Temporary lock-open tool for subterranean well valve

An apparatus for temporarily locking a valve mounted in a tubular conduit of a subterranean well in an open position, the valve having an axially shiftable actuating sleeve and normally inoperative latching means engagable with the actuating sleeve to hold same in its valve open position comprising:

• a tubular mandrel constructed and arranged for insertion within the tubular conduit and the actuating sleeve;
• plunger means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel and longitudinally movable from a first position to a second position;
• resilient means urging said plunger means to said second position;
• radially shiftable lock means holding said plunger in said first position;
• shiftable means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel adjacent to said plunger means and shiftable by axial movement of said plunger means from said first to said second position;
• said shiftable means being constructed and arranged when shifted to engage the latching means and shift the latching means to an operative position relative to the actuating sleeve, and means on said tubular mandrel for selectively releasing said plunger means to permit movement from said first position to said second position.

An apparatus for temporarily locking a valve mounted in a tubular conduit of a subterranean well in an open position, the valve having an axially shiftable actuating sleeve and normally passive latching means located upstream of a valve head member of the valve and engagable with the actuating sleeve to hold same in its valve open position comprising:

• a tubular mandrel constructed and arranged for insertion within the tubular conduit and thru the actuating sleeve;
• plunger means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel and longitudinally movable from a first position to a second position;
• resilient means urging said plunger means to said second position;
• radially shiftable lock means holding said plunger in said first position;
• shiftable means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel adjacent to said plunger means and shiftable by axial movement of said plunger means from said first to said second position;
• said shiftable means being constructed and arranged when shifted to engage the latching means and shift the normally passive latching means downstream to an operative position relative to the actuating sleeve, and means on said tubular mandrel for selectively releasing said plunger means to permit movement from said first position to said second position.

A valve assembly for a fluid conduit of a subterranean well comprising, in combination;

• an annular housing connectable in series with the fluid conduit;
• a valve head pivotally mounted in said housing and shiftable from a horizontal closed position to a vertical open position disposed laterally adjacent to the bore of said annular housing;
• a vertically shiftable valve actuating sleeve mounted in said housing above said valve head for moving said valve head to said open position by downward movement of said actuating sleeve;
• a first spring pressed latching means mounted in said housing upstream of said valve head for holding said actuating sleeve in said valve opening position;
• a second spring pressed latching means disposed in said housing upstream of said valve head for normally holding said first spring pressed latching means in a passive position relative to said actuating sleeve;
• and means for shifting said second spring pressed latching means to release said first spring pressed latching means, comprising:
• a tubular mandrel constructed and arranged for insertion by a work string within the tubular conduit and said actuating sleeve;
• plunger means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel and longitudinally movable from a first position to a second position;
• resilient means urging said plunger means to said second position;
• radially shiftable lock means holding said plunger in said first position;
• shiftable means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel adjacent to said plunger means and shiftable by axial movement of said plunger means from said first to said second position;
• said means subsequent to shifting being engagable with said second spring pressed latch means to disengage same from said first spring pressed latch means;
• and work string actuated means for radially shifting said lock means to release said plunger to move to said second position.

A valve assembly for a fluid conduit of a subterranean well comprising, in combination:

• an annular housing connectable in series with the fluid conduit;
• a valve head pivotally mounted in said housing and shiftable from a horizontal closed position to a vertical open position disposed laterally adjacent the bore of said annular housing;
• a vertically shiftable valve head actuating sleeve mounted in said housing above said valve head for moving said valve head to said open position by downward movement of said actuating sleeve;
• spring pressed latching means mounted in said housing upstream of said valve head for holding said actuating sleeve in said valve opening position;
• a peripheral array of radially shiftable latch keys disposed in said housing upstream of said valve head for normally holding said latching means against said spring pressure in a passive position relative to said actuating sleeve;
• and means for radially shifting said latch keys, comprising:
• a tubular mandrel constructed and arranged for insertion by a work string within the tubular conduit and said actuating sleeve;
• plunger means mounted surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel and longitudinally movable from a first position to a second position;
• resilient means urging said plunger means to said second position;
• radially shiftable lock means holding said plunger in said first position;
• shiftable means mounted in surrounding relationship to said tubular mandrel adjacent to said plunger means and shiftable by axial movement of said plunger means from said first to said second position;
• and work string actuated means for radially shifting said lock means to release said plunger to move to said second position;
• said shiftable means being constructed and arranged when expanded to engage said latch keys and release same from said latching means, thereby mechanically securing said actuating sleeve in its said valve opening position.