Subsurface well apparatus having improved operator means and method for using same

Claim 2

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to the desired subsurface location for securing and having means for releasably securing with the well tubing at said desired subsurface location; bore closure means mounted with the frame means for movement to and from open and closed positions for controlling flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; and operator means carried with said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions, said operator means having tubular operator assembly movable longitudinally of said frame means for effecting desired operating movement of said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions, said operator assembly having means actuated by initial operation of said bore closure means for eliminating lost motion operating slack in said operator assembly by changing the length of longitudinal travel of said operator assembly to achieve positive operation of said bore closure means by said operator means in response to longitudinal movement of said tubular operator assembly wherein positive operation of said bore closure means is assured.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said bore closure means is longitudinally movable relative to said frame means when changing the length of travel of said operator assembly.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said means for releasably securing said frame means with the well tubing includes a plurality of latching dogs movable radially on said frame means between an outwardly latched position and an inwardly unlatched position.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said frame means includes a connector means mounting the bore closure means for maintaining said bore closure means in engagement with the frame means after changing the length of travel of said operator assembly.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said frame means includes a seat means engageable with said bore closure means after said operator assembly changes the length of travel to effect a fluid flow blocking seal therebetween for controlling flow through the well bore.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said well tubing includes a fluid responsive means to control movement of said operator means; and said fluid responsive means includes a movable landing member at the desired subsurface location for engaging with said operator means when the landing member is moved to the landing position for positioning the safety valve apparatus at the desired subsurface location for releasably securing with the well tubing.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said operator means is maintained from engagement with said landing member when the length of travel of said operator assembly is changed.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said well tubing includes a fluid responsive means to control movement of said operator means; said fluid responsive means includes a control member movably mounted with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; and said operator means having means for releasably securing with said control member for effecting movement of said operator means by said fluid responsive means to thereafter move said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said operator means in changing the length of travel the location of the releasably securing frame means and the location of the releasable securing of the operator means to make said operator means positively responsive to movement of said control member.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the bore closure means is rotatably mounted with the frame means for rotational movement between the open and closed positions.

Claim 12

The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: the bore closure means includes a ball member having a flow passage formed therethrough for enabling flow of fluid when said ball member is rotated to the open position.

Claim 13

The apparatus as st forth in claim 11, wherein: said ball member having a diameter substantially the same as the bore of the well tubing.

Claim 14

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including: said frame means having a tubular assembly forming a passageway of relative large diameter for the flow of well fluids through said frame means; and said flow passage formed through said ball member having a diameter substantially the same as said passageway of said frame means to form a relatively large flow opening through the safety valve apparatus.

Claim 15

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: frame means for movement through the bore of the well tubing to and from a desired subsurface location and having means for releasably securing the valve apparatus at the desired location with the well tubing; bore closure means mounted with said frame means for movement to open and closed positions for controlling flow through the bore of the well tubing and for initial limited longitudinal movement relative to said frame means; said frame means forming a seat means initially physically spaced from said bore closure means for sealing engagement with said bore closure means after the initial limited longitudinal movement of said bore closure means relative to said frame means; and operator means mounted with the bore closure means for effecting the initial limited longitudinal movement of said bore closure means into sealing engagement with said seat means and for moving the bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions when said operator means thereafter moves relative to said frame means.

Claim 16

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: frame means for movement through the bore of the well tubing to and from a desired subsurface location and having means for releasably securing the valve apparatus at the desired location with the well tubing; bore closure means mounted with said frame means for movement to open and closed positions for controlling flow through the bore of the well tubing and for initial limited longitudinal movement relative to said frame means; said frame means forming a seat means initially physically spaced from said bore closure means for sealing engagement with said bore closure means after the initial limited longitudinal movement of said bore closure means relative to said frame means; and operator means mounted with the bore closure means for effecting the initial limited longitudinal movement of said bore closure means into sealing engagement with said seat means and for moving the bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions when said operator means thereafter moves relative to said frame means.

Claim 17

The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said bore closure means includes a ball member rotatably mounted with said connector means and having a flow opening formed therethrough for enabling flow when said flow opening is in communication with said slot means.

Claim 18

The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said frame means includes a tubular seat means sealingly engageable with said bore closure means for controlling flow through the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location.

Claim 19

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said frame means includes connector means for mounting said bore closure means with said frame means and enabling longitudinal relative movement of bore closure means and frame means between a first position out of said sealing engagement and a second position in said sealing engagement.

