Abstract:
Systems and methods for locking a sliding sleeve valve in an open position and/or a closed position to prevent inadvertent operation of the sleeve valve during other operations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the design of sliding sleeve valves. In particular aspects, the invention relates to systems and methods for securing a sliding sleeve valve in an open or closed position. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Sliding sleeve valves are used extensively in hydrocarbon production wellbores. A sliding sleeve valve generally includes an outer housing that defines a central flowbore. The housing has one or more lateral fluid flow ports defined therein. A sleeve member is disposed within the flowbore and is axially moveable with respect to the housing between a first position, wherein the one or more lateral fluid ports is blocked, and a second position, wherein the one or more fluid ports is open. 
         [0005]    In situations wherein a sleeve valve is incorporated into a production tubing string or other work string, wireline tools are often passed down through the center of those strings to conduct operations below the sleeve valve. These tools may inadvertently shift the sleeve within the sleeve valve, which is not desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The devices and methods of the present invention provide systems and methods for locking a sliding sleeve valve in an open position and/or a closed position to prevent inadvertent operation of the sleeve valve during other operations. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, a sliding sleeve mechanism includes an outer sleeve housing which defines an axial flowbore. One or more lateral fluid communication ports are disposed through the sleeve housing to permit fluid communication between the flowbore and the annulus radially surrounding the housing. A sliding sleeve member is slidingly disposed within the flowbore of the sleeve housing an is moveable between a first position, wherein the lateral fluid communication ports are unblocked by the sleeve to permit fluid communication between the annulus and the axial flowbore, and a second position, wherein fluid communication between the annulus and the flowbore is not permitted through the ports. 
         [0008]    In various embodiments, the sliding sleeve mechanism is operably associated with a locking device which is operable to secure the sleeve member in open and/or closed positions. The locking device includes a housing bore portion with one or more locking grooves. The locking device also includes a sliding sleeve collet which is affixed to or integrally formed with the sliding sleeve member. The sliding sleeve collet includes a plurality of collet fingers with radially outwardly extending tabs which are shaped and sized to reside within the locking grooves of the housing bore portion. 
         [0009]    The locking device also includes a collet locking member which resides radially within the sliding sleeve collet. In one embodiment, the collet locking member is a sleeve which includes an annular body with one or more collet fingers extending therefrom. The collet fingers have radially outwardly projecting tabs which releasably reside within one of a number of channels formed within an interior radial surface of the sliding sleeve collet. In this embodiment, a dog member is retained within an opening in the sliding sleeve collet. Movement of the collet locking member relative to the sliding sleeve collet will urge the dog member radially outwardly and into one of the surrounding locking grooves, thereby securing the sliding sleeve collet in place within the surrounding housing. When the dog member is moved radially inwardly, it operably interconnects the sliding sleeve collet and the collet locking member together. 
         [0010]    A further embodiment is described wherein the sliding sleeve collet includes collet fingers which project in opposite axial directions. The collet locking member is an annular sleeve which can be moved axially within the sliding sleeve collet to positions wherein the body of the collet locking member retains one or more of the collet fingers of the sliding sleeve collet within a selected locking groove within the housing bore portion. 
