IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680429
Granted Patent B2
US 12680429 · App. 18/925,487 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Tail plug and assembly for gas lift valve

Inventor: Aaron Michael Benjamin Skeete (Katy, TX)
Assignee: TALLY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
E21B43/123Y10T137/2934
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680429
App. No.
18/925,487
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved tail plug and assembly for a gas lift valve for use in oil and gas wells. The tail plug assists in preventing a pressurized component of the gas lift valve from depressurizing through leaks in the valve to the ambient. At least portion of the tail plug may be formed from brass and other portions of the gas lift valve may be formed from stainless steel. The tail plug may be maintained in the gas lift valve via an NPT treaded connection. The tail plug may further prevent leaks via an O-ring and/or a crush washer.

Claims (64)

1 . A gas lift valve, comprising:

a gas chamber inside the gas lift valve;

a dome cap at least partially formed from stainless steel having a bore there-through, where the bore includes a first end in fluid communication with the gas chamber and a second end in fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere outside the gas lift valve; and

a tail plug at least partially formed from brass for sealing at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap,

wherein the tail plug incudes a first region including an O-ring seal and a second region, separated from the first region, including a crush washer, where the first region is closer to the first end of the bore of the dome cap than the second region.

2 . The gas lift valve of claim 1 wherein the tail plug seals at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap to substantially prevent a gas in the gas chamber from leaking through the dome cap to the ambient atmosphere outside the gas lift valve.

3 . The gas lift valve of claim 2 wherein the tail plug seals the bore of the dome cap via a threaded connection.

4 . The gas lift valve of claim 3 wherein the threaded connection is an NPT connection.

5 . The gas lift valve of claim 4 wherein the threaded connection is a brass to stainless steel connection.

6 . The gas lift valve of claim 5 wherein the O-ring seal is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap.

7 . The gas lift valve of claim 6 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap.

8 . The gas lift valve of claim 7 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug closer to the second end of the bore of the dome cap than the O-ring seal.

9 . The gas lift valve of claim 8 further comprising a gas injection valve core disposed in the bore of the dome cap between the first end of the bore and the second end of the bore.

10 . The gas lift valve of claim 9 wherein the gas injection valve core is disposed in the bore of the dome cap closer to the first end of the bore of the dome cap than the tail plug.

11 . The gas lift valve of claim 10 wherein the dome cap is detachable from the gas lift valve.

12 . The gas lift valve of claim 11 wherein the crush washer is made from copper.

13 . A gas lift valve, comprising:

a gas chamber;

a bore at least partially formed from stainless steel having a first end in fluid communication with the gas chamber and a second end in fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere; and

a tail plug at least partially formed from brass for sealing at least a portion of the bore,

wherein the tail plug incudes a first region including an O-ring seal and a second region, separated from the first region, including a crush washer, where the first region is closer to the first end of the bore of the dome cap than the second region.

14 . The gas lift valve of claim 13 wherein the tail plug seals at least a portion of the bore to substantially prevent a gas in the gas chamber from leaking through the bore to the ambient atmosphere.

15 . The gas lift valve of claim 14 wherein the tail plug seals the bore via a threaded connection.

16 . The gas lift valve of claim 15 wherein the threaded connection is an NPT connection.

17 . The gas lift valve of claim 16 wherein the threaded connection is a brass to stainless steel connection.

18 . The gas lift valve of claim 17 wherein the O-ring seal is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore.

19 . The gas lift valve of claim 18 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore.

20 . The gas lift valve of claim 19 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug closer to the second end of the bore than the O-ring seal.

21 . The gas lift valve of claim 20 further comprising a gas injection valve core disposed in the bore between the first end of the bore and the second end of the bore.

22 . The gas lift valve of claim 21 wherein the gas injection valve core is disposed in the bore closer to the first end of the bore than the tail plug.

23 . The gas lift valve of claim 22 wherein the crush washer is made from copper.

24 . A gas lift valve, comprising:

a gas chamber inside the gas lift valve;

a dome cap having a bore there-through, where the bore includes a first end in fluid communication with the gas chamber and a second end in fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere outside the gas lift valve; and

a tail plug for sealing at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap,

wherein the tail plug incudes a first region including an O-ring seal and a second region, separated from the first region, including a crush washer, where the first region is closer to the first end of the bore of the dome cap than the second region.

25 . The gas lift valve of claim 24 wherein the tail plug seals at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap to substantially prevent a gas in the gas chamber from leaking through the dome cap to the ambient atmosphere outside the gas lift valve.

26 . The gas lift valve of claim 25 wherein the tail plug seals the bore of the dome cap via a threaded connection.

27 . The gas lift valve of claim 26 wherein the threaded connection is an NPT connection.

28 . The gas lift valve of claim 27 wherein the threaded connection is a brass to stainless steel connection.

29 . The gas lift valve of claim 28 wherein the O-ring seal is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap.

30 . The gas lift valve of claim 29 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore of the dome cap.

31 . The gas lift valve of claim 30 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug closer to the second end of the bore of the dome cap than the O-ring seal.

32 . The gas lift valve of claim 31 further comprising a gas injection valve core disposed in the bore of the dome cap between the first end of the bore and the second end of the bore.

33 . The gas lift valve of claim 32 wherein the gas injection valve core is disposed in the bore of the dome cap closer to the first end of the bore of the dome cap than the tail plug.

34 . The gas lift valve of claim 33 wherein the dome cap is detachable from the gas lift valve.

35 . The gas lift valve of claim 34 wherein the crush washer is made from copper.

36 . The gas lift valve of claim 35 wherein the tail plug is at least partially formed from brass.

37 . A gas lift valve, comprising:

a gas chamber;

a bore having a first end in fluid communication with the gas chamber and a second end in fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere; and

a tail plug for sealing at least a portion of the bore,

wherein the tail plug incudes a first region including an O-ring seal and a second region, separated from the first region, including a crush washer, where the first region is closer to the first end of the bore of the dome cap than the second region.

38 . The gas lift valve of claim 37 wherein the tail plug seals at least a portion of the bore to substantially prevent a gas in the gas chamber from leaking through the bore to the ambient atmosphere.

39 . The gas lift valve of claim 38 wherein the tail plug seals the bore via a threaded connection.

40 . The gas lift valve of claim 39 wherein the threaded connection is an NPT connection.

41 . The gas lift valve of claim 40 wherein the threaded connection is a brass to stainless steel connection.

42 . The gas lift valve of claim 41 wherein the O-ring seal is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore.

43 . The gas lift valve of claim 42 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug to further seal at least a portion of the bore.

44 . The gas lift valve of claim 43 wherein the crush washer is disposed around the tail plug closer to the second end of the bore than the O-ring seal.

45 . The gas lift valve of claim 44 further comprising a gas injection valve core disposed in the bore between the first end of the bore and the second end of the bore.

46 . The gas lift valve of claim 45 wherein the gas injection valve core is disposed in the bore closer to the first end of the bore than the tail plug.

47 . The gas lift valve of claim 46 wherein the crush washer is made from copper.

48 . The gas lift valve of claim 47 wherein the tail plug is at least partially formed from brass.