GB2132250A - Full bore sampler valve apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A full-bore sampler and safety valve apparatus includes a housing 29 having a hydraulically operable mandrel assembly 34 slidably arranged therein, axially spaced, normally open ball valve elements 98, 125 mounted by trunnions on said mandrel assembly 34 for rotation from positions simultaneously opening a flow passage through said mandrel assembly 34 in one longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly to positions simultaneously closing said flow passage in another longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly, a first actuator member 140 fixed with respect to said housing 29 for applying closing torque to one ball valve 98 as said mandrel assembly is shifted upwardly toward said other position, and a second actuator member 141 movable relative to said housing and said mandrel assembly and operable in response to rotation of said one ball valve 98 for applying closing torque to the other of said ball valves 125. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Full bore sampler valve apparatus This invention relates generally to drill stem testing tools, and particularly to a full bore sampler and safety valve apparatus for trapping a flowing sample of formation fluids that may be produced from an isolated well interval.

A drill stem test may be considered to be a temporary completion of an earth formation that has been intersected by a well bore. A packer is run into the well on a pipe string and is set to isolate the interval of the well bore to be tested, and then a test valve is opened to permit fluids in the formation to flow into the bore hole and up into the pipe string to obtain an indication of the commercial potential of the well. Pressure data is recorded with the test interval open and then shut in, from which many useful parameters such as permeability and initial reservoir pressure can be determined. It also is desirable to collect an actual sample of the fluids for subsequent laboratory analysis.

A sampler that has been used for many years with great success is disclosed in Nutter U.S.

Patent No. 3,308,887. As shown in Figure 3B of this patent, the flow of formation fluid is routed through an annular chamber having sleeve valves at each end that simultaneously can be opened and closed. When the valves finally are closed at the end of the test, a flowing sample of the fluid being produced is entrapped at formation conditions of temperature and pressure. However, the testing apparatus shown in the Nutter patent has a barrier that blocks vertical access through the tool and which must be removed before other equipment such as a pressure recorder or a perforator can be run into the well.

A sampler valve that uses a pair of vertically spaced ball valves to simultaneously open and close the respective ends of a sample chamber is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,063,593. The device shown in this patent, while being full-bore, has a number of disadvantages. The ball valve elements move vertically within the housing during operation and are subject to cocking and high friction during movement from open to closed positions. These factors can cause less than adequate operation through improper sealing and closure. Moreover this system is not considered to be particularly sturdy and rugged in construction, which is a highly desirable feature in this type of equipment.

A ball valve of known construction utilizes a rotary actuator system of inner and outer threaded sleeves that are coupled to a ball valve element by push rods. Rotation of one sleeve relative to the other causes axial displacement of the sleeves and movement of the ball valve element between its open and closed positions. The requirement of rotary motion makes this system not particularly applicable to drill stem testing tools where movement of the drill stem during the testing operation should be avoided.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a fuli-bore sampler valve for trapping the last flowing sample of formation fluids that are produced during a drill stem test.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus adapted for use in closing the bore of a pipe string during a well testing operation comprising: a housing having an actuator mandrel assembly slidably disposed therein, said housing and mandrel assembly defining a flow passage; axially spaced fullopening valve means mounted on said mandrel assembly for opening said flow passage in one longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly within said housing and for closing said flow passage in another longitudinal position therein; hydraulically operable means on said mandrel assembly for shifting said mandrel assembly from said one position to said other position; and means responsive to a predetermined pressure of fluids in the well annul us surrounding said housing for subjecting said hydraulically operable means to well annulus pressure to cause shifting of said mandrel assembly to said other position and closure of said flow passage by said valve means, a region of said flow passage located between said valve means defining a sample chamber adapted to trap a flowing sample of formation fluids.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus adapted for use in closing the bore of a pipe string during a well testing operation, comprising: a housing having a mandrel assembly slidably disposed therein, said housing and mandrel assembly defining an axial flow passage; full-opening valve means mounted on said mandrel assembly for rotation about a transverse rotation axis from a position opening said flow passage in one longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly within said housing to a position closing said flow passage in another longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly within said housing; hydraulically operable means for shifting said mandrel assembly from said one position to said other position; said valve means having an opening therethrough which together with an outer surface thereof defines an edge that is laterally offset from said rotation axis; and actuator means on said housing having an end surface that bears against said edge to apply closing torque to said valve means as said mandrel assembly shifts toward said other position, a portion of said actuator means being received by said opening when said valve means has been rotated to said closed position.

