Valving system for hurricane plugs

• US 5,154,228 A
• Filed: 05/22/1990
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Loughlin, Michael J., West, Louis E. Jr., Gambertoglio, Louis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTS, RAMON S
• Application Number:
  US07/526,978
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 166/381, 166/382, 166/386, 166/387, 166/124, 166/133, 166/135, 166/188, 166/192, 166/332, 166/316
• US Class Current: 166/124
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1294 characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings

Abstract

A tubular body containing a sleeve actuated safety valve is attachable to the top end of a hurricane plug. A running tool has a floating nut connection with the tubular body and a tubular extension on the running tool effects the opening of the safety valve while connected to the tubular body. After setting the hurricane plug, the running tool is disconnected from the tubular body by setdown weight, followed by rotation. A retrieving tool has an external threaded section which is threaded through an internal threaded section in the tubular body to engage the actuating sleeve for the safety valve, and effect the opening of the safety valve. Further rotation of the running tool engages the retrieving tool with the tubular body to effect the unsetting of the hurricane plug and permit the removal of the tubular body, hurricane plug and depending tool string from the well by the retrieving tool.

Claims

1. A setting, valving, pressure equalizing, unsetting and retrieval system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected direction followed by application of setdown weight and unsettable by further rotation in said selected direction comprising:

an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end;

means for securing said threaded lower end of said tubular body to said hurricane plug;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

a first tubular string for inserting and setting said hurricane plug in the well bore having a tubular running tool at the bottom end of the string;

said tubular body having a first internally threaded bore portion, the hand of said first internally threaded bore portion being opposite to said selected direction of rotation;

a floating, externally threaded nut secured to said running tool for co-rotation but axially movable relative to said running tool from a lower position of engagement with said first internally threaded bore portion to an upper position free from said engagement;

shearable means responsive to a predetermined setdown weight for preventing upward movement of said floating nut;

means responsive to a limited rotation of said first tubular string in said selected direction followed by the application of a setdown weight for setting said hurricane plug and immovably securing said tubular body, whereby an increase in setdown weight to said predetermined value shears said shearable means; and

whereby

rotation of said first tubular string effects the backing up of said floatable nut to disengage from said first internally threaded bore section of said tubular body to permit removal of said running tool from the well by said first tubular string;

an actuating sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said tubular body above said annular valve seat and movable downwardly through said annular valve seat to engage said flapper valve;

resilient means urging said actuating sleeve upwardly;

said tubular body having a second internally threaded bore section above the uppermost position of said actuating sleeve, the hand of said second internally threaded bore section corresponding to said selected direction of rotation;

a tubular retrieval element having threaded means on its upper end for connection to a second tubing string extending to the well surface;

said tubular retrieval element having external threads on its medial portion engagable with said second internally threaded bore section and a lower end surface abuttable with the upper end of said actuating sleeve;

the axial spacing of said lower end surface and said external threads of said retrieval element being proportioned to produce a full opening of said flapper valve by downward movement of said actuating sleeve resulting from rotation of said tubular retrieval element in said selected direction to move downwardly through said second threaded bore section; and

stop means for preventing further rotation of said tubular retrieval element relative to said tubular body when said flapper valve is fully open, whereby further rotation of said tubular retrieving element effects unsetting of said hurricane plug for retrieval by said second tubular string.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating sleeve has an inclined bottom surface constructed and arranged to initially engage that portion of said flapper valve remotely spaced from its pivotal axis;

and

means for maintaining a fixed angular alignment of said actuating sleeve relative to the pivotal axis of said flapper in all axial positions of said actuating sleeve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said actuating sleeve has an angular bottom surface constructed and arranged to initially engage with that portion of said flapper valve remotely spaced from its pivotal axis;

an axial slot in said actuating sleeve;

a radially, inwardly projecting pin in said tubular body engaging said slot to maintain a fixed angular alignment of said actuating sleeve relative to the pivotal axis of said flapper in all axial positions of said actuating sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

first sealing means intermediate said actuating sleeve and said bore of said tubular body; and

