Wells – With electrical means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-05-22
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Wells
With electrical means
C166S066600, C166S106000, C166S332800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234247
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to bore hole safety valves and in particular to installing and activating bore hole safety valves for oil well and like bore holes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the drilling and operation of oil wells, it is necessary to isolate the well in the event of a catastrophe occurring to the well which may lead to the uncontrolled release of the oil and/or gas from the well into the surrounding area. This isolation is provided by valves which are normally biased to the closed position but which are actively maintained open during the operation of the bore hold. Such valves are known as subsurface safety valves or SSSVs for short, and are located at a convenient location down the well. (Although the term “down” is used, some bore holes may have considerable lengths which are far from vertical, and may be substantially horizontal.)
Such SSSVs are typically flapper type valves which seal off the whole bore of the production tube and are arranged above a packer which seals the production tubing to the existing surrounding casing of the well. Conventionally, SSSVs are fitted by arranging them on the end of the joined production tubing and lowering the tubing in the well by connection of subsequent lengths of joined production tubing until the desired location for the SSSV is reached. The packer may be attached to the SSSV at the remote end of the tubing and installed and activated together with the SSSV or alternatively the packer may already be in place and the SSSV located above it.
An hydraulic control line is provided on the outside of the joined tubing which is used to activate the SSSV to maintain it in the open position for use. It will be appreciated that if pressure is lost for any reason, for example in the event of a disaster, then the SSSV will automatically close, closing the well and preventing the release of any of the well fluids.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved technique for installing and activating bore hole safety valves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a safety valve and pump apparatus including;
an electric pump,
a safety valve,
a packing means,
a continuous length of tubing extending from the surface to the location of the safety valve and pump,
a control means provided to operate the safety valve and the pump, and
a transmission means disposed along the tubing for the transmission of signals from the control means to the safety valve and the pump,
the tubing, the safety valve and the pump all being concentrically aligned.
Preferably the electric pump is releasably attached to the safety valve by pump connection means. Preferably the safety valve is releasably attached to the packing means by packer connection means. Preferably an electrical connection means is provided, and the coiled tubing and the transmission means are remotely releasably attached to the electrical connection means. Preferably a well head electrical supply is provided, and the electrical connection means is remotely releasably attachable to the well head electrical supply.
Preferably a safety valve and an electric pump as defined above are provided.
Thus by means of the invention any damage to an eternal hydraulic cable is prevented. Also, the safety valve housing is retrievable, which is a significant advantage in the event of failure of the safety valve for any reason. Conventionally, if the safety valve fails, an additional safety valve is fitted inside the existing production tube which puts severe limitations on the dimensions of the subsequent production tube. Alternatively the production tube is removed and the failed safety valve removed by drilling, such a method is expensive and there is a high risk of damage to the casing and other elements of the well.
Packing means refers to at least a surface which, in conjunction with a corresponding surface in the well casing, causes the safety valve to be sealed against the well casing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4425965 (1984-01-01), Bayh
patent: 4529035 (1985-07-01), Bayh
patent: 4749341 (1988-06-01), Bayh, III
patent: 5236047 (1993-08-01), Pringle
patent: 5285850 (1994-02-01), Bayh
patent: 5411096 (1995-05-01), Akkerman
Dubno Herbert
Neuder William
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