Re-closeable downhole valves with improved seal integrity

A flow control apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a fluid passage disposed within the housing;
• a flow communicator extending through the housing for effecting flow communication between the fluid passage and an environment external to the housing;
• a flow control member for effecting opening and closing of the flow communicator;
• a first flow interference effector that is disposed, relative to the flow communication, in one of an uphole position and a downhole position, wherein the first flow interference effector includes a first flow interference-effecting member and a second flow interference-effecting member, wherein the second flow interference-effecting member is disposed in a defeatable occluded condition;
• and
• a second flow interference effector that is disposed, relative to the flow communicator, in the other one of an uphole position and a downhole position;
• wherein:
• the flow control member, the first flow interference effector, the second flow interference-effector, and the flow communicator are co-operatively configured such that:
• while each one of the first flow interference effector and the second flow interference-effector, independently, is disposed in contact engagement with the flow control member, the flow communicator is disposed in the closed condition;
• when the first flow interference effector is disposed uphole relative to the flow communicator, displacement of the flow control member, relative to the flow communicator, in the downhole direction, effects opening of the flow communicator;
• when the first flow interference effector is disposed downhole relative to the flow communicator, displacement of the flow control member, relative to the flow communicator, in the uphole direction, effects opening of the flow communicator;
• while there is an absence of occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member, the flow control member is disposable, relative to the flow communicator, such that each one of the second flow interference-effecting member and the second flow interference-effector, independently, is disposed in contact engagement with the flow control member, such that the closed condition of the flow communicator is established.

A flow control apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a fluid passage disposed within the housing;
• a flow communicator extending through the housing for effecting flow communication between the fluid passage and an environment external to the housing;
• a flow control member, displaceable, relative to the flow communicator, for effecting opening and closing of the flow communicator;
• a first flow interference effector that is disposed, relative to the flow communication, in one of an uphole position and a downhole position, wherein the first flow interference effector includes a first flow interference-effecting member and a second flow interference-effecting member, wherein the second flow interference-effecting member is disposed in a defeatable occluded condition;
• and
• a second flow interference effector that is disposed, relative to the flow communicator, in the other one of an uphole position and a downhole position;
• wherein:
• the first flow interference effector, the second flow interference effector, the flow control member, and the flow communicator are co-operatively configured such that:
• while each one of the first flow interference effector and the second flow interference-effector, independently, is disposed in contact engagement with the flow control member, the flow communicator is disposed in the closed condition;
• while:
• (i) each one of the first flow interference-effecting member and the second flow interference-effector, independently, is disposed in contact engagement with the flow control member for establishing the closed condition of the flow communicator, and (ii) the second flow interference-effecting member is disposed in the occluded condition, the flow control member is displaceable, relative to the flow communicator, in the downhole direction, with effect that:
• the flow communicator becomes disposed in an open condition;
• the contact engagement between the first flow interference-effecting member and the flow control member is defeated such that there is an absence of occlusion of the first flow interference-effecting member by the flow control member;
• and
• there is an absence of defeating of the occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member;
• while there is an absence of occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member in response to the defeating of the occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member, the flow control member is disposable such that each one of the second flow interference-effecting member and the second disposed flow interference-effector, independently, is disposed in contact engagement with the flow control member, with effect that the flow communicator becomes disposed in the closed condition.

A method of controlling flow communication between a wellbore and a subterranean formation with a flow control apparatus that is disposed within a wellbore and includes:

• a housing;
• a fluid passage disposed within the housing;
• a flow communicator extending through the housing for effecting flow communication between the fluid passage and an environment external to the housing;
• a flow control member, displaceable, relative to the flow communicator, for effecting opening and closing of the flow communicator;
• a first flow interference effector that is disposed, relative to the flow communication, in one of an uphole position and a downhole position, wherein the first flow interference effector includes a first flow interference-effecting member and a second flow interference-effecting member, wherein the second flow interference-effecting member is disposed in a defeatable occluded condition;
• and
• a second flow interference effector that is disposed, relative to the flow communicator, in the other one of an uphole position and a downhole position;
• wherein the method comprises:
• while the flow control member is disposed in contact engagement with both of the first flow interference-effecting member and the second flow interference effector, displacing the flow control member, relative to the flow communicator, in a downhole direction, with effect that the flow control apparatus becomes disposed in an open condition orientation, wherein, in the open condition orientation:
• the flow communicator becomes disposed in an open condition;
• the contact engagement between the first flow interference-effecting member and the flow control member is defeated such that there is an absence of occlusion of the first flow interference-effecting member by the flow control member;
• and
• there is an absence of defeating of the occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member;
• after the flow control member becomes disposed in the open condition orientation, defeating the occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member such that there is an absence of occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member;
• while there is an absence of occlusion of the second flow interference-effecting member, positioning the flow control member, relative to the second flow interference-effecting member and the second flow interference-effector, such that each one of the second flow interference-effecting member and the second flow interference-effector, independently, is disposed in contact engagement with the flow control member, with effect that the flow communicator becomes disposed in the closed condition.