VALVE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF SELECTIVELY COMMUNICATING BETWEEN AN INTERIOR AND AN EXTERIOR OF A TUBULAR STRING

摘要

A valve device and associated methods of selectively communicating between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string. A valve device includes an openable and closable flow path for selectively permitting and preventing flow between an interior and exterior of the valve device, and a lock assembly which prevents the flow path from being opened greater than a predetermined number of times. A method of testing at least one annular seal in an annulus formed between a tubular string and a wellbore wall includes the steps of : sealingly engaging the annular seal to thereby prevent flow through the annulus across the annular seal; and applying a pressure differential across the annular seal to thereby test the annular seal, the pressure differential being applied via a valve device interconnected in the tubular string.