(19)
(11) EP 0 985 798 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
09.10.2002 Bulletin 2002/41

(43) Date of publication A2:
15.03.2000 Bulletin 2000/11

(21) Application number: 99307058.0

(22) Date of filing: 06.09.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7E21B 34/10, E21B 34/06
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 10.09.1998 US 150581

(71) Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
Dallas, Texas 75381-9052 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Van Le, Nam
    Carrollton, Texas 75007 (US)
  • Dickson, Rennie L.
    Carrollton, Texas 75007 (US)
  • Arendt, Henry P.
    Dallas, Texas 75248 (US)

(74) Representative: Wain, Christopher Paul et al
A.A. Thornton & Co. 235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
London WC1V 7LE (GB)

   


(54) Apparatus for opening and closing a flapper valve


(57) A typical flapper valve (10) includes a substantially tubular housing (26), a valve seat (18) defining a flow passage (18c) therethrough, and a flapper valve closure member (32) pivotally connected to the housing (26) adjacent the valve seat (18) for selectively moving between an open position and a closed position against the valve seat (18). The flapper valve includes a lever arm (36) on the closure member (32). The lever arm (36) extends from adjacent to the flapper valve pivotal connection away from the closure member (32). A piston (60) is mounted adjacent to a tubular wall of the housing (26), and a pivotal connection is provided for operatively connecting the piston (40) to the lever arm (36). Thus, moving the piston (60) in a first direction urges the closure member (32) to pivot about the pivotal connection toward the closed position. Moving the piston (60) in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction urges the closure member (32) to pivot about the pivotal connection toward the open position. A control line and fluid communication passages (68a,68b,68c) in the housing (26) are provided for selectively transmitting fluid pressure from a remote location to the piston (60) for moving the piston (60) in at least one direction, thereby urging the closure member (32) to pivot in at least one direction about the pivotal connection between the open position and the closed position







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