Apparatus according to this invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a string of drill stem testing tools positioned in a well being tested; Figs. 2A-2E are longitudinal sectional views, with portions in side elevation, of a full bore sampler and safety valve constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view of certain valve components of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-section view taken along lines 4 4 of or Fig. 2C; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a rupture disc assembly; and Fig. 6 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 2C.

Referring initially to Fig. 1, there is shown sdhematically a string of drill stem testing tools suspended within the well casing 10 on drill pipe 11. The tools comprise a hook wall-type packer 12 that functions to isolate the well interval to be tested from the hydrostatic head of fluids thereabove, and a main test valve assembly 13 that functions to permit or terminate the flow of formation fluids from the isolated interval. The test valve 13 preferably is of a type that may be opened and closed in response to changes in the pressures of fluids in the annulus 22 between the pipe 11 and the casing 10. The valve assembly 1 3 is well known and is shown in U.S. Patent No.

RE 29 638. The disclosure of Patent No. 29,638 is incorporated herein by reference. Other equipment components such as a jar and a safety joint may be employed in the string of tools but are not illustrated in the drawings. A perforated tail pipe 14 may be connected to the lower end of the mandrel of the packer 12 to enable fluids in the well bore to enter the tools, and typical pressure recorders 1 5 are provided for the acquisition of pressure data during the test.

A full-bore sampler safety valve 20 that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is connected in the pipe string just above the main test valve assembly 1 3.

As shown in detail in Figs. 2A-2E, the valve assembly 20 includes a tubular housing indicated generally at 25. The housing 25 includes several sections that are threaded together including an upper sub 27, an upper drain housing 28, a sampler housing 29, a lower drain housing 30 and a lower sub 31. The lower sub 31 as well as the upper sub 27 are provided with threads 26 by which the apparatus is connected into the tool string. Upper and lower vertically spaced ball valve assemblies 32 and 33 are rotatably mounted on a mandrel assembly indicated generally at 34 that is axially slidable within the housing 25 between a lower position as shown in the drawings where the respective ball valves are open, and an upper position where the valves simultaneously are rotated closed.When the valve assemblies 32 and 33 are closed, the interior region 35 therebetween as well as areas between the mandrel assembly 34 and the housing 25 form a sample chamber for entrapping a volume of formation fluid. The apparatus also functions as a safety valve since closure of the ball valves shuts off the throughbore of the tool string to fluid flow.

As shown in Fig. 2D, the lower section 50 of the mandrel assembly 34 is provided with an annular piston 36 which carries a seal 37 that engages the inner wall surface 38 of the lower drain housing 29. The mandrel assembly 34 also carries seals 40 and 44 that engage wall surfaces 42 and 43 of the lower drain housing 29 and the lower sub 31, respectively, with the surfaces 42 and 43 being formed on the same diameter.

Initially, the regions above and below the piston 36 contain air at atmospheric pressure. The lower region is in communication with a pressure channel 45 that terminates in an outwardly directed threaded port 46 (Fig. 2E) which normally is closed by a rupture disk assembly 47 shown in Fig. 5. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the rupture disk 48 will remain intact until a predetermined pressure is applied thereto which causes the central portion 49 of the disk to fail and thereby admit annulus fluids under pressure into the region below the piston 36.

The lower section 50 of the mandrel assembly 34 is provided with a reduced diameter skirt 51 having downwardly facing threads 52 that engage the upwardly facing teeth 53 of a split clutch ring 54 which is mounted on the lower sub 30. The clutch ring 54 has tapered outer surfaces 55 that engage companion surfaces 56 formed on the inner wall surfaces of the lower sub, so that during upward movement of the mandrel assembly 34 the skirt 51 will simply ratchet through the clutch nut 54. However, downward movement of the mandrel assembly 34 with respect to the housing is precluded by the clutch nut.

