Abstract: A flapper valve assembly including a tubular forming an interior passageway; a valve seat forming a portion of the interior passageway; a flapper plate that is pivotably mounted to the tubular at a pivot point such that the flapper plate is pivotable between a valve closed and a valve open position; and a spring engaging the flapper plate such that the flapper plate is biased towards the valve closed position; wherein, when the flapper plate is in the valve open position, the spring engages a top of the flapper plate at a first distance from the pivot point; wherein, when the flapper plate is in the valve closed position, the spring engages the top of the flapper plate at a second distance from the pivot point; and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A system for actuating a balance line safety valve comprising: a balance line safety apparatus comprising: a balance chamber disposed in a well; a relief valve in fluid communication with the balance chamber; a check valve in fluid communication with the balance chamber; and a balance line in fluid communication with the relief valve and the check valve, a piston disposed in a well, wherein a back side of the piston is in fluid communication with the balance chamber; and a control line in fluid communication with a top of the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cylindrical housing having a hinge, a flapper attached to the hinge, and a slidable element is within the cylindrical housing, wherein the flapper can rotate from a first flapper position to a second flapper position. The slidable element is slidable from a first slidable position to a second slidable position and engages with the flapper at the first slidable position to prevent the flapper from moving to the second flapper position. The flapper is movable to the second flapper position when the slidable element is disengaged from the flapper. The apparatus also includes a latching mechanism attached to the slidable element movable from a first latching mechanism position to a second latching mechanism position. The slidable element is at the first slidable position when the latching mechanism is at the first latching mechanism position and at the second slidable position when the latching mechanism is at the second latching mechanism position.

Abstract: A subsurface tool adapted to extend within a wellbore includes an integrally formed single-component body that defines an external surface and an internal chamber isolated from the external surface. When the tool is subjected to one or more stresses, a stress concentration is created within a stress zone of the single-component body, the stress zone being adjacent the internal chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a packer. The packer includes a fluid bypass positioned along a longitudinal axis of the packer. The fluid bypass provides a fluid flow path between a downhole location and an uphole location from the packer. Additionally, the packer includes a sealing element positioned around the fluid bypass that is elastically deformable to expand in a direction radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the sealing element experiences axial compression. The sealing element includes at least one elastomeric seal reinforcer molded into the elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow in a subterranean well includes a first valve, a control line fluidly coupled to the first valve, an equalizing line disposed externally to and separate from the first valve, and at least a second valve disposed in the equalizing line and in fluid communication with the control line. The first valve includes a body defining a lumen, and an upper portion, and a lower portion. The equalizing line is in fluid communication with the lumen between the upper portion and the lower portion of the body. The second valve equalizes a pressure between the upper and lower portions of the body.

Abstract: Provided is an electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve, and a method of operating an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve. The electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber and an electro/mechanical pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and further wherein an inlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member.

Abstract: Provided is an electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve, and a method of operating an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve. The electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber, and an electro/thermal expansion pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and further wherein an inlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electric generator for use in downhole applications has a rotor element rotatable about an axis, extending in a radial direction generally perpendicular to the axis and one or more permanent magnets attached to the rotor for generating magnetic fields. A stator element also extends in a radial direction generally perpendicular to the axis. A shaft is connected to the rotor and rotatable about the axis, the shaft extends through the stator. The linear distance along the shaft between the rotor and stator defines a gap that is variable and resistant to debris buildup.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods incorporating design features that may be beneficial over current available well safety valves, such as a sleeved receptacle for a piston, a constrained piston rod, and a trapped flapper valve. A safety valve may comprise: an outer housing having a central bore extending axially through the outer housing, wherein the outer housing comprises an outer wall having a receptacle formed in the outer wall; a sleeve disposed in the receptacle; a piston disposed in the sleeve, wherein the piston is actuated to travel in the sleeve; a spring positioned to apply a biasing force to the piston; and a valve member disposed in the outer housing, wherein the valve member is operable to selectively restrict flow through the safety valve in response to movement of the piston.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for decreasing the cost and improving a suitable well safety valve. A well safety valve, comprising: an outer housing having a central bore extending axially through the outer housing, wherein the outer housing comprises an outer wall having a receptacle formed in the outer wall; an inner sleeve disposed in the central bore of the outer housing, wherein the inner sleeve comprises a lockout feature in an exterior surface of the inner sleeve; a sleeve disposed in the receptacle; a piston disposed in the sleeve, wherein the piston is actuated to travel longitudinally in the sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is operable to move in response to movement of the piston; and a valve member disposed in the outer housing, wherein the valve member is operable to selectively restrict flow through the well safety valve in response to movement of the inner sleeve.

