Valving Device and Method of Valving

Abstract

A valving device includes a tubular having a wall including a passageway therethrough fluidically connecting an outside of the tubular with an inside of the tubular, a plug movable relative to the wall between a first position wherein the plug substantially prevents fluid flow through the passageway and a second position wherein the plug permits fluid flow through the passageway. At least one force failing member configured to maintain the plug in the first position until attainment of a selected force acts upon the plug, and movement of the plug is in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular yet non-coaxial with the tubular.

1 . A valving device comprising:
 a tubular having a wall including a passageway therethrough fluidically connecting an outside of the tubular with an inside of the tubular;   a plug movable relative to the wall between a first position wherein the plug substantially prevents fluid flow through the passageway and a second position wherein the plug permits fluid flow through the passageway, movement of the plug being in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular yet non-coaxial with the tubular; and   at least one force failing member configured to maintain the plug in the first position until attainment of a selected force acts upon the plug.   
     
     
         2 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure differential between the outside and the inside acts on the plug to generate a force thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is part of a drillstring positionable in a wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the valving device is a gas lift valve. 
     
     
         5 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the valving device is housed within a side pocket mandrel. 
     
     
         6 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one force failing member is configured to fail when a pressure at the outside is greater than a pressure at the inside by a selected value. 
     
     
         7 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the valving device is configured such that the at least one force failing member is not loaded when pressure at the inside is greater than pressure at the outside. 
     
     
         8 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one force failing member is a shear screw. 
     
     
         9 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the selected force is defined by a number of the at least one force failing member employed in the valving device. 
     
     
         10 . The valving device of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is retained in the second position after the selected force is attained. 
     
     
         11 . The valving device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing disposed at the tubular and the plug is movable relative to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The valving device of  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a bore sealingly slidably engaged by the plug and at least two ports wherein at least two of the at least two ports are positioned on opposing sides of the sealing point of the plug when the plug is in the first position and the at least two of the at least two ports are positioned on a same side of the sealing point of the plug when the plug is in the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The valving device of  claim 1 , further comprising a poppet configured to prevent reverse flow through the passageway after the valving device is open. 
     
     
         14 . A method of valving a tubular comprising:
 sealing a passageway through a wall of a tubular with a plug;   maintaining the plug in a sealed position with at least one force failing member;   failing the at least one force failing member by exceeding a selected pressure differential across the plug;   moving the plug a direction non-coaxially yet substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tubular; and   opening the passageway to fluid flow in at least one direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of valving a tubular of  claim 14 , further comprising preventing fluid flow through the passageway in one direction while the plug is in an open position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of valving a tubular of  claim 14 , further comprising retaining the plug while the passageway is in an open position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of valving a tubular of  claim 14 , further comprising altering a pressure needed to open the passageway by altering a number of the at least one force failing member employed.