Annular relief valve

Abstract

A pressure relief valve assembly may be coupled to one or more casings and/or tubular members to control fluid communication therebetween. In one embodiment, the valve assembly includes a tubular body having a port for fluid communication between an exterior of the tubular body and an interior of the tubular body; a chamber formed in a wall of the tubular body, the chamber in fluid communication with the port; a closure member disposed in the chamber and configured to control fluid communication through the port in response to a pressure differential; and a retaining member coupled to the closure member for retaining the closure member in an open position.

1 . A valve assembly, comprising:
 a tubular body having a port for fluid communication between an exterior of the tubular body and an interior of the tubular body;   a chamber formed in a wall of the tubular body, the chamber in fluid communication with the port;   a closure member disposed in the chamber and configured to allow fluid communication through the port in response to a predetermined pressure differential; and   a retaining member coupled to the closure member for retaining the closure member in an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is configured to engage a wall of the chamber to retain the closure member in the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member for biasing the closure member in a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is disposed between the closure member and a plug. 
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a piston. 
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a second pressure differential to close the port is smaller than the predetermined pressure differential. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer member is expandable. 
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a collet, an o-ring, a snap ring, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an activation force of the closure member is adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the activation force is adjusted by changing a location of a plug disposed on an end opposite the closure member. 
     
     
         11 . The valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the activation force is adjusted by changing a length of the closure member. 
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure member includes a sealing member configured to seal the port. 
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the closure member further comprises a second sealing member for engaging the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a plug having a third sealing member for engaging the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a biasing member disposed between the closure member and a plug. 
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing member is disposed between the second sealing member and the third sealing member. 
     
     
         17 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer member is configured to allow the closure member to close the port when a pressure differential is below the predetermined pressure differential. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling fluid communication through a port, comprising:
 closing the port using a closure member movable in a chamber;   opening the port at a predetermined pressure differential, wherein the closure member moves from a closed position to an open position;   retaining the closure member in the open position using a retainer member; and   moving the closure member to the closed position when a pressure differential is below the predetermined pressure differential, thereby closing the port.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the retainer member is movable with the closure member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein retaining the closure member in the open position comprises engaging the retainer member with a shoulder in the chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein closing the port comprises biasing the closure member in the closed position using a biasing member. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a first fluid pressure is applied to the closure member to open the port is larger than a second fluid pressure acting on the closure member to close the port. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a net force acting on the closure member is sufficient to release the retainer member. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a valve assembly, comprising:
 coupling a valve assembly to a casing, the valve assembly having:
 a tubular body having a port for fluid communication between an exterior of the tubular body and an interior of the tubular body; 
 a chamber in fluid communication with the port; and 
 a closure member disposed in the chamber and configured to control fluid communication through the port; 
   opening the port in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the exterior and the interior of the tubular body, and   retaining the closure member in the open position using a retaining member.