Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
206286~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
After a borehole has been formed irto the ground, it is often
desireable to test specific isolated geological stratas in order to
determine the rate of production that can be realized therefrom.
This is sometime carried out durirg the drilling of the borehole,
and at other times the testing is carried out after the borehole has
been cased, cemerted, and while the drilling rig is still positioned
over the borehole.
Barrington 4448254 discloses a flow tester valve apparatus which
is responsive to annular pressure ar.d which utilizes a liquid spring
chamber.
Barrington 4~44268 discloses a flow tester valve apparatus within
which there is included a chamber filled with compressable liquid for
actuating a power piston.
Helms 4125165 discloses a valve apparatus for use downhole in a
bore hole ard employes a piston which is responsive to trapped pressure
in a pressure chamber ancl to arnular pressure for cortrolling a valve.
Wray 3858649 discloses oil well testir.g ard sampling apparatus which
utilizes dowrhole pressure and a spring means to hold a valve mears
closed until the hydraulic pressure opers the tool to the formation ard
` 206286~
allows testing operations to be formed.
Holden 3856085 discloses a pressure responsive formation testing
method and apparatus which utilizes the valve closing and the valve
opening forces which are generated in response to a~nular pressure.
The presert invention differs from the above cited art by the
provision of a valve device which is actuated by elevating borehole
upper arnular pressure at a minimum rate to a predetermined magnitude.
The present invention avoids the dangerous practice of using high dome
pressure, and enables the valve actuator means to be located above a
packer while the valve means is located below the packer. A mandrel
is received through the packer and connects the actuator to the valve
means. The valve means includes a novel s~iding valve assembly as
well as a r.ovel ball valve assembly.
The sliding valve assembly has a port associated therewith which
is brought into registry with a plurality of mardrel ports, and wherein
the mandrel is moved uphole by a power pistor. and latched into alternate
positions of operation by increasing the upper anrular hydrostatic
pressure. The movement of a latch mear.s ard the sliding valve are
coordinated such that an increase in the arnular pressure unlatches
the mardrel ar.d forces the mandrel to move uphole to the next latched
positior., with each successive latch position effecting an opened ar,d
the~ a closed valve co~figuration.
206286~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a valve devi~e; to a means for actuating
a downhole tool~ ir.cluding a valve means; ard to a combination
comprised of a valve means and a valve actuator. This invertion also
comprehends a method of produeing a well and thereafter shuttirg in
the well, and repeating this operatior. several times, in order to
test a downhole payzone.
One specific embodimer.t of this irvertior ~omprehends a tubing
conveyed packer having a valve device made ir. ac~ordance with the
presert invertior. attaehed thereto ir, a manr.er to place the valve
inlet immediately adjac~nt the payzone and thereby flow the produced
fluid directly from the payzore and uphole to the surface. This
provides a true representative sample, and allows the well to be flowed
any time ir.terval, and elimirates afterflow. The well is ther. shut-in
by increasing the upper arrulus pressure, which moves the valve to the
closed position. The valve car. thereafter be opened and ~losed a
number of times by pressuring the upper anr.ulus. '-
The valve device of this irvertior ireludes a mair housing havir.g
ar axial bore formed therethrough. An elongated arnular mandrel is
slidably or reciprocatirgly received axially within the housir,g. The
lower marginal end of the mandrel, when moved, actuates a valve mear.s
between ope~ and closed positions.
206286~
Ore embodiment of the valve means is ir the form of a slidirg sleeve.
Ports formed in the sleeve and housing are misaligred to positior the
valve in the closed corfiguration. The mandrel wher moved uphole, brirgs
the ports into alignmert and thereby positions the valve in the open
positior..
Arother valve mears is ir. the form of a ball elemert which is
rotated in response to relative movement effected between the housing
ard the mar.drel. Ea~h 90 degrees of ball rotation moves the valve from
the open to the closed position, or vice versa.
Flow from the formation fluid ir.let proceeds through the valve
means, up through the mandrel, and to the surface, while the bottom
hole pressure, temperature, quartity, ard quality of the produced
fluid can be recorded and subsequer.tly studied by the reservoir
engireer.
The valve device of this invention ir,~ludes a valve actuator which
moves in resporse to the rate at which the upper annular hydrostatic
pressure is increased. Increase ir. the hydrostatic pressure effected or.
the upper ~alve housing causes the actuator to move the valve to the
alterr.ate positior. The actuator ir.cludes a hydraulically actuated
pistor. connected to move upon a predetermined arnular pressure in~rease,
and thereafter to reset irto the stardby corfiguratior~ wher the rate of
206286~
pressure increase is reduced. The piston is of arnular construction
and is reciprocatingly received within a~ a~ular chamber formed between
the housing and the mardrel. The piston moves an unlatching mechanism
associated with a lateh means.
The latch means releasably anchors the mar.drel to the housing,
thereby preventing longitudir.al movement between the mandrel and the
housing. The latch means is in the form of a collet, having dogs at a
free end thereof and ar. anchored end fixed to the housing. The mandrel
has spaced grooves formed in the outer surface thereof which are
engagable by the dogs. When the dogs are lifted by the unlatching
mechanism, the mandrel is free to move.
