Well tools

United States Patent

[] 3,603,394

<td> [72]</td><td> Inventor</td><td> George Max Rauiins Dallas, Tex.</td>

<td> [211</td><td> Appl. No.</td><td> 12,605</td>

<td> [22]</td><td> Filed</td><td> Feb. 19,1970</td>

<td> [45]</td><td> Patented</td><td> Sept. 7,1971</td>

<td> [73]</td><td> Assignee</td><td> Otis Engineering Corporation</td>

Dallas, Tex.

<td> [56]</td><td colspan="3"> References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS</td>

<td> 2,442,642</td><td> 6/1948</td><td> Eckel...........................</td><td> 166/224 X</td>

<td> 2,565,742</td><td> 8/1951</td><td> Sailers..........................</td><td> 166/224 X</td>

<td> 2,919,709</td><td> 1/1960</td><td> Schwegman..................</td><td> 166/224 X</td>

<td> 3,070,119</td><td> 12/1962</td><td> Rauiins.........................</td><td> 137/460</td>

<td> 3,411,584</td><td> 11/1968</td><td> Sizer et al.....................</td><td> 166/224 X</td>

[54] WELL TOOLS

Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1........................................................ 166/224,

137/460,137/517

[51] Int.CI.......................................................E21b 33/00,

Fl 6k 17/00

[50] Field of Search............................................ 166/224;

137/460,517,535

Primary Examiner—James A. Leppink

Attorney—H. Mathews Garland

ABSTRACT: A combination standing valve and safety valve for a tubing string of a well including a ball valve which closes responsive to flow in the tubing string toward a well formation and a tubular valve which responds to predetermined flow conditions to close to prevent flow from the formation into the tubing string. The valve is installed and retrieved by wire line or pumpdown procedures.

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PATENTED SEP 7B7i 3,603,394

SHEET 1 OF 3

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ATTORNEY

PATENTED SEP 71971

3,603,394

SHEET 2 OF 3

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ATTORNEY

PATEN TED SEP τ 1971

SHEET 3 OF 3

3,603,394

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3,603,394

WELL TOOLS

This invention relates to well tools and more particularly relates to well tubing valves.

It is an especially important object of the invention to provide a new and improved well tool for preventing fluid flow from a tubing string to a surrounding well formation and for shutting off fluid flow from the formation into the tubing sting when certain predetermined flow conditions are reached.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a new and improved combined standing valve and safety valve for use in a tubing string of a well.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well valve having a ball-type standing or check valve which closes responsive to flow in the tubing string toward a surrounding well formation to prevent backflow of fluids from the tubing string to the formation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well tool which includes a ball valve adapted to seat responsive to flow in one direction to prevent fluid flow in such direction through the well tool and held to limited movement in the opposite direction and engageable by a tubular valve member responsive to flow in such opposite direction to shut off such flow.

It is another object to protect well formations from excessive tubing pressure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a well tubing valve which includes a ball check valve adapted to seat responsive to fluid flow through the tool in a first direction while permitting fluid flow through the tube in an opposite second direction an a tubular valve member adapted to seat responsive to predetermined fluid flow conditions through the tool in such second direction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well valve having a standing valve and a safety valve, the standing valve seating on the upper end of the safety valve and the safety valve seating at a separate location at the lower end of the tool.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well tool comprising a combined standing valve and safety valve wherein the standing valve seats on a surface independent of and at the upper end of the safety valve and the safety valve seats against the ball valve member of the standing valve at the upper end of the safety valve.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a combination standing and safety valve for a well including a safety valve which is spring biased to an open position responsive to flow through a choke or flow bean secured in a tubular valve member of the valve.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a well tool comprising a combination standing valve and safety valve which may be installed and retrieved by either wire line procedures or remotely controlled hydraulic pumpdown procedures.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an articulated-type combination standing valve and safety valve which readily traverses curved portions of well-tubing thereby permitting the valve to be manipulated to remote locations along a well bore.

It is another object of the invention to provide a combined standing and safety valve which may be supported below a crossover connection in a well-tubing string system from a landing nipple located above the crossover connection.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a combined standing valve and safety valve for well tubing which includes means for sealing around the valve within a flow conductor whereby fluids flowing in the flow conductor must flow through only the valve.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from reading the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention and by reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical view, partly in section, of a well valve embodying the invention showing the standing valve closed and the safety valve open;

FIG. 2 is a vertical fragmentary view, partly in section, of the upper portion of the valve of FIG. 1 showing the standing valve open;

FIG. 3 is a vertical view, partly in section, of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the safety valve closed and the standing valve resting on its seat;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view partly in section of a pumpdowntype well system showing the combination standing valve and safety valve locked in operating position in one of the tubing strings;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical view, partly in section, illustrating an extension assembly to adapt the valve to the particular type of installation illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view in elevation of one of the pairs of ball pad bearing retainers used in the universal couplings connecting the well valve to a locking mandrel;

FIG. 7 is a view in section of the ball pads along the line 7— 4 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical view, partly in section, of another form of well valve embodying the invention wherein a ball valve functions both as a standing valve and as a seat for the safety valve, showing the standing valve closed;

FIG. 9 is a vertical view, partly in section, of the valve of FIG. 8 showing the safety valve closed;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical view, partly in section showing a modification of the valve of FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view in section along the line 11—11 of FIG. 10.

Briefly stated, a well valve embodying the invention includes a tubular valve body housing a longitudinally movable tubular safety valve spring biased downwardly to an open position and including a choke or flow bean for effecting a pressure differential in fluids moving upwardly in a tubing string including the valve, which, when it exceeds a predetermined value forces the safety valve upwardly against the spring to a closed position. In one form of the well valve, the tubular safety valve has an external annular valve surface which seats against a corresponding annular valve seat on the valve body to shut off upward flow through the valve in the tubing string. In another form of the valve, the upper end of the tubular safety valve has a valve surface which seats against a ball standing valve shutting off flow through the valve In each form of the valve disclosed and claimed, a ball valve functions as a check or standing valve seating against an upwardly facing surface, in one form on the upper end of the safety valve member shutting off downward flow of fluids in the tubing string through the valve and in another form on an independent valve seat around the upper end of the safety valve.

Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, a well valve 20 embodying the invention includes a tubular housing 21 which is adapted to be releasably supported in a string of well tubing from a suitable locking mandrel 22 which may be adapted to be coupled with either wire line or pumpdown well-servicing tools for the insertion and removal of the well valve. A safety valve 23 and a check or standing valve 24 are movably disposed within the valve housing. The safety valve assembly functions to limit or shut off fluid flow up the tubing string when certain predetermined flow conditions are exceeded while the standing valve precludes fluid flow in the tubing string to the well below the location of the well valve. The well valve is illustrated at a locked position within a landing nipple 25 secured by a coupling 30 to a lower tubing string 31. Upward flow in the tubing string through the well valve tends to move the safety valve assembly 43 upwardly to the closed position to prevent upward flow through the well valve. Downward flow in the tubing string through the well valve moves the standing valve 24 downwardly to a seated relationship preventing downward flow in the string through the well valve.

The upper end portion 32 of the valve housing is reduced and threaded to receive a head member 33 which couples the well valve to the locking mandrel and limits upward movement of a seal assembly 33 confined on the housing portion

32. The seal assembly is held against downward movement by an upwardly facing external shoulder 34 provided on the valve

3,603,394 housing at the base of the portion 32. The valve housing has a longitudinal bore 35 and is provided near its upper end with spaced internal annular flanges 40 and 41 which define an internal recess 42 accommodating an 0-ring seal 42α sealing within the valve housing around the safety valve 23. The bore 35 of the valve housing 21 is enlarged and the housing is internally threaded along a lower end portion 44. A closure ring 45 provided with an external annular upwardly facing stop shoulder 50 is threaded into the lower end of the valve body until the shoulder 50 abuts the lower end face of the valve body. The upper end of the ring 45 defines an upwardly facing internal annular shoulder 51 within the bore of the valve housing. The ring 45 is provided at its lower end with a downwardly and outwardly sloping annular valve seat surface 52.

The safety valve 23, which is movably disposed through the valve housing 21 for movement relative to the housing between open and closed positions, has a split retainer ring 53 disposed in an external annular recess 53α in the upper end portion of a tubular extension 53 b of the valve. The ring 53 is engageable with the top face of the internal flange 40 of the valve housing limiting the downward movement of the safety valve. The extension 53b of the safety valve has a bore 54 throughout its length through which fluids flow through the well valve. The upper end of the safety valve extension is provided with an internal annular valve seat surface 60 which coacts with the ball valve 24 to preclude fluid flow downwardly into the bore of the valve body when the well valve is functioning as a standing valve.

A lower end portion 53c of the valve body 53 is slightly enlarged defining an external annular upwardly facing stop shoulder 61 which supports a spring retainer ring 62 engaged by the lower end of the biasing spring 63 which bears at its upper end against the lower face of the valve housing flange 41. Thus, the spring 63 biases the safety valve 23 in a downward direction, and in the absence of force of sufficient strength acting upwardly against the spring the safety valve is held by the spring at the open position illustrated in FIG. 1. The lower end portion 53c of the safety valve extension tube has an external annular guide flange 64 provided with an upwardly and inwardly sloping upper surface 65. The flange 64 is received within a counterbore 45α in the lower end of the ring 45 aiding in maintaining the alignment of the safety valve. Above the flange surface 65, the safety valve extension tube has a i , . .

allow flow into the bore of the valve when the valve is at the downward open position shown in FIG. 1.

A valve nose 71 is threaded on the lower end of the valve extension 53b closing the lower end of its bore 54 so that fluids must flow through the ports 70 into the bore. The valve nose has a transverse bore 72 communicating with a longitudinal bore 73 to allow fluid flow past the nose if it engages or becomes lodged against another tool or a seat or the other restriction in the tubing string so that a pressure differential does not develop across the nose. The nose has a valve surface 71α on its upper end at an angle to seat against the valve surface 52 on the ring 45 for closing the safety valve.

A flow bean 74 provided with an orifice 75 is threaded into

C LllV lldiitV oUllavv UIV »ui’V wn»w&gt;. CJ ., plurality of circumferentially spaced flow ports 70 which ⁴⁵ of the Type X Otis Locking Mandrel. It will be evident also * ^J . . . . . . ., .r . _ ..1.______r^nnrlral ncCAmnllPC wniPn Will

Λ 11UW Utail pvriUVM Π.Μ! —-------------- _ . . , .

the valve extension tube portion 53c above the ports 70. The ₆₀ ing in the well require protection of the formation against size of the orifice 75, the strength of the spring 63, and the area within the seal ring 42b determine the fluid flow conditions necessary to move the safety valve upwardly to its upper closed position. The orifice 75 produces the pressure differential in t against the spring 63 to close the safety valve. Thus, adjustments of the compression of the spring 63, changes in the spring itself, and in the flow bean 74 provide flexibility in the control of the flow conditions which operate the safety valve.

backflow from the tubing string by the standing valve and protection of the well system from excessive, possibly damaging, formation pressures by the safety valve. The standing valve function is especially important in situations where pump... . . , -----of wells and permits the required fluid pressures to be employed for fluid circulation in the pumpdown systems with the wells and with the pumpdown systems.

coiuiu. ui uic low «.ouu.i.u..» _____________________ When the will valve 20 is installed at the position illustrated ^^he'lreVd member *M *lm7areduced neck portion 80 pro- 70 in FIG. 1, and presuming for purposesof thisdtecussion that vided with an outwardly flared end portion 81 having an external annular spherical surface portion 82. The end portion 81 is confined within a pair of semicircular ball pads 83 held by a cap ring 84 threaded on the lower end of the locking mandrel

UUU. IUV U1UIVV ! &lt;*&gt; *··~ — - * ' - , , .. . .

the flowing fluid which effects the upward force 65 d°^wn techniques are employed for remote hydraulic servicing

1111K llllvauvu vril U1V 1VT»V1 wiim ··· ·· “D ---------- wr — - * body 85. The ball pads 83 have internal spherical surfaces 90 75 safety valve extension tube 53h holding the safety valve at its which engage and coact with the spherical surface 82 on the head 81 to swivelly support the well valve head member 33 from the locking mandrel 22. The ball pads 83 are constructed in two halves as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. In assembling the tool 20 and the locking mandrel 22, the cap 84 is placed over the head 81 and lowered along the neck 80 until the ball pads 83 are maneuvered into place below the spherical surface 82. The cap is then raised and threaded on the lower end of the mandrel body 85 of the locking mandrel. During assembly of the well valve and the locking mandrel a transverse pin 91 is inserted across the flow passage through the locking mandrel in suitably positioned holes provided through opposite sides of the mandrel body.

The pin 91 functions as an upper stop for the ball valve 24, FIG. 2. The sole function of the pin 91 is to confine the standing valve ball at the upper end of the well valve during up-flow through the well valve at which time the standing valve is, of course» inactive.

The locking mandrel 22 from which the well valve 20 is supported in the landing nipple 25 against both upward and downward movement, may be any suitable well tool locking device manipulated either by wire line or pumpdown equipment and procedures. The drawings show the lower portion of ₂₅ a Type “J” Lock Mandrel Assembly manufacture by Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex. and illustrated in detail in the ENGINEERING CATALOG of Otis Engineering Corporation at pages 510 JO. 3 and 510 JO. 4, dated Aug. 12, 1968. The “J” Lock Mandrel Assembly is accommodated to 30 the well valve 20 by inclusion of the stop pin 91 in the body mandrel 85 of the lock mandrel assembly. The lock mandrel assembly is supported from and coupled with wire line and pumpdown running and pulling tools of the Otis Type “GR illustrated at pages 540 1 GR. 1 and 541 GS. 1 of the Otis En35 gineering Catalog dated Aug. 12, 1968. Also, the well valve 20 may be supported from a Type “X” Otis Locking Mandrel illustrated and described at pages 3766 -3767 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services, 1968 -69 Edition, published by World Oil Company, Houston Tex. The 40 well valve is coupled with the Type X Mandrel by minor modification of the lower end portion of the body of the Type X Mandrel to accommodate the stop pin 91 and receive the ball portion 81 of the head 33 on the well valve so that the retainer ring 84 is threaded on the lower threaded end portion that other available locking mandrel assemblies which will lock the well valve against upward and downward movement may be adapted to support the well valve in a tubing string.

The locking dogs 100 of the locking mandrel 22 as illus⁵⁰ trated in FIG. 1 are expanded by a locking sleeve 101 of the locking mandrel so that the locking dogs are received in an internal annular locking recess 102 of the landing nipple 25 for holding the well valve and locking mandrel assembly against both upward and downward forces in the well tubing string so that the well valve is maintained in position to function as either a standing valve or a safety valve.

In operation the well valve is run into the well tubing string to the landing nipple 25 of a well where the conditions prevail55 the well is initially shut in and thus conditions are static within the well bore at the well valve, the safety valve spring 63 is expanded to its maximum extent. The lower end of the spring 63 bears against the ring 62 which engages the shoulder 61 on the

3,603,394 full-open position as shown in FIG. 1 with the downward movement of the safety valve being limited by the engagement of the split ring 53 with the top face of the internal flange 40 of the extension tube. Thus, the ports 70 of the safety valve are exposed to the bore of the well tubing 31 below the ring 45 permitting fluid communication from the tubing string bore below the well valve into the bore 54 of the safety valve. Since fluid conditions are static in the well bore at the well valve, the standing valve 24 is caused by gravity to rest on the seat 60 at the top end of the safety valve extension 53b . When the well is then placed in production by whatever flow means are employed, such as by pumping, natural flow, and the like, fluid in the tubing string below the well valve flows upwardly in the string entering the well valve through the ports 70 and passing upwardly through the aperture 75 of the flow bean 74. The fluid flows upwardly in the safety valve bore 54, past the standing valve 24 which is lifted off its seat 60, and, if the fluid flow conditions are sufficient, the ball is lifted to the stop in 91 as shown in FIG. 2 which prevents further upward movement of the ball valve. The well fluids flow around the ball valve and on upwardly through the bore of the locking mandrel and the well tubing above the well valve and locking mandrel, not shown to the surface. So long as the well fluids flow upwardly in the tubing string below the operating level of the safety valve, the safety valve remains at its open position as shown in FIG. 1 with the standing valve lifted off its seat and more likely at the upper stop position of FIG. 2. As the fluid flow rate increases through the well valve, the pressure drop through the flow bean aperture 75 imposes an upward force on the safety valve which, when it exceeds the downward force of the spring 63, moves the safety valve upwardly until the valve is lifted to its closed position as represented in FIG. 3, shutting off tall upward flow through the well valve. The safety valve is fully closed when the valve seat 71α engages the seat 52 on the ring 45. The ports 70 of the safety valve are above the coengaging seats of the valve and the ring 45 and thereby exclude the well bore below the safety valve from communication with the safety valve bore above the ports 70. The safety valve remains in this closed position so long as the pressure differential across it is sufficient to provide a force which exceeds the downward force of the spring 63 and the hydrostatic head at the valve. The force of gravity causes the standing valve ball member to drop downwardly to rest on the seat 60 as in FIG. 3. When the pressure differential across the well valve drops below the predetermined level at which the safety valve closes, the spring 63 expands returning the safety valve downwardly separating the seats of the valve and the ring 45 to again permit the ports 70 of the valve to communicate with the well bore below the well valve.

At any time, during the production and servicing of the well, that there is downward flow in the tubing string through the well valve, the standing valve ball member 24 is carried by the flowing fluids to the seated relationship shown in FIG. 1 effecting a seal between the outer surface of the all with the seat surface 60 on the upper end of the safety valve shutting off downward fluid flow into the bore 54 of the safety valve. Thus, no backflow occurs through the well valve.

FIG. 5 well structure for supporting the well valve, particularly where it is to be used in a pumpdown well system of the character illustrated in FIG. 4. The well valve is spaced from a coupled with the locking mandrel 22 by an extension assembly 110 which has a body member 111 provided with a reduced upper neck portion 112 having an enlarged end portion 113 with an external spherical surface 114. The extension assembly is pivotally connected at its upper end to the locking mandrel 22 in the same manner as the well valve 20 is coupled with the locking mandrel in FIG. 1. A retainer ring 84 threaded on the lower end of the lock mandrel body 85 holds the ball pads 82 around the spherical surface portion 114. This provides a swivel coupling permitting sufficient relative movement between the extension assembly and the locking mandrel to negotiate the curved portions of the tubing string of the well system. The lower end of the extension assembly is pivotally connected with the well valve 20 in exactly the the standing manner using identical components as the connection between the lock mandrel and well valve shown in FIG. 1.

In the well system shown in FIG. 4 a well 120 is drilled into 5 the ocean bottom 121 at a horizontally spaced position from a platform 122 which supports the necessary well head equipment for producing and servicing a well. Two tubing strings 123 and 124 extend from the platform along the ocean bottom into the well. Within the well, the tubing strings are interconnected by a crossover connection 125 so that a complete fluid circulation path may be established from the platform into the well and back to the platform. The platform end of the tubing 123 has a lubricator 130 between spaced valves 131 and 132 to provide means for introducing tools into the tubing string while the well is under pressure. A pump, not shown, is connected to the lubricator to apply fluid pressure to pump well tools through the tubing string. The platform end of the tubing string 124 is provided with a valve 133 and may be provided 2q with flow lines and other equipment for producing and servicing the well. A plug 134 is releasably secured at the lower end of the tubing string 124 below the crossover 125. The landing nipple 25 is included in the tubing string 123 above the crossover 125 so that the locking mandrel 22 may be secured in 25 the tubing string above the crossover.

A well valve 20 coupled with the extension assembly 110 is installed in the well system illustrated in FIG. 4 in accordance with known pumpdown procedures, certain steps of which are discussed and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,080, issued to 30 John V. Fredd, Apr. 16, 1968. In accordance with these procedures, a tool train, not shown, including the well valve, extension assembly and locking mandrel 22 are pumped to and locked at the landing nipple 25 as illustrated in FIG. 4. At this position within the well, the extension assembly permits 35 the locking mandrel to support the well valve below the crossover connection 125 while the locking mandrel is positioned above the crossover assembly so that the installing and retrieving tools may readily be pumped to the landing nipple and returned to the surface by remote hydraulic control. The tools 40 will at all times remain above the crossover 125 and thus within the closed circuit fluid flow pattern necessary for pumping well tools into and out of the well. With the locking mandrel and installing and retrieving tools above the crossover and the well valve 20 below the crossover, fluid circuja^4;5 tion is readily accomplished between the tubing strings 123 and 124 for servicing the well by pumpdown techniques while the standing valve of the well valve 20 protects the formation communicating with the tubing string 123 below the well valve from any pressures applied to the circulating fluid. It will be evident, of course, that this condition exists or is valid at those times only when the well valve is in position below the crossover. During such other times as when the well valve is being pumped to the desired depth in the tubing string 123 and when it is being removed and is above the crossover 125, it obviously cannot protect any of the well system below the cross over from the pressure of the circulating fluids.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another form of well valve embodying the invention and providing both standing valve and safety 6θ valve functions. Referring to FIG. 8, a well valve 150 embodying the invention is illustrated at a locked operating position within the landing nipple 25 which is connected with the lower tubing string portion 31 by the coupling 30. The well valve is supported in the landing nipple from the locking mandrel 22 65 which is coupled with the well valve and comprises the same components previously described.

The well valve 150 includes a tubular housing 151 enclosing a safety valve 152 and standing valve 153. The valve housing has a lower portion 154 which is internally threaded along its 70 lower end portion, an enlarged central portion 154α providing an upwardly facing external stop shoulder 155, and a reduced upper end portion 154ft which is externally threaded and provides an internal downwardly facing stop shoulder 160. The shoulder 160 is engaged by the upper end of a safety valve 75 biasing spring 161 confined in an annular space 162 defined

3,603,394 between the safety valve and the well valve housing 151. The valve housing portion 154ft has an internal annular recess in which O-ring seal 163 is disposed to seal between the valve housing and the safety valve 152. The well valve housing has a head member 164 threaded on the upper housing portion 1546 and locked against movement thereon by a setscrew 165 threaded through the head member against the outer surface of the housing portions 154ft . The head member has a reduced neck portion 170 provided with an enlarged ballshaped end portion 171 held by the ball pads 82 in pivotal engagement with the locking mandrel 22.

An annular standing valve seat 180 is supported on the upper end of the well valve housing 151 for engagement by the standing valve 153 as shown in FIG. 8 to shut off fluid flow downwardly through the well valve. An annular standing valve stop member 181 is supported on the valve seat 180 between the valve seat and an internal annular stop shoulder 182 within the head member 164. The valve seat 180 and the standing valve stop member 181 are thus confined within and by the head member on the upper end face of the valve housing 151. The stop member 181 has circumferentially spaced upwardly extending fingers 183 on a base ring 184 and defining circumferentially spaced upwardly opening slots 185. The fingers 183 each have an inwardly thickened head portion 190. The finger head portions of the stop member limit the upward movement of the standing valve ball 153 to the position of its broken line representation in FIG. 8, while the finger configuration of the stop member provides the circumferentially spaced slots 185 through which upwardly flowing fluid may flow around the standing valve when it is at an upper open position above the seat 180. Also, the finger head portions hold the standing valve ball member in place at an upper end position to cooperate with the safety valve in shutting off upward flow through the well valve as discussed in more detail below.

A seal assembly 191 is confined between the lower end face 164α of the valve housing head member 164 and the stop shoulder 155 on the valve housing for sealing around the well valve within the landing nipple.

The safety valve 152 has an enlarged lower end portion 152α providing an upwardly facing external stop shoulder 192 which supports a spacer ring 192α urged downwardly by the lower end of the spring 161 to bias the safety valve downwardly. A tubular retainer ring 193 is threaded into the lower end of the valve housing 151. The upper end face 193α of the retainer 193 is engageable by the lower end face 152ft of the safety valve limiting the downward movement of the safety valve in the well valve housing. The retainer ring has a transverse bore 194 connecting with a longitudinal flow passage 195 extending throughout the length of the safety valve and coincident with the longitudinal bore 200 of the safety valve.

The upper end of the safety valve 152 is provided with an internal annular seat surface 201 which engages the standing valve ball 153 when the safety valve is at its upper end position shutting off upward fluid flow through the well valve. A flow bean 202 having an aperture 203 is threaded into the lower end of the bore of the safety valve to restrict flow through the safety valve. The pressure drop across the flow bean effects an upward force on the safety valve opposed by the spring 161. When that force exceeds the resistance of the spring, the safety valve is moved upwardly to its closed position.

The assembly of the well valve 150 and the locking mandrel 22 is installed and retrieved with the same apparatus and by the same techniques, wire line or pump down, as described in connection with the handling of the well valve 20 illustrated in FIG. 1. When the valve 150 is in operating position within the well tubing, the condition of the valve during normal shut-in pressure and flow conditions is as represented in FIG. 8. The safety valve 152 is biased downwardly to a lower end position by the spring 161 tending to expand between the valve housing shoulder 160 and the ring 192α bearing against the safety valve shoulder 192, which is the open state of the valve. Gravity holds the standing valve ball member 153 on its seat 180 which position also represents the position of the standing valve responsive to any downward flow in the tubing string, thereby precluding downward flow in the tubing string through the well valve by virtue of the seated relationship of the ball valve member on its annular seat.

Upward flow in the tubing string enters the lower end of the bore 195 of the ring 193 flowing through the aperture 203 of the flow bean 202 into the bore 200 of the safety valve. The fluid flows upwardly around the ball 153 and from the upper end of the bore of the safety valve lifting the standing valve upwardly to the upper broken line position represented in FIG. 8. The inwardly extending heads 190 on the fingers 183 prevent further upward movement of the standing valve while fluid is permitted to flow upwardly around the valve within the head 164 past the valve through the longitudinal paths provided by the slots 185 between the fingers of the valve retainer 181. The upward flowing fluid flows above the standing valve through the locking mandrel 22 into the tubing string, not shown, above the locking mandrel and to the surface. When the upward flow through the well valve produces a pressure drop through the flow bean 202 over an area sealed by the Oring 163 which effects an upward force on the safety valve exceeding the force of the spring 161, the safety valve is lifted against the spring until the seat surface 201 on the upper end of the safety valve engages the face of the standing valve 153, the ball being held against upward movement by the finger heads 190. When the seat 201 engages the surface of the ball valve, upward flow through the well valve in the tubing string is stopped and remains stopped so long as the safety valve is at this upper end position against the ball valve.

When the pressure differential across the safety valve drops to a level below the holding capacity of the spring 161, the spring expands returning the safety valve downwardly to its open position. Conditions which would produce a pressure equalization across the valve to permit it to open are valve leakage if the well is shut-in or injection into the well above the valve until the pressure is equalized across it. Any flow conditions which then tend to displace the fluid downwardly through the tubing string at the well valve moves the ball valve member 153 back downwardly to its seat 180 thereby preventing downward fluid flow through the well valve toward well formations communicating with the tubing string.

FIG. 10 illustrates a still further form of the well valve 150 shown in FIG. 8, such modified valve being referred to by the reference numeral 150A. The well valve 150A is identical in all respects to the well valve 150, except for the substitution of a spacer sleeve 210 and a circular spider 211 for the ball valve retainer 181. The lower end of the spacer sleeve 210 is engaged with the top face of the ball valve seat member 180 and has a bore 212 larger than the ball valve 153 to allow fluid flow through the sleeve around the ball valve. The spider 211 rests on the top or upper end surface of the sleeve 210 with the spider and sleeve being clamped within the head 164 between its inner shoulder 182 and the top face of the seat 180. The spider 211 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly extending fingers 213 for limiting the upward movement of the ball valve 153 while allowing upward flow past the ball valve between the fingers. The ball valve is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 at its upper position to which it is carried by upwardly flowing fluid and at which it is held by the fingers 213. The modified well valve 150A functions both as a safety valve and a standing valve in exactly the same manner as the well valve 150.

It will now be seen that a new and improved well valve has been described and illustrated. The well valve includes structure which performs the function of both a standing valve to prevent downward flow in a tubing string past the well valve and the functions of a safety valve for limiting upward flow in the tubing string past the well valve when certain predetermined flow conditions are exceeded. The well valve in its several illustrated and described forms includes a ball valve member which seats on a surface responsive to downward flow through the valve. The well valve also includes a tubular, downwardly biased, safety valve which is upwardly movable

3,603,394 by fluid flowing through the valve in the tubing string for shutting off upward flow through the valve. One form of the new valve has a standing valve ball member seat on the upper end of the safety valve body while the lower end of the safety valve seats with a surface of the well valve housing to perform 5 the safety valve function. In another form of the well valve, the standing valve ball member engages an annular valve seat around the safety valve for shutting off downward flow and the upper end of the safety valve body has a valve seat which is moved against the ball valve member responsive to upward movement of the safety valve shutting off upward flow through the well valve. Tn this latter form of this valve the ball member is held against upward movement by finger portions on ball valve retainers which restrict or limit the upward movement of the ball valve while allowing fluid to flow through the valve around the member.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only and changes in details in the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the ₂θ spirit of the invention.