US3696868A — Well flow control valves and well systems utilizi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 148 words

A well flow control system for a well having a flow conductor therein communicating with a producing formation and leading to the well head and surface flow connections of the well, said system including: a flow control valve connected in the flow conductor for controlling flow of fluids through said conductor and having valve closure operator means movable longitudinally of the flow conductor between positions in which the valve is open and closed, means for controlling movement of said valve closure operator means between valve closure opening and closing positions, said valve operator means being normally movable longitudinally to move said valve closure to closed position by well fluid pressure to shut off flow through the flow conductor; means in said valve normally inactive and movable to a position to engage the valve operator means to lock the same in a position positively holding said valve closure open.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 148 words

A well flow control system for a well having a flow conductor therein communicating with a producing formation and leading to the well head and surface flow connections of the well, said system including: a flow control valve connected in the flow conductor for controlling flow of fluids through said conductor and having valve closure operator means movable longitudinally of the flow conductor between positions in which the valve is open and closed, means for controlling movement of said valve closure operator means between valve closure opening and closing positions, said valve operator means being normally movable longitudinally to move said valve closure to closed position by well fluid pressure to shut off flow through the flow conductor; means in said valve normally inactive and movable to a position to engage the valve operator means to lock the same in a position positively holding said valve closure open.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 75 words

A well flow control system of the character set forth in claim 1 including: pack-off tool means having a flow passage therethrough securable in said flow control valve and having sealing means thereon sealing between said pack-off tool and said flow control valve on longitudinally opposite sides of said valve closure and operator means to isolate the same from fluids flowing through said flow control valve through said flow passage of said pack-off tool means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

A well flow control system of the character set forth in claim 2 including: supplemental flow control valve means in said pack-off tool means operable to control fluid flow through said flow passage of said pack-off tool means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 88 words

A well flow control system of the character set forth in claim 1 including: fluid pressure responsive means on said valve operator means for moving said operator means longitudinally of said flow control valve in response to control fluid pressure; and control fluid conductor means from the surface of the well to the flow control valve for conducting control fluid under pressure to said valve to act on said pressure responsive means to move said valve operator means to control actuation of said valve closure from the surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 89 words

A well flow control system of the character set forth in claim 4 including: pack-off tool means having a flow passage therethrough securable in said flow control valve and having sealing means thereon sealing between said pack-off tool and said flow control valve on longitudinally opposite sides of said valve closure means and operator means to isolate the same from fluids flowing through said flow control valve through said flow passage of said pack-off tool means and from said pressure responsive means and the control fluid pressure acting thereon.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

A well flow control system of the character set forth in claim 5 including: supplemental flow control valve means in said pack-off tool means operable to control fluid flow through said flow passage of said pack-off tool means; and means for admitting control fluid from said control fluid conductor means and said pressure responsive means of said flow control valve means for controlling actuation of said supplemental flow control valve means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

A well flow control system of the character set forth in claim 6 including: means for conducting control fluid from said flow control valve means to said supplemental valve means; and means coacting with said means for holding the valve operating means in a position locking said valve closure open for controlling flow of operating fLuid to said supplemental valve means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 137 words

A well flow control system for a well having a flow conductor therein communicating with the producing formation in the bore of the well and supported at the surface by a well head assembly and having flow line connections at the surface, including: a flow control valve in said flow conductor having a valve closure member therein movable between positions opening and closing off flow through said valve; actuating means in said valve for actuating the valve closure means movable longitudinally of said valve for actuating said valve closure means between open and closed position; valve locking means in said valve initially in an inoperative position in said valve and movable to an operative position engaging said longitudinally movable valve actuating means to positively lock said valve actuating means in position holding said valve closure means open.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 137 words

A well flow control system for a well having a flow conductor therein communicating with the producing formation in the bore of the well and supported at the surface by a well head assembly and having flow line connections at the surface, including: a flow control valve in said flow conductor having a valve closure member therein movable between positions opening and closing off flow through said valve; actuating means in said valve for actuating the valve closure means movable longitudinally of said valve for actuating said valve closure means between open and closed position; valve locking means in said valve initially in an inoperative position in said valve and movable to an operative position engaging said longitudinally movable valve actuating means to positively lock said valve actuating means in position holding said valve closure means open.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

A well system of the character set forth in claim 8 wherein said valve locking means includes: means releasably holding said locking means in position holding the valve open and releasable to unlock said valve locking means for movement from such position to the initial inoperative position to permit resumption of operation of the valve in a normal manner.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

A well system of the character set forth in claim 8 wherein: means is provided in the flow conductor down-stream of the valve for supporting and holding a pack-off tool in place in the flow conductor extending through the valve for isolating the valve from well fluids flowing through the flow conductor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

