Valve removal tool and method

A method of removing a first valve from a pressurized line into which it is threaded comprising:

• providing a saddle with an opening therein;
• providing a male lock adapter, said male lock adapter secured to said saddle;
• providing a lock, said lock placed over said male lock adapter for locking said saddle to said pressurized line;
• providing a tool having an aft chamber having a first end coupled to a first end of a second valve, the aft chamber being closed at a second end by a member having a shaft extending though the member and slideable therein along an axis of the tool, the aft chamber allowing partial disassembly to provide access to a tool bit on an inner end of the shaft;
• the tool bit having a tapered threaded region having threads of an opposite sense from threads on the first valve;
• clamping the saddle around the pressurized line with the opening in the saddle encircling the valve to be removed;
• coupling a second end of the second valve to the saddle;
• with the aft chamber assembled, opening the second valve;
• pushing the shaft toward the first valve inside the pressurized line and turning the shaft to cause the tool bit to cut into and grab the first valve and unscrew the first valve from inside the pressurized line;
• pulling the shaft away from the pressurized line to position the first valve and the tool bit in the aft chamber;
• closing the second valve;
• partially disassembling the aft chamber and removing the first valve from the tool bit;
• coupling a tapered threaded plug to the inner end of the shaft and reassembling the aft chamber;
• opening the second valve and sliding the shaft toward the pressurized line;
• rotating the shaft to screw the tapered plug into an opening in the pressurized line left by the removal of the first valve;
• pulling the shaft away from the pressurized line and removing the tool from the saddle;
• and
• putting a cap on the opening in the saddle.