Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a hydraulic jet pump housing system for selective positioning of a slidable, ported inner sleeve using wireline shifting tools in a downhole condition which allows flow between the annulus and tubing string through the ported outer sleeve housing and ported inner sleeve when in the open position. When the ported inner sleeve is in the closed position, the annulus and tubing string are isolated from each other. The open position permits normal functioning of a hydraulic jet pump when seated in a standing valve in the same manner as a conventional hydraulic jet pump cavity assembly. The hydraulic jet pump can be extracted and inner sleeve shifted closed without using a blanking tool so that annular fluids are prevented from flowing into the production formation through the tubing string when the standing valve is removed.

Description:
RELATION TO PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/727,434 filed on Nov. 16, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to valves and, more particularly, is concerned with housings for valves of the type having side doors being useful with hydraulic jet pumps used in the oil and gas industry. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cavities/housings for containing valve assemblies for use with jet pump systems have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     The conventional hydraulic jet pump system, including the cavity/housing and hydraulic jet pump, have and still do address unique types of obstacles in specific types of well conditions where artificial lift is desired. That uniqueness occurs when three common factors become apparent, but not limited to those factors only, as follows: (1) they are too deep for rod pumping; (2) they have high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide present; and, (3) their bottom hole pressure depletes to the point that they cannot support any column of fluid. The related art for this assortment of production obstacles was the introduction and use of hydraulic jet pumps and cavities/housings and related surface accessories. Production flow results from fluid (power fluid, e.g., oil) being pumped down the tubing and through the hydraulic jet pump (seated in a standing valve above a packer) where a Ventura effect causes a siphoning of production fluid into the pump which then flows into the annulus and back to surface storage. The hydraulic jet pump cavity/housing houses the hydraulic jet pump on-seat while this action occurs. The conventional hydraulic jet pump cavity/housing has ports that allow for the production fluid flowing out of the hydraulic jet pump to flow into and up the annulus. If there is no hydraulic jet pump or blanking tool in place in the hydraulic jet pump cavity, the annulus and tubing string are completely flow communicated. The blanking tool serves as an insertion device in the cavity to prevent flow between the annulus and tubing string. The blanking tool cannot be inserted until the standing valve is removed, which opens an unrestricted flow path to the production formation prior to the blanking tool being inserted and sealed. The blanking tool only holds pressure from inside (with limited pressure from the outside) and has an extremely restricted inside diameter. These three factors result in the blanking tool not being dependable and having low utility where downhole operations, controls and treatments are concerned. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,427 dated May 15, 1984, Mashaw, Jr. disclosed a piston expanded metallic seal for side door weld valve. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0144744 dated Jun. 28, 2007, Wong disclosed a valve apparatus with seal assembly. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,005 dated Dec. 24, 1985, Helderle, et al., disclosed a sliding sleeve valve for an oil well. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0259595 dated Oct. 27, 2011, Nguy, et al., disclosed a mechanical sliding sleeve. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0119594 dated May 31, 2007, Turner, et al., disclosed a hydraulic sleeve valve with position indication, alignment and bypass. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,038 dated Nov. 15, 1983, Schmuck disclosed a formation protection valve apparatus and method. 
     While these valves for use with hydraulic jet pump systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a hydraulic jet pump housing or cavity that provides greater utility in a downhole condition. The present invention allows for opening and closing of ports by means of wireline shifting tools where the annulus and tubing string are flow communicated or the annulus and tubing string are flow isolated from each other. Also, the apparatus incorporates a slidable inner ported sleeve encased by a ported outer housing. The apparatus also incorporates a standing valve seat in the lower section of the cavity to allow for the placement of a standing valve within the apparatus. Dimensionally, this apparatus internally has the same sealing points and similar flow paths as a conventional hydraulic jet pump cavity/housing which allows any well owner to use the same style and size hydraulic jet pumps that are presently used on existing wells that are on hydraulic jet pump systems. The only required adjustment normally will be to replace the existing jet nozzle adapter sub with an extended (lengthened) version, i.e., a nozzle extension, for proper spacing of the hydraulic jet pump within the hydraulic jet pump cavity/housing. Note that due to the apparatus having the same sealing points, a pressure balanced isolation tool can be inserted to isolate the annulus from the tubing string should there be reasons the apparatus could not be closed or utilize the valve as a means for fresh water or chemical injection from the annulus into the produced fluids. 
     An object of the present invention is to minimize costs for well operators converting from convention hydraulic pump cavities to the present invention where they gain considerable utility over conventional hydraulic jet pump cavities. 
     Another object of the present invention is the ability to select the option of an open flow path between the annulus and tubing string or a closed flow path between the annulus and tubing string due to selectively positioning to an open or closed position by manipulation of the slideable ported inner sleeve. Better control of well fluids flow is achieved by these open or closed position options. One aspect of the present invention allows for the placing of this apparatus in the initial well completion in the closed position, with its full opening inside diameter. Subsequently, when the well ceases to flow, it can easily be converted to a hydraulic jet pump system. Also, prior to inserting a standing valve and a hydraulic jet pump, the well can have downhole operations performed such as, but not limited to, the following: slickline operations, electric line operations, coil tubing operations, TCP perforating, treatments, stimulations and dependable swabbing performed in a closed and controlled system. 
     Another object of the present invention is to control fluid loss to the subterranean low pressure production formation when a standing valve is removed. Eventually, hydraulic jet pumps and standing valves are removed from downhole assemblies and with the option of closing and isolating the annulus from the tubing string the loss of annular fluid into production formation is stopped when is standing valve is pulled, i.e., removed, which opens a flow path to the subterranean low pressure production formation. 
     Advantages of the present invention include that it provides a valve assembly for use with a hydraulic jet pump cavity/housing which allows for selective positioning of a slideable, ported inner sleeve using wireline shifting tools in a downhole condition. The selective positioning allows flow communication from and to the annulus and tubing string through the ported outer sleeve housing and ported inner sleeve when in the open position. When the ported inner sleeve is in the closed position, the annulus and tubing string are isolated from each other. The open position permits normal functioning of a hydraulic jet pump when seated in a standing valve as power fluid is pumped down the tubing causing a ventura effect on the production fluids from low pressure subterranean production formation in the same manner as a conventional hydraulic jet pump cavity assembly. When the hydraulic jet pump is extracted and inner sleeve is shifted to closed position, eliminating the use of a blanking tool as required by the related art, annular fluids are prevented from flowing into the production formation through the tubing string when the standing valve is removed. Also, a large inner diameter is available through the standing valve seat, where a variety of operations can be performed while the tubing string is isolated from the annulus. This hydraulic jet pump cavity allows its inclusion in an initial completion where low pressure subterranean production formations are expected after initial production flow. It can be incorporated into the initial completion equipment in the closed position without restricting the tubing access to the production formation for future operations which may include putting the well on a hydraulic jet pump system. Also, the present invention eliminates the need of a blanking tool to provide tubing to casing annulus isolation. Also, the present invention eliminates the need to re-complete the well by including the pump cavity in the well bore during initial completion which also saves money by eliminating lost production time or lost days of production and eliminates the rig cost for re-completing the well. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a longitudinal full section view of the system including a sliding sleeve valve in the closed position just above the packoff device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  with a standing valve installed and sliding sleeve valve in the closed position with limited flow of well fluids. 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  with the sliding sleeve valve in the open position showing limited flow of well fluids. 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 3  with the hydraulic jet pump in place redirecting well fluids to the surface with the hydraulic pressure from the surface. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the hydraulic jet pump ports lined up with the ports of the sliding sleeve valve. 
