US 12,378,843 B2
Oil and gas operations with valve operably coupled to wellhead
Ronnie B. Beason, Lexington, OK (US); and Nicholas J. Cannon, Washington, OK (US)
Assigned to Downing Wellhead Equipment, LLC, Oklahoma, OK (US)
Filed by Downing Wellhead Equipment, LLC, Oklahoma City, OK (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/409,057.
Application 18/409,057 is a continuation of application No. 18/407,069, filed on Jan. 8, 2024.
Application 18/407,069 is a continuation of application No. 17/319,854, filed on May 13, 2021, granted, now 11,867,023, issued on Jan. 9, 2024.
Application 17/319,854 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/855,749, filed on Apr. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,480,027, issued on Oct. 25, 2022.
Application 16/855,749 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/803,156, filed on Feb. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,242,724, issued on Feb. 8, 2022.
Application 16/803,156 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/436,623, filed on Jun. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,208,856, issued on Dec. 28, 2021.
Application 16/803,156 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/248,633, filed on Jan. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,584,552, issued on Mar. 10, 2020.
Application 16/855,749 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/248,648, filed on Jan. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,724,682, issued on Jul. 28, 2020.
Application 16/803,156 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/100,741, filed on Aug. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,689,938, issued on Jun. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/836,761, filed on Apr. 22, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/755,170, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/638,688, filed on Mar. 5, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/638,681, filed on Mar. 5, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/637,220, filed on Mar. 1, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/637,215, filed on Mar. 1, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/617,438, filed on Jan. 15, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/617,443, filed on Jan. 15, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/598,914, filed on Dec. 14, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0141748 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 33/068 (2006.01); E21B 34/02 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/11 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/02 (2013.01) [E21B 33/068 (2013.01); E21B 41/00 (2013.01); E21B 43/11 (2013.01); E21B 43/26 (2013.01); E21B 43/2607 (2020.05)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
permitting passage of a tethered object through a valve apparatus and into a wellhead, said valve apparatus being operably coupled:
to the wellhead, opposite a wellbore; and
between the wellhead and a latch, said latch detachably securing a lubricator to the valve apparatus, opposite the wellhead;
wherein the wellhead comprises one or more wellhead valves and a frac tree operably coupled to the one or more wellhead valves, opposite the wellbore;
wherein permitting the passage of the tethered object through the valve apparatus and into the wellhead comprises:
while a first valve of the valve apparatus is closed to at least partially fluidically isolate an operating volume of the valve apparatus from the wellhead:
permitting fluid communication between the lubricator and the operating volume of the valve apparatus; and
while permitting the fluid communication between the lubricator and the operating volume of the valve apparatus, permitting pressurization of the operating volume via a conduit, said conduit being operably coupled:
to the valve apparatus operably coupled between the first valve and the latch; and
from a pressure source other than the lubricator detachably secured by the latch;
and
after permitting the pressurization of the operating volume via the conduit:
continuing to permit the fluid communication between the lubricator and the operating volume of the valve apparatus; and
while continuing to permit the fluid communication between the lubricator and the operating volume of the valve apparatus, opening the first valve to permit the passage of the tethered object through the valve apparatus and into the wellhead that comprises the frac tree and the one or more wellhead valves;
wherein the operating volume of the valve apparatus is defined between:
the first valve of the valve apparatus; and
a second valve of the valve apparatus;
and
wherein pressurization of the operating volume and the lubricator is permitted, and continues to be permitted, from the pressure source as a result of the second valve of the valve apparatus being or remaining opened.