Downhole apparatus having a rotating valve member
AssigneeRed Spider Technology Limited
InventorsMichael J. Christie, Stuart Gordon, Irvine C. Brown, Michael A. Reid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole apparatus adapted to be run on a workstring in a well bore. The apparatus has a body including ports and a valve which is rotatable to open and close the ports to selectively allow fluid flow through the body between regions of a well bore above and below the apparatus. The valve is rotated via a gearbox and motor in the apparatus. A sealing arrangement between the valve and body is also described. A method of running the apparatus in a well bore and monitoring pressure above the apparatus in order to control opening and closing of the valve under predetermined conditions is presented.
Claims19
A downhole apparatus adapted to be run into a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a body adapted to connect with a wireline and an anchor in a wellbore;
- one or more ports provided in the body for passage of fluid between regions of the well bore above and below the apparatus and the anchor;
- a valve member movable relative to the body between a first position in which the ports are open to allow fluid flow there through, and a second position in which the ports are closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough;
- wherein the valve member is connected to a drive shaft of a gearbox and motor assembly to thereby be rotated with respect to the body between the first and second positions;
- wherein the valve member includes at least one aperture, and the valve member is operable to be rotated relative to the body to selectively allow fluid flow of fluid between regions of the wellbore above and below the apparatus and the anchor, wherein fluid flow between regions of the wellbore above and below the apparatus is allowed when the port and the aperture are aligned and fluid flow between regions of the wellbore above and below the apparatus is cut off when the port and the aperture are misaligned;
- wherein the apparatus includes a seal arrangement for sealing the one or more ports when the valve member is in its second position;
- wherein the seal arrangement includes a sealing element providing a metal-to-metal seal around the one or more ports, wherein the seal arrangement provides a double piston effect metal-to-metal seal such that the seal arrangement functions as a seal regardless of direction of pressure differential across the seal, and the sealing element is a metal seal ring which is radially moveable with respect to the valve member;
- and
- wherein the valve member includes a part spherical surface locatable on a complementary surface of the seal arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.