Deflate-equalizing valve apparatus for inflatable packer formation tester
First Claim
1. Valve apparatus adapted for use in connection with a downhole pump that supplies well fluids under pressure to inflatable packers to cause the same to expand and thereby isolate a well interval, comprising:
- telescopically arranged mandrel and housing assemblies movable between extended and retracted relative positions, said assemblies defining axially extending test and inflation passages;
first valve means for communicating said test passage with the well annulus above said inflatable packers when said assemblies are in said extended relative position to maintain pressure equalization during packer element inflation;
second valve means for communicating said inflation passage with the well annulus above said inflatable packers when said assemblies are in said extended relative position to enable packer element deflation; and
third valve means responsive to the outlet pressure of said pump for preventing packer element deflation when said pump is being operated with said assemblies in said extended relative position even though said second valve means is open.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a pressure equalizing and packer deflating valve apparatus useful in an inflatable packer straddle testing system included telescopically arranged mandrel and housing member defining test and inflation passages, first valve means for communicating the test passage with the well annulus when said members are extended to maintain pressure equalization as the packer elements are inflated, second valve means for communicating the inflation passage with the well annulus when the members are extended to enable packer element deflation; and third valve means that can be shifted in response to pump outlet pressure when said members are extended to a position preventing packer element deflation even though said second valve means is open. As said members are retracted, the third valve means is shifted to a position closing the inflation passage to maintain the inflation pressure therein.
36 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Valve apparatus adapted for use in connection with a downhole pump that supplies well fluids under pressure to inflatable packers to cause the same to expand and thereby isolate a well interval, comprising:
- telescopically arranged mandrel and housing assemblies movable between extended and retracted relative positions, said assemblies defining axially extending test and inflation passages;
first valve means for communicating said test passage with the well annulus above said inflatable packers when said assemblies are in said extended relative position to maintain pressure equalization during packer element inflation;
second valve means for communicating said inflation passage with the well annulus above said inflatable packers when said assemblies are in said extended relative position to enable packer element deflation; and
third valve means responsive to the outlet pressure of said pump for preventing packer element deflation when said pump is being operated with said assemblies in said extended relative position even though said second valve means is open. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- telescopically arranged mandrel and housing assemblies movable between extended and retracted relative positions, said assemblies defining axially extending test and inflation passages;
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5. Valve apparatus adapted for use in a well testing operation where inflatable packers that are expanded by a downhole pump are employed to isolate an interval of a well bore, comprising:
- a housing having a mandrel assembly movable therein between extended and retracted positions, said mandrel assembly and housing defining a packer inflation passage and a test passage;
an equalizing port and a deflate port extending through the wall of said housing;
first passage means for communicating said equalizing port with said test passage;
first valve means for closing said first passage means when said mandrel assembly is retracted and for opening said first passage means when said mandrel assembly is extended;
second passage means for communicating said deflate port with said inflation passage;
second valve means for closing said second passage means when said mandrel assembly is retracted and for opening said second passage means when said mandrel assembly is extended; and
third valve means operable in response to the output pressure of said pump for closing said second passage means when said mandrel assembly is extended. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a housing having a mandrel assembly movable therein between extended and retracted positions, said mandrel assembly and housing defining a packer inflation passage and a test passage;
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16. Apparatus for use in testing a well interval, comprising:
- inflatable packer means for isolating the well interval;
test valve means for controlling communication between the well interval and the bore of a pipe string upon which the apparatus is suspended;
pump means responsive to rotation of the pipe string for inflating said packer means; and
valve means for equalizing pressure in the isolated well interval with the pressure in the well annulus above said inflatable packer elements during initial inflation thereof as well as at the end of a test, and for causing deflation of said packer elements at the end of a test including telescopically arranged mandrel and housing assemblies movable between extended and retracted positions and defining a test passage and an inflation passage, equalizing port and passage means in said housing assembly, deflate port and passage means in said housing assembly, first valve means for communicating said equalizing port and passage means with said test passage when said assemblies are extended, second valve means for communicating said deflate port and passage means with said inflation passage when said assemblies are extended, and third valve means responsive to to movement of said assemblies to contracted positions for closing said inflation passage and to the outlet pressure of said pump means when said assemblies are extended to open said inflation passage while preventing communication between said deflate port and passage means and said inflation passage.
- inflatable packer means for isolating the well interval;
Specification