second sealing means intermediate the lower portion of said tubular retrieval element and said bore of said tubular body, whereby pressured well fluids pass upwardly through the tubing string when said flapper valve is opened.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a guide sleeve secured to the upper portion of said tubular retrieval element in surrounding relationship and extending substantially below the bottom end of said tubular retrieval element;

said guide sleeve having an internal bore diameter exceeding the external diameter of the upper end of said tubular body, whereby said guide sleeve can be lowered over the upper end of said tubular body to facilitate the engagement of said internally threaded bore section of said tubular body with said external threads on said tubular retrieval element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a force transmitting sleeve secured in depending relation to said running tool and engagably with the upper end of said actuating sleeve to move said actuating sleeve downwardly to open said flapper valve when said running tool is secured to said tubular body by said floatable nut.

6. A pressure equalizing, unsetting and retrieval system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected plug direction followed by application of setdown weight and unsettable by further rotation in said selected direction, comprising an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end;

means for securing said threaded lower end of said tubular body to said hurricane plug;

a downwardly facing annular valve seat formed in the lower portions of said tubular body;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

an actuating sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said tubular body above said annular valve seat and movable downwardly through said annular valve seat to engage said flapper valve;

resilient means urging said actuating sleeve upwardly;

said tubular body having an internally threaded bore section above the uppermost position of actuating sleeve, the hand of said threaded bore section corresponding to said selected direction;

a tubular retrievable element having threaded means on its upper end for connection to a tubing string extending to the well surface;

said tubular retrieval element having external threads on its medial portion engagable with said internally threaded bore section and a lower end surface abuttable with the upper end of said actuating sleeve;

the axial spacing of said lower end surface and said external threads of said retrieval element being proportioned to produce a full opening of said flapper valve by downward movement of said actuating sleeve resulting from rotation of said tubular retrieval element in said selected direction; and

stop means for preventing further rotation of said tubular retrieval element relative to said tubular body when said flapper valve is fully open, whereby further rotation of said tubular retrieving element effects unsetting of said hurricane plug for retrieval by said tubing string.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said actuating sleeve has an inclined bottom surface constructed and arranged to initially engage that portion of said flapper valve remotely spaced from its pivotal axis;

and

means for maintaining a fixed angular alignment of said actuating sleeve relative to the pivotal axis of said flapper in all axial positions of said actuating sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said actuating sleeve has an inclined bottom surface constructed and arranged to initially engage with that portion of said flapper valve remotely spaced from its pivotal axis;

an axial slot in said actuating sleeve;

a radially, inwardly projecting pin in said tubular body engaging said slot to maintain a fixed angular alignment of said actuating sleeve relative to the pivotal axis of said flapper in all axial positions of said actuating sleeve.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

first sealing means intermediate said actuating sleeve and said bore of said tubular body; and

second sealing means intermediate the lower portion of said tubular retrieval element and said bore of said tubular body, whereby pressured well fluids pass inwardly through the tubing string when said flapper valve is opened.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a guide sleeve secured to the upper portion of said tubular retrieval element in surrounding relationship and extending substantially below the bottom end of said tubular retrieval element; and

said guide sleeve having an internal bore diameter exceeding the external diameter of the upper end of said tubular body, whereby said guide sleeve can be lowered over the upper end of said tubular body to facilitate the engagement of said internally threaded bore section of said tubular body with said external threads on said tubular retrieval element.

11. A setting and valving system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected direction followed by application of setdown weight comprising:

an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end;

means for securing said threaded lower end of said tubular body to said hurricane plug;

a downwardly facing annular valve seat formed in the lower portions of said tubular body;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

a tubular string for inserting and setting said hurricane plug in the well bore having a tubular running tool at the bottom end of the string;

said tubular body having an internally threaded bore portion;

a floating, externally threaded nut secured to said running tool for co-rotation but axially movable relative to said running tool from a lower position of engagement with said first internally threaded bore portion to an upper position free from said engagement;

shearable means responsive to a predetermined setdown weight for preventing upward movement of said floating nut;

