An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a gas lift valve and an isolation member. The gas lift valve includes a valve element that is located between an annulus and a passageway of a tubing. The valve element is adapted to selectively open and close to control fluid communication through the valve element. The isolation member is adapted to in a first state, isolate the valve element from at least one of the annulus and the passageway and in a second state, permit fluid communication between the valve element and the annulus or passageway.

Gas lift valve assembly

Apparatus, assembly and process for allowing gas lift operations to be conducted along a relatively long perforated interval below a packer in a subterranean well. An elongated segregation member is lowered into locking engagement with a bypass mandrel secured to a tubing string above the packer. This segregation member is configured and dimensioned to define two fluid flow paths. Fluid produced into the well from the subterranean region is conveyed to the surface via the second flow path and can be assisted by gas injected into the first flow path via retrievable gas lift valves in the tubing string above and below the packer. Pressurized gas is conveyed via the first flow path to these retrievable gas lift valves.

Apparatus, assembly and process for injecting fluid into a subterranean well

A gas lift valve of the unloading type having a main valve for controlling fluid flow between a well casing and a well tubing, a volume of compressible liquid a spaced distance from said main valve and subject to casing pressure, and a pilot valve between the main valve and the compressible liquid for controlling opening and closing of the main valve by permitting casing pressure to act thereon or to isolate it therefrom as the volume of the compressible liquid changes in response to changes in casing pressure to which it is subjected. Gas lift well systems utilizing such gas lift valves and methods for operating such gas lift well systems are also disclosed.

Gas lift valve.

A gas lift valve assembly includes a housing that includes a first passageway that is substantially concentric with the central passageway of a string to communicate well fluid and a second passageway that is eccentrically disposed with respect to the central passageway to communicate a second fluid to lift the well fluid. The gas lift valve assembly includes a valve that is disposed in the second passageway and includes a ball valve to regulate communication of the second fluid.

Gas lift valve

A valve apparatus capable of withstanding high pressures and techniques for using this apparatus in various suitable applications are provided. The valve apparatus typically includes both an upper bellows comprising a standard, convoluted bellows and a lower bellows comprising an edge-welded bellows. The valve apparatus may also include a floating, constant volume fluid chamber that travels with the lower edge-welded bellows as the lower bellows compresses and expands in an effort to protect the lower bellows from very high internal volume fluid pressure.

Gas lift valve with mixed bellows and floating constant volume fluid chamber

A gas lift valve for use in a continuous flow operation which has an externally biased bellows which is pressurized internally to open the valve. A noncompressible liquid surrounds the bellows and flows upwardly through a passage about the valve stem into a dome in the valve which is pressurized to a predetermined pressure to resist movement of the bellows and opening of the valve. Fluid passes through a series of labyrinth rings formed on the valve stem adjacent the passage into the dome to dampen valve movement. An O-ring seal on the valve stem below the passage into the dome engages and seals off the passage if excessive pressure expands the bellows to a predetermined point such that the bellows will be protected from rupture by the noncompressible liquid trapped about the bellows. A snubber ring of nonmetallic material is positioned about the lower end of the valve stem to limit lateral movement of the valve ball in the seat. A travel limit spring in the pressure chamber between the valve stem and the housing and is compressed to limit upward movement of the valve stem. A throttling spring exerts upward pressure on the valve stem to reduce valve hysteresis and minimize the pressure differential across the bellows. The throttling spring and bellows work together with the valve ball and seat assembly to cause a reduced gas flow through the valve as the tubing pressure reduces. The reaction of the throttling spring and bellows facilitates the even, continuous flow of the gas.

An apparatus and system for alternately venting and lifting fluid from an accumulator in which the alternate connection of the accumulator with a vent and a gas source is controlled by the differential in pressure between two tubes, one of which contains well fluids and the other of which contains well fluids and into which a small quantity of gas is bled.

William A. Dudley

Papers

Gas lift valve

Gas lift system