Adjustable orifice valve

A throttling valve controllable from the surface of a well for downhole use, comprising:

• a body securable to downhole equipment or tubulars;
• a valve member strokable between opposed end positions;
• said valve member movable in an opening in said body for throttling of a fluid passing through said body as said valve member changes the size of said opening when moved between said opposed end positions;
• said valve member comprising a housing, said housing comprises a needle extending adjacent an opening in said housing such that flow is through said housing and out through said opening in said housing and past said needle and through said opening in said body;
• a control system mounted at least in part remote from said body at the surface of said well and operatively controlling said valve member;
• said control system positions and maintains said valve member in at least one position between said opposed end positions;
• at least one piston in said body operably connected to said needle;
• said control system comprises a conduit extending from the surface to said body for selective application of fluid pressure to said piston.

A throttling valve for downhole use, comprising:

• a body securable to downhole equipment or tubulars;
• a valve member strokable between opposed end positions;
• said valve member movable in an opening in said body for throttling of a fluid passing through said body as said valve member changes the size of said opening when moved between said opposed end positions;
• said valve member comprising a housing, said housing comprises a needle extending adjacent an opening in said housing such that flow is through said housing and out through said opening in said housing and past said needle and through said opening in said body;
• a control system mounted at least in part at the surface and operatively controlling said valve member;
• said valve member comprises a needle movable in said opening of said body;
• at least one piston in said body operably connected to said needle;
• said control system comprises a conduit extending from the surface to said body for selective application;
• a pair of conduits extending from the surface to opposing sides of said position for movement of said piston into a plurality of positions including said end positions.

A back pressure control system for a subsurface separator, comprising:

• a valve body;
• a valve member comprising a translatable needle between and including a fully open and fully closed position in a throat formed in said body;
• said valve member comprising a housing, said housing comprises said needle extending adjacent an opening in said housing such that flow is through said housing and out through said opening in said housing and past said needle and through said throat in said body, said housing and said needle translate in tandem in said body;
• a control system operable from the surface of a well to stroke said needle and maintain said needle in at least one position between fully open and fully closed.

A back pressure control system for a subsurface separator, comprising:

• a valve body;
• a valve member comprising a movable needle between and including a fully open and fully closed position in a throat formed in said body;
• said valve member comprising a housing, said housing comprises said needle extending adjacent an opening in said housing such that flow is through said housing and out through said opening in said housing and past said needle and through said throat in said body;
• control system operable from the surface of a well to stroke said needle and maintain said needle in at least one position between fully open and fully closed;
• said control system further comprises:
• a control line from the surface connected to said body;
• said body comprises a piston operatively connected to said needle, said control line communicating a pressure to said piston for selective movement of said needle.