Flapper lock open apparatus

• US 20030192703A1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Brown, Barry L., McCoy, John L. Jr., Sloan, James T., Thompson, Grant R., Shaw, Brian S., Williams, Ronald D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,684,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/376
• 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 (SSSV), comprising:

delivering a ring into the SSSV;

putting the SSSV into an open position; and

expanding said ring with an applied force to secure its placement while holding the SSSV open.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

plastically expanding said ring.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

engaging a shoulder in the SSSV with said expanded ring to improve fixation.

4. The method of claim 1,comprising:

providing openings in said ring.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

engaging the flapper with said ring.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

engaging the flow tube with said ring.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising:

engaging the flow tube with said ring.

8. The method of claim 4, comprising:

providing elongated slots as said openings.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

driving a swage into said ring to expand it; and

removing the swage.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

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

wedging said heads in the SSSV to secure the open position.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

using a ring shaped swage to wedge said heads; and

leaving said swage in place after said heads are wedged.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising:

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

applying a compressive force to said resilient member; and

forcing the sleeve to expand with said resilient member.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:

expanding said sleeve with an inflatable tool.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

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

expanding said ring to remove said corrugations.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

expanding said ring to beyond removal of said corrugations.

16. The method of claim 2, comprising:

engaging a shoulder in the SSSV with said expanded ring to improve fixation.

17. The method of claim 16,comprising:

providing openings in said ring.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

driving a swage into said ring to expand it; and

removing the swage.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising:

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

applying a compressive force to said resilient member; and

forcing the sleeve to expand with said resilient member.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising:

expanding said sleeve with an inflatable tool.