means responsive to a limited rotation of said first tubular string in a selected direction followed by the application of a setdown weight for setting said hurricane plug and immovably securing said tubular body, whereby an increase in setdown weight to said predetermined value shears said shearable means; and

whereby rotation of said tubular string effects the backing up of said floatable nut to disengage from said first internally threaded bore section of said tubular body to permit removal of said running tool from the well by said tubular string.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

an actuating sleeve slidable mounted in the bore of said tubular body and movable downwardly through said annular valve seat to engage said flapper valve; and

a force transmitting sleeve secured in depending relation to said running tool and engagably with the upper end of said actuating sleeve to move said actuating sleeve downwardly to open said flapper valve when said running tool is secured to said tubular body by said floatable nut.

14. A setting, valving, pressure equalizing, unsetting and retrieval system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected direction followed by application of setdown weight and unsettable by further rotation in said selected direction comprising:

an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end;

means for securing said threaded lower end of said tubular body to said hurricane plug;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

a first tubular string for inserting and setting said hurricane plug in the well bore having a tubular running tool at the bottom end of the string;

said tubular body having a first internally threaded bore portion, the hand of said first internally threaded bore portion being opposite to said selected direction of rotation;

a floating, externally threaded nut secured to said running tool for co-rotation but axially movable relative to said running tool from a lower position of engagement with said first internally threaded bore portion to an upper position free from said engagement;

shearable means responsive to a predetermined setdown weight for preventing upward movement of said floating nut;

means responsive to a limited rotation of said first tubular string in said selected direction followed by the application of a setdown weight for setting said hurricane plug and immovably securing said tubular body, whereby an increase in setdown weight to said predetermined value shears said shearable means; and

whereby

rotation of said first tubular string effects the backing up of said floatable nut to disengage from said first internally threaded bore section of said tubular body to permit removal of said running tool from the well by said first tubular string;

an actuating sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said tubular body above said annular valve seat and movable downwardly through said annular valve seat to engage said flapper valve;

resilient means urging said actuating sleeve upwardly;

said tubular body having a second internally threaded bore section above the uppermost position of said actuating sleeve, the hand of said second internally threaded bore section corresponding to said selected direction of rotation;

a tubular retrieval element having threaded means on its upper end for connection to a second tubing string extending to the well surface;

said tubular retrieval element having external threads on its medial portion engagable with said second internally threaded bore section and a lower end surface abuttable with the upper end of said actuating sleeve;

the axial spacing of said lower end surface and said external threads of said retrieval element being proportioned to produce a full opening of said flapper valve by downward movement of said actuating sleeve resulting from rotation of said tubular retrieval element in said selected direction to move downwardly through said second threaded bore section; and

stop means for preventing further rotation of said tubular retrieval element relative to said tubular body when said flapper valve is fully open.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said actuating sleeve has an inclined bottom surface constructed and arranged to initially engage that portion of said flapper valve remotely spaced from its pivotal axis;

and

means for maintaining a fixed angular alignment of said actuating sleeve relative to the pivotal axis of said flapper in all axial positions of said actuating sleeve.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

first sealing means intermediate said actuating sleeve and said bore of said tubular body; and

second sealing means intermediate the lower portion of said tubular retrieval element and said bore of said tubular body, whereby pressured well fluids pass upwardly through the tubing string when said flapper valve is opened.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a guide sleeve secured to the upper portion of said tubular retrieval element in surrounding relationship and extending substantially below the bottom end of said tubular retrieval element;

said guide sleeve having an internal bore diameter exceeding the external diameter of the upper end of said tubular body, whereby said guide sleeve can be lowered over the upper end of said tubular body to facilitate the engagement of said internally threaded bore section of said tubular body with said external threads on said tubular retrieval element.

