Patent ID: 8931565
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A sleeve valve assembly comprises: a tubular housing; a port through the wall of the tubular housing, a sleeve valve installed in the tubular housing and being moveable within the tubular housing from a port-closed position covering the port to a port-open position exposing the port to fluid flow therethrough; a releasable lock holding the sleeve valve in the port-closed position and actuable to release the sleeve valve for movement, the releasable lock including a lock ring engaged between the sleeve valve and an activation sleeve, the activation sleeve including a plug-catching seat sized to retain and create a seal with a pressure conveyed plug to release the activation sleeve and to release the lock ring from engagement with the sleeve valve; a driver for applying a force to the sleeve valve to drive the sleeve valve from the port-closed position to the port-open position; and a sleeve valve movement delay mechanism configured after actuation of the releasable lock to delay movement of the sleeve valve into the port-open position until after a selected time has lapsed, the sleeve valve movement delay mechanism including a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber separated by a metering valve, the metering valve being moveable to increase the volume of the first hydraulic chamber and decrease the volume of the second hydraulic chamber when the sleeve valve moves toward the port-open position.