Wireline operated safety valve system

Claim 2

A safety valve system for use in controlling the flow of fluids through a well pipe which provides a flow path for well fluids from subsurface formations to the surface comprising: a valve assembly arranged in said well pipe comprising a tubular member arranged in said well pipe, valve means within said tubular member having an open position to permit flow of fluids through said flow path and a closed position to prevent the flow of fluids through said flow path, and actuating means connected to said valve means for moving said valve means upwardly to open position and downwardly to closed position thereof; a wireline extending through said well pipe and connected to said actuating means for moving said valve means upwardly to said open position thereof when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wire-line and for permitting said valve means to move to said closed position thereof upon release of said tensional force on said wireline; and means for sealing off the space between said valve assembly and said well pipe to prevent flow of fluids through said space.

Claim 3

A valve system as recited in claim 1 in which said tubular member is provided with a narrowed bore sealing surface and said valve means comprises a valve element having a seal ring thereon engageable with said sealing surface to close off flow of fluids through said valve assembly.

Claim 4

A valve system as recited in claim 1 including openings formed in the lower end of said tubular member, and a valve plug provided with a seal ring arranged in said tubular member, said valve plug having a lower position below said openings and an upper position adjacent said openings; said valve means comprising a valve seat engageable with said seal ring when said valve plug is in its upper position to close off the flow of fluids through said openings.

Claim 5

A valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: first and second spaced apart concentric tubular members connected to each other arranged in said well pipe; a rod member extending through said second tubular member; valve means arranged on the lower end of said rod member and containing seal ring; biasing means surrounding said rod member and confined within said second tubular member for urging said valve means downwardly; a narrowed bore formed on the lower end of said first tubular member; said valve means having a retracted position in which said seal ring is within said second tubular member permitting flow of fluids through said first tubular member and an extended position in which said seal ring engages the wall of said narrowed bore to prevent flow of fluids through said first tubular member; and a wireline extending through said well pipe and attached to said rod member for raising said valve means upwardly to its retracted position against the bias of said biasing means to open said narrowed bore when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline, said biasing means moving said valve means downwardly to its extended position upon release of said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 6

A valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: first and second spaced apart concentric tubular members connected to each other arranged in said well pipe; a rod member extending through said second tubular member; valve means arranged on the lower end of said rod member and containing seal ring; biasing means surrounding said rod member and confined within said second tubular member for urging said valve means downwardly; a narrowed bore formed on the lower end of said first tubular member; said valve means having a retracted position in which said seal ring is within said second tubular member permitting flow of fluids through said first tubular member and an extended position in which said seal ring engages the wall of said narrowed bore to prevent flow of fluids through said first tubular member; and a wireline extending through said well pipe and attached to said rod member for raising said valve means upwardly to its retracted position against the bias of said biasing means to open said narrowed bore when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wireline, said biasing means moving said valve means downwardly to its extended position upon release of said tensional force on said wireline.

Claim 7

A valve system as recited in claim 4 wherein said first tubular member is spaced from said well pipe and including means for sealing off the space between said first tubular member and said well pipe to prevent flow of fluids through said space.

Claim 8

A valve system as recited in claim 5 including means connected to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force to said wireline.

Claim 9

A valve system as recited in claim 4 wherein: said valve means comprises a cylindrical valve element containing a chamber, a piston slidably arranged in said chamber between upper and lower positions and containing spaced apart seals, said valve element being provided with a fluid passageway extending from the lower end of said valve element below said seal ring to said chamber; and said rod containing a passageway extending therethrough, the upper end of said valve element passageway terminating in a port located between said seals on said piston when said piston is in its lower position, said port being located below said piston when said piston is in its upper position.

Claim 10

A valve system as recited in claim 7 in which the lower end of said valve element is stepped and curved.

Claim 11

A valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: a first tubular member arranged in said well pipe; a second tubular member concentric and movable relative to said first tubular member; ports formed in the lower end of said first tubular member; a shoulder formed on the upper inner wall of said first tubular member; a first valve element formed on the lower end of said second tubular member, a shoulder formed on said second tubular member above said valve element and provided with a seal ring engageable with and slidable on the inner wall of said first tubular member; first biasing means surrounding said second tubular member and confined between said shoulder on said first tubular member and said shoulder on said second tubular member for biasing said second tubular member downwardly; a wireline extending through said well pipe and attached to the upper end of said second tubular member for raising said second tubular member upwardly against the bias of said first biasing means when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wire-line; a second valve element provided with a seal ring arranged in the lower end of said first tubular member adjacent said openings therein; and second biasing means for urging said second valve element downwardly to a position below said openings in said first tubular member, release of said tensional force on said wireline permitting said first biasing means to move said second tubular member downwardly partially closing said openings in said first tubular member and thereby permitting well fluids to move said second valve element upwardly against the bias of said second biasing means until said seal ring on said second valve element engages said first valve element.

Claim 12

A valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through a well pipe comprising: a first tubular member arranged in said well pipe; a second tubular member concentric and movable relative to said first tubular member; ports formed in the lower end of said first tubular member; a shoulder formed on the upper inner wall of said first tubular member; a first valve element formed on the lower end of said second tubular member, a shoulder formed on said second tubular member above said valve element and provided with a seal ring engageable with and slidable on the inner wall of said first tubular member; first biasing means surrounding said second tubular member and confined between said shoulder on said first tubular member and said shoulder on said second tubular member for biasing said second tubular member downwardly; a wireline extending through said well pipe and attached to the upper end of said second tubular member for raising said second tubular member upwardly against the bias of said first biasing means when a predetermined tensional force is applied to said wire-line; a second valve element provided with a seal ring arranged in the lower end of said first tubular member adjacent said openings therein; and second biasing means for urging said second valve element downwardly to a position below said openings in said first tubular member, release of said tensional force on said wireline permitting said first biasing means to move said second tubular member downwardly partially closing said openings in said first tubular member and thereby permitting well fluids to move said second valve element upwardly against the bias of said second biasing means until said seal ring on said second valve element engages said first valve element.

Claim 13

A valve system as recited in claim 9 including means connected to said wireline for releasably maintaining said tensional force on said wireline sufficient to maintain said first valve element in a position above said openings in said first tubular member.

Claim 14

A valve system as recited in claim 10 wherein said first valve element comprises a flared portion of said second tubular member for sealingly engaging said seal ring on said second valve element.

Claim 15

A valve system as recited in claim 11 wherein said first tubular member is spaced from sAid well pipe and including means for sealing off the space between said first tubular member and said well pipe to prevent flow of fluids through said space.