         [0011]    The locking device can be operated using a shifting tool which can engage portions of the collet locking member and move it axially with respect to the surrounding housing. The shifting tool preferably includes an engagement profile that selectively engages the collet locking member. As the collet locking member is moved within the housing, it also moves the surrounding sliding sleeve collet and the affixed sliding sleeve member between open and closed positions. Movement of the collet locking member with respect to the sliding sleeve collet will lock and unlock the sliding sleeve collet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The advantages and other aspects of the invention will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art and better understood with further reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the drawings and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side, partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a wellbore containing a hydrocarbon production string with a sliding sleeve assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a locking bore portion of the sliding sleeve valve housing for an exemplary sliding sleeve assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary sliding sleeve locking assembly in accordance with the present invention, in an open-unlocked configuration. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side, cross-sectional view of the sliding sleeve locking assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , now in a closed-unlocked configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side, cross-sectional view of the sliding sleeve locking assembly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , now in a closed-locked configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side, external view of a sliding sleeve collet member apart from other components of the locking assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side, cross-sectional view of the sliding sleeve collet member shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side, external view of an exemplary collet locking member apart from the other components of the locking assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a side, cross-sectional view of the collet locking member shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary shifting tool for use in operating the sliding sleeve assembly of  FIGS. 2-9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is an axial cross-section taken along lines  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side, cross-sectional view of an alternative sliding sleeve locking assembly, in an open-locked configuration. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a side, cross-sectional view of the locking assembly shown in  FIG. 12 , now in an open-unlocked configuration. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a side, cross-sectional view of the locking assembly shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , during shifting. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a side, cross-sectional view of the locking assembly shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , now in a closed-unlocked configuration. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a side, cross-sectional view of the locking assembly shown in  FIGS. 12-15 , now in a closed-locked configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    As used in the discussion herein, the terms “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” as well as other terms and their respective derivations, refer to relative, rather than absolute positions or orientations. Those of skill in the art will understand that various components and assemblies used within the described sliding sleeve locking assemblies may be reversed within a sliding sleeve valve and still provide desired function. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of an exemplary wellbore  10  that has been drilled through the earth  12  and which has been lined with casing  14 . A production tubing string  16  is shown disposed within the wellbore  10 . An annulus  18  is defined radially between the production tubing string  16  and the casing  14 . The production tubing string  16  may be formed of a number of production tubing sections, of a type known in the art, which are interconnected to one another in an end-to-end fashion. The sections may be interconnected using threaded connections or by connecting collars or in other ways known in the art. Alternatively, the production tubing string  16  may be formed of coiled tubing, of a type known in the art. A central axial flowbore  20  is defined along the interior of the production tubing string  16 . 
         [0031]    A sliding sleeve valve  22  is incorporated into the production tubing string  16  in a manner known in the art. The sliding sleeve valve  22  is typically employed as a production nipple that can be selectively opened to permit production fluids within the wellbore  10  and from surrounding hydrocarbon-bearing formations to be flowed into the flowbore  20  of the production tubing string  16  and pumped to the surface of the wellbore  10 . If desired, the sliding sleeve valve  22  may be axially isolated from other portions of the wellbore  10  by packers (not shown) which are set within the annulus  18  of the wellbore  10 . The sliding sleeve valve  22  has a radially outer housing  24  with lateral fluid flow ports  26  disposed therethrough. The lateral ports  26  permit fluid communication between the annulus  18  and the interior of the housing  24  of the sleeve valve  22  so that fluid entering the valve  22  may be flowed to the surface of the wellbore  10  via the flowbore  20 . The sliding sleeve valve  22  also includes a sliding sleeve member  28  which is slidably disposed within the housing  24  and is, as is well known, moveable between a first, closed position, wherein the sleeve member  28  blocks the ports  26  against fluid flow, and a second, open position, wherein fluid flow is permitted through the ports  26 . 
         [0032]    The sliding sleeve valve  22  incorporates a sliding sleeve valve locking assembly, generally indicated at  30 , which is capable of securing the valve  22  in its closed and/or its open position. In general, the locking assembly includes a locking bore portion in an outer housing having one or more locking grooves formed within. 
