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position, said means for effecting movement responsive to a controlled application of fluid pressure communicated to said flow housing independently of the fluid flow controlled by said bore closure means; and means with said flow housing for releasably securing said first portion of said flow housing with said second portion of said flow housing to enable removal of said bore closure means with one of said portions of said flow housing from the well wherein the well tool apparatus is operated.

Claim 3

A subsurface safety valve well tool apparatus adapted for connecting in a production tubing to control flow of well fluids through the bore of the production tubing at a subsurface location in a well, including: a flow housing having a bore formed therethrough and comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said housing 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 mounted with said housing and disposed in said bore for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means mounted with said flow housing for effecting movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position, said means for effecting movement responsive to a controlled application of fluid pressure communicated to said flow housing independently of the fluid flow controlled by said bore closure means; and means with said flow housing for releasably securing said first portion of said flow housing with said second portion of said flow housing to enable removal of said bore closure means with one of said portions of said flow housing from the well wherein the well tool apparatus is operated.

Claim 4

A subsurface safety valve well tool apparatus adapted for connecting in a production tubing to control flow of well fluids through the bore of the production tubing at a subsurface location in a well, including: a flow housing having a bore formed therethrough and comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said housing 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 mounted with said housing and disposed in said bore for movement to and from an open position for enabling flow of fluid through said bore and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means mounted with said flow housing for effecting movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed position, said means for effecting movement responsive to a controlled application of fluid pressure communicated to said flow housing independently of the fluid flow controlled by said bore closure means; and means with said flow housing for releasably securing said first portion of said flow housing with said second portion of said flow housing to enable removal of said bore closure means with one of said portions of said flow housing from the well wherein the well tool apparatus is operated.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flow housing includes: means for mounting said flow housing with the well casing at a subsurface location for supporting said flow housing in the well casing.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably securing said first housing portion with said second housing portion includes: a latch dog mounted with said flow housing and movable to and from a locking position for securing said first housing portion with said second housing portion and a free position for releasing said first housing and portion from said second housing portion of said flow housing; a locking piston mounted with said flow housing and movable in response to the urging of well fluid pressures to and from a first position for enabling said latch dogs to move to the free position and a second position for moving said latch dogs to the locking position wherein well fluid pressures effect operation of the well tool.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said latch dog moves radially outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of said flow housing in moving from the free position to the locking position wherein said first housing portion is secured with said second housing portion.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said latch dog moves longitudinally relative to said locking piston in moving from the free position to the locking position wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion are secured.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein: said latch dog moves into engagement with a downwardly facing shoulder of the well casing when moving to the locking position wherein said first housing portion is secured with said second housing portion.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for releasably securing said first and said second portion of said flow housing includes: a plurality of latch dogs mounted about the circumference of said flow housing and movable simultaneously to and from the locking position and the free position in response to the movement of said locking piston wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion are releasably secured.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including: means with said flow housing for effecting an annular fluid seal between said flow housing and a well casing to divide the annular area between the production tubing and the well casing into a lower reservoir below said fluid seal and an upper reservoir above said fluid seal; and a closure member mounted with said housing for enabling communication from said lower reservoir to said upper reservoir in a first position and movable to a second position in response to the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir to block communications between said lower reservoir and said upper reservoir wherein the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir is determinable.

Claim 12

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, including: means with said first housing portion for mounting said first housing portion with the well casing at a subsurface location for supporting said first housing portion in the well casing; and said bore closure means mounted with said second portion of said flow housing to enable removal of said bore closure means from the well when said second housing portion is released from said first housing portion.

Claim 13

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 and from the open position enabling flow of fluid through said flow port and to and from the closed position where said ball member blocks flow of fluid through said bore of said flow housing; and said means for effecting movement of said bore closure means including a pivot member operably connected with said ball member for imparting rotation to said ball member when there is relative movement between said pivot member and said ball member wherein the well tool is operated to control flow of well fluids.

Claim 14

The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, including: means with said flow housing for effecting an annular fluid seal between said flow housing and the well casing to divide an annular area between the production tubing and the well casing into a lower reservoir below said fluid seal and an upper reservoir above said fluid seal with the fluid pressure differential between said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir effecting operating rotation of said ball member wherein fluid pressure in the annular area controls flow through the well tool.

Claim 15

The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means for effecting movement of said ball member further includes: an operator movably mounted with said second portion of said flow housing and having a first pressure responsive surface and a second pressure responsive surface and which operably co-acts with said pivot member for effecting rotation of said ball member to and from the open and closed positions; said first pressure responsive surface communicating with said upper reservoir for urging movement of said operator to rotate said ball member to the open position in response to the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir; and said second pressure responsive surface communicating with said lower reservoir for urging movement of said operator to rotate said ball member to the closed position in response to the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir wherein the pressure in said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir controls flow of fluid through the well tool.

