TESTABLE BACKPRESSURE VALVE SYSTEM

• US 20170009555A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Dennis P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,156,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 34/02 in well heads

Abstract

A system including a backpressure valve (BPV) system configured to mount in a hydrocarbon extraction system, wherein the BPV system includes a body comprising a vent port and a test passage, and a plunger configured to form a seal with the body around the vent port wherein the BPV system is configured to test the seal by pumping a fluid into the body through the test passage.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a backpressure valve (BPV) system configured to mount in a hydrocarbon extraction system, wherein the BPV system comprises;

a body comprising a vent port and a test passage; and

a plunger configured to form a seal with the body around the vent port;

wherein the BPV system is configured to test the seal by pumping a fluid into the body through the test passage.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a first seal piston coupled to the body, wherein the first seal piston is configured to move from a first position to a second position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first seal piston comprises a test port configured to fluidly couple to the test passage when the first seal piston is in the first position and to block fluid flow into the test port when the first seal piston is in the second position.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the test port is configured to fluidly couple to a fluid passage in a retrievable tool.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a second seal piston coupled to the body, wherein the second seal piston is configured to move between a third axial position and a fourth axial position to selectively form a test chamber.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising a connecting rod coupled to the first seal piston and to the second seal piston, wherein the connecting rod is configured to transfer torque from the first seal piston to the second seal piston to move the second seal piston from the third axial position to the fourth axial position.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a spring configured to bias the plunger against the body to form the seal.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising the hydrocarbon extraction system with a retrievable tool, wherein the retrievable tool is configured to couple the BPV system to the hydrocarbon extraction system and to test the seal.

9. A method, comprising:

coupling a retrievable tool to a backpressure valve (BPV) system;

coupling the BPV system within a hydrocarbon extraction system component; and

testing a seal of the BPV system with the retrievable tool.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein coupling the BPV system to the hydrocarbon extraction system comprises threading a body of the BPV system to the hydrocarbon extraction system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein testing the BPV system comprises axially moving a first seal piston and a second seal piston from a first position to a second position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first seal piston aligns a test passage with a test port in the second position.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second seal piston blocks fluid flow through one or more apertures in the body in the second position.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising biasing a plunger of the BPV system toward a closed position with a spring, wherein the plunger is configured to create a seal interface around a vent port in the body.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein testing the seal of the BPV system comprises pumping a test fluid through the retrievable tool and into a test chamber in the BPV system.

16. A system, comprising:

a hydrocarbon extraction system comprising a component;

a backpressure valve (BPV) system configured to be disposed within the component, comprising;

a body comprising a vent port and a test passage; and

a plunger configured to form a seal interface with the body around the vent port; and

a retrievable tool comprising a fluid passage configured to fluidly couple to the test passage, wherein the retrievable tool is configured to direct a test fluid into the BPV system that tests the seal interface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the component comprises a tubing hanger, a casing hanger, or any combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 16, comprising a first seal piston coupled to the body, wherein the first seal piston is configured to move from a first position to a second position.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first seal piston comprises a test port configured to fluidly couple to the test passage when the first seal piston is in the first position and to block fluid into the test port when the first seal piston is in the second position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the test port is configured to fluidly couple to a fluid passage in a retrievable tool.