Combination check valve & back pressure valve

• US 5,320,181 A
• Filed: 09/28/1992
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wellheads & Safety Control Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wellheads & Safety Control Incorporated
• Inventors: Lantier, Mike Sr., Walmer, Warren L. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUIZ, MIKADO RYAN
• Application Number:
  US07/952,794
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 166/381, 166/386, 166/387, 166/319, 166/320, 166/321, 166/325
• US Class Current: 166/386
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/10 Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/103 with a shear pin
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination valve and back pressure valve which in one embodiment performs as a two-way check valve, and in another embodiment performs as a back pressure valve. The invention contains both apparatus and method claims. The valve includes a cylindrical member having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a bore therethrough. A valve sleeve is disposed within the bore. A valve stem is also slidably disposed within the bore. A selective dis-attachment assembly is incorporated into the valve and includes pre-selected shear pistons.

Claims

1. A valve, comprising:

a cylindrical body with a bore therethrough, said body containing a sealing shoulder, and a portion defining a first and second port;

a pressure piston, disposed within said bore of said cylindrical body, said pressure piston containing a central passageway therethrough and a sealing surface;

first holding means for holding said pressure piston in a first position relative to said cylindrical body;

operating stem means, disposed within said bore of said pressure piston, for blocking flow in either axial direction, said operating piston means having a sealing surface which cooperates with the sealing surface of said pressure piston.

2. The valve of claim 1, further comprising:

biasing means, disposed about said operating piston means, for biasing said operating piston means against the sealing shoulder of said cylindrical body;

compression means, disposed about said operating piston means and abutting said biasing means, for holding said biasing means in compression;

and wherein said pressure piston contains a second sealing surface, and wherein said operating piston contains a second sealing surface so that the second sealing surface of said pressure piston cooperates with the second sealing surface of said operating piston.

3. The valve of claim 2, wherein said cylindrical body has contained thereon an aperture, said pressure piston has contained thereon a groove, and wherein said first holding means comprises a shear pin fitter within said apertures.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein said cylindrical body further contains a second aperture and wherein said compression means includes:

a shear piston, disposed about said operating piston, containing a groove thereon;

a shear pin fitter through the second of said cylindrical body and shear piston, and wherein said biasing means includes a spring disposed about said operating piston, and urging said shear piston axially upward; and

wherein said shear pins are preselected to shear after a predetermined amount of force has been applied.

5. The valve of claim 4, wherein said shear pins are preselected to shear at a pressure of 3500 psi.

6. The valve of claim 4, further comprising:

lock means, disposed within said bore of said cylindrical body, for locking said pressure piston in a down position after the predetermined amount of force has been applied to shear said pins.

7. An apparatus to control the flow in a well bore comprising:

a cylindrical member having an inlet port and an outlet port, said cylindrical member having an axial bore therethrough with a sealing bore thereon;

a valve sleeve, slidably disposed within said axial bore of said cylindrical member and attached thereto, said valve sleeve having an inner diameter therethrough, and a sealing shoulder thereon;

selective dis-attachment means for attaching said cylindrical member to said valve sleeve;

a valve stem, slidably disposed within said axial bore of said valve sleeve, said valve stem containing a first and second shoulder, with the first shoulder cooperating with the sealing bore of said cylindrical member, and the second shoulder cooperating with the sealing bore of said valve sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

biasing means, disposed about said valve stem, for biasing said valve stem in a closed position;

holding means, operably connected to said cylindrical member and said valve stem, for holding the biasing means in compression.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cylindrical member contains an aperture therein, and said valve sleeve also contains an aperture;

and,

wherein said selective dis-attachment means comprises a shear pin positioned within said apertures of said cylindrical member and valve sleeve.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said biasing means includes a spring disposed about said valve stem, and tending to bias said valve stem in an axial upward direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said cylindrical member contains a second aperture, and wherein said holding means includes a shear piston having a circumferential groove, and a shear pin placed within said second aperture of said cylindrical member and said groove of said shear piston so that said shear piston holds said spring in compression;

said shear pins being selected to shear at a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising reinforcement means, located about the periphery of the valve, for adding reinforcement structure to the valve during installation and removal operations.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

lock means, disposed within said axial bore of said cylindrical member, for said valve sleeve in a down position after the predetermined amount of force has been applied to the apparatus to shear said pins.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein pressure from the formation builds in the tubing string, and further comprising the steps of:

e. creating a pressure to the top of the combination valve until a predetermined amount of pressure has been reached so that the selective dis-attachment means is actuated;

f. pumping a fluid through the combination valve and down the tubing string to create a hydrostatic head of fluid;

g. equalizing the pressure from the formation by the hydrostatic head of fluid in the tubing string;

h. removing the combination valve from the landing receptacle;

i. continuing the remedial workover operations.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

e. creating a pressure to the top of the plug until a predetermined amount of pressure has been reached so that the selective dis-attachment means is actuated;

f. removing the combination valve from the landing receptacle utilizing the lubricator;

g. continuing the remedial workover operations.

14. A method of installing a combination two-way check valve and back pressure valve in a receptacle located in a tubing string penetrating an underground formation during remedial workover operations, the tubing string having attached thereto a surface control valve, the method comprising the steps of:

a. placing in the landing receptacle the combination valve utilizing a lubricator connected to the surface control valve, said combination valve comprising;

a cylindrical body;

a pressure piston;

first and second selective dis-attachment means responsive to a pressure force;

operating piston means;

biasing means for biasing said operating piston in a closed position;

b. removing the surface control valve;

c. installing a stack of blow-out preventers, the blow-out preventers being connected to the tubing string;

d. pressure testing the blow-out preventers for proper installation by applying pressure to the top of said combination valve.