Gas lift barrier valve

Abstract

A gas lift valve can include a degradable component; a valve; and a longitudinally extending tubular body that defines a flow path therein that includes the valve disposed between the degradable component and an opening of the tubular body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas lift valve, comprising:
 a degradable component;   a valve; and   a longitudinally extending tubular body that defines a flow path therein that comprises the valve disposed between the degradable component and an opening of the tubular body.   
     
     
         2 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component comprises a degradable material. 
     
     
         3 . The gas lift valve of  claim 2  wherein the degradable material dissolves in a well environment. 
     
     
         4 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component is connected to the tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component comprises a nose profile. 
     
     
         6 . The gas lift valve of  claim 5  wherein the nose profile comprises a shape that helps deployment and location of the gas lift valve in a pocket of production tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component is pointed. 
     
     
         8 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component is contoured. 
     
     
         9 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component comprises a nose component connected to the tubular body wherein the nose component comprises a pointed profile. 
     
     
         10 . The gas lift valve of  claim 1  wherein the degradable component comprises a nose component connected to the tubular body wherein the nose component comprises a contoured profile. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 production tubing that comprises a pocket; and   a gas lift valve configured for receipt in the pocket wherein the gas lift valve comprises a degradable component, a valve, and a longitudinally extending tubular body that defines a flow path therein that comprises the valve disposed between the degradable component and an opening of the tubular body.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the degradable component comprises a degradable material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the degradable material dissolves in a well environment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the degradable component is connected to the tubular body. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the degradable component comprises a nose profile. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 in production tubing disposed in a well that comprises well fluid wherein the production tubing comprises a pocket and a gas lift valve received by the pocket wherein the gas lift valve comprises a degradable component, a valve, and a longitudinally extending tubular body that defines a flow path therein that comprises the valve disposed between the degradable component and an opening of the tubular body, degrading the degradable component by exposure to the well fluid;   responsive to a pressure differential, opening the valve; and   flowing fluid via the flow path of the tubular body.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the degrading creates an opening to the flow path. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the degradable component comprises a nose component connected to the tubular body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising locating the gas lift valve in the pocket of the production tubing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the degradable component comprises a nose profile that facilitates the locating.