An upper section 60 of the mandrel assembly 34, as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B is provided with three vertically spaced seal rings 61, 62, 63 that engage inner wall surfaces 64, 65 and 66 of the upper drain housing 28. A port 67 extends laterally through the wail of the housing 28, and an associated annular pressure channel 68 extends upwardly between an internally mounted sleeve 69 and the upper portion of the drain sub 28 where the channel may be communicated by a vertical port 23 in the upper sub 27 with the pressure operated piston or the like in an associated pressure controlled well tool 21 (Fig. 1) such as a reversing valve.The upper and middle seal rings 61, 62 normally are positioned respectively above and below the inlet 71 to the channel 68, as shown, to blank off the same, whereas the middle and lower seal rings 62, 63 normally are located respectively above and below the lateral port 67 to blank it off to fluid flow. The diameter of the wall surface 65 engaged by the seal 62 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the wall surface 66 engaged by the seal 63, whereby fluid pressure in the well annulus applies a downwardly directed bias force to the section 60 of the mandrel assembly 34. When the mandrel assembly 34 is shifted upward within the housing 25 as previously mentioned, the middle seal 62 moves above the inlet port 71 to a position where the annular clearance space 72 communicates this inlet port with the inlet port 67 to enable well annulus pressure, and changes in such pressure, to be applied to the associated well tool 21 for the purpose of operating or controlling the same.

A bias mandrel 75 is slidably mounted within the bore of the sleeve 69 and carries seals 76 and 77 that engage adjacent inner wall surfaces 78 and 79 of the sleeve 69. The upper seal 76 has substantially the same seal diameter as other seals carried by the mandrel assembly 34 so that prior to actuation of the ball valve assemblies 32 and 33 the mandrel assembly is balanced with respect to internal fluid pressures. A holding sleeve 81 having its lower end engaging an upwardly facing shoulder 82 on the bias mandrel 75 is provided with an inclined outer surface 83 which engages the lower end of a collet 84 having slots that divide its lower end portion into a plurality of laterally flexible spring fingers.The resistance to outward flexure of the spring fingers provides a releasable means for holding the mandrel assembly 34 in the lower position until it is desired to shift the same upwardly and close the ball valve assemblies 32 and 33.

As shown in Figs. 2C, 3 and 4, the section 88 of the mandrel assembly 34 has an outer ball cage 90 threaded to its upper end and sealed by O-rings 91. The upper end portion of the ball cage 90 has pairs of arms 92, 92' that extend upwardly on the opposite sides thereof, the outer surfaces 93 of each arm being arcuate and the inner surface 94 thereof being flat. The lower wall surfaces 95 between the respective pairs of arms 92, 92' has a semi-circular shape and is arranged to rotatably receive the trunnions 96 that extend from the opposite side walls 97 of the lower ball element 98 as shown in Fig. 3. The ball element 98 has an interior bore 99 extending therethrough that when aligned with the central axis of the mandrel assembly 34 provides an open path for the flow of well fluids.However, when the ball element 98 is rotated 900 counterclockwise from the position shown, the spherical outer surface 100 thereof is brought into engagement with the spherical upper surface 101 of a valve seat ring 102 in order to shut off fluid flow. The seat ring 102 carries a seal assembly 103 to prevent fluid leakage, and is biased toward the ball element 98 by a coil spring 104 (Fig. 2C) that reacts between the lower end of the ring and an upwardly facing shoulder 105 on the mandrel section 88. A floating piston 106 having inner and outer seals 107, 108 prevents fluid leakage between the seat ring 102 and the annular space outside the lower valve cage 90.

As shown in Fig. 3, the side of the ball element 98 that is opposite from the solid section 100 is opened to the outside over a substantial portion of the axial length of the ball element. However, there remains a circumferentially continuous section 110 at the lower end of the ball element 98. The section 110 may have a flat or a rounded upwardly facing wall surface 111, as well as a rounded outer edge 112. The side wall surfaces of the ball element from which the trunnions 96 project preferably are flat as shown in the drawings.

