Well flow control apparatus and method

A well device for controlling fluid communication between the interior and exterior of a well tubing comprising:

• a side-pocket mandrel body having means at each end for connection into said well tubing and a longitudinal open bore aligned with said tubing when said mandrel body is connected into said tubing;
• said mandrel body having a side-pocket chamber extending longitudinally therein in integral relationship with said open bore and laterally offset from said bore;
• a side-pocket landing nipple formed within said body mandrel along said side-pocket chamber and having a longitudinal bore substantially parallel with said open bore through said body mandrel;
• said body mandrel having an outside wall along said side-pocket landing nipple provided with side port means opening into said bore of said landing nipple for communicating space around said body mandrel with said bore of said landing nipple;
• a sliding sleeve valve slidably positioned within said bore of said side-pocket landing nipple and movable therein between a first closed position and a second open position, said sleeve valve having side port means aligned with said side port means in said body mandrel when said sleeve valve is at said second open position;
• ring seal means on said sleeve valve sealing between the wall surface defining said bore through said landing nipple on opposite sides of said port means in said sleeve valve;
• locking collet means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced collet fingers on said sliding sleeve valve for releasably locking said sleeve valve at said first closed position in said landing nipple, said locking collet fingers having external and internal locking bosses thereon;
• said landing nipple having an internal annular locking recess for receiving said external locking bosses on said collet fingers to releasably lock said sliding sleeve valve at said first closed position;
• stop means having a stop shoulder engaged in said side-pocket landing nipple for limiting movement of said sliding sleeve valve at said second open position;
• and said side-pocket landing nipple having a stop shoulder formed around the bore therethrough spaced from said sliding sleeve valve for engagement by locking means on a well tool positioned through said landing nipple and sliding sleeve valve when said well tool is locked therein and holding said sliding sleeve valve at said second open position;
• and stop shoulder means in said sliding sleeve valve for supporting said well tool in said sleeve valve.

A well device for controlling communication between the interior and exterior of a tubing string comprising:

• a body mandrel connectible at opposite ends into said tubing string and having a chamber therein defined by a main open bore portion in alignment with the bore of said tubing string when said body mandrel is connected with said tubing string and a laterally displaced side-pocket portion extending longitudinally along said main open bore portion;
• a side-pocket landing nipple secured along said chamber within said body mandrel and having an open bore therethrough opening at opposite ends into said side-pocket portion of said chamber;
• said body mandrel having a side-wall provided with port means opening into said bore of said landing nipple;
• and a sliding sleeve valve in said landing nipple for controlling flow through said side port into said bore of said nipple, said sliding sleeve valve having means for releasably locking said valve at a closed position and means for releasably latching said valve with a flow control device positioned in said sleeve valve, said releasable locking means and said releasable latching means coacting with said flow control device to move said sliding sleeve valve from a closed position to an open position responsive to insertion of said flow control device into said sliding sleeve valve and to release said flow control device from said sliding sleeve valve only responsive to movement of said sliding sleeve valve back to a closed position.

A method of controlling communication in a well between the interior and exterior of a well tubing including a side-pocket mandrel having a side-pocket landing nipple provided with a sliding sleeve valve for controlling flow through side port means in said mandrel leading from said exterior of said tubing into said landing nipple comprising the steps of:

• inserting a well tool into said side-pocket landing nipple through said well tubing;
• engaging said sliding sleeve valve with said well tool releasing said sleeve valve from a closed locked relationship in said landing nipple;
• latching said sleeve valve with said well tool upon release of said valve for movement in said landing nipple;
• and moving said sleeve valve by means of said well tool to an open position at which fluid communication is established through said side ports in said body mandrel into said landing nipple through said sleeve valve.