Heat-sensitive subsurface safety valve
AssigneeStandard Oil Company (Indiana)
InventorMarion David Genna
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This is a subsurface safety valve for insertion in a tubing string centered in a well drilled in the earth normally for the production of oil or gas. Under normal flow conditions, a spring holds a flapper valve in an open position out of the flow path of the fluid. An increase in the temperature of the fluids flowing through the valve supplies the force to push the flapper into the flow stream where the fluid flow will cause it to close. A heat-sensitive fluid is contained in an annular reservoir surrounding the flow path of the fluid through the valve and an annular piston is in one end of the cylinder. Expansion of the fluid causes movement of the piston which has a rod which forces the flapper valve into the main fluid flow stream.
Claims3
A subsurface safety valve for insertion in a tubing string suspended in a wellbore which comprises:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a valve receiving pocket;
- a reservoir containing a heat sensitive fluid expandable with increased temperature, said reservoir surrounding at least a part of said bore;
- an annular, downwardly facing valve seat within said bore;
- a valve for closing against said valve seat, said valve normally retained within a valve receiving pocket within said housing, said valve connected to a pivot within said pocket;
- biasing means urging said valve to rotate about said pivot to an open position within said pocket;
- means responsive to said heat sensitive fluid to rotate said valve in a direction opposite the rotation caused by said biasing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.