Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Gordon Kenneth Scott

Peter Derek Walter Inglis

Ronald George Taylor

James Crabb

Ralph H Echols

Philip T Thomas

Ralph H Echols, Ii

Peter Derek Inglis

A downhole ball valve includes a housing that includes a tubular member; a ball seat positioned in the tubular member, the ball seat including a sealing surface; and a ball that includes a first hemispherical portion, a second hemispherical portion, and a bore that extends through the ball between the first and second hemispherical portions. The ball is adjustable between a closed position with the first hemispherical portion sealingly engaged with the sealing surface of the ball seat to close the bore to fluid communication with the tubular member, and an open position with the bore at least partially in fluid communication with the tubular member. The first hemispherical portion includes a first material, and at least a portion of the second hemispherical portion that extends from a surface of the ball towards the bore of the ball includes a second material different than the first material.

Downhole ball valve

A ball valve comprising a housing, a ball seat disposed within the housing, and a ball rotatably movable within the housing, and engageable with the ball seat in order to provide a seal within the ball valve and the ball seat, wherein the ball seat comprises multiple seat surfaces independently capable of engaging the ball, a first seat surface engaging the ball to form a first seal, and being arranged such that pressure acting from above pushes the first seat surface against the ball; a second seat surface being movable relative to the first seat surface and engaging the ball to form a second seal, the second seat surface being arranged such that pressure acting from below causes the second seat surface to move relative to the first seat surface and pushes the second seat surface into contact with the ball.

Ball valve

Initially, a set of locking lugs lock an inner mandrel is locked in position with respect to an outer mandrel. Unlocking the travel joint is accomplished by applying a constant vertical or downward force on the tubing string. That vertical force is transmitted through the tubing string to the outer mandrel, which causes hydraulic pressure with a hydraulic chamber to increase. When the hydraulic pressure exceeds a pressure threshold, a pressure sensitive valve opens, and the hydraulic fluid gradually flows into a reserve hydraulic chamber, allowing the outer mandrel to move with respect to the inner mandrel. A viscosity independent flow restrictor limits the transfer of hydraulic fluid to a preset flow rate. After sufficient hydraulic fluid has been received into the reserve chamber, the outer mandrel aligns with the locking lugs, which then move from the locked position to the unlocked position. The travel joint then releases, allowing the outer mandrel to telescope inward and outward.

Hydraulically metered travel joint

Growing community of inventors

Laurencekirk, United Kingdom

Gordon Kenneth Scott