Valve assembly
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorDinesh R. Patel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus usable in a subterranean well includes a valve, a first mechanism, a second mechanism, and a lock. The valve controls communication between an exterior region that surrounds the valve and an inner passageway of the valve. The first mechanism causes the valve to transition from a first state to a second state in response to pressure in the exterior region. The second mechanism causes the valve to transition between the first state and the second state in response to a pressure differential between the exterior region and the inner passageway. The lock fixes the valve in one of the states.
Claims37
An apparatus for use in a subterranean well comprising:
- a tube having a longitudinal passageway and a port to establish communication between the passageway and an exterior region that surrounds the tube;
- a locking feature at least partially exposed to the passageway;
- and
- a valve to open or close the port, the valve adapted to engage the locking feature to permanently lock the valve in a closed state.
A valve for use in a well comprising:
- a tube having a longitudinal passageway, a port to establish communication between the passageway and an exterior region that surrounds the tube, and a detent protruding into the passageway;
- a sliding sleeve to open or close the port;
- a collet attached to the sleeve;
- a spring to bias the port open;
- and
- a first lock to permanently close the port when the collet traverses the detent.
A method for use in a subterranean well comprising:
- (a) running a tube into the well;
- (b) allowing a fluid to pass through a port the tube;
- (c) closing a valve to block the port;
- (d) testing the tube;
- (e) opening the valve to unblock the port;
- (f) repeating steps (a)-(e) any number of times, including or omitting step (e) on a final cycle;
- and
- (g) engaging a locking feature internal to the tube to lock the valve and block the port permanently.
An apparatus for use in a subterranean well comprising:
- a tube having a longitudinal passageway and a port to establish communication between the passageway and an exterior region that surrounds the tube;
- a valve to control communication through the port, the valve comprising a sleeve having a notch;
- and
- a locking element to engage the notch to close communication through the port upon sufficient displacement of the sleeve.
A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising:
- running a tube into a well;
- sliding a sleeve in the tube to control communication through a port in the tube;
- providing a notch in the sleeve;
- and
- engaging the notch with a locking element to lose communication through the port in response to a predetermined displacement of the sleeve.
An apparatus for use in a subterranean well comprising:
- a tube having a longitudinal passageway and a port to establish communication between the passageway and an exterior region that surrounds the tube, the tube comprising a detent protruding at least partially into the passageway;
- and
- a valve to control communication through the port, the valve comprising a collet,
- wherein the valve locks in response to the port being closed and the collet traversing the detent.
A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising:
- running a tube into a well, the tube having an internal longitudinal passageway;
- using a valve to control communication through a port in the tube;
- providing a detent in the passageway;
- and
- locking the valve in a closed position in response to a collet traversing the detent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.