An inner valve cage member 11 5 is positioned within the bore of the sampler housing section 29 and has a central bore 11 6. The cage member 11 5 is generally tubular, but is provided with flat wall surfaces 11 7 and 11 8 on the opposite sides thereof which serve as actuator guides as will be explained below. A pair of legs 121 depend from the lower end of the cage member 115 and are sized to fit snugly between the respective arms 92, 92' on the lower cage member 90. The legs 121 each have a semi-circular end surface 122 that fits against the upper surfaces of the trunnions 96 on the ball element 98 in order to rotatably mount the same in a rugged and sturdy manner.Another pair of legs 120 having semicircular upper surfaces 1 28 project upwardly from the upper end of the inner cage member 11 5 and are sized to fit snugly between the downwardly extending arms 123 of an upper cage member 124 that is threaded to the lower end of the mandrel section 60.The upper ball element 125 has the trunnions 126 that extend from the opposite side walls thereof confined between the semi-circular surfaces 127, 128 of the respective pairs of legs and arms 120, 123 in order to securely mount the ball element for rotation between an open position where the central bore 130 thereof is axially aligned with the central axis of the mandrel assembly 34, and a closed position where the outer spherical wall surface 1 31 thereof engages an upper seat ring 1 32 (Fig. 2C). The seat ring 132 is biased toward the ball element 125 by a coil spring 133, and a seal assembly 134 is provided to prevent fluid leakage. A floating piston 135 having seals 136, 137 prevents fluid leakage between the seat ring 132 and the upper cage member 124.The side of the ball element 125 opposite the surface 131 thereof is completely open throughout the axial length of the ball element as shown in Figs. 2C and 3.

In order to simultaneously rotate the ball elements 1 25 and 98 from their open positions to their closed positions, actuator members 140 and 141 are provided. The actuator member 140 includes an upper circular portion 142 whose upper end surface abuts against a stop nut means 143 (Fig. 28) in order to preclude upward movement, and a central portion 144 that extends downwardly past the cage member 124. The lower portion 145 of the actuator member 140 has a flat inner wall surface 1 46 that is arranged to slide with respect to the outer wall surface 11 7 of the inner cage member 11 5, and a rounded lower nose 147 that has an end surface 148 that bears against the upper edge 149 of the lower ball element 98. The other actuator member 141 has a lower nose 150 with an end surface 151 that bears against the upper surface 111 of the transverse section 110 of the lower ball element 98, and an upper rounded nose 1 52 having an end surface 1 53 that bears against the lower edge 1 54 of the upper bail element 125. The actuator member 141 also has a flat inner wall surface 1 55 that is slidable relative to the outer wall surface 11 8 of the inner cage member 11 5.

If desired, the ball elements 125 and 98 can be releasably held in the open position by small shear pins 1 56, 1 57 (Fig. 2C) that extend from one leg of the upper and lower cage members into apertures in the sides of the ball members. Also, an arcuate seal protection member 158 may be carried on the upper end surface of the lower portion 145 of the actuator member 140 and arranged to engage that portion of the seal assembly 134 that spans the side opening of the ball element 125.

It will be recognized that when the ball elements 98 and 125 are closed, the region 35 between the ball elements and the annular open areas outside the mandrel from the seal 63 down to the seal 40 provide a chamber for trapping a flowing sample of formation fluids. The annular space 160 located between the mandrel assembly 34 and the inner wall of the housing section 29 above the upper ball valve element 125 is communicated by a vertical port 1 61 (Fig. 2B) to a typical drain plug assembly 162 that enables the sample of formation fluids trapped in the chamber to be removed when the tool has been removed from the well. An identical drain plug assembly 163 may be located in the wall of the cylinder section 29 at the lower end of a vertical port 164 as shown in Fig. 2D.

In operation, the sampler-safety valve apparatus 20 assembled as shown in the drawings is incorporated into the string of drill stem testing tools above the main test valve 13, and the string is run into the well on the pipe string 11. During running of the tools and operation of the test valve 13, the ball valve elements 125 and 98 are in their open positions as shown in Figs. 2C. The enclosed regions above and below the piston 36 initially contain air at atmospheric pressure, so that the mandrel assembly 34 is substantially balanced with respect to pressure, except for the downward bias forces on the mandrel sections 75 and 60 which tend to maintain the valves open.

The rupture disk 47 is selected to have a burst pressure rating such that it will remain intact during all of the annulus pressure changes that are employed to operate the main test valve 13.

However, when it is desired to terminate the test and obtain a sample, a pressure increase in excess of that employed to activate the test valve 13 is applied at the surface to the well annulus 22.

Such pressure increase ruptures the central region 49 of the disk 47 to admit annulus fluid via the port 45 into the region below the piston 36 on the mandrel assembly 34. Upward force on the piston 36 due to such pressure will cause the mandrel assembly 34 to shift upwardly within the housing 25, causing both of the valve elements 125, 98 to be rotated simultaneously to their closed positions to trap a sample of formation fluids in the chamber 35 in the following manner. As the mandrel assembly 34 shifts upwardly, the lower end of the actuator member 140, which is being held stationary in the housing member 29 through engagement with the stop nut 143, bears against the upper edge 149 of the lower ball element 98 and causes the same to rotate about the transverse axis defined by the trunnions 96 toward closed position.As the ball element 98 rotates, the actuator member 141 is shifted upwardly by the ball section 110 which bears against the lower surface 1 51 thereof. Upward shifting of the actuator member 141 causes its upper surface 1 53 to bear against the lower edge 1 54 of the upper ball element 125 to rotate the ball element toward its closed position. As the lower ball element 98 rotates, the lower end portion of the actuator member 140 is "swallowed" by the open side of the ball element, and the upper portion of the actuator member 141 is swallowed by the side opening in the upper ball element 125.When the mandrel assembly 34 has moved fully upward and the piston section 36 has stopped against the inwardly directed shoulder immediately thereabove, the outer surface 131 of the upper ball element 125 will have rotated into seated position against the seat ring 132, and the outer surface 100 of the lower ball element 98 will have rotated into seated position against the lower seat ring 102. The valve assemblies 32 and 33 thus are closed to prevent flow through the tool and to trap a sample of formation fluids in the bore 35 and the annular regions outside the actuator mandrel 34 as discussed above. The lock ring 54 ratchets downwardly along the mandrel section 51 and functions to lock the sampler closed.The port 67 in the upper section 28 of the housing 25 is communicated with the vertical passage 68 via the clearance spaces 72 and 71 to enable operation of associated equipment in response to subsequent changes in the well annulus pressure.

When the tool string has been removed from the well, the sample trapped in the chamber 35 and in the annular areas outside the mandrel assembly can be removed by hooking up a drain line to the threaded port 1 62 and then opening the drain valve.

The apparatus of the present invention also functions as a safety valve because the throughbore of the tool string can be closed at any time in response to the specific pressure signal required to disrupt the rupture disc. It also will be recognized that the ball valves 32 and 33 have an outstanding capability for cutting a wireline that may be extending therethrough where the valves must be closed quickly in the event of an emergency, or where a wireline tool has become hung in the tool string below the sampler. The valve assemblies 32 and 33, being trunnion mounted, are extremely sturdy and rugged and are not subject to cocking in operation. The valves thus operate with lower friction than prior devices.

The unique actuator system of the present invention applies high closing torque to the ball elements by virtue of engagement with outer peripheral edges thereof. Such high closing torque assures complete closure of the ball elements even in the presence of junk or debris particles.

