N. J. Mcallister Petroleum Industries, Inc.

Hughes Tool Company LLC

Lynes, Inc.

Daniel R Reardon

A valve housing is adapted to be supported on a tubular member, there being bore means in the valve housing. Passage means are provided in the tubular member and in the valve housing for communicating fluid from the interior of the tubular member through the bore means to the interior of an inflatable element carried by the tubular member for inflation of the inflatable element. First valve means in the bore means control fluid flow into the bore means, and second valve means in the bore means control fluid flow from the bore means to the inflatable element. Means retain the second valve means in position in the bore means to close off flow to the inflatable element until a first predetermined pressure is reached in the bore means and for releasing the second valve means so that it may move to communicate the bore means for flow to the interior of the inflatable element when the first predetermined pressure is reached. Means retain the first valve in position in the bore means to accommodate flow to the bore means until a second predetermined pressure, which is higher than the first predetermined pressure, is reached in the bore means, and for releasing the first valve means to move and close off flow from the tubular member to said bore means when the second predetermined pressure is reached. The inflating pressure and annulus well bore pressure assist in retaining the second valve means closed after the element has been inflated.

Arrangement for controlling communication between a tubular member and

A testing or treating tool enables either squeeze packer elements or inflatable packer elements to isolate an interval of the well bore. A pump provides hydraulic pressure to move the packer elements into sealing engagement with the well bore wall by manipulation of a tubular member which supports the tool in the well bore. The tool includes a sensor which is responsive to a pressure differential between the hydrostatic pressure in the well bore and the pressure in the isolated zone, or interval, in the well to increase the hydraulic pressure acting on the elements when the pressure in the well bore exceeds the pressure in the isolated zone to inhibit creep of the packers along the well bore wall. A collection reservoir receives fluid displaced from the well bore as the packers sealably engage the well bore.

Well tool for testing or treating a well

A pressure operated test valve for use in a well test string in a well bore is shown. The test string has a packer arranged for sealing the well bore to isolate the annulus between the well bore and the test string above the packer from that portion of the well bore below the packer. The test valve includes a rotating ball valve which is movable between open and closed positions relative to the interior of the test string. A ball piston shifts the rotating ball between the open and closed positions. A coil spring normally urges the ball piston to its valve closing position. A power fluid reservoir contains a power fluid and an axially shiftable power valve is located within a power chamber which communicates with the power fluid reservoir. An axially slidable control valve is located within a control chamber and has a pressure responsive annular area which is exposed to the power fluid for shifting the control valve. The control valve also has internal passages for supplying pressurized power fluid to the power valve to shift the power valve between a first position which isolates the ball piston and a second position which exposes the ball piston to annulus fluid pressure for shifting the ball to the open position. The well hydrostatic pressure is trapped within a control section of the device prior to setting the packer and provides the reference pressure for subsequent shifting of the valve.

Pressure operated test valve

A test valve assembly is provided which is adapted to be lowered on a tubular string between upper and lower tubular sections into position within a blowout preventer stack at the upper end of a well bore of a subterranean oil or gas well. The apparatus has first and second fluid flow passageways within a housing. A valve member is disposed between the flow passageways and is shiftable to open position to communicate the flow passageways during selective incremental testing of the well and is manipulatable to closed position to isolate the flow passageways prior to and subsequent to selective incremental testing of the well. Means are provided which are responsive to mechanical manipulation of the tubular string for shifting of the valve member between closed and open positions. The apparatus and the tubular string may be selectively latched with respect to one another without manipulation of the valve member between closed and open positions. Clutch means are provided whereby the upper tubular section may be selectively rotationally engaged with the lower tubular section during testing of the well and when the valve member is in open position. Auxiliary hydraulically activated valve manipulation and unlatching means also are provided.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Daniel R Reardon