Hydril Company

James D Mott

Danny K Wolff

Kenneth W Colvin

Tosh Miyagishima

An improved remotely operable safety valve which is adapted for use between the swivel and the kelly is disclosed. An annular hydraulic piston moves the valve to the open and closed position whether or not the drill string is rotating, and in the event of hydraulic failure, the valve may be operated manually. Centering spring means are provided to reduce wear on the operable elements when the valve is in the open position.

Remotely operable safety valve

A pressure operated safety valve adapted to be mounted in a well tubing for normally being movable to an open position by control fluid supplied from the surface, and which valve is automatically closed when the well pressure reaches a predetermined amount, whereby blowouts of the well are automatically prevented. The valve has locking means therewith which is operable by fluid pressure supplied through the well tubing from the surface for locking the valve open in the event the valve is malfunctioning in its normal operation and a 'Storm' choke or other type of safety valve is to be added in the well tubing, or it is desired to temporarily or permanently lock the valve open for any other purpose. Means are also provided for releasing the locking means to return the valve to its normal operating condition if desired.

Pressure operated safety valve with lock means

Subsurface apparatus and method for using same in a hydrocarbon producing well to enable retrieval of a full opening subsurface safety valve mounted in the well tubing without disturbing the major portion of the well tubing located below the safety valve. The apparatus includes a subsurface tubing hanger below the safety valve from which the major portion of the well tubing is suspended and through which tubing the hydrocarbons flow to the surface. Disposed above the safety valve is a tubing holddown apparatus and a controllable safety joint. The holddown apparatus provides a lower anchor for the portion of the tubing disposed above the tubing hanger and the stinger which is received in and seals with the tubing hanger. The safety joint is controlled to provide a full strength connection when installing the apparatus and a designed separation point when installed in order that damage to the portion of the tubing above the apparatus would not disturb the subsurface safety valve and thereby affect its ability to shut in the well in the event the wellhead is destroyed or damaged. The apparatus is installed in a single trip and thereby reducing the need for 'spacing out' during installation. In the event of damage or malfunction of the full opening safety valve, the valve may be retrieved with only the upper portion of the well tubing. A replacement valve may then be easily installed.

Well safety system method

Well safety system method and apparatus

Well safety valve apparatus

Subsurface apparatus and method for using same in a hydrocarbon producing well to enable retrieval of a full opening subsurface safety valve mounted in the well tubing without disturbing the major portion of the well tubing located below the safety valve. The apparatus includes a subsurface tubing hanger below the safety valve from which the major portion of the well tubing is suspended and through which tubing the hydrocarbons flow to the surface. Disposed above the safety valve is a tubing holddown apparatus and a controllable safety joint. The holddown apparatus provides a lower anchor for the portion of the tubing disposed above the tubing hanger and the stinger which is received in and seals with the tubing hanger. The safety joint is controlled to provide a full strength connection when installing the apparatus and a desired separation point when installed in order that damage to the portion of the tubing above the apparatus would not disturb the subsurface safety valve and thereby affect its ability to shut in the well in the event the wellhead is destroyed or damaged. The apparatus is installed in a single trip and thereby reducing the need for 'spacing out' during installation. In the event of damage or malfunction of the full opening safety valve, the valve may be retrieved with only the upper portion of the well tubing. A replacement valve may then be easily installed.

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.

Subsurface well apparatus and method

Plug catcher tool

A surface-controlled subsurface safety valve apparatus and method of utilizing the safety valve in through-the-flowline serviced wells. Both the valve frame and valve operator are provided with ball and socket universal joints to enable passage of the safety valve past restrictions in the flowline resulting from bends and curves in the flowline by flexing the safety valve in moving to and from the subsurface operating location.

Method of moving a through-the-flowline installed safety valve through a

Two embodiments of a surface controller system apparatus and their method for use with a surface controlled subsurface safety valve are disclosed. Both surface controller systems are responsive to an emergency shutdown signal for enabling closing of the subsurface safety valve when the well surface safety systems are shut-in. Once the subsurface Safety Valve has been shut-in up the system, the safety control system must be manually reset before the subsurface valve can be reopened. Both safety control system provides an enclosed reservoir or accumulator for receiving the hydraulic control fluid when the subsurface valve closes and for containing well blow-outs through either one or both control fluid conduits operably connecting the controller system with the subsurface valve. The enclosed systems are also arranged that any internal leakage of the surface control system will operate to shut-in the well with the subsurface valve. Undesired pressure buildup, effecting possible operation of the subsurface valve in either of the normal or vent control lines also automatically operates to shut-in the subsurface safety valve.

Method and apparatus for a surface control system for: subsurface safety

A well drilling tool including a tubular member having a bore therethrough and adapted for connection in a drilling string to form a flow passage for drilling fluid and a full opening rotatable ball type bore closure means pivotally mounted with the tubular member in the bore of the tubular member for enabling desired flow down the bore of the drill string and which automatically rotates closed when incipient well pressure conditions indicate the direction of flow in the bore may be reversed. The drilling tool includes a means for releasably locking the ball in the open position in response to a predetermined directional pressure in the bore to render inoperative the automatic operation of the ball. The drilling tool may be employed by stabbing the tool in a drilling string having an upwardly flow in the bore of the drilling string to connect the tool with the drilling string for subsequently blocking the upwardly flow.

Drilling tool

A new and improved subsurface safety valve which is inserted into well tubing without requiring removal of the tubing, and which replaces worn, deteriorated and fully or partially inoperative safety valves in the well tubing to prevent blow-outs in wells. The replacement subsurface safety valve may be subsequently removed after insertion without requiring removal of the well tubing.

Retrievable safety valve

A surface-controlled subsurface safety valve apparatus and method of utilizing the safety valve to through-the-flowline serviced wells. Both the valve frame and valve operator are provided with ball and socket universal joints to enable passage of the safety valve past restrictions in the flowline resulting from bends and curves in the flowline by flexing the safety valve in moving to and from the subsurface operating location.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

James D Mott