As more and more intelligent downhole equipment are used in the harsh oil field environment such as high temperature and high pressure conditions, establishing an efficient way to activate a downhole device becomes more and more valuable. An electro-mechanical actuator, such as a solenoid, needs to be activated with significant amount of electrical power. Moreover, if the electro-mechanical actuator needs to hold a position, a significant amount of power is used to maintain the electric field.
In downhole equipment, differential pressure may be needed to move pistons that operate valves, set packers and plugs for example. This differential pressure can be obtained by an atmospheric chamber and controlling the annulus hydrostatic pressure to be ported into the atmospheric chamber. When hydrostatic pressure becomes extreme (e.g., above 20,000 psi), the atmospheric chamber creates extreme pressure differentials across seals and pressure containing materials. A method of reducing and controlling the differential pressure is to develop differential pressure via an electrical pump. Again, a significant amount of power is necessary to keep the pump operating. However, the downhole electrical power capacity is limited in the harsh environment.
A piezoelectric device according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure may include a valve disposed between a high pressure source and a low pressure source; a member in connection with the valve; and a piezoelectric material connected to the member, wherein the piezoelectric material actuates the valve when energized.
The device may further include a passage in pressure communication between the low pressure source and the piezoelectric material. The high pressure source and/or the low pressure source may include an accumulator. The member may include a piston. The member may comprise a bellow. The device may include a downhole tool in operational connection to the high pressure source and the low pressure source.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a piezoelectric pump may include a hydraulic fluid path between a low pressure source and a high pressure tool port; a fluid disposed in the hydraulic fluid path; a piston in communication with the fluid; and a piezoelectric material connected to the piston to pump the fluid through the high pressure tool port. The pump may include a passage in pressure communication between the piezoelectric material and the lower pressure source.
A check valve may be positioned in the hydraulic fluid path. The check valve may include a piezoelectric valve member. The piezoelectric valve member may comprise a piezoelectric material connected to a resilient member.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure the piezoelectric pump may comprise a first check valve connected in the fluid path between the low pressure source and the piston, the first check valve permitting one-way fluid flow from the low pressure source; and a second check valve connected in the fluid path between the high pressure tool port and the piston, the second check valve permitting one-way fluid flow toward the high pressure tool port. At least one of the first check valve and the second check valve may include a piezoelectric valve member.
A piezoelectric valve according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure may include a body having a flow path formed therethrough; and a valve member positioned to selectively allow flow through the flow path, wherein the valve member comprises a piezoelectric material connected to a resilient member.
The foregoing has outlined some of the features and technical advantages of various embodiments in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of various embodiments will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the present claims.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of present embodiments of features. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many embodiments may be practiced without many of these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments are possible.
The present disclosure relates to piezoelectric devices, apparatus, systems and methods for use in wellbore environments. According to some aspects of the present disclosure the piezoelectric devices are adapted for use in harsh wellbore environments. According to one or more aspects the piezoelectric devices may be utilized in combination with various downhole wellbore tools. Examples of some systems and devices in which piezoelectric devices of the present disclosure according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be utilized include U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,464,761; 7,337,850; 7,331,398; 6,354,374; 6,244,351; 6,213,203; and 6,012,518 all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing incorporated documents provide examples of a limited number of examples in which one or more of the piezoelectric devices of the present disclosure may be utilized.
In the depicted embodiments of
A fluid 26 (e.g., gas or liquid) is disposed in chamber 18 in the depicted embodiment. In the embodiment of
Second cylinder 14 is in communication between a low pressure port 32 and a high pressure port 34. In the embodiments of
Member 30 is oriented to actuate valve 36 by moving valve member 38. In the schematic illustration of
An example of operation of apparatus 10 is now described with reference to
Piezoelectric material 22 responds to the application of an electric voltage from source 24 to extend. Upon energizing, piezoelectric material 22 acts on first piston 20 urging it against fluid 26 in second chamber 18 which is urged against face 28a of second piston 28. The areas of first piston 20 and the smaller second piston 28 may be selected so that the stroke length induced by piezoelectric material 22 will be amplified as needed for the particular application. The smaller piston 28 moves member 30 which acts on valve member 38 to open valve 36. High pressure fluid flows via high pressure port 34 through valve 36 to low pressure port 32 when valve 36 is open. The pressure differential occurring across device 10 (e.g., accumulators 2 and 4) may be utilized to operate downhole tool 100 as is known in the art. Downhole tool 100 may include, without limitation, valves, pumps, packers, sampling tools, and electric and hydraulic relays.
As previously noted, apparatus 10 may not include a stroke amplifier or may include a stroke amplifier other than one depicted. Other amplifiers, including without limitation levers and hinged connections may be utilized.
In another aspect of the disclosure piezoelectric material 22 is utilized as a source of hydraulic pressure for operating a downhole tool, such as and not limited to, packers and valve.
Pump 50 may comprise piezoelectric material 22 disposed in a piezoelectric chamber 16 (e.g., first chamber) of a first cylinder 12 which may also be referred to as a housing. Piezoelectric material 22 is separated (e.g., isolated) from a fluid 26 (e.g., hydraulic fluid) by piston member 52. Fluid 26 is disposed in a fluid path depicted in
High pressure port 34 may be in fluid communication with a downhole tool, for example as depicted in
An example of operation is now described with reference to pump 50 depicted in
Applying electric voltage to piezoelectric material 22 via electric source 24 causes it to extend and act on first piston 52 pumping fluid 26 through flow path portion 62 of the fluid path, opening check valve 60, and out of tool port 34. Check valve 56 is closed in this step. By energizing and de-energizing piezoelectric material 22, the tool pressure can be pumped higher than the reservoir pressure.
Well 104 includes a piezoelectric actuator 10 in connection with a downhole tool 100b. In the depicted example, downhole tool 100b is a valve such as, and without limitation, a downhole safety valve or formation isolation valve. Downhole tool 100b may be operated in response to the pressure differential provided by operation of piezoelectric actuator 10. Although not specifically shown, a piezoelectric actuator 10 and a piezoelectric pump 50 may be in connection with a single downhole tool.
As described with reference to
Flow path 74 depicted in
Referring to
Many hydraulic circuits require a pilot operated valve between the solenoid and main tool valves to achieve acceptable opening or closing speeds. The flow rate through most high pressure solenoids valves are small and are designed smaller as pressure differentials increase. The solenoids develop a limited force so the seat areas must be small for this force to overcome the differential pressure. The piezoelectric valve 70 and/or valve member 76 may be utilized to replace contemporary solenoid valves and the like.
Although specific embodiments have been disclosed herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of describing various features and aspects of the invention, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of any present of future related claims. It is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to those implementation variations which may have been suggested herein, may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims which follow.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/081,465 filed Jul. 17, 2008.
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