Patent US3662824A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3662824A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-closing, sub-surface well safety valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-10-05
•
Granted: 1972-05-16
•
Expires: 1990-10-05
Abstract
Abstract Sub-surface well flow control apparatus comprises: A. A TUBULAR BODY, B. PRODUCTION TUBING EXTENDING INTO THE WELL BELOW SAID BODY, C. A SOURCE OF CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE, D. ACTUATOR MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE BODY AND RESPONSIVE TO SUFFICIENT INCREASE OF CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE APPLICATION TO ELEVATE THE TUBING WITHIN A LIMITED RANGE, AND TO SUFFICIENT REDUCTION OF SAID FLUID PRESSURE APPLICATION TO EFFECT LOWERING OF THE TUBING, AND E. VALVING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID LIFTING AND LOWERING OF THE TUBING TO CHANGE THE RATE OF PRODUCTION FLOW FROM THE TUBING TO THE UPPER INTERIOR OF THE BODY.
Inventors
- 👤 John S Page Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:42
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Sub-surface well flow control apparatus, comprising, in combination a. a sub-surface tubular body, b. a lower string of production tubing extending into the well below said body, c. a source of control fluid pressure, d. actuator means cooperating with the body and responsive to sufficient increase of control fluid pressure application to elevate said tubing string relative to the body and within a limited range, and to sufficient reduction of said fluid pressure application to effect lowering of the tubing string relative to said body, and e. valving means in the body responsive to said lowering of the tubing string to shut-off the production flow from the tubing string to the upper interior of the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Sub-surface well flow control apparatus, comprising, in combination a. a sub-surface tubular body, b. a lower string of production tubing extending into the well below said body, c. a source of control fluid pressure, d. actuator means cooperating with the body and responsive to sufficient increase of control fluid pressure application to elevate said tubing string relative to the body and within a limited range, and to sufficient reduction of said fluid pressure application to effect lowering of the tubing string relative to said body, and e. valving means in the body responsive to said lowering of the tubing string to shut-off the production flow from the tubing string to the upper interior of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuator means has an upper terminal confined against exposure to well pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein a central vertical passage is formed within said body, and including a retrievable plug closing said passage to vertically separate the upper interior of said body from the interior of said production tubing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 including an upper string of production tubing suspending said body, and relative to which said first mentioned production tubinG is vertically movable up and down.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said valving means comprises an annular seat carried to move vertically with said tubing, and a plug urged upwardly against said seat in response to well pressure application to close the valve, there being a side opening in the tubing to pass the plug laterally when the tubing is elevated and when fluid pressure is transmitted down a body suspending upper string of tubing to unseat the plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said production tubing below the valve is of length and weight sufficient to counterbalance the static pressure created by the control fluid pressure exerted upwardly against said actuator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 1 including packer means to seal off between said body and the well bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said packer means comprises a fluid pressure inflatable elastomeric element to which inflating pressure is supplied to response to lowering of said tubing relative to said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said element has an expanded position for sealing off the annulus formed between said apparatus and the well bore when the tubing has a relatively lowered position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubing string has a down-position in which said valving means is closed, and an up-position in which said valving means is open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said actuator means and said body form an annular chamber to receive said control fluid pressure, said actuator means being integral with the tubing string.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said valving means comprises tubular elements one forming a port and another forming a gate to control said port, a first of said elements integral with the tubing and a second of said elements integral with the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 12 in which the gate is integral with the actuator means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 12 in which the gate is integral with the body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2499356A
Cited
US2831539A
Cited
US3313350A
Cited
US3351133A
Cited
US3411585A
Cited
US3434535A
Cited
US3527296A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |