Patent Application
20240301769
In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries, actuation of tools in the downhole environment has been a significant consideration for decades and many methods have been devised but with greater sensitivity and smart wells becoming more prevalent, the actuation of tools in systems downhole requires greater and greater choreography. Accordingly, the art would well receive alternative actuators that can respond more rapidly than those of the prior art.
An embodiment of an actuator, including a housing having a flow conduit therethrough, a pressure balanced poppet disposed in the housing, initially preventing flow through the housing, and a heat evolving composition disposed to cause the poppet to move by fluid heating to cease preventing flow through the housing upon ignition of the heat evolving composition.
An embodiment of a method for actuating a tool, including igniting the heat evolution composition, heating a fluid located between the poppet and the housing, driving the poppet to move with the heated fluid, and flowing fluid through the housing.
An embodiment of a borehole tool, including the actuator, a tool member disposed in the tool and movable by the fluid flowing through the housing, the movement of the tool member changing an operational condition of the tool.
An embodiment of a borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, the actuator disposed within or as a part of the string.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
The heat evolution composition is ignited by an igniter 32 that may be electrically responsive. A trigger (not shown) is used to supply electric energy to the igniter based upon a remote command or local sensory input. On embodiment of a suitable igniter may be a Nichrome resistive wire, for example, which is widely commercially available.
Upon ignition of the heat evolution composition 26, the poppet 16 is driven to the right in the Figures to unblock the flow conduit 14 thereby allowing hydrostatic pressure to reach the chamber 18 and affect the member 20 of the tool 18, changing the operational condition of the tool.
Referring to
In each case, because the heat evolution composition 26 is of a type that evolves extreme heat virtually instantly a temperature rise in ambient fluid, which may simply be air, at the poppet 16 is so rapid that actuation of the tool will occur within 5 seconds of an ignition signal being received at the trigger.
Referring to
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: An actuator, including a housing having a flow conduit therethrough, a pressure balanced poppet disposed in the housing, initially preventing flow through the housing, and a heat evolving composition disposed to cause the poppet to move by fluid heating to cease preventing flow through the housing upon ignition of the heat evolving composition.
Embodiment 2: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the poppet includes a shaft that intersects the conduit.
Embodiment 3: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the shaft includes seals disposed on opposite sides of the intersected shaft.
Embodiment 4: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the poppet is movable relative to the housing by only overcoming friction of the seals.
Embodiment 5: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the poppet includes a head.
Embodiment 6: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the head includes a recess receptive to the heat evolving composition.
Embodiment 7: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the head is located in a recess of the housing.
Embodiment 8: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the heat evolving composition is disposed between the head and the housing.
Embodiment 9: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the fluid being heated is air.
Embodiment 10: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the heat evolution composition is gas evolutionless.
Embodiment 11: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the heating evolution composition is a thermite.
Embodiment 12: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, further including an igniter in physical contact with the heat evolution composition.
Embodiment 13: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the igniter is electrically responsive.
Embodiment 14: The actuator as in any prior embodiment, wherein the igniter is responsive to one of a remote signal or a locally generated signal based upon a sensed borehole parameter.
Embodiment 15: A method for actuating a tool, including igniting the heat evolution composition as in any prior embodiment, heating a fluid located between the poppet and the housing, driving the poppet to move with the heated fluid, and flowing fluid through the housing.
Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment, further comprising flowing fluid through the housing within 5 seconds of igniting the heat evolution composition.
Embodiment 17: A borehole tool, including the actuator as in any prior embodiment, a tool member disposed in the tool and movable by the fluid flowing through the housing, the movement of the tool member changing an operational condition of the tool.
Embodiment 18: A borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, the actuator as in any prior embodiment disposed within or as a part of the string.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” includes a range of ±8% of a given value.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a borehole, and/or equipment in the borehole, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
