IP Library Granted Patent US 12,454,873
Granted Patent B2
US 12,454,873 · App. 18/924,704 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

High flow insert safety valve that is well pressure insensitive

Inventors: Matthew Gassen (Carrollton, TX); James Dan Vick, Jr. (Carrollton, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B34/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,454,873
App. No.
18/924,704
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An insert valve configured to be installed, at least partially, in a safety valve in a borehole that includes a flow port disposed on an exterior of the insert valve, a poppet configured to control a fluid flow through the flow port, an upper piston rod, disposed uphole from the poppet, configured to move the poppet past at least part of the flow port, and a chamber, disposed downhole from the poppet that includes a chamber pressure, and a lower piston rod coupled to the poppet, where the lower piston rod is configured to exert a chamber piston force on the poppet.

Claims (56)

1. An insert valve configured to be installed, at least partially, in a safety valve in a borehole, comprising:

a flow port disposed on an exterior of the insert valve;

a poppet configured to control a fluid flow through the flow port;

an upper piston rod, disposed uphole from the poppet, configured to move the poppet past at least part of the flow port; and

a chamber, disposed downhole from the poppet, comprising:

a chamber pressure; and

a lower piston rod coupled to the poppet,

wherein the lower piston rod comprises:

an uphole piston area; and

a downhole piston area,

wherein the lower piston rod is configured to exert a chamber piston force on the poppet, and

wherein the chamber piston force exerted by the lower piston rod is caused by:

an area difference between the uphole piston area and the downhole piston area.

2. The insert valve of claim 1 , wherein the chamber piston force exerted by the lower piston rod is further caused by:

a pressure difference between the chamber pressure and a surrounding pressure.

3. The insert valve of claim 2 , wherein the surrounding pressure is caused by a hydrostatic head in the borehole.

4. The insert valve of claim 3 , wherein the chamber pressure is less than the surrounding pressure.

5. The insert valve of claim 4 , wherein the uphole piston area is smaller than the downhole piston area thereby causing the chamber piston force on the poppet to be a downward chamber piston force.

6. The insert valve of claim 4 , wherein the uphole piston area is greater than the downhole piston area thereby causing the chamber piston force on the poppet to be an upward chamber piston force.

7. The insert valve of claim 3 , wherein the chamber pressure is greater than the surrounding pressure.

8. The insert valve of claim 7 , wherein the uphole piston area is smaller than the downhole piston area thereby causing the chamber piston force on the poppet to be an upward chamber piston force.

9. The insert valve of claim 7 , wherein the uphole piston area is greater than the downhole piston area thereby causing the chamber piston force on the poppet to be a downward chamber piston force.

10. The insert valve of claim 2 , wherein the insert valve further comprises a spring configured to exert an upward force on the poppet.

11. The insert valve of claim 2 , wherein the insert valve is in hydraulic contact with a hydraulic control line.

12. The insert valve of claim 11 , wherein movement of the upper piston rod may be controlled via a pressure in the hydraulic control line.

13. The insert valve of claim 12 , wherein adding a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic control line causes the poppet to shift downhole.

14. The insert valve of claim 12 , wherein removing a hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic control line causes the poppet to shift uphole.

15. An insert valve installed in a surrounding pressure, comprising:

a poppet configured to control a fluid flow through a flow port;

an upper piston rod coupled to the poppet and configured to move the poppet past at least part of the flow port; and

a lower piston rod coupled to the poppet and configured to exert a chamber piston force on the poppet, wherein the lower piston rod traverses, at least partially, through a chamber,

wherein the lower piston rod comprises:

an uphole piston area; and

a downhole piston area

wherein a chamber pressure, in the chamber, causes the chamber piston force, and

wherein the chamber piston force exerted by the lower piston rod is caused by:

an area difference between the uphole piston area and the downhole piston area.

16. The insert valve of claim 15 , wherein the chamber piston force exerted by the lower piston rod is further caused by:

a pressure difference between the chamber pressure and the surrounding pressure.

17. The insert valve of claim 16 , wherein the insert valve is in hydraulic contact with a hydraulic control line.

18. A method, comprising:

disposing an insert valve into a borehole with a surrounding pressure, wherein the insert valve comprises:

a poppet configured to control a fluid flow through a flow port;

an upper piston rod coupled to the poppet and configured to move the poppet past at least part of the flow port; and

a lower piston rod coupled to the poppet and configured to exert a chamber piston force on the poppet, wherein the lower piston rod traverses, at least partially, through a chamber,

wherein the lower piston rod comprises:

an uphole piston area; and

a downhole piston area

wherein a chamber pressure, in the chamber, causes the chamber piston force, and

wherein the chamber piston force exerted by the lower piston rod is caused by:

an area difference between the uphole piston area and the downhole piston area; and

actuating the upper piston rod to move the poppet to control the fluid flow through the flow port.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein actuating the upper piston rod comprises:

supplying a hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic control line in fluid communication with the upper piston rod to move the poppet downhole.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein after supplying the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic control line, the method further comprises:

removing the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic control line to move the poppet uphole.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SECOND INVENTOR'S GIVEN NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 69055 FRAME 246. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE ASSIGNMENT, AS CORRECTED. Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: GASSEN, MATTHEW; VICK, JAMES DAN, JR.
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069290/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2024
From: GASSEN, MATTHEW; VICK, JANES DAN, JR.
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069055/0246 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63598410 · Nov 13, 2023
Related Publication 20250154849A1 · May 15, 2025
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