Simplified isolation valve for es/ell control application

Abstract

A tool is provided for use in a variety of ESP and other well control applications. The tool employs a simplified design for ESP and well control applications and has a main valve which may be operated by a plurality of different shifting tools.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for flow control, comprising:
 a valve system having:
 a valve having an effective diameter that, when open, permits flow through the valve through the effective diameter; 
 a shifting mechanism operably coupled to the valve such that when the shifting mechanism is actuated the valve at least partially opens or closes; and 
 a seal bore above the shifting mechanism; 
   a shifting tool having a seal section configured to engage with the seal bore of the valve system and a shifting section configured to engage with the shifting mechanism of the isolation valve such that bringing the shifting tool into contact with the valve system the valve is at least partially actuated, wherein the shifting tool and valve system maintain the effective diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shifting mechanism is a mechanical shifting mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shifting mechanism is a hydraulic shifting mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shifting mechanism is an electrical shifting mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shifting mechanism of the valve system and the shifting section of the shifting tool have corresponding profiles. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the corresponding profiles comprise a female sloped shoulder on the isolation valve and a male sloped shoulder on the shifting tool. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the valve system comprises an isolation valve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the valve system comprises a flow control valve. 
     
     
         10 . A system for flow control, comprising:
 a valve system having an upper shifting mechanism coupled with a valve which may be shifted between closed and open positions by the upper shifting mechanism, the upper shifting mechanism having a seal bore; and   a shifting tool having a seal section received by the seal bore to form a seal while the upper shifting mechanism and the valve are shifted via movement of a shifting section of the shifting tool.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the shifting tool is a mechanical shifting tool. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the shifting tool is a hydraulic shifting tool. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the shifting tool is an electrical shifting tool. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the valve system and shifting tool define an interior diameter which is approximately equal throughout the length of the system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the hydraulic shifting tool comprises a hydraulic line coupled to a piston, and wherein hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic line causes the piston to move to actuate the valve system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the electrical shifting tool is powered by an electric submersible pump (ESP) cable. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the valve system and shifting tool are installed with ESP completions. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the valve system and shifting tool are installed with a flow control valve. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the valve system comprises an isolation valve system. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the valve system comprises a flow control valve.