Gas lift valve

Abstract

A method for performing downhole gas lift operations includes coupling a gas lift valve to a tubing, wherein the gas lift valve includes an actuator, a flow control device disposed in the actuator, and a closure member that is initially in an open position; injecting a gas downhole and exterior to the tubing; urging the gas to enter the tubing via the gas lift valve; and creating a sufficient pressure differential across the gas lift valve to move the actuator, thereby causing the closure member to close the gas lift valve.

1 . A method for performing downhole gas lift operations, comprising:
 coupling a gas lift valve to a tubing, wherein the gas lift valve comprises an actuator, a flow control member disposed in the actuator, and a closure member that is initially in an open position;   injecting a gas downhole and exterior to the tubing;   urging the gas to enter the tubing via the gas lift valve; and   creating a sufficient pressure differential across the gas lift valve to move the actuator, thereby causing the closure member to close the gas lift valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas lift valve further includes:
 a housing having an inlet and an outlet; and   a biasing member for biasing the actuator in an extended position,   wherein the closure member is configured to selectively close a bore through the housing, the actuator is movable between the extended position and a retracted position, and the actuator, when in the extended position, retains the closure member in an open position.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closure member is selected from a flapper, a sealing head on the actuator, and a ball and seat. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sequentially closing a plurality of gas lift valves, wherein the plurality of gas lift valves is coupled to the tubing and axially spaced apart along the tubing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a closing pressure differential is adjustable by adjusting a force of the biasing member and/or a travel distance of the actuator between the extended position and the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a flow tube, and the flow control member is disposed in an interior of the flow tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the closure member is a sealing head disposed at one end of the flow tube. 
     
     
         8 . A method for performing downhole gas lift operations, comprising:
 coupling a gas lift valve to a tubing, wherein the gas lift valve comprises an actuator, a flow control member disposed in the actuator, and a closure member that is initially in an open position;   injecting a gas downhole and interior to the tubing;   urging the gas to exit the tubing via the gas lift valve; and   creating a sufficient pressure differential across the gas lift valve to move the actuator, thereby causing the closure member to close the gas lift valve.   
     
     
         9 . A valve for controlling fluid flow, comprising:
 a housing having a bore in fluid communication with an inflow port and an outlet port;   a closure member configured to close fluid communication through the bore;   a flow tube movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and   a flow control device disposed in the flow tube, wherein when in the extended position, the flow tube retains the closure member in an open position, and wherein the flow tube is movable to the retracted position in response to a predetermined pressure differential across the bore.   
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the closure member is selected from the group consisting of a flapper, a sealing head on the flow tube, and a ball and seat. 
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the closure member comprises a sealing head attached to the flow tube. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal member disposed in the housing, wherein the sealing head moves relative to the seal member to selectively open or close fluid communication through the valve. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the flow tube includes one of more tube inlets adjacent to the sealing head. 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 9 , further comprising a dampener coupled to the flow tube. 
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the flow control device is fixedly coupled to the flow tube. 
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 9 , further comprising a detent mechanism for retaining the flow tube in the retracted position or the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 9 , further comprising a biasing member for biasing the flow tube in the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the flow control device provides an effective area for urging the flow tube toward the retracted position in response to the pressure differential. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 9 , further comprising a latch member. 
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the flow control device comprises an annular ring coupled to an interior of the flow tube.