Pilot-operated pressure-equalizing mechanism for subsurface valve

An equalizing subsurface valve for controlling fluid flow in a well conduit, comprising:

• a body member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough;
• a sleeve member disposed for movement within the longitudinal bore;
• an operating piston disposed within the body member and remotely shiftable to move the sleeve member within the longitudinal bore;
• a valve closure member mounted within the body member to control fluid flow through the longitudinal bore, and having a first surface and a second surface;
• a pilot activator movably disposed within a pilot bore in the valve closure member in response to movement of the sleeve member;
• a pilot piston movably disposed within a cylinder in the valve closure member, a first surface of the pilot piston being in fluid communication with the pilot bore through a pilot passageway in the valve closure member, the pilot activator alternately permitting and preventing fluid communication between the longitudinal bore adjacent the second surface of the valve closure member and the first surface of the pilot piston through the pilot passageway;
• and,
• an equalizing plug movably disposed within a plug bore in the valve closure member in response to movement of the pilot piston, the equalizing plug alternately permitting and preventing fluid communication between the longitudinal bore adjacent the second surface of the valve closure member and the longitudinal bore adjacent the first surface of the valve closure member through at least one equalizing passageway in the valve closure member.

A valve closure member mounted within a body member of an equalizing subsurface safety valve to control fluid flow through a longitudinal bore through the valve, comprising:

• a pilot activator movably disposed within a pilot bore in the valve closure member in response to movement of a sleeve member movably disposed in the longitudinal bore;
• a pilot piston movably disposed within a cylinder in the valve closure member, a first surface of the pilot piston being in fluid communication with the pilot bore through a pilot passageway in the valve closure member;
• and
• an equalizing plug movably disposed within a plug bore in the valve closure member in response to movement of the pilot piston, the equalizing plug alternately permitting and preventing fluid communication between the longitudinal bore adjacent a second surface of the valve closure member and the longitudinal bore adjacent a first surface of the valve closure member through at least one equalizing passageway in the valve.

A pressure-equalizing mechanism installed within an annular housing of a subsurface safety valve, the subsurface safety valve including a body member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a valve closure member movably mounted within the body member, and a sleeve member remotely shiftable within the longitudinal bore to move the valve closure member between open and closed positions to control fluid flow through the longitudinal bore, the valve closure member having a first surface and a second surface, the pressure-equalizing mechanism including:

• a pilot activator movably disposed within a pilot bore in the annular housing in response to movement of the sleeve member;
• a pilot piston movably disposed within a cylinder in the annular housing, a first surface of the pilot piston being in fluid communication with the pilot bore through a pilot passageway in the annular housing, the pilot activator alternately permitting and preventing fluid communication between the longitudinal bore adjacent the second surface of the valve closure member and the first surface of the pilot piston through the pilot passageway;
• and,
• an equalizing plug movably disposed within a plug bore in the annular housing in response to movement of the pilot piston, the equalizing plug alternately permitting and preventing fluid communication between the longitudinal bore adjacent the second surface of the valve closure member and the longitudinal bore adjacent the first surface of the valve closure member through at least one equalizing passageway.

An equalizing subsurface valve for controlling fluid flow in a well conduit, comprising:

• a body member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough;
• a valve actuator disposed for movement within the longitudinal bore;
• means for controllably moving the valve actuator within the longitudinal bore;
• a valve closure member mounted within the body member to control fluid flow through the longitudinal bore;
• means for biasing the valve closure member to a normally-closed position to prevent fluid flow through the longitudinal bore;
• means for biasing the valve actuator away from the valve closure member;
• and
• pressure equalizing means responsive to movement of the valve actuator for permitting fluid pressure above and below the valve disclosure member to equalize before the valve closure member is opened to allow fluid flow through the longitudinal bore, the pressure equalizing means including a pilot activator disposed for engagement with the valve actuator and for reciprocal movement within a pilot bore in the valve in response to movement of the valve actuator.

A method of equalizing pressure above and below a valve closure member in a subsurface safety valve prior to remotely shifting the valve closure member from a closed to an open position, comprising:

• shifting a valve actuator within a longitudinal bore of the subsurface safety valve into contact with a pilot activator disposed for reciprocal movement within a pilot bore in the valve;
• shifting the pilot activator within the pilot bore to establish fluid communication through a pilot passageway between the longitudinal bore adjacent a second surface of the valve closure member and a first surface of a pilot piston movably disposed within a cylinder in the valve;
• and
• establishing fluid communication between the second surface of the valve closure member and a first surface of the valve closure member.