[0001] The present invention relates generally to side pocket mandrel and kick-over tool
apparatus for placing and removing well flow control devices such as gas lift valves,
and particularly to a new and improved kickover tool having an inwardly biased arm
so as to be less likely to hang up while running a flow control device into a well
tubing. The present invention also provides a new and improved side pocket mandrel
having a unique valve-receiving seat that is constructed and arranged such that removal
of a flow control device is more easily and reliably accomplished without damage thereto
as compared to prior art devices.
[0002] Wells having a production string of tubing that includes vertically spaced side pocket
mandrels arranged for placing, retrieving and manipulating flow control devices such
as gas lift valves, are used extensively in gas and oil well production operations.
Each of the mandrels generally includes an open-topped side pocket that is laterally
offset to the side of the mandrel bore. A placement and removal tool known as a "kick-over"
tool is lowered through the tubing to the level of the mandrel to effect placement
or removal of a valve assembly in the side pocket. As mentioned, the device can be
a gas lift valve that includes a dome pressure operated regulator valve, and which
is held in the pocket by a latch assembly that engages a shoulder above the top of
the pocket.
[0003] Prior side pocket mandrels generally have been constructed with a main bore that
is aligned with the bore of the well tubing and a side pocket that is laterally offset
from the main bore. Examples of such devices are shown in United States Patent Nos.
2,824,525, 3,268,006, and 3,741,299. The main bore of the mandrel allows various wire
line tools to pass therethrough for the performance of well operations below the mandrel
while a flow control device is positioned in the side pocket. The side pocket typically
has polish bores at the upper and lower ends thereof that are engaged by spaced packing
rings in the flow control device, and a plurality of ports through the wall thereof
to communicate gas from the well annulus to a valve element that controls the injection
of the gas into the tubing string. In many instances in the prior art, the mandrel
assembly is made as a weldment of swedge nipples to the ends of a round or oval pipe
section, which is a construction that is inherently weak and subject to corrosion
at the weld points. Moreover, a weldment is more difficult to protect through use
of an internal plastic coating.
[0004] Prior art mandrels also have been provided with deflector means for protecting flow
control devices positioned in the side pocket, and guide means for preventing tools
moving through the well tubing from catching and hanging in the mandrel. Examples
of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,741,299, 3,802,503, 4,106,503,
and 4,106,564.
[0005] The side pocket of the typical prior art mandrel generally is enclosed within the
mandrel body, and thus the condition of the bore of the side pocket cannot be observed
prior to running. A worn-out or corroded bore in the side pocket may result in having
to pull the entire string of well tubing - a very costly and time-consuming operation.
Furthermore, the machining of these mandrels has not allowed for precision work in
connection with the maintenance of close tolerances, or visual inspection which invaribly
results in excessive manufacturing costs.
[0006] Additionally, in mandrels having an internal side pocket, the flow control devices
that are seated therein are in contact with noxious well fluids and subject to varying
temperatures which require that the devices be designed to meet these conditions.
This results in the use of expensive materials for construction of the flow control
devices and the performance of tedious calculations for temperature corrections.
[0007] It is a common occurrence for the flow control devices to be difficult or even impossible
to remove. The usual flow control device seats within a side pocket that is aligned
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main bore of the mandrel. As mentioned above,
two sets of packing are used to seal the flow control device within the pocket, one
near the top of the device and one near the bottom. Due to the parallel alignment
of the flow control device relative to the main bore, and to the use of the two sets
of packing, a removal tool has to make a long straight pull on the flow control device
upwardly through the side pocket in order to remove the device from its seat. The
conventional removal tools inherently pull on the valve latch at an angle which places
the latch and the flow control device in a bind, thereby causing, in many instances,
bent or broken flow control devices and latches. Such damage may result in a costly
pulling job, and oftentimes may require the replacement of equipment.
[0008] The presence of two sets of packing may also cause a great amount of friction when
removing the valve from the side pocket seats. This is due to the fact that the annular
area between the device and the pocket wall above the lower packing element can become
filled with sand and debris through which the packing must be pulled in order to remove
the device from the side pocket. This increase in pulling force, and the inclination
thereof with respect to vertical as discussed above, provides a further basis for
damaging the rather slender and delicate valves and latches when removal becomes necessary.
[0009] It has been typical practice to machine the polish bores that are engaged by the
two sets of packing on the flow control device on the same diameter so that the device
is balanced with respect to fluid pressures. However, with a balanced design, the
operator cannot determine if the flow control device is properly set in the first
instance. If the flow control device is not properly set, it may hold in one direction
and not the other, and this condition may not become apparent until the wire line
crew has left the well site and the proper equipment to correct the situation have
been moved off location.
[0010] A further disadvantage of prior structures is that the side pocket mandrels have
required that retrievable-type flow control devices be utilized, negating the use
of conventional type flow control devices within this type of equipment.
[0011] The kickover tools of the prior art are generally activated by pulling dogs on the
tool up against a shoulder in the mandrel to release the kickover arm that caries
the flow control device. The arm is biased outwardly so that its outward movement
aligns the bottom nose of the device with the side pocket of the mandrel. Downward
movement and jarring are then used to insert the flow control device into the side
pocket and to release the arm from the latch which engages underneath a shoulder to
hold the device in the pocket. Since the kickover arm and flow control device are
normally biased outwardly, there is always a considerable risk of the tool being prematurely
activated which can cause it to drag and hang up in the tubing. Some of the latches
included in the valve assemblies of the prior art are drilled through to permit the
gas from the flow control device to enter into the main bore of the mandrel. Such
construction limits the available gas flow area.
[0012] The general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved side
pocket mandrel, kickover tool, and combination of elements that alleviates most, if
not all, of the foregoing disadvantages.
[0013] This and other objects are attained in accordance with the present invention through
the provision of a side pocket mandrel having an open bore that is aligned with the
bore of the tubing in which the mandrel is connected. The mandrel, has an enlarged
body section with a cylindrical opening formed at the top thereof that is adapted
to receive a flow control device such as a gas lift valve. In one embodiment, the
opening is formed in a short-length seating section that is welded to the end of the
central body section. The longitudinal axis of the opening is slightly inclined with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the open bore, and is arranged to interest the
bore axis at a point below the opening. The cylindrical opening is machined to receive
and engage the packing near the latch end of the gas lift valve, and an inwardly directed
shoulder is provided on the mandrel wall adjacent and below the opening to engage
a latch assembly on the end of the valve and hold it in place with its opposite end
protruding into the annulus between the tubing and the casing. In accordance with
a significant aspect of the present invention, the opening is formed with a diameter
that is substantially larger than the body of the flow control device that extends
therethrough to facilitate removal of the device as will become more apparent herein.
[0014] In one embodiment, a lower end portion of the side pocket mandrel of the present
invention can be provided with generally longitudinally extending guide means on interior
walls thereof which cooperate with instrumentalities on the kickover tool to guide
the flow control device into the cylindrical opening during upward movement of the
kickover tool within the mandrel. Such instrumentalities are normally retracted as
the kickover tool is being run into the well, and are released to project outwardly
and engage the guide means in response to manipulation of the kickover tool as will
be subsequently described. The mandrel has in its upper end section an orienting sleeve
having oppositely disposed helical lower surfaces that lead to a longitudinally extending
groove.
[0015] The kickover tool of the present invention includes an upper body that carries a
pair of outwardly biased dogs or keys that are vertically spaced and are mounted for
relative angular movement. A tray connected to the lower end of the body has an inwardly
biased pivot arm connected to its lower end, and the upper end of the arm is releasably
coupled to the latch assembly of a flow control device so that the arm and device
normally are positioned alongside the tray as the assembly is being run. The pivot
arm carries a pair of normally retracted elements, such as wings or rollers, that
when extended on opposite sides of the arm can engage the guide means in the mandrel
and cause the arm and flow control device to pivot outwardly into alignment with the
cylindrical opening. The extension of these elements is under the control of a release
rod which extends upwardly through the tray to the vicinity of the lower dog or key
on the upper body.
[0016] The keys are rotated relative to one another to a misaligned position as the kickover
tool is prepared for insertion into the tubing, and such misalignment causes the release
rod, which is spring loaded, to function to retain the normally retracted elements
on the pivot arm in their inner position. As the tool is lowered into the tubing on
wireline, the keys can pivot inwardly to pass through the orienting sleeves in the
various side pocket mandrels that are above the mandrel in which the flow control
device is to be placed. When the kickover tool reaches the target mandrel, it is lowered
to a position just below this mandrel, and then is raised upwardly into it. The upper
one of the keys will find the slot in the orienting sleeve, and in so doing, rotationally
orient the tool so that the pivot arm and flow control device are radially aligned
with the side pocket. When the lower key engages one of the helical surfaces on the
lower end of the orienting sleeve, it is forced to rotate into vertical alignment
with upper key, which releases the control rod for downward movement under the influence
of a coil compression spring. Such downward movement causes or enables outward movement
of the wings or rollers on the pivot arms, to positions where they engage the guide
means in the lower portion of the mandrel during continued upward movement. Such movement
results in an insertion of the flow control device upwardly through the cylindrical
opening until its packing engages the walls of the opening, and the latch assembly
engages the shoulder and also causes the rollers to be retracted. Downward jarring
on the tool shears pins to release the arm assembly from the latch mechanism. The
kickover tool is then lowered, and the arm assembly pivots inwardly to enable the
tool to be removed from the well, leaving the flow control device in place.
[0017] The flow control device is provided with a special sub between the body thereof and
the latch mechanism which has one or more gas flow ports that open laterally through
the side of the body. The ports are directed during assembly of the valve on the tool
so that they point inwardly. Thus when the valve is set, the gas flow is directed
toward the central bore of the mandrel so as to reduce the possibility of damage to
the mandrel walls due to high velocity gas flow. The sub also may be provided with
a guard shoulder that will prevent placement of the valve unless the ports are properly
directed.
[0018] The unique construction of the side pocket mandrel of the present invention obviated
numerous disadvantages of the prior art structures. The use of one packing and one
seal or polish bore provides a simplified constructions which is much easier to release
when it is desired to remove the value. The flow control device protrudes into the
annulus, as opposed to being confined within the mandrel body, which enables the side
pocket mandrel to be constructed with a significantly shorter length, with consequent
savings in material and manufacturing costs. The inclination of the cylindrical opening
with respect to central bore of the mandrel facilitates removal and placement of
flow control devices because the direction of placement and removal forces is substantially
aligned with the axis of the opening. Thus, the instances of bent or otherwise damaged
latches and valve bodies is substantially reduced. The oversizing of the cylindrical
opening relative to the o.d. of the valve body enables the valve to pivot to some
extent during placement and removal so that it is not put in a bind as in the case
of a valve having two sets of packing located near its opposite ends. It also is possible
to use conventional gas lift valves with the seal sub of the present invention, rather
than being confined to the use of retrievable-type valves. The use of guide means
in the mandrel insures precise alignment of the valve with the cylindrical opening,
and the provision of an inwardly biased pivot arm on the kickover tool provides a
construction that is considerably less likely to hang up in the tubing in which it
is being run and retrieved, as compared to prior art devices of this general type.
[0019] The present invention has other objects, features, and advantages which well become
more clearly apparent in connection with the following detailed description of one
or more embodiments, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
Figs. 1 through 3 are schematic views of a wall installation that incorporates a side
pocket mandrel in a tubing string, and showing the placement of a flow control device
in the mandrel;
Figs. 4A and 4B are side sectional views of a side pocket mandrel constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a side section view of the control sleeve used in the mandrel of Figs. 4A
and 4B;
Fig. 6 is a developed plan view of the sleeve shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a developed view of an alternative embodiment of a control sleeve;
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4A;
Figs. 9A and 9B are side elevational views, partly in cross-section, of one embodiment
of the placement and removal tool of the present invention, succeeding figures being
lower continuations of one another;
Fig. 10 is a cross-section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view, with portions in side elevation, of the
carrier sleeve of the placement and removal tool;
Fig. 12 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a pulling tool that
can be used with the present invention;
Figs. 13A and 13B are side elevational views, partly in cross-section, of a valve
assembly and latch mechanism that can be set in the side pocket mandrel of the present
invention;
Figs. 14A and 14B are longitudinal sectional views showing the kickover tool as disclosed
herein engaging a flow control device within the packing barrel of the side pocket
mandrel;
Fig. 15 is a cross-section on line 15-15 of Fig. 13B;
Figs. 16A - 16C are longitudinal sectional views, with portions in side elevation,
of another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the pivot arm assembly of Fig. 16;
Figs. 18-21 are cross-sections taken on lines 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, and 21-21 of Figs.
16A, 16B and 16C, respectively;
Fig. 22 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper dog assembly on the orienting
section;
Figs. 23A and 23B are longitudinal sectional views of another embodiment of a side
pocket mandrel in accordance with the present invention;
Figs. 24A and 24B are longitudinal sectional views of a side pocket mandrel that is
constructed in accordance with this invention;
Fig. 25 is a three-dimensional view of the valve seating section of Fig. 24A;
Fig. 26 is a cross-section taken on line 26-26 of Figure 24A; and
Figure 27 and 28 show modifications of the mandrel of the present invention.
[0020] Referring initially to Figs. 1-3, the side pocket mandrel is designated generally
by the numeral 10 and is connected in a well tubing 11 which leads upwardly to the
surface. There may be several of the mandrels 10 located at vertically spaced points
in the tubing 11, and of course the tubing is located inside of a well casing 15 which
lines the well bore. Typically a packet (not shown) anchors the lower end of the tubing
11 in the casing 15, and seals off the annulus 16 so that pressurized gas can be injected
therein at the surface to effect gas lift operations. The mandrel 10 as shown in these
Figures for purposes of illustration and explanation, can be considered to be divided
into three functional sections: an orienting section A, a main bore section B, and
a side pocket section C. The section B has an open bore 12, which is arranged in alignment
with the bore of well tubing 11, and the mandrel includes a "mule shoe" or orienting
sleeve 13 that preferably is integrally constructed within an annular recess disposed
in the top of the mandrel. The sleeve 13 also is positioned in alignment with the
main bore section B. The internal wall surface of the orienting sleeve 13 may be constructed
to have the same diameter as the internal wall surface of the main bore section B.
[0021] A "kickover" tool indicated generally at 20 which carries a flow control device such
as a gas lift valve 21 is shown being lowered into the tubing 11 on a wire line 22.
The gas lift valve 21 has a latch mechanism 23 on its lower end, and a latch sub 24
connects the mechanism 23 to the upper end of a kickover arm 25 which is pivotally
connected to the body of the tool 20. An orienting dog 26 is pivotally attached to
the upper end section of the tool 20, and functions in connection with a longitudinally
extending slot 28 in the sleeve 13 to rotationally orient the tool and valve within
the side pocket mandrel such that the valve is disposed within the enlarged section
C of the mandrel and below a valve seat 29 located at the upper end thereof. With
the valve 21 properly oriented, the dog 26 functions in combination with another spring
loaded dog, to be described below, and which engages in an oppositely disposed slot
37, to cause relative rotation of the dogs which result in a release of the kickover
arm 25 so that the arm, sub 24 and valve 21 are kicked outward as shown in Fig. 2.
With the parts in this position, the tool can be raised by wire line manipulation
at the surface to cause the valve 21 to be inserted through the opening 29 so that
it projects into the annulus 16 between the tubing and the casing. As will be described
in detail below, the valve 21 is automatically latched into the opening 29 by the
mechanism 23, so that the arm 24 can be released therefrom by downward jarring and
the kickover tool withdrawn from the well, leaving the gas lift valve in place. As
shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the side pocket mandrel 10 has the orienting sleeve 13 fixed
within its upper end section A. One embodiment of a sleeve that can be used with the
kickover tool described above is shown in enlarged detail in Figs. 5 and 6. The sleeve
13 has helical surfaces 32 on its lower end which lead to a longitudinal slot 33.
The centerline of the longitudinal slot 33 is located 180° from the apex 34 of the
helical surfaces 32. Longitudinal slot 33 widens near its uppermost end, such area
being indicated by the numeral 35, where it defines an angular shoulder 36. The orienting
sleeve 13 also includes a cam locking slot 37, its centerline being vertically aligned
with the apex 34 of the surfaces 32, thereby placing the centerline of cam locking
slot 37 180° from the centerline of longitudinal slot 33.
[0022] An alternative embodiment of an orienting sleeve is shown in Fig. 7. This particular
embodiment is utilized with a kickover tool having a stationary dog 40 and a rotating
dog 41 which initially are aligned on the same side of a kickover tool. In this case
the lower helical surfaces 42 of the sleeve lead upwardly to a longitudinal slot 43
which opens into an enlarged area 44 having an inclined shoulder 45 at its upper end.
Further details of how the sleeves function will be set forth below.
[0023] Referring back to Figures 4A and 4B, the mandrel 10 including the orienting section
A, the body section B, and the side pocket section C may be integrally cast rather
than being made from tubing that is welded together. This permits the walls of the
side pocket 50 to be made thicker where they join the main bore section B. A cast
construction advantageously prevents metal fatigue and the inadvertent breaking of
the side pocket section C. The integrally cast construction also serves to prevent
the formation of rust and corrosion. The entire mandrel 10 may be cast as one unit,
or the mandrel may be cast in upper and lower units which are then welded together.
The upper unit would include the orienting section A, the upper end of the main bore
section B, the valve seat 29, and the locking shoulder 51. It may be preferable to
make the section A out of tubing, the valve seat and shoulder section out of bar stock,
the belly section out of tubing, and the lower swage nipple as a fonging. A stop groove
52 is included in the wall of the main bore section B of the mandrel 10 so as to facilitate
retrieval of one embodiment of the kickover tool 20 as will be more fully described
hereinafter.
[0024] Referring still to Figs. 4A and 4B, the side pocket section C of the mandrel 10 includes
a packing seat 29 for support of a flow control device 21. The seat 29 is machined
as a polish bore for receiving one set of packing 53 on the flow control device 21.
The polish bore 29 is open at both ends, and when the flow control device 21 is engaged
therein the device extends into the annulus 16 between the well tubing 11 and the
well casing 15. The cylindrical bore 29 has its axis slightly inclined with respect
to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the section B in the preferred embodiment
of the present invention. This inclination (about 1.5°) reduces the length of pull
required to remove a flow control device 21, and therefore enables construction of
the mandrel 10 such that the side pocket section C is shortened which thereby decreases
the cost of construction of the mandrel. The inclined seat 29, in conjunction with
the use of only one set of packing 53, greatly facilitates the removal of the flow
control device 21 by relieving the binding of the flow control device against the
seat. When the one set of packing 53 is disengaged from the seat 29, the flow control
device 21 can be inclined at a greater angle relative to the longitudinal axis of
the mandrel 10, because the outside diameter of the flow control device 21 is considerably
smaller than the diameter of the seat 29. By pulling at an angle, as described above,
the length of pull is greatly reduced and the main body of the side pocket section
C can be constructed substantially shorter than the dimensions of known prior art
devices.
