Subsurface Safety Valve

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates broadly to the field of safety systems for use in controlling undesired flow of well fluids from hydrocarbon producing wells. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improved simplified construction of a primary rotatable ball-type surface controlled tubing retrievable subsurface safety valve which is procluded from ball rotational overtravel. The ball may be locked open in the event of a primary valve malfunction and a backup surface controlled through the flow line installed subsurface valve operably mounted therein as a redundant safety system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Surface controlled subsurface valves used as safety systems to control flow of well fluids from hydrocarbon producing wells are known. Some early examples of such subsurface valves and the well safety systems they have provided are disclosed in the following patents which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention:

Generally such safety valves were of the tubing retrievable type with the tubular valve housing made-up in and forming a portion of the well tubing and therefore retrievable with the well tubing. The quick acting ball-type closure element with its desirable full opening and straight through flow passage characteristics was disclosed in the Knox '808 patent.

A detailed discussion of the subsurface safety valve prior art is found in the following selected U.S. patents which are also assigned to the assignee of the present invention:

All of the seven above identified patents, as well as any other patent subsequently identified herein, are hereby fully incorporated herein as written description by this specific reference for any and all purposes as completely as if such patent was set forth verbatim herein.

In addition to the previously selected and identified patents, Applicant's assignee is also the owner of numerous additional patents and patent applications disclosing well safety systems and components therefor. Many other inventors have also been active in developing this useful technology as will be considered hereinafter. It is to be understood that other patents not mentioned herein may be as equally relevant as prior art to those that are mentioned, but that best efforts have been made to identify and consider the best prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,077 to Keithahn is entitled "Subsurface Safety Shut-Off Valve Apparatus". The disclosed tubing retrievable surface control subsurface safety valve employs a modified ball-type flow closure element which may be locked in the open position using a wire-line tool to shift a radially expandable locking detent. No provision for installation of a back-up valve is made in the Keithahn disclosure. See also Mott Canadian Pat. No. 955,915 (originally filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 72,034 on Sept. 14, 1970 and as U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,780) which discloses a releasable locking means and a back-up valve capability.

U.S. Pat. No. Re. 28,131 (originally U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,249) names Kurt Leutwyler as inventor and is entitled "Ball Valve With Resilient Seal". Each chordal flat formed on the ball-type flow closure element is provided with a radial recess for receiving the eccentric rotation crank pin and a lug defining a pair of rotational movement limit stop shoulders for engaging the reciprocating ball cage member. By engaging the ball cage member with the stops, the ball is prevented from rotational overtravel in response to ball longitudinal movement greater than that required for rotation. The stops which engage or co-act with the movable cage to insure that the ball is held in the aligned full opening position rather than partially open position creating a flow throttling impingement and resulting valve damaging erosion.

Crowe U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,603 is entitled "Dual Safety Valve Method And Apparatus". The disclosed arrangement for limiting rotational travel of the two parallel flow path ball closure elements in a dual completion well is substantially identical to that of related U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,876 to be discussed hereinafter.

Crowe U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,242 entitled "Subsurface Safety Valve" is stated to be related to both U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,797,573 and 3,771,603. The mounting and rotational travel limits of the ball are provided by a pair of stop shoulders formed on each of the ball chordal flats in a manner similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. Re. 28,131. A non-releasable wire-line actuated lockout sleeve is provided in the tubing retrievable valve for permanently locking the valve open. Shifting of the lockout sleeve by wire-line operations to effect locking also communicates the control fluid pressure into the bore of the well tubing for operating the supplemental subsurface safety valve.

Crowe U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,995 entitled "Sub-Surface Safety Valve" discloses the use of a split ball flow closure element to equalize well fluid pressure before ball opening rotation begins. The ball rotational limit stop is also formed on each ball flat by a lug or projection forming the desired stop shoulders. Both a concentric ball mounting pin receiving recess and a radially extending eccentric crank pin receiving recess are formed on each ball flat.

