Well surging method and apparatus with mechanical actuating backup

A well surging apparatus comprising:

• a valve assembly portion defining a central flow bore therethrough and comprising a ball valve disposed across said flow path;
• pressure operating means for actuating said ball valve in response to a pressure differential between said flow bore and a well annulus around said valve assembly portion;
• and
• mechanical operating means for mechanically actuating said ball valve, said mechanical operating means comprising:
• a probe assembly portion positionable adjacent to said valve assembly portion;
• and
• probe engaging means in operative association with said ball valve for engaging said probe assembly portion such that vertical movement of said probe assembly portion results in actuation of said ball valve.

A well surging apparatus for use in a well bore comprising:

• a valve assembly portion defining a central flow bore therethrough and comprising upper and lower ball valves, each of said ball valves being independently movable between a closed position wherein said flow bore is closed and an open position wherein said flow bore is open, said upper and lower ball valves defining a low pressure surge chamber therebetween when said ball valves are in an initially closed position;
• packer means connected to said valve assembly portion for sealingly engaging said well bore so that a well zone below said packer means may be surged;
• lower ball valve operating means for opening said lower ball valve prior to opening said upper ball valve so that well fluid from said well zone may surge upwardly through said flow bore past the open lower ball valve into said surge chamber;
• pressure actuated upper ball valve operating means for opening said upper ball valve after said lower ball valve has been opened and thereby allowing well fluid in said surge chamber to be circulated upwardly through said flow bore, said pressure actuated upper ball valve operating means being adapted for opening said upper ball valve in response to an increase in fluid pressure in a well annulus above said packer means relative to a fluid pressure within said flow bore;
• and
• mechanically actuated upper ball valve opening means for opening said upper ball valve after said lower ball valve has been opened in the event of inoperability of said pressure actuated upper ball valve operating means.

A method of surging a well comprising the steps of:

• positioning, at a predetermined position in a well bore of said well, a tool string comprising upper and lower spaced ball valves and a packer;
• initially orienting said ball valves in a closed position such that a surge chamber is defined therebetween;
• setting said packer into sealing engagement with said well bore at a position above a zone to be surged;
• after setting said packer, opening said lower ball valve such that fluid is surged from said well zone into said tool string past said open lower ball valve and into said surge chamber;
• and
• selectively opening said upper ball valve by at least one of pressure actuated and mechanical actuated ball valve operating means wherein, when said upper ball valve is opened by said mechanical actuating means, said step of opening said upper ball valve comprises lowering a probe assembly into said tool string for engaging a portion thereof.

A method of surging a well comprising the steps of:

• positioning, at a predetermined position in a well bore of said well, a tool string comprising upper and lower spaced ball valves and a packer;
• initially orienting said ball valves in a closed position such that a surge chamber is defined therebetween;
• setting said packer into sealing engagement with said well bore at a position above a zone to be surged;
• after setting said packer, opening said lower ball valve such that fluid is surged from said well zone into said tool string past said open lower ball valve and into said surge chamber;
• and
• selectively opening said upper ball valve by at least one of pressure actuated and mechanical actuated ball valve operating means, wherein said step of opening said upper ball valve is initially attempted by using said pressure actuated ball valve operating means and comprises subsequently using said mechanical actuated ball valve operating means if opening said upper ball valve is not accomplished by pressure actuation.