         FIG. 6  is the hydraulic jet pump nozzle extension required to line up with the ports of the sliding sleeve valve. 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal full section view of a sliding sleeve valve in the open position. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view showing additional details of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view showing additional details of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a half section view of a modified shifting tool which may be used with certain operations related to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a half section view of a type “B” shifting tool which may be used with certain operations related to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12-15  are longitudinal full section views of the system illustrating how a shifting tool is used to open or close the sliding sleeve valve of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a half section view of an inner valve sleeve. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  tubing conduit     14  arrow     15  arrow     16  well conduit     18  valve assembly     20  packer     22  ports     24  standing valve     25  ball     26  standing valve seat insert     28  annulus     30  inner valve sleeve     34  outer valve sleeve     36  modified shifting tool     38  hydraulic jet pump     39  discharge apertures     40  nozzle extension     41  seal     42  tapered seat     44  top sub     46  threaded connection     47  coupling     48  threads     50  middle sub     52  set screw     54  upper seal     56  sealing member end adapter     58  seal backup     60  spring energized seal     62  spring energizer     64  diffuser end adapter     66  O-ring     70  split ring retainer     72  lower middle sub thread     74  lower sub     76  set screw     78  lower seal     80  O-ring     82  teflon backup ring     84  bottom sub     88  O-ring     90  teflon backup ring     92  threaded sealing tubing connection     94  upper packing bore     96  lower packing bore     98  threads     100  port     102  upper end     104  lower end     106  top sub     108  set screw     110  spacer     112  upper key retainer     114  spring     116  keys     118  lower key retainer     120  collet     122  body     124  type “B” shifting tool     126  set screw     128  top sub     130  shear pin x     132  key retainer (top)     134  collet     136  spring x     138  keys     140  key retainer (bottom)     142  body     144  seal assembly     146  seal assembly     148  seal assembly     150  polished pack-off area     152  polished pack-off area     154  wireline tool string       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 16  illustrate the present invention wherein a housing for a valve assembly for use with a hydraulic jet pump is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number  10 . 
     The present invention  10  discloses a well downhole hydraulic jet pump cavity or housing system incorporating a sliding sleeve valve assembly for flow control. The present invention  10  differs, at a minimum, from conventional flow control sliding valves in that it discloses aligned and enlarged flow ports, a standing valve seat, non-elastomeric seals or packing gland areas to accommodate conventional hydraulic jet pumps, and other associated elements which will be disclosed in the description which follows. 
     The system of the present invention  10  can be assembled for use in a string of tubing conduit to form a part of that string as a method of retrieving well fluids from the desired producing formation of the subterranean formations of the well. This is a specialized method used in a string of production tubing primarily, but not limited to, production tubing use, but it is expected that it could also be used on other conduits used in the well. 
     For purposes of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the terms “longitudinal” and “transverse” will be used with reference to the system as a whole, “length” of the system or a part thereof will be with reference to the longitudinal direction of the system as a whole; “depth” will be with reference to a longitudinal direction with respect to the system as a whole; and “width” will be with reference to a transverse or circumferential direction with respect to the system as a whole. 
     Also, throughout this specification, the process of shifting parts or elements of the present invention  10  referenced herein is accomplished with the use of a wireline shifting tool  36 , which is specially made, or  124  (best shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the system configured for two-way inward and outward flow as indicated by arrow  14  in the tubing conduit  12 . This configuration has no standing valve in the system. The tubing conduit  12  is shown internal the well conduit  16  along with valve assembly  18  which is connected to the packoff sealing device  20  at its lower end, i.e., the packer, that is run into the well conduit  16  from the surface to a desired setting depth and the packoff device  20  is activated and set in place to create a seal with the well conduit  16 . Note that the ports  22  are closed by the inner valve sleeve  30  being shifted upwardly longitudinally. Also shown is annulus  28  between the tubing conduit  12  and well conduit  16 . Also shown is coupling  47 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown the system configured for only outward flow in the tubing conduit  12  as shown by arrow  14  with a conventional standing valve  24  being installed similar to that used in the related art which is a type of check valve disposed in position against the standing valve seat  26  so that the standing valve allows only outward flow as shown by ball  25  being off its seat. Note that the ports  22  are closed by the inner valve sleeve  30  being shifted upwardly longitudinally. Also shown by stippling are polished pack-off areas  150 ,  152  on the inner surface of valve assembly  18  wherein pack-off area  150  receives the seal  41  from the hydraulic jet pump  38  (see  FIG. 4 ) and pack-off area  152  can receive and accommodate other flow control devices which are widely used in the oil and gas industry. While all  FIGS. 1-4  include the polished pack-off areas  150 ,  152 , only  FIG. 2  illustrates the stippling. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown the system configured for the circulating mode for two way flow in both the tubing conduit  12  and the annulus  28  as shown by arrows  14  and  15  wherein the inner valve sleeve  30  is shifted in the downward longitudinal direction to allow the ports  22  in the inner valve sleeve  30  to align with the ports  22  in the outer valve sleeve  34  (note that sleeve  34  is referred to as the middle sub  50  in  FIG. 7 ) to allow fluid communication between the bore of the inner tubing conduit  12  and annulus  28 . The standing valve  24  is closed as shown by ball  25  being seated. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown the system configured in the production mode with outward flow in the annulus  28  as shown by arrow  15  and inward flow in the tubing conduct  12  as shown by arrows  14  and  15  having the ports  22  open. Also shown is a conventional hydraulic jet pump  38  and a nozzle extension  40 . The conventional hydraulic jet pump  38  of the related art is fitted with a unique nozzle extension  40  (see detailed view  FIG. 6 ) and pumped down or run in with wireline or like device and landed with the tapered seat  42  on its nose contacting the outlet of the standing valve  24  which is open as shown by ball  25  being off its seat. In this configuration (as best seen in enlarged  FIG. 5 ) the ports  22  in the sliding sleeve valve  18  and the hydraulic jet pump  38  and its multiple discharge apertures  39  are in line relative to longitudinal length, depth and width with each other due to the use of the nozzle extension  40 . Also, the inner valve sleeve  30  is shifted downwardly. The hydraulic jet pump  38  is held in place hydrostatically from tubing pressure above the pump. 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown the previously disclosed nozzle extension  40  having upper  102  and lower  104  ends. The unique nozzle extension  40  was developed to space the hydraulic jet pump  38  away from the standing valve  24  so that its (the hydraulic jet pump) side ports  22  align with the port created by shifting the inner valve sleeve down and tubing conduit ports for transferring production fluid from the jet pump into the annulus for flow upwardly for surface storage as best shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown the present invention  10  including the valve assembly  18  having a top sub  44  which connects to the lower end of tubing conduit  12  by means of a threaded tubing conduit connection area  46  for receiving mating coupling  47 . The lower end of top sub  44  is threaded at  48  to the middle sub  50  which serves as a seal housing and locked in place with set screws  52  and upper seal  54 . The middle sub or seal housing  50  (note that middle sub  50  is referred to as the outer valve sleeve  34  in  FIG. 3 ) includes the non-elastomeric sealing assembly members  144 ,  146 , above and below ports  22 , respectively, as shown in the enlargement in  FIG. 8  and includes the sealing member end adapter  56 , seal backup  58 , spring energized seal  60 , and spring assisted energizer  62  which make up the upper and lower sealing members of the sliding valve sleeve  18 ; also, the diffuser end adapter  64  and O-ring  66  make up the equalizing bypass seal for the sliding valve sleeve  18 ; the diffuser seal adapter or device  64  is held in place with the split ring retainer  70 . These together provide sealing means for the inner sliding valve sleeve  30 . The non-elastomeric sealing assembly members  144 ,  146  provide better seals to prevent leaking and also make sliding/shifting easier because they resist sticking to the inner surface of the valve assembly  18 . Continuing with  FIG. 7 , the lower end of the middle sub or seal housing  50  is threaded at  72  and is connected to the lower sub/insert housing  74  of the sliding valve assembly  18  and locked in place with upper and lower set screws  76 . The lower sub/insert housing  74  seals to the middle sub/seal housing  50  with lower seal  78 . Bottom sub  84  is threaded onto lower sub  74  and locked in place with set screws  76 . Note that each of the upper and lower seals  54  and  78  of  FIG. 7  are the same as elements  90 ,  88 ,  90  taken together as shown in  FIG. 9 . Also shown is seal assembly  148  also shown in the enlargement in  FIG. 9 . Also shown are upper packing bore  94 , lower packing bore  96 , threads  98  and port  100  in middle sub  50 . 
     Turning to enlarged view  FIG. 8 , therein is shown the non-elastomeric seal assembly  144  and  146  disclosing the sealing member end adapter  56 , seal backup  58 , spring energized seal  60 , and spring assisted energizer  62  which make up the upper and lower sealing members of the sliding valve sleeve  18 . Also, the diffuser end adapter  64  and O-ring  66  make up the equalizing bypass seal for the sliding valve sleeve  18 . The diffuser seal adapter or device  64  is held in place with the split ring retainer  70 . These seal assemblies  144  and  146  together provide sealing means for the inner sliding valve sleeve  30 . Also shown is middle sub  50 , inner valve sleeve  30  and ports  22 . 
