Valve and lubricator apparatus

An apparatus for installation of drilling, completion, workover tools or parts thereof for subsequent use in an oil or gas well and for control of fluid through said apparatus comprising:

• a housing having means at each end thereof for connection of said apparatus to a tubing string extending from the top surface of the well, said apparatus becoming an integral part of said tubing string, said housing defining a fluid passageway through said apparatus and communicating with a complimentary fluid passageway within said tubing string, valve means within said apparatus for control of fluid through said apparatus within said passageway, means for manipulating said valve means to one of open and closed positions, first fluid activatable means for activating said means for manipulating said valve means, mechanical locking means carried by said housing and engageable with said means for manipulating said valve means, and sleeve means within said housing and immediate said means for manipulating said valve means for coengagement with said locking means, said valve means being in open position upon longitudinal activation of said manipulating means, said valve being placed in closed position by a second longitudinal movement of said manipulating means, said locking means, said sleeve and said manipulating means being thereafter in engaged position to prevent reopening of said valve means by said first fluid activatable means, said valve means thereafter being placed in open position by second fluid activatable means for shifting said sleeve to disengaged position and longitudinally moving said manipulating means to open said valve means.

A lubricator assembly for use in conjunction with the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well, said lubricator assembly extendable within a well riser pipe, said assembly connectable to a tubing string extendable through the riser pipe for control of well pressure within said tubing string while drilling, completion, or workover tools and parts thereof are inserted within said tubing string and said lubricator assembly for subsequent insertion into said well, said lubricator assembly comprising:

• a housing connectable to said tubing string and defining a fluid passageway through said assembly, said passageway communicating with a complementary fluid passageway within said tubing string, valve means within said assembly for selective control to fluid through said assembly within said passageway of said assembly, means for reciprocating said valve means to one of open and closed positions, first fluid activatable means for activating said means for manipulating said valve means, mechanical locking means carried by said housing and engageable with said means for reciprocating said valve means, and sleeve means within said housing and immediate said means for reciprocating said valve means for coengagement with said locking means, said valve means being in open position upon a first longitudinal activation of said manipulating means, said valve means being placed in closed position by a second longitudinal movement of said manipulating means, said locking means, said sleeve and said manipulating means being thereafter in engaged position to prevent reopening of said valve means by said first fluid activatable means, said valve means thereafter being placed in open position by second fluid activatable means for shifting said sleeve to disengaged position and longitudinally moving said manipulating means to open said valve means, said valve means being movable to sealingly closed position to prevent well pressure therebelow from being transmitted through said passageway in said assembly and said tubing string above said valve means while said tools and parts thereof are being inserted within said assembly and said tubing string, said valve means being shiftable to open position to permit insertion of said tools and parts thereof through said assembly and to said well therebelow.

A lubricator assembly for use in conjunction with the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well, said assembly being communicable with a tubing string extendable within said well, tools for use during drilling, completion, or workover operations of said well being insertable within said tubing string and said lubricator assembly for subsequent insertion into said well, said lubricator assembly comprising:

• a housing connectable to said tubing string and defining a fluid passageway through said assembly, said passageway communicating with a complementary fluid passageway within said tubing string, valve means within said assembly for selective control of fluid through said assembly within said passageway of said assembly, means for reciprocating said valve means to one of open and closed positions, first fluid activatable means for activating said means for manipulating said valve means, mechanical locking means carried by said housing and engageable with said means for reciprocating said valve means, and sleeve means within said housing and immediate said means for reciprocating said valve means for coengagement with said locking means, said valve means being in open position upon a first longitudinal activation of said manipulating means, said valve means being placed in closed position by a second longitudinal movement of said manipulating means, said locking means, said sleeve and said manipulating means being thereafter in engaged position to prevent reopening of said valve means by said first fluid activatable means, said valve means thereafter being placed in open position by second fluid activatable means for shifting said sleeve to disengaged position and longitudinally moving said manipulating means to open said valve means, said valve means being movable to sealingly closed position to prevent well pressure therebelow from being transmitted through said passageway in said apparatus and said tubing string above said valve means while said tools and parts thereof are being inserted within said apparatus and said tubing string, said valve means being shiftable to open position to permit insertion of said tools and parts thereof through said apparatus and to said well therebelow.

A valve apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• valve means comprising a valve seat and a valve head within said housing, said valve head being shiftable with relation to said seat, said valve means having a passageway therethrough for control of fluid transmission through said apparatus;
• first fluid activatable means for first shifting of said valve means to closed position;
• second fluid activatable means for second shifting of said valve means to open position;
• and means for mechanically locking said valve means in said closed position to prevent shifting of said valve means to said open position by operation of said first fluid means;
• said second fluid means being operational to unlock said valve means from said closed and locked position and to shift said valve means to said open position;
• said first and second fluid means and said means for locking said valve means being repeatably and sequentially operational.

An apparatus for installation of drilling, completion, workover tools, or parts thereof for subsequent use in an oil or gas well and for control of fluids through said apparatus, said apparatus being operatively associatable with tubing pressure thereabove, said apparatus comprising;

• valve means having a passageway therethrough for control of fluid transmission through said apparatus;
• first fluid activatable means for first shifting of said valve means to closed position;
• second fluid activatable means for second shifting of said valve means to open position;
• and means for locking said valve means in said closed position to prevent shifting of said valve means to said open position by operation of said first fluid means;
• said second fluid means being operational to unlock said valve means from said closed and locked position and to shift said valve means to said open position, said first and second fluid means and said means for locking said valve means being repeatably and sequentially operational, one of said first and second fluid activatable means being operable by said tubing pressure.

