Downhole apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being both retractable to an open position to permit opening of the valve closure member and extendable from the retracted position to maintain the valve closure member in the open position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Downhole apparatus in the form of a valve (140) comprises a body (148) defining a bore (168) with a curved disc closure member (142) positioned in the bore. First and second retaining members (144, 146) are positioned on respective sides of the disc (142) for retaining the disc in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides. One of the retaining members (144) is retractable to permit opening of the valve disc (142). The disc (142) may be locked closed by locking the retractable retaining member (144) in position. On release of the member (144), application of fluid pressure to portions of the member (144) will retract the member (144).
62 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being both retractable to an open position to permit opening of the valve closure member and extendable from the retracted position to maintain the valve closure member in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a body defining a bore;
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14. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being retractable to permit opening of the valve closure member, the retractable retaining member being movable by application of body bore fluid pressure force thereto and wherein the supply of fluid from the body bore to actuate the retaining member is controlled by a remotely actuatable valve.
- a body defining a bore;
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15. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being retractable to permit opening of the valve closure member, and wherein release of the retractable retaining member is controlled by a ratchet assembly comprising first and second axially relatively movable parts, each part defining a toothed face, and a ratch member located between the toothed faces, pressure induced reciprocal movement of the parts advancing the ratch member axially along the toothed face of the first part, in an advanced position the ratch member engaging a unlocking member such that further movement of the first part actuates the unlocking member to release the retractable retaining member.
- a body defining a bore;
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16. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being retractable to permit opening of the valve closure member, and wherein the retractable retaining member is latchable in a retracted position, and releasable from the retracted position to allow movement of the retractable retaining member to a position to maintain the valve closure member in the open position.
- a body defining a bore;
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17. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being retractable to permit opening of the valve closure member, and wherein the valve closure member is in the form of a flapper and is mounted on a valve carriage which, with the retractable retaining member retracted, is axially movable towards the retractable retaining member such that the retractable member contacts the flapper and pushes the flapper towards the open position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- a body defining a bore;
- 20. A ratchet arrangement for downhole apparatus, the arrangement comprising first and second parts, each part defining a toothed face, and a ratch member located between the toothed faces, the parts being axially relatively movable, wherein reciprocal movement of the parts advances the ratch member axially along the toothed faces and wherein the parts are axially relatively movable by application of fluid pressure thereto.
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24. A ratchet arrangement for downhole apparatus, the arrangement comprising first and second parts, each part defining a toothed face, and a ratch member located between the toothed faces, the parts being axially relatively movable, wherein reciprocal movement of the parts advances the ratch member axially along the toothed faces and wherein at least the toothed faces of the first and second parts and the ratch member are part of a unit which is separable from the tool with which the arrangement is associated.
- 25. A ratchet arrangement for downhole apparatus, the arrangement comprising first and second parts, each part defining a toothed face, and a ratch member located between the toothed faces, the parts being axially relatively movable, wherein reciprocal movement of the parts advances the ratch member axially along the toothed faces wherein the ratch member comprises first and second portions and a spring portion acting therebetween to urge the first and second portions into engagement with the respective toothed faces.
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27. A downhole valve comprising:
- a body defining a bore;
a valve closure member positioned in the bore;
first and second retaining members positioned on respective sides of the valve closure member for retaining the valve closure member in a closed position and to hold pressure from both sides, one of the retaining members being retractable to permit opening of the valve closure member; and
means for locking said one of the retaining members in a retaining position, said locking means being releasable by application of a plurality of pressure cycles.
- a body defining a bore;
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28. A method of completing a downhole string including the steps of:
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providing a valve in a tubular string defining a bore, which valve is capable of holding pressure from both above and below and is openable by application of a plurality of pressure cycles to the string bore;
running the string into a bore with the valve closed;
applying test pressures to the string bore above the closed valve;
securing the string in the bore; and
applying one or more pressure cycles to the string bore subsequent to applying said test pressures to open the valve to permit flow of fluid through the string.
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Specification