Flapper lock open apparatus

• US 6,684,958 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Sloan, James T., Brown, Barry L., Thompson, Grant R., Shaw, Brian S., Williams, Ronald D., McCoy, John L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/122,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 166/382, 166/386, 166/321, 166/323, 166/332.8, 166/373
• US Class Current: 166/386
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/00 Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/105 Expanding tools specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/108 Expandable screens or perforated liners

Abstract

Various techniques for holding open an SSSV using expansion technology are disclosed. A sleeve is delivered to the SSSV and expanded mechanically or hydraulically to deposit the deformed sleeve in position over a flapper or against a flow tube holding the flapper in the open position.

Claims

1. A method for locking open a subsurface safety valve, comprising:

delivering expandable member into the subsurface safety valve;

putting the subsurface safety valve into an open position; and

expanding said expandable member with an applied force to secure its placement while holding the subsurface safety valve open;

bending said expandable member over at least one shoulder to improve longitudinal fixation to the subsurface safety valve.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

plastically expanding said expandable member.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing openings in said expandable member.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

engaging a flapper with said expandable member.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

engaging a flow tube with said expandable member.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising:

engaging a flow tube and said flapper with said expandable member.

7. The method of claim 3, comprising:

providing elongated slots as said openings.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

driving a swage into said expandable member to expand it; and

removing the swage.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

expanding said expandable member with an inflatable tool.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing longitudinal corrugations in said expandable member to reduce its outer dimension for placement; and

expanding said expandable member to remove said corrugations.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

expanding said expandable member to a dimension greater than the dimension at which said corrugations are removed by making the cross-sectional shape round.

12. A method for locking open a subsurface safety valve, comprising:

delivering expandable member into the subsurface safety valve;

putting the subsurface safety valve into an open position; and

expanding at least a portion of said expandable member with an applied force to secure its placement while holding the subsurface safety valve open;

providing a plurality of collet fingers extending from said expandable member and terminating in a head;

wedging said heads in the subsurface safety valve to secure the open position.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

using a ring shaped swage to wedge said heads; and

leaving said swage in place after said heads are wedged.

14. A method for locking open a subsurface safety valve, comprising:

delivering expandable member into the subsurface safety valve;

putting the subsurface safety valve into an open position; and

expanding at least a portion of said expandable member with an applied force to secure its placement while holding the subsurface safety valve open;

mounting said expandable member on a resilient member in an actuating tool;

applying a compressive force to said resilient member; and

forcing the expandable member to expand with said resilient member.