Abstract: A well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit having a tubular housing and valve closure member moving between open and closed positions by a longitudinally tubular member telescopically movable in the housing. A piston and cylinder assembly is positioned in the housing, connected to the tubular member, and actuated by hydraulic fluid from the well surface for moving the valve to an open position. The valve prevents pressure in the well conduit from affecting the opening or closing of the valve by providing first and second spaced seal means between the tubular member and the housing for preventing fluid pressure in the tubular member from communicating with the piston and cylinder assembly. The outside diameter of the tubular member on which the first and second seals engage are of the same diameter whereby the tubular member is pressure balanced.

Abstract: A communication nipple for communicating control fluid flow from the outside of a well tool to the inside of a well tool through a fluid passage in the well tool without the use of elastomer seals. A metal breakable screw extends vertically into and initially blocks the passageway with a metal-to-metal seal and extends to the inside of the well tool. The screw includes a cavity exposed to the passageway. A vertically-moving breaking sleeve is connected to the screw and is adapted to break the screw in tension and expose the cavity to the interior of the well tool when the sleeve is moved away from the screw. The present apparatus is particularly useful for supplying hydraulic control fluid into the valve bore of a first well safety valve for controlling a second safety valve positioned in the first valve bore.

Abstract: A dynamic metal-to-metal seal for use in a double acting piston and cylinder for use in high pressures and temperatures. First and second metal cup seals engage the piston and face in opposite directions for sealing against the cylinder wall whereby the higher pressure in the cylinder acting against the first or second seal will move the piston. In order to prevent high differential pressures across the seals when the piston is actuated, means are provided for transmitting fluid pressure from the lower pressure in the cylinder to the cylinder between the cup seal. The piston includes first and second oppositely directed seats with first and second metal seals telescopically movable on the piston adjacent one of the seats and each metal seal includes a sealing surface adapted to mate with one of the seats. Each metal seal also includes an outwardly directed cup seal extending away from their seats and sealingly engaging the cylinder.

Abstract: A well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well tubing in which at least one piston having a small cross-sectional area for reducing the effect of high hydrostatic forces controls the opening and closing of the valve. The piston has a piston rod extending upwardly from the piston for connection to the tubular member controlling the valve whereby the piston and piston rod are acted on in tension by hydraulic control fluid and avoids subjecting the small piston to compression loads. A stop is provided on the piston on the side remote from the upwardly extending piston rod for preventing compression loading on the piston in the event the tubing pressure is greater than the control fluid pressure. The connection between the piston rod and the tubular member includes at least one telescopically movable elongate member having a greater cross-sectional area than the piston rod and is connected between the piston rod and the tubular member.

Abstract: In a well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit in which the valve has a housing and a flow tube controlling a valve element, the improvement in means for opening and closing the valve. A gas chamber is positioned in the housing with a fluid passageway positioned between the gas chamber and a port for receiving fluid pressure from the well surface for increasing the pressure of the gas in the chamber. One or more pistons are movably positioned in the passageway between the gas chamber and the port with the pistons restricting but allowing fluid flow through the passageway. The pistons are connected to the flow tube whereby when pressure on the port side of the pistons is reduced compressed gas in the gas chamber will act on the fluid in the gas chamber side of the piston to move the pistons in a direction to close the valve. A check valve may be in parallel with the pistons for quickly pressuring the gas chamber.

Abstract: A tool for setting or pulling a subsurface tool from a conduit having a pressure charge gas piston and cylinder which are releasably locked together. The piston and cylinder is actuated by setting slips on the tool and unlocking the piston and cylinder. First and second shoulders are actuated by the piston and cylinder to set or pull the well tool. The piston and cylinder includes a movable member initially limiting the communication of the gas with the piston. Drag blocks are connected to the slips for preventing expansion of the slips on downward movement of the tool, and a connection between the tool body and one of the piston and cylinder will set the slips on upward movement of the body and release the piston and cylinder. The tool is particularly useful in setting and pulling a safety valve from a flowline.

Abstract: A tubing retrievable differential pressure operated well safety valve which closes at a predetermined rate of flow which may be changed from the well surface. A housing is adapted to be threadedly connected to well tubing. A spring forces a flow tube and choke bean downwardly to normally hold the valve open, but when the producing rate increases to a preset value the bean and flow tube moves upwardly overcoming the spring allowing the valve to close. A releasable connection is provided between the choke bean and the flow tube for connecting the choke bean to and releasing the choke bean from the flow tube by longitudinal movement of the bean relative to the flow tube. The connection may include a collet interconnecting the beam and the flow tube in which the collet includes an enlargement for engaging a recess in the bean. The flow tube includes a backup shoulder for locking the enlargement in the recess and also includes an opening for allowing the collet to become released from the bean.

Abstract: A tubular housing having an inner tubular member forms an inner passageway inside of the inner member and an outer passageway between the inner member and the housing. The housing has valve openings leading from the outer passageway to the exterior of the housing and a tubular valve closure member telescopically moves on the interior of the housing. First means move the valve closure member in an upper direction for closing the openings and at least one actuating piston is telescopically movable within and has its longitudinal axis in the wall of the housing and engages the valve closure member. The piston is in communication with a hydraulic passageway adapted to extend to the well surface for actuating the closure member in a direction to open the valve openings. The closure member is positioned whereby upward flow through the outer passageway acts on the closure member to close the valve opening.

Abstract: In a well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit in which the valve has a housing and a tubular member controlling a valve element the improvement in means for opening and closing the valve. At least one piston is telescopically movable within and has its longitudinal axis within the wall of the housing and outside of the tubular member and engages the tubular member. The first side of the piston is in communication with a hydraulic passageway adapted to extend to the well surface for opening the valve. The second side of the piston extends into a closed gas chamber tending to move the valve to the closed position. The piston has a small cross-sectional area for reducing the pressure effect in the gas chamber of the gas caused by movement of the second side of the piston whereby the differential between the opening and closing forces are reduced thereby allowing the valve to be used at greater depths in the well.

Abstract: In a well valve such as a safety valve or gas lift valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well tubing having a valve closure member with means for moving the valve member in a direction to open the valve and spring means acting against the opening force for moving the valve to a closed position, the improvement of an external adjustment for adjusting the spring closing force. A shoulder member is longitudinally movable in the housing but non-rotatably movable relative to the housing and abuts the spring. Adjusting means is rotatably connected, but is longitudinally fixed, relative to the housing and is exposed to the exterior of the housing for allowing external rotation of the adjusting means. Coacting threads between the shoulder means and the adjusting means moves the shoulder toward and away from the spring by externally rotating the adjusting means thereby varying the closing force of the spring.

Abstract: A lockout for use with a fluid injection valve which injects fluids in a tubing string of a well. The lockout, when actuated, holds the injection valve open for allowing passage of well tools therethrough; but when deactuated, allows the injection valve to operate normally. In combination with a spring-loaded, normally closed injection valve, which is opened by pressure actuating a flow tube in response to injection flow, of a lockout having a second flow tube coaxially aligned with the first flow tube for engagement therewith, piston means connected to the second flow tube and adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure from the well surface for moving the second flow tube against the first flow tube for holding the injection valve open, and a biasing spring acting against the second flow tube for moving the second flow tube away from the first flow tube whereby the injection valve may operate normally and independently of the lockout.

Abstract: In a well safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit in which the valve has a housing and a valve element movable in the housing between an open and closed position for controlling the flow through a passageway in the housing and means for biasing the valve element to a closed position, the improvement in piston means for moving the valve element into an open position. A piston is telescopically mounted in the housing, is controlled by fluid from the well surface, and is offset from the passageway. The piston has a small cross-sectional area for reducing the effect of hydrostatic forces acting on the piston whereby the valve may be used at greater depths in the well. The piston has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the valve passageway for ease of manufacture and less expense. Preferably the piston is positioned within the wall of the housing, and may be a solid cylinder or may be tubular one outside diameter with a second lower section of a greater outside diameter.