Expandable lockout apparatus for a subsurface safety valve and method of use

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a locking assembly for a wellbore valve is provided comprising a cylindrical sleeve insertable into an interior of the valve. After insertion into the valve, the body is expanded into interference with a closing mechanism of the valve, thereby locking the valve in an open position.

1 . A locking assembly for a wellbore valve, comprising: 
 a cylindrical sleeve, the sleeve insertable into a valve body when unexpanded and constructed and arranged to interfere with a closing mechanism of the valve body when expanded.    
     
     
         2 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes walls with at least one aperture formed therein.  
     
     
         3 . The locking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one aperture is slot-shaped prior to expansion and diamond-shaped after expansion of the sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . The locking assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one aperture facilitates the expansion of the sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , further including means for expanding the walls of the sleeve with an outward, radial force.  
     
     
         6 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the expanded sleeve directly interferes with the closing mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the expanded sleeve indirectly interferes with the closing mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . A method of locking a wellbore valve in an open position, the method comprising: 
 inserting a cylindrical sleeve into an interior of the valve; and    expanding the sleeve within the interior whereby the expanded sleeve interferes with a closing mechanism of the valve, thereby locking the valve in an open position.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including opening the valve prior to insertion of the sleeve.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further including inserting an expander tool into an interior of the sleeve.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the expander tool includes outwardly extending fluid actuated members.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is expanded by radial pressure of the members on an interior surface of the sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is expanded into direct contact with a closing mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is expanded into indirect contact with the closing mechanism.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is a flapper valve.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is a ball valve.  
     
     
         17 . A lockout sleeve for a safety valve in a wellbore, comprising: 
 an expandable tubular having an outer diameter substantially equal to or less than a drift diameter of the wellbore.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein an inner diameter of the tubular is expandable to a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the drift diameter of the wellbore.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the tubular is a ductile material.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the tubular has one or more surface features.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more surface features are slots, slits, holes, ovals, diamonds, perforations, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A method for locking out a safety valve in a wellbore, comprising: 
 placing a tubular in the wellbore;    placing an expansion tool in the wellbore;    landing the tubular and the expansion tool adjacent the safety valve;    positioning the tubular and the expansion tool within an inner diameter of the safety valve;    energizing the expansion tool and causing extendable members therein to extend radially to contact an inner diameter of the tubular; and    expanding the tubular into substantial contact with the inner diameter of the safety valve.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tubular is expanded to a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the drift diameter of the wellbore.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the safety valve is mechanically opened prior to positing the tubular and the expansion tool within the inner diameter of the safety valve.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tubular and the expansion tool are placed in the wellbore on a run-in string of tubulars.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the run-in string of tubulars is a coiled tubing.  
     
     
         27 . A method for locking out a safety valve in a wellbore, comprising: 
 placing a tubular in the wellbore, the tubular having an outer diameter substantially equal to or less than a drift diameter of the wellbore;    placing an expansion tool in the wellbore;    landing the tubular and the expansion tool adjacent the safety valve;    locating a flow tube disposed within the valve;    positioning the tubular and the expansion tool within an inner diameter of the safety valve;    energizing the expansion tool and causing extendable members therein to extend radially to contact an inner diameter of the tubular; and    expanding the tubular into substantial contact with the inner diameter of the safety valve adjacent the flow tube.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the tubular is expanded to a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the drift diameter of the wellbore.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the safety valve is mechanically opened prior to positing the tubular and the expansion tool within the inner diameter of the safety valve.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the tubular and the expansion tool are placed in the wellbore on a run-in string of tubulars.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the run-in string of tubulars is a coiled tubing.