Collapse sensing check valve

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a pressure relief valve assembly. The valve assembly may be coupled to one or more casings and/or tubular members to control fluid communication therebetween. The valve assembly is a one-way valve assembly that relieves pressure within an annulus formed between adjacent casings and/or tubular members to prevent burst or collapse of the casings and/or tubular members. The valve assembly is resettable downhole.

1 . A valve assembly, comprising:
 a tubular mandrel;   a sleeve member disposed within the tubular mandrel; and   a biasing member disposed within the tubular mandrel and operable to bias the sleeve member against a shoulder of the tubular mandrel, wherein the sleeve member is movable between a closed position where fluid communication is closed between a bore of the valve assembly and a port disposed through the tubular mandrel and an open position where fluid communication is open between the bore of the valve assembly and the port disposed through the tubular mandrel.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal member for sealing the port from communication with the bore when the sleeve member is in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the seal member is coupled to the sleeve member and is movable across the port to open fluid communication. 
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal piston area and an external piston area, wherein the biasing member contacts the internal piston area, and wherein the external piston area is in fluid communication with an annulus surrounding the valve assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the internal piston area is formed by an end of the sleeve member, and wherein the external piston area is formed by a shoulder of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the external piston area is in fluid communication with the annulus via a second port disposed through the tubular mandrel. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a seal member for sealing communication between the second port and the bore. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, comprising:
 providing a valve assembly for coupling to the wellbore tubular, wherein the valve assembly includes a tubular mandrel, a sleeve member movably disposed in the tubular mandrel, and a biasing member for biasing the sleeve member into a closed position; and   moving the sleeve member to an open position to open fluid communication between the exterior of the wellbore tubular and the interior of the wellbore in response to a pressure differential exceeding a first predetermined value.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising moving the sleeve member to the closed position using the biasing member to close fluid communication between the exterior of the wellbore tubular and the interior of the wellbore tubular. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising controlling fluid flow through a port in the tubular mandrel using the sleeve member.