Abstract: A system for actuating a balance line safety valve comprising: a balance line safety apparatus comprising: a balance chamber disposed in a well; a relief valve in fluid communication with the balance chamber; a check valve in fluid communication with the balance chamber; and a balance line in fluid communication with the relief valve and the check valve, a piston disposed in a well, wherein a back side of the piston is in fluid communication with the balance chamber; and a control line in fluid communication with a top of the piston.

Abstract: Provided are electric safety valves and methods of use. An electric safety valve comprises an electric actuator positioned in an interior chamber of the electric safety valve; the interior chamber comprising a dielectric fluid and being pressure and temperature compensated with a flow passage extending axially through the electric safety valve. The pressure and temperature compensation is performed via a compensating subassembly in pressure communication with the interior chamber thereby providing a section-balanced electric safety valve. The electric safety valve further comprises a protective sleeve separating the interior chamber from the flow passage. The electric safety valve further comprises at least one compression spring rod coupled to a closure member capable of restricting or preventing fluid flow through the flow passage.

Abstract: A downhole chemical reactor can be placed in a downhole environment to generate gas in-situ. This gas can pressurize an inner pressure chamber of the downhole chemical reactor to create a pressure-on-demand source or to maintain a constant pressure reservoir, depending on the configuration of a reactor controller coupled to an inlet of the inner pressure chamber. The inner pressure chamber contains one or more desired chemical reactants and the reactor controller operates to permit well fluid to flow from the wellbore and into the inner pressure chamber. The well fluid reacts with the desired chemical reactants and generates one or more gases such as hydrogen or carbon dioxide. The generated gases pressurize the inner pressure chamber and a pressure regulator coupled to the inner pressure chamber maintains a maximum pressurization of the inner pressure chamber. For a constant pressure reservoir, the reactor controller repeats this cycle indefinitely.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve for controlling fluid flow in a well conduit incorporating a pressure equalizing feature. The safety valve includes a body member having a longitudinal bore, a valve actuator having axial movement within the longitudinal bore and a valve that restricts flow through the longitudinal bore. An equalization fluid flow passageway provides a fluid path between the longitudinal bore above the valve and the longitudinal bore below the valve. An equalizing device is located within the equalization fluid flow passageway and configured to resist sand and debris effects on its operation, the equalizing device regulating flow through the equalization fluid flow passageway and operated by the valve actuator prior to opening the valve.

Abstract: Provided is a safety valve. The safety valve, in one example, includes a piston located within a piston chamber, the piston separating the piston chamber into a first portion and a second portion and configured to slide to move a valve closure mechanism between a closed state and an open state. The safety valve, according to this example, includes a first control/balance line fluidically coupled to the first portion of the piston chamber, a second control/balance line fluidically coupled to the second portion of the piston chamber, and a chemical line fluidically coupled to the second control/balance line.

Abstract: Provided, in one embodiment, is a pulling prong. The pulling prong, in one example, includes an outer housing, and a nose assembly slidably located within the outer housing. In this example, the nose assembly and outer housing form an activation chamber. The pulling prong, in this example, may further include activation means located within the activation chamber, the activation means configured to move the nose assembly from a first running configuration to a second retrieving configuration.

Abstract: Provided is an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve (ESCSSV). The ESCSSV, in one example, includes an outer housing comprising a central bore extending axially through the housing that is configured to convey production fluids there through. The ESCSSV, in this embodiment, further includes a valve closure mechanism disposed proximate a downhole end of the central bore, and a bore flow management actuator disposed in the central bore and configured to move between a closed state and a flow state to engage or disengage the valve closure mechanism to determine a flow condition of the production fluids through the central bore. The ESCSSV, in this embodiment, additionally includes an electric valve assembly fluidically coupled to the bore flow management actuator and configured to select between a section pressure or the annulus pressure to control the bore flow management actuator and determine the flow condition of production fluids through the central bore.

Abstract: A safety valve may include: an outer housing comprising a central bore extending axially through the outer housing; a flow tube including: a translating sleeve; and a flow tube main body disposed within the translating sleeve, wherein the flow tube main body has an upper end and a lower end; a piston operable to transmit a force to the translating sleeve; a flapper valve disposed on a distal end of the outer housing; and an electromagnet assembly operable to maintain the safety valve in an open state.

Abstract: Wellbore systems containing a hydraulically regulated primary safety valve may have their hydraulic regulation transferred to an insert safety valve disposed in a nipple. Such wellbore systems may comprise: a tubing string comprising a nipple and a primary safety valve, the primary safety valve being disposed in the tubing string below the nipple; and a control line and a balance line in hydraulic communication with the primary safety valve and in latent hydraulic communication with one or more switching mechanisms in the nipple. The one or more switching mechanisms in the nipple are actuatable to shut off hydraulic communication of the control line and the balance line below the nipple and to redirect, via one or more latent hydraulic lines, the hydraulic communication of the control line and the balance line to an insert safety valve positioned in a bore of the nipple.