         [0033]    The locking assembly also includes a sliding sleeve collet, which is secured to or integrally formed with the sliding sleeve member  28 , and a collet locking member which resides radially within the sliding sleeve collet. In preferred embodiments, the locking mechanism is actuated using a shifting tool  29 , which is visible in  FIG. 1  being disposed within the flowbore  20  of the production tubing string  16 . The construction and operation of exemplary locking assemblies will be described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 2  et seq. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  depicts a locking bore portion  31  of the interior surface  32  of the sliding sleeve valve housing  24  apart from other components of the valve  22 . The interior surface  32  has an upper latching groove  34  and lower locking groove  36  inscribed therein. Upper and lower secondary latching grooves  38 ,  39 , respectively, are also inscribed within the interior surface  32 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary sliding sleeve locking assembly  40  which is located within the sliding sleeve valve housing  24 . The locking assembly  40  includes a sliding sleeve collet member  42  which resides within the locking bore portion  31  of the housing  24 . The sliding sleeve collet member  42  is depicted in greater detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , wherein it is shown apart from the other components of the locking assembly  40 . The sliding sleeve collet member  42  has a generally cylindrical body  44  with a dog opening  46  disposed therethrough. Above the dog opening  46  are a plurality of vertically disposed slots  48  which are cut through the body  44 . In addition, a number of generally U-shaped slots  50  are formed in the body  44  to define downwardly extending collet fingers  52 . The lower end of each of the fingers  52  present radially outwardly extending tabs  54 . In addition, a smaller radially outwardly extending tab  56  extends about the periphery of the body  44 . 
         [0036]    The interior radial surface  58  of the collet member  42  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) has a radially inwardly extending flange  60  at the upper axial end  62 . Upper and lower annular channels  64  and  66 , respectively, are formed into the interior surface  58  below the flange  60 . A radially inwardly directed tab  68  extends from the lower end of each finger  52 . 
         [0037]    The locking assembly  40  also includes an annular collet locking member  70  which resides radially within the sliding sleeve collet member  42 .  FIGS. 8 and 9  depict the collet locking member  70  apart from the other components of the locking assembly  40 . The collet locking member  70  includes a generally cylindrical base ring  72  with a plurality of axially extending collet fingers  74 . The base ring  72  is corrugated so that the interior radial surface  76  of the base ring  72  presents an upwardly directed contact shoulder  78 . The exterior radial surface  80  of the base ring  72  defines an annular dog recess  82  which is bounded by chamfered shoulders  84 . A dog member  86  resides within the dog recess  82  and the dog opening  46  of the sliding sleeve collet member  42 . The upper ends of the collet fingers  74  each present a radially inwardly directed flange  88  which presents a downwardly axially-facing shoulder  90 . In addition, the collet fingers  74  each present a radially outwardly-projecting tab  92 , which is shaped and sized to reside within the annular channels  64  or  66  in a complimentary manner. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate in greater detail the exemplary shifting tool  29  which can be used to actuate the locking assembly  40 . The shifting tool  29  presents a bullnose leading end  94  and a generally cylindrical body  96  with a plurality of axial slots  98  disposed through the body  96  in an angularly spaced relation about the body  96  to form a series of substantially parallel ribs  100 . Each rib  100  is provided with a radially outwardly extending engagement profile  102  which is shaped to present a first axially directed shifting shoulder  104  and a second shifting shoulder  106 , which is directed in the opposite axial direction from the first shoulder  104 . 
         [0039]    In operation, the shifting tool  29  can be used to shift the sleeve member  28  between open and closed positions as well as actuate the locking assembly  40  between locked and unlocked configurations. When the locking assembly  40  is in a locked configuration, the sleeve member  28  is secured against inadvertent movement with respect to the surrounding housing  24 , thereby making it unlikely that the sliding sleeve valve  22  will be inadvertently operated.  FIG. 3  depicts the sleeve valve  22  in an open position so that fluid may enter the flowbore  20  of the production tubing string  16  from the annulus  18 . Also,  FIG. 3  shows the locking assembly  40  in an unlocked configuration. The tabs  54  of the sliding sleeve collet member  42  are located within the recess  38 . The tabs  56  are located within the recess  34 . 