Crowe U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,876 also discloses a ball closure mounting having an eccentric pin radial slot and rotational limit shoulders formed in each chordal flat of the ball. A lockout sleeve is provided in the tubing retrievable valve for enabling the ball-type closure element to be permanently locked in the open position. Shifting of the locking sleeve also enables communication of the control fluid pressure to the wire-line retrievable valve in a manner similar to U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,242.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,438 also names Crowe as inventor and is entitled "Wire-line Safety Valve With Split Ball". The disclosed valve also uses a two piece ball to equalize the fluid pressure prior to rotating the ball open. Each chordal flat of the ball closure element has a central or concentric recess for receiving a longitudinally movable pin on the reciprocating valve operator and a radial slot for receiving an eccentric ball crank pin mounted on the valve housing. Longitudinal movement of the valve operator relative to the valve body moves the ball relative to the fixed eccentric pin to crank the ball between the open and closed position. Raised lugs 114 on the ball flats engage the operator mechanism to maintain the fully aligned ball open position when the valve operator travels downwardly a longitudinal distance greater than that required to rotate the ball open.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,932 to Dinning is entitled "Surface Operated, Subsurface Safety Valve Assembly". The flapper-type closure tubing retrievable subsurface safety valve is adapted to be locked open by wireline operations and a wireline flapper-type retrievable valve installed therein for back-up operation. To establish communication between the control fluid operating chamber and the bore of the tubing retrievable valve to enable controlled operation of the back-up valve it was necessary to perforate the operator sleeve.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,923 to Tausch discloses a wireline retrievable surface control subsurface safety valve having a flapper-type flow closure and carrying the control fluid pressure responsive mechanism. The valve is disclosed as being operably received in a conventional landing nipple.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,042 discloses the use of a side pocket mandrel as a tubing retrievable housing for operably receiving a wireline retrievable flapper-type subsurface safety valve having control fluid pressure responsive surfaces.

Tausch U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,863 is entitled "Well Safety Valve System". A wireline actuated valve mechanism is installed in the well tubing adjacent a conventional landing nipple. The control fluid conduit is run from the surface to the valve mechanism and then to the landing nipple. Prior to retrieving the wireline retrievable safety valve in the landing nipple, the valve mechanism is closed to prevent escape of the hydraulic control fluid from the control fluid conduit when the wire-line valve is removed from the landing nipple. See also Krause U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,599.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,865 to Tausch is entitled "Lockout For Well Safety Valve". The disclosed tubing retrievable valve lockout sleeve is located below the flapper closure element and is shifted upwardly by a wire-line operation to hold the flapper in the open position.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,866 is also "Lockout For Well Safety Valve" and discloses two embodiments of a tubing retrievable valve. Telescoping portions of the operator sleeve may be extended to lock the flapper open.

Tausch U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,867 is entitled "Well Safety Valve System And Method Of Operation". The disclosed invention provides a drain valve operated by wireline for removing liquid from the control fluid conduit. The absence of liquid in the control fluid conduit avoids the effect of a hydrostatic head on the valve and thereby installation at a greater depth in the well. Pressurized gas is used as a control fluid in the conventional manner to operate the valve.

Watkins U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,204 discloses an equalizing valve actuated by a lost motion linkage of the valve operator. The initial movement of the operator opens the equalizing valve to eliminate the pressure differential across the primary flapper closure element prior to attempting to open the flapper.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,258 is entitled "Subsurface Well Safety Valve". The disclosed surface controlled tubing retrievable subsurface valve as well as the wireline retrievable backup valve employ flapper-type closure elements for controlling flow. The tubing retrievable valve is equipped with a shear pin retained lockout sleeve which also closes a control fluid port. When sheared, the sleeve locks the tubing retrievable valve open and communicates the control fluid to the back-up valve installed in the bore of the tubing retrievable valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,473 is entitled "Well Safety Valve" and is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,358. The flapper-type tubing retrievable valve incorporates a mechanism for resetting the tubular operator to the proper operating length after a prearranged telescopic collapse due to the well shut-in pressure differential opposing opening movement of the flapper element.

Bostock U.S. Pat. No. 2,894,715 discloses a tubing retrievable surface control subsurface safety valve in which the ball flow closure element does not move longitudinally in rotating to and from the open and closed positions. Rotation is effected by a radial lug on each ball flap received within a slot formed on the reciprocating operator.

Fredd U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,471 (originally U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,669) discloses a number of embodiments of a ball valve in which the ball flow closure element having a flow port formed therethrough moves longitudinally during rotational operation. Each of the two parallel chordal flats formed on the rotatable ball has a cam slot extending radially across the flat. A first cam lug on the reciprocating operator and a second cam lug fixed to the tubular valve body are operably positioned in each slot. The fixed cam lugs include pivots surrounded by rotatable blocks which provide large bearing surfaces in the cam slots to better distribute the stresses created during valve operation. The operator cam lugs have rotatable rollers which engage opposite sides of the cam slots for enabling the greater sliding motion of the operator cam lugs effecting the longitudinal movement of the ball needed to provide operating rotation.

U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,149 discloses a conventional tubing landing nipple having a separate control fluid conduit extending to the surface. A wireline retrievable valve operably positioned in the landing nipple receives control fluid pressure from the surface for controlling operation of the wireline retrievable valve. The control fluid is communicated to a pressure responsive surface provided on the valve for effecting surface controlled valve operation. Both a sleeve valve and a geared double flapper valve is disclosed for wireline installation in the landing nipple.

A ball-type wireline retrievable valve having pressure responsive means for installation in a landing nipple is disclosed in Grimmer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,706. A fluid pressure operated wireline retrievable subsurface safety valve is also disclosed in Bostock U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,566.

A surface control manifold for a subsurface safety valve is disclosed in Tamplen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,070. Typical surface controls are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,419,076 and 3,675,720. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,147.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,005 is entitled "Ball-Type Surface Safety Valve" in which the ball valve mechanism moves longitudinally in order to effect rotation of the ball member.

Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,070 discloses a wireline retrievable ball-type valve for landing in conventional landing nipples using the locating and locking mandrel described in Tamplen U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,531. The ball is supported from a pair of oppositely disposed support brackets having mounting pins which are received within concentric openings formed on each of the two ball flats. The eccentric operator pins are fixed to the housing for effecting rotation of the ball while ball alignment pins are employed to prevent rotation of the support brackets during ball rotation.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,860 is entitled "Ball Valve Improvement". The valve operator sleeves above and below the ball are operably connected so that only a portion of the force required for effecting rotation of the ball is transmitted through engagement with the ball member.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,114 is entitled "Pressure Operated Safety Valve". The disclosed valve employs a rotatable ball member having concentric mounting pins received in the concentric recess of the ball. A pair of eccentric pins rigidly secured to the valve housing engage radially extending slots formed in the ball flats for providing the cranking or rotational movement. The connector members holding the ball for rotation are held against relative circumferential rotation by a pair of fixed pins.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,330 discloses a valve having a ball-type closure element movable from the open to the closed position but which may not be reopened in the well. The ball element is provided with eccentric pins which move in corresponding cam tracks to effect this one time operation.

Taylor, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,868 discloses a surface controlled tubing retrievable ball-type subsurface safety valve which may be locked open using a wireline tool to shift a locking sleeve positioned above the upper valve operator sleeve. The valve lock open may be either permanent or releasable depending upon the disclosed embodiment employed. The tubing retrievable valve is also provided with an equalizing valve arrangement such as disclosed in Dollison U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,442 to prevent opening of the ball with a potentially damaging pressure differential formed across the flow closure element. The ball closure element is concentrically mounted by a pair of longitudinally movable pins and cranked to the open position by a pair of fixed eccentric pins. A third set of pins are employed to prevent rotation of the concentric mounting fingers of the operator assembly. A second hydraulic control fluid conduit is disclosed for balancing or offsetting the hydrostatic head of the hydraulic control fluid in the conventional operating control fluid conduit if desired. A supplemental or wireline retrievable valve may be installed in the locked open tubing retrievable valve and operated by the hydraulic fluid control of the tubing retrievable valve to provide a back-up safety system. Fluid communication between the hydraulic control fluid conduit and the pressure responsive operating mechanism of the valve is established by either perforating the upper operator of the locked open valve or by providing a port associated with the locking sleeve if desired. Details of the ball mounted linkage are stated to be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,442 to Dollison. The packoff tool or mounting housing for the supplemental subsurface safety valve are said to be disclosed in Tamplen U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,531. If a supplemental valve is used it is such that is disclosed in Dollison U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,442.

Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,462 is entitled "Large Bore Rotary Safety Valves For Wells". The disclosed valve is of a wireline type carrying the control fluid pressure responsive mechanism and having windows formed in the housing to provide clearance for operating rotation of the large diameter ball element. See also Mott U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,387.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,066 discloses a tubing retrievable safety valve having alternate flow closure elements. A poppet-type closure element, a flapper type closure element and a ball type closure element are disclosed as functionally interchangeable flow control elements. The operating or actuating mechanism for the disclosed valves are provided with remote or surface controls as well as with direct well condition responsive means.

Gazda U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,874,634 and 3,990,511 disclose a tubing retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve having a sliding sleeve internal valve which controls communication between the interior of the tubing retrievable valve and the control fluid pressure communicated from the surface through the a separate control line. The sliding sleeve valve is opened and closed automatically as the wire-line or through the flow line movable safety valve is installed in or removed from the safety valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,935 to Calhoun is entitled "Subsurface Safety Valve With Auxiliary Control Fluid Passage Operable In Response To An Increase In Control Fluid Pressure". The primary tubing retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve may be locked open in a manner similar to Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,868. Shearable seal plugs are employed to normally seal the control fluid pressure system from the flow passage of the tubing retrievable valve. By pressuring the control fluid pressure above the normal operating range, the plugs shear out to establish a control fluid path to the flow passage and the supplemental valve operably positioned therein. In one alternate embodiment, a rupture disk, actuated by shifting of the locking sleeve, is employed to establish to communication of the control fluid. Another embodiment equalizes control fluid pressure across the shear plug or ruptured disk until the lock sleeve is shifted to preclude an inadvertent, premature activation of the control fluid passage to the supplemental valve. In a fourth embodiment, a port formed in the locking sleeve is shifted into communication with a control fluid port to form the flow passage.

The disclosed safety valve of U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,450 is entitled "Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve" and is of the through-the-flow line (TFL) type carrying the control pressure responsive means and adapted to be operably secured in a dual line landing nipple. The various operating fluid pressure zones are arranged to provide for valve closure (fail-safe operation) in the event of a seal failure. The disclosed landing nipple is stated to be the subject matter of a patent application, Ser. No. 960,169.

The present invention relates to a new and improved subsurface safety valve system for use in hydrocarbon producing wells and particularly to a primary tubing retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve. The rotatable ball is flow closure element rotated to and from the open and closed position by longitudinal movement of a prearranged distance and is prevented from over rotation by additional longitudinal movement after desired rotation is achieved by coacting stops. This additional longitudinal movement or operating stroke results from a greatly simplified and thereby economical construction while assuring positive operation. The ball-type flow closure element is normally maintained in the closed upper position by a spring biasing arrangement to provide failsafe operation. When it is desired to open the valve and enable flow through the well tubing, pressure of control fluid communicated to the valve from the surface through a separate control fluid conduit is increased to overcome the spring biasing to move the ball longitudinally to the lower or rotated open position. When desired, the ball may be locked in the open position by shifting a locking sleeve using wire-line operations. The shifted locking sleeve maintains the valve actuator in the lower position to hold the ball in the open position and unseals a flow port to enable communication of control fluid to the flow passage and a supplemental safety valve installed therein.

The ball-type flow closure element is positioned in the flow passage of the tubular housing between a pair of fixed ball guides or operating retainers. Each of the retainers is provided with a crank pin received in a radially extending slot formed on an adjacent chordal flat of the ball. Longitudinal movement of the ball the prearranged longitudinal distance relative to the crank pins effects operating rotation of the ball to align the ball flow port with the valve flow passage and enable the desired flow.

At least one of the ball guides carries a rotation stop shoulder for engaging a co-acting stop shoulder on an adjacent ball flat to limit rotational movement of the ball while enabling additional longitudinal movement of the ball relative to the retainer and crank pins. The guides are dimensioned to be secured to the valve housing in the clearance provided by the ball flats to minimize the diameter of the tubular housing and to greatly simplify manufacturing and assembly of the safety valve. Positive operation to the open position by the ball is assured, since the operator is designed to move longitudinally on the operating stroke a longitudinal distance than that required to rotate the ball open.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are in full section views arranged in alphabetical sequence from top to bottom of a tubing retrievable subsurface safety valve of the present invention in the closed position;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are views similar to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, respectively, with the safety valve of the present invention locked in the open position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded or assembly view of the ball-type closure element and its mounting structure; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are side views of the operating relationship of the ball-type closure element and its mounting structure as the ball-type closure element moves from the closed position (FIG. 4) to the aligned open position (FIG. 5) and to the full stroke open position (FIG. 6).

The subsurface safety valve of the present invention, generally designated V, is illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D commencing from the top of the safety valve V and extending downwardly as would be done when installed in a hydrocarbon producing well (not illustrated). The flow of well fluids, including hydrocarbons, is upwardly through a well flow conduit and the valve to the earth's surface in the conventional manner. The safety valve V provides a catastrophic occurrence protection of the well for shutting in the flow of hydrocarbon well fluids at a preselected location below the earth surface in the event of surface well head equipment malfunction or destruction.

The safety valve V includes a tubing retrievable valve housing or body, generally designated 10, which is connected in and forms a portion of the well conduit or tubing (not illustrated) for conducting the well fluids from the producing formation (not illustrated) to the earth's surface. Reference may be made to Knox U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,808 for an illustration of such an installation including the separate control fluid conduit. The tubular valve housing 10 includes, for ease of assembly, an upper tubular connection sleeve or sub 20 (FIG. 1A), an upper body member 22, an upper body connector sleeve 24 (FIG. 1B), an intermediate body member 26, an intermediate body connector sleeve 28 (FIG. 1C), a lower body member 30, a lower body connector sleeve 32 (FIG. 1D), and a lower tubing connector sleeve or sub 34. Other arrangements of the valve housing 10 may be employed for ease of assembly without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The upper sub 20 (FIG. 1A) is provided with a conventional internal thread or box connection 20a for connecting with the portion of the well conduit above the safety valve V in the usual manner. The upper sub 20 is also provided with threads 20b for securing the sub 20 with the body member 22 in the usual manner during assembly. To prevent leakage of fluid between the upper body member 22 and the upper sub 20 along threads 20b, a sealing O-ring 36 is carried by the upper sub 20. If desired, suitable anti-rotational pins (not illustrated) may be utilized to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the threads 20b in the usual manner. Engagement with a stop ring 21 limits rotational make-up or the sub 20 into the member 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the upper tubular body member 22 is connected to the upper body connector sleeve by threads 22a. The upper body connector sleeve 24 is in turn connected to the intermediate tubular body member 26 by threads 24a. O-ring 38 prevents leakage of fluid along thread threaded engagement at 22a while O-ring 40 maintains leakage integrity of thread threaded engagement 24a.

The intermediate body connector sleeve or internal coupling 28 (FIG. 2C) functions in a manner substantially identical to the upper body connector sleeve 24. Threads 26a secure the lower end of the intermediate body member 26 to the connector sleeve 28 while threads 30a connect with the lower body member 30. O-rings 42 and 44 prevent leakage along threads 26a and 30a, respectively, in the usual manner.

The lower body connector sleeve 32 (FIG. 1D) functions in a manner similar to connector sleeve 28 by securing with the lower body member 30 using helical threads 30b. Threaded engagement at 34a secures the lower tubing connector sleeve or sub 34 to the connector sleeve 32. O-rings 46 and 48 seal the lower connector sleeve with the lower body member 30 and lower sub 34 to prevent leakage of fluid therebetween. The lower sub 34 may be provided with suitable connection (not illustrated) such as a conventional helical thread for securing with the portion of the well tubing below the subsurface safety valve V, if desired.

The assembled valve housing 10 thus forms a central flow passageway or full opening bore, generally designated 12, through which well fluids may be communicated or flow substantially unrestricted from in the usual manner the lower sub 34 to the upper sub 20.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1C, a bore or flow closure means, generally designated 14, is positioned in the bore 12 for movement to and from an open position (FIG. 2C) for enabling flow of fluid through the bore 12 and a closed position (FIG. 1C) for blocking flow of fluid through the bore 12 of the valve V.

The disclosed bore closure means 14 includes a rotatable ball-type closure element 50 and two ball guiding or retainer members 52 and 54 which are disposed below the sealing and spacer ring 56. The spacer ring 56 is disposed between the retainers 52 and 54 and the housing sleeve 28 for preventing upward movement of the retainer 52 and 54. A collar 30c on the housing sleeve 30 prevents downward movement of the retainers 52 and 54.

The ball-type closure element 50 includes a flow opening or port 50a formed therethrough which when aligned with the bore 12 enables the desired flow of well fluids through the bore 12. When the ball 50 is rotated to the closed position of FIG. 1C, the port 50a is placed out of alignment with the bore 12 and the ball 50 serves to block off the flow of well fluids in the usual manner.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the retainer members 52 and 54 are provided with outer cylindrical surfaces 52a and 54a for fitting tightly within the tubular lower body member 30 below the ring 56 and above the collar 30c. The inner surfaces 52b and 54b of the ball mounting members 52 and 54 are substantially flat for placement adjacent the two parallel chordal flats 50b formed on the ball 50. The providing of the chordal flats 50b creates a clearance or openings into which the members 52 and 54 are assembled with the ball 50 prior to inserting the assembly into the sleeve 30. Each of the flat surfaces 52b and 54b of the mounting members 52 and 54 have aligned projecting eccentric ball mounting pins 52c and 54c positioned thereon which are received within the radially extending recesses 50c formed on each of the flats 50b of the ball 50 for co-acting to provide the desired cranking rotation as is well known in the art. Also formed on one or both chordal flats 50b is a rotational limit stop recess 50d.

As best illustrated in the sequence of FIGS. 4 through 6, the ball rotation limit stop recess 50d engages a co-acting rotational limit stop lug or lugs 52d and 54d, respectively formed on the ball mounting members 52 and 54 for preventing rotational over travel of the ball 50 in response to ball movement of a longitudinal distance greater than the prearranged or designed stroke needed to effect the quarter turn or ninety (90) degree rotational movement to the open position. In FIG. 4, the ball 50 is positioned in the closed position with the aligned crank pins 52c located below the center of the ball 50. The movement limit stop 52d is located below the ball 50 and with the recess 50d positioned above the stops 52d and 54d. As the center of the ball 50 is moved longitudinally downward, the aligned eccentric crank pins 52c and 54c engage the surfaces formed by the radial recess 50c to crank the ball to the fully aligned open position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

When the ball reaches the fully aligned open position, the rotation limit recess 50d formed on the chordal flat engages the rotational stop or projection 52d for preventing further rotational movement of the ball which would tend to cause it to over travel the desired ninety (90) degree operating rotation. The additional rotation results in flow throttling with attendant downstream flow impingement and resulting erosion which could damage the safety valve V. Continued longitudinal movement of the center of the ball 50 an additional distance relative to the crank pins 52c and to the stop 52d will move the ball to the full longitudinal stroke open position illustrated in FIG. 6. Note that the radially extending slot 50c is provided with a clearance taper at 50c' (FIG. 5) to enable the ball 50 to move longitudinally relative to the pin 52c to provide for the overtravel which insures that sufficient longitudinal movement occurs to effect positive opening rotation of the ball 50.

To positively move the ball 50 longitudinally between the open and closed positions, an actuator or operator means, generally designated 16, is provided. The longitudinal movement of the ball 50 imparted by the operator means 16 co-acts with the eccentric pins 52c and 54c to effect the desired rotational motion, previously described, to operate the valve to the desired position. The actuator means 16 includes an upper movable actuator assembly, designated 60, and a lower movable actuator assembly or mechanism, designated 62.

The lower actuator assembly 62 includes a lower actuator or ball follower sleeve 64 that is reciprocably mounted in the bore 12 below the ball 50 (FIGS. 1C and 1D). A suitable biasing spring 66 provides an upwardly urging on the movable sleeve 64 to maintain the arcuate upper annular shoulder 64a in engagement with the ball 50 and to urge the ball 50 to the upper or rotated closed position as illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 4. The coil spring 66 is concentrically positioned outwardly of the sleeve 64 between the lower housing connector sleeve 32 and an annular collar 64b formed on the sleeve member 64. The lower actuator sleeve 64 is ported at 64c to enable fluid communication between the area adjacent the spring 66 and the bore 12 of the housing 10 and thereby prevent inadvertent formation of any undesired pressure differential.

Disposed above the ball 50 is the upper actuator mechanism 60. The upper actuator mechanism 60 includes reciprocating actuator sleeve assembly 70 formed by the tubular upper ball seat 72 and tubular seat extension 74 which is illustrated in the upper position in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C and in the lower position in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C. The valve seat 72 is provided with a downwardly facing arcuate annular shoulder 72a which engages the ball 50 for maintaining an annular fluid sealing contact with the outer spherical surface 50e of the ball 50 at all times. Alignment of the ball port 50a with a central flow opening 72d of the seat 72 enables flow through the bore 12 (FIG. 2C) while the ball 50 will block flow through the seat 72 when the ball port 50a is out of alignment. To limit further upward movement of the seat 72 and ball 50 when the ball 50 is in the closed position, the annular seat 72 engages an annular shoulder 28a (FIG. 1C) of the housing connector sleeve 28. This engagement of the annular shoulder 72 and 28a also serves as a back-up seal for blocking leakage of fluid in the event of failure of the seal 73. The tubular seat 72 is secure to the upper seat extension 74 by threaded engagement at 72b while O-ring 76 blocks leakage of fluid along the threaded engagement at 72b (FIG. 1C). The ball securing ring 56 is disposed concentrically outwardly of the seat 72 and serves as a guide bushing for the longitudinal operating movement of the seat 72. An O-ring 57 blocks passage of fluid between the ring 56 and the housing sleeve 30 while seal 73 prevents leakage between the ring 56 and the reciprocating seat 72. These two seals plus the seal of the seat 72a with the spherical surface 50e of the ball 50 prevent flow of fluid through the valve other than through the aligned port 50a. Engagement of the annular shoulder 72c of the seat 72 with the ring 56 also serves as the lower longitudinal movement limit stop of the upper actuator mechanism 60 when sufficient longitudinal movement including overtravel has occurred to insure positive rotation of the ball 50. Because of this longitudinal limit stop arrangement, manufacturing and assembly tolerances may be relaxed, with attendant savings, while insuring positive operation.

The upper actuator seat extension 74 is urged to the upper position by a biasing spring 78 concentrically disposed between the tubular extension 74 and the housing member 26. The spring 78 is supported at its lower end by the housing connector sleeve 28 and engages a spring retainer 80 mounted on the extension 74 below the downwardly facing tapered annular shoulder 74a. Preferably the upper spring 78 is made stronger than the lower spring 66.

The upper actuator mechanism 60 further includes the longitudinally movable pressure responsive operator sleeve 82 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) which is disposed above the actuator sleeve extension 74. A downwardly facing annular shoulder 82a of the actuator sleeve 82 engages an upwardly facing annular shoulder 74b formed on the seat extension 74 for forcing the extension 74, the seat 72 and the ball 50 to the lower or open position in a manner that will be explained hereinafter. The sleeve 82 is provided with a larger constant outer diameter portion 82b (FIG. 1B) which provides an upwardly facing annular shoulder 82c and downwardly facing annular should 82d. As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the upwardly facing annular shoulder 82c forms a pressure responsive surface effective area on which control fluid pressure will urge the sleeve 82 to move downwardly for effecting opening rotation of the ball 50 when desired.

Concentrically mounted about the concentrical sleeve 82 and above the body connector 24 are a plurality of fixed actuator rings 84, 86 and 88. The ring 88 is disposed immediately above the housing connector sleeve 24 and secured against downward movement engagement therewith. Ring 88 has a radial flow port 88a extending radially therethrough and carries a pair of O-rings 90 and 92 for effecting seals with the housing member 22 above and below the port 88a. The ring 88 further carries a pair of seals 94 and 95 for sealing between the ring 88 and the greater outer constant diameter portion 82b of the reciprocating operator 82.

The fixed ring 86 is also provided with a radial extending port 86a adjacent engagement with the upper seal carrying ring 84. The port 86a communicates with a control fluid passage 22b (FIGS. 1A and 1B) formed in the housing member 22. The passage 22b is provided at its upper end with the threaded opening 22c for connecting with a control fluid conduit (not illustrated) extending to the surface for receiving the pressurized control fluid from the surface for the moving the subsurface safety valve to the open position. The pressurized control fluid is received at the threaded inlet 22c and communicated through the conduit 22b and port 86a to the reciprocating actuator member 82. The pressurized control fluid acts upon the upwardly facing annular shoulder 82c for forcing the sleeve 82 to move downwardly. The downward movement of the sleeve 82 is transmitted through the seat extension 74 and seat 72 to the ball 50 for effecting its longitudinal downward movement and thereby providing the opening rotation.

The control fluid communicated through the port 86a is communicated into an expansible chamber 100 formed between the actuator sleeve 82 and the ring 86 (FIG. 1B). The expansible chamber 100 is sealed on its lower end by the seals 94 and 95 and its upper end by seals 98 (FIG. 1B) and 99 (FIG. 1A) carried by the ring 84. The ring 84 is also sealed to the housing sleeve 22 by the O-ring seals 101 and 102. Disposed between the seals 94 and 98 are one or more plurality of radial pressure equalizing ports 84a.

Disposed in the bore 12 immediately above the operator sleeve 82 is the shiftable lockout sleeve 110. The lockout sleeve 110 is longitudinally movable between the upper inoperative position (FIG. 1A) and a lower locking position (FIG. 2A) where it forces the actuator sleeve 82 to the lower position and thereby effecting opening rotation of the ball 50. Then the lockout sleeve not only serves to lock the ball 50 in the open position, but also serves as back-up to open the valve V. The locking sleeve 110 is provided with a downwardly facing lower annular shoulder 110a which is adapted to engage the actuator sleeve 82 for effecting its downward movement and thereafter retaining the actuator sleeve 82 in the lower position. For shifting the lockout sleeve 110 to the lower position, a recess 110b is provided on the inner surface for securing to a wireline shifting tool (not illustrated). Such wireline shifting tools are well known, are commercially available from a number of sources and need not be described in greater detail herein.

The lockout sleeve 110 is provided with a downwardly facing tapered annular shoulder 110c which engages the detent 112 for maintaining the lockout sleeve 110 in the inoperative or upper position. A shear pin (not illustrated) may be employed to secure the lockout sleeve 110 with the fixed body ring 21 to also prevent inadvertent movement of the sleeve 110. When the shifting tool moves the locking sleeve 110 to the lower position, the tapered surface 110c forces the radially expansible gapped ring or detent 112 to expand and enable passage of the lockout sleeve 110 adjacent thereto. Such movement continues until a recess 110d is positioned adjacent the expanded detent 112 which enables the detent 112 to move radially inwardly for locking the lockout sleeve 110 in the lower position (FIG. 2A). Because of the planned longitudinal overtravel on the seat 72, the longitudinal distance between the recess 110d and shoulder 110c is not as critical and tolerances may be relaxed with an expected cost savings.

The locking sleeve 110 carries O-rings 114 and 116 for effecting sliding seals between the locking sleeve 110 and the housing member 22. When the locking sleeve 110 is in the upper position, the seal 116 is positioned below the second control fluid conduit port 22d formed in the housing sleeve 22 for preventing leakage in that direction. The O-ring 114 is disposed above the port 22d for blocking leakage of fluid between the locking sleeve 110 and the housing 22 in that direction. Also formed in the housing sleeve 22 is a second control fluid conduit 22e having a threaded inlet opening 22f similar to the threaded opening 22c of the passage 22b, but which is connected to a separate or second control fluid conduit. The passage 22e also communicates to the area of the locking sleeve 110 between the seal 116 and 114. During normal operation of the safety valve V, the ports 22e and 22d would be in flow communication due to the absence of a seal on the locking sleeve 110 for separating the two ports and either conduit may be used to pressure the chamber 100 to rotate open the ball 50. When the locking sleeve 110 is moved to the lower position, the upper seal 114 is shifted down sufficiently to separate the port 22d from the passage 22e which communicates with the bore 12 while the port 22d is isolated from the bore 12. The passage 22e is used to transmit the control fluid pressure from the surface to a through the flow line movable back-up or supplemental valve operably secured in the bore 12 of the housing 10.

The subsurface safety valve V is assembled in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 and taken to the well site for installation in essentially that condition. At the well site, the lower threaded connector (not illustrated) and the upper threaded connector 28 are made up in the well conduit or tubing in order that the housing 10 will form a portion of the flow passage in the well at a desired subsurface location. The control fluid conduits (not illustrated) are then connected to the threaded openings 22c and 22f and are run simultaneously with the well tubing in lowering the safety valve V to its desired subsurface operating location in the well. If only a single control fluid conduit is desired it is connected to the opening 22f and the opening 22c is plugged.

When it is desired to enable flow from the well, the control fluid in the conduit connected to threaded inlet port 22c preferably has its pressure increased. This increased fluid pressure is communicated to the port 22d but the seals 114 and 116 prevent any effect of this increased pressure on the locking sleeve 110. However, the increased control fluid pressure communicated through the port 86a in the ring 86 urges on the upwardly facing annular shoulder 82c forming the expansible chamber 100 for forcing the upper actuator sleeve 82 downward. The downward force on the actuator sleeve 82 brings it into engagement with the valve seat, extension 74, the valve seat 72 and the ball 50. As the pressure of the control fluid is increased, the urging of the spring 78 above the ball and the spring 66 below the ball is overcome for moving the actuator sleeve 82 downwardly. This downward movement effects the opening rotation of the ball 50 from the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 4 to the rotated open position illustrated in FIG. 5 and onto the full open position illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 6.

Should the supply of control fluid pressure be interrupted for any reason, the urging of the springs 78 and 66 will urge the actuator mechanism to the upper position. Since the spring 78 is preferably made somewhat stronger than the lower spring 66, it will tend to move the seat 72, seat extension 74 and pressure responsive actuator sleeve 82 to the upper position. The lower spring 66 provides sufficient urging on the ball follower sleeve 64 to maintain the ball 50 in sealing contact with the seat 72 during closing.

When it is desired to lock the safety valve V in the open position, a wireline tool is run down the bore of the well tubing and latched into the recess 110b of the locking sleeve 110 in the conventional manner. The initial downward movement of the locking sleeve 110 will radially expand the detent 112 to enable downward movement of the locking sleeve 110 and bring the annular shoulder 110a into engagement with the pressure responsive actuator sleeve 82. The downward movement imparted by the wireline actuation tool to the locking sleeve 110 is thereby imparted to the actuator sleeve 82 for forcing it to move downwardly and thereby effecting opening rotation of the ball 50 in the manner previously described. When the wireline operation has moved the recess 110d adjacent the detent 112, the detent will radially contract or constrict into the recess 110d and prevent subsequent upward movement of the locking sleeve 110. The wireline tool may then be released from the recess 110b and retrieved back to the surface. A supplemental or backup wireline retrievable subsurface safety valve may be installed in the bore 12 of the safety valve V. The supplemental valve may be controlled from the surface using the control fluid passage 22e for communicating the control fluid into the bore 12 of the safety valve V.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.