Testable back pressure valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10787883-B2
Application number	US-201715840852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2017
Priority date	Dec 13, 2016
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A testable back pressure valve can include a housing comprising a housing body. The valve can also include a valve seat coupled to the housing, where the valve seat includes a valve seat body having a first cavity and a second cavity, and where the valve seat further includes a first network of channels disposed in the valve seat body. The valve can further include a valve head movably disposed within the first cavity of the valve seat. The valve can also include a piston follower movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, where the valve head is fixedly coupled to the piston follower. The valve can further include a travel piston movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, where the travel piston is moveably coupled to the piston follower.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A testable back pressure valve, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing body;
a valve seat coupled to the housing, wherein the valve seat comprises a valve seat body having a first cavity and a second cavity, and wherein the valve seat further comprises a first network of channels disposed in the valve seat body;
a valve head movably disposed within the first cavity of the valve seat;
a piston follower movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, wherein the valve head is fixedly coupled to the piston follower;
a travel piston movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, wherein the travel piston is moveably coupled to the piston follower; and
a first resilient device disposed between and coupled to the piston follower and the travel piston within the second cavity of the valve seat.

2. The testable back pressure valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a retractable extension disposed within the first resilient device, wherein the retractable extension is disposed between and coupled to the piston follower and the travel piston within the second cavity of the valve seat.

3. The testable back pressure valve of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second resilient device disposed around the retractable extension, wherein the second resilient device is disposed between and coupled to the piston follower and the travel piston within the second cavity of the valve seat.

4. The testable back pressure valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve head comprises a second network of channels.

5. The testable back pressure valve of claim 4 , wherein the second network of channels align with the first network of channels of the valve seat when the valve head is in a first position within the first cavity of the valve seat, and wherein the second network of channels fails to align with the first network of channels of the valve seat when the valve head is in a second position within the first cavity of the valve seat.

6. The testable back pressure valve of claim 5 , wherein the first position corresponds to an operation of directing fluid flow into a wellbore, and wherein the second position corresponds to a default position.

7. The testable back pressure valve of claim 4 , further comprising:
a check valve disposed within the second network of channels, wherein the check valve prevents fluid from flowing from a top end of the valve head to a bottom end of the valve head.

8. The testable back pressure valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve seat further comprises a stop disposed within the second cavity, wherein the valve seat limits a range of motion of the travel piston.

9. The testable back pressure valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve seat further comprises at least one port disposed on an outer surface of the body, wherein the at least one port is connected to the first network of channels.

10. A testable back pressure valve, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing body;
a valve seat coupled to the housing, wherein the valve seat comprises a valve seat body having a first cavity and a second cavity, and wherein the valve seat further comprises a first network of channels disposed in the valve seat body;
a valve head movably disposed within the first cavity of the valve seat;
a piston follower movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, wherein the valve head is fixedly coupled to the piston follower; and
a travel piston movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, wherein the travel piston is moveably coupled to the piston follower,
wherein the valve seat further comprises at least one port disposed on an outer surface of the body, wherein the at least one port is connected to the first network of channels.

11. The testable back pressure valve of claim 10 , wherein the valve seat further comprises at least one coupling feature disposed on an outer surface of the body, wherein the at least coupling feature is coupled to at least one complementary coupling feature disposed on an inner surface of the body of the housing.

12. The testable back pressure valve of claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one coupling feature disposed on the housing body, wherein the at least one coupling feature is configured to couple to another component of a field operation system.

13. The testable back pressure valve of claim 10 , wherein the travel piston comprises at least one first recess into which at least one first sealing device is disposed, wherein the at least one first sealing device abuts against an inner wall of the valve seat that forms the second cavity.

14. The testable back pressure valve of claim 13 , wherein the piston follower comprises at least one second recess into which at least one second sealing device is disposed, wherein the at least one second sealing device abuts against the inner wall of the valve seat that forms the second cavity.

15. The testable back pressure valve of claim 10 , wherein the valve seat comprises at least one recess in the first cavity into which at least one wiping seal is disposed, wherein the at least one wiping seal abuts against an outer wall of the valve head.

16. The testable back pressure valve of claim 15 , wherein the at least one wiping seal is configured to remove removes debris from the valve head as the valve head moves within the first cavity.

17. The testable back pressure valve of claim 10 , wherein the piston follower moves within the second cavity between a first position and a second position, wherein the piston follower, when out of the first position, divides the second cavity into a first portion and a second portion, wherein a first fluid in the first portion is physically separated from a second fluid in the second portion by the piston follower within the second cavity.

18. A valve system comprising:
a casing head; and
a testable back pressure valve disposed within the casing head, wherein the testable back pressure valve comprises:
a housing comprising a housing body;
a valve seat coupled to the housing, wherein the valve seat comprises a valve seat body having a first cavity and a second cavity, and wherein the valve seat further comprises a first network of channels disposed in the valve seat body;
a valve head movably disposed within the first cavity of the valve seat;
a piston follower movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, wherein the valve head is fixedly coupled to the piston follower; and
a travel piston movably disposed within the second cavity of the valve seat, wherein the travel piston is moveably coupled to the piston follower.

19. The valve system of claim 18 , wherein the casing head comprises a first test port and a casing head channel connected to the first test port, wherein the housing further comprises a second test port connected to the casing head channel and the network of channels disposed in the valve seat.

20. The valve system of claim 18 , further comprising:
a testing rod coupled to an upper end of the testable back pressure valve.

Assignees

• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Montoya James Daniel
• Lynch Heath Evan
• Painter Jay Patrick
• Archuleta Jacobo Rogelio

Classifications

• E21B34/02 Primary

  in well heads · CPC title

• F16K15/026

  the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open · CPC title

• F16K15/02

  with guided rigid valve members · CPC title

• E21B33/04

  Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads · CPC title

• F16K17/18

  opening on surplus pressure on either side · CPC title