     Turning to enlarged view  FIG. 9 , therein is shown the seal assembly  148  disclosing the standing valve seat insert  26  which includes O-ring  80  and its two teflon backup rings  82  to provide a seal with the inside diameter of the lower sub  74  when installed. Bottom sub  84  seals against lower sub  74  using O-ring  88  and its two backup rings  90 . Bottom sub  84  is connected to the packoff device  20  (not shown, see  FIGS. 1-4 ) with a threaded sealing tubing connection  92 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 10 , shown therein is the special modified shortened shifting tool  36  used for opening the valve assembly  18  with standing valve  24  in place including the top sub  106 , set screw  108 , spacer  110 , upper key retainer  112 , spring  114 , keys  116 , lower key retainer  118 , collet  120  and body  122 . The shifting tool  36  is designed according to the teachings of the present invention to selectively locate and shift most sliding side door sleeves or valve assemblies  18 . This is accomplished by the shifting tool&#39;s  36  keys  116  engaging the valve assembly  18  inner sleeve  30  wherein the sleeve is shifted down to open the valve. The keys  116  have been modified to allow the shortened shifting tool  36  to shift the sleeve of the valve assembly  18  open with the standing valve  24  in place. 
     The method of using a conventional hydraulic jet pump  38  is different according to the teachings of the present invention  10  because a shortened extension  40  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) has been developed to provide the proper alignment between the pump  38  and the sliding sleeve ports  22  when the pump  38  is run in and seated in the standing valve seat  24  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Ports  22  are also enlarged according to the teachings of the present invention  10 . Having the ports  22  aligned and enlarged reduces well fluid turbulence and pressure loss from production fluids when in the production mode (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     Turning to  FIG. 11 , shown therein is a conventional Type-B self releasing shifting or positioning tool  124  which may be used to open the valve assembly  18  and is always used to close the valve, and, it can only be used to open the valve when the standing valve  24  is not in place. Shown are the set screw  126 , top sub  128 , shear pin  130 , top key retainer  132 , collet  134 , spring  136 , keys  138 , bottom key retainer  140  and body  142 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 12 to 15 , shown therein are examples of using a shifting tool  36  or  124  to shift the inner sleeve  30  of valve assembly  18 .  FIG. 12  shows the shifting tool  36  in place to shift the valve  18  to open from closed;  FIG. 13  shows the valve  18  shifted open and shifting tool  36  being removed;  FIG. 14  shows the shifting tool  124  in place to shift the valve  18  closed from open; and,  FIG. 15  shows the valve  18  shifted closed and shifting tool  124  being removed. Also shown is a wireline tool string  154  being used to run in the shifting tool  36  or  124 . Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 16 , shown therein is the inner valve sleeve  30  along with the effectively enlarged and substantially square shaped ports  22  which enhance fluid flow by reducing fluid turbulence. The ports  22  are effectively sized so as to maximize the total area dedicated to the ports which would be attainable from the maximum surface area available from a given diameter of sleeve. 
     A short concise summary making reference to all the drawings follows wherein the present invention  10  discloses a substantially full-opening device with an inner sleeve (valve)  18  that can be opened or closed using conventional wireline methods to provide fluid communication between the tubing  12  and tubing/casing annulus  28 . The present invention  10  features internal polished pack-off areas above, shown at  150 , and below, shown at  152 , the inner sliding sleeve (valve)  18  as an integral part of the housing assembly. This provides a location for the seals of, but not limited to, the hydraulic jet pump  38  and isolation tool (not shown) for a fail close mechanism in the event of well conditions preventing the inner sleeve (valve)  18  from being shifted to the closed position or failure of the internal seal components of the device to provide isolation of the tubing  12  to tubing/casing annulus  28 . The present invention  10  also features a standing valve seat insert  26  below the internal polished pack-off area  152  to provide a seating area for the standing valve  24  normally associated with the use of a hydraulic jet pump  38 , and other related uses of a standing valve, such as, but not limited to, testing the integrity of the tubing conduit  12  and its associated components and the circulation of fluids between the tubing  12  and casing conduit  28  thru the circulation ports  22  of the cavity while preventing the loss of the fluid to open subterranean formations of the well below the packer  20 .