Patent Application
20250109801
The present disclosure relates generally to oil or gas wellbore equipment, and, more particularly, to a coupled valve assembly.
Once an oil & gas wellbore is completed and the operator of the well is ready to begin extracting hydrocarbon resources from the formation surrounding the wellbore, the operator will move into the production phase. With the multi-well configurations that are currently common in the industry, production operations at a single wellsite often involve numerous wells producing fluids comprising natural gas, oil and water individually, simultaneously, or collectively. When multiple wells are producing at the same wellsite, the fluids are often transported to a central collection or gathering station. In addition to collecting production fluids for further processing or transportation, the fluids must generally be periodically tested to ensure the quality of the fluids produced. Accordingly, the production of each well is generally directed to a common manifold system that communicates the produced fluids to various testing and/or production destinations. A multi-well production manifold comprises an inlet from each individual well, a production header through which fluids are transported to the central collection station, and a test header through which fluids are transported to a separate location for testing. The system must also include a device capable of selectively routing the fluids from each individual inlet to either the production header or the test header.
Operators have traditionally utilized a variety of devices and methods to divert flow from each individual inlet to either the production header or the test header of the production manifold. A multiport selector valve is one such device. An example of a multiport selector valve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,933, “Multi-port flow selector manifold valve and manifold system,” issued to McBeth, et al. These systems, however, are large and heavy, and require a complex and expensive actuator.
Another approach used by some operators is multiple valves for each inlet, with a separate actuator for each individual valve. For example, a first ball valve may be located between the inlet and the production header, with a first actuator capable of regulating the flow of produced fluid to the production header. In addition, a second ball valve may be located between the inlet and the test header, with a second actuator capable of regulating the flow of produced fluid to the test header. This arrangement, however, is expensive and complex due to the need for multiple actuators.
Accordingly, what is needed is a control system allowing an operator to selectively route produced fluids to either portion of the production manifold (i.e., to either the production header or the test header), while addressing the above-described drawbacks of existing systems, among one or more other issues.
The coupled valve assembly uses two or more valves, each in a separate housing but connected to a single actuator via a common coupling attached to the stem of each valve. The valves are 90 degrees out of phase, such that a turn of the single actuator will simultaneously close one valve and open the other valve. In this way, the overall control system is simplified and the expense is significantly decreased, as compared to a multiport selector valve or a system with multiple independent actuators.
In an embodiment, the actuator comprises a manual actuator.
In an embodiment, the actuator comprises an electric actuator.
In an embodiment, the actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator.
In an embodiment, the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.
In an embodiment, the coupled valve assembly may further comprise a second coupling comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is operatively connected to a lower valve stem of the second valve, and a third valve comprising a throughbore, a valve stem operatively coupled to the lower end of the second coupling, and a flow barrier configured to selectively obstruct the flow of fluid through the throughbore.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the disclosure. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
Each inlet 130 is connected on one side to a well (not shown) through which fluids are produced from the formation surrounding a wellbore. Fluid passing through inlet 130 flows to connection block 140 and, from there, in one of two directions. The fluid may flow through connecting spool 145, to connection block 150, through connecting spool 155, and to test header 120. Alternatively, the fluid may flow through connecting spool 165 and to production header 110. Accordingly, each inlet 130 requires some means to divert the produced fluids to either production header 110 or test header 120, depending on the particular production methodology being employed by the operator.
First ball valve 210 is connected to connecting spool 155 and comprises housing 215, upper stem 212, lower stem 214, and ball 216. Upper stem 212 is operatively attached to actuator 250. Actuator 250 may be any type of known actuating device, including but not limited to a manual, electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuator. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand, actuator 250 is configured to rotate upper stem 212, which in turn causes the rotation of ball 216. Ball 216 will either permit fluid to flow through connecting spool 155 to test header 120, or it will obstruct fluid flow through connecting spool 155. In the exemplary state shown in
Second ball valve 220 is connected to connecting spool 165 and comprises housing 225 and stem 222. Ball valve 220 also comprises a ball that is not shown in the view illustrated in
Stem 222 of second ball valve 220 is also operatively connected to coupling 230. Accordingly, upper stem 212 of first ball valve 210, lower stem 214 of first ball valve 210, and stem 222 of second ball valve 220 operate as a unitary drive train for coupled ball valve assembly 200. Thus, when actuator 250 causes the rotation of upper stem 212, it will simultaneously cause the rotation of ball 216, lower stem 214, coupling 230, stem 222, and the ball disposed within housing 225 of second ball valve 220.
Although coupled ball valve assembly 200 is shown comprising two ball valves, this design would allow the use of three of more ball valves in a single assembly. In addition, because each ball valve is disposed within its own separate housing, adding another valve to an existing assembly would be relatively straightforward.
Although the specific embodiments disclosed herein comprise ball valves, the present invention is not limited to any particular type of flow barrier. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, the concept disclosed herein is potentially applicable to other types of valves, including but not limited to other quarter-turn valves such a plug valve or butterfly valve.
It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In several exemplary embodiments, the elements and teachings of the various illustrative exemplary embodiments may be combined in whole or in part in some or all of the illustrative exemplary embodiments. In addition, one or more of the elements and teachings of the various illustrative exemplary embodiments may be omitted, at least in part, and/or combined, at least in part, with one or more of the other elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments.
Any spatial references, such as, for example, “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “between,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “angular,” “upwards,” “downwards,” “side-to-side,” “left-to-right,” “right-to-left,” “top-to-bottom,” “bottom-to-top,” “top,” “bottom,” “bottom-up,” “top-down,” etc., are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the specific orientation or location of the structure described above. Similarly, references to the general shape of certain components, such as for example, “planar” or “cylindrical,” are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the specific configuration of the structure described above.
In several exemplary embodiments, while different steps, processes, and procedures are described as appearing as distinct acts, one or more of the steps, one or more of the processes, and/or one or more of the procedures may also be performed in different orders, simultaneously and/or sequentially. In several exemplary embodiments, the steps, processes, and/or procedures may be merged into one or more steps, processes and/or procedures.
In several exemplary embodiments, one or more of the operational steps in each embodiment may be omitted. Moreover, in some instances, some features of the present disclosure may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Moreover, one or more of the above-described embodiments and/or variations may be combined in whole or in part with any one or more of the other above-described embodiments and/or variations.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, the embodiments described are exemplary only and are not limiting, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many other modifications, changes and/or substitutions are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications, changes, and/or substitutions are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Moreover, it is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112,paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the word “means” together with an associated function.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63586156 | Sep 2023 | US |
