(19)
(11) EP 2 666 957 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
29.04.2015 Bulletin 2015/18

(43) Date of publication A2:
27.11.2013 Bulletin 2013/48

(21) Application number: 13168990.3

(22) Date of filing: 23.05.2013
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E21B 43/12(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30) Priority: 23.05.2012 US 201261650632 P

(71) Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
Houston, TX 77056 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Salihbegovic, Zlatko
    New Iberia, LA Louisiana 70563 (US)

(74) Representative: Shanks, Andrew 
Marks & Clerk LLP Aurora 120 Bothwell Street
Glasgow G2 7JS
Glasgow G2 7JS (GB)

   


(54) Gas lift valve with ball-orifice closing mechanism and fully compressible dual edge-welded bellows


(57) A valve for performing gas lift operations is provided that incorporates two edge-welded bellows and a ball-orifice closing mechanism. The gas lift valve incorporates features enabling enhanced compression of one of the bellows, beyond an initial closure point of the valve. For example, a stem with the sealing ball is divided into two components, wherein one of the stem components is configured to continue moving in relation to the other stem component with the ball, which is fixed in position when the ball seals the orifice and initially closes the valve. This continued movement allows one of the bellows to be fully compressed in the ultimately closed valve position, thereby protecting the bellows from high pressures and potential failure that could occur to bellows in a partially compressed state.







Search report









Search report