Testable back pressure valve and pressure testing system therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11142993-B2
Application number	US-201816477156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2018
Priority date	Mar 17, 2017
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component installed in a well bore is disclosed. The back pressure valve includes a valve body which is configured to be secured in the bore, a flow bore which extends through the valve body, at least a first body seal which is configured to seal the valve body to the bore, and a poppet which is movably positioned in the valve body. At least a first poppet seal is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position, and a test port extends through the valve body to below the first poppet seal when the poppet is in the closed position. Thus, with the back pressure valve installed in the flow bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component which is installed in a well bore, the back pressure valve comprising:
a valve body which is configured to be secured in the bore;
a flow bore which extends through the valve body;
at least a first body seal which is configured to seal the valve body to the bore;
a poppet which is movably positioned in the valve body, the poppet being movable between a closed position in which fluid is prevented from flowing upward through the flow bore from below the back pressure valve and an open position in which fluid is permitted to flow downward through the flow bore from above the back pressure valve;
at least a first poppet seal which is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position; and
a test port which extends through the valve body from an outer surface portion of the valve body to below the first poppet seal when the poppet is in the closed position;
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating a test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal;
wherein the test port extends through the valve body from below the first body seal;
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first body seal can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure to a portion of the bore located below the first body seal, and the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating the test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal;
a second poppet seal which is positioned below the first poppet seal and is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position;
wherein the test port extends through the valve body to between the first and second poppet seals; and
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first and second poppet seals can be pressure tested by communicating the test pressure through the test port to between the first and second poppet seals.

2. The testable back pressure valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second body seal which is positioned below the first body seal and is configured to seal the valve body to the bore;
wherein the test port extends through the valve body from between the first and second body seals; and
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first and second body seals can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure to a portion of the bore located between the first and second body seals, and the first and second poppet seals can be pressure tested by communicating the test pressure through the test port to between the first and second poppet seals.

3. A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component which is installed in a well bore, the back pressure valve comprising:
a valve body which is configured to be secured in the bore;
a flow bore which extends through the valve body;
at least a first body seal which is configured to seal the valve body to the bore;
a poppet which is movably positioned in the valve body, the poppet being movable between a closed position in which fluid is prevented from flowing upward through the flow bore from below the back pressure valve and an open position in which fluid is permitted to flow downward through the flow bore from above the back pressure valve;
at least a first poppet seal which is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position; and
a test port which extends through the valve body from an outer surface portion of the valve body to below the first poppet seal when the poppet is in the closed position;
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating a test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal;
wherein the test port extends through the valve body from below the first body seal;
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first body seal can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure to a portion of the bore located below the first body seal, and the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating the test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal;
wherein the component comprises a hanger device which is landed in a wellhead component, wherein the bore comprises a hanger device bore which extends axially through the hanger device, and wherein the test pressure is communicated to the test port through a first communications port in the hanger device; and
wherein the test pressure is communicated to the first communications port through a pressure control device which is mounted to the wellhead component above the hanger device.

4. The testable back pressure valve of claim 3 , wherein the pressure control device comprises a pressure control device bore which is connected to the hanger device bore, and wherein the test pressure is communicated to the first communications port through the pressure control device bore and the hanger device bore.

5. A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component which is installed in a well bore, the back pressure valve comprising:
a valve body which is configured to be secured in the bore;
a flow bore which extends through the valve body;
at least a first body seal which is configured to seal the valve body to the bore;
a poppet which is movably positioned in the valve body, the poppet being movable between a closed position in which fluid is prevented from flowing upward through the flow bore from below the back pressure valve and an open position in which fluid is permitted to flow downward through the flow bore from above the back pressure valve;
at least a first poppet seal which is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position; and
a test port which extends through the valve body from an outer surface portion of the valve body to below the first poppet seal when the poppet is in the closed position;
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating a test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal;
wherein the test port extends through the valve body from below the first body seal;
wherein with the back pressure valve installed in the bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first body seal can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure to a portion of the bore located below the first body seal, and the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating the test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal;
wherein the component comprises a hanger device which is landed in a wellhead component, wherein the bore comprises a hanger device bore which extends axially through the hanger device, and wherein the test pressure is communicated to the test port through a first communications port in the hanger device; and
wherein the test pressure is communicated to the first communications port through a second communications port in the wellhead component.

6. A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component which is installed in a well bore, the back pressure valve comprising:
a valve body which is configured to be secured in th

Assignees

• Fmc Tech Inc
• Fmg Tech Inc

Inventors

• Boyd Gareth
• Baca Brian J

Classifications

• F16K15/063

  the valve being loaded by a spring · CPC title

• F16K37/0091

  by measuring fluid parameters · CPC title

• E21B34/08

  responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K15/18

  with actuating mechanism; Combined check valves and actuated valves · CPC title

• E21B33/03 Primary

  Well heads; Setting-up thereof · CPC title