Metal-to-metal sliding side door for wells

Abstract

Assemblies and methods are provided for selectively opening and closing a side port in a flow conductor for a well. In general, the sliding side door assembly includes a housing and a door subassembly. The housing has a generally tubular shape defining a fluid conducting interior and central axis. A side port is formed in the housing, and a ball seat is positioned in the housing adjacent the side port. The door subassembly is operatively engaged with the housing adjacent the side port and includes a translating sleeve positioned within the housing and a ball sealing member adapted to engage the ball seat of the housing. A ball port is formed through the ball sealing member. A cooperatively engaged helical track and follower member are provided for translating a driving movement along the central axis through the translating sleeve to a rotational movement of the ball sealing member about the central axis. Driving movements acting on the door subassembly can be provided by a standard shifting tool. Thus, a first driving movement acting on the door subassembly in a first axial direction along the central axis causes the translating sleeve to rotate the ball sealing member such that the ball port moves into overlapping alignment with the side port, thereby opening the side port. Similarly, a second driving movement acting on the door subassembly in a second axial direction along the central axis causes the translating sleeve to rotate the ball sealing member such that the ball port moves out of overlapping alignment with the side port, thereby closing the side port.