Patent ID: 7909102
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A casing valve for use in a well in combination with a shifting tool and a casing string, the well having a wellbore, the wellbore having a target completion interval, the casing valve being positioned in and attached to the casing string between casing members, the casing valve being placed proximate the target completion interval, the wellbore forming an annulus about at least part of the casing valve, the annulus being filled with cement, the cement substantially blocking the casing valve from the wellbore, the valve comprising: a body having a port matrix, the matrix having at least three port rows substantially aligned with the body and spaced substantially equally about the body, each port row having at least two ports; a shifting member within the body having a solid exterior surface, a distal end, and an interior profile for engagement by the shifting tool such that movement of the shifting tool moves the shifting member between a first position adjacent the ports, such that the ports are closed, and a second position non-adjacent the ports, such that the shifting member distal end is above the ports and the ports are open; a plurality of resilient sealing members, at least one sealing member being positioned above and at least one below the ports when the shifting member is in the first position; and a locking member for preventing the shifting member from returning to the first position from the second position; and further wherein the casing valve has a maximum exterior diameter, the attached casing members have a maximum exterior diameter, and the wellbore has a wall, the casing valve maximum exterior diameter being greater than the attached casing member maximum exterior diameters, such that the casing valve displaces at least part of the attached casing members from the wellbore wall.