Apparatus for use in controlling flow through a tubing string suspended and packed off within well bore as well as within the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer

• US 5,193,615 A
• Filed: 01/22/1991
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dresser Industries Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: AVA International Corp (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Akkerman, Neil H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hoang C.
• Application Number:
  US07/644,244
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 166/117.5, 166/129, 166/145, 166/183, 166/321, 166/322, 166/324, 166/332
• US Class Current: 166/129
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/03 for setting the tools into, or removing the tools from, laterally offset landing nipples or pockets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/107 the retrievable element being an operating or controlling means retrievable separately from the closure member, e.g. pilot valve landed into a side pocket E21B34/106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2237/02 two or more burners

Abstract

There is disclosed apparatus for use in controlling flow through a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore and within the annulus between the string and well bore above and below the packer by tools adapted to be lowered into and raised from landed positions within a pocket to one side of a bore through a mandrel connected as part of the tubing string for releasing the packer to be set and opening a bypass therein and for opening and closing a flapper in the bore, as well as the bypass responsive to the supply of control fluid from a remote source to the pocket.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in controlling flow within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, comprising

a mandrel having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and a pocket having an opening to one side of the bore,

a closure member movable within the bore of the mandrel between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket opening,

means urging the closure member to the closed position,

a tool movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of a landed position within the pocket,

said mandrel and tool having means which, when the tool is landed in the pocket, forms first passageway means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer,

said tool having

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position,

valve means movable from a first position closing the first passageway means to a second position opening the first passageway means, and

pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

said mandrel and tool also having means which, when the tool is landed in the pocket, forms second passageway means therein through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to the pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means from its first to its second positions, and

means by which said actuator and said valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control pressure.

2. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein

said mandrel and tool also have means which, when the tool is landed in the pocket, forms third passageway means connecting the mandrel bore above and below the closure member, and

said tool also has another valve means movable from a first position closing the third passageway to a second position opening same, in response to the supply of control fluid to the pressure responsive means and prior to the opening of the closure member, and

means by which said other valve means is returned to and held in its closed position following opening of said closure member.

3. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, including

a second tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket, prior to landing therein of the first mentioned tool, and having an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position, and

pressure responsive means for moving said actuator to its second position, and wherein

said mandrel and second tool have means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms first passageway means connecting the annulus above and below the packer as well as second passageway means for supplying control fluid from a remote source to said pressure responsive means so as to open the closure member, whereby fluid may be circulated down through the annulus and up through the tubing string.

4. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, including

a second tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket following removal of the first mentioned tool therefrom,

said mandrel and second tool having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms first passageway means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer,

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to and holds it in the open position,

valve means movable between a first position closing the first passageway means to a second position opening the first passageway means, and

pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

said mandrel and second tool also having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms second passageway means for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means to its second position, and

means by which said actuator and valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control line pressure,

said mandrel and second tool also having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms passageway means for connecting with a pressure responsive means of a safety valve in the tubing string above the closure member.

5. Apparatus for use in controlling fluid within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, comprising

a tubular body having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and a pocket having an opening to one side of the bore,

a closure member movable within the bore of the body between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket opening,

means urging the closure member to the closed position,

a packer about the body adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the well bore,

means movable from a first to a second position for so expanding the packer,

a bypass from above to below the packer,

means movable between a first position closing the bypass and a second position opening the bypass,

pressure responsive means movable between a first position holding each of said expanding means and bypass closing means in its first position and a second position releasing them for movement to their second positions, and

means holding said pressure responsive means in its first position,

a first tool movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of the pocket,

said body and first tool having means which, when the first tool is landed in the pocket, forms passageway means for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means for releasing said holding means and moving said bypass closing means to its second position so as to permit the packer to be expanded,

a second tool movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of a landed position within the pocket, upon removal of the first tool therefrom,

said body and second tool having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms first passageway means connecting with the open bypass to connect the annulus above and below the packer,

said second tool having

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position,

valve means movable from a first position closing the first passageway means to a second position opening the passageway, and

pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

said body and second tool also having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms second passageway means through which control fluid may be supplied to said pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means from its first to its second positions, and

means by which said actuator means and said valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control pressure.

6. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 5, wherein

said body and second tool also have means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms third passageway means connecting the bore of the body above and below the closure member, and

said second tool also has another valve means movable from a first position closing the third passageway means to a second position opening same, in response to the supply of control fluid thereto and prior to the opening of the closure member, and

means by which said other valve means is returned to and held in its closed position following opening of said closure member.

7. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 5, including

a third tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket subsequent to removal of the first tool therefrom but prior to landing therein of the second tool, and having an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position, and

pressure responsive means for moving said actuator to its second position, and wherein

said body and third tool have means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms first passageway means connecting the annulus above and below the packer as well as second passageway means for supplying control fluid from a remote source to said pressure responsive means so as to open the closure member, whereby fluid may be circulated down through the annulus and up through the tubing string.

8. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 5, including

a third tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket following removal of the second mentioned tool therefrom,

said body and third tool having means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms first passageway means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer,

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to and holds it in the open position,

valve means movable between a first position closing the first passageway means to a second position closing the first passageway means, and pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position, said body and third tool also having means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms second passageway means for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means to its second position, and

means by which said actuator and valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control line pressure,

said body and third tool also having means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms third passageway means for connecting with a pressure responsive means of a safety valve in the tubing string above the closure member.

9. For use in controlling flow within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, and wherein a mandrel having a bore therethrough is connected as part of the tubing string and has a pocket having an opening to one side of the bore, a closure member movable within the bore between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket opening, and means yieldably urging the closure member to the closed position;

apparatus comprising

a tool movable vertically through the tubing string and into and out of a landed position within the pocket,

said tool having means which, when landed in the pocket, forms with the mandrel a first passageway for connecting the annulus above and below the packer,

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position,

valve means movable from a first position closing the first passageway to a second position opening the first passageway, pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

means which, when the tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the mandrel a second passageway through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to the pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means from its first to its second positions, and

means by which said actuator and said valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control pressure.

10. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein

said mandrel and tool also have means which, when the tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the mandrel a third passageway connecting the bore of the mandrel above and below the closure member, and

said tool also has another valve means therein movable from a first position closing the third passageway to a second position opening same, in response to the supply of control fluid thereto and prior to the opening of the closure member, and means by which said other valve means is returned to and held in its closed position following opening of said closure member.

11. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, including

a second tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket prior to landing therein of the first mentioned tool, and having an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position, and

pressure responsive means for moving said actuator to its second position, and wherein

said second tool also has means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the mandrel a first passageway connecting the annulus above and below the packer as well as a second passageway for supplying control fluid from a remote source to said pressure responsive means so as to open the closure member, whereby fluid may be circulated down through the annulus and up through the tubing string.

12. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, including

a second tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket following removal of the first mentioned tool therefrom,

said mandrel and second tool having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the mandrel a first passageway for connecting the annulus above and below the pocket,

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to and holds it in the open position,

valve means movable between a first position closing the first passageway to a second position closing the first passageway, and

pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

said second tool also having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the mandrel a second passageway for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means to its second position, and

means by which said actuator and valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control line pressure,

said mandrel and second tool also having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms a third passageway for connecting with a pressure responsive means of a safety valve in the tubing string above the closure member.

13. For use in controlling fluid within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, and wherein a tubular body having a bore therethrough is connected as part of the tubing string, and has a pocket having an opening to one side of the bore, a closure member movable within the bore of the body between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket opening, means yieldably urging the closure member to the closed position, a packer about the body adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the well bore, means movable from a first to a second position for so expanding the packer, a bypass from above to below the packer, means movable between a first position closing the bypass and a second position opening the bypass, pressure responsive means movable between a first position holding each of said expanding means and bypass closing means in its first position and a second position releasing them for movement to their second positions, and means holding said pressure responsive means in its first position;

apparatus comprising

a first tool movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of the pocket,

said first tool having means which, when the first tool is landed, forms with the body a first passageway for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means for releasing said holding means and moving said bypass closing means to its second position so as to permit the packer to be expanded,

a second tool movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of a landed position within the pocket, upon removal of the first tool therefrom,

said second tool having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the body a passageway connecting with the open bypass to connect the annulus above and below the packer,

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position,

valve means movable from a first position closing the passageway to a second position opening the passageway, and

pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

said body and second tool also having means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the body a second passageway through which control fluid may be supplied to said pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means from its first to its second positions, and

means by which said actuator and said valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control line pressure.

14. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 13, wherein

said second tool also has means which, when the second tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the body a third passageway connecting the bore of the body above and below the closure member, and

said second tool also has another valve means movable from a first position closing the third passageway to a second position opening same, in response to the supply of control fluid thereto and prior to the opening of the closure member, and means by which said other valve means is returned to and held in its closed position following opening of said closure member.

15. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 13, including

a third tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket subsequent to removal of the first tool therefrom but prior to landing therein of the second mentioned tool and having an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position, and

pressure responsive means for moving said actuator to its second position, and wherein

said third tool has means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the body a first passageway connecting the annulus above and below the packer as well as a second passageway for supplying control fluid from a remote source to said pressure responsive means so as to open the closure member, whereby fluid may be circulated down through the annulus and up through the tubing string.

16. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 13, including

a third tool movable vertically through the tubing string for landing in the pocket following removal of the second tool therefrom,

said third tool having means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the body a first passageway for connecting the annulus above and below the packer, an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to and holds it in the open position,

valve means movable between a first position closing the first passageway to a second position opening the first passageway, and

pressure responsive means for moving each of said actuator and valve means to its second position,

said third tool also having means which, when the third tool is in the pocket, forms with the body a second passageway for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means to its second position, and means by which said actuator and valve means are returned to their first positions following loss of control line pressure,

said third tool also having means which, when the third tool is landed in the pocket, forms with the body a third passageway for connecting with a pressure responsive means of a safety valve in the tubing string above the closure member.

17. Apparatus for use in controlling flow within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, comprising

a mandrel having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and an enlarged portion in which pocket means having an opening to one side of the bore is formed,

a closure member movable within the bore of the mandrel between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket means opening,

means urging the closure member to the closed position,

tool means movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of a landed position within the pocket means,

a portion of said tool means having

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position, and

pressure responsive means for moving the actuator to its second position,

said mandrel and another portion of the tool means having means which, when the other portion of the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms a first passageway means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer, and

said other portion of the tool means having

valve means movable from a first position closing the first passageway means to a second position opening the first passageway means, and

pressure responsive means for moving the valve means to its second position,

said mandrel and each of said portions of the tool means having means which, when each portion of the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms second passageway means through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to each said pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means from its first to its second positions, and

means by which said actuator and said valve means are returned to their first positions following the loss of control pressure supplied thereto.

18. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 17, wherein

said mandrel and one portion of the tool means also have means which, when the one portion of the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms third passageway means connecting the bore of the mandrel above and below the closure member, and

said one portion of the tool means also has another valve means movable from a first position closing the third passageway means to a second position opening same, in response to the supply of control fluid to the pressure responsive means of said one portion, for moving the actuator prior to the opening of the closure member, and

means by which said other valve means is returned to and held in its closed position following opening of said closure member.

19. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 17, wherein the pocket means is a single pocket.

20. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 19, wherein the tool means is a single tool.

