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US 4,540,047 AGranted
Flow controlling apparatus
AssigneeAVA International Corporation
InventorNeil H. Akkerman
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAVA International Corporation
InventorNeil H. Akkerman
Estimating the term…
This application discloses apparatus in which a body means having a bore therethrough connected as part of a tubing string is packed off within a well bore, and means including a passageway in the body means by-passes the packer to connect the annulus about the tubing string above and below the packer. The packer is expanded into engagement with the well bore upon release of a means for locking it in an inoperative position, and a means for so releasing the locking means includes a piston in the passageway which in responsive to control fluid supplied through a control line in the annulus which connects with the passageway. Upon release and setting of the packer, the piston is removed from the passageway and circulation of well fluid through the connecting means between the annulus above and below the packer is controlled by a safety valve which normally closes the passageway, but which is responsive to control fluid supplied thereto through the same control line. Each of the means for connecting the control line with the passageway in order to release the packer, and alternatively establishing safety valve controlled circulation of well fluid through the connecting means comprise tools which are alternately landed within and retrieved from a pocket formed in the body means to one side of its bore.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string suspended within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as port of the tubing string and a pocket to one side of the bore having an end opening to said bore, a packer for sealing between the body means and the well bore, means which by-passes the packer for connecting the annulus above and below the packer, valve means for opening and closing a flow path through said connecting means, fluid responsive means for moving said valve means from normally closed to open position, said moving means being carried within a tool which is adapted to be moved vertically through the tubing string into and out of landed position within the pocket, and means through which control fluid may be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said fluid responsive means, when said tool is so landed, in order to open said valve means.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string suspended within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and a pocket to one side of the bore having an end opening to said bore, a packer for sealing between the body means and the well bore, means which by-passes the packer for connecting the annulus above and below the packer, a tool adapted to be moved vertically through the tubing string into and out of landed positions within the pocket, said tool carrying valve means for opening and closing a flow path through said connecting means, and fluid responsive means for moving said valve means from normally closed to open position, and means through which control fluid may be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said valve fluid responsive means, when said tool is so landed in order to open said valve means.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string suspended within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of a tubing string, a packer for sealing between the body means and the well bore, said body means having a portion above the packer whose outer cylindrical diameter is eccentric to the axis of its bore to provide a radially thickened well to one side of its bore, means which by-passes the packer for connecting the annulus above and below the packer, valve means for opening and closing a flow path through said connecting means, means for moving said valve means from normally closed to open position, including a pressure chamber within the radially thickened wall of the body means, and piston means connected to the valve means and movable within the chamber for opening said valve means in response to the supply of fluid pressure to the chamber, and means through which control fluid may be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said chamber in order to open said valve means.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string within a well bore, wherein a lower portion of the tubing string is suspended from a tubing hanger having a bore therethrough and an opening which by-passes a packer sealing between the hanger and the well bore, said apparatus comprising a mandrel adapted to be suspended from an upper portion of tubing string and having means on its lower end for releasably connecting it to the hanger, said mandrel having a bore therethrough which is aligned with the hanger bore and an opening therein which is aligned with the opening in the tubing hanger to provide means which by-passes the packer for connecting the annulus above and below said packer when said mandrel is releasably connected to said hanger, said mandrel also having a pocket therein on one side of its bore and an end opening to the bore, valve means for opening and closing a flow path of the connecting means, fluid responsive means for moving said valve means from normally closed to open position, said moving means being carried within a tool which is adapted to be moved vertically through the tubing string into and out of landed position within the pocket, and means through which control fluid may be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said valve moving means, when said tool is so landed in order to open said valve means.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string within a well bore, wherein a lower portion of the tubing string is suspended from a tubing hanger having a bore therethrough and an opening which by-passes a packer sealing between the hanger and the well bore, said apparatus comprising a mandrel adapted to be suspended from an upper portion of tubing string and having means on its lower end for releasably connecting it to the hanger, said mandrel having a bore therethrough which is is aligned with the hanger bore and an opening therein which is aligned with the opening in the tubing hanger to provide means which by-passes the packer to connect the annulus above and below said packer when said mandrel is releasably connected to said hanger, said mandrel also having a pocket therein on one side of its bore and an end opening to the bore, a tool adapted to be moved vertically through the tubing string into and out of landed position within the pocket, said tool carrying valve means for opening and closing a flow path of said connecting means, and fluid responsive means for moving said valve means from normally closed to open position, and means through which control fluid may be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said valve fluid responsive means, when said tool is so landed, in order to open said valve means.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string within a well bore, wherein a lower portion of the tubing string is suspended from a tubing hanger having a bore therethrough and an opening which by-passes a packer sealing between the hanger and the well bore, said apparatus comprising a mandrel adapted to be suspended from an upper portion of tubing string and having means on its lower end for releasably connecting it to the hanger, said mandrel having a bore therethrough which is aligned with the hanger bore and an opening therein which is aligned with the opening in the tubing hanger to provide means which by-passes the packer to connect the annulus above and below said packer when said mandrel is releasably connected to said hanger, said mandrel also having a portion whose outer cylindrical diameter is eccentric to the axis of its bore to provide a radially thickened wall to one side of its bore, valve means for opening and closing the connecting means, means for moving said valve means from normally closed to open position, including a pressure chamber within the radially thickened wall of the body means, and piston means connected to the valve means and movable within the chamber for opening said valve means in response to the supply of fluid pressure to the chamber, and means through which control fluid many be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said chamber in order to open said valve means.
Apparatus for controlling fluid within the annulus about a tubing string suspended within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string, a packer for sealing between the body means and the well bore, and means in the body means which by-passes the packer for connecting the annulus above and below the packer, valve means normally closing a first flow path of said connecting means, fluid responsive means for moving said valve means to opening position, means through which control fluid may be supplied through a line leading from a remote source to said moving means for opening said valve means, and a check valve which closes a second flow path of said connecting means when the pressure of fluid in the annulus below the packer exceeds that in the annulus above the packer, but which opens said second flow path when the pressure exceeds that below by a predetermined amount, so as to increase the flow through said connecting means when said valve means is open.
For use in apparatus which comprises body means having a bore therethrough connected as part of a tubing string suspended within a well bore, a packer for sealing between the body means and the well bore, means in the a body means which by-passes the packer to connect the annulus above and below the packer, and a pocket in the body means to one side of the bore having an end which opens to the bore;
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string, a packing element about the body means, said body means including means operable in response to tubing pressure for expanding the packing element into engagement with the well bore, a passageway which by-passes the packing element to connect with the annulus beneath the packer, means for releasably locking the packing element expanding means against operations to expand the packing element, means for holding the locking means in locking position, said holding means including a piston which is disposable within the passageway to close it, so that the fluid pressure supplied to the closed passageway will urge the holding means to a position for releasing the locking means, whereby the packing element may be expanded, and the piston moved out of the passageway to open it, means through which control fluid may be supplied to the body means through a line leading from a remote source, and means for alternatively connecting said control line with the closed passageway, in order that the holding means may be released, and disconnecting the control line with either the annulus or said passageway in order that said control fluid may be supplied to one or more other pressure responsive mechanisms within the well bore.
For use in closing off an annular space about a pipe string suspended within a well bore, a packer comprising body means including a tubular member adapted to be connected as part of the pipe string, and a sleeve surrounding the tubular member, a normally contracted packing element carried about the body means, means for expanding the packing element into engagement with the well bore in response to axial movement of said sleeve with respect to the tubular member, means forming a pressure chamber within the body means including a piston on the sleeve, said tubular member having a port therein connecting its bore with the chamber so that tubing pressure acts over the piston to urge said sleeve to move with respect to said tubular member, means forming a passageway within the body means having an upper end adapted to be connected with a line for supplying control fluid from a remote source, and a lower end connecting with the exterior of the body means beneath the packing element so as to by-pass same, locking means on the sleeve engageable with locking means on the tubular member so as to prevent the sleeve from moving, means for holding said locking means in locking engagement, and means for moving said holding means to a position in which it releases said locking means for disengagement from locking position, including a piston on the holding means which is disposable within said passageway to close it so that control fluid may be supplied thereto to move the holding means to locking means releasing position, whereby the packing element may be expanded and the piston on the holding means moved out of the passageway to open it.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string, a packing element about the body means, means for expanding the packing element into engagement with the well bore, means including conduit means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer element when the packing element is so expanded, means for releasably locking the packing element expanding means against operation to expand the packing element, first pressure responsive means for releasing the locking means in response to the supply of control fluid thereto, whereby the packing element may be expanded, valve means for opening and closing the connecting means, second pressure responsive means for controlling the valve means in response to the supply or exhaust of control fluid thereto, and means by which control fluid may be alternatively supplied through a control line leading from a remote source to the first pressure responsive means in order to release the locking means, and, upon expansion of the packing element, to said second pressure responsive means to open or close the valve means.
Apparatus for controlling flow within the annulus about a tubing string within a well bore, comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string, a packing element about the body means, means for expanding the packing element into engagement with the well bore, means for releasably locking the packing element expanding means against operation to expand the packing element, first pressure responsive means for releasing the locking means in response to the supply of control fluid thereto, whereby the packing element may be expanded, said body means having a pocket therein to one side of the bore therethrough, and a first tool adapted to be moved through the tubing string into and out of the pocket, said body means and first tool having conduit means through which control fluid from a remote source may be supplied to the first pressure responsive means, when said first tool is in the pocket, means including conduit means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer element when the packing element is so expanded, valve means for controlling flow through the connecting means, a second tool adapted to be moved through the tubing and into the pocket upon removal of the first tool therefrom, and having second pressure responsive means for opening and closing the valve means in response to the supply of control fluid thereto from a remote source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.