BACK PRESSURE VALVE

• US 20100258319A1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Guidry, Kirk P., Nguyen, Dennis P., Taylor, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/02 for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/04 Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/00 Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/02 in well heads

Abstract

A system in some embodiments includes a back pressure valve configured to mount in a mineral extraction system. The back pressure valve comprises a cylindrical body comprising a venting port coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and a plunger disposed in the venting port, wherein the plunger comprises a stem that extends from the venting port into an adjacent cavity of the cylindrical body. In some embodiments, a method of operating a valve, includes biasing a plunger to an open position, biasing a valve locking mechanism to a locked position in relation to a bore of a mineral extraction system, and biasing a plunger to a closed position.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a back pressure valve configured to mount in a mineral extraction system, wherein the back pressure valve comprises;

a cylindrical body comprising a venting port coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body; and

a plunger disposed in the venting port, wherein the plunger comprises a stem that extends from the venting port into an adjacent cavity of the cylindrical body.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a back pressure valve running tool configured to couple to the back pressure valve, wherein the back pressure valve running tool is configured to transfer axial loading in a single direction to seat, lock, and seal the back pressure valve in a bore of a mineral extraction system.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a back pressure valve retrieval tool configured to couple to the back pressure valve, wherein the back pressure valve retrieval tool is configured to transfer axial loading in a single direction to unseal, unlock, and unseat the back pressure valve from a bore of a mineral extraction system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the venting port passes through the cylindrical body.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plunger is biased toward a closed position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plunger extends a first distance into the adjacent cavity in a closed position, and extends a second distance into the adjacent cavity in an opened position, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a hold down sleeve and one or more locking segments disposed in the cavity.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the hold down sleeve and the one or more locking segments comprise an angled interface, such that an axial load applied to the hold down sleeve generates a radial load that urges the one or more locking segments into a locked position.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the stem is accessible via an internal bore extending through the center of the hold down sleeve.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a bell that is configured to seal against a complementary surface of the venting port.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the back pressure valve is configured to mount in a hanger bore of a mineral extraction system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plunger is configured to block the venting port in a closed position.

13-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A system, comprising:

a back pressure valve running tool configured to couple to a back pressure valve and configured to transmit axial force in a single direction, such that the back pressure valve seats and locks in a bore in response to the axial force in the single direction.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the back pressure valve running tool comprises:

a tool body;

a tool plunger; and

a spring disposed between the tool body and the tool plunger, wherein the spring biases the tool plunger to an extended position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein tool plunger is configured to bias the plunger of the back pressure valve toward an opened position.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the tool plunger comprises a recess having a depth that is less than a height of a stem of the plunger of the back pressure valve.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the back pressure valve running tool is configured to slide axially relative to the back pressure valve and the tool plunger.

23-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method of operating a back pressure valve, comprising:

biasing a plunger of a back pressure valve into an unlocked and opened position;

urging the back pressure valve into a bore in the unlocked and opened position;

applying an axial load in a first direction to lock the back pressure valve into the bore; and

biasing the plunger of the back pressure valve into a closed position.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein biasing the plunger of the back pressure valve into the opened position comprises depressing a stem of the plunger of the back pressure valve to an open position.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein depressing the stem of the plunger comprises applying a load to the plunger via a spring-biased tool plunger.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein applying the axial load in the first direction is configured to shear one or more running shear pins.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein applying the axial load in the first direction is configured to cause one or more locking segments of the back pressure valve to expand in a radial direction.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein applying the axial load in the first direction is configured to enable a spring loaded pin to extend radially into a complementary receptacle, wherein the spring loaded pin retains the back pressure valve in a locked position.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein biasing the plunger of the back pressure valve into the closed position comprises reducing a load acting on the plunger.

33-39. -39. (canceled)