21. Apparatus for use in controlling fluid within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, comprising

a tubular body having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and an enlarged portion in which pocket means having an opening to one side of the bore is formed,

a closure member movable within the bore of the body between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket means opening,

means urging the closure member to the closed position,

a packer about the body adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the well bore,

means movable from a first to a second position for so expanding the packer,

a bypass from above to below the packer,

means movable between a first position closing the bypass and a second position opening the bypass,

pressure responsive means movable between a first position holding each of said expanding means and bypass closing means in its first position and a second position releasing them for movement to their second positions, and

means holding said pressure responsive means in its first position,

a first tool movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of the pocket means,

said body and first tool having means which, when the first tool is landed in the pocket means, forms passageway means for supplying control fluid from a remote source to the pressure responsive means for releasing said holding means and moving said bypass closing means to its second position so as to permit the packer to be expanded,

a tool means movable vertically through the tubing string into and out of a landed position within the pocket means, upon removal of the first tool therefrom,

a first portion of the tool means having

an actuator movable between a first position permitting the closure member to move to the closed position and a second position in which it moves the closure member to the open position, and

pressure responsive means for moving the actuator to its second position,

said body and a second portion of the tool means having means which, when the second portion of the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms first passageway means connecting with the open bypass to connect the annulus above and below the packer, and

said second portion of the tool means having

valve means movable from a first position closing the first passageway means to a second position opening the first passageway means, and

pressure responsive means for moving the valve means to its second position,

said body and each of said portions of said tool means having means which, when each portion of the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms second passageway means through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to each said pressure responsive means in order to move each of said actuator and valve means from its first to its second positions, and

means by which said actuator means and said valve means are returned to their first positions following the loss of control pressure supplied thereto.

22. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 21, wherein

said body and one portion of the tool means also have means which, when the one portion of the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms third passageway means connecting the bore of the body above and below the closure member, and

said one portion of the tool means also has another valve means movable from a first position closing the third passageway means to a second position opening same, in response to the supply of control fluid to the pressure responsive means of the actuator and prior to the opening of the closure member, and

means by which said other valve means is returned to and held in its closed position following opening of said closure member.

23. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 21, wherein the pocket means is a single pocket.

24. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 23, wherein the tool means is a single tool.

25. Apparatus for use in controlling flow within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, comprising

a mandrel having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and an enlarged portion in which pocket means having an opening to one side of the bore is formed and in which tool means movable vertically through the tubing string may be landed,

a closure member movable within the bore of the mandrel between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket means opening, and

means urging the closure member to the closed position,

said mandrel also having means which, when the tool means is landed in the pocket means forms with a first portion of the tool means a normal closed first passageway means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer and with a second portion of the tool means a second passageway means through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to pressure responsive means within each of the first and second portions of the tool means in order to move said pressure responsive means in a direction to open said closure member and open the first passageway means.

26. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 25, wherein

said mandrel also has means which, when the tool means is landed in the pocket means, forms with a third portion of the tool means a normally closed third passageway means connecting the bore of the mandrel above and below the closure member and adapted to be opened, in response to the supply of control fluid to pressure responsive means within a third portion of the tool means following opening of the closure member.

27. Apparatus for use in controlling fluid within a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore as well as the annulus between the tubing string and well bore above and below the packer, comprising

a tubular body having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string and an enlarged portion in which pocket means having an opening to one side of the bore is formed and in which a tool and tool means movable vertically through the tubing string may be landed,

a closure member movable within the bore of the body between positions opening and closing the bore beneath the pocket means opening,

means urging the closure member to the closed position,

a packer about the body adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the well bore,

means movable from a first to a second position for so expanding the packer,

a bypass from above to below the packer,

means movable between a first position closing the bypass and a second position opening the bypass,

pressure responsive means movable between a first position holding each of said expanding means and bypass closing means in its first position and a second position releasing them for movement to their second positions, and

means holding said pressure responsive means in its first position,

said body also having means which, when the tool is landed in the pocket means, forms tool passageway means through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to pressure responsive means within the tool for releasing said holding means and moving said bypass closing means to its second position so as to permit the packer to be expanded, and which, when the tool means is landed in the pocket means, upon removal of the tool therefrom, forms with a first portion of the tool means a normal closed first passageway means for connecting the annulus above and below the packer and with a second portion of the tool means a second passageway means through which control fluid may be supplied from a remote source to pressure responsive means within each of the first and second portions of the tool means in order to move said last mentioned pressure responsive means in a direction to open said closure member and open the first passageway means.