Packer valve arrangement

Abstract

A valve system for use in inflating packers mounted on mandrels is disclosed. The valve system uses one or more valves to permit, through the use of seals, the flow of fluid from the interior of a tubular mandrel to the interior of the inflatable packer when pressure applied in the mandrel exceeds at least a minimum pressure. In two embodiments, inflation of the packer beyond a given pressure is prevented. In all embodiments, the differential pressure across reciprocating seals is minimized through exposure of one or both sides, directly or indirectly, to the external pressure of the mandrel and packer.

What is claimed as invention is: 
     
       1. In a tubular system having a .[.hollow.]. tubular mandrel;   .[.a packer.]. .Iadd.an inflatable packing element .Iaddend.attached to the mandrel at one end;   a valve collar mounted on the other end of the mandrel, the other end of the .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.being attached to the .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar and the .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar being in fluid communication with the .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.by .[.a.]. passage .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and the .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar also being in fluid communication with the interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of the mandrel;   a valve system mounted .[.on the mandrel.]. .Iadd.in the valve collar.Iaddend., the valve system being in fluid communication with the .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.and the interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of the mandrel, the valve system including at least one valve .Iadd.means .Iaddend.with at least one reciprocating .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element .Iaddend.and .[.a.]. stop means for preventing reciprocation of the reciprocating .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element .Iaddend.prior to the application of at least a predetermined pressure difference to the reciprocating .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element.Iaddend., the reciprocating .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element .Iaddend.being located .[.at one end of.]. .Iadd.in one position in .Iaddend.the .[.passage.]. .Iadd.one valve means .Iaddend.when the stop means prevents reciprocation, the reciprocating  .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element .Iaddend.having at least two seals thereon for preventing the flow of fluid from either side of the .[.reciprocating member around the member.]. .Iadd.seals .Iaddend.to the passage .Iadd.means.Iaddend.;   the improvement comprising:   first means independent of the seals for permitting the flow of fluid from the interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.of the mandrel to one side of one seal .[.of.]. .Iadd.on .Iaddend.the reciprocating .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element.Iaddend.; and   second means independent of the seals for permitting the flow of fluid from the exterior of the mandrel to oppositely facing .[.surface.]. .Iadd.side .Iaddend.of the other seal .[.of.]. .Iadd.on .Iaddend.the reciprocating .[.member.]. .Iadd.valve element.Iaddend.; and   third means independent of the seals for .[.equalizing the pressure on the other side of each of.]. .Iadd.permitting the flow of fluid to a location between .Iaddend.the seals .Iadd.for equalizing the pressure across the seals .Iaddend.to substantially .[.that of.]. .Iadd.the pressure at .Iaddend.the exterior of the mandrel .Iadd.and to the pressure in the interior bore of the mandrel.Iaddend.. .[.   
     
     
       2.  A tubular system for use in packing off a well bore, comprising: a hollow tubular mandrel;   a packer attached to said mandrel at one end of said mandrel;   a valve collar mounted on the other end of said mandrel, the other end of said packer being attached to said collar and having a passageway therethrough, and said collar being in fluid communication with said packer and the interior and exterior of said mandrel by said passageway;   said passageway having enlarged portions in said collar;   a valve system mounted in said enlarged portions, said valve system including three valves;   the first of said valves being mounted in the first of said portions and having a reciprocating member and a stop means for preventing reciprocation of said reciprocating member prior to the application of at least a predetermined difference in pressure between one side of said reciprocating member and the other side, said reciprocating member being located at one end of a first part of said passageway when said stop means prevents reciprocation and having at least two seals thereon for preventing the flow of fluid from either end of said reciprocating member around the member to said first passageway part;   said first valve being in fluid communication with a second part of said passageway in fluid communication with said interior of said mandrel on one side of said reciprocating member;   said first valve being in fluid communication with said exterior of said mandrel on the other side of said reciprocating member; and   the second of said valves having check means for permitting the flow of fluid from said exterior of said mandrel to said first part of said passageway when the pressure in said mandrel exceeds the pressure in said second portion..]. .[.   
     
     
       3.  The system of claim 2, wherein said second portion includes a first bore opening to said exterior of said mandrel and said second valve is located in said first bore..]. .[.4. The system of claim 3, wherein said second valve uncludes: a head adapted to connect to said first bore;   a seal mounted on said head and sealingly engaging the walls of said first bore and said head; and   said check means is mounted in said head..]. .[.5. The system of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the remainder of said second portion is filled with a liquid..]. .[.6. The system of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein;   said third valve is mounted in a third of said portions, said third portion being in fluid communication with said exterior of said mandrel and a third part of said passageway in fluid communication between said second portion and said third portion and a fourth part of said passageway in fluid communication with said packer;   said third valve including first seal means for preventing fluid communication between said third portion and said exterior of said mandrel, and   second seal means for preventing fluid communication between said third part and said fourth part when the pressure in said fourth part is greater     
     
     
        than the pressure in said third part..]. 7. A tubular system for use in packing off a well bore, comprising: a .[.hollow.]. tubular mandrel;   .[.a packer.]. .Iadd.an inflatable packing element .Iaddend.attached to said mandrel at one end of said mandrel having an interior portion separated from said mandrel .Iadd.so as to receive inflating fluid .Iaddend.and .[.an.]. inlet .Iadd.means to admit fluid .Iaddend.to said interior portion;   a valve collar mounted on other end of said mandrel and having .[.a.]. passageway .Iadd.means .Iaddend.therethrough, the other end of said .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.being attached to said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar, and said .Iadd.passageway means in said valve .Iaddend.collar being in fluid communication with said inlet .[.to said packer.]. .Iadd.means of said packing element.Iaddend., .Iadd.with .Iaddend.said interior portion of said .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.and .Iadd.with .Iaddend.the interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel .[.by said passageway.].;   .Iadd.a valve pocket system in .Iaddend.said passageway .Iadd.means .Iaddend.having enlarged portions in said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar, including .[.a.]. first .[.portion.]. .Iadd.valve pocket means .Iaddend.in fluid communication .[.with a first part of said passageway in fluid communication.]. with .Iadd.the .Iaddend.interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.of said mandrel,   .[.a.]. second .[.portion.]. .Iadd.valve pocket means .Iaddend.in fluid communication with .[.said external part.]. .Iadd.the exterior .Iaddend.of said mandrel and .[.a second part of said passageway in fluid communication with said first portion.]. .Iadd.said first valve pocket means.Iaddend., and   .[.a.]. third .[.portion.]. .Iadd.valve pocket means .Iaddend.in fluid communication with .[.a third part of said passageway in fluid communication with said second portion, said third portion.]. .Iadd.said second valve pocket means and .Iaddend.also .[.being in.]. .Iadd.having separate .Iaddend.fluid communication .[.with a fourth part of said passageway in fluid communication with said interior at said packer and a fifth part of said passageway in fluid communication with said inlet to said packer.]. .Iadd.paths to said inlet means and to the interior of said packing element.Iaddend.;     .[.a valve system mounted in said enlarged portions;   said valve system including three valves;.].   .Iadd.valve means in said first and third valve pocket means and operable in response to pressure in said passageway means;   .[.the second of said valves being mounted in said second portion and having.]. .Iadd.valve means in said second valve pocket means for controlling the flow of fluid from the interior bore of said tubular mandrel to said inlet means including a shear valve member in said second valve pocket means, said shear valve member being .Iaddend.a reciprocating member .Iadd.movable between a first and second position .Iaddend.and .[.a stop.]. .Iadd.shear .Iaddend.means for preventing reciprocation of said reciprocating member .Iadd.in said first position .Iaddend.prior to the application of at least a predetermined difference in pressure between one side of said reciprocating member and the other side .Iadd.of said reciprocating member.Iaddend., said reciprocating member being located at one end of said .[.second part.]. .Iadd.second valve pocket means .Iaddend.when said .[.stop.]. .Iadd.shear .Iaddend.means prevents reciprocation and having at least two seals thereon for preventing the flow of fluid from either end of said reciprocating member around said .Iadd.reciprocating .Iaddend.member to said third .[.part.]. .Iadd.pocket   
     
     
        valve means.Iaddend.. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein: said .[.second valve.]. seals .Iadd.on said shear valve member .Iaddend.are mounted to .[.avoid prevention of.]. .Iadd.permit .Iaddend.flow between said .[.second portion and said third portion through said third part when said stop means permits reciprocation.]. .Iadd.first valve pocket means and said third valve pocket means when said reciprocating member is in   
     
     
        said second position.Iaddend.. 9. The system of claims 7 or 8 wherein: .Iadd.said valve means disposed in said first valve pocket means include:   a reciprocating valve member movable between a first and second position and normally resiliently biased to the first position, .Iaddend.   .[.said first valve is mounted in said first portion,   said first valve including.]. first seal means for preventing fluid communication between said .[.first portion and said.]. .Iadd.second valve pocket means and the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel, .Iadd.in said first position; .Iaddend.and   second seal means .Iadd.on said resiliently biased reciprocating valve member .Iaddend.for preventing fluid communication between .[.said first part and said second part.]. .Iadd.the interior bore of said mandrel and said second valve pocket means .Iaddend.when the pressure in said .[.second part.]. .Iadd.first valve pocket means .Iaddend.is greater than the pressure in .[.said first part.]. .Iadd.the interior of the     
     
     
        mandrel.Iaddend.. 10. The system of claims 7 or 8 wherein: .[.said third portion is in fluid communication with said exterior of said mandrel;.].   said third valve .[.is mounted.]. in said third portion and .Iadd.said valve means disposed in said third valve pocket means .Iaddend.includes a .[.second.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member .[.and a third reciprocating member connected by a stem and a second.]. .Iadd.movable between a first and second position, .Iaddend.stop means .Iadd.in said third valve pocket means .Iaddend.for preventing reciprocation of said reciprocating .[.members.]. .Iadd.valve member .Iaddend.prior to the application of at least a predetermined pressure difference between one side of said .[.second.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member and the oppositely facing side of said .[.third.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member, said .[.second.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member having two seals thereon and being positioned .[.in said third portion.]. .Iadd.in a spaced apart relationship .Iaddend.so that at least one of said seals prevents fluid flow between said .[.fourth part and said third portion.]. .Iadd.third valve pocket means and said communication path to the interior of said packing element .Iaddend.when said stop means prevents reciprocation .Iadd.in said first position.Iaddend.;   said .[.third.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member .[.includes.]. .Iadd.in said third valve pocket means having .Iaddend.third seal means .Iadd.along its length .Iaddend.for preventing fluid communication between .[.a portion of said third portion and said.]. .Iadd.said third valve pocket means and the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel; and   said .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.seals thereon being spaced for preventing .[.the flow of.]. fluid .Iadd.flow .Iaddend.from either .[.side of said second reciprocating member to said third part.]. .Iadd.the inlet means or the interior of the packing means .Iaddend.after said .[.second.]. stop means .[.no longer prevents reciprocation,.]. .Iadd.releases said reciprocating valve member in said third valve pocket means and said reciprocating valve member moves to said second position .Iaddend.said seals .Iadd.and reciprocating valve member in said third valve pocket means .Iaddend.being positioned to permit flow from said .[.third part to said fifth part about said stem.]. .Iadd.second valve pocket means to said inlet means .Iaddend.when said .[.second.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member .Iadd.in said third valve pocket means .Iaddend.is .[.prevented from reciprocating by said second stop   
     
     
        means.]. .Iadd.in said first position.Iaddend.. 11. The system of claim 10 wherein there is further included .[.a small,.]. relief passage .Iadd.means .Iaddend.between said .[.two.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.seals of said .[.second.]. reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member and one of the ends of said .[.second.]. reciprocating 
     
