Shutoff Valve

Abstract

A shutoff valve device for permitting and preventing fluid flow in a production string. In one embodiments, the shutoff valve device comprising: a body comprising a borehole, wherein the body is a top sub coupled to a bottom sub via a threaded fastener; a flow tube disposed within the body's borehole and capable of axial movement within the body's borehole, comprising a flow tube borehole; a bi-directional actuator attached to a bottom opening of the flow tube, comprising flexible flaps; and a flapper valve disposed within the body's borehole, wherein the flapper valve is hingedly coupled to a top surface of the bottom sub and capable of moving between a fully opened and fully closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shutoff valve device for permitting and preventing fluid flow in a production string, comprising:
 a body comprising a borehole, wherein the body is a top sub coupled to a bottom sub via a threaded fastener;   a flow tube disposed within the body's borehole and capable of axial movement within the body's borehole, comprising a flow tube borehole;   a bi-directional actuator attached to a bottom opening of the flow tube, comprising flexible flaps; and   a flapper valve disposed within the body's borehole, wherein the flapper valve is hingedly coupled to a top surface of the bottom sub and capable of moving between a fully opened and fully closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the top sub is further coupled to the bottom sub via shear screws to provide a means in which to shear the top sub from the bottom sub. 
     
     
         3 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional actuator is made up of rubber material. 
     
     
         4 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper valve is positioned in a flapper valve recess when in the fully open position. 
     
     
         5 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper valve is positioned to mate with a valve seat when in the fully closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the borehole comprises ledges to limit the axial movement of the flow tube. 
     
     
         7 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump-open sleeve disposed about an outer surface of the body, and wherein the pump-open sleeve covers openings in the body. 
     
     
         8 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 7 , wherein the pump-open sleeve is attached to the body via secondary shear screws to provide a means to actuate pump-open sleeve, thereby uncovering the openings. 
     
     
         9 . A shutoff valve device for permitting and preventing fluid flow in a production string, comprising:
 a body comprising a borehole, wherein the body is a top sub coupled to a bottom sub via a threaded fastener;   a flow tube disposed within the body's borehole and capable of axial movement within the body's borehole, comprising a flow tube borehole;   a compression spring disposed radially between the flow tube and the body, wherein the compression spring biases the flow tube in an axially upward position;   a bi-directional actuator attached to a bottom opening of the flow tube, comprising flexible flaps; and   a flapper valve disposed within the body's borehole, wherein the flapper valve is hingedly coupled to a top surface of the bottom sub and capable of moving between a fully opened and fully closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 9 , wherein the top sub is further coupled to the bottom sub via shear screws to provide a means in which to shear the top sub from the bottom sub. 
     
     
         11 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 9 , wherein the bi-directional actuator is made up of rubber material. 
     
     
         12 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 9 , wherein the flapper valve is positioned in a flapper valve recess when in the fully open position. 
     
     
         13 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 9 , wherein the flapper valve is positioned to mate with a valve seat when in the fully closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 9 , wherein the borehole comprises ledges to limit the axial movement of the flow tube. 
     
     
         15 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 9 , further comprising a pump-open sleeve disposed about an outer surface of the body, and wherein the pump-open sleeve covers openings in the body. 
     
     
         16 . The shutoff valve device of  claim 15 , wherein the pump-open sleeve is attached to the body via secondary shear screws to provide a means to actuate pump-open sleeve, thereby uncovering the openings. 
     
     
         17 . A method for permitting and preventing fluid flow in a production string, comprising:
 (A) outfitting a production string with a shutoff valve device comprising:
 a body comprising a borehole, wherein the body is a top sub coupled to a bottom sub via a threaded fastener; 
 a flow tube disposed within the body's borehole and capable of axial movement within the body's borehole, comprising a flow tube borehole; 
 a bi-directional actuator attached to a bottom opening of the flow tube, comprising flexible flaps; and 
 a flapper valve disposed within the body's borehole, wherein the flapper valve is hingedly coupled to a top surface of the bottom sub and capable of moving between a fully opened and fully closed position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein upward fluid flow through the borehole opens the shutoff valve device by providing an upward force that engages the bi-directional actuator, thereby moving the flow tube axially upward, which in turn opens the flapper valve and permits fluid flow. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein downward fluid flow through the borehole closes the shutoff valve device by providing a downward force that engages the bi-directional actuator, thereby moving the flow tube axially downward, which in turn allows the flapper valve the ability to be closed by the downward force and prevent fluid flow. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the bi-directional actuator is made up of rubber material.