Annulus safety valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fail safe annulus valve for fluids comprising:
- (a) an inner and an outer sleeve across an annulus enclosing a valve area,(b) an inlet port into the area in one sleeve and an outlet port in the other,(c) a slide valve in an area capable of sliding to open or close the ports but biased to remain in a fail safe position if no pressure is applied to it,(d) means for applying positive pressure to one end of the valve to move the valve from its fail safe position, said means being independent of the annulus fluid pressures on either side of the valve, and(e) means to move the valve from its fail safe position if there is a predetermined differential annulus fluid pressure across the valve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fail safe annulus valve for fluids has a valve area across the annulus with inlet and exit ports and a slide valve in the area capable of sliding to open or close the ports. The slide valve is biased to its fail safe position by a spring, is susceptible to being opened by independent pressure apparatus, and is also susceptible to movement by differential annulus fluid pressure across the valve. Thus while it fails safe, it can always be moved by differential annulus pressure. The valve may be used for the annuli of oil or gas wells (e.g. annuli used for artificial lift) and may be mounted on a packer of the annulus. It may also be used for closing other types of annuli.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A fail safe annulus valve for fluids comprising:
-
(a) an inner and an outer sleeve across an annulus enclosing a valve area, (b) an inlet port into the area in one sleeve and an outlet port in the other, (c) a slide valve in an area capable of sliding to open or close the ports but biased to remain in a fail safe position if no pressure is applied to it, (d) means for applying positive pressure to one end of the valve to move the valve from its fail safe position, said means being independent of the annulus fluid pressures on either side of the valve, and (e) means to move the valve from its fail safe position if there is a predetermined differential annulus fluid pressure across the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification