# US 10,767,444 B2 · Flapper valve tool

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- Number: US 10,767,444 B2
- Document ID: US10767444B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/802,002
- Filed: 2020-02-26
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-15
- Assignees: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Brock Watson; Roger Schultz; Andy Ferguson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767444B2

## CPC

- E21B 34/063: {Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence)}
- E21B 34/142: {unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons}
- E21B 2200/05: Flapper valves
- E21B 2200/08: Down-hole devices using materials which decompose under well-bore conditions
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A downhole tool having a flapper valve assembly for controlling the backflow of fluid into a tubing string that includes at least one flapper. The downhole tool also includes a deformable element that maintains the at least one flapper in an open position after the deformable portion is deformed. A downhole tool having a flapper valve assembly for controlling the backflow of fluid into a tubing string that includes at least one flapper. The downhole tool also includes a sleeve slidably disposed within at least a portion of the flapper valve assembly and the downhole tool. The downhole tool includes a deformable and dissolvable seat disposed uphole and adjacent to the sleeve and a dissolvable fluid blocking member to engage with the seat to shift the sleeve from first position to a second position within the downhole tool. Methods of using these downhole tools are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A downhole tool, the tool comprising:
a flapper valve assembly for controlling the backflow of fluid into a tubing string, the flapper valve assembly includes a first flapper having an opening disposed therein; and
a deformable element that maintains the first flapper in an open position after the deformable element is deformed, the deformable element is a pin element disposed on the flapper valve assembly and the pin element engages with the opening disposed in the first flapper.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1 wherein the pin element is deformable and frictionally engagable with the opening when a fluid blocking member is passed through the flapper valve assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2 wherein the flapper valve assembly further includes a second flapper valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The tool of claim 3 wherein the flapper valve assembly has a second deformable pin element disposed thereon, the second deformable pin element deformable and frictionally engagable with an opening disposed in the second flapper valve.

### Claim 5

A method, the method comprising:
positioning a downhole tool in a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:
a flapper valve assembly for controlling the backflow of fluid into a tubing string, the flapper valve assembly includes a first flapper having an opening disposed therein; and
a deformable element that maintains the first flapper in an open position after the deformable element is deformed, the deformable element is a pin element disposed on the flapper valve assembly and the pin element engages with the opening disposed in the first flapper; and
causing the deformable element to be deformed to maintain the at least one flapper in the open position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the deformable element is deformed by pumping a fluid blocking member through the downhole tool.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the pin element is deformable and frictionally engagable with the opening when a fluid blocking member is passed through the flapper valve assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the flapper valve assembly further includes a second flapper valve.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the flapper valve assembly has a second deformable pin element disposed thereon, the second deformable pin element deformable and frictionally engagable with an opening disposed in the second flapper valve.