The mandrel has an annular power pistor. af~ixed thereto and
circumferentially exte~ding thereabout. Ihe mandrel piston is
slidably received within a complimentary po~er chamber. The upper
annular pressure, when increased at a predetermined rate ard value,
forces the mandrel to move uphole.
Flow restrictors placed in the flow passageways leadi~g to the
power piston chamber and to the piston chamber for the unlatching
mechanism enable the piston movement to be sequenced, whereby the
latching mechanism is unlatched; the mandrel is then moved uphole,
and then the mandrel is again latched to the housing after havirg
traveled a predetermined distance which is related to the proper
20628~5
sequential oper.ing/closing of the valve mears.
Accordingly a primary object of this i~vention is to provide a
dowrhole valve device havir,g an inlet in commuriicatior, with a forma-
tior, located below a packer wherein the valve is opened ard closed a
plurality of times in response to increased hydraulic pressure effected
above the packer.
Arother object of this invertion is the provision of a method of
controlling flow from a fluid producirg formation located downhole in
a borehole by isolatin~ the formatior, with a packer, increasirg the
hydrostatic head above the packer, and usi~g the increased pressure to
oper. ar,d thereafter close a valve a plurality of times.
A further object of the inventior. is to provide a method of
testing a payzore of a borehole by runr.ir.g a packer and valve device
downhole ir,to a borehole, elevating pressu!e in the upper annulus to
oper. the valve, and thereafter again elevating pressure in order to
close the valve, and repeating the opering and closing of the valve a
r.umber of additional times.
A still further object of the inventior is the provision of a fluid
actuated device used in a tool string and placed downhole in a borehole
which reciprocates a driving member a plurality of reciprocations by
applying pressure in the borehole anr.ulus.
206286~
Still arother obje~t of this inventior i5 to provide a system which
ineludes ar. improved fluid actuated valve device for use in testing a
formation located downhole ir. a borehole by the provisior of a tubing
cor.veyed valve device having an inlet pla~ed adja~ent a payzone wherein
inereased hydrostatic pressure at the valve devi~e moves the valve to the
opened position, and thereafter further ircrease in the hydrostatic
pressure moves the valve to the ~losed position, with the opering and
closing of the valve being selectively repeated a number of times.
Another objeot of this invention is the provision of novel appa-
ratus for pra~ti~ing a method of controllirg flow from the payzone ~f
a well whi~h erables the formation fluid to flow dire~tly into a valve
means and uphole to the surface of the ground, for the flow to be dis
cortinued for any time interval, and thereafter be resumed for any time
interval; and wherein the upper annular hydrostatic pressure ~or.trols
the valve position, thereby erabling the ~eservoir Er.gineer to study
the behavior of the drawdown and the subsequent build-up of the re-
servoir pressure.
These and various other objects ar,d advartages of the inventior,
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading
the followirg detailed deseription ard ~laims and by referring to the
accompanying drawings.
20S2865
The above objects are attair,ed ir accordarce with the preser.t
invention by the provision of a method ror use with apparatus fabri-
cated in a mariner substartially as described in the above abstract ar,d
summary.
20fi286~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a part diagrammatical, part schematical, part cross-
sectioral view of a borehole formed irto the ground and having apparatus
made in accordarce with the presert ir,vertion illustrated therewith;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, diagrammatical, lorgitudiral, part
cross_sectional representatior, of part of the apparatus disclosed ir.
Figure 1;
Figures 3 - 12 are a series of broken, longitudinal, part
cross_sectior,al views of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 13 _ 15 are a series of broker, longitudinal, part
cross-sectional views of another embodimer.t of the present invention;
Figure 16 i5 a cross-sectioral view taker along line 16-16 of
Figure 5;
Figures 17 and 18 respectfully, are cross-sectional views,
taken along lines 17-17 ard 18-18, respectively, of Figure 14;
Figures 19 ar.d 20 each illustrate a diagrammatical, longitudiral,
cross_sectional view of another form of the invention;
206286~
Figure 21 is a ~ross-se~tional view taken alo~g line'21-2i of
Figure 11; and;
Figure 22 is~L__~ross-se~tional view taken along line 22-22 of
Figure ~
.
2062865
DETAlL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Throughout this disclosure, like or similar numerals will refer
to like or similar elements whenever it is logical to do so.
Figure 1 diagrammatically sets forth a method for testing a well
which car be carried out in accordance with the presert invertion.
Apparatus 10 represents a valve device made in accordan~e with the
present invention. The valve devi~e is supported dow~hole in a bore-
hole 11. The borehole termirates at a drilling rig floor or wellhead
12 located at grourd level 13. A fluid conductor 14, preferably a
tubing string, extends from the valve device 10 uphole into supported
relationship with respect to a derrick 15. The derrick includes mears
16 associated therewith for manipulatirg the tubirg strirg 14.
The valve device 10 has a packer mears 17 by which a medial
portion thereof is re~eived in sealed relationship respective to the
interior sidewall of the borehole. The borehole wall below the packer
17 can be open hole, or it car. be perforated as indicated by the
numerial 18. The borehole 11 extends through various geological oil
bearing stratas or formatiors 20, from which formatior fluid flows
into the bottom of the bore. The pa~ker 17 belorgs to the prior art
and can take or any number of different forms.
The valve device 10 includes ar. upper end 21 having a convertior.al
2 0 ~ h 8 6S
threaded sub by which the valve device ca~ be threadedly attached to
various configuratior.s of tubing 14. The tool 10 in Figure 1 i5
referred to as a multiplicity of sections for purposes of discussion.
Section 22 contains a reciprocating piston ard oil reservoir for
effecting the upper b~rehole pressure measured at port 19 onto a power
section of the apparatus, as will be more fully disclosed later or..
Section 23 contains latch release and spring return chamber
which ur,derlies a port 19. Section 24 is ar oil reservoir which is
located uphole of seetion 25 which contains a metering piston for an
unlatchir.g mechanism found ir. sectior, 27. A mandrel latch sub is housed
in section 28 and may be located above a po~er piston assembly section
29. Ar. annular oil reservoir in sectior. 30 includes a meterinB jet
assembly. Sectior. 31 is located adjacent to the before mentioned
packer ~7 and provides an optional circulation port by which the for-
mation commodity can be reverse circulated out of the tubing. Packer
17 is connected to sub 32 of the tool, while valve sub 33 forms the
lower end of the tool.
The lower end of the tool can be blocked off by a bull plug or
the like, or alternatively, guns, recorders, sensors, logging devices,
and the like, car be attached to the lower termiral end of the tool and
extended further downhole in the borehole, for purposes which will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art.
20~2~6~
The packer 17 divides the borehole 11 into lower annular area
35 ar.d upper annular area 36. Power pisto~ hydrostatic port 37
~ommunicates with the upper annulus 36.
In the preferred embodiment Or the inventio~ set forth in figures
3-10 of the drawings, a mandrel 38 of annular cor.struction forms
the innermost wall surface of the valYe device. The mandrel 38
has an upper terminal end 39, and forms an axial passageway along
the lor.gitudinal axial centerline of the valve device. A housing
41 forms the outermost surfa~e of the valve device. Annular fluid
chamber 42 is formed between the mandrel and the housing and
reciprocatingly receives a free piston 43 therewithin. The free
piston ir.cludes opposed ~aces, one of whi~h is subjected to the
hydrostatic pressure effected at port 199 and the other of which is
subjected to the hydrostatic pressure of a ~ompressible liquid
contained within oil reservoir 42, Sprirg return 44 drives this
piston 43 uphole.
The term "compressible liquid'l is interded to mea~ a liquid, such
as silicon oil, which is more compressible than another liquid, such
as water. In any event any liquid can be used in the isolated oil
reservoirs. The use of the silicon oil is preferred because the
reservoir volume can be advantageously red~ced.
In figures 3 and 4, the oil reservoi. continues through passage-
2062865
way 42' into a released piston chamber 45~ A release piston 46 isreciprocatingly received in sealed relatior.ship within chamber 45, and
includes metered passageways 47 havirg a Lee Check Valve (TM) therein
which communicate the opposed anrular piston faces by means of the
illustrated small anrular flow passageway 47~. The Check valve permits
uphole fluid flow and restricts downhole flow therethrough. Accordingly,
pistor. 46 includes a metered passageway 47 and 47~ formed therethrough.
A spring extention sleeve 48 trarsfers the force of a ~prirg 49 onto
shoulder 50 of piston 46, thereby resiliertly biasirg pistor. 46 uphole.
A release arm 51, which can be ir. the form of a sleeve, or alternativel
a plurality of arms is radially spaced from the axis of the tool.
As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the before mentioned
urlatching mechar.ism 27 and mandrel latch mechanism 28 are located
withir. latch chamber 52. Chamber 52 is isolated from chamber 45 by
the illustrated seal mears. Latch release arm 51 is directly connected
to latch release piston 46 and reciprocates therewith. The lower
margiral end 51~ of the latch release arm is provided with the
illustrated dog-leg, and the lower terminal end ~hereof is beveled ard
wedgedly received ur.der a complimer.tary upper margiral end of a latch
means 53. A plurality ~f spaced grooves or detents 54 are formed in
the outer wall surface of mardrel 38. The upper marginal erd of the
latch 53 is in the form of a dog 55 made into a corfiguratior. to be
received withir. any ore of the grooves or detents 54 and thereby
rigidly lock the mandrel to latch means 53 ard to the main housing
2062865
at anchored erd 56. The latch mears 53 is comprised of a plurallty
of elongated metallic resiliert members which can be sprung from the
illustrated normal latched positior., radially away from the mandrel
detent, thereby releasing dogs 55 ~rom the detent 54 when the arm 51'
is wedgedly forced below dog 55, ar.d lifts the dogs into the retracted
positior. Apparatus such as illustrated at 51', 55, 53 is often
referred to as a ~collet". The deterts 54 are anrular grooves formed
within the annular mardrel 38, while the dogs 55 are spa~ed,
resiliert, metallic members that normally are biased irto the
illustrated latched position as set forth ir. Figures 4 and 5, and
which car. be urged into a retracted corfiguration ir Grder to release
the dogs from the detents. The deterts 54 are aligned concentrically
respective to the lor.gitudinal certral axis of the tool ard can be ary
number considered desirable by those skilled in the art. The deterts
54 are placed on centers which correspond to or.e half the spacirg of
the adjacent inlet ports associated with the sleeve of the valve sub
33, as will be more fully explaired later or. in this disclosure.
Shoulder 57, formed on the release arm 51', abuttingly engages
shoulder 58 formed or. the mardrel wher the mandrel has beer cycled to
its uppermost position respective to the main outer housing. Shoulder
~9, formed or. the mardrel, abuttirgly engages shoulder 60 formed or. the
housing when the mandrel has been cycled to its lowermost positior.
respective to the housirg. Fill plug 61 provides a means by which a
compressible liquid car be introduced irto the annular workirg space
28 1~ ~
form~d between the mandrel and the main housing, so that all of the
compressible fluid can be evacuated therefrom by utilizing prior art
expedierts.
In Fîgures 5 and 6, a power chamber 62 of annular construction
reciprocatingly receives a power pistor. 63 ir. sealed relationship
therewithin. The power piston is suitablely sealed to the sidewalls of
the annular power chamber 62 by the illustrated seal means. The power
piston 63 divides the power chamber into a compressible fluid chamber
64, as ~or example air at atmospheric pressure, and a clean liquid
chamber 65, as for example oil. The power pistor. 63 is affixed to the
mandrel 38, and a pressure differential effected across the opposed
faces of pistor. 63 moves the mandrel respective to the mair. housing.
At least one drilled passageway 66 extends ~rom chamber 65,
through a metering orifice 67, ard ir.to ar. oil reserYoir 68. Piston
69 is reciprocatingly recei~ed within the annular oil reservoir 68 and
has opposed faces, one of whi~h is subjected to the oil contained
within reser~oir 68, and the other is sub jected to downhole
hydrostatic pressure effected at port 37. The piston 69 abuttingly
engages a annular shoulder 70 ~ormed on the main housing.
Where deemed desireable, the mandrel can be made into different
lengths to facilitate handling and assembly thereof, as noted by the
threaded eonneetion at numeral 71. Moreo~er a sealed circulation
2062865
port can be formed at 71' which extends through the sidewalls of the
housing and mardrel, with the ports being sealed ir. a manner similar to
the ports of the ~lid~ng valve assembly, as will be more tully
appreciated later on in this disclosure.
In Figure 8, the packer sub 32 is provided with a prior art
packer device which can take on any r.umber of differert forms
so long as the outer surface of the housing is sealed respective to
the inside wall of the borehole so that formatior fluid flow must
occur only through the central flow passageway of the valve device 10.
In Figures 4 and 5 numeral 73 broadly indicates a cor.r.ector
and stabilizer by which the slidir.g sleeve of the valve section 33 car.
be separated to facilitate handling and assembly.
Guide 74' forms a connector betweer. the mandrel 38' and a
slidirg valve element 74. The sliding valve element 74 is an extention
of and forms part of the mandrel. The sliding valve element 74 ir,cludes
a plurality of ports 75 aligred in spaced relationship respective to ore
anothen and alor.g a line arranged in spaced parallel relationship
respective to the lorgitudiral central axis of the valve device. The
ports 75 can be of any number and are spaced apart on cer.ters a distance
which enables misalignment of the ports to preclude flow of fluid
therethrough and which can be brought into registry with an inlet port
76 formed through the sidewall of housirg. Arnular seal mears 77 are
2062865
affixed to the slid$ng sleeve valve element 74, and disposed withir, the
annulus formed between the mandrel and the housing, and direct the
flow of fluid only through ports 75, 76 when the ports are brought
into registry with one arother. The spacirg betweer ports 75 is
exactly twice the spacing between the detents formed in the mandrel.
Guide pir. 78 i5 received withir open slot 78~ and maintains
the mandrel aligned with the housing prior to actuation. Where deemed
desireable, slot 78~ can be elongated so t~at the pin always remains
slidably captured within the slot, thereby preventing relative rotation
between the mar.drel and housing, should the valve device be subjected
to unusual vibratory motion. The lower terminal end 7g of the valve
device can terminate in a bull plug or other clo5ure member.
Alternatively, additional apparatus can be suspended at the illustrated
pir. located at lower terminal end 79; as for example logging devices,
perforatirg guns, iars, and the like.
Ar important feature of the preser~t irventio~ is the unobstructed
central passageway that extends longitudirally down through the valve
device ar.d thereby erables wireline equipmert to be passed therethrough.
It is oonsidered novel to fabricate ar actuator comprised of the
upper marginal end of the valve device by substitutirg other valve
devices for the lower valve section commereirg at the packer sectior 32.
206286~
~ n Figures 11 - 12, there is disolosed a secord embodiment comprised
of the upper marginal end of the valve device. As seen illustrated in
Figure 11, pistor. 43' is free to reciprocate withir, chamber 42 ard
thereby divides the chamber into an upper hydrostatic pressure chamber
and a lower oil filled chamber. The oil is referred to herein
as a compressible liquid. Oil from chamber 42 is free to flow into
chamber 45~, ar.d alorg the annular passageway 42~. In the alternate
embodiment of Figure 11, the novel meterirg release pistor 46' is
sealingly received in a reciprocatir.g marr.er withir. chamber 45~,
ar.d provides the force by which the latchir.g mecharism is unlatched
when piston 46'is forced to move dowr.hole.
A marginal length of the piston includes an upper member 80 and
another marginal ler,gth includes a lower member 81 which cooperate
with one another, and which have adjacent marginal ends slideably
received ir. overlapping relationship respe~tive to one another. The
slideable coating surfaces of the piston are illustrated by the numeral
82, with the illustrated seal mears being irterposed between the slidirg
surfaces. A metal to metal lip seal of arrular construction is formed-
as indicated by r.umeral 83, with the resultart coactir.g structure
functioning as a valve element and valve seat. Accordingly, when piston
member 80 and pistor. member 81 are moved apart, the metal to metal seal
at 83 is parted, and fluid is free to flow from chamber 45' at piston
er.d 84 of member 81, about the pistor at 85, through the lip seal-at
83, through the passageway 86 formed in the upper marginal er.d o~ the
Iq.
2062~6~
annular piston member 81, and into the chamber 45~ at the upper erd
of the member 80.
The piston member 81 ircludes passageway 486 within which a Lee
Valve is mounted for allowing flow from the uphole side, through the
member 81, and into the downside chamber at a location downhole of the
lip seal 83. The upper terminal en~ of the-piston assembly 46' is
abuttingly engaged by a shoulder at 87 formed on structure affixed to
the outer housing.
Compress~on sprin~ 49 ~ is caged withir chamber 45 and urges soap
ring 88 uphole. The snap ring 88 is received within a circumferentially
exterding groove of the release sleeve 51, and thereby urges the piston
assembly 46~ to move into abutting engagemert with shoulder 87 of the
housing.
The release mechanism 27, 28 and the latch means associated
therewith are similar to the first embodiment of the invention.
Figure 11 also discloses a lost motio- coupling, or slidable
sealed coupling 387 which enables the tool to telescope together
unt$1 the confronting faces A and B abut one another. This provides
a means for runnir,g in the tool, as will be more fully described
hereinafter.
. 206286~
Figures 13 - 18 set forth an alternate embodiment of the valve
section of the present invention. In Figure 13, downhole movement of
the piston 246' in response to pressure differential across the opposed
piston faces thereof moves the actuator sleeve or release arm 251 which
upsets the collet and thereby retracts the dog from the detent. Equal-
ization of the pressure differential across piston 46' moves the piston
uphole, causing separation of members 80, 81 or.e from the other, and
thereby allows fluid flow from chamber 45 on bottom side 84 of the
piston, alor,g passageway 85, through lip seal 83~, through passageway
86, and into the upper part of chamber 45'.
In the embodimert of the invention disclosed in Figures 13
- 18, and in particular Figure 13, the upper marginal end of the valve
device is provided with the before mer.tiored inlet port 19 which is
arranged to receive fluid at the upper borehole pressure found
immediately above packer 17. Free piston 243 is reciprocatingly received
within chamber 242, ar.d divides the chamber irto a well fluid part
separated from an oil containirg part. The chamber 242 ~ontains the
illustrated compressed sprirg 244 which is abuttingly receiYed between
the confrontir,g faces of piston 243 ar.d She illustrated shoulder of
housing 241. The chamber 242 continues downhole and provides an annular
portion within which release pistor. 246 is reciprocatingly received.
Release piston 246 has a passageway 247 formed therethrough and connects
chamber part 245 with the chamber part 242.
2062~6~
~ ompression spring 249 is compressed between the illustrated
confronting faces of piston 246 and the anrular sh~ulder formed within
the main housing. Actuator sleeve 251 is affixed to piston 246 and
extends dowrhole in fixed relatiorship respective to release mechanism
251'. The sleeve 251 includes a wedge shaped annular face made com-
plimentary respective to the coacting cor.frorting face of dog 255. The
dog 255 includes the illustrated inwardly directed protrusion which
is received within one of the spaced deterts or grooves 254. The
detents 254 are spaced from one ar.other ir. accordance with the
vertical spacir.g of pins 104, 104' seer illustrated downhole of the
release mechar.ism. The collet assembly 253, 255 has a fixed end 256
suitably connected to the housing at the anchored er.d thereof. Inter-
face 89 formed between mandrel 38 and the housing is suitablely sealed
as seen illustrated in Figure 14. Interface 90 formed between between
fixed members is threaded at 256 and receives the illustrated seal.
Isolated annular chamber 91 is sealed at 89 and 92 and therefore
isolates the valve seat 101 ar.d valve element 95 from the remainer
of the annulus. The arrows indicated by r.umerals 93 and 94 irdicate the
relative movement effected between the mardrel and the main housing wher.
the mandrel is forced uphole by the actior. of the power piston.
The ball valve element 95 is pivotively mounted at 9S to a mounting
frame 97. The mounting frame ir.cludes two spaced mount members havir.g
a streamlined free leading erd 98 opposed to a fixed end 99. The fixed
~1 ~
~ 2~86~
er.d 99 is ridigly affixed to the mandrel 238~. Seal faces 100, 101 are
formed between members 238 and 238' of the mandrel. Hence the mandrel
parts 238, 238' are separable ard include the ball valve 95 interposed
between the confronting seats or faces 100, 101.
~ Cavities 102 and 1~æ' are formed 180 degrees apart and along a
meridian of the ball Yalve element 95. The cavities have an entrance
103 within which there is received in a sequential manner one of the
pins 104, 104. The pins 104 are located in aligned relationship along
a first rowj while the pins 104' are likewise located in a rsw with
the rows defining spaced, parallel lines ~hich are parallel to the
central axis of the mandrel.
The ball check valve 95 has a passageway 105 formed therethrough.
The lower mandrel part 238' is conr.ected to piston 106 and moves there-
with. Pistor. 106 is reciprocatingly received within chamber 107.
Piston 106 and chamber 107 are therefore a power chamber and piston,
with the piston 106 dividing the ch~mber into an atmospheric gas
chamber 108 and a liquid chamber t08'. Oil reservoir 109 is connected~-
by means of passageway 110 to the working chamber 108. Floating
piston 411 compresses the liquid in chamber 109 in accordance with
the magnitude of the upper borehole pressure effected at port 237.*
A packer device can be mounted to the outer surface of the main
housing, or alternatively, the apparatus car. be provided with a stinger
2~w~6~
at the lower end thereof for telescopically extending in sealed relationship
centrally through a permanent type packer.
OPERATION
The first embodiment 10 of the present inventior. comprises a
novel actuator mechanism located at the upper end thereof; and, as
a sub combination of the invention, a novel valve mea~s located at the
lower end thereof. The actuator means at the upper end of the valve
device can be utilized for actuating either of the novel valve mear.s
disclosed herein, as well as other downhole tools.
The apparatus 10 is run downhole on the end of the tubing string,
the packer is set, thereby isolatirg the dowrhole production zone from
the upper borehole annulus and providing a controlled flow path from
the payzone to the surface. This can be achieved while drilling the
borehole, wherein the valve device 10 is attached to the erd of the
drill string, or alternatively by incorporating the apparatus in a
tool string attached to the erd of productior tubing or the like.
The valve device is run downhole in the closed configuration. The
mar.drel is located at its lowest position respective to the main
housing. The packer is set, the tool string is tested for leaks, and
thereafter a temporary wellhead is employed for achieving a first
pressure increase. The magnitude of the first pressure increase must
206~6~
be of a rate and mag~itude which exceeds the value required to provide
a pressure differential across the release arm actuator piston 46
for driving the piston downhole. This action lifts the firgers of the
collet from the detents so that the mandrel is free to move uphole. At
the same time the same upper borehole pressure is effected at port 37,
thereby driving piston 69 uphole, and compressing the fluid contained
within chamber 68, so that the fluid i5 metered through the jet 67,
passageway 66, and ir.to the liquid chamber at the lower end 65 of the
power chamber 62. Low pressure gas, such as atmospheric air, resides
within chamber 62 while the hydrosta~ic pressure of the well fluid
effected in the upper borehole is indirectly effected at 65.
Accordingly piston 63 is urged uphole carrying the mandrel 38 therewith.
If the magnitude of this pressure and rate of increase exceeds the
designed actuating pressure of the valve device, the power piston 63
will move uphole as soon as the collet fingers have been removed from
the detents.
The jets 67 and 47 must be selected to cause the collet fingers
to be lifted and then relaxed during ar. interval of time less than the
time interval required for the mandrel to move uphole more than
the distance measured between adjacent deterts. Accordingly the
dog is lifted from the detent, the mardrel commences moving, the dog
is relaxed, the face of the dog slides or the outer surface of the
mandrel until the next detent arrives urder the dog, whereupor. the
release mechanism becomes reset in the next adjacent detent and the
8 6 ~
mardrel is firmly fixed to the housing. This action moves the upper-
most port 75 into registry with the radial inlet port 76 formed through
the housing. Flow can now occur from the payzone, through the aligned
ports 75, 76 into the interior of the mandrel, and uphole to the surface
of the earth. Flow can cc-tinue as long as it is deemed desireable
to do so, and when the time arrives for shutting in the well, the
sliding valve assembly is moved to the closed position by repeating
the previous sequence of operation, hereirafter sometime referred to
as one cycle of the tool.
After the well has been shut-ir. a sufficient length of time to
determine the shut-in bottom hole pressure, or whenever it is deemed
desireable to do so, the tool car be cycled a second time, whereupon
the next adjacent valve port 75 is brought into aligned relationship
respective to the housing port 76 by repeating the above pressure
increase of the hydrostatic head effected at the area immediatelY
above the packer device. This can be achieved by reducing the
pressure at the wellhead for a sufficient length of time for the tool
to reach equilibrium, and then again ir.creasing the pressure to the
before same magnitude. Alternatively, since the tool is at equilibrium,
and the tool strives to always reach equilibrium over a specific time
interval, the pressure can be increased another magnitude and at a rate
equal to the first increase, whereupon the before des~ribed cycle of
events will again transpire.
~ ~,i
2062865
The tool is therefore cycled, causirg the mardrel to move
respective to the housing a distance equal to the distance measured
between the centers of the detents. This distance is equal to one
half the distance measured between adjacent ports of the sliding valve
so that each mandrel movement alternately moves the valve from a flow
to a no-flow configuration and vise versa.
It is essential that the tool of the first embodiment of the
inver.tion be run dowr.hole at a slow rate, otherwise the hydrostatic
pressure will be effected on the tool at a rate of ir.crease which
will actuate or cycle the tool. This is sometime undesirable, ard
is overcome by the second embodiment of the invention set forth in
Figures 11 - 12 of the drawings.
The second embodiment of the irvention is similar in operation to
the first embodiment of the invention. As seen in Figure 11, when the
liquid contained within chamber 42 is indirectly subjected to increased
hydrostatic pressure, flow occurs dowr. the small annulus 42' formed
betweer. the lost motion coupling 387 and the mandrel, and into the
chamber 45', forcing the release piston 46' in a dowrhole direction.
At the same time, fluid is free to flow through passageway 86, small
annulus 85, and into the downhole upper end of the workirg chamber 45'.
A pressure of sufficient magnitude and rate of increase will provide the
r.ecessary forces on the opposed sides of the piston for a differential
to exist which overcomes frictior, and the force of spring 49', thereby
~1
206286~
moving the actuator sleeve 67 downhole, and effe~ting dowrhole movement
of the collet retra~tion member, whereupon the ends of the collet fingers
are lifted from the detents in the same above described manner, This
actior frees the mandrel from the housing, and permits relative movement
therebetween.
The upper borehole pressure is ~or.currertly effected at the inlet
port associated with both the release and the power chamber, as in the
before described embodiment. The power chamber causes the power
piston to move uphole, carrying the sliding sleeve of the valve means
therewith, and thereby aligning or misaligning the coacting flow ports
formed in the housing ar.d the mandrel. The operation of the valve
device is contirued in the above described cyclic manner so that the
well can selectively be flowed, shut-in t again flowed and again
shut-in for as many times as may be permitted by the number of detents
and valve ports provided during the fabrication of the tool.
In the third embodiment of the inventior set forth in Figures
13 - 18, the inlet port 19, when subjected to increased hydrostatic
pressure within the upper annulus moves piston 243 downhole thereby
tending to compress the liquid cortained ~ithin chamber 242. This
creates a pressure in chamber 242 which is substantially equal to the
hydrostatic pressure, ar,d thereby moves piston 246 do~nhole while at
the same time a small flow of the liquid ~ommences from chamber 242
ir.to chamber 245.
~ 2062865
Movement of piston 246 a small distarce dowrhole actuates the
release mechanism at 251~ by means of the sleeve 251. The coacting
confronting faces found betweer. the collet fingers at 255 and the
conical face at 251~ lifts the dogs from the groove 254 for a time
interval required for the mandrel 38 to commence movemer.t uphole
so that when the dog is released, the face of the dog wil~ be riding
on the exterior face of the mandrel. As the mar.drel continues to move
uphole, the dog 255 slides along the mandrel face until it drops into
the rext adjacert groove, thereby agai~ latchin~ the tool ir. the r.ext
position of operation; i.e. mandrel is fixed respective to housing.
At the same time upper borehole pressure is effected on the liquid
contained within chamber 109. This is achieved by means of flow
port 237 which is located above the packer and in the upper annulus,
which drives the piston 411 uphole so that the liquid contained ir.
chamber 109 is forced through passageway 410 and into the power
chamber 106.
Chamber 108 is filled with compressible fluid, as for example
atmospheric air. Accordingly the pressure differential across the
opposed annular faces of piston 106 drives the piston up hole carryirg
the mandrel at 238 therewith. The mandrel car.not move unless dog 255
has been released from its associate detent. If the dog has been lifted
from the detent, the mandrel 238', ball valve assembly 105, and
2062865
mar.drel part 38 will be moved uphole a dista~ce equivale~t to the
spaced adjacent centers of the detents.
As the ball valve is moved uphole respective to the housing, the
ball is rotated 90 degrees. This action aligr.s the passageway 105
of the ball with the longitudinal axial ~enterline of the mardrel. The
vertical distar.ce measured between adjacer.t pins 104, 104~ is equal
to the distance between adjacent grooves. The pins 104, 104' are
received within the entrance 103 of cavity tO2 of the ball and thereby
impart a rotational force into the ball of a magnitude equal to the
force developed by the up-thrust of the mardrel, together with the
measured distarce from the ~enters of the pirs and the pivot point 96
of the ball. The spaced mount means 98 are guideably received betweer
the opposed rows of pins, and maintains aligrment between the coacting
parts.
It should be noted that when dog 255 is lifted from detent 254, the
frictional forces between seat 100 and the ball are reduced, thereby
relieving some of the drag between the rotatir.g surface of the ball
and the seats.
After the well has flowed a sufficiert length of time to determine
the reservoir capacity, the well is shut-ir. by again elevating the
pressure within the upper annulus, whereupor the above described events
aBain occur so that the ball is rotated another 90 degrees, and
206286~
assun,~s the closed positior,. After each cycle of operation the valve
device will reach equilbrium, regardless of the hydrostatic head,
until the hydrostatic head is again changed. The present invention
provides a novel means for testing a dowr.hole productior, zone. The
novel apparatus also provides a valve means which can be opened and
closed a number of times by utilizing upper annular pressure. The
mechanism employed for actuatirg the valve means can be used for
actuating dowrhole tools other than valves.
While a sliding sleeve valve and a rotating ball valve have been
disclosed herein, those skilled in art, havirg read the foregoing
disclosure material, will be able to apply various different novel
sub combinations of this invention to other downhole tools, and such
a new combination is comprehended by the present claims.
The present invention provides a method by which a downhole tool
can be actuated by the employment of linear motion, ard also provides
a method by which a formation located dowr,hole in a borehole can be
tested by utilizing above the packer hydrostatic pressure for
controlling the flow from below the packer.
The schematical representation of Figure Z sets forth some of
the important operational features of the present invention. In
Figure 2 the valve device 10 is sealingly received through the axial
bore of a packer 17. The packer 17 can be positioned most anywhere
2062865
along the length of the valve device so long as the chamber of metering
piston 2~ and power piston 62 is flow co~ected through an orif$ce
means 36 that senses the pressure of the upper annulus. It is desirable
that the formation fluid inlet 35, formed through the housing 41 of the
tool, be located near the payzor.e to thereby establish a direct flow
path from the formation, into the inlet of the valve device, and to
the surface of the ground.
A latch mear.s 28 is mounted to the housing 41. The latch means
engages spaced detents or grooves 54 formed in the mandrel. The
mandrel is normally latched to the housing and canr.ot be reciprocated
respective to the housing so long as the latch mear.s 28 engages one of
the grooves 54. The mandrel is moved uphole in response to movement
of a power piston 63. The power piston moves in response to metered
pressure effected within chamber 62 along a metered flow path 36.
A hydraulically actuated ur.latching mechanism 22, 27 retracts the
latch means and permits the mandrel 38 to move uphole a distar,ce equal
to the interval measured between adjacent grooves 54. Movement of
piston 22 actuates the unlatching device. The valve means is moved
between alternant positions tflow,no_flo~) each movement uphole of the
mandrel. It is therefore necessary that the latch means be retracted
to enable the power piston 63 to move the mandrel uphole a sufficient
distance to move the valve means to the alternant flow position. This
enables the valve means to be moved from the closed to the opened
2062865
position, or vice versa, so that flow can occur from the formation into
the tool, and uphole for any length of time desired; thereafter the
latch mears is again retracted and the valve mears $s moved to the
closed position where it remains closed for any desired time $nterval,
and thereafter the valve may again be moved to the opened position,
with this sequence of events contir.uing as many times as may be deemed
desirable subject to the number of cycles which has previously been
built into the tool.
2~62865
In the alternate ~orm of the in~ention set forth in the diagram-
matical representation of Figure 19, the power chamber 62 and power
piston 63 are located below packer 17. Upper annulus fluld i5 effected
on the upper ports at metering device 36, and provides a force for
moving unlatching piston 22 downhole where the latch 28 is retracted
from the mandrel. At the same time, fluid flows from the port at 36,
thereby foroing power piston 63 downhole, carrying mandrel 38 there-
with. The mandrel in Figure 19 has been moved to the lowermost posi-
tion respeotive to the main outer housing.
In the alternate form of the invention set forth in the diagram-
matical representation of Figure 20, the chamber 62 communicates with
passageway 40 of mandrel 38 by means of flow ports 462. Chamber 62
is isolated from the latch chamber by the illustrated seals and fluid
contained within the chamber 62 is free to be exchanged with the pass-
ageway 40 by means of ports 462. The other embodiments of the in-
vention can be modified by the provision of ports 462 in the manner
of Figure 20.
c 206286~
In Figure 11, a plurality of free flow reverse Lee Check Valve ,
r~ ro~
(TM) are circumferentially arranged about member 81 of actuator valve
46' for permitting flow downhole through the entire valve asse~bly
and thereby permits flow from the lower chamber 45~ through passage-
ways 486, and into upper chamber 45', while the alternate passageway
86 permits flow therethrough only when members 80 and 81 are parted,
which moves lip seal valve 83 into the flow position. Hence, member
81 of the complex two piece piston 46' is provided with a circle of
passageways 86 which are closed by lip seal 83, and a circle of pass-
ageways 486 having Lee Check Valves therein which lead to annulus 85
and ~ypass or circumvent the lip seal. Further, shoulder 87, when
the tool is running into the hole, is telescoped into the alternate
position wherein confronting shoulaers A-B of Figure 11 abuttingly
engage one another. The displacement of shoulder 87 uphole into the
running in configuration enables piston 46' to follow shoulder 87 into
the enlarged chamber, and thereby eualizes the pressure across the
entire piston.
In the alternate e~bodiments of the invention, other than the
valve actuator of Figure 11, it is necessary that the rate at which
the pressure is applied to the actuating piston occur within a time
interval wherein the pressure differer.tial across the piston is
established prior to equalization through the Lee Chec~ Valve or
metering orifice in the piston. That is, the piston, when the appro-
priate pressure differential is applied thereto, will commence to
~g
206~86~
move, but, at the same time, the metering passageway through the
piston commences to equalize the pressure across the piston, and ac- -
cordingly the former action must be completed prior to the later.
2~6~6~
The packer sub of Figure 8 is of a desigr dependent upor the manu-
facture thereof and accordingly lt is advantageous to be able to
compensate for packers of various lengths. This is accomplished by
the coacting threaded connection formed between the lower marginal end
38' of the mandrel and the sliding guide 74' seen illustrated in Figure
9.
In Figure 9, the mandrel 38 ofter. has a very thin wall section
which cannot be properly threaded. This disadvartage is surmour,ted by
the provisior. of a collet arrargement seen at 73 of Figure 9. The col-
let fingers along with the lower er,d of the mandrel is telescoped
through the packer and is stabbed into the female part of the collet
73. Then the lower marginal end 38' is rotated respective to the upper
marginal end of the mandrel until the apparatus assumes the corfiguration
seen in Figure 9. This arrangement enables the actuator to be ~onnected
in proper indexed relationship respective to the valve mear,s.
