US 4,059,157 A · Well control valve apparatus

Abstract

Well control valve to be installed in a tubing string for use in killing a well through use of fluid under pressure pumped down through the annulus surrounding the tubing string. When the annulus pressure exceeds a predetermined value, the valve is opened to permit the kill fluid to flow into and through the tubing string into the producing formation. The valve contains spaced upper and lower closure members or rupturable discs defining an atmospheric chamber therebetween. The upstream side of the upper disc is subject to the normal hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the annulus, and also to an increase in the pressure of the annulus fluid above normal hydrostatic pressure, but its downstream side is subjected initially to the atmospheric pressure in the chamber. Accordingly, the upper closure member or disc can be placed in its opened condition, as by rupturing it, when subjected to a predetermined increase in annulus pressure above the normal hydrostatic pressure, allowing the annulus kill fluid to flow into the atmospheric chamber to open the lower closure or disc and then flow through the tubing string to the producing formation. A check valve in the control valve permits fluid to flow from the annulus to the tubing string after the discs are ruptured, but prevents flow of fluid from the tubing string to the annulus.

Claims34

Dependent claims

Control valve apparatus for use in a tubular string disposed in a well bore having a producing formation:

comprising a metallic valve body structure having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a fluid passage between said openings, first metallic closure means in said body structure to one side of said inlet opening closing and passage and movable to open position when subjected to a predetermined fluid pressure in said inlet opening, second metallic closure means in said body structure to one side of said outlet opening and spaced from said first closure means to provide a confined portion of said passage between said first and second closure means into which fluid internally and externally of the tubing string cannot enter, said first and second closure means being fixed to said body structure by fluid impervious means forming metal seals therewith, subjecting said first closure means to said predetermined fluid pressure effecting opening of said confined portion of said passage to permit said fluid pressure to enter said confined portion and shift said second closure means to open position permitting fluid flow through said inlet opening, confined portion, and outlet opening.

Apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a well bore from a producing formation:

comprising a tubular string disposed in the well bore and communicating with said producing formation, a valve device in the tubular string for controlling fluid flow between the well bore annulus surrounding said tubular string and the interior of said tubular string, including a metallic valve body structure having an inlet opening communicating with the well bore annulus, an outlet opening communicating with the interior of said tubular string, and a fluid passage between said openings, first metallic closure means in said body structure to one side of said inlet opening closing said passage and movable to open position when subjected to a predetermined pressure in said annulus and inlet opening, second metallic closure means in said body structure to one side of said outlet opening and spaced from said first closure means to provide a confined portion of said passage between said first and second closure means into which fluid from said annulus and fluid from said tubular string cannot enter, said first and second closure means being fixed to said body structure by fluid impervious means forming metal seals therewith, subjecting said first closure means to said predetermined fluid pressure in said annulus effecting opening of said confined portion of said passage to permit said fluid pressure to enter said confined portion and shift said second closure means to open position permitting fluid flow from said annulus through said inlet opening, confined portion, and outlet opening to the interior of said tubular string.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Well control valve apparatus

Life of this patent

Well control valve apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34