Check valve with valve member biased by connectors extending from a valve seat for operation of a subterranean tool
First Claim
1. A check valve for a tubular in subterranean treatment use, comprising:
- a seat in the tubular having an opening therethrough;
a valve member non-releasably retained in a spaced relation to said opening in said seat when there is no flow and up to a predetermined flow rate in a forward direction, from uphole to downhole, by force delivered from at least one flexible member extending from said seat and located peripherally to said opening;
said at least one flexible member flexing radially toward the tubular to bring said valve member into sealing contact with said seat to close said opening when said predetermined flow rate is exceeded.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A check valve has a valve member flexibly attached to a seat with resilient members that fold in response to flow above a predetermined value to shut the valve. The flexibly extending members store potential energy that is released to separate the valve member from the seat when the pressure applied against the seated valve member declines to the point that the potential energy stored in the flexible members is able to move the valve member off the seat. The valve assembly including the valve member, the seat and the flexible members can be a common material, or can be all one or more nonmetallic materials or involve composites or other easily drilled materials that are compatible with the operating conditions of pressure differential, temperature and composition of the well fluid. The check valve assembly can be pushed with pressure when closed to operate a subterranean tool.
17 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A check valve for a tubular in subterranean treatment use, comprising:
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a seat in the tubular having an opening therethrough; a valve member non-releasably retained in a spaced relation to said opening in said seat when there is no flow and up to a predetermined flow rate in a forward direction, from uphole to downhole, by force delivered from at least one flexible member extending from said seat and located peripherally to said opening; said at least one flexible member flexing radially toward the tubular to bring said valve member into sealing contact with said seat to close said opening when said predetermined flow rate is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A subterranean formation treatment method, comprising:
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providing a seat in a tubular having an opening therethrough; a valve member non-releasably retained in a spaced relation to said opening in said seat when there is no flow and up to a predetermined flow rate in a forward direction, from uphole to downhole, by force delivered from at least one flexible member extending from said seat and located peripherally to said opening; said at least one flexible member flexing radially toward the tubular to bring said valve member into sealing contact with said seat to close said opening when said predetermined flow rate is exceeded; and pressurizing against said at least one flexible member to perform a treatment into a surrounding formation.
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12. A subterranean formation treatment method comprising:
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operating on a tubular string a check valve assembly that does not substantially move a valve member and restrict flow coming into the string when running in, said valve member permits flow in a forward direction, from uphole to downhole, out of the string up to a predetermined flow rate above which flow rate said valve member engages a seat to prevent flow out of said string; attaching at least one radially flexible support member between said valve member and said seat and radially flexing said support member toward the tubular string when said valve member contacts said seat; performing a treatment when said valve member engages said seat. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An assembly of a check valve and a subterranean tool for a tubular in subterranean treatment use, comprising:
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a seat in the tubular having an opening therethrough; a valve member non-releasably retained in a spaced relation to said opening in said seat when there is no flow and up to a predetermined flow rate in a forward direction, from uphole to downhole, by force delivered from at least one flexible member extending from said seat and located peripherally to said opening;
said at least one flexible member flexing radially toward the tubular to bring said valve member into sealing contact with said seat to close said opening when said predetermined flow rate is exceeded;said seat movably mounted for selective pressure induced tandem movement with the subterranean tool when said valve member is in contact with said seat. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A subterranean formation treatment method comprising:
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running in on a tubular string or subsequently delivering through the tubular string a check valve assembly that does not substantially move a valve member and restrict flow coming into the string when running in, said valve member permits flow out of the string up to a predetermined flow rate above which flow rate out of said string said valve member engages a seat as at least one flexible support member that connects said valve member to said seat flexes radially to prevent flow out of said string from below said seat; displacing said check valve assembly with pressure applied to said valve member when engaged to said seat to operate a subterranean tool with said displacing; performing a treatment after said subterranean tool is operated. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification