Downhole valve assembly
AssigneeW. Lynn Frazier
InventorW. Lynn Frazier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Downhole tools and methods for isolating a wellbore. A downhole tool can include a body having a bore or flowpath formed therethrough, and one or more sealing members disposed therein. The one or more sealing members can include an annular base and a curved surface having an upper face and a lower face, wherein one or more first radii define the upper face, and one or more second radii define the lower face, and wherein, at any point on the curved surface, the first radius is greater than the second radius. The sealing members can be disposed within the bore of the tool using one or more annular sealing devices disposed about the one or more sealing members.
Claims19
An apparatus for sealing off a bore of a downhole tool, comprising:
- a first portion comprising a cylindrical base;
- a second portion comprising a curved surface having an upper face and a lower face, wherein one or more first radii define the upper face, and one or more second radii define the lower face, and wherein, at any point on the curved surface, the first radius is greater than the second radius;
- a first seal disposed about the first portion;
- and
- a second seal disposed about the second portion.
A tool, comprising:
- a body having a bore formed therethrough;
- at least one sealing member disposed within the body, wherein each sealing member comprises:
- an annular base;
- and
- a curved surface having an upper face and a lower face, wherein one or more first radii define the upper face, and one or more second radii define the lower face, and wherein, at any point on the curved surface, the first radius is greater than the second radius;
- a first annular seal disposed about the annular base;
- a second annular seal disposed about the curved surface, between the curved surface and the body;
- and
- a shoulder disposed within the body, wherein the annular base of the sealing member is adapted to be disposed on the shoulder, and the first annular seal is disposed between the annular base and the body, proximal the shoulder.
A method for operating a wellbore, comprising:
- setting one or more tools within the wellbore, the one or more tools comprising:
- a body having a bore formed therethrough;
- at least one sealing member disposed within the body, wherein each sealing member comprises:
- an annular base;
- a curved surface having an upper face and a lower face, wherein one or more first radii define the upper face, and one or more second radii define the lower face, and wherein, at any point on the curved surface, the first radius is greater than the second radius;
- and
- a first annular seal disposed about the annular base;
- a second annular seal disposed about the curved surface, between the curved surface and the body;
- and
- a shoulder disposed within the body, wherein the annular base of the sealing member is adapted to be disposed on the shoulder and the first annular seal disposed between the annular base and the body, proximal the shoulder;
- and
- a sliding sleeve disposed within the body, the sliding sleeve having a first end adapted to engage a setting tool, and a second end having one or more protrusions adapted to fracture the sealing member when contacted therewith;
- and
- restoring fluid communication through the tool by axially displacing the sliding sleeve to a second position, wherein the displacement of the sliding sleeve to the second position is sufficient for the second end of the sliding sleeve to fracture the sealing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.