# US 9,518,444 B2 · Valve assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,444 B2 - Document ID: US9518444B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/884,748 - Filed: 2011-11-15 - Published: 2013-11-07 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-18 - Assignees: Expro North Sea Limited - Applicants: Richard William Thompson - Inventors: Richard William Thompson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518444B2 ## CPC - E21B 34/06: in wells - E21B 34/063: {Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence)} - E21B 34/10: operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole - E21B 34/14: operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} - E21B 2200/05: Flapper valves - E21B 2200/06: Sleeve valves - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A valve assembly (2) which is configured to be coupled to a tubing string comprises a housing (8) defining a housing flow path (9) for communicating with the tubing string, and a barrier member (14) located in the housing (8) and configurable between a normally-closed position in which the barrier member (14) restricts access through the housing flow path (9), and an open position in which access is permitted through the housing flow path (9). The valve assembly (2) also comprises a bypass arrangement reconfigurable between an open state in which the bypass arrangement defines a bypass flow path that communicates with the housing flow path (9) on opposite sides of the barrier member (14) to permit fluid to bypass the barrier member and thereby fill the tubing string, and a closed state in which fluid is prevented from bypassing the barrier member to thereby permit pressurization of the tubing string. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly configured to be coupled to a tubing string, comprising: a housing defining a housing flow path for communicating with the tubing string; a barrier member located in the housing and configurable between a normally-closed position in which the barrier member restricts access through the housing flow path, and an open position in which access is permitted through the housing flow path; and a bypass arrangement reconfigurable between an open state in which the bypass arrangement defines a bypass flow path that communicates with the housing flow path on opposite sides of the barrier member to permit fluid to bypass the barrier member and thereby fill the tubing string, and a closed state in which fluid is prevented from bypassing the barrier member to thereby permit pressurization of the tubing string, wherein the bypass arrangement comprises a variable flow restrictor; and wherein the flow restrictor is defined by a flow restrictor ring slidably mounted between a first position in which the flow restrictor ring co-operates with a first feature of the valve assembly to define a first restriction, and a second position in which the flow restrictor ring co-operates with a second feature of the valve assembly to define a second, greater restriction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bypass arrangement is biased towards an open state to be configurable between a normally-open state and the closed state against said bias. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing flow path is located radially inwardly of the bypass flow path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing flow path is located within the bypass flow path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing flow path is located substantially centrally within the housing and generally aligned along an axis thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bypass flow path is defined within the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bypass arrangement defines an annular bypass flow path which circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the housing flow path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bypass arrangement comprises one or more bypass ports on opposite sides of the barrier member configured to facilitate communication between the bypass flow path and the housing flow path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein at least one bypass port is configured to impart rotational flow within the bypass flow path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bypass arrangement is configured to permit flow through the bypass flow path in opposite directions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein the bypass arrangement is reconfigurable to an open state in response to flow in one direction, and be reconfigurable into a closed state in response to flow in an opposite direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bypass arrangement is configured for actuation using variable flow restriction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor ring is moveable between the first and second positions in response to the direction of fluid flow through the bypass arrangement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, comprising a valve sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve, wherein the valve sleeve assembly is configured to selectively open and close communication between the housing flow path and bypass flow path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the valve sleeve assembly defines a central flow path that constitutes part of the housing flow path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the valve sleeve assembly comprises the barrier member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the valve sleeve assembly is slidably mounted for displacement within the housing to selectively permit or prevent communication between the housing flow path and the bypass flow path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the valve sleeve assembly is biased towards a first position in which the bypass arrangement is in the open state, and the valve sleeve assembly is moveable against the bias to a second position in which the bypass arrangement is in the closed state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the valve sleeve assembly comprises a flow restrictor configured to apply an actuation force to the valve sleeve assembly in accordance with a fluid flow condition to reconfigure the valve sleeve assembly to selectively open and close communication between the housing flow path and bypass flow path. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the valve assembly comprises a sealing arrangement configured to form one or more seals between the housing and the valve sleeve assembly. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The valve assembly according to claim 20, wherein the valve sleeve assembly is slidably mounted within the sealing arrangement so that relative movement between the valve sleeve assembly and the sealing arrangement selectively opens and closes communication between the housing flow path and the bypass flow path. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, comprising a bias member to hold the barrier member in a normally-closed position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1 comprising one or more frangible elements configured to hold the barrier member in a normally-closed position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The valve assembly according to claim 1, comprising an actuation member configured for opening the barrier member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The valve assembly according to claim 24, wherein the actuation member is configured for displacement within the housing relative to the barrier member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The valve assembly according to claim 24, wherein the barrier member is configured to pivot about a hinge and an end surface of the actuation member is configured such that displacement of the actuation member towards the barrier member results in a portion of the end surface of the actuation member engaging the barrier member at a position opposite a location of the hinge. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The valve assembly according to claim 24, wherein an end surface of the actuation member for engaging the barrier member is curved. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The valve assembly according to claim 24, wherein the actuation member is configured to form at least a portion of the housing flow path. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The valve assembly according to claim 24, comprising an actuator configured to actuate the actuator member to open the barrier member. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The valve assembly according to claim 24, wherein the actuator member is hydraulically operated. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The valve assembly according to claim 30, wherein the actuator is hydraulically operated by exposure to wellbore pressure. ### Claim 32 A method for deploying a tubing string in a wellbore containing a fluid, comprising: coupling the tubing string to a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising: a housing defining a housing flow path for communicating with the tubing string; a barrier member located in the housing; and a bypass arrangement; configuring the barrier member in a normally-closed position in which the barrier member restricts access through the housing flow path; configuring the bypass arrangement in an open state in which the bypass arrangement defines a bypass flow path that communicates with the housing flow path on opposite sides of the barrier member, wherein the bypass arrangement comprises a variable flow restrictor defined by a flow restrictor ring slidably mounted between a first position in which the flow restrictor ring co-operates with a first feature of the valve assembly to define a first restriction, and a second position in which the flow restrictor ring co-operates with a second feature of the valve assembly to define a second, greater restriction; moving the tubing string including the valve assembly downwardly within the wellbore causing fluid from the wellbore to bypass the barrier member via the bypass flow path to thereby fill the tubing string; configuring the bypass arrangement in a closed state in which fluid is prevented from bypassing the barrier member; and pressurizing fluid contained within the tubing string. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, comprising configuring the barrier member in an open position to permit access through the housing flow path. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method according to claim 33, comprising depressurizing fluid contained within the tubing string between the step of pressurizing fluid within the tubing string and the step of configuring the barrier member in an open position to permit access through the housing flow path. ### Claim 35 A valve assembly for selectively permitting filling and pressurization of a tubing string during deployment into a wellbore, comprising: a housing defining a housing flow path; a barrier member configurable between open and normally-closed positions to selectively restrict access through the housing flow path; and a bypass arrangement configurable between open and closed states to selectively permit fluid to bypass the valve member, the bypass arrangement comprising a variable flow restrictor defined by a flow restrictor ring slidably mounted between a first position in which the flow restrictor ring co-operates with a first feature of the valve assembly to define a first restriction, and a second position in which the flow restrictor ring co-operates with a second feature of the valve assembly to define a second, greater restriction, wherein the valve assembly is configurable between: a first configuration in which the barrier member is in the normally-closed position and the bypass arrangement is in the open state to permit fluid to enter the tubing string via the bypass arrangement; a second configuration in which the barrier member is in the normally-closed position and the bypass arrangement is in the closed state to prevent fluid communication and allow pressurization of fluid within the tubing string; and a third configuration in which the barrier member is open to permit access through the housing flow path of the valve assembly.