Toe valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024133265-A1
Application number	US-202218048168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 19, 2022
Priority date	Oct 20, 2022
Publication date	Apr 25, 2024
Grant date	—

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 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; and 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, wherein 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, and wherein 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.

2 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising a first shearable retainer positioned in the port and configure to prevent the inner cap from moving toward the outer cap in the port until the first pressure differential is reached.

3 . The downhole tool of claim 2 , wherein the first shearable retainer is threaded into the port.

4 . The downhole tool of claim 2 , wherein the first shearable retainer includes a lip engages an outer surface of the inner cap, the lip being configured to shear in response to the first pressure differential being applied across the inner cap.

5 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising a second shearable retainer positioned in the port and configured to prevent the outer cap from moving away from the inner cap and out of the port until the second pressure differential is reached.

6 . The downhole tool of claim 5 , wherein the second shearable retainer is threaded into the port.

7 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer cap engages a ledge formed in the body, such that the inner cap is prevented from moving toward the outer cap.

8 . The downhole tool of claim 7 , 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.

9 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , 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.

10 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , 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.

11 . A method comprising:
inserting a valve assembly comprising an outer cap and an inner cap into a radially-extending port of a downhole tool, such that the inner and outer caps block the port; deploying the downhole tool into a wellbore; performing one or more procedures in the wellbore after deploying the downhole tool, while the inner and outer caps are blocking the port; applying a pressure to the downhole tool, such that the inner and outer caps are ejected from the port; and performing one or more operations in the wellbore through the port after the inner and outer caps are ejected from the port.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising retaining the inner cap in the port using an inner retainer having a lip that engages the inner cap, wherein the lip yields in response to applying the pressure.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising retaining the outer cap in the port using an outer 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 applying the pressure.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
positioning the inner retainer into the port such that the inner retainer entrains the inner cap between a ledge of the port and the lip of the inner retainer; and positioning the outer retainer into the port such that that the outer retainer entrains the outer cap between a ledge of the port and the lip of the outer retainer.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein positioning the inner retainer comprises threading the inner retainer into the port, and wherein positioning the outer retainer comprises threading the outer retainer into the port.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the inner and outer caps do not break apart when ejected from the port.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein applying the pressure causes the inner cap to move radially outwards within the port and collide with the outer cap.

18 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

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 to yield in response to applying a predetermined pressure to the outer 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 to yield 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 not to 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 shearable lip that engages an outer surface of the inner cap, and wherein the outer retainer comprises a 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 coupled to the outer cap, wherein the first and second seals are configured to seal the chamber between the inner and outer caps.

Assignees

• Innovex Downhole Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Tonti Nick
• Rushing Anthony

Classifications

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B34/063 Primary

  Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T137/8811

  Frangible · CPC title

• E21B34/06 Primary

  in wells · CPC title

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title