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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.