The term "full-opening" as used herein means that the valve element when open provides an axial passage of a diameter at least as great as the inner diameter of the pipe string on which the tools are suspended.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus adapted for use in closing the bore of a pipe string during a well testing operation comprising a housing having an actuator mandrel assembly slidably disposed therein, said housing and mandrel assembly defining a flow passage; axially spaced fullopening valve means mounted on said mandrel assembly for opening said flow passage in one longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly within said housing and for closing said flow passage in another longitudinal position therein; hydraulically operable means on said mandrel assembly for shifting said mandrel assembly from said one position to said other position; and means responsive to a predetermined pressure of fluids in the well annulus surrounding said housing for subjecting said hydraulically operable means to well annulus pressure to cause shifting of said mandrel assembly to said other position and closure of said flow passage by said valve means, a region of said flow passage located between said valve means defining a sample chamber adapted to trap a flowing sample of formation fluids.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said subjecting means comprises port means leading from the well annulus to said hydraulically operable means, and means including a rupture disc for closing said port means, said rupture disc having a central region that is designed to fail when a predetermined fluid pressure is applied thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 including means for locking said mandrel assembly in said other position to retain said valve means in said closed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 including additional normally closed valve means in said housing for communicating the exterior of said housing with an interior region thereof in response to axial sliding of said mandrel assembly from said one position to said other position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said additional valve means comprises axially spaced port means in said housing, one of said port means extending through the wall of said housing, and sleeve means carrying seal elements that are arranged to prevent fluid communication between said port means when said mandrel assembly is in said one position and to permit fluid communication when said mandrel assembly slides to said other position.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5 wherein said sleeve means constitutes an end section of said mandrel assembly.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said housing has means at its ends for connecting the same in said pipe string; and said full-opening valve means comprises upper and lower ball valve elements rotatably mounted on said mandrel assembly for providing a full-opening bore through said apparatus when said mandrel assembly is in a lower position within said housing and for simultaneously closing said flow passage when said mandrel assembly is shifted to an upper position within said housing, said valve elements when closed defining walls of a sample chamber that is located in part in the bore of said mandrel assembly between said valve elements; cylinder means in said housing; piston means on said mandrel assembly sealingly engaging said cylinder means; seal means on said housing and mandrel assembly above and below said piston means and having substantially the same diameter of sealing engagement to provide variable capacity chambers initially at atmospheric or other low pressure located above and below said piston means; said port means leading from the lower one of said variable capacity chambers to the exterior of said housing; whereby well annulus fluids admitted into said lower variable capacity chamber can act on the lower face of said piston means to shift said mandrel assembly upwardly to said upper position and cause closure of said ball valve elements.

8. Apparatus adapted for use in closing the bore of a pipe string during a well testing operation, comprising a housing having a mandrel assembly slidably disposed therein, said housing and mandrel assembly defining an axial flow passage; full-opening valve means mounted on said mandrel assembly for rotation about a transverse rotation axis from a position opening said flow passage in one longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly within said housing to a position closing said flow passage in another longitudinal position of said mandrel assembly within said housing; hydraulically operable means for shifting said mandrel assembly from said one position to said other position; said valve means having an opening therethrough which together with an outer surface thereof defines an edge that is laterally offset from said rotation axis; and actuator means on said housing having an end surface that bears against said edge to apply closing torque to said valve means as said mandrel assembly shifts toward said other position, a portion of said actuator means being received by said opening when said valve means has been rotated to said closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said opening comprises a bore through said valve means which is opened to the outside thereof in a region generally opposite said edge.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 or 9 wherein said actuator means has an axially elongated form and said end surface is rounded to fit against an internai wall of said bore when said valve means has been rotated closed.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein said valve means is mounted on said mandrel assembly by trunnion means extending outwardly from opposite side wall surfaces of said valve means.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 8-11 wherein said valve means has a circumferentially continuous section generally opposite said edge that provides a drive surface for operating the actuator means of an associated valve means.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 8-12 including second actuator means linearly movable relative to said housing in response to rotation of said one valve means toward closed position and having an end surface that bears against the said edge on the other of said valve means for applying closing torque to said other valve means as said mandrel assembly shifts towards said other position; said apparatus trapping a sample of formation fluids.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second actuator means has an elongated form with another end surface that bears against said drive surface.

1 5. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the opening in said one valve means receives a portion of said first actuator means when said one valve means has been rotated closed, and wherein the opening in said other valve means receives a portion of said second actuator means when said other valve means is rotated closed.

1 6. Apparatus adapted for use in closing the bore of a pipe string during a well testing operation, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.