A downhole tool (32) comprises a tool housing (34) defining a central bore (35) and including a fluid port (20), and a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (34) and being movable from a closed position in which the fluid port (20) is blocked to an open position in which the fluid port (20) is opened. The tool (32) further comprises a catching arrangement (41) mounted within the housing (34) and comprising one or more radially movable seat members (106), and being configurable from a free configuration in which the seat members (106) permit an object (48) to pass through the tool (32), to a catching configuration in which the seat members (106) catch an object (48) passing through the tool (32).

A subsurface safety valve system may include a tubular valve housing disposable within a wellbore, a primary flow tube moveably secured within the valve housing between an upper position and a lower position, and a secondary valve securable within the valve housing downhole from the primary flow tube and a primary valve. The secondary valve is actuatable between an open position and a closed position. Further, the subsurface safety valve system may include a tubular opening prong securable to the primary flow tube, wherein the opening prong is moveable axially downhole to drive the secondary valve into the open position in response to the primary flow tube moving to the lower position, and wherein the tubular opening prong is movable axially uphole to release the secondary valve to move into the closed position.

A downhole tool (32) comprises a tool housing (34) defining a central bore (35) and including a fluid port (20), and a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (34) and being moveable from a closed position in which the fluid port (20) is blocked to an open position in which the fluid port (20) is opened. The tool (32) further comprises a catching arrangement (41) mounted within the housing (34) and comprising one or more radially moveable seat members (106), and being configurable from a free configuration in which the seat members (106) permit an object (48) to pass through the tool (32), to a catching configuration in which the seat members (106) catch an object (48) passing through the tool (32).

A downhole actuator (30) comprises a tubular housing (34) which includes an indexing profile (42) on an inner surface thereof, and an indexing sleeve (46) mounted within the housing (34). The indexing sleeve (46) comprises an engaging arrangement including first and second axially spaced engagement members (52, 54) which cooperate with the indexing profile (42) of the housing (34) to be sequentially engaged by an actuation object (48) passing through a central bore (50) of the indexing sleeve (46) to drive the indexing sleeve (46) one discrete step of movement through the housing (34) towards an actuation site.

Wellbore systems containing a hydraulically regulated primary safety valve may have their hydraulic regulation transferred to an insert safety valve disposed in a nipple. Such wellbore systems may comprise: a tubing string comprising a nipple and a primary safety valve, the primary safety valve being disposed in the tubing string below the nipple; and a control line and a balance line in hydraulic communication with the primary safety valve and in latent hydraulic communication with one or more switching mechanisms in the nipple. The one or more switching mechanisms in the nipple are actuatable to shut off hydraulic communication of the control line and the balance line below the nipple and to redirect, via one or more latent hydraulic lines, the hydraulic communication of the control line and the balance line to an insert safety valve positioned in a bore of the nipple.

A downhole tool (32) comprises a tool housing (34) defining a central bore (35) and including a fluid port (20), and a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (34) and being moveable from a closed position in which the fluid port (20) is blocked to an open position in which the fluid port (20) is opened. The tool (32) further comprises a catching arrangement (41) mounted within the housing (34) and comprising one or more radially moveable seat members (106), and being configurable from a free configuration in which the seat members (106) permit an object (48) to pass through the tool (32), to a catching configuration in which the seat members (106) catch an object (48) passing through the tool (32).

Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to a semi-autonomous insert valve. The semi-autonomous insert valve includes a body, a closure mechanism coupled to the body, an autonomous actuation mechanism coupled to the body, and a control system disposed in the body. The body engages an inner wall of a subsurface safety valve and causes a subsurface safety valve closure mechanism to open, allowing fluid to flow toward the surface of the wellbore. The closure mechanism selectively allows fluid to flow toward the surface of the wellbore. The autonomous actuation mechanism actuates the closure mechanism independently from a subsurface safety valve actuation mechanism that actuates the subsurface safety valve closure mechanism. The control sub-system includes one or more transceiving devices that can wirelessly communicate signals. The control sub-system closes the closure mechanism in response to losing signal communication between the transceiving devices and a signal source.

A well tool apparatus comprises a control arrangement configured to control response of the downhole tool by varying a bore-annulus pressure difference. The control arrangement includes a valve piston longitudinally slidable in a generally tubular controller housing that is in operation substantially co-axial with the wellbore, to open or close a valve port to a fluid flow connection between the drill strings interior and the tool. A latch mechanism is configured to latch the valve piston against movement in one axial direction, keeping the valve piston in an open or a closed condition. Unlatching of the valve piston requires displacement thereof in the other axial direction to a mode change position. A stay member is automatically displaceable under hydraulic actuation responsive to bore-annulus pressure differences above a trigger threshold value, to obstruct movement of the latched valve piston under hydraulic actuation to the mode change position.

A valve system for use in a wellbore includes a side pocket mandrel and one or more well tools, where the side pocket mandrel includes an elongated body section provided with a connector at its ends, the elongated body section being provided with a substantially fully open main bore for alignment with the well tubing and an offset side pocket bore. At least one through opening is provided in the side pocket mandrel, leading into the side pocket bore, and at least one through opening is provided in the internal wall, leading into the main bore, where the at least two openings are in fluid communication through the side pocket bore, in which side pocket bore at least two valves are arranged in series to form a double fluid barrier between the main bore and an outside of the pocket mandrel, the at least two valves being independently retrievable through at least one installation opening arranged in the internal wall of the side pocket mandrel.

An insert safety valve, including a housing, a flow tube in the housing, a flapper responsive to positions of the flow tube, an atmospheric chamber in the housing, an element upon the housing, a selectively openable arrangement to prevent or allow pressure communication between the chamber and an environment outside the housing, the arrangement including an opener responsive to movement of the element to selectively open the openable arrangement. A borehole system, including a preexisting downhole structure having a control line, an insert safety valve, in the preexisting downhole structure, the insert safety valve operable with the control line. A method for controlling a wellbore, including running an insert safety valve while preventing fluid communication with an atmospheric chamber of the safety valve, moving the opener, and enabling fluid communication with the atmospheric chamber.