     
        .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member. 12. .[.A tubular member.]. .Iadd.An inflatable packer .Iaddend.for use in a bore, comprising: .Iadd.a tubular mandrel; .Iaddend.   .[.a packer.]. .Iadd.an inflatable packing element .Iaddend.attached to said mandrel at one end of said mandrel .Iadd.and .Iaddend.having an interior portion separated from said mandrel;   a valve collar mounted on the other end of said mandrel and having a passageway therethrough, the other end of said packer being attached to said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar, and said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar .[.being in.]. .Iadd.having means providing a .Iaddend.fluid communication .Iadd.path .Iaddend.with said interior of said .[.packer by a passage.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.and .Iadd.with .Iaddend.the interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel;   said .[.passage.]. .Iadd.fluid communication path .Iaddend.having at least one .[.enlarged portion forming a part.]. .Iadd.valve pocket means .Iaddend.in said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar;   .[.a valve system mounted in said enlarged portion, said valve system being.]. .Iadd.valve element means in said valve pocket means .Iaddend.in fluid communication with the interior of said .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.and the interior .Iadd.bore .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel.[.;.]. .Iadd.and including means responsive to a differential pressure between the pressure exterior to the valve collar and the pressure within the packing element for closing off fluid flow in said communication path to said packing element; .Iaddend.   said valve collar being .[.adapted to be inserted at.]. .Iadd.attached to .Iaddend.the end of said mandrel that is last to enter the bore. .[.13. A tubular system for use in packing off a well bore, comprising:   a hollow tubular mandrel;   a packer attached to said mandrel at one end of said mandrel having an interior portion separated from said mandrel and an inlet to said interior portion;   a valve holder mounted on other end of said mandrel and having a passageway therethrough, the other end of said packer being attached to said valve holder, and said valve holder being in fluid communication with said inlet to said packer and the interior and exterior of said mandrel by said passageway;   said passageway having an enlarged portion in said valve holder, said portion being in fluid communication with: a first part of said passageway in fluid communication with interior of said mandrel,   said external part of said mandrel, and   a second part of said passageway in fluid communication with said inlet to said packer;     a valve system mounted in said enlarged portion, said valve system including at least one valve, said valve being mounted in said portion and having a reciprocating member and a stop means for preventing reciprocation of said reciprocating member prior to the application of at least a predetermined difference in pressure between one side of said reciprocating member and the other side, said reciprocating member being located at one end of said portion when said stop means prevents reciprocation and having at least two seals thereon for preventing the flow of fluid from either end of said reciprocating member around said member to said second part;   each of said seals being exposed on one side thereof to fluid from said   
     
     
        second part..]. .Iadd.14.  An inflatable well packer for use in a well bore traversing earth formations where the well packer has a tubular mandrel, an inflatable packer element on said tubular mandrel with one end of the packer element attached to the mandrel and a valve collar means attached to the other end of the packer element and mandrel, the improvement comprising: valve means and passage means in said valve collar means for selectively admitting fluid from the interior bore of the tubular mandrel to the interior space between said packer element and said tubular mandrel, said valve means including a first valve having spaced apart seal means on an elongated first valve element slidably received in said valve collar means for movement between first and second positions, said seal means in a first position of said valve element straddling a section of the passage means leading to said interior space between said packer element and said tubular mandrel,   release means for releasably retaining said first valve element in said first position and releasable upon the application of predetermined pressure differential across said seal means to move said valve element to said second position,   said valve element on one side of said seal means having access to the pressure exterior of the valve collar and having access on the other side of said seal means to the pressure in a portion of the passage means leading to the interior bore of said tubular mandrel so as to pressure balance said first valve element across said seal means between the interior bore of the tubular mandrel and the exterior of the valve collar means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. An inflatable well packer for use in a well bore which traverses earth formations wherein the lower end of such well packer is intended to enter the well bore first, and including     a tubular mandrel adapted for coupling a string of pipe,   an inflatable packer element disposed on said tubular mandrel and attached at its lower end to said tubular mandrel in a fluid tight relationship,   valve collar means attached to the upper end of said packer element and said tubular mandrel so as to have access to the pressure in the well bore above the inflatable packer element,   said valve collar means including at least one releasable valve means and passage means where said releasable valve means is in fluid communication with the interior bore of said tubular mandrel, the interior of the inflatable packer means and the exterior of said valve collar means above said packer element, said releasable valve means being normally retained in a first position and being releasable to a second position with respect to said passage means upon the application of a predetermined pressure differential between the fluid in the interior of the packer element and the fluid at the exterior of the valve collar means to move said releasable valve means between said first and second positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The well packer as defined in claim 15 where said releasable valve means includes a shear pin and movable valve element..Iaddend.