An apparatus for installation of drilling, completion, workover tools or parts thereof for subsequent use in an oil or gas well and for control of fluid through said apparatus, said apparatus being operatively associatable with tubing pressure thereabove, said apparatus comprising a housing having means at each end thereof for connection of said apparatus to a tubing string extending from the top surface of the well, said apparatus becoming an integral part of said tubing string, said housing defining a fluid passageway through said apparatus and communicating with a complimentary fluid passageway within said tubing string, valve means within said apparatus for control of fluid through said apparatus within said passageway, means for manipulating said valve means to one of open and closed positions, first fluid activatable means for activating said means for manipulating said valve means, locking means carried by said housing and engageable with said means for manipulating said valve means, and sleeve means within said housing and immediate said means for manipulating said valve means for coengagement with said locking means, said valve means being in open position upon longitudinal activation of said manipulating means, said valve being placed in closed position by a second longitudinal movement of said manipulating means, said locking means, said sleeve and said manipulating means being thereafter in engaged position to prevent reopening of said valve means by said first fluid activatable means, said valve means thereafter being placed in open position by second fluid activatable means for shifting said sleeve to disengaged position and longitudinally moving said manipulating means to open said valve means, one of said first and second fluid activatable means being operable by said tubing pressure.

A lubricator assembly for use in conjunction with the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well, said lubricator assembly extendable within a well riser pipe, said assembly connectable to a pressurizable tubing string extendable through the riser pipe for control of well pressure within said tubing string while drilling, completion, or workover tools and parts thereof are inserted within said tubing string and said lubricator assembly for subsequent insertion into said well, said lubricator assembly comprising:

• a housing connectable to said tubing string and defining a fluid passageway through said assembly, said passageway communicating with a complementary fluid passageway within said tubing string, valve means within said assembly for selective control of fluid through said assembly within said passageway of said assembly, means for reciprocating said valve means to one of open and closed positions, first fluid activatable means for activating said means for manipulating said valve means, mechanical locking means carried by said housing and engageable with said means for reciprocating said value means, and sleeve means within said housing and immediate said means for reciprocating said valve means for coengagement with said locking means, said valve means being in open position upon a first longitudinal activation of said manipulating means, said valve means being placed in closed position by a second longitudinal movement of said manipulating means, said locking means, said sleeve and said manipulating means being thereafter in engaged position to prevent reopening of said valve means by said first fluid activatable means, said valve means thereafter being placed in open position by second fluid activatable means for shifting said sleeve to disengaged position and longitudinally moving said manipulating means to open said valve means, said valve means being movable to sealingly closed position to prevent well pressure therebelow from being transmitted through said passageway in said assembly and said tubing string above said valve means while said tools and parts thereof are being inserted within said assembly and said tubing string, said valve means being shiftable to open position to permit insertion of said tools and parts thereof through said assembly and to said well therebelow, one of said first and second fluid activatable means being operable by pressurizing said tubing string.

A lubricator assembly for use in conjunction with the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well, said assembly being communicable with a pressurizable tubing string extendable within said well, tools for use during drilling, completion, or workover operations of said well being insertable within said tubing string and said lubricator assembly for subsequent insertion into said well, said lubricator assembly comprising:

• a housing connectable to said tubing string and defining a fluid passageway through said assembly, said passageway communicating with a complementary fluid passageway within said tubing string, valve means within said assembly for selective control of fluid through said assembly within said passageway of said assembly, means for reciprocating said valve means to one of open and closed positions, first fluid activatable means for activating said means for manipulating said valve means, mechanical locking means carried by said housing and engageable with said means for reciprocating said valve means, and sleeve means within said housing and immediate said means for reciprocating said valve means for coengagement with said locking means, said valve means being in open position upon a first longitudinal activation of said manipulating means, said valve means being placed in closed position by a second longitudinal movement of said manipulating means, said locking means, said sleeve and said manipulating means being thereafter in engaged position to prevent reopening of said valve means by first fluid activatable means, said valve means thereafter being placed in open position by second fluid activatable means for shifting said sleeve to disengaged position and longitudinally moving said manipulating means to open said valve means, said valve means being movable to sealingly closed position to prevent well pressure therebelow from being transmitted through said passageway in said apparatus and said tubing string above said valve means while said tools and parts thereof are being inserted within said apparatus and said tubing string, said valve means being shiftable to open position to permit insertion of said tools and parts thereof through said apparatus and to said well therebelow, one of said first and second fluid activatable means being operable by pressurizing said tubing string.

A valve apparatus selectively responsive to tubing pressure increase, said valve assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• valve means comprising a valve seat and a valve head within said housing, said valve head being shiftable with relation to said seat, said valve means having a passageway therethrough for control of fluid transmission through said apparatus;
• first fluid activatable means for first shifting of said valve means to closed position;
• second fluid activatable means for second shifting of said valve means to open position;
• and means for mechanically locking said valve means in said closed position to prevent shifting of said valve means to said open position by operation of said first fluid means;
• said second fluid means being operational to unlock said valve means from said closed and locked position and to shift said valve means to said open position;
• said first and second fluid means and said means for locking said valve means being repeatably and sequentially operational, one of said first and second fluid activatable means being selectively responsive to increase in tubing pressure.