US3762471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Subsurface well apparatus and method
Assignee: Hydril LLC
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Filing: 1971-04-06
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Subsurface well apparatus and method of operating same, wherein a controlled ball valve or closure means is provided, with means for mounting same in a well tubing for normally opening and closing flow through the well tubing, and wherein a fluid flow control assembly having a replacement ball valve therewith is adapted to be dropped in or otherwise lowered through the well tubing so as to position same above said controlled ball valve for subsequent operation of said replacement valve to thereafter serve as a replacement for said controlled valve.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:40
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/10; E21B34/105; E21B34/106; E21B2200/00; E21B2200/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for mounting a closure means in a well tubing to control the flow of fluid in the bore of the tubing and adapted to receive a means for controlling the flow in the bore of the tubing when the closure means malfunctions, including: a. a housing connected at its upper and lower ends to the well tubing and having a bore therethrough communicating with the bore of the well tubing; b. a closure means disposed in said bore of said housing for movement to and from open and closed positions for controlling flow of fluid through said bore; c. means disposed in said housing for imparting movement to said closure means to move said closure means to and from open and closed positions; and d. means mounted with said housing for positioning in said bore of said housing the means for controlling the flow in said bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for mounting a closure means in a well tubing to control the flow of fluid in the bore of the tubing and adapted to receive a means for controlling the flow in the bore of the tubing when the closure means malfunctions, including: a. a housing connected at its upper and lower ends to the well tubing and having a bore therethrough communicating with the bore of the well tubing; b. a closure means disposed in said bore of said housing for movement to and from open and closed positions for controlling flow of fluid through said bore; c. means disposed in said housing for imparting movement to said closure means to move said closure means to and from open and closed positions; and d. means mounted with said housing for positioning in said bore of said housing the means for controlling the flow in said bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes means for constricting a portion of said bore of said housing wherein the means for controlling the flow in said bore is located above said means for constricting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1, including means for locking said closure means in the open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as set forth iN claim 3, including means for unlocking said closure means from the open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said closure means is a ball means having a bore therethrough for rotational movement to and from open and closed positions; and b. said means for imparting movement to said closure means includes an actuator sleeve means movable in said housing relative thereto and a pivot means for causing said ball to rotate upon movement of said actuator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The structure as set forth in claim 5, including: a. said actuator sleeve means having urging means for urging said actuator sleeve means in a direction to close said ball means to thereby block fluid flow upwardly through said bore of said housing; and b. a first control means for urging said actuator sleeve means to overcome the force of said urging means to rotate said ball means to enable fluid flow through said bore of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first control means includes a control pressure means urging on said actuator means to rotate said ball means to enable fluid flow through said bore of said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure as set forth in claim 7, including: a. a first movable piston means defining a first variable capacity chamber; and b. said first control pressure means communicating with said chamber for urging on said piston means wherein said piston means urges said actuator means to rotate said ball means to enable fluid flow through said bore of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure as set forth in claim 8, including: a. said first piston means defining a second variable capacity chamber; and means for receiving the fluid in said second chamber when said first control pressure rotates said ball means to the open position wherein said ball means moves to and from open and closed positions independent of the pressure in the bore of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as set forth in claim 8, including means for locking said ball means in the open position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure as set forth in claim 10, including a second control pressure means for urging said actuator sleeve means to rotate said ball means to enable flow of fluid through said bore of said housing and for locking said ball means in the open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means for locking means includes: a. a detent; and b. said actuator sleeve means having a recess therein into which said detent is adapted to move when aligned therewith, said recess aligned with said detent when said actuator sleeve means is moved by said second control pressure means to rotate said ball means to permit flow of fluid through said bore of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The structure as set forth in claim 12, including: a. said first piston means defining a second variable capacity chamber; and b. said second control pressure means communicating with said second chamber for urging on said first piston wherein said second control pressure urging rotation of said ball means to enable flow of fluid through said bore of said housing aligns said recess with said detent and urges said first piston means to move to lock said detent in said recess wherein said ball means is locked in the open position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for constricting includes a split ring member disposed in said bore of said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second control pressure urging on said second piston means moves a split ring member into said bore of said housing for constricting the bore to provide means for positioning the means for controlling the flow in said bore.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said means for constricting a portion of said bore of said housing expanding in said bore for enabling full bore flow through said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said first control pressure means urges on said first piston means to release said detent from said recess.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
The structure as set forth in claim 6, including: a. said actuator sleeve means having a portion thereof movable relative to said actuator sleeve means when said actuator sleeve means is urged for rotating said ball means to enable fluid flow through said bore of said housing by said first control means; and b. a second control means for urging on said portion of said actuator sleeve means to overcome the force of said urging means to rotate said ball means to enable fluid flow through said bore of said housing wherein said first and said second control means are operable to rotate said ball means open.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said second control means in rotating said ball means to the open position locks said ball means in the open position to block closing of said ball means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said first control means unlocks said ball means from the locked open position to enable closing of said ball means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
The structure as set forth in claim 18, wherein: a. said means for positioning in said bore the means for controlling the flow in said bore includes a member located adjacent said portion of said actuator sleeve means; and b. said second control means urging on said portion of said actuator sleeve means constricts a portion of said bore of said housing with said member for positioning the means for controlling the flow.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |