Well packer valve arrangement

Abstract

A valve system for use in inflating packers mounted on mandrels. 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. 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, the exposure including the use of a check valve to permit flow from the exterior of the mandrel.

What is claimed as invention is: 
     
       1. 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;   a valve collar mounted on the other end of said mandrel, the other end of said .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.being attached to said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar .[.and.]..Iadd., said valve collar .Iaddend.having a passageway .Iadd.means .Iaddend.therethrough, .[.and.]. .Iadd.said passageway means in .Iaddend.said .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.collar being in fluid communication with .Iadd.the interior of .Iaddend.said .[.packer.]. .Iadd.packing element .Iaddend.and the interior and exterior of said mandrel .[.by said passageway.].;   .Iadd.at least two valve pocket means in said passageway means in said valve collar;.Iaddend.   .[.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.]. .Iadd.first valve means in a first valve pocket means and including .Iaddend.a reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member and .[.a.]. stop means for preventing reciprocation of said reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member .Iadd.from a first position to a second position .Iaddend.prior to the application of at least a predetermined difference in pressure between one .[.side.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.of said reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member and the other .[.side,.]. .Iadd.end of said reciprocating valve member, .Iaddend.said reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member being located .Iadd.in said first position .Iaddend.at one .Iadd.open .Iaddend.end of a first part of said passageway .Iadd.means .Iaddend.when said stop means prevents reciprocation and having at least two .Iadd.spaced apart .Iaddend.seals .[.thereon.]. .Iadd.which are disposed so that the one open end is between said seals .Iaddend.for preventing the flow of fluid from either end of said reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member around .Iadd.the seals on .Iaddend.the .Iadd.reciprocating valve .Iaddend.member to said .[.first.]. .Iadd.one open end of the first part of said .Iaddend.passageway .[.part.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend.;   said first valve .Iadd.pocket means .Iaddend.being in fluid communication .[.with a second part of said passageway in fluid communication.]. with .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.interior of said mandrel .[.on.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.one side .[.of.]. .Iadd.of one seal on .Iaddend.said reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member;   said first valve .Iadd.pocket means .Iaddend.being in fluid communication with .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel .[.on the other.]. .Iadd.and one .Iaddend.side of .Iadd.the other seal on .Iaddend.said reciprocating .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.member; and   .[.the second of said valves having check means.]. .Iadd.second valve means in a second valve pocket means .Iaddend.for permitting the flow of fluid .Iadd.in one direction .Iaddend.from .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel to said .Iadd.one open end of the .Iaddend.first part of said passageway .[.when the pressure exterior of said mandrel exceeds the pressure in said second portion.]. .Iadd.means between the seals.Iaddend.;   said second .[.portion includes.]. .Iadd.valve pocket means including .Iaddend.a first bore .[.opening.]. .Iadd.which opens .Iaddend.to .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.exterior of said mandrel and .[.said second.]. .Iadd.check .Iaddend.valve .[.is.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.located in said first bore;   said second valve .[.includes.]. .Iadd.pocket means having .Iaddend.   a .[.head adapted to connect.]. .Iadd.retainer housing connected .Iaddend.to said first bore,   a seal mounted on said .[.head.]. .Iadd.retainer housing .Iaddend.and sealingly engaging the .[.walls.]. .Iadd.wall .Iaddend.of said first bore and said .[.head.]. .Iadd.retainer housing.Iaddend.,   .[.and.]. said check .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.means .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.mounted in said .[.head.]. .Iadd.retainer housing.Iaddend.;   said check .Iadd.valve .Iaddend.means .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including: .Iaddend.   a second bore through said .[.head and.]. .Iadd.retainer housing .Iaddend.substantially coaxial with said first bore;   a third bore through a portion of said .[.head.]. .Iadd.retainer housing .Iaddend.substantially coaxial with said first and second bores, said third bore being of a greater diameter than said second bore and forming a shoulder therewith;   a ball adapted to seal against said shoulder; and   mounting means for reciprocably mounting said ball in said third bore.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes: a rod, said rod being wedged into an end of said third bore;   a spring, said spring being mounted in said third bore and abutting said ball and one end of said rod.   
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2 wherein said rod has a hollow longitudinal fluid passage therethrough. .Iadd.4. A tubular system for use in packing off a well bore, comprising: a tubular mandrel;   an inflatable packing element 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 packing element being attached to said valve collar, said valve collar having a passageway means coupling the interior of said packing element and the exterior of said mandrel in fluid communication with the interior and exterior of said mandrel;   at least two valve pocket means in said passageway means in said valve collar;   first valve means in a first valve pocket means and including a reciprocating valve member and stop means for preventing reciprocation of said reciprocating valve member from a first position to a second position prior to the application of at least a predetermined difference in pressure between one end of said reciprocating valve member and the other end of said reciprocating valve member, said reciprocating member being located in said first position at one open end of a first part of said passageway means when said stop means prevents reciprocation and having at least two spaced apart seals which are disposed so that the one open end is between said seals for preventing the flow of fluid from either end of said reciprocating valve member around the seals on the reciprocating valve member to said one open end of said passageway means;   said first valve pocket means being in fluid communication with a second part of said passageway means where said second part of said passageway means is in fluid communication with the interior of said mandrel and one side of one seal on said reciprocating valve member;   said first valve pocket means being in fluid communication with the exterior of said mandrel on one side of the other seal on said reciprocating valve member; and   second valve means in a second valve pocket means for permitting the flow of fluid in one direction from the exterior of said mandrel to said one open end of the first part of said passageway means between said seals..Iaddend. .Iadd.5. The system of claim 4, wherein said second valve means includes:   a retainer housing for enclosing said second valve pocket means, said retainer housing having an opening therethrough;   a seal mounted on said retainer housing and sealingly engaging the wall of said second valve pocket means and said retainer housing; and   check valve means in the opening of said retainer housing..Iaddend. .Iadd.6. The system of claims 4 or 5 wherein the said first part of said passageway means is filled with a liquid..Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The system of claim 4 wherein;   there are at least three valve pocket means,   third valve means in a third valve pocket means,   said third valve means being in fluid communication by said passageway means (a) with said exterior of said mandrel (b) with said second valve pocket means and (c) with the interior of said packing element;   first seal means on said second valve means for preventing fluid communication between second valve pocket means and said exterior of said mandrel, and   said third valve means in said third valve pocket means having   second seal means for preventing fluid communication between said second pocket means and said interior of said packing element when the pressure in said interior of seal packing element is greater than the pressure in said second valve pocket means..Iaddend.