WO1996026376A1 - Improved valve plunger - Google Patents
Improved valve plunger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996026376A1 WO1996026376A1 PCT/US1996/002445 US9602445W WO9626376A1 WO 1996026376 A1 WO1996026376 A1 WO 1996026376A1 US 9602445 W US9602445 W US 9602445W WO 9626376 A1 WO9626376 A1 WO 9626376A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- valve stem
- stem
- valve member
- recited
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- BALXUFOVQVENIU-KXNXZCPBSA-N pseudoephedrine hydrochloride Chemical compound [H+].[Cl-].CN[C@@H](C)[C@@H](O)C1=CC=CC=C1 BALXUFOVQVENIU-KXNXZCPBSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K15/00—Check valves
- F16K15/02—Check valves with guided rigid valve members
- F16K15/06—Check valves with guided rigid valve members with guided stems
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an improved valve for controlling the flow of fluid in a well. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved valve having a plunger formed with a stem and valve member.
- Valves selectively control the flow of fluids from wells.
- rod operated downhole pumps incorporate a standing valve and a traveling valve to control the flow of well fluids.
- a plunger in the standing valve opens to permit the flow of well fluids into the production tubing.
- the plunger seats against a valve seat to prevent the backflow of the fluids from the tubing into the formation.
- Conventional oilfield check valves such as standing valves are formed with a ball and valve seat.
- the standing valve ball seats against the valve seat and seals the production tubing to prevent the backflow of well fluids.
- the forces acting on the ball are extremely large and repeatedly force the ball against the valve seat.
- the forces acting against the ball generally include the weight of the flu in the production tubing and the downward movement of the rod, less frictional forces within the tubing. If the rod cycles te times per minute, the ball is forced against the valve seat 14,400 times per day, or 5,256,000 times per year. Consequentl the extreme wear conditions in wells such as oil and gas wells require the periodic repair and replacement of valves and valve components.
- United States Patent No. 5,117,861 to McConnell et al. disclosed an improved valve for wells.
- This invention incorporated a plunger having an arcuate surface for contacting valve seat, and having a valve stem for guiding the movement of the plunger within a valve cage.
- the stem guided plunger significantly improved the valve life over ball and cage valves previously used in oilfield operations.
- the present invention provides an improved valve plunger for contacting a valve seat within a fluid carrying housing in a well.
- a valve member reciprocates along an axis within the housing, and the valve member has an arcuate surface for selectively contacting the valve seat.
- An aperture in the valve member is coincident with the reciprocation axis, and a valve stem is engaged with the valve member through the aperture.
- a valve lock engages the valve stem with the valve member.
- valve stem and the valve lock can be connected with a threaded connection positioned within the aperture.
- a seal can be located between the valve stem and the valve member to prevent migration of fluid therebetween.
- the valve member can be attached to the valve stem, or the valve member can reciprocate along the valve stem.
- the valve member and valve stem can be positioned within a housing so that the valve member contacts a valve seat to selectively control the movement of well fluid through the housing.
- Figure 1 illustrates a valve within a production tubing.
- Figure 2 illustrates a valve member engaged with a valve stem.
- Figure 3 illustrates a valve member engaged with two valve stem sections connected outside of the valve member aperture.
- Figure 4 illustrates a valve stem section having a threaded end connection.
- Figure 5 illustrates a valve stem section for engagement with the threaded end shown in Figure 4.
- Figure 6 illustrates a valve member engaged with a valve stem and valve stem lock.
- Figure 7 illustrates a valve member bonded to a valve stem.
- Figure 8 illustrates a valve member engaged with a valve stem for translational movement along the valve stem.
- the present invention discloses an improved valve for selectively controlling the flow of fluids in wells such as wate wells and hydrocarbon producing wells.
- the invention includes a composite valve plunger for contacting a valve seat to block the flow of well fluids.
- composite means a component having at least two separate elements.
- valve 10 is connected to production tubing 12 to selectively block the flow of well fluids (not shown) through valve 10.
- Valve 10 generally comprises valve seat 14 and valve member 16.
- Valve seat 14 can be installed within tubing 12 by connecting sub 18 to barrel housing 20 with threaded connection 22 between sub 18 and housing 20.
- the other end of housing 20 is connected to tubing 12 with threaded connection 24 between housing 20 and tubing 12.
- cage 26 can be positioned within housing 20 to guide movement of valve member 16.
- cage 26 can comprise a lower ring 28, upper web 30 transverse to the axis of tubing 12, and longitudinal ribs 32 connecting ring 28 and web 30.
- Ribs 32 form windows 34 which serve as flow passages for the formation fluids through valve 10 when valve member 16 is not in contact with seat 14.
- cage 26 can be replaced with a different form of web 30 that is adapted to be attached directly to housing 20.
- Seat 14 is preferably formed from a hard material such as a metal.
- Seat 14 includes aperture 36 for permitting the flow of formations fluids therethrough.
- seat aperture 36 includes beveled surface 38 which can be linear or arcuate in crossection.
- Surface 38 contacts valve member 16 and is preferably polished or hardened to reduce wear created by valve member 16.
- Valve member 16 has an axis substantially coincident with the axis of tubing 12, and this axis is defined herein as the "reciprocation axis.”
- valve member 16 has arcuate surface 40 for contacting surface 38 of seat 14.
- Upper surface 42 of valve member 16 is substantially transverse to the reciprocation axis and shapes valve member 16 as a semispherical ball to eliminate unnecessary weight of valve member 16.
- Valve stem 44 is engaged with valve member 16 through aperture 45.
- Aperture 45 has an axis substantially coincident with the reciprocation axis identified above.
- first valve stem section 46 of valve stem 44 extends from upper surface 42 and second valve stem section 48 of valve stem 44 extends from arcuate surface 40.
- End 50 of first valve stem section 46 is slidably engaged with guide aperture 52 through web 30, and end 54 of second valve stem section 48 is slidably engaged with guid aperture 56 proximate to seat 14.
- aperture 52 and guide 56 cooperate to guide the reciprocation of valve stem 44 and valve member 16 along the reciprocation axis within housing 20.
- valve member 16 As shown in Figure 1, arcuate surface 40 of valve member 16 is in contact with surface 38 of seat 14 to block the flow of fluid through valve 10. When valve member 16 is removed from this contact, the fluids will flow through seat aperture 36 unti valve member 16 is reurged into contact with seat 14.
- arcuate surface 40 is preferably formed with a material resistant to wear caused by contact with seat 14.
- surface 40 is preferably formed with a material resistant to erosion caused by sand and other solids within the formation fluid. Because of the large bending moment acting on valve stem 44, valve stem 44 is preferably constructed from a material having high strength and ductility.
- valve stem 44 is positioned within aperture 45 through valve member 16.
- Valve stem section 46 can be attached to valve stem section 48 with mechanical techniques such as the threaded connection 58 illustrated, by welding techniques, or by other bonding techniques such as glues or adhesives.
- threaded connection 58 is positioned within aperture 45. Since threaded connection 58 forms the weakest part of valve stem section 46, the positioning of threaded connection in aperture 45 substantially reduces the bending moments acting on threaded connection 58. This occurs because aperture 45 operates as a sleeve to strengthen threaded connection 58.
- Valve stem section 46 includes shoulder 60, and valve stem section 48 includes shoulder 62.
- Shoulders 60 and 62 have a dimension greater than the dimension of aperture 45 perpendicular to the reciprocation axis. Shoulder 60 is sized to counteract the impact forces exerted against valve member 16 due to contact with valve seat 14. As shown in Figure 2, shoulders 60 and 62 limit the travel of valve member 16 along valve stem 44, and can be configured to mechanically clamp valve member 16 therebetween. This feature permits a strong connecting engagement between valve stem 44 and valve member 16 without requiring welding or other processes to form the bond. The elimination of welding avoids problems associated with the heating of certain materials, and the elimination of adhesives such as glues eliminates problems associated with high well temperatures and cyclical loading. It will be appreciated that the mechanical connection formed by threaded connection 58 shows only one embodiment of the invention, and that valve stem 44 and valve member 16 can be engaged with welding or adhesive techniques.
- Shoulder 60 includes recess 64 for retaining seal 66.
- Seal 66 prevents migration of the well fluid between vaive stem 44 an valve member 16, and therefore eliminates interior erosion cause by such migration of the well fluid.
- Seal 66 can be formed from elastomers or other synthetic materials chosen for compatability with the well fluid temperature and chemical composition.
- valve stem 68 is formed with first valve stem section 70, shown in detail in Figure 4, and second valve stem section 72, as shown in detail in Figure 5.
- Stem section 70 includes shoulder 74 which incorporates threaded box end 76.
- Stem section 72 includes threaded end 78 for threaded engagement with box end 76.
- This embodiment of the invention is advantageous when additional tensile strength is required in valve stem section 70. Shoulder 74 can provide such additional tensile strength without enlarging the size of aperture 45 through valve member 16.
- the portion of stem section 72 in contact with valve member 16 can include external grooves 79 to provide a friction fit between stem section 72 and valve member 16.
- Stem section 72 can also included shoulder 80 to limit movement of valve member 16 along the stem section 72.
- valve stem 82 can be connected with stop 84 to engage valve stem 82 with valve member 16.
- Stop 84 can be configured in different ways such as a pin through valve stem 82, a lock washer, a fixed shoulder, or other configuration. Stop 84 operates in a fashion similar to that of shoulder 62 in Figure 2 to limit the movement of valve member 16 along the valve stem. Stop 84 can be formed before valve stem 82 is installed, or can be connected after valve stem 84 is engaged with valve member 16.
- valve stem section 86 is engaged with second valve stem section 88 and valve member 16 with epoxy 90.
- epoxy 90 can be replaced with welding or other adhesion techniques suitable for the materials and well fluid conditions.
- FIG 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein valve stem 92 is substantially stationary in housing 20, and valve member 16 reciprocates along stem 92.
- valve stem 92 can be constructed from first valve stem section 94 and second valve stem section 96. This embodiment of the invention experiences frictional wear between aperture 45 of valve member 16 and valve stem 92 as valve member 16 reciprocates within housing 20.
- Dynamic seal 98 can be positioned to limit erosive wear caused by the migration of well fluids between valve stem 92 and valve member 16, and stop 100 limits travel of valve member 16.
- the invention improves known technology because the materials typically used in plungers such as valve member 16 do not resist mechanical cracking failure caused by cyclic bendin moments.
- the invention permits materials such as stainless st to be used as the valve stem components. Accordingly, the invention uniquely combines the benefits of the two classes of materials, and provides a strong connection for combining disparate components.
- the present invention provides a unique apparatus for resisting erosion induced by the formation fluids and for resisting failure caused by cyclic bending moments.
- the invention is useful in any well, but is particularly useful in wells having an environment subject to corrosion, erosive elements, and high temperatures. It will be appreciated that unique structure of the invention permits the materials for th seat, valve member, and valve stem to be designed for specific corrosive, erosion, and temperature well conditions.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Lift Valve (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU51726/96A AU5172696A (en) | 1995-02-23 | 1996-02-23 | Improved valve plunger |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US39341495A | 1995-02-23 | 1995-02-23 | |
US08/393,414 | 1995-02-23 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1996026376A1 true WO1996026376A1 (en) | 1996-08-29 |
Family
ID=23554604
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/002445 WO1996026376A1 (en) | 1995-02-23 | 1996-02-23 | Improved valve plunger |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU5172696A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996026376A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN102853094A (en) * | 2012-09-19 | 2013-01-02 | 重庆新泰机械有限责任公司 | Manual wedge-shaped throttle valve |
CN110260000A (en) * | 2019-06-10 | 2019-09-20 | 浦江县鑫隆自动化设备有限公司 | A kind of valve with anti-return function |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US664146A (en) * | 1900-10-09 | 1900-12-18 | Thomas John Hackett | Check-valve. |
US1040334A (en) * | 1912-03-13 | 1912-10-08 | Thomas Howland | Rubber valve for pumps and the like. |
US1816205A (en) * | 1925-05-11 | 1931-07-28 | Biedermann Paul Robert George | Valve and seat therefor |
US2301276A (en) * | 1941-01-17 | 1942-11-10 | Frank S Gussick | Valve |
US2483572A (en) * | 1944-11-06 | 1949-10-04 | Earl E Cater | Valve |
US3716069A (en) * | 1969-12-10 | 1973-02-13 | African Wire Ropes Ltd | Valves |
-
1996
- 1996-02-23 WO PCT/US1996/002445 patent/WO1996026376A1/en active Application Filing
- 1996-02-23 AU AU51726/96A patent/AU5172696A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US664146A (en) * | 1900-10-09 | 1900-12-18 | Thomas John Hackett | Check-valve. |
US1040334A (en) * | 1912-03-13 | 1912-10-08 | Thomas Howland | Rubber valve for pumps and the like. |
US1816205A (en) * | 1925-05-11 | 1931-07-28 | Biedermann Paul Robert George | Valve and seat therefor |
US2301276A (en) * | 1941-01-17 | 1942-11-10 | Frank S Gussick | Valve |
US2483572A (en) * | 1944-11-06 | 1949-10-04 | Earl E Cater | Valve |
US3716069A (en) * | 1969-12-10 | 1973-02-13 | African Wire Ropes Ltd | Valves |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN102853094A (en) * | 2012-09-19 | 2013-01-02 | 重庆新泰机械有限责任公司 | Manual wedge-shaped throttle valve |
CN110260000A (en) * | 2019-06-10 | 2019-09-20 | 浦江县鑫隆自动化设备有限公司 | A kind of valve with anti-return function |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU5172696A (en) | 1996-09-11 |
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