18. A pressure equalizing, unsetting and retrieval system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected plug direction followed by application of setdown weight comprising an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end;

means for securing said threaded lower end of said tubular body to said hurricane plug;

a downwardly facing annular valve seat formed in the lower portions of said tubular body;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

an actuating sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said tubular body above said annular valve seat and movable downwardly through said annular valve seat to engage said flapper valve;

resilient means urging said actuating sleeve upwardly;

said tubular body having an internally threaded bore section above the uppermost position of actuating sleeve, the hand of said threaded bore section corresponding to said selected direction;

a tubular retrievable element having threaded means on its upper end for connection to a tubing string extending to the well surface;

said tubular retrieval element having external threads on its medial portion engagable with said internally threaded bore section and a lower end surface abuttable with the upper end of said actuating sleeve;

the axial spacing of said lower end surface and said external threads of said retrieval element being proportioned to produce a full opening of said flapper valve by downward movement of said actuating sleeve resulting from rotation of said tubular retrieval element in said selected direction; and

stop means for preventing further rotation of said tubular retrieval element relative to said tubular body when said flapper valve is fully open.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said actuating sleeve has an inclined bottom surface constructed and arranged to initially engage that portion of said flapper valve remotely spaced from its pivotal axis;

and

means for maintaining a fixed angular alignment of said actuating sleeve relative to the pivotal axis of said flapper in all axial positions of said actuating sleeve.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

first sealing means intermediate said actuating sleeve and said bore of said tubular body; and

second sealing means intermediate the lower portion of said tubular retrieval element and said bore of said tubular body, whereby pressured well fluids pass inwardly through the tubing string when said flapper valve is opened.

21. A setting and valving system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected direction followed by application of setdown weight comprising:

an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end for connecting to a hurricane plug;

a downwardly facing annular valve seat formed in the lower portions of said tubular body;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

an actuating sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said tubular body and movable downwardly in said tubular body to engage said flapper valve;

a tubular string for inserting and setting said hurricane plug in the well bore having a tubular running tool at the bottom end of the tubular string;

means including shearable members for detachably securing said running tool within the bore of said tubular body;

a force transmitting sleeve secured in depending relation to said tubular running tool and abuttingly engagable with the upper end of said actuating sleeve to move said actuating sleeve downwardly to open said flapper valve when said running tool is secured to said tubular body;

means responsive to a limited rotation of said tubular string in a selected direction followed by the application of setdown weight for setting said hurricane plug and immovably securing said tubular body, whereby an increase in setdown weight to a predetermined value shears said shearably members and permits retrieval of said running tool;

resilient means for moving said actuating sleeve upwardly as said running tool is retrieved, thereby opening said flapper valve; and

stop means for retaining said actuating sleeve in said tubular body.

22. A setting and valving system for a subterranean well hurricane plug settable by rotation in a selected direction followed by application of setdown weight comprising:

an elongated tubular body threaded at its lower end for connection to a hurricane plug;

a downwardly facing annular valve seat formed in the lower portions of said tubular body;

a flapper valve pivotally mounted in the wall of said tubular body and spring biased into seating engagement with said valve seat;

an actuating sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said tubular body and movable downwardly to engage said flapper valve;

a tubular string for inserting and setting said hurricane plug in the well bore having a tubular running tool at the bottom end of the tubular string;

said tubular body having an internally threaded bore portion;

a floating, externally threaded nut secured to said running tool for co-rotation but axially movable relative to said running tool from a lower position of engagement with said first internally threaded bore portion to an upper position free from said engagement;

a force transmitting sleeve secured in depending relation to said tubular running tool and abuttingly engagable with the upper end of said actuating sleeve to move said actuating sleeve downwardly to open said flapper valve when said running tool is secured to said tubular body by said floatable nut;

shearable means responsive to a predetermined setdown weight for preventing upward movement of said floating nut;

means responsive to a limited rotation of said first tubular string in a selected direction followed by the application of a setdown weight for setting said hurricane plug and immovably securing said tubular body, whereby an increase in setdown weight to a predetermined value shears said shearable means;

whereby further rotation of said tubular string effects the backing up of said floatable nut to disengage from said first internally threaded bore section of said tubular body to permit removal of said running tool from the well by said tubular string;

resilient means for moving said actuating sleeve upwardly as said running tool is retrieved, thereby opening said flapper valve; and

stop means for retaining said actuating sleeve in said tubular body.