Partially retrievable safety valve

A method for controlling the flow of fluid in a subterranean well comprising the steps of:

• (a) securing a normally closed valve in the well, the valve allowing or restricting flow of the fluid through the well when in the open and closed positions respectively;
• and
• (b) running an actuator system, operable to open the valve, into the well, the actuator system being removable from the well while the valve remains closed and secured in the well, the actuator system comprising:
• an actuator motor,
• an actuator moved by the actuator motor between an upper actuator position and a lower actuator position;
• a hollow tube connected to the actuator and having an upper flow tube position and a lower flow tube position, the hollow flow tube communicating with the actuator so that when the actuator moves to the lower actuator position, the hollow flow tube moves to the lower flow tube position, directly contacts the valve, and pushes the valve open, the hollow flow tube maintaining the valve open when in the lower flow tube position so that fluid flows through the hollow flow tube and is in direct contact with the hollow flow tube, and allowing the valve to close when in the upper flow tube position.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid in a subterranean well comprising:

• a packer securely attached to a normally closed valve that allows or restricts flow of the fluid through the well when and closed positions, respectively;
• an actuator system operable to open the valve, the actuator system comprising:
• an actuator motor;
• an actuator moved by the actuator motor between an upper actuator position and a lower actuator position;
• a hollow flow tube connected to the actuator and having an upper flow tube position, and a lower flow tube position, the hollow flow tube communicating with the actuator so that when the actuator moves to the lower actuator position, the hollow flow tube moves to the lower flow tube position, directly contacts the valve, and pushes the valve open, the hollow flow tube maintaining the valve open when in the lower flow tube position so that fluid flows through the hollow flow tube and is in direct contact with the hollow flow tube, and allowing the valve to close when in the upper flow tube position;
• and
• a normally unlocked locking system securing the actuator system in the well, wherein
• the actuator system is removable from the well while the valve remains closed and secured in the well.