US3856037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve sequence interlock system
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1973-01-22
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A valve sequence interlock system for assuring the operation of a plurality of valves in a predetermined sequential manner. The system is described as employed in an offshore oil or gas well platform completion to control a downhole safety valve, a subsea safety valve, and a surface safety valve all in the same tubing string, so that the surface valve always closes first and opens last, and so that it is impossible to change the operating mode of the subsea and downhole valves when the surface valve is open. The surface valve is actuated by pneumatic pressure, and the subsea and downhole valves are hydraulically actuated.
Inventors
- 👤 N Nelson
- 👤 M Garrett
- 👤 S Putch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:47
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/02; E21B34/04; E21B34/06; E21B34/10; E21B34/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87096; Y10T137/87113; Y10T137/87917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A fluid flow control system for a well flow conduit, comprising: 1. a plurality of fluid-actuated valves installed in series relationship in a well flow conduit, 2. a fluid pressure conduit system interconnecting each of said valves and a fluid pressure source for actuation of said valves, 3. a plurality of fluid pressure control valves positioned in said fluid pressure conduit system for respective individual regulation of the admission of fluid pressure from said source to said fluid-actuated valves, and 4. an interlock system for assuring the operation of said fluidactuated valves in a predetermined sequence, said interlock system including: a. restricting means actuatable to prevent operation of at least a certain one of said plurality of control valves, and b. control means for said restricting means, said control means comprising fluid conduit means interconnecting said restricting means and said fluid pressure conduit system so that said certain control valve restricting means is operated by valve-actuating fluid pressure in said fluid conduit means when a selected remaining one of said contRol valves is in a predetermined first condition to actuate its said fluidactuated valve and said restricting means is rendered inoperative when said selected control valve is in a predetermined second condition to de-actuate its said fluidactuated valve, whereby placing said selected control valve in said first condition results in opening its said fluid-actuated valve and operating said restricting means to prevent operation of said certain control valve and associated fluid-actuated valve, and placing said selected control valve in said second condition results in closing its fluid-actuated valve and rendering said restricting means inoperative to facilitate operation of said certain control valve and fluid-actuated valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
A fluid flow control system for a well flow conduit, comprising: 1. a plurality of fluid-actuated valves installed in series relationship in a well flow conduit, 2. a fluid pressure conduit system interconnecting each of said valves and a fluid pressure source for actuation of said valves, 3. a plurality of fluid pressure control valves positioned in said fluid pressure conduit system for respective individual regulation of the admission of fluid pressure from said source to said fluid-actuated valves, and 4. an interlock system for assuring the operation of said fluidactuated valves in a predetermined sequence, said interlock system including: a. restricting means actuatable to prevent operation of at least a certain one of said plurality of control valves, and b. control means for said restricting means, said control means comprising fluid conduit means interconnecting said restricting means and said fluid pressure conduit system so that said certain control valve restricting means is operated by valve-actuating fluid pressure in said fluid conduit means when a selected remaining one of said contRol valves is in a predetermined first condition to actuate its said fluidactuated valve and said restricting means is rendered inoperative when said selected control valve is in a predetermined second condition to de-actuate its said fluidactuated valve, whereby placing said selected control valve in said first condition results in opening its said fluid-actuated valve and operating said restricting means to prevent operation of said certain control valve and associated fluid-actuated valve, and placing said selected control valve in said second condition results in closing its fluid-actuated valve and rendering said restricting means inoperative to facilitate operation of said certain control valve and fluid-actuated valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
a fluid pressure conduit system interconnecting each of said valves and a fluid pressure source for actuation of said valves,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
a fluid pressure conduit system interconnecting each of said valves and a fluid pressure source for actuation of said valves,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein said fluid-actuated valves are fail-close safety valves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
a fluid pressure conduit system interconnecting each of said valves and a fluid pressure source for actuation of said valves,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
a fluid pressure conduit system interconnecting each of said valves and a fluid pressure source for actuation of said valves,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
fluid conduit means interconnecting said restricting means and said first pressure line to conduct fluid pressure to said restricting means when said first control valve is open.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
fluid conduit means interconnecting said restricting means and said first pressure line to conduct fluid pressure to said restricting means when said first control valve is open.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fluid flow control system according to claim 2 wherein said safety valves include a downhole valve, a subsea valve, and a surface valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
a plurality of fluid pressure control valves positioned in said fluid pressure conduit system for respective individual regulation of the admission of fluid pressure from said source to said fluid-actuated valves, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
a plurality of fluid pressure control valves positioned in said fluid pressure conduit system for respective individual regulation of the admission of fluid pressure from said source to said fluid-actuated valves, and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
a plurality of fluid pressure control valves positioned in said fluid pressure conduit system for individual regulation of the admission of fluid pressure from said source to said fluid-actuated valves, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
a plurality of fluid pressure control valves positioned in said fluid pressure conduit system for individual regulation of the admission of fluid pressure from said source to said fluid-actuated valves, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
194 words
an interlock system for assuring the operation of said fluid-actuated valves in a predetermined sequence, said interlock system including: a. restricting means actuatable to prevent operation of at least a certain one of said plurality of control valves, and b. control means for said restricting means, said control means comprising fluid conduit means interconnecting said restricting means and said fluid pressure conduit system so that said certain control valve restricting means is operated by valve-actuating fluid pressure in said fluid conduit means when a selected remaining one of said contRol valves is in a predetermined first condition to actuate its said fluid-actuated valve and said restricting means is rendered inoperative when said selected control valve is in a predetermined second condition to de-actuate its said fluid-actuated valve, whereby placing said selected control valve in said first condition results in opening its said fluid-actuated valve and operating said restricting means to prevent operation of said certain control valve and associated fluid-actuated valve, and placing said selected control valve in said second condition results in closing its fluid-actuated valve and rendering said restricting means inoperative to facilitate operation of said certain control valve and fluid-actuated valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