[0025] As seen in Fig. 4A, the detent shoulder 51 is provided on the inside wall 50 of the
side pocket below the lower end of the polish bore 29. The shoulder 51 extends laterally
and circumferentially around the inside wall 50 of the side pocket about 180° with
respect to the polish bore, and serves as a stop for a tapered ring of the latch mechanism
23 when the valve has been inserted in the seat 29.
[0026] Referring now to Figs. 9A and 9B, one embodiment of a kickover tool 20 generally
includes an orientation assembly 60, a control assembly 61 and a kickover assembly
62. The orientation assembly 60 includes three subassemblies: a rotatable cam 26,
a drive 64, and a clutch 65. The orientation assembly 60 has a mandrel or body 66
having a threaded fishing neck 67 attached to its upper end. The body 66 is formed
with a recess 70 that is generally rectangular in shape and which is intersected by
a vertical bore 71. The cam 26 is mounted in the recess 70 on a pin 72, and is biased
for clockwise rotation by a hinge spring 73. The cam 26 has an outwardly projecting
shoulder 74 and an inwardly facing stop surface 75 that engages the upper enlarged
head 76 of a release rod 77. The shoulder 74 extends beyond the outer periphery of
the body 66 and functions to engage the helical lower surfaces 32 of the orienting
sleeve 13 to thereby guide itself into the slot 33 and then into the recess 35. The
rod 77 has a hole through which a cross pin 78 extends, and the pin extends through
an elongated slot 79 in the body 66 and into aligned apertures in a drive ring 80.
A compressed coil spring 81 encircles a reduced diameter section 82 of the body 66
and reacts between a downwardly facing shoulder on the body 66 and the upper end surface
of the ring 80. A plurality of ball detents 83 are held inwardly in engagement with
an annular groove 84 on the body section 82 by the lower inner surface of a retainer
cup 85 having an enlarged diameter release surface 86 near its upper end. The retainer
cup 85 is supported against downward movement on the body 66 by a release ball 87
which engages in a body groove 88 having an arcuate, horizontal section 89 and a vertical,
downwardly extending section 90. The groove 88 and release ball 87 are shown out of
position in Fig. 9A for convenience of illustration, however in actuality these elements
are located 180° from the position shown (see Fig. 10). A spring loaded dog 92 extends
through a window 93 in the retainer cup 85 and is located opposite the release ball
87. Thus when the parts are assembled the dog 92 initially is located 180° out of
alignment with the cam 26.
[0027] A control rod 94 has its threaded upper end screwed into a ring 95 that is located
below the retainer cap 85. The rod 94 extends downwardly through a hole in the upper
section of the kickover tool tray 20. When the tool is being run into the tubing 11
on wireline, the retainer cap 85 and the control rod 94 are in the upper position
shown in Fig. 9A. When the cam dog 94 encounters a restriction the tubing i.d., it
pivots counterclockwise and bypasses the restriction with the upper surface of the
lock rod head 76 sliding against the outer circular surface of the cam. The release
ball 87 and the detent balls 83 hold the retainer cup 85 in its upper position where
the detent balls 83 are engaged in the body groove 84. Thus the power spring 81 cannot
extend and force the control rod 94 downward relative to the tray 29 until the release
ball 87 has been positioned in the vertical slot 90.
[0028] The retainer cup 85 is released in the following manner. When the kickover tool has
been run below a selected side pocket mandrel, and is then raised upwardly, the cam
dog 74 will encounter the lower surfaces 32 of the orienting sleeve 13. The cam dog
is forced to rotate into alignment with the slot 33, which orient the tool such that
the flow control device is aligned with the cylindrical seat 29 in the mandrel 10.
As the tool is raised further, the spring loaded dog 92 is forced inwardly and then
snaps into engagement with the vertical slot 37. When the cam dog 26 encounters the
inclined shoulder 36, the body 66 is rotated relative to the retainer cup 85, which
held by the dog 92, to bring the ball 87 into alignment with the ball groove 90.
When this occurs, the detent balls 83 release and the power spring 81 extends to shift
the retainer cup 85 and the control rod 94 downwardly relative to the tray 20. Such
downward movement also moves the cross-pin 78 downwardly in the slot 79 so that the
head 76 is disengaged from the cam surface 75 to enable the cam 26 to rotate clockwise
to an inactive position.
[0029] As shown in Fig. 9A, the tray 20 can have a longitudinal groove 100 formed on its
rear side which receives the control rod 94, and a guide lug 102 having an opening
through which the lower end of the rod extends. The lower end of the rod 94 is attached
to a block 103 by a threaded pin 104, and the block projects outwardly somewhat as
shown. A carrier tube 105 (Fig. 9B) is slidably mounted on the lower portion of the
tray 20, and is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending collet fingers 106
having head portions 107. The head portion 107 that is disposed in alignment with
the block 103 is provided with a stop shoulder member 108 on the inner surface thereof.
As shown in Fig. 9A, the shoulder member 108 is spaced a certain distance above the
lower surface 109 of the slot 100.
[0030] As shown in Fig. 9B, the lower end section 112 of the tray 29 is slidably fitted
within the carrier sleeve 105. A transverse pin 113 that extends through a slot 114
in the end section 112 has its ends fitted in diametrically opposed apertures in
the carrier sleeve 105 so as to move therewith. The kickover arm 25 has its lower
end pivoted to the tray 20 by a pin 116, and its upper end pivoted to the latch arm
24 by a pin 117. A coil spring 118 having its outer end bearing against the inner
wall of the carrier sleeve 105 pushes against a wall surface 119 of the pivot arm
24 at a point below the pin 116 so as to tend to pivot the upper end of the arm outwardly.
However in the running-in position of the tool, a catch shoulder 120 on the lower
end of the arm 24 is engaged by the transverse pin 113 in order to prevent pivotal
rotation of the arm. To release the arm 24, the carrier sleeve 105 must be moved downwardly
somewhat relative to the bottom section 112 of the tray 20 in order to disengage the
pin 113 from the catch shoulder 120. Another coil spring 122 reacts between a tang
123 on the upper end of the pivot arm 24 and an outwardly facing surface 124 on the
latch arm 24 above the pivot pin 117. Thus the latch arm 24 is urged to pivot in a
counter clockwise direction about the pin 117 when the arms are retracted. When extended
as shown in Fig. 9B, the lower end of the arm 24 has an inwardly facing surface that
engages a companion surface on the upper end of the arm 25 to limit the position of
the arm 24 to approximately vertical.
