Test valve having automatic bypass for formation pressure

• US 4,105,075 A
• Filed: 07/21/1977
• Issued: 08/08/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker International Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker International Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Helmus, Sydney S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leppink, James A.
• Application Number:
  US05/817,804
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 166/319, 166/321, 166/323, 166/324, 166/264
• US Class Current: 166/321
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/04 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/001 specially adapted for underwater installations

Abstract

Well test apparatus having, in a well, an annulus therearound. An elongated housing has a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough and a fluid passage opening and closing means for such passage. A further fluid passage permits fluid flow through the housing from the longitudinally extending passage to the annulus. A differential pressure responsive valve means for the further passage is responsive to pressure in the longitudinally extending passage for urging the valve means open to fluid flow in the further passage from the longitudinally extending passage to the annulus, and is responsive to annulus pressure for urging the valve means to a closed condition for fluid flow through the further passage.

Claims

1. Well test apparatus having, in a well, an annulus therearound comprising:

an elongated housing having a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough and a fluid passage opening and closing means for such passage;

a further fluid passage through the housing to permit fluid flow from the longitudinally extending passage to the annulus; and

differential pressure responsive valve means for the further passage responsive to pressure in the longitudinally extending passage for urging the valve means open to fluid flow in the further passage from the longitudinally extending passage to the annulus and responsive to annulus pressure for urging the valve means to a closed condition for fluid flow through the further passage.

2. Well test apparatus according to claim 1 comprising means for selectively locking said valve means in the closed condition.

3. Well test apparatus according to claim 2 comprising means for preventing the locking to occur until annulus pressure exceeds pressure in the longitudinally extending passage by a predetermined amount.

7. Well test apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the differential pressure responsive means comprises:

a chamber in the housing;

a piston movable within and separating the chamber on one side of the piston from that on the other and exposed on one side to annulus pressure and on an opposing side to pressure in the central passage;

the piston causing the valve to close responsive to annulus pressure exceeding pressure in the central passage.

8. Well test apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a spring for normally urging the valve to a closed condition.

4. Well test apparatus having, in a well, an annulus therearound comprising:

a housing having a central fluid passage therethrough;

annulus pressure operated valve opening and closing means for fluid passing through the central passage;

a further fluid passage to permit fluid flow through the housing from the central passage to the annulus;

a valve for the further passage; and

differential pressure responsive means responsive to annulus pressure for urging the valve closed and responsive to central passage pressure for urging the valve open to fluid flow from the central passage to the annulus.

5. Well test apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a lock for locking the valve in a closed condition.

6. Well test apparatus according to claim 4 comprising means for preventing the lock from locking until force on the differential pressure responsive means due to annulus pressure exceeds, by a predetermined amount, the force due to central passage pressure.

9. Well test apparatus having, in a well, an annulus therearound comprising:

a housing having a longitudinally extending fluid passage;

annulus pressure operated valve opening and closing means for fluid passing through the longitudinally extending passage;

a further fluid passage to permit fluid flow through the housing from the longitudinally extending passage to the annulus;

a piston slidably mounted in the further passage and cooperating with the further passage to provide separated first and second passage portions, the first and second passage portions being exposed to pressure, respectively, in the longitudinally extending passage and in the annulus, the piston further cooperating with the further passage so as to open and close fluid flow therethrough depending on the position thereof;

the piston being urged to the open position thereof responsive to pressure in the longitudinally extending passage and being urged to the closed position responsive to annulus pressure.

10. Well test apparatus having, in a well, an annulus therearound comprising:

a tubular housing having a central passage therethrough;

a valve for opening and closing the central passage;

a pressure chamber in the housing;

a further valve having an open condition for exposing the pressure chamber to annulus pressure and a closed condition for trapping annulus pressure in the pressure chamber;

differential control means for urging the valve closed responsive to trapped pressure and for urging the valve open responsive to annulus pressure;

a further fluid passage extending through the housing from the central passage to the annulus;

a still further valve for opening and closing the further passage to fluid flow; and

a differential pressure responsive piston responsive to central passage pressure for urging the still further valve to an open condition for fluid flow from the central passage to the annulus and responsive to annulus pressure for urging the still further valve to a closed condition, annulus pressure on the piston exceeding a predetermined level causing the piston to close the further valve and thereby trap annulus pressure in the pressure chamber.

11. Well test apparatus according to claim 10 comprising a lock for locking the further valve and the still further valve closed when both have closed.

12. Well test apparatus having, in a well, an annulus therearound comprising:

a tubular housing having a central passage therethrough;

a valve for opening and closing the central passage, and normally closed;

a pressure trapping chamber;

differential pressure responsive means responsive to trapped pressure in the trapping chamber for urging the valve closed and responsive to annulus pressure for urging the valve open;

a further passage in the housing between the annulus and the trapping chamber;

a transverse passage through the housing from the central passage to the annulus;

a shuttle member movable longitudinally of the housing in the further passage and comprising thereon,

pressure trapping valve means for the pressure chamber,

valve means for the transverse passage, and differential piston means exposed on one side to central passage pressure and exposed on an opposing side to annulus pressure;

a chamber having a wall cooperating with the differential piston means so that central passage pressure urges the differential piston means and therefore the transverse passage valve means to an open condition for fluid flow in the transverse passage, the wall cooperating with the differential piston means so that annulus pressure urges the differential piston means and therefore the transverse passage valve means to a closed condition thereby blocking fluid flow through the transverse passage, a greater annulus pressure causing the piston means to move the trapping valve means to a closed condition in the further passage thereby trapping annulus pressure in the pressure trapping chamber.

13. Test apparatus according to claim 12 comprising means for opposing movement of said piston means to the closed condition for the pressure trapping valve means until annulus pressure exceeds a predetermined level.

14. Test apparatus according to claim 12 comprising locking means for locking the pressure trapping valve means in the closed condition.

15. Test apparatus according to claim 14 comprising means for reopening the pressure trapping valve means when annulus pressure exceeds trapped pressure by a predetermined over-pressure.