194 words
an interlock system for assuring the operation of said fluid-actuated valves in a predetermined sequence, said interlock system including: a. restricting means actuatable to prevent operation of at least a certain one of said plurality of control valves, and b. control means for said restricting means, said control means comprising fluid conduit means interconnecting said restricting means and said fluid pressure conduit system so that said certain control valve restricting means is operated by valve-actuating fluid pressure in said fluid conduit means when a selected remaining one of said contRol valves is in a predetermined first condition to actuate its said fluid-actuated valve and said restricting means is rendered inoperative when said selected control valve is in a predetermined second condition to de-actuate its said fluid-actuated valve, whereby placing said selected control valve in said first condition results in opening its said fluid-actuated valve and operating said restricting means to prevent operation of said certain control valve and associated fluid-actuated valve, and placing said selected control valve in said second condition results in closing its fluid-actuated valve and rendering said restricting means inoperative to facilitate operation of said certain control valve and fluid-actuated valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein said restricting means includes at least one fluid cylinder with a piston rod arranged to cooperate mechanically with said one control valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
196 words
an interlock system for assuring the operation of said fluid-actuated valves in a predetermined sequence, said interlock system including; a. restricting means actuatable to prevent operation of at least one of said plurality of control valves, said restricting means including at least one fluid cylinder with a piston rod arranged to cooperate mechanically with said one control valve, and b. control means for said restricting means, said control means comprising a fluid pressure line interconnecting said fluid cylinder and that portion of said fluid conduit system interconnecting another of said control valves and one of said fluid-actuated valves, so that said fluid cylinder is actuated when said other control valve is in a predetermined first condition and de-actuated when said other control valve is in a predetermined second condition, whereby placing said other control valve in said first condition results in opening one of said fluid-actuated valves and actuating said restricting means to prevent operation of the remaining control valves and fluid-actuated valves, and placing said other control valve in said second condition results in closing said one fluid-actuated valve and de-actuating said restricting means to facilitate operation of the remaining control valves and fluid-actuated valves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
196 words
an interlock system for assuring the operation of said fluid-actuated valves in a predetermined sequence, said interlock system including; a. restricting means actuatable to prevent operation of at least one of said plurality of control valves, said restricting means including at least one fluid cylinder with a piston rod arranged to cooperate mechanically with said one control valve, and b. control means for said restricting means, said control means comprising a fluid pressure line interconnecting said fluid cylinder and that portion of said fluid conduit system interconnecting another of said control valves and one of said fluid-actuated valves, so that said fluid cylinder is actuated when said other control valve is in a predetermined first condition and de-actuated when said other control valve is in a predetermined second condition, whereby placing said other control valve in said first condition results in opening one of said fluid-actuated valves and actuating said restricting means to prevent operation of the remaining control valves and fluid-actuated valves, and placing said other control valve in said second condition results in closing said one fluid-actuated valve and de-actuating said restricting means to facilitate operation of the remaining control valves and fluid-actuated valves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
A fluid flow control system for a well flow conduit, comprising:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
A fluid flow control system for a well flow conduit, comprising:
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fluid flow control system according to claim 5 wherein said fluid cylinder is a single-acting, spring-return cylinder, said one control valve has a rotatable handle that is engaged and held against rotation by said piston rod when said cylinder is subjected to fluid pressure, and said one fluid-actuated valve is a surface safety valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluid flow control system according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of fluid-actuated valves include a subsea safety valve upstream of said surface valve, and a downhole safety valve upstream of said subsea valve.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fluid flow control system according to claim 7 including a control valve for each of said subsea and downhole valves, and a fluid cylinder for the control valve for each of said subsea and downhole valves to prevent operation of said subsea and downhole valves and their control valves when said surface safety valve is open.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
59 words
A valve sequence interlock system for use at an offShore well platform completion to control the operation of a plurality of safety valves installed in series in a well flow conduit, said platform completion including first and second control valves individually connected to first and second safety valves by first and second fluid pressure lines, said interlock system comprising:
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A valve sequence interlock system for use at an offShore well platform completion to control the operation of a plurality of safety valves installed in series in a well flow conduit, said platform completion including first and second control valves individually connected to first and second safety valves by first and second fluid pressure lines, said interlock system comprising:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A valve sequence interlock system according to claim 9 wherein the controllable restricting means comprises a fluid cylinder with a piston rod actuatable by admission of fluid pressure thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A valve sequence interlock system according to claim 10 wherein said second control valve includes a rotatable handle with means engageable by said piston rod to prevent rotation of said handle, and thus operation of said control valve.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
A valve sequence interlock system according to claim 11 wherein said fluid cylinder is a single-acting spring return unit arranged so that its piston rod extends into locking engagement with said second control valve''s handle upon opening said first control valve, and whereby said piston rod retracts from said locking engagement in response to spring-return action when said first control valve is closed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
A valve sequence interlock system according to claim 12 including a third control valve, a fluid cylinder for preventing operation of said third control valve, and fluid conduit means interconnecting said third control valve''s fluid cylinder to said first pressure line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A valve sequence interlock system according to claim 13 wherein said third control valve controls the admission of fluid pressure to a third safety valve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
A valve sequence interlock system according to claim 14 wherein said first safety valve is downstream to both of said second and third safety valves, and wherein said system prevents the operation of said second and third safety valves by operation of said second and third control valves unless said first safety valve is closed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |