Toe valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12146385-B2
Application number	US-202218048168-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2022
Priority date	Oct 20, 2022
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

A downhole tool includes a body defining a bore axially therethrough and a port in communication with the bore and extending radially through the body, an inner cap positioned in the port, the inner cap sealing the port, and an outer cap positioned in the port. The outer cap is spaced apart from the inner cap, and the outer cap seals the port, such that a chamber is defined between the inner and outer caps in the port. The inner cap is configured to move toward outer cap in response to a first pressure differential between bore and the chamber across the outer cap. The inner cap is configured to dislodge the outer cap from the port in response to the inner cap engaging the outer cap and a second pressure differential between the bore and an exterior of the downhole tool being reached across the inner cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
inserting a valve assembly into a radially-extending port of a downhole tool, wherein the downhole tool comprises a body defining a bore axially therethrough, and the port is in communication with the bore and extending radially through the body, and wherein the valve assembly comprises:
an inner cap positioned in the port, the inner cap sealing the port;
a first shearable retainer retaining the inner cap;
an outer cap positioned in the port, wherein the outer cap is spaced apart from the inner cap, and wherein the outer cap seals the port, such that a chamber is defined between the inner and outer caps in the port; and
a second shearable retainer retaining the outer cap;

deploying the downhole tool into a wellbore;
performing one or more procedures in the wellbore after deploying the downhole tool, tool while the inner and outer caps are blocking the port;
applying a pressure to the downhole tool which moves the inner cap toward the outer cap in response to a first pressure differential between bore and the chamber across the outer cap, and subsequently dislodges the outer cap from the port in response to the inner cap engaging the outer cap and a second pressure differential between the bore and an exterior of the downhole tool; and
performing one or more operations in the wellbore through the port after the inner and outer caps are ejected from the port.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retaining the inner cap in the port using the first shearable retainer having a lip that engages the inner cap, wherein the lip yields in response to the pressure.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising retaining the outer cap in the port using the second shearable retainer having a lip that engages the outer cap, wherein the lip of the outer cap yields at least partially in response to the inner cap colliding with the outer cap in response to the pressure.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
positioning the first shearable retainer into the port such that the first shearable retainer entrains the inner cap between a ledge of the port and the lip of the first shearable retainer; and
positioning the second shearable retainer into the port such that that the second shearable retainer entrains the outer cap between a ledge of the port and the lip of the second shearable retainer.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein positioning the first shearable retainer comprises threading the first shearable retainer into the port, and wherein positioning the second shearable retainer comprises threading the second shearable retainer into the port.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer caps do not break apart when ejected from the port.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the pressure moves the inner cap radially outwards within the port and collides with the outer cap.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operations performed while the inner and outer caps are in the port comprises casing pressure testing, and wherein the one or more operations performed after the inner and outer caps are ejected comprises hydraulic fracturing.

9. A downhole tool, comprising:
a body defining a bore axially therethrough and a port in communication with the bore and extending radially through the body;
an inner cap positioned in the port, the inner cap sealing the port;
a first shearable retainer retaining the inner cap;
an outer cap positioned in the port; and
a second shearable retainer retaining the outer cap,
wherein the outer cap is spaced apart from the inner cap, and wherein the outer cap seals the port, such that a chamber is defined between the inner and outer caps in the port,
wherein the inner cap is configured such that the inner cap moves toward the outer cap in response to a first pressure differential between bore and the chamber across the outer cap, and
wherein the inner cap is configured such that the inner cap dislodges the outer cap from the port in response to the inner cap engaging the outer cap and a second pressure differential between the bore and an exterior of the downhole tool.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein the first shearable retainer is positioned in the port and configured such that the first shearable retainer prevents the inner cap from moving toward the outer cap in the port until the first pressure differential is reached.

11. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the first shearable retainer is threaded into the port.

12. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the first shearable retainer includes a lip that engages an outer surface of the inner cap, the lip being configured such that the lip shears in response to the first pressure differential being applied across the inner cap.

13. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein the second shearable retainer is positioned in the port and configured such that the second shearable member prevents the outer cap from moving away from the inner cap and out of the port until the second pressure differential is reached.

14. The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein the second shearable retainer is threaded into the port.

15. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein the outer cap engages a ledge formed in the body, such that the inner cap is prevented from moving toward the outer cap.

16. The downhole tool of claim 15 , wherein the inner cap engages a second ledge formed in the body, such that the inner cap is prevented from moving away from the outer cap.

17. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising a first seal positioned between the port and the inner cap, sealing the port with the inner cap and preventing communication between the bore and the chamber.

18. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising a second seal positioned between the port and the outer cap, sealing the port with the outer cap and preventing communication between the chamber and the exterior of the downhole tool.

19. A valve assembly for a downhole tool, comprising:
an outer cap received into a port extending radially through the downhole tool;
an inner cap received into the port and spaced apart from the outer cap such that a chamber is defined between and at least partially by the inner and outer caps in the port;
an inner retainer that holds the inner cap in the port, wherein the inner retainer is configured such that the inner retainer yields in response to a predetermined pressure to the inner cap, such that the inner cap moves toward and collides with the outer cap; and
an outer retainer that holds the outer cap in the port, wherein the outer retainer is configured such that the outer retainer yields at least partially in response to the inner cap colliding with the outer cap, such that the inner and outer caps are ejected from the port in response to the application of the predetermined pressure.

20. The valve assembly of claim 19 , wherein the inner cap, the outer cap, or both are configured such that the inner cap, the outer cap, or both do not break apart prior to being ejected from the port in response to the application of the predetermined pressure.

21. The valve assembly of claim 19 , wherein the inner retainer comprises a first shearable lip that engages an outer surface of the inner cap, and wherein the outer retainer comprises a second shearable lip that engages an outer surface of the outer cap.

22. The valve assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a first seal coupled to the inner cap and a second seal

Assignees

• Innovex Downhole Solutions Inc
• Innovex Int Inc

Inventors

• Tonti Nick
• Rushing Anthony

Classifications

• Y10T137/8811

  Frangible · CPC title

• F16K17/14

  with fracturing member · CPC title

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• F16K17/025

  and remaining open after return of the normal pressure · CPC title