Valve apparatus for use in sand control
AssigneeDowell Schlumberger Incorporated
InventorHoward L. McGill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a circulating valve for use in sand control and related well operations includes a mandrel that can be rotated in a housing after a weight-responsive clutch is released. As the mandrel is rotated to the right, a reverse lead groove system engaged by a pawl causes a valve sleeve element to shuttle down and up between positions closing and opening a flow path between the annulus above a packer and a zone in the well below the packer.
Claims13
Valve apparatus for use in a well, comprising:
- a housing;
- a mandrel mounted for rotation in said housing and for limited telescopic movement, and mandrel being adapted to be connected to a running string of pipe which extends upward to the surface and said housing being adapted to be connected to a packer;
- clutch means on said mandrel and housing for preventing relative rotation until a selected amount of the weight of the running string is imposed on said mandrel to move it downward a predetermined distance relative to said housing;
- port means in said housing;
- sleeve valve means for closing and opening said port means;
- and actuator means responsive to only right-hand rotation of said mandrel for shifting said sleeve valve means to effect closing and opening of said port means.
A method of selectively opening and closing a circulation flow path between the well annulus above a packer and a zone in the well below said packer, comprising the steps of:
- providing a circulating valve that includes a mandrel which is rotatable within a housing, said mandrel being connected to a running string that extends upward to the surface and said housing being connected to said packer;
- releasably connecting said mandrel against rotation relative to said housing so that torsional forces can be transmitted therethrough to set said packer;
- imposing a portion of the weight of the running string on said mandrel to release said connection and thereby enable rotation of said mandrel;
- rotating said mandrel in only the right-hand direction relative to said housing;
- and in response to said rotation, actuating said circulation valve thereby repeatedly closing and opening said circulation flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.