A well system of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein said pack-off tool includes: supplemental flow control valve means on said pack-off tool operable for controlling flow through said pack-off tool while the same is in place in said flow conductor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 102 words

A well flow conductor valve including: a housing having means for connecting it in flow communication with a well flow conductor; valve means disposed in the housing and movable therein between open and closed positions for controlling flow through the housing; operating means in said housing movable longitudinally thereof for actuating said valve to move the same between open and closed positions; locking means in the housing initially in an inoperative position spaced from said operating means and movable to a position engaging said valve operating means to positively lock said valve operating means in position holding said valve in open position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 102 words

A well flow conductor valve including: a housing having means for connecting it in flow communication with a well flow conductor; valve means disposed in the housing and movable therein between open and closed positions for controlling flow through the housing; operating means in said housing movable longitudinally thereof for actuating said valve to move the same between open and closed positions; locking means in the housing initially in an inoperative position spaced from said operating means and movable to a position engaging said valve operating means to positively lock said valve operating means in position holding said valve in open position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein: said locking means is positively locked in said position holding said valve open.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 54 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein: said locking means is releasably held in position locking said valve operating means in position holding the valve open, and is releasable from engagement with said valve actuating means for movement to said initial inoperative position to permit the valve to resume operation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 130 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking means comprises: a pair of opposed collet members having intermeshing projecting spring resilient fingers with bosses on their ends; a stop shoulder on the valve housing engagable by the bosses of a first one of said collet members for initially holding said collet member in a position in which said locking means is inoperative; second shoulder means on said housing engagable by said bosses on said first collet for releasably restraining said locking means in position holding said valve actuating means in position locking the valve open; said valve actuating member having a shoulder thereon engagable by the bosses of the second of said collet members for locking said actuating member in position holding the valve open.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 15 including: additional restraining means on said first collet member and said housing for holding said first collet means in position holding the actuating member in position locking tHe valve open.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 76 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 12 including: fluid pressure responsive means on said operating means; means for conducting control fluid pressure to said valve housing for acting on said fluid pressure responsive means to control movement of said operating means in response to such control fluid pressure; and means at the surface for controlling control fluid pressure conducted through said control fluid conductor means to the valve in response to predetermined conditions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 84 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 17 including: second fluid pressure conductor means communicating with the valve housing to act on said operating means in a direction opposite the control fluid pressure from said first control fluid conductor means, said two conductor means for control fluid providing means for counterbalancing the hydrostatic pressure of the control fluids in such conductor means from the surface to the valve housing to reduce the effect of such hydrostatic pressure on the valve operator means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 104 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 12 including: a tubular landing nipple having locating, locking and sealing surfaces in its bore connected with the valve housing for receiving and positioning a pack-off tool; and a pack-off tool having longitudinally spaced sealing means thereon, one engaging the sealing surface of said landing nipple and the other engaging the housing on the longitudinally opposide side of the valve means, the valve operating means and the restraining means in the housing from said landing nipple; and a flow passage through said pack-off tool for conducting fluids therethrough in a path isolated from said valve.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 64 words

A valve of the character set forth in claim 19 including: supplemental fluid flow control valve means in said pack-off tool operable to control flow through the flow passage of said pack-off tool and means for conducting control fluid from one of said control fluid conductors connected with said valve housing to said supplemental valve means for controlling actuation of said supplemental valve means.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 91 words

A method of operating a well including: installing a flow conductor in said well for conducting fluids from a producing formation therein to the surface; controlling flow through said flow conductor by a valve in said flow conductor controlled by control fluid from the surface in response to predetermined conditions of flow through the flow conductor and at the well surface; moving said valve to open position independently of said control fluid from the surface; locking said valve in such open position for performing well servicing operations through the open valve.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 91 words

A method of operating a well including: installing a flow conductor in said well for conducting fluids from a producing formation therein to the surface; controlling flow through said flow conductor by a valve in said flow conductor controlled by control fluid from the surface in response to predetermined conditions of flow through the flow conductor and at the well surface; moving said valve to open position independently of said control fluid from the surface; locking said valve in such open position for performing well servicing operations through the open valve.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method of the character set forth in claim 21 including: providing a flow path through the valve isolated from the valve for conducting well fluids from the producing formation through such isolated path without contacting the valve.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as set forth in claim 21 including: providing a supplemental valve for control of fluid flow through the first valve while said first valve is held in the open position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method of the character set forth in claim 22 including: controlling fluid through the isolated path through the valve in response to said control fluid from the surface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-10-10	1976-04-10	1976-10-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-10-10	1980-04-10	1980-10-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-10-10	1984-04-10	1984-10-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Well flow control valves and well systems utilizing the same

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