         [0040]    In order to move the sleeve valve  22  and the locking assembly  40  from the open-unlocked position shown in  FIG. 3  to the closed-unlocked configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , the shifting tool  29  is disposed into the flowbore  32  and moved downwardly until the shifting shoulder  106  of the shifting tool  29  engages the contact shoulder  78  of the collet locking member  70 , as depicted in phantom in  FIG. 4 . Further movement of the shifting tool  29  in the direction of arrow  108  in  FIG. 4  will move the collet locking member  70  axially in that direction. Movement of the collet locking member  70  in the direction of arrow  108  will also cause the sliding sleeve collet member  42  to be moved due to the presence of the dog member  86 , which operably interlocks the sliding sleeve collet member  42  with the collet locking member  70 . As the sliding sleeve collet member  42  is urged axially, the fingers  52  are deflected radially inwardly by sliding, ramping interaction between the outwardly extending tabs  54  and the angled side surfaces of the recess  38 . The tabs  56  are also deflected inwardly out of the groove  34 . As a result, the sliding sleeve collet member  42  is freed to move axially within the housing  24  until it reaches the closed-unlocked position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0041]    When the sliding sleeve collet member  42  is moved to the position shown in  FIG. 4 , the outwardly extending tabs  54  of the fingers  52  will snap into the latching groove  39 . It is noted that, in this position, the dog member  86  is located adjacent to the lower groove  36 . Further axial force upon the collet locking member  70  will cause the dog member  86  to be moved radially outwardly by sliding, ramping contact from chamfered shoulder  84  into the groove  36 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the radial outward movement of the dog member  86  will release the interconnection of the collet locking member  70  and the sliding sleeve collet member  42 . The collet locking member  70  can now be moved axially with respect to the sliding sleeve collet member  42 . The tabs  92  on collet fingers  74  will slide out of the upper annular channel  64  on the sliding sleeve collet member  42  and snap into the lower annular channel  66 . This will secure the collet locking member  70  in a position wherein the exterior radial surface  80  of the base ring  72  retains the dog member  86  within the groove  36 . This is the closed-locked position wherein the sliding sleeve valve  22  is secured in a closed position by the dog member  86  and the location of tabs  54  within the latching groove  39 . It can be seen that, when the tabs  92  of the collet locking member  70  are located in the upper channel  64 , this corresponds to an unlocked position wherein the dog member  86  can move radially inwardly to reside partially within the dog recess  82  in the collet locking member  70  and the sliding sleeve collet member  42  is unlocked and free to move with respect to the surrounding housing  24 . Conversely, when the tabs  92  of the collet locking member  70  are located in the lower channel  66 , this corresponds to a locked position wherein the dog member  86  is moved radially outwardly to partially reside within the groove  36  and the sliding sleeve collet member  42  is locked against movement with respect to the surrounding housing  24 . 
         [0042]    In order to shift the sliding sleeve valve  22  back out of the closed-locked position, to an open position the shifting tool  29  is moved axially within the sliding sleeve valve housing  24  and is moved until the shifting shoulder  104  of the shifting profile  102  engages the shoulder  90  of the collet locking member  70 . The collet locking member  70  is pulled upwardly, and the tabs  92  of the collet locking member  70  are moved out of the lower channel  66  and back into the upper channel  64  of the sliding sleeve valve housing  24  (i.e., the position shown in  FIG. 4 ). The dog member  86  is now freed to move radially inwardly and out of the locking groove  36  in the housing  24 . Further upward movement of the shifting tool  29  will move the collet locking member  70  and the operably connected sliding sleeve collet member  42  upwardly in the housing  24 . The locking assembly  40  will be returned to the open-unlocked position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]    Those of skill in the art will recognize that the sleeve valve  22  may be constructed so that the open and closed positions of the sliding sleeve valve  22  may be reversed from what is described herein. In other words, the sleeve valve  22  may be in an open position when the locking assembly  40  is in the lower position shown in FIGS.  4  and  5 . Conversely, the sleeve valve  22  may be in a closed position when the locking assembly  40  is in the upper position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 12-16  illustrate an alternative sliding sleeve locking assembly  120  which is constructed in accordance with the present invention and associated with a sliding sleeve valve  22 , as described previously. The locking assembly  120  includes an outer housing  24 ′ which defines a locking bore portion  31  having an upper latching groove  34 ′ and lower latching groove  36 ′ (visible in  FIGS. 15 and 16 ). In this embodiment, grooves  38 ′ and  39 ′ are smaller grooves than latching grooves  34 ′,  36 ′. The sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ is, like the sliding sleeve collet  42 , operably affixed to the sleeve member  28  of the sliding sleeve valve  22 . The sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ is provided with bi-directional collet fingers  52   a  and  52   b . Collet fingers  52   a  extend upwardly toward the upper axial end  62  of the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′. The collet fingers  52   b  extend downwardly away from the upper axial end  62 . Tabs  54  extend radially outwardly from the distal end of each collet finger  52   a ,  52   b , and inwardly-directed tabs  68  extend radially inwardly from the distal end of the collet fingers  52   a ,  52   b . Minor tabs  56  also protrude radially outwardly from each of the collet fingers  52   a ,  52   b.    
