Retrievable subsurface safety valve

Abstract

A multi functional assembly adaptable within a tubing string conduit to serve as a safety valve against the possibility of a blow out. Both surface and subsurface controllable, it offers both a partially retrievable or totally retrievable system that allows unbiased and unlimited work over and wire line access to an entire tubing string and can provide safety for down hole well work. The preferred invention comprises a housing mandrel system including closure elements reciprocally mounted vertically within the safety valve conduit that when unengaged provides unrestricted flow and when engaged provides restriction amounting from limited flow to complete closure of a tubing string. The invention provides operational options to function hydraulically and mechanically while having the additional capability of being remotely controlled automatically, electronically, and manually. The hydraulic and mechanical activation systems of the safety valve can be set to operate individually, simultaneously and selectively within the housing mandrel conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety valve having a housing with a top side and a bottom side for controlling flow, comprising:
 blocking element means;   means for directing flow around said blocking element means; and,   means for controlling said blocking element means such that flow is unrestricted or restricted through the safety valve.   
     
     
         2 . The safety valve of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first conduit within the safety valve housing, wherein said first conduit runs from top side of said housing to bottom side of said housing; and,   wherein the said first conduit is in communication with a lower production string attached to the said bottom side of the said safety valve housing and the upper production string attached to the top side of the said safety valve housing; and,   wherein a first blocking element means positioned unengaged within said first conduit such that upward flow striking the said blocking element redirects said flow into an upper bypass conduit that is in communication with said first conduit so that upward flow is directed around said first blocking element and through said first conduit of said safety valve and into said upper tubing string;   and when said first blocking element is in an engaged position within said first conduit said upward flow is restricted in said safety valve.   
     
     
         3 . The safety valve as in  claim 2 , wherein said means for controlling said first blocking element means such that said flow is unrestricted or restricted through the safety valve further comprises a first elastic compression communication catch means housed within said conduit, and wherein said first catch is adapted to hold said blocking element in the said unengaged position within said conduit; and, a second elastic compression catch means is housed with the said conduit, and wherein the said second catch is adapted to halt said blocking element in the engaged position, whereas the said first catch being adaptable to provide upward support to secure said blocking element in the said engaged position. 
     
     
         4 . A safety valve as in  claim 3  wherein:
 said safety valve is a sub surface safety valve; 
 
     
     
         5 . A safety valve as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said first blocking element is retrievable.   
     
     
         6 . A safety valve as in  claim 3 , wherein said safety valve further comprises a second conduit originating in the said safety valve housing; and,
 wherein said second conduit is in communication with a second upper tubing string attached to the top side of the safety valve housing; and,   wherein a first lower bypass conduit is in communication with the said first conduit and the second conduit; and   wherein a second blocking element is housed within the said lower second conduit; and,   wherein said second blocking element has an unengaged position such that said upper flow passes through said conduit; and,   an engaged position such that said flow is restricted; and,   a third catch housed within the second conduit wherein the said third catch is adapted to hold said second blocking element within the said unengaged position thereby allowing said upward flow to pass through the said lower second conduit; and,   a fourth catch housed within the second conduit wherein the said fourth catch is adapted to halt the said second blocking element in the engaged position thereby restricting flow within the second conduit.   
     
     
         7 . A safety valve as in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plunger rod having a lower rod portion and an upper disk portion, wherein said plunger rod is housed within the said lower second conduit and said lower plunger rod portion fits into the said lower bypass conduit; and   a spring is positioned between said upper disk portion of said plunger rod and said lower second conduit; and,   the said second catch is adaptable to hold said plunger rod in a said unengaged position within the said lower second conduit.   
     
     
         8 . A safety valve as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said safety valve is a sub surface safety valve   
     
     
         9 . A safety valve blocking element as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said second safety valve blocking element is retrievable'   
     
     
         10 . A safety valve as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a third blocking element in an unengaged position within the said second conduit so that upward flow from said upper bypass conduit hitting the said third blocking element is redirected into the said first conduit; and, when lowered from above into and securely held in an engaged position restricts upward flow.   
     
     
         11 . A safety valve as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth blocking element; wherein said blocking element has a top side and a bottom side; and whereas said blocking element contains a vertical concentric tubular sleeve extending from said bottom side of said blocking element to said top side of said of said blocking element; and wherein said top side of said blocking element is conical containing a multitude of compression slots positioned from the top side conical opening to the bottom side of the said conical top; and,   said blocking element contains a compression slot adaptable with a said conduit compression catch.   
     
     
         12 . A safety valve as in  claim 11 , further comprising a blocking element catch member wherein said catch member has a top side and a bottom side; and
 whereas said catch contains a concentric tubular opening sleeve; and,   said sleeve extends from the said top side to a centrically positioned concave conical catch adaptable to tightly contain said corresponding fourth blocking element; and,   said catch means further contains a catch to engage with the said second catch with the said first conduit; and said catch has a slotted catch to engage and secure the said fourth blocking element when the said fourth blocking element is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         13 . A preferred method utilizing embodiment  1  for controlling the flow within a subsurface well tubing string, and whereas said safety valve a disposes a hydraulic procedural operational sequence by;
 positioning safety valve in tubing string of well; and 
 said first blocking element is positioned firmly in place by a first locking collar so that upward flow from tubing string after entering safety valve conduit strikes base of said blocking element; and 
 said flow is then redirected into a conduit arrangement bypassing said blocking element in the safety valve; and, 
 flow then is directed past said first blocking element and into top conduit of safety valve then flowing to the surface; and 
 when flow exceeds the designated resistance limit of the first blocking element locking collar, said first blocking element is vertically released into the upward conduit flow whereas said upward flow then propels said first blocking element into the second locking collar position effectively halting said blocking element means while the said first locking collar below stabilizes the said blocking element means in place thereby cutting off all upward flow within safety valve; 
 and whereas said first blocking element can be repositioned in original unblocked position once the well is deemed safe to reenter by a controlled downward force placed on top side of said first blocking element. 
 
     
     
         14 . A fail safe method of controlling the flow within a well tubing string with a subsurface safety valve involving the mechanical procedural operational sequence by:
 removing the needed joints of well tubing string so that the desired safety valve depth will be attained; then,   preset safety valve communication activation and halting devices;   securely place the positioning tool within the upper blocking element means;   place the safety valve in the tubing string;   adjoin said positioning tool with above controlling means;   safety valve is then prepared and ready for use at which time the tubing string is unblocked to all upward flow.   
     
     
         15 . A method for providing safety for wireline jobs involving these steps:
 lower the safety valve positioning tool latch into safety valve; and   then engage latch with middle blocking element to side catch and remove the safety valve middle blocking element means from the tubing string; then place the wireline safety valve latching means above the wireline blocking element means top side up on the wireline above the various installed wireline equipment; and then   place the said wireline in the well with the said wireline equipment; and,   endeavor to place the wireling blocking element means latch at the position so as to engage it securely with the middle blocking element engaged stopping unit; and then   place the wireline blocking element means to securely seat in the middle blocking element means unengaged chamber;   and begin the wireline work; then   after job is complete remove the wireline equipment and wireline blocking element means and wireline blocking element means stopping latch; and then   reinstall the middle blocking element means top side up within the middle blocking element means unengaged chamber; and   resume normal production.