Sliding Sleeve Valve with Feature to Block Flow Through the Tool

Abstract

Sliding sleeve valves that include a housing with an axial flowbore defined along its length and at least one lateral fluid port disposed through the housing. One or more sliding sleeve members are disposed within the flowbore and carry first and second ball seats. Landing a first ball onto the first ball seat will move the valve from a first position wherein lateral flow is blocked to a second position wherein lateral flow is permitted. Landing a second ball onto the second ball seat will move the valve to a third position wherein lateral flow is again blocked and axial flow is permitted.

1 . A sliding sleeve valve comprising:
 a housing defining an axial flowbore;   a lateral fluid port disposed through the housing that provides fluid communication between the flowbore and an area radially surrounding the housing;   at least one sliding sleeve member moveably disposed within the flowbore, the at least one sliding sleeve member presenting a first ball seat and a second ball seat;   the sliding sleeve valve being moved from a) a first position wherein axial fluid flow through the flowbore is permitted and flow through the lateral fluid port is blocked to b) a second position wherein flow through the lateral fluid port is permitted but axial flow through the flowbore is blocked by landing a first ball onto the first ball seat; and   the sliding sleeve valve being moved from the second position to a third position wherein axial fluid flow is permitted through the flowbore and flow through the lateral fluid port is blocked when a second ball is landed onto the second ball seat.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sliding sleeve member further comprises:
 an upper sliding sleeve that carries the second ball seat; and 
 a lower sliding sleeve that carries the first ball seat. 
 
     
     
         3 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein the first ball is smaller than the second ball. 
     
     
         4 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first ball seat is shaped and sized to receive and retain the first ball; and 
 the second ball seat is shaped and sized to receive and retain the second ball and permit the first ball to pass through. 
 
     
     
         5 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein a fluid bypass mechanism is opened when the valve is in the third position to allow fluid to flow around the first and second balls and thereby flow axially through the flowbore. 
     
     
         6 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 5  wherein the fluid bypass mechanism comprises:
 an enlarged diameter portion within the flowbore; and 
 a fluid flow opening disposed through the at least one sliding sleeve member; 
 such that fluid can pass from the flowbore through the fluid flow opening and into the enlarged diameter portion to bypass a ball. 
 
     
     
         7 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sliding sleeve member further comprises a sliding sleeve assembly that carries the first and second ball seats. 
     
     
         8 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 2  wherein the lower sliding sleeve further comprises upper and lower sleeve halves that are telescopically moveable with respect to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The sliding sleeve of  claim 7  wherein the sliding sleeve assembly containing the first and second ball seats is telescopically moveable with respect to a lower sleeve portion. 
     
     
         10 . A sliding sleeve valve comprising:
 a housing defining an axial flowbore;   a lateral fluid port disposed through the housing that provides fluid communication between the flowbore and an area radially surrounding the housing;   at least one sliding sleeve member moveably disposed within the flowbore, the at least one sliding sleeve member presenting a first ball seat and a second ball seat;   a first ball;   a second ball that is larger than the first ball;   the sliding sleeve valve being moved from a) a first position wherein axial fluid flow through the flowbore is permitted and flow through the lateral fluid port is blocked to b) a second position wherein flow through the lateral fluid port is permitted but axial flow through the flowbore is blocked by landing the first ball onto the first ball seat;   the sliding sleeve valve being moved from the second position to a third position wherein axial fluid flow is permitted through the flowbore and flow through the lateral fluid port is blocked when the second ball is landed onto the second ball seat.   
     
     
         11 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 10  wherein the at least one sliding sleeve member further comprises:
 an upper sliding sleeve that carries the second ball seat; and 
 a lower sliding sleeve that carries the first ball seat. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 10  wherein:
 the first ball seat is shaped and sized to receive and retain the first ball; and 
 the second ball seat is shaped and sized to receive and retain the second ball and permit the first ball to pass through. 
 
     
     
         13 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 10  wherein a fluid bypass mechanism is opened when the valve is in the third position to allow fluid to flow around the first and second balls and thereby flow axially through the flowbore. 
     
     
         14 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 13  wherein the fluid bypass mechanism comprises:
 an enlarged diameter portion within the flowbore; and 
 a fluid flow opening disposed through the at least one sliding sleeve member; such that fluid can pass from the flowbore through the fluid flow opening and into the enlarged diameter portion to bypass a ball. 
 
     
     
         15 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 10  wherein the at least one sliding sleeve member further comprises a sliding sleeve assembly that carries the first and second ball seats. 
     
     
         16 . The sliding sleeve valve of  claim 11  wherein the lower sliding sleeve further comprises upper and lower sleeve halves that are telescopically moveable with respect to each other. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a sliding sleeve valve having a housing defining an axial flowbore, a lateral fluid port disposed through the housing that provides fluid communication between the flowbore and an area radially surrounding the housing, and at least one sliding sleeve member moveably disposed within the flowbore and presenting a first ball seat and a second ball seat, the method comprising the steps of:
 releasably securing the at least one sliding sleeve member of the sliding sleeve valve in a first position wherein axial flow through the flowbore is permitted and flow through the lateral fluid port is blocked;   landing a first ball onto the first ball seat to move the sliding sleeve member to a second position wherein axial flow through the flowbore is blocked and flow through the lateral flow port is permitted; and   landing a second ball onto the second ball seat to move the sliding sleeve member to a third position wherein axial flow through the flowbore is permitted and flow through the lateral fluid port is blocked.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of landing the first ball onto the first ball seat further comprises passing the first ball through the second ball seat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of opening a fluid bypass mechanism within the valve so that fluid can flow axially past the first and second balls when the sliding sleeve member is moved to the third position.