Patent Application
20240254861
Wells completed in unconventional gas reservoirs can experience water loading issues generally later in their producing life. When such issues occur, it is common to install a slim completion tubing and plunger string using gas-lift assist techniques to improve de-liquification efficiency. For longer wells dual gas-assisted plungers and one or more drain valves may be employed. Where more than one drain valve is employed, there is a challenge to open all drain valves simultaneously. Arrangements to overcome this challenge will be well received by the art.
An embodiment of an annulus activated drain valve comprising a mandrel, a port extending laterally through the mandrel, a first piston disposed initially to block the port and responsive to pressure in a volume that radially outwardly surrounds the first piston, a second piston interactive with the first piston, and a biaser associated with the second piston that biases the second piston to a predetermined position.
An embodiment of a method for managing a borehole system including reaching a threshold pressure in an annular space around an annulus activated drain valve, shifting a first and a second piston from initial positions to second positions, and locking the first piston in the second position, and returning the second piston to the second piston initial position.
An embodiment of borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, an annulus activated drain valve 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.
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It will be appreciated the piston 24 is contained with a housing 28 that includes a port 30 fluidly connecting an interior of the housing 28 to annulus pressure in an annular volume 36 radially outwardly of the housing 28. It is this annular pressure that is used to actuate the valve 10 or a plurality of valves 10 simultaneously when desired. The annular pressure will be raised to a threshold pressure that is predetermined to actuate all valves 10 in a string.
Within the housing 28 is a biaser 32, which in some cases may be a tension spring. The tension spring 32 is anchored to the second piston 24 by a spring anchor 34 such that the second piston 24 may be retracted by the potential energy of the stretched spring 32 when fluid pressure is reduced. It should also be appreciated that the spring anchor 34 is prevented from travel to the left in the Figures by a retainer ring 35 that is mounted on the mandrel 12. In an embodiment, the ring 35 is a snap ring that is received in a groove 37 on the mandrel 12. With the ring 35 in place, the spring anchor 34 prevents movement of the second piston 24 in the direction to the left in the Figure preventing the opening of the port through movement of the second piston 24 based upon tubing pressure.
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A significant benefit of the valve 10 as disclosed herein is that ports 14 will remain closed until the threshold pressure in volume 36 has been reduced. Ports 14 are only opened in response to a reduction of pressure at the desired time and in response to the pull back action of the biaser 32. This means that the threshold pressure will not bleed off through an open port 14 and therefore allows for the opening of multiple drain valves without the risk of a first of the multiple drain valves partially open and allowing annular pressure to be bled therethrough.
Referring to
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: An annulus activated drain valve comprising a mandrel, a port extending laterally through the mandrel, a first piston disposed initially to block the port and responsive to pressure in a volume that radially outwardly surrounds the first piston, a second piston interactive with the first piston, and a biaser associated with the second piston that biases the second piston to a predetermined position.
Embodiment 2: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the first piston includes an interlock feature that automatically locks the first piston in a second position.
Embodiment 3: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the interlock is a C-ring.
Embodiment 4: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the first piston is initially fixed in a first position by a release.
Embodiment 5: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the release is a shear release.
Embodiment 6: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the first piston is configured to experience a load from the second piston.
Embodiment 7: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the second piston is drivable by annulus pressure.
Embodiment 8: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the biaser is at rest with the second piston in an initial position and in a potential energy storage condition when the second piston is in a second position.
Embodiment 9: The valve as in any prior embodiment, wherein the second piston departs from an initial position upon the valve experiencing a threshold pressure in the volume and is moved by the biaser from a second position back to the initial position when pressure in the volume subsides below the threshold pressure.
Embodiment 10: A method for managing a borehole system including reaching a threshold pressure in an annular space around an annulus activated drain valve, shifting a first and a second piston from initial positions to second positions, and locking the first piston in the second position, and returning the second piston to the second piston initial position.
Embodiment 11: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the valve includes a port.
Embodiment 12: The method as in any prior embodiment, further including opening the port upon returning the second piston to the initial position.
Embodiment 13: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the reaching the threshold causes shifting of a plurality of annulus activated drain valves simultaneously.
Embodiment 14: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, an annulus activated drain valve as in any prior embodiment disposed within or as a part of the string.
Embodiment 15: The system as in any prior embodiment including a plurality of simultaneously actuable annulus activated drain valves.
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” can include a range of #8% 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.
