In well procedures related to perforating, valves are sometimes combined with the perforating string moved downhole. The valves can be used to control flow in the downhole environment during, for example, production of fluids or isolation of wellbore regions for specific procedures.
The valves are actuated by a variety of mechanisms and procedures. In some designs, valve actuation is initiated by the shearing of shear pins. Other valves are explosively triggered or mechanically actuated by dropping a bar from a surface location. Each of these valve designs requires intervention for actuation.
In general, the present invention provides a well related system that utilizes an interventionless valve system to control flow of fluid in a downhole environment. The valve system comprises at least one intelligent valve selectively actuated by a device responsive to a unique pressure and time signal. Actuation of the valve controls fluid flow between the interior of a well equipment string, e.g. a perforating gun string, and exterior regions within the wellbore.
Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.
The present invention relates to a system and methodology for controlling flow of fluid in a downhole environment. In various well related operations, a valve system can be used to, for example, equalize or isolate pressure between an interior of tubing or other equipment and the exterior region. The valve system is useful in downhole perforating operations to equalize pressure or to isolate pressure from the inside of the tubing of the perforating gun string to the outside of the perforating gun string. Furthermore, the valve system is designed as an interventionless system.
Referring generally to
A well equipment string 30 is deployed in wellbore 22 and a may have a variety of configurations depending on the specific well operation to be performed. In many applications, well equipment string 30 is a perforating gun string having one or more perforating guns 32 and a firing head 34. A wellbore isolation mechanism 36, such as a packer, can be used to isolate regions of wellbore 22, such as a rat hole region 38 located below packer 36. A valve system 40 is combined with the well equipment string 30, e.g. a perforating gun string, to control flow and to equalize or isolate pressures between an interior 42 of the string, typically the tubing interior, and an exterior 44 that surrounds the string within wellbore 22
Depending on the specific application, string 30 can be deployed into wellbore 22 by a variety of deployment mechanisms 46, such as tubing. Also, wellbore 22 may be lined with a casing 48 that is perforated upon detonation of perforating gun 32 to form perforations 50. Perforations 50 enable, for example, the flow of hydrocarbon fluids from formation 24 into wellbore 22 and/or the flow of well treatment fluids from wellbore 22 into the surrounding formations.
An embodiment of valve system 40 is illustrated in
Main body section 58 is designed to accommodate one or more activation devices 62 used to activate one or more corresponding valves 64 located in valve section 60. In the embodiment illustrated in
The pressure and time signal may be transmitted to activation device 62 via a sensing port 66 located in housing 52. The sensing port 66 can be exposed to an interior 68 of housing 52 if the pressure and time single is transmitted downhole within tubing string 46. Housing interior 68 forms a portion of the overall interior 42 of the tubing string. Alternatively, sensing port 66 can be directed to the exterior of the outer housing 52 to receive a pressure and time signal transmitted through the wellbore annulus surrounding string 30. In the embodiment illustrated, receipt of the appropriate pressure and time signal, causes activation device 62 to open an activation port 70 to hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore. This pressure is used to actuate valve 64, as explained in greater detail below.
Main body section 58 can be a side pocket mandrel type design with room for one or more activation devices 62. In this design, the activation devices 62 are mounted externally along housing 52. The interior 68 through the main body section 58 is offset from the true tool centerline to provide sufficient wall thickness for mounting activation devices 62 while maintaining a large internal flow path. Also, the activation devices 62 may be mounted in corresponding slots 72 formed in housing 52 (see also
Referring again to
In the embodiment illustrated, valve 64 is designed for deployment downhole in an open state. An atmospheric chamber 86, such as an air chamber, may be positioned to allow the sleeve to shift when pressure is allowed through activation port 70. Once the pressure and time signal is transmitted downhole to activation device 62, activation port 70 is opened to hydrostatic pressure of the wellbore. The hydrostatic pressure drives valve sleeve 78 toward chamber 86 and moves sleeve ports 82 out of alignment with corresponding ports 84, thereby closing valve 64 and blocking communication between interior 42 and exterior 44. Additionally, a plurality of seals 88, e.g. o-ring seals, can be positioned between valve sleeve 78 and the interior of housing 52, as illustrated. Seals 88 can be used to isolate, for example, chamber 86, sleeve ports 82, and the outlet of activation port 70 through which pressure is introduced against valve sleeve 78. A retention mechanism 90 also can be used to maintain valve sleeve 78 and valve 64 in a desired state during deployment and/or to maintain valve sleeve 78 and valve 64 in the actuated state once valve sleeve 78 is shifted, e.g. shifted from an open position to a closed position.
Referring generally to
Retention mechanism 90 also may comprise a mechanism 100 for holding valve sleeve 78 in its shifted state, e.g. an open state once sleeve 78 is shifted from the illustrated closed position to an open position. In the embodiment illustrated, mechanism 100 comprises a ratchet ring 102 secured along housing 52 and having a plurality of ratchet teeth 104. Ratchet teeth 104 are positioned to slide along a gripping region 106 of valve sleeve 78 and are designed to enable gripping region 106 and thus valve sleeve 78 to move in one direction but not the other. Accordingly, valve sleeve 78 can be actuated from a first state to a second state, but mechanism 100 prevents return movement of the valve sleeve 78 once positioned in the second state.
Another embodiment of valve system 40 is illustrated in
Main body section 58 is designed to accommodate activation device 62 and at least one additional activation device 112 used to activate valves 64 and 110, respectively. Activation device 112 also is responsive to a unique pressure and time signal transmitted downhole through wellbore 22. When the unique pressure and time signal is received, activation device 112 activates valve 110 from a first state to a second state, e.g. from a closed position to an open position. The pressure and time signal used to activate valve 110 may comprise low pressure signals sent downhole according to a specific time sequence and can be unique relative to the pressure and time signal used to activate valve 64.
The pressure and time signal may be transmitted to activation device 112 via sensing port 66 or through an additional sensing port located in housing 52. As with the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated best in
Valve 110 is similar to valve 64 and common reference numerals have been used to label common components in valves 110 and 64. By way of example, valve 110 may comprise valve sleeve 78 slidably mounted within cylindrical region 80 of valve section 108 formed along an interior of housing 52. The valve sleeve 78 of valve 110 similarly comprises at least one and often a plurality of sleeve ports 82 that extend between an interior and exterior of the sleeve. Housing 52 comprises corresponding ports 84 located in valve section 108 that complete a pathway between the interior 42 and the exterior 44 when valve 110 is in an open position such that sleeve ports 82 and corresponding ports 84 are generally aligned, as described above with reference to valve 64. Valve 110 also comprises its own atmospheric pressure, e.g. air, chamber 86 and seals 88 to isolate the desired regions along valve sleeve 78. Valve 110 also may incorporate retention mechanism 90 to limit inadvertent movement of sleeve 78. In some embodiments, each section 108 and 60 also can incorporate a shock absorber in line with sleeve 78 to reduce any shock and deformation to sleeve 78 as it is shifted to its final position. In other embodiments, the valve sleeves 78 can be designed to incorporate internal shifting profiles as a backup to enable the valves to be opened or closed with standard shifting tools.
In the embodiment illustrated, valve 64 is initially placed in an open position, and valve 110 is initially placed in a closed position. However, valves 64 and 110 can be placed in different initial states depending on the wellbore application in which valve system 40 is utilized. Additionally, the actual operation of valve system 40 and the sequence of valve openings and/or closings can vary from one wellbore application to another. Furthermore, housing 52 can be designed as a modular housing so that valve system 40 can be converted from a dual valve system to a single valve system by removing valve section 108 and substituting a different modular top sub 116 (see
In one example of the operation of well equipment string 30, valve system 40 comprises a single valve embodiment, such as the embodiment described with reference to
In another example of the operation of well equipment string 30, valve system 40 comprises a dual valve embodiment, such as the embodiment described with reference to
It also should be noted that the above described operations employing either a single valve or a dual valve system can be used to reperforate previously perforated wells by using the procedures described. In other applications, the closure of valve 64 can be used to enable the application of increased pressure within tubing 46 to set a tubing set type packer. Valve system 40, in fact, can be used in a variety of other environments and applications by simply transmitting low pressure and time signals downhole without the intervention of other valve shifting mechanisms.
As described above, the activation devices 62 and 112 are designed to respond to unique pressure and time signals, such as pressure and time signals in the form of low pressure inputs transmitted downhole in a timed sequence. Each activation device is designed to recognize its own corresponding pressure and time signal to enable dependable and selective actuation of the desired valves. The activation devices can be designed with a variety of electrical and mechanical components, however one example is described in the commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 11/307,843, filed Feb. 24, 2006.
In this particular example, as illustrated in
One example of a pressure and time signature is illustrated in
The specific components used to recognize the pressure and time signal and to activate the corresponding valve can be changed to accommodate differing applications and/or changes in technology. Additionally, the number of valves used in a given valve system and the design of each valve can be adjusted according to the specific well application and/or well environment. Additionally, the valve systems can be used in perforating operations and other well related operations.
Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4473121 | Nicholl et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
4664184 | Grigar | May 1987 | A |
4768594 | Akkerman | Sep 1988 | A |
4971160 | Upchurch | Nov 1990 | A |
5301755 | George et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5490563 | Wesson et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5718289 | Schnatzmeyer et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5754495 | Skinner | May 1998 | A |
5865254 | Huber et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5887654 | Edwards et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5890539 | Huber et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5957199 | McLean et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
6012518 | Pringle et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
6173772 | Vaynshteyn | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6182750 | Edwards et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6213203 | Edwards et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6244351 | Patel et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6296061 | Leismer | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6302216 | Patel | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6318469 | Patel | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6321838 | Skinner | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6354374 | Edwards et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6520255 | Tolman et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6550538 | Herrmann et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6550541 | Patel | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6598682 | Johnson et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
7090033 | Chan | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7337850 | Contant | Mar 2008 | B2 |
20020046845 | Rayssiguier et al. | Apr 2002 | A1 |
20070056724 | Spring | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070056745 | Contant | Mar 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2483174 | Apr 2005 | CA |
0295922 | Dec 1988 | EP |
0295922 | Oct 1993 | EP |
1076156 | Feb 2001 | EP |
1076156 | Feb 2002 | EP |
2076450 | Dec 1981 | GB |
2248465 | Apr 1992 | GB |
2248465 | Apr 1992 | GB |
2406123 | Mar 2005 | GB |
2431674 | May 2007 | GB |
2431943 | May 2007 | GB |
2431674 | Feb 2009 | GB |
2161698 | Oct 2001 | RU |
0047868 | Aug 2000 | WO |
0157358 | Aug 2001 | WO |
0165061 | Sep 2001 | WO |
0165061 | Sep 2001 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070272410 A1 | Nov 2007 | US |