Gate valve apparatus and method

A valve comprising,

• a housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper vertical housing passage and said lower housing passage and at least one lateral outlet in said housing, said lateral outlet being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage,
• a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, said gate having
• a first lateral portion with a gate vertical passage having a diameter substantially the same as or less than the upper vertical housing passage,
• a second lateral portion with a second gate vertical passage having a diameter smaller than said first gate vertical passage, and
• a third lateral portion with a gate "L" shaped passage therein, the "L" shaped passage having an opening in the bottom of the gate and an opening in a side portion of the gate, whereby,
• when said gate is in a lateral position where said first gate vertical passage is aligned with said vertical housing passage, full diameter access through the vertical housing passage and the first vertical passage is provided.

A valve comprising,

• a housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper vertical housing passage and said lower housing passage,
• a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, said gate having
• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage, and
• a removable inner part disposed in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage, whereby
• when said vertical insert cavity of said first lateral portion of said gate is aligned with said upper and lower vertical housing passages, said removable inner part may be removed from or inserted in the insert cavity via the upper vertical housing passage.

The valve of claim 18 further comprising

• at least one lateral outlet in said housing, said lateral outlet being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage, and
• the gate further having,
• a third lateral portion with a gate "L" shaped passage therein, the "L" shaped passage having an opening in the bottom of the gate and an opening in a side portion of the gate,
• the lateral moving means being adapted to move said gate among said first and second positions and a third position:
• the third position where said gate is in a lateral position such that said "L" shaped passage has its opening in the bottom of the gate aligned with the upper end of the lower conduit in the vertical housing passage and its opening in the side of the gate aligned with the lateral outlet in said housing.

A valve comprising,

• a housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper vertical housing passage and said lower housing passage and at least one lateral outlet in said housing, said lateral outlet being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage,
• a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, said gate having
• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage, and
• a removable inner part disposed in said insert cavity and having a vertical passage, whereby
• when said vertical insert cavity of said first lateral portion of said gate is aligned with said upper and lower vertical housing passages, said removable inner part may be removed from or inserted in the insert cavity via the upper vertical housing passage,
• a second lateral portion with a gate "L" shaped passage therein, the "L" shaped passage having an opening in the bottom of the gate and an opening in a side portion of the gate, and
• means for laterally moving said gate in said lateral housing passage between at least two positions:
• the first position where the vertical passage of the inner part is aligned with the upper and lower vertical housing passages allowing fluid communication between the upper and lower passages of the housing, and
• the second position where said gate is in a lateral position such that said "L" shaped passage has its opening in the bottom of the gate aligned with the upper end of the lower conduit in the vertical housing passage and its opening in the side of the gate aligned with the lateral outlet in said housing.

A production tree for connection to the tubing head of an oil and gas well comprising,

• a master valve adapted for connection to said tubing head of the well having,
• a housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper vertical housing passage and said lower housing passage, and at least one lateral outlet in said housing, said lateral outlet being being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and to the vertical housing passage, and
• a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, said gate having
• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage,
• a removable inner part removably disposed via said upper vertical housing passage in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage,
• means for coupling production tubing landed in said tubing head with the lower housing passage of said master valve,
• a second lateral portion in said gate with a gate "L" shaped passage therein, the "L" shaped passage having an opening in the bottom of the gate and an opening in a side portion of the gate,
• means for laterally moving said gate in said lateral housing passage, and
• control valve means attached to said lateral outlet for controlling fluid flow in the production tubing in the well.

A production tree for connection to the tubing head of an oil and gas well comprising

• a master valve adapted for connection to said tubing head of the well having,
• a housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passage and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper vertical housing passage and said lower housing passage, and two lateral outlets in said housing, said lateral outlets being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and to the vertical housing passage, and
• a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, said gate having
• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage,
• a removable inner part removably disposed via said upper vertical housing passage in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage,
• means for coupling production tubing landed in said tubing head with the lower housing passage of said master valve, and
• a second lateral portion in said gate with a gate "T" shaped passage therein, the "T" shaped passage having a base passage with an opening in the bottom of the gate and a head passage intersecting the base passage and having openings in the sides of the gate,
• means for laterally moving said gate in said lateral housing passage, and
• control valve means attached to said lateral outlets for controlling fluid flow in the production tubing in the well.

A safety valve adapted for controlling a well and adapted for placement between a tubing head and a blowout preventer stack or a production tree comprising,

• a housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper vertical housing passage and said lower housing passage, and
• two lateral outlets in said housing, said lateral outlets being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage, each of the outlets being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage,
• means for disposing upper and lower conduits, respectively, in said upper and lower vertical housing passages, the upper conduit having its lower end open to the intersecting lateral passage, the lower conduit having its upper end open to the intersecting lateral passage,
• a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral housing, said gate having
• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage,
• a removable inner part removably disposed via said upper vertical housing passage in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage,
• a second lateral portion of the gate having no passage extending through it, and
• a third lateral portion of the gate with a gate "T" shaped passage therein, the "T" shaped passage having a base passage with an opening in the bottom of the gate and a head passage intersecting the base passage and having openings in the sides of the gate,
• means for laterally moving said gate in said lateral housing passage among at least three positions:
• the first position where the vertical passage of the inner part is aligned with the upper and lower vertical housing passages allowing fluid communication between upper and lower passages of the housing, and
• the second position where a second lateral portion of the gate having no passage extending through it covers the lower housing passage thereby closing the flow path from the lower passage to the upper passage of the housing, and
• the third position where said gate is in a lateral position such that said gate "T" shaped passage has its opening in the bottom of the gate aligned with the upper end of the lower conduit in the vertical housing passage and its openings in the sides of the gate aligned with the respective lateral outlets in the housing.