Claim 16

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said operator member having a flow passageway formed therethrough for communicating said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir; a closure member mounted with said operator for enabling flow through said flow passageway from said lower reservoir to said upper reservoir when said ball is rotated open and which moves to block flow through said flow passageway from said upper reservoir to said lower reservoir; and means with said flow housing for releasably locking said ball in the open position for blocking movement of said ball to the closed position in response to the pressure in the annular area between the production tubing and the well casing wherein said ball is locked open for determining the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir.

Claim 17

A well tool for connecting in a production tubing including: a flow housing having a bore formed therethrough and comprising a first housing protion and a second housing portion, said housing 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 a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means with said flow housing for releasably securing said first portion of said flow housing with said second portion of said flow housing in response to the urging of well fluid pressures to enable removal of said bore closure means with a portion of said flow housing from the well, including; a latch god mounted with said flow housing and movable to and from a locking position for securing said first housing portion with said second housing portion and to and from a free position for releasing said first housing portion from said second housing portion of said flow housing; a locking piston mounted with said flow housing and movable in response to the urging of well fluid pressures to and from a first position for enabling said latch dogs to move to the free position and to and from a second position for moving said latch dogs to the locking position; means for mounting said first housing portion of said flow housing with the well casing at a subsurface location for supporting the well tool in the well casing; said bore closure means disposed in said bore of said second portion of said flow housing to enable removal of said bore closure means from the well when said second housing portion is released from said first housing portion; said bore closure means including a ball member having a flow port formed therethrough which is rotated to and from the open position enabling flow of fluid through said flow port and to and from the closed position where said ball member blocks flow of fluid through said bore of said flow housing; and means for effecting movement of said bore closure means including a pivot member operably connected with said ball member for imparting rotation to said ball member when there is relative movement between said pivot member and said ball member wherein the well tool is operated to control flow of well fluids.

Claim 18

A well tool for connecting in a production tubing including: a flow housing having a bore formed therethrough and comprising a first housing protion and a second housing portion, said housing 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 a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through said bore; means with said flow housing for releasably securing said first portion of said flow housing with said second portion of said flow housing in response to the urging of well fluid pressures to enable removal of said bore closure means with a portion of said flow housing from the well, including; a latch god mounted with said flow housing and movable to and from a locking position for securing said first housing portion with said second housing portion and to and from a free position for releasing said first housing portion from said second housing portion of said flow housing; a locking piston mounted with said flow housing and movable in response to the urging of well fluid pressures to and from a first position for enabling said latch dogs to move to the free position and to and from a second position for moving said latch dogs to the locking position; means for mounting said first housing portion of said flow housing with the well casing at a subsurface location for supporting the well tool in the well casing; said bore closure means disposed in said bore of said second portion of said flow housing to enable removal of said bore closure means from the well when said second housing portion is released from said first housing portion; said bore closure means including a ball member having a flow port formed therethrough which is rotated to and from the open position enabling flow of fluid through said flow port and to and from the closed position where said ball member blocks flow of fluid through said bore of said flow housing; and means for effecting movement of said bore closure means including a pivot member operably connected with said ball member for imparting rotation to said ball member when there is relative movement between said pivot member and said ball member wherein the well tool is operated to control flow of well fluids.

Claim 19

The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, including: means with said flow housing for effecting an annular fluid seal between said flow housing and the well casing to divide an annular area between the production tubing and the well casing into a lower reservoir below said fluid seal and an upper reservoir above said fluid seal with the fluid pressure differential between said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir effecting operating rotation of said ball member wherein fluid pressure in the annular area controls flow through the well tool.

Claim 20

The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said means for effecting movement of said ball member further includes: an operator movably mounted with said second portion of said flow housing and having a first pressure responsive surface and a second pressure responsive surface and which operably co-acts with said pivot member for effecting rotation of said ball member to and from the open and closed positions; said first pressure responsive surface communicating with said upper reservoir for urging movement of said operator to rotate said ball member to the open position in response to the fluid pressure in said upper reservoir; and said second pressure responsive surface communicating with said lower reservoir for urging movement of said operator to rotate said ball member to the closed position in response to the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir wherein the pressure in said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir controls flow of fluid through the well tool.

Claim 21

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said operator member having a flow passageway formed therethrough for communicating said upper reservoir and said lower reservoir; a closure member mounted with said operator for enabling flow through said flow passageway from said lower reservoir to said upper reservoir when said ball is rotated open and which moves to block flow through said flow passageway from said upper reservoir to said lower reservoir; and means with said flow housing for releasably locking said ball in the open position for blocking movement of said ball to the closed position in response to the pressure in the annular area between the production tubing and the well casing wherein said ball is locked open for determining the fluid pressure in said lower reservoir.