Abstract The combination of a mandrel and multiple flow control valves for use in a well tubing in which the mandrel includes a sidepocket and a locking shoulder aligned with the pocket. A plurality of vertically connected flow control valves, such as gas lift valves, each having an inlet and an outlet are adapted to be positioned in the pocket by a single latch connected to the valves for engaging the locking shoulder. The pocket has a vertical length sufficient for receiving the valves, a plurality of vertically spaced openings extending between the interior of the pocket and the outside of the mandrel, one of the openings being positioned adjacent each of the inlets of the valves when the valves are installed, and a plurality of passageways extending between the interior of the pocket and the interior of the mandrel with one of the passageways being positioned to communicate with each of the outlets of said valves when the valves are installed. In one embodiment, each passageway is positioned below one of the openings and the pocket includes a sealing surface on each side of each vertically spaced opening for coacting with a seal on the valves for isolating the valves from each other. In another embodiment the number of openings is two and includes a sealing surface in the pocket above and below the two openings, and the number of passageways is two and one is positioned above the upper sealing surface and the other is positioned below the lower sealing surface. The valves may be gas lift valves having a pressure charged bellows acting against a valve element in a direction to close the valve, and the bellows of both of said valves may be charged from a single pressure chamber.
The combination of a mandrel and multiple flow control valves for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel having a body with an open bore extending therethrough for alignment with the well tubing and having an offset bore adjacent the open bore, orientation means in the open bore, a pocket positioned inside the body in the offset bore, a deflector guide positioned in the offset bore above the pocket, a locking shoulder secured in the body and aligned with the pocket, a plurality of vertically connected but independently actuated gas lift valves each having an inlet and an outlet for positioning in the pocket, each said valve having a pressure charged bellows positioned above and acting downwardly against a valve element in a direction to close said valve, a single latch connected to the valves for engagement with the locking shoulder for locking the valves in the pocket, said pocket being of a vertical length sufficient for receiving the valves, a plurality of vertically spaced openings extending between the interior of the pocket and the outside of the body, one of said openings being positioned adjacent each of the inlets of said valves when the valves are installed, and a plurality of passageways extending between the interior of the pocket and the interior of the body, one of the passageways being positioned to communicate with each of the outlets of said valves when the valves are installed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
The combination of a mandrel and multiple flow control valves for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel having a body with an open bore extending therethrough for alignment with the well tubing and having an offset bore adjacent the open bore, orientation means in the open bore, a pocket positioned inside the body in the offset bore, a deflector guide positioned in the offset bore above the pocket, a locking shoulder secured in the body and aligned with the pocket, a plurality of vertically connected but independently actuated gas lift valves each having an inlet and an outlet for positioning in the pocket, each said valve having a pressure charged bellows positioned above and acting downwardly against a valve element in a direction to close said valve, a single latch connected to the valves for engagement with the locking shoulder for locking the valves in the pocket, said pocket being of a vertical length sufficient for receiving the valves, a plurality of vertically spaced openings extending between the interior of the pocket and the outside of the body, one of said openings being positioned adjacent each of the inlets of said valves when the valves are installed, and a plurality of passageways extending between the interior of the pocket and the interior of the body, one of the passageways being positioned to communicate with each of the outlets of said valves when the valves are installed.