Subsurface safety valve lock out and communication tool and method for use of the same

• US 6,523,614 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Dennistoun, Stuart M., Smith, Roddie Robert, Gazda, Imre I.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHOEPPEL, ROGER J
• Application Number:
  US09/838,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 166/373-375, 166/244.1, 166/316, 166/319, 166/321, 166/322, 166/72, 166/192, 166/277
• US Class Current: 166/375
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/08 Cutting or deforming pipes to control fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/106 the retrievable element being a secondary control fluid actuated valve landed into the bore of a first inoperative control fluid actuated valve

Abstract

A communication tool (100) for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve (50) is disclosed. The tool (100) has a first section (102) and a second section (132) that are initially coupled together. A set of axial locating keys (112) is operably attached to the first section (102) and is engagably positionable within a profile (62). A radial cutting device (148) is radially extendable through a window (152) of the second section (132). A circumferential locating key (140) is operably attached to the second section (132) and is engagably positionable within a pocket (66) of the safety valve (50) when the first and second sections (102, 132) are decoupled, thereby circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device (148) with the non annular hydraulic chamber (60).

Claims

1. A method for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve having a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve;

axially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber;

circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber; and

creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve further comprises engaging axial locating keys of the communication tool into a profile.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of axially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises axially shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the step of axially shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool further comprises shearing a shear pin initially coupling the first section of the communication tool with the second section of the communication tool.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises rotatably shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of rotatably shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool further comprises shearing a shear pin coupling the first section of the communication tool with the second section of the communication tool.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket further comprises radially outwardly shifting the circumferential locating key with a collet spring attached to the communication tool.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises radially outwardly shifting the radial cutting device with a punch rod.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises disposing an insert having a fluid passageway in the sidewall portion of the tubing retrievable safety valve.

11. A method for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve having a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve;

axially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber by axially shifting a first section of the communication tool relative to a second section of the communication tool;

circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber by rotatably shifting the first section of the communication tool relative to the second section of the communication tool; and

creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of locating a communication tool having a radial cutting device within the tubing retrievable safety valve further comprises engaging axial locating keys of the communication tool into a profile.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the steps of axially and rotatably shifting the first section of the communication tool relative to the second section of the communication tool further comprises shearing a shear pin initially coupling the first section of the communication tool with the second section of the communication tool.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device with the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of circumferentially aligning a circumferential locating key of the communication tool with a pocket further comprises radially outwardly shifting the circumferential locating key with a collet spring attached to the communication tool.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises radially outwardly shifting the radial cutting device with a punch rod.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of creating a fluid passageway from the non annular hydraulic chamber to the interior of the tubing retrievable safety valve by radially penetrating the radial cutting device through the sidewall portion and into the non annular hydraulic chamber further comprises disposing an insert having a fluid passageway in the sidewall portion of the tubing retrievable safety valve.

18. A safety valve for downhole use in a well comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and having a non annular hydraulic chamber in a sidewall portion thereof;

a valve closure member mounted in the housing to control fluid flow through the longitudinal bore, the valve closure member having closed and opened positions;

a flow tube in the housing to shift the valve closure member between the closed and opened positions;

a rod piston slidably disposed in the non annular hydraulic chamber of the housing, the rod piston operably coupled to the flow tube; and

a pocket in the longitudinal bore for engaging a circumferential locating key of a communication tool whereby the circumferential locating key circumferentially aligns a radial cutting device of the communication tool with the non annular hydraulic chamber.

19. The safety valve as recited in claim 18 further comprising a profile for receiving a set of axial locating key of the communication tool.

20. The safety valve as recited in claim 18 wherein the sidewall portion has a radially reduced region and wherein the radial cutting device is axially and circumferentially aligned with the radially reduced region.

21. The safety valve as recited in claim 18 in combination with a communication tool comprising:

first and second sections that are initially coupled together;

a set of axial locating keys operably attached to the first section that is engagably positionable within a profile of the safety valve;

the radial cutting device radially extendable through a window of the second section; and

the circumferential locating key operably attached to the second section and engagably positionable within the pocket of the safety valve when the first and second sections are decoupled.