         [0045]    The collet locking member  70 ′ is generally cylindrically-shaped and resides radially within the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′. The collet locking member  70 ′ presents an exterior radial surface  122 . Preferably, the exterior radial surface  122  presents upper and lower radially outward projections  124 ,  126 . In addition, the collet locking member  70 ′ has an interior radial surface  128  which presents an upwardly-facing engagement shoulder  130  and a downwardly-facing engagement shoulder  132 . 
         [0046]    In operation, the locking arrangement  120  can be moved by shifting tool  29  between an open-locked configuration, which is shown in  FIG. 12  and a closed-locked configuration, which is depicted in  FIG. 16 . In  FIG. 12 , the sleeve member  28  is located within the surrounding housing  24 ′ at a location which corresponds to an open condition for the sleeve valve  22 . The affixed sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ is locked into position within the locking bore portion  31  of the housing  24 ′ by the location of tabs  54  within latching groove  34 ′. The collet locking member  70 ′ is located within the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ such that the exterior radial surface  122  is in contact with the inwardly-protruding tabs  68  of each of the upwardly-extending collet fingers  52   a . As a result, the outwardly projecting tabs  54  are locked within the groove  34 ′. In addition, the tabs  56  of each of the collet fingers  52   a  reside within the groove  38 ′.  FIG. 13  shows that the shifting tool  29  has been moved into the locking arrangement  120  until the engagement shoulder  106  of the shifting tool  29  engages the engagement shoulder  130  of the collet locking member  70 ′. In  FIG. 13 , the shifting tool  29  has moved the collet locking member  70 ′ downwardly, in the direction of arrow  134 , so that the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ is no longer locked into the groove  34 ′. 
         [0047]      FIG. 14  shows the locking arrangement  120  at a further point during shifting wherein the projection  126  contacts the tab  68  of the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ so that downward movement of the collet locking member  70 ′ will also move the surrounding sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ downwardly. 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 15 , the locking arrangement  120  has been shifted to a configuration wherein the sleeve member  28  now closes off fluid flow through the valve  22 . In this configuration, the outwardly-projecting tabs  54  of each of the collet fingers  52   b  have become aligned with and snap outwardly into the lower latching groove  36 ′ to locate the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ at the proper location within the housing  24 ′. When this occurs, further downward movement of the sliding sleeve collet member  42 ′ with respect to the surrounding housing  24 ′ is stopped. As the shifting tool  29  is moved further downwardly, the collet locking member  70 ′ will be moved to the position shown in  FIG. 16  wherein the outer radial surface  122  contacts the tabs  68  to retain the outwardly extending tabs  54  within the groove  36 ′. The shifting tool  29  may now be withdrawn from the locking assembly  120  by moving it upwardly. 
         [0049]    It should be understood that the locking arrangement  120  is capable of selectively securing the sliding sleeve valve  22  in an open position (i.e., the open-locked position of  FIG. 12 ) as well as the closed position (i.e., the closed-locked position of  FIG. 16 ). 
         [0050]    Those of skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and changes may be made to the exemplary designs and embodiments described herein and that the invention is limited only by the claims that follow and any equivalents thereof.