Downhole valve

A valve comprising:

• a housing having a first flow passage therein;
• an indexer, comprising a rigid protrusion, mounted for rotary movement in said first flow passage;
• a valve seat surface in said first flow passage, said valve seat surface having a port therein, said port in fluid communication with a second flow passage;
• and
• an elastically-loaded valve element mounted in said second flow passage, said valve element adapted to obstruct said second flow passage when urged into contact with said valve seat surface;
• and
• wherein, said valve element is adapted to a) obstruct said second flow passage when said protrusion is not aligned with said port, and b) permit fluid flow between said first and second flow passages through said port when said protrusion is aligned with said port.

A valve comprising:

• a housing having a first flow passage therein;
• an indexer mounted for rotary movement in said first flow passage;
• a valve seat surface in said first flow passage, said valve seat surface having a plurality of ports therein, each of said ports in fluid communication with one of a plurality of second flow passages;
• and
• an elastically-loaded valve element mounted in at least one of said second flow passages, said valve element adapted to obstruct said at least one of said second flow passages when urged into contact with said valve scat surface;
• and
• wherein said indexer comprises a protrusion positioned to engage said valve element and force said valve element out of contact with said valve seat surface.

A downhole valve system for wells comprising:

• a tubing string extending from the surface of the earth to a desired depth within a well and defining a conveyance passage;
• a telemetry data detector adapted for positioning at a selected depth within the well and having a telemetry passage in communication with said conveyance passage;
• a microcomputer coupled with said telemetry data detector said programmed for processing telemetry data and providing valve control signals;
• at least one telemetry element of a dimension for passing through said conveyance passage and having an identification code recognizable by said telemetry data detector for processing by said microcomputer for causing said microcomputer to communicate control signals to a downhole valve for operation thereof responsive to said identification code;
• and
• a downhole valve adapted for positioning at a selected depth within the well, said valve comprising:
• a first flow passage therein;
• an indexer, comprising a rigid protrusion, mounted for rotary movement in said first flow passage;
• a valve seat surface in said first flow passage, said valve seat surface having a first port therein, said first port in fluid communication with a second flow passage;
• an elastically-loaded first valve element carried by said indexer on said valve seat surface, wherein said first valve element obstructs flow through said first port between said first and second flow passages when said rigid protrusion is not aligned with said first valve element;
• and
• an actuator in driving relation with said indexer.

A downhole valve system for wells comprising:

• a tubing string extending from the surface of the earth to a desired depth within a well and defining a conveyance passage;
• a telemetry data detector adapted for positioning at a selected depth within the well and having a telemetry passage in communication with said conveyance passage;
• a microcomputer coupled with said telemetry data detector and programmed for processing telemetry data and providing valve control signals;
• at least one telemetry element of a dimension for passing through said conveyance passage and having an identification code recognizable by said telemetry data detector for processing by said microcomputer for causing said microcomputer to communicate control signals to a downhole valve for operation thereof responsive to said identification code;
• and
• a downhole valve adapted for positioning at a selected depth within the well, said valve comprising:
• a first flow passage therein;
• an indexer, comprising a rigid protrusion, mounted for rotary movement in said first flow passage;
• a valve seat surface in said first flow passage, said valve scat surface baying a port therein, said port in fluid communication with a second flow passage;
• an elastically-loaded valve element mounted in said second flow passage, said valve element adapted to obstruct said second flow passage when urged into contact with said valve seat surface;
• and
• an actuator in driving relation with said indexer;
• and
• wherein said valve element is adapted to a) obstruct said second flow passage with said protrusion is not aligned with said port, and b) permit fluid flow between said first and second flow passages through said port when said protrusion is aligned with said poll.