Valve assembly

• US 20010042626A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Patel, Dinesh R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,550,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/386
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/04 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/006 "J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/102 with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position E21B34/105 and E21B34/108 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/103 with a shear pin

Abstract

An apparatus usable in a subterranean well includes a valve, a first mechanism and a second mechanism. The valve controls communication between an annular region that surrounds the valve and an inner passageway of the valve. The first mechanism causes the valve to transition from a first state to a second state in response to pressure in the annular region. The second mechanism causes the valve to transition between the first state and the second state in response to a pressure differential between the annular region and the inner passageway.

Claims

1. A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising:

running a valve downhole in a first state;

changing the valve to a second state in response to pressure applied to an annular region that surrounds the valve; and

changing the valve between the first and second states by regulating a differential pressure between the annular region and an inner passageway of the valve.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the regulating comprises:

regulating a rate of fluid flow between the annular region and the inner passageway.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the first state comprises a closed state.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the second state comprises an open state.

5. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising:

locking the valve in the first state after a predetermined number of transitions occur between the first and second states.

6. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the valve comprises a circulation valve.

7. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the changing the valve to the second state in response to the pressure comprises rupturing a rupture disc.

8. An apparatus usable in a subterranean well, comprising:

a valve to control communication between an annular region that surrounds the valve and an inner passageway of the valve;

a first mechanism to cause the valve to transition from a first state to a second state in response to pressure in the annular region; and

a second mechanism to cause the valve to transition between the first state and the second state in response to a pressure differential between the annular region and the inner passageway.

9. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the second mechanism responds to rate of fluid flow between the annular region and the inner passageway.

10. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the first state comprises a closed state.

11. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the second state comprises an open state.

12. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the second mechanism locks the valve in the first state after a predetermined number of transitions occur between the first and second states.

13. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the second mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism.

14. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the first mechanism comprises at least one rupture disc located between the annular region and the inner passageway.

15. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the second mechanism comprises at least one radial port.

16. The apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein

the valve comprises a mandrel to change the valve between the first and second states in response to a fluid flow through said at least one radial port.

17. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein the valve comprises a circulation valve.

18. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein:

the valve comprises a mandrel responsive to pressure in the annular region to change the valve between the first and second states, and

the first mechanism comprises a shear pin to confine travel of the mandrel to keep the valve in the first state until pressure in the annular region exceeds a predefined threshold.

19. The apparatus of

claim 8

, wherein

the valve comprises a mandrel responsive to pressure in the annular region to change the valve between the first and second states,

the second mechanism comprises at least one flow port formed in a housing, and

a cross-section of the flow port establishes a predefined pressure differential between the annular region and the inner passageway to cause the mandrel to move to change the valve between the first and second states.

20. The apparatus of

claim 8

, further comprising:

a mandrel responsive to the pressure in the annulus to move to establish the first and second states,

wherein the second mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism to confine movement of the mandrel to lock the valve in the second state in response to the valve transitioning between the first and second states a predetermined number of times.

21. An apparatus for use with a subterranean well comprising:

a tubular member having a longitudinal passageway and at least one port for establishing communication between the passageway and an annular region that surrounds the tubular member; and

a valve adapted to open and close the port and lock the valve closed after the valve closes more than a predetermined number of times.

22. The apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein the valve comprises a tubing fill valve.

23. The apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein the valve comprises:

a mandrel adapted to move in the tubular member to open and close communication through said at least one port; and

a ratchet mechanism to lock a position of the mandrel to keep the valve closed after the valve closes more than the predetermined number of times.

24. The apparatus of

claim 23

, wherein a first surface of the tubular member has first teeth, the ratchet mechanism comprising:

a ratchet key having second teeth and being fixed to the mandrel;

a ratchet lug located between the first and second teeth; and

a spring to bias the ratchet key to permit the ratchet lug to move with respect to the first teeth in a first direction when the mandrel moves in the first direction to close the valve and not move in a second direction with respect to the first teeth when the mandrel moves in the second direction to open the valve.

25. The apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the mandrel comprises a shoulder and the ratchet lug contacts the shoulder to prevent the mandrel from moving to open the valve when the valve closes more than the predetermined number of times.

26. A method usable with a subterranean well comprising:

using a tubing fill valve to selectively control communication between a passageway of a tubing and an annular region that surrounds the tubing; and

locking the tubing fill valve closed after the valve closes more than a predetermined number of times.

27. The method of

claim 26

, wherein the locking comprises:

advancing a ratchet mechanism to lock the valve closed after the valve closes more than a predetermined number of times.