In a well having a wellhead to which is attached a safety valve housing having an upper passage and a lower passage, the lower passage communicating with the wellhead, and each of the upper and lower passages being open to a lateral passage in the housing, a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, the gate having a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage and a removable inner part disposed in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage therethrough, the housing having a blowout preventer removably attached to the upper part of the housing with vertical flow path of the blowout preventer communicating with the upper passage of the safety valve, the diameter of the vertical flow path of the blowout preventer being substantially the same as or greater than that of the upper passage of the safety valve, the inner diameter of the insert cavity and the lower passage,

• a method for controlling the well during installation of production tubing and a Christmas tree comprising the steps of,
• setting tubing in the well through the blowout preventer and the upper passage, the insert cavity of the first lateral portion of the gate, and the lower passage of the safety valve housing,
• installing an inner part of the gate within the vertical insert cavity of the first lateral portion of the gate, the inner part having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity of the first lateral portion,
• laterally moving said gate within the safety valve housing until flow form the tubing is prevented access to the upper passage of the housing,
• removing the blowout preventer from the upper part of the housing,
• installing a Christmas tree to the upper part of the housing, and
• laterally moving the gate within the safety valve to a position where the vertical passage of the inner part completes the vertical flow path from the tubing in the wellhead below to the Christmas tree above the safety valve housing.

In a well having a wellhead to which is attached a safety valve housing having an upper passage and a lower passage, the lower passage communicating with the wellhead, and each of the upper and lower passages being open to a lateral passage in the housing, a laterally movable gate disposed in said lateral passage, the gate having a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical passage having a diameter substantially the same as or less than the vertical housing passage, and a second lateral portion with a second gate vertical passage having a diameter smaller than said first gate vertical passage, the housing having a blowout preventer removably attached to the upper part of the housing with the vertical flow path of the blowout preventer communicating with the upper passage of the safety valve, the diameter of the vertical flow path of the blowout preventer being substantially the same as or greater than that of the upper passage of the safety valve, the inner diameter of the insert cavity and the lower passage,

• a method for controlling the well during installation of production tubing and a Christmas tree comprising the steps of,
• setting tubing in the well through the blowout preventer and the upper passage, the first gate vertical passage and the lower passage of the safety valve,
• laterally moving said gate within the safety valve housing until flow from the tubing is prevented access to the upper passage of the housing,
• removing the blowout preventer from the upper part of the housing,
• installing a Christmas tree to the upper part of the housing, and
• laterally moving the gate within the safety valve to a position where the second gate vertical passage completes the vertical flow path from the tubing in the wellhead below to the Christmas tree above the safety valve housing.

A gate adapted for use in a valve housing with a vertical housing passage and a lateral housing passage, said vertical and lateral passages intersecting each other, and at least one lateral outlet in said housing, said lateral outlet being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage, the gate comprising,

• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical passage having a diameter substantially the same as the vertical housing passage,
• a second lateral portion with a second vertical passage having a diameter smaller than said first gate vertical passage, and
• a third lateral portion with a gate "L" shaped passage therein, the "L" shaped passage having an opening in the bottom of the gate and an opening in a side portion of the gate,
• said gate being adapted to be laterally movable within said lateral housing passage.

A gate adapted for use in a valve housing with a vertical housing passage and a lateral housing passage, said vertical and lateral passages intersecting each other, and two lateral outlets in said housing, said lateral outlets being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage, each of the outlets being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage, the gate comprising,

• a first lateral portion with a first gate vertical passage having a diameter substantially the same as the vertical housing passage,
• a second lateral portion with a second vertical passage having a diameter smaller than said first gate vertical passage, and
• a third lateral portion with a gate "T" shaped passage therein, the "T" shaped passage having a base passage within an opening in the bottom of the gate and a head passage intersecting the base passage and having openings in the sides of the gate,
• said gate being adapted to be laterally movable within said lateral housing passage.

A gate adapted for use in a valve housing, the housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper and lower housing passages, and at least one lateral outlet in said housing, said later outlet being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage, the gate comprising,

• a first lateral portion with a first vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage, and
• a removable inner part removably disposed via said upper vertical housing passage in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage therein, and
• a second lateral portion with a gate "L" shaped passage therein, the "L" shaped passage having an opening in the bottom of the gate and an opening in a side portion of the gate,
• said gate being adapted to be laterally movable within said lateral housing passage.

A gate adapted for use in a valve housing, the housing having coaxial upper and lower vertical housing passages and a lateral housing passage, said lateral passage intersecting said upper and lower housing passages, and two lateral outlets in said housing, said lateral housing passages being substantially perpendicular to said vertical housing passage and to said lateral housing passage and being open to the intersection of the lateral housing passage and the vertical housing passage, the gate comprising,

• a first lateral portion with a first vertical insert cavity, the insert cavity having an inner diameter substantially the same as or less than that of the upper vertical housing passage, and
• a removable inner part removably disposed via said upper vertical housing passage in said insert cavity having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the insert cavity and having a vertical passage therein, and
• a second lateral portion with a gate "T" shaped passage therein, the "T" shaped passage having a base passage with an opening in the bottom of the gate and a head passage intersecting the base passage and having openings in the sides of the gate,
• said gate being adapted to be laterally movable within said lateral housing passage.