[0031] The latch arm 24, as shown in Fig. 14B, has a tubular recess in its upper end that
fits over the fishing neck 127 of the latch mechanism 23. Two tan gential shear pins
128 fastens the arm 24 to the head 127 so that the arm can be released from the head
in response to downward jarring. The latch mechanism 23 is a conventional device well
known to those skilled in the art as a "K" latch and is available from Camco, Inc.,
Houston, Texas. After the valve 21 has been set and the arm 24 released therefrom
by downward jarring, the tool can be moved downward to release the arm from the latch
mechanism, leaving the valve in place.
[0032] The flow control device 21, which may be a typical dome pressure operated gas lift
valve, is shown in Figs. 13A and 13B. A dome pressure acts against a bellows and tends
to close a valve element against a seat. Gas under pressure in the well annulus 16
will act against the bellows and force the valve open to enable the gas to pass through
the seat and into a passage 134. The passage 134 extends through a special packing
sub 135 and exits to the side of the sub via one or more ports 136. The sub 135 has
a threaded box 137 at its upper end which screws onto the end of the valve housing
138, and a threaded box 139 at its lower end which is threaded to the latch mandrel
140. An annular recess 141 on the exterior of the sub 135 receives a single set of
chevron-type packing rings 142 which constitute the only packing on the flow control
device 21. When the apparatus is assembled, the radial ports 136 are directed toward
the centerline of the tray 20 so as to face away from the adjacent wall of the side
pocket mandrel 10 when the valve is latched therein. The lower section 139 of the
sub 135 can be provided with an outwardly directed shoulder that extends approximately
180° therearound as shown in Fig. 15, so that the valve cannot be set with the ports
136 directed outwardly because the shoulder will not pass the inwardly directed latch
shoulder 51 on the mandrel 10.
[0033] As shown in Fig. 9B, the lower section 112 of the tray 20 is provided with a downwardly
extending collet sleeve 145 that is threaded into a bore in the section 112 a shown.
The sleeve 145 is longitudinally split to divide it into a plurality of fingers 146
each having a threaded head 147 at its lower end. The heads 147 will ratchet into
a socket 148 in the lower end section 149 of the carrier sleeve 105 as shown in Fig.
3. Although the heads can ratchet into the socket, they must be screwed out to achieve
release. The carrier sleeve 105 has an elongated window cut in its outer side and
through which the kickover arm 25 and the latch arm 24 extend when the tool is activated.
The lower end wall 150 of the window provide a means to retain the pivot arm in position
alongside the tray 20 when to tool is being removed from the well as will be described
in greater detail below.
[0034] An embodiment of a pulling arm 160 that can be used to release the flow control device
21 when it is desired to remove it from the well is shown in Fig. 12. The lower end
of the arm is arranged to be pivoted to the outer end of the arm 25 as previously
described, and the arm has a core 161 that is shear pinned to a barrel 162 at 163.
A plurality of latch dogs 164 having inwardly extending shoulders 165 at their upper
ends are arranged to pass over the fishing neck 127 of the latch mechanism 23 and
to engage above the shoulder 129 on the release sleeve 130. When the sleeve 130 is
subjected to downward jarring, a pin 164 (Fig. 13B) is sheared, and the upper end
165 of the sleeve is removed from inside the latch ring 131 so that it can move laterally
and release from the mandrel shoulder 51. This also relieves the compression on the
spring 166 so that the latch mechanism is disable.
[0035] The pulling arm assembly 160 is a conventional device well known to those skilled
in the art.
[0036] In operation, the kickover tool is assembled as shown in the drawings with a running
arm 24 attached to the upper end of the kickover arm 25, and a gas lift valve or other
flow control device connected to the arm 24 by a latch mechanism 23. The pivot arm
25 and latch arm 24 are folded into position alongside the tray 20, and the tray is
moved downward within the carrier sleeve 105 to engage the release pin 113 with the
catch shoulder 120. This spaces the drive ring 95 above the upper end face of the
tray 20 as shown in Fig. 9A, and the retainer cup 85 is rotated relative to the body
66 of the orienting section in order to position the release ball 87 in the horizontal
portion 89 of the ball slot. The power spring 81 is compressed by this movement, and
the detent balls 83 are locked in engagement with the annular groove 84. Thus arranged,
the spring-loaded dog 92 is misaligned with respect to orienting dog 26 by about 180°,
and the pin 78 holds the latch rod 77 in its upper position where its head 76 prevents
clockwise rotation of the dog 26.
[0037] The fishing neck 67 is then connected by a suitable socket to a set of wire line
jars (not shown) which are in turn connect to the wire line that is wound on a winch.
The kickover tool is then lowered through the lubricator and into the tubing 11 where
it is lowered until a selected side pocket mandrel 10 is reached. The tool is lowered
to a point below this side pocket mandrel, and then raised upwardly thereinto. The
orienting dog 26 finds the slot 33 in the orienting sleeve 13 as previously described,
and the spring-loaded dog 92 enters the slot 37 shown in Fig. 6. As upward movement
continues, the orienting dog 26 comes up against the inclined shoulder 36 and causes
the body 66 to rotate relative to the retainer cup 85 which is being held against
rotation by the dog 92. When this occurs, the release ball 87 is moved into alignment
with the ball slot 90, enabling the power spring 81 to expand and force the control
rod 94 downwardly relative to the tray 20. The lower end of the rod 94 acts via the
lug 103 to push the carrier sleeve 105 downwardly until the stop member 108 engages
the shoulder surface 109, at which point the release pin 113 will have disengaged
from the catch shoulder 120 on the pivot arm 25.
[0038] When this release occurs, the upper end of the arm 25 is pivoted outwardly about
the pin 116 to cause the latch arm 25 and the valve assembly 21 to be disposed in
the side pocket section 13 with the upper nose of the valve aligned with the opening
29 in the mandrel 10 as shown in Fig. 14B. Downward movement of the transverse pin
78 with the drive ring 80 pulls the latch rod 77 so that its head disengages from
the shoulder 75 and enable the spring 73 to rotate the dog 26 to an inoperative position.
Further upward movement of the tool results in insertion of the valve assembly 21
through the opening 29 of the mandrel 10 until the packing element 53 is seated in
the opening, and the latch ring 131 catches above the mandrel shoulder 51. A downward
jarring action releases the latch arm 24 from the head 127 of the latch mechanism
23 by disrupting the tangential shear pins 128.
[0039] The kickover tool then is lowered to cause the collet heads 107 on the carrier sleeve
105 to catch on the recess 52 at the lower end of the mandrel 10 as shown in Fig.
3. Additional lowering of the tray 20 causes the lower window surface 150 to cam the
pivot arm 25 inwardly, which brings the latch arm 24 in also. Eventually the catch
sleeve 145 will ratchet into the socket 148 (see Fig. 3) to condition the assembly
for removal from the well tubing. Since the orienting dog 26 is inoperative, and the
pivot arm 25 is held retracted, the kickover tool can be removed from the tubing without
any parts thereof dragging against the tubing wall.
[0040] In order to retrieve a gas lift valve or other flow control device, the latch arm
24 is replaced by the pulling arm shown in Fig. 12. The tool is run into the well
as previously described, and the pivot arm 25 is activated to cause the pulling arm
to be shifted to the outer position aligned with the latch mechanism 23. As the tool
is lifted upwardly, the latch fingers 164 will automatically pass over the latch head
127 and will grasp the fishing shoulder 129. A downward jarring blow will cause shearing
of the pin 164 that normally holds the sleeve 130 to the latch mandrel, whereupon
the sleeve can be moved downwardly to remove its upper end from inside the latch
ring 131. With the ring 131 unsupported, it can shift laterally to the extent necessary
to disengage from the mandrel shoulder 51. Then the tool is moved downwardly to pull
the packing 142 out of the polish bore 29, and to cause the pivot arm 25 and the pulling
arm to be positioned alongside the tray 20 as the pivot arm passes through the lower
swage nipple on the mandrel. Eventually the collet heads 107 on the carrier sleeve
105 will engage the mandrel recess 52, and downward jarring can be used to shear the
screw 104 that holds the lug 103 on the lower end of the control rod 94. This allows
the tray 20 to be moved a considerable distance downward relative to the carrier 105,
so that the latch sleeve 145 can be ratcheted into the socket 148 as previously described.
During this movement the pivot arm 25 and pulling arm 24 are tucked into the upper
interior region of the carrier sleeve 105 by the shoulder surface 150, so that the
assembly and valve can be lifted out of the well by the wire line.
[0041] Another and perhaps preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs.
16A through 16C. The housing 200 of the orienting section 201 has a fishing neck 202
threaded into its upper end. The central bore 203 of the housing 200 receives a power
spring 204 that pushes down on the upper end surface 205 of an upper mandrel 206 which
has a key 207 pivoted thereto by a pin 208. A folded leaf spring 209 biases the key
207 outwardly. The lower end of the upper mandrel 206 is provided with a U-shaped
recess 210 that receives a connector lug 211 on the upper end of a lower mandrel 212.
The mandrel 212 carries a second key 213 that is pivoted on a pin 214 and is biased
outward by a folded leaf spring 215. As shown in cross-section in Fig. 18, the upper
mandrel 206 can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing 200 through an angle
of about 30° due the width of the window opening 216 therein. Normally, however, the
housing is retained in its counterclockwise position (viewed from above) by a small
projection 220 that engages in a recess 221 in a cover sleeve 222 that is fitted over
the lower section of the housing 200 as shown in Fig. 22.
[0042] The lower end portion 223 of the lower mandrel 212 is fitted into a bore 224 of the
housing 200, and has the control rod 225 attached thereto by means of a connector
block 226 and a screw 227. With the parts arranged as described, the orienting section
201 is "cocked" by moving the mandrels 206 and 212 upward within the housing 200 to
compress the power spring 204, and then rotating the upper mandrel 206 to the left
to engage the projection 220 with the notch 221. It will be noted that when the keys
207 and 213 are shifted downward as described above, the respective lower edges 228
and 229 of the windows in the cover sleeve 222 cause the keys to be pivoted or "tucked"
inwardly to an inoperative position.
[0043] The lower end of the housing 200 is threaded directly to the upper end of the tray
230 as shown in Fig. 16A. The tray 230 has an elongated internal recess 232 (16B)
which receives the gas lift valve 21 shown in phantom lines, and another elongated
recess 233 that receives the control rod 225. At the location of the packing and port
sub 135 on the valve, a slot 235 can be cut into the rear of the tray 230, and a hump
236 (Fig. 19) provided on the rod 225 which engages in a recess 237 on the sub 135
to provide for a positive positioning of the packing sub 135 when the valve is being
run.
[0044] As shown in Figs. 16C and 17, the lower end of the pivot arm assembly 240 is pivoted
to the tray 230 by a pin 241. The arm 240 is biased toward retracted position by a
coil spring 242 that reacts between an outwardly facing surface 243 on the tray and
a back wall surface of a recess 244 in the arm below the pivot pin 241. The body 245
of the arm 240 has an internal recess 246 that slidably receives a plunger 247 that
is biased downward by a coil spring 248. A pair of oppositely extending links 249
and 249′ are pivoted to the plunger 247 by a pin 250 that extends through a slot in
the rear wall of the tray 230 and is provided with an enlarged head 251. The head
251 is received in a U-shaped slot 252 on the lower end of the control rod 225 as
shown in Fig. 21. A pair of wheels 253, 253′ are mounted on the outer ends of the
links 249 by means of pins 254. The wheels are received in oppositely disposed guide
windows 255 in a manner such that downward movement of the plunger 247 will cause
extension of the wheels, and upward movement of the plunger will cause their retraction.
Instead of wheels, one could use links that are forced outwardly in response to downward
movement of the plunger 247. It also is within the scope of the present invention
to use a single wheel or link. The upper end of the pivot arm 40 is connected to the
running or retrieving arm 24 by a pivot pin as previously described.
[0045] The lower end of the body of the arm 240 is provided with a cap 260 that houses a
clutch ring 261 that has upwardly facing teeth on its inner surface which engage downward
facing teeth on the member 262 of a yoke 263. The ring 261 is split and can expand
and contract to permit the portion 262 to ratchet upward in the body 240, however
the yoke must be unscrewed from the ring 261 to move it downwardly. The upper end
of the portion 262 is threaded into a cap 264 which is held within the lower portion
of the body 240 by a shear pin 265. The plunger 247 has a nose 266 that is engaged
by the upper end of the cap 264 when the pin 265 is sheared and the yoke 263 ratchets
upward in the clutch ring 261. Engagement of the nose with the cap 264 causes the
plunger 247 to move upward, resulting in a retraction of the wheels 253 and 253′ from
their outer positions.
[0046] A second embodiment of a side pocket mandrel in accordance with the present invention
is shown in Figs. 23A and 23B. The mandrel 300 has in its upper end section 301 an
orienting sleeve 302 having lower helical guide surfaces 303 that lead upwardly to
a slot 304 which opens through the top of the sleeve. The lower swage section 305
of the mandrel has a pair of oppositely disposed guide means, for examples, in the
form of rails 306 that extended inwardly of the side walls thereof and cooperate
with the wheels 253, 253′ on the above-described pivot arm 240 in a manner to force
the pivot arm outwardly. Each rail 306 has a ramp portion 307 which extends from the
vicinity of the neck of the swage section 305 upwardly at an angle toward the belly
section 310 of the mandrel. At the lower end portion of the section 310 each rail
section 308 is extended upward in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the
main bore 309 of the mandrel. The upper end of each rail terminates at a prescribed
distance below the latch shoulder 51 and the cylindrical packing bore 29. Instead
of rails, of course the guides could be formed by grooves in the walls of the mandrel
or by outwardly facing shelves or ledges on the mandrel walls. Also, the ramp sections
of the rails could be formed as inclined surfaces or sleeve which is secured in the
lower swage nipple.
[0047] In operation, a gas lift valve 21 or other flow control device is attached to the
running arm 24′ by a latch assembly 23, and the valve, running arm and pivot arm 25′
are folded against the tray 230. The upper and lower mandrels 206 and 212 of the orienting
section 201 are shifted upwardly against the bias of the power spring 204, and the
upper mandrel 206 and key 207 are rotated to the left to position the key 207 out
of alignment with the lower key 213 and to engage the projection 220 with the notch
221. This movement shifts the control rod 225 upward to maintain the guide wheels
253 and 253′ in their retracted positions.
[0048] The kickover tool is connected to the wire line and associated equipment such as
sinker bar and a jar, and lowered into the tubing 11. As the keys 213 and 207 pass
restrictions in the tubing bore, they merely pivot inwardly to bypass such restrictions.
When the mandrel 10 is reached in which it is desired to set the valve 21, the tool
is lowered to a position below the mandrel and then lifted upward. As the upper key
207 encounter the lower helical surfaces 303 of the sleeve 302, the entire tool assembly
201 is rotated to a position such that the nose of the valve 21 initially is 30° to
the right of the packing bore 29. Then as the tool is lifted further upward, the lower
key 213 encounters the helical guide surfaces and begins to orient the valve nose
toward alignment with the bore 29. Rotation of the upper key relative to the lower
key occurs until, as the lower key 213 enters the slot, the power spring 204 forces
the mandrels 206 and 212 and the control rod 225 downward. Such movement releases
the pin 250 on which the links 249 are pivoted, so that the wheels 253 are caused
to extend laterally outwardly outside the lower ramp sections 307 of the rails 306
by downward movement of the plunger 247 under the influence of the spring 248.
[0049] Then the tool is raised upward, and the wheels 253 ride against the outer surfaces
of the rail sections 307 to cause outward pivoting of the arm 251 against the bias
afforded by the spring 242. Such pivotal movement shifts the arm 24 and the nose of
the valve 21 into alignment with the packing bore 29, and the valve 21 is inserted
therethrough until the packing rings 135 are seated in the bore 29, and the latch
ring 131 engages above the mandrel shoulder 51. Upward jarring then is used to shear
the pin 265 so that the portion 262 ratchets upwardly through the clutch ring 261
to cause retraction of the wheels 253. The cap 264 engages the nose 266 of the plunger
247 and drive it upward. The upward movement of the plunger 247 effects a retraction
of the wheels 253 so that they no longer engage the outer surfaces of the rail sections
303. As previously described, downward jarring is used to release the latch arm 24
from the latch mechanism.
[0050] When the mandrels 206 and 212 of the orienting section were shifted downward as previously
described, the keys 207 and 213 are pivoted inwardly to inoperative position by the
edges of the cover sleeve. Thus the keys will not drag as the kickover tool is removed
from the tubing.
[0051] To remove the kickover tool after having set the valve 21, the tool is first lowered
within the mandrel 300. The wheels 253 have been retracted as described above, and
the coil spring 242 is forcing the pivot arm 25′. After sufficient lowering, the pivot
arm 25′ and the running arm 24 can retract to their running positions alongside the
tray 230, and the entire assembly can be withdrawn from the tubing.
[0052] To retrieve a flow control device which needs replacement or repair, the same procedure
as described above is used except that a pulling arm assembly as shown in Fig. 12
is substituted for the latch arm 24, and downward jarring is used to release the latch
mechanism 23.
[0053] The mandrel, in being provided with a packing bore that is slightly inclined toward
the center line of the main bore, provides a construction where placement and removal
of a flow control device is greatly facilitated. The instances of latch and valve
damage during removal are greatly reduced. The single packing employed on the flow
control device provides an assembly that is considerably easier to remove as compared
to prior devices, and the feature of having a packing diameter that is greater than
the diameter of the valve body also contributes to the ease with which a valve can
be removed. The orienting section of the kickover tool has a unique arrangement of
keys which orient and release the pivot arm, and the valve is positively guided into
engagement with the packing bore of the mandrel during placement operations. The port
sub of the valve also is uniquely arranged to cause the direction of gas flow to be
toward the inside of the mandrel and away from the adjacent wall surfaces. The valve
is positioned in the well annulus so that it is substantially isolated from the effects
of variations in temperature of well production fluids due to lift gas mixing and
other variables, and it is possible, and perhaps even desirable, to use a conventional
gas lift valve in combination with the unique packing and port sub of the present
invention.
[0054] Referring now to Figures 24A and 24B, a side pocket mandrel assembly indicated generally
at 410 includes an upper tubular member 411 having internal threads 399 for connecting
the same to a string of production tubing (not shown). The tubular member 411 is secured
by a transverse weld 455 to a seating section 412 of relatively short length, and
the section 412 is secured by a transverse weld 456 to a main body section 413. The
main body section 413 preferably is circular in cross-section, and one side 414 of
the hollow interior thereof is axially aligned with the bore of the tubular member
411. The other side 415 of the hollow interior provides an elongated space for operation
of the kickover arm of a gas lift valve setting or retrieving tool, such arm being
typically a segmented subassembly that can be pivoted outward in order to align a
valve attached to the end thereof for insertion into a valve seat or pocket in the
mandrel. The lower end of the main body section 413 is secured by a transverse weld
457 to a swage nipple 416 that has internal threads 417 for connection to the tubing.
[0055] As shown in Figure 24A, the tubular member 411 can have an orienting sleeve 420 fixed
within the bore thereof. The sleeve 420 has a pair of helical lower surfaces 421 that
lead upward to an elongated vertical slot 422. The slot 422 is arranged to receive
a key on a setting tool as it is moved upward therethrough, in order to rotationally
orient the tool in a manner such that the kickover arm and valve are generally aligned
within the region 415 of the body section 413. Such orientation is achieved by the
fact that the key will first encounter one of the inclined surfaces 421 and be guided
thereby into the slot 422. A second key that initially is vertically misaligned with
the first-mentioned key will then encounter one of the surfaces 421 during continued
upward movement, and the camming action as the keys are forced into vertical alignment
achieves proper orientating and causes the kickover tool to trigger the release of
guide rollers or wings on the arm assembly. The wings then cause the inwardly biased
arm assembly to be pivoted outward during continued upward movement.
[0056] The seating section 412 of the present invention is shown in detail in Figures 25
and 26. The section 412 is generally tubular, and has a main bore 425 machined to
one side thereof. The upper end of the bore 425 opens through an annular lip 426 which
is chamfered to facilitate welding to the lower end of the tubular member 411. Another
bore 427 is formed on the opposite side of the section 412, and has its central axis
428 slightly inclined downward and inward with respect to the axis 429 of the main
bore 425. The angle of inclination may be, for example, from 1-1/2° to 3°. The upper
end portion 430 of the bore 427 has a reduced diameter (for example 1.125 inches),
and is machined as a polish bore that receives an annular packing assembly of a gas
lift valve or other flow control device shown in phantom lines in Figure 24. The bore
430 opens to the outside of the mandrel at its upper end as shown, and is joined by
an annular inclined surface 431 to a larger diameter bore 432 which receives the latch
element (for example collet) of a typical latch assembly which releasably connect
the gas lift valve, or other flow control device, in place. The latch element has
shoulder surfaces that engage an inclined shoulder 433 at the lower end of the enlarged
bore 432, and the shoulder 433 forms the upper side of an inwardly directed flange
434 that has another inclined annular shoulder 435 at its lower side. The shoulder
435 is at the upper end of another enlarged diameter bore 436 that opens through the
lower end surfaces 440 of the section 412. The lower end of the section 412 is beveled
at 437, again to facilitate welding to the upper end of the main body section 413.
[0057] A generally frusto-conical surface 440 is machined in the lower portion of the section
412 as shown, and a vertical slot 441 is milled out in the wall that separates the
bores 430 and 425 in order to provide for the inward flow of lift gas. The slot 441
extends upward to a point 442 adjacent the "no go" shoulder 431, and" preferably has
a width such that the latch shoulder 433 extends circumferentially through an angle
of about 290° (145° to either side of a radial line that intersects the respective
centerlines of the bores 428 and 429) to provide ample stop surface area for the latch
element. The slot 441 also functions as a guide for proper rotational orientation
of the body of the gas lift valve to radially align a port in the neck of the valve
such that the lift gas is injected into the bore 425 where it is admixed and entrained
in the upward flow of production fluids.
[0058] If desired, the central bore 425 may have a transverse dimension of, for example,
2.750 inches up to an inclined surface 443 where the diameter is reduced to 2.441
inches, which is the same dimension as the inner diameter of the orienting sleeve
420. Of course, these dimensions are applicable to a typical size side pocket mandrel,
for example a mandrel sized to be connected in a 2-7/8" o.d. tubing string.
[0059] The swage nipple 415 shown in Figure 1B has fixed therein a ramp member 450 that
is generally semi-circular in section and has inclined surfaces 451 and 452 on opposite
sides thereof. The upper and lower ends of the member 450 can be oppositely inclined,
as shown, so that no transverse shoulders are formed which could cause other tools
to hang up on the member. If desired, a pair of oppositely disposed, elongated rails
451 are mounted inside the main body section 413 between the bore 414 and the region
415, in positions such that outwardly facing surfaces 452 thereof are generally vertically
aligned with the innermost surface of the seating bore 430. The lower end of each
rail 451 may be inclined at 453 to present a continuous ramp surface, and the upper
end of each rail can terminate at approximately the upper end of the body section
413.
[0060] As shown in the drawings, the tubular member 411 is joined to the upper end of the
receptacle section 412 by the transverse weld 455, and the lower end of the receptacle
section 412 is joined to the upper end of the body section 413 by the transverse weld
456. The lower end of the body 413 is joined to the swage nipple by a transverse weld
457. It will be noted that there is a total absence of any vertical weld seams, or
any partial transverse seams, which is a feature that greatly simplifies the manufacture
of the mandrel, and provides a structure that compact and has high strength.
[0061] In a modification of the present invention as shown in Figure 27, a guard lug 460
may be fixed to the outside of the tubular member 411 at a distance from the upper
end of the section 412 such that it is closely adjacent the nose of the gas lift valve
when the valve is latched in place. Thus arranged, the lug prevents the valve from
being damaged in the event the tubing is moved upward in the casing while the valve
is in place.
[0062] In a further modification of the present invention shown in Figure 28, the guard
lug 460′ may have a polish bore 462 formed therein on a diameter that is slightly
less than the diameter of the bore 430, for example 1.000 inch. A gas flow port 463
communicates the polish bore 462 with the interior bore of the tubular member 412.
This feature enables a more conventional gas lift valve to be used having spaced apart
packing rings that engage the respective bores 430 and 461, and a gas outlet port
through the end of the nose thereof which is packed off in the bore 462.
[0063] Having disclosed the principle components of the present invention, it will be apparent
to those skilled in this art that these components could be rearranged from that shown
in the drawing without departing from the concepts of the present invention. For example,
the member 412 which houses an orienting sleeve 420 could be attached to a swage nipple
and body section as previously described, except inverted, or turned upside-down.
With this configuration of parts, the seating section 413 would be inverted also and
would be located near the lower end of the mandrel, whereby the polish bore 430 would
open downward. Of course the tubular member to which the section 413 is welded, in
this configuration, would not have an orienting sleeve therein.
[0064] In another configuration, the entire assembly as shown in Figures 24A and 24B could
be inverted, and the position of the orienting sleeve 420 reversed so that the guide
surfaces would still lead in the upward direction to the slot. In any of these configurations,
the guard lug, with or without polish bore and gas port, could be used.
[0065] Since certain changes or modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiments without
departing from the inventive concepts involved, it is the aim of the appended claims
to cover all such changes and modifications falling within the true spirit and scope
of the present invention.