Automatic well shut-off apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic well shut-off apparatus connected below a well packer and to a packer flow tube extending downwardly from the well packer for automatically closing off a well to prevent a blowout thereof, comprising: a tubular housing having means at its upper end connected to a packer flow tube and having its lower end open to well pressure; a resilient collapsible sleeve disposed in said tubular housing and having a bore therethrough which is normally open for the flow of fluid through said sleeve; and said housing having a plurality of openings through the wall thereof and with a substantially smooth external surface surrounding and in proximity to said openings communicating fluid pressure in the well externally of said housing to the external area of said sleeve.

Claim 3

An automatic well shut-off apparatus connected below a well packer and to a packer flow tube extending downwardly from the well packer for automatically closing off a well to prevent a blowout thereof, comprising: a tubular housing having means at its upper end connected to a packer flow tube and having its lower end open to well pressure; a resilient collapsible sleeve disposed in said tubular housing and having a bore therethrough which is normally open for the flow of fluid through said sleeve; and said housing having a plurality of openings through the wall thereof and with a substantially smooth external surface surrounding and in proximity to said openings communicating fluid pressure in the well externally of said housing to the external area of said sleeve.

Claim 4

An automatic well shut-off apparatus connected below a well packer and to a packer flow tube extending downwardly from the well packer for automatically closing off a well to prevent a blowout thereof, comprising: a tubular housing having means at its upper end connected to a packer flow tube and having its lower end open to well pressure; a resilient collapsible sleeve disposed in said tubular housing and having a bore therethrough which is normally open for the flow of fluid through said sleeve; and said housing having a plurality of openings through the wall thereof and with a substantially smooth external surface surrounding and in proximity to said openings communicating fluid pressure in the well externally of said housing to the external area of said sleeve.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a non-resilient retainer tube secured in said housing near the upper end thereof to prevent collapse of the upper end of said sleeve; said retainer tube having a lower shoulder engageable by the upper end of said collapsible sleeve; and means securing the upper end of said collapsible sleeve to said retainer tube to prevent its collapse so that it will be open for receiving fluid from above the sleeve to return it to its normal open condition after the pressure differential falls below said predetermined amount.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein: said resilient collapsible sleeve is formed of rubber or rubber-like material having a flexible metallic screen embedded therein to provide predetermined collapse resistance.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein: said sleeve has a lower annular edge which is free to move upwardly relative to said housing; and the lower end of said housing has an outer annular lip substantially coextensive with the lower annular edge of said sleeve when said sleeve is in the normally open position for supporting same to prevent extrusion thereof during normal flow conditions.

Claim 8

An automatic well shut-off apparatus for automatically closing off a well to prevent a blowout thereof, comprising: a tubular housing having means at its upper end for connection to a packer flow tube; a resilient collapsible sleeve disposed in said tubular housing and having a bore therethrough which is normally open for the flow of fluid through said sleeve; support means in said housing attached to only the upper end of said collapsible sleeve, leaving the lower end of said sleeve unattached to both said housing and said support means and free to move upwardly in said housing upon the application of well pressure to said sleeve from externally thereof; and said housing having a plurality of openings through the wall thereof for communicating fluid pressure in the well externally of said housing to the external area of said sleeve for effecting a collapse of at least a portion of said sleeve to close off fluid flow through said sleeve when a predetermined pressure differential develops across the sleeve.

Claim 9

An automatic well shut-off apparatus for automatically closing off a well to prevent a blowout thereof, comprising: a tubular housing having means at its upper end for connection to a packer flow tube; a resilient collapsible sleeve disposed in said tubular housing and having a bore therethrough which is normally open for the flow of fluid through said sleeve; support means in said housing attached to only the upper end of said collapsible sleeve, leaving the lower end of said sleeve unattached to both said housing and said support means and free to move upwardly in said housing upon the application of well pressure to said sleeve from externally thereof; and said housing having a plurality of openings through the wall thereof for communicating fluid pressure in the well externally of said housing to the external area of said sleeve for effecting a collapse of at least a portion of said sleeve to close off fluid flow through said sleeve when a predetermined pressure differential develops across the sleeve.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 5, wherein: the lower end of said housing has an annular lip substantially coextensive with the lower edge of said sleeve; and said lip has port means for establishing fluid communication with the lower end of said sleeve for urging said sleeve upwardly to increase the effective sealing contact of the walls of the collapsed portion of the sleeve in the closed position.