Claim 20

The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said operator means including a means for releasably securing said operator means with a fluid responsive means including a movable control member mounted with the well tubing at the subsurface location to effect movement of said operator means relative to said frame means.

Claim 21

The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said operator means moves said bore closure means longitudinally initially to engage said seat means; and said operator means thereafter rotates said bore closure means between the open and closed positions while engaging said seat means.

Claim 22

The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said initial longitudinal movement of said operator means removes the operating slack between the location of releasably securing said frame means with the well tubing and the location of releasably securing said operator means with the control member to thereafter have the operator means more responsive to movement of the control member.

Claim 23

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: a frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing; means with said frame means for releasably securing said frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; plug means mounted with said frame means for movement to and from an open position for allowing flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; means for imparting movement to said plug means to move said plug means to and from open and closed positions for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing; seat means carried by said frame means initially disposed spaced from said plug means and engageable with said plug means to control flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; means for moving said plug means and said seat means into sealing engagement when said means for imparting movement initially moves said plug means to the closed position; and means connected with said bore closure means for holding said plug means in sealing engagement with said seat means after said plug means is initially moved to the closed position.

Claim 24

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: a frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing; means with said frame means for releasably securing said frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; plug means mounted with said frame means for movement to and from an open position for allowing flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; means for imparting movement to said plug means to move said plug means to and from open and closed positions for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing; seat means carried by said frame means initially disposed spaced from said plug means and engageable with said plug means to control flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; means for moving said plug means and said seat means into sealing engagement when said means for imparting movement initially moves said plug means to the closed position; and means connected with said bore closure means for holding said plug means in sealing engagement with said seat means after said plug means is initially moved to the closed position.

Claim 25

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: tubular frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing and forming a flow passage for the flow of well fluids therethrough; means with said tubular frame means for releasably securing said tubular frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; bore closure means disposed adjacent said tubular frame means for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means and a closed position blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means; tubular operator means operably connected with said bore closure means and movable longitudinally relative to said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions; connecting means for connecting said bore closure means with said tubular frame means to enable initial movement of said bore closure means relative to said tubular frame means upon initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position; and detent means mounted with said tubular frame means and actuated responsive to initial movement of said bore closure to the closed position by said tubular operator means for changing the range of longitudinal movement of said tubular operator means relative to said tubular frame means for moving said bore closure mean to and from the open and closed positions.

Claim 26

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: tubular frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing and forming a flow passage for the flow of well fluids therethrough; means with said tubular frame means for releasably securing said tubular frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; bore closure means disposed adjacent said tubular frame means for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means and a closed position blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means; tubular operator means operably connected with said bore closure means and movable longitudinally relative to said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions; connecting means for connecting said bore closure means with said tubular frame means to enable initial movement of said bore closure means relative to said tubular frame means upon initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position; and detent means mounted with said tubular frame means and actuated responsive to initial movement of said bore closure to the closed position by said tubular operator means for changing the range of longitudinal movement of said tubular operator means relative to said tubular frame means for moving said bore closure mean to and from the open and closed positions.

Claim 27

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: tubular frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing and forming a flow passage for the flow of well fluids therethrough; means with said tubular frame means for releasably securing said tubular frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; bore closure means disposed adjacent said tubular frame means for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means and a closed position blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means; tubular operator means operably connected with said bore closure means and movable longitudinally relative to said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions; means of said tubular operator means for releasably securing with a movable control member at the desired subsurface location for moving said tubular operator means with the control member; and detent means mounted with said tubular frame means and actuated responsive to initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position by said tubular operator means for removing the clearance tolerance slack to achieve releasable securing of both said tubular frame means and said tubular operator means.

Claim 28

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: tubular frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing and forming a flow passage for the flow of well fluids therethrough; means with said tubular frame means for releasably securing said tubular frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; bore closure means disposed adjacent said tubular frame means for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means and a closed position blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means; tubular operator means operably connected with said bore closure means and movable longitudinally relative to said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions; means of said tubular operator means for releasably securing with a movable control member at the desired subsurface location for moving said tubular operator means with the control member; and detent means mounted with said tubular frame means and actuated responsive to initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position by said tubular operator means for removing the clearance tolerance slack to achieve releasable securing of both said tubular frame means and said tubular operator means.

Claim 29

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: a frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing; means with said frame means for releasably securing said frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; plug means mounted with said frame means for movement to and from an open position for allowing flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; means for imparting movement of said plug means to move said plug means to and from open and closed positions for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing; seat means carried by said frame means initially disposed physically spaced from said plug means and sealing engageable with said plug means to control flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; and means for moving said plug means and said seat means into continuous sealing engagement when said means for imparting movement initially moves said plug means to the closed positions.

Claim 30

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: a frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing; means with said frame means for releasably securing said frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; plug means mounted with said frame means for movement to and from an open position for allowing flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; means for imparting movement of said plug means to move said plug means to and from open and closed positions for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing; seat means carried by said frame means initially disposed physically spaced from said plug means and sealing engageable with said plug means to control flow of fluid through the bore of the well tubing; and means for moving said plug means and said seat means into continuous sealing engagement when said means for imparting movement initially moves said plug means to the closed positions.

Claim 31

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: tubular frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing and forming a flow passage for the flow of well fluids therethrough; means with said tubular frame means for releasably securing said tubular frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; bore closure means disposed adjacent said tubular frame means for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means and a closed position blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means; tubular operator means operably connected with said bore closure means and movable longitudinally relative to said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions; connecting means for connecting said bore closure means with said tubular frame means to enable initial movement of said bore closure means relative to said tubular frame means upon initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position; and detent means mounted with said tubular frame means and actuated responsive to initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position by said tubular operator means for thereafter holding said bore closure means in engagement with said tubular frame means.

Claim 32

A subsurface safety valve apparatus adapted for movement through a bore of a well tubing to a desired subsurface location in the well for operably securing in the bore of the well tubing for controlling the flow of fluid in the bore of the well tubing at the subsurface location, including: tubular frame means movable through the bore of the well tubing to and from the desired subsurface location for securing and forming a flow passage for the flow of well fluids therethrough; means with said tubular frame means for releasably securing said tubular frame means with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location; bore closure means disposed adjacent said tubular frame means for movement to and from an open position enabling flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means and a closed position blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means; tubular operator means operably connected with said bore closure means and movable longitudinally relative to said frame means for moving said bore closure means to and from the open and closed positions; connecting means for connecting said bore closure means with said tubular frame means to enable initial movement of said bore closure means relative to said tubular frame means upon initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position; and detent means mounted with said tubular frame means and actuated responsive to initial movement of said bore closure means to the closed position by said tubular operator means for thereafter holding said bore closure means in engagement with said tubular frame means.

Claim 33

The apparatus as set forth in claim 25, including: seal means mounted with said tubular means for sealing with the well tubing at the desired subsurface location for directing flow of well fluids through said flow passage formed by said tubular frame means.

Claim 34

The apparatus as set forth in claim 26, including: said tubular frame means having seat means surrounding said flow passage; and said bore closure means in the closed position sealingly engaging said seat means for blocking flow of well fluids through said flow passage of said tubular frame means.

Claim 35

The apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein: said ball member having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore of the well tubing.

Claim 36

The apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein: said bore closure means includes a ball member having a flow opening therethrough, said ball member rotatable between the open position for communicating said flow opening and said flow passage to enable flow of well fluids and the closed position for placing said flow opening from communication with said flow passage to block flow of well fluids.

Claim 37

The apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein: said ball member rotates about an axis fixed relative to said tubular frame means after initial longitudinal movement of said ball member to sealingly engage said tubular frame means.

Claim 38

The apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein: said connecting means having means for engaging said ball member on opposite sides for holding said ball member; and said detent means when actuated holding said connecting means relative to said tubular frame means for holding said ball member in engagement with said seat means.

Claim 39

The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein: said ball member rotates about an axis fixed relative to said tubular frame means after initial longitudinal movement of said ball member to sealingly engage said tubular frame means.

Claim 40

The apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein: said tubular operator means is connected with said ball member on opposite sides for rotating said ball member to and from the open and closed positions when said tubular operator means moves relative to said frame means.

Claim 41

The apparatus as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said detent means when actuated for holding said connecting means to maintain said ball member in engagement with said seat means changing the range of the longitudinal movement of said tubular operator means relative to said tubular frame means for rotating said ball member to and from the open and closed positions.