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Methods and apparatus are disclosed. The problems of damage and failure of solenoid valves in high pressure high temperature environments and the problem of difficult repair of solenoid valves are addressed through reduction of the possibility of damage to the ball seat and/or seals and through a mo

Methods and apparatus are disclosed. The problems of damage and failure of solenoid valves in high pressure high temperature environments and the problem of difficult repair of solenoid valves are addressed through reduction of the possibility of damage to the ball seat and/or seals and through a modular design to increase the ease of repair and adjustment in the event repair is needed.

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1. Apparatus for use in operating a downhole well tool comprising: a solenoid housing having an outer wall, a first end, a second end, and a solenoid housing bore, the solenoid housing bore being generally longitudinal extending along an axis through the first end and the second end, wherein the sol

1. Apparatus for use in operating a downhole well tool comprising: a solenoid housing having an outer wall, a first end, a second end, and a solenoid housing bore, the solenoid housing bore being generally longitudinal extending along an axis through the first end and the second end, wherein the solenoid housing bore creates an inner wall of the solenoid housing, the solenoid housing further having at least one port connecting to the solenoid housing bore through the solenoid housing;at least one plunger disposed in the solenoid housing bore;an electromagnetic solenoid coil disposed at least in part around the plunger;a ball disposed in the solenoid housing bore between the plunger and the second end, the ball movable within the solenoid housing bore by way of a linkage with the plunger; anda ball seat member having a seat surface end, an outer wall, a distal end, and a ball seat member bore through the seat surface end and the distal end, the ball seat member being positioned within the solenoid housing bore such that the seat surface end faces the ball, the ball seat member further being removable through the second end of the solenoid housing. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ground spring disposed around the outer wall of the solenoid housing wherein the ground spring is in contact with the outer wall of the solenoid housing. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one first end filter disposed in the solenoid housing bore proximate to the first end of the solenoid housing. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first end filter is held in place with a retaining ring. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one port filter disposed proximate to the port. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one ball seat member filter positioned within the ball seat member bore proximate to the ball seat member distal end. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ball seat member filter is held in place with a retaining ring. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed in the solenoid housing bore between the first end and the second end of the solenoid housing, the spring biasing the plunger towards the ball seat member. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one plunger disposed in the solenoid housing bore is positioned between the spring and the second end of the solenoid housing. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the spring acts on the at least one plunger and the at least one plunger acts on the ball such that the ball contacts the seat surface end of the ball seat member to form a seal. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic solenoid coil acts on the plunger and the plunger acts on the ball within the solenoid housing bore such that the ball does not contact the seat surface end of the ball seat member. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lock nut having a lock nut first end, a lock nut second end, a lock nut bore extending between the lock nut first end and the lock nut second end creating a lock nut inner wall, and threads on the lock nut inner wall and the outer wall of the solenoid housing. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a seal member having a first end, a seal groove in the first end, a second end, and a seal member bore through the first end and the second end generally aligned longitudinally with the lock nut bore and the solenoid housing bore, wherein the seal member first end is adjacent to the lock nut second end. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a seal located in the seal groove of the seal member. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the ball seat member is positioned through the seal member bore and the lock nut bore. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solenoid housing is comprised of at least two sections. 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seat member end of the ball seat is formed of a material that is deformable to create a seal fit between the ball and the seat member end but that resists further deformation. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the material is a nickel based corrosion resistant alloy. 20. A method of making a valve for use in operating a downhole tool, comprising the steps of: positioning a plunger and a ball within a solenoid housing bore of a solenoid housing, the solenoid housing bore extending from a first end of the solenoid housing to a second end of the solenoid housing and such that the plunger is movable by an electromagnetic solenoid coil supported by the solenoid housing to move the plunger and the ball relative to the second end of the solenoid housing;positioning a ball seat member through the second end of the solenoid housing such that a seat surface end of the ball seat member faces toward the first end of the solenoid housing and is engagable with the ball; andattaching, removably, the ball seat member to the solenoid housing. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of attaching, removably, the ball seat member to the solenoid housing further comprises the steps of attaching an adjustable lock nut to the solenoid housing, attaching a seal member proximate to the lock nut, and attaching the ball seat member to the solenoid housing through a bore in the seal member and the lock nut. 22. A method for fixing a valve used in operating a downhole tool, the valve comprising a solenoid housing having a solenoid housing bore extending from a first end of the solenoid housing to a second end of the solenoid housing, a plunger positioned within the solenoid housing bore, a ball linked to the plunger, and a first ball seat member within the solenoid housing bore and extending through the second end of the solenoid housing bore, the method comprising the steps of: removing the first ball seat member from the solenoid housing bore through the second end of the solenoid housing;positioning a second ball seat member through the second end of the solenoid housing such that a seat surface end of the second ball seat member faces toward the first end of the solenoid housing and is engagable with the ball; andattaching, removably, the second ball seat member to the solenoid housing. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of pressing the ball into the seat surface end of the second ball seat member such that a seal seat is formed in the seat surface end. 24. A method for fixing a valve used in operating a downhole tool, the valve comprising a solenoid housing having a solenoid housing bore extending from a first end of the solenoid housing to a second end of the solenoid housing, a plunger positioned within the solenoid housing bore, a ball linked to the plunger, and a ball seat member within the solenoid housing bore and extending through the second end of the solenoid housing bore, the method comprising the steps of: removing the ball seat member from the solenoid housing bore through the second end of the solenoid housing; re-shaping a seat surface end of the ball seat member to form a re-shaped seat surface end; andpositioning the ball seat member having the re-shaped seat surface end through the second end of the solenoid housing such that the re-shaped seat surface end of the ball seat member faces toward the first end of the solenoid housing and is engagable with the ball; andattaching, removably, the ball seat member to the solenoid housing.