Patent Application
20210140270
The present disclosure is generally directed to various novel embodiments of sliding sleeve valves and various systems and applications where such valves may be employed.
Recent years have seen many wells drilled and produced using well-known fracking techniques. Fracturing techniques typically involve forming a plurality of perforations through a cemented casing positioned in a wellbore. The initial perforations extend into the formation for at least some distance. At that point, a relatively large quantity of a high-pressure fracturing (“frac”) fluid (typically a combination of water, chemical additives and proppants (e.g., sand, ceramics, etc.)) is pumped into the wellbore. The high pressure of the frac fluid and the continual pumping of the frac fluid increases the pressure within the well until such time as the pressure within the well is sufficient (e.g., 10,000 psi or greater) to overcome the fracture strength of the surrounding formation thereby forming cracks that extend outward from the well and into the formation. The pumping of the high-pressure frac fluid is continued so as to cause the initial cracks in the formation to extend a desired distance into the formation. Once the final cracks or final fractures of the desired length are formed in the formation, the pumping will be stopped and the pressure within the well and the cracks is greatly reduced. However, the proppants that were pumped into the factures under high pressure will prevent the fractures from completely closing once the pumping of frac fluid at high pressure is stopped, i.e., the proppants will act to hold the final fractures open. At that point, the frac fluid is removed from the wellbore and hydrocarbon-containing fluids, e.g., oil and gas, are allowed to flow from the formation and into the wellbore through the propped-open fractures.
Some existing fracturing systems include, among other things, numerous valves, an extensive network of pipes, a number of trucks that contain high-pressure pumping equipment, a blender, and a frac manifold. The high-pressure pumping equipment is operatively coupled to the frac manifold so as to increase the pressure of the frac fluid as it is pumped into the well and ultimately out into the cracks formed in the formation. A function of a typical frac manifold is to receive pressurized fluid from the pumping equipment and to divide the pressurized fluid into manifold legs, with each leg being devoted to one wellbore and containing two gate valves to isolate that wellbore from the flow of pressurized frac fluid. In a modern frac environment, in which there may be four or more wells connected to a single frac manifold, a plurality of gate valves are typically used for purposes of directing the high-pressure frac fluid to a particular well while isolating other wells from the high-pressure frac fluid. Unfortunately, such gate valves contribute considerably to the overall weight and size of the manifold as well as the overall cost of a particular fracturing job. Moreover, there are limitations with respect to how the gate valves can be arranged to isolate one or more of the wellbores.
The present disclosure is therefore directed to various novel embodiments of sliding sleeve valves and various systems and applications where such valves may be employed.
The following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects disclosed herein. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the disclosure, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the subject matter disclosed here. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later.
The present disclosure is generally directed to various embodiments of sliding sleeve valves and various systems and applications where such valves may be employed. One illustrative valve disclosed herein includes a body, a first flow bore in the body that comprises a fluid flow gallery, a first fluid flow port and a second fluid flow port, wherein the fluid flow gallery is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow ports. In this example, the valve also includes a second flow bore in the body and at least one sliding sleeve positioned in the body, wherein the at least one sliding sleeve is adapted to be moved from a first closed position to a second open position, and vice-versa, wherein, in the first closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is blocked and wherein, in the second open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is established.
One illustrative production tree disclosed herein includes a flow cross block, a first flow bore in the flow cross block, wherein the first flow bore comprises a fluid flow gallery, a first fluid flow port and a second fluid flow port, wherein the fluid flow gallery is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow ports. In this example, the production tree also includes a second flow bore in the flow cross block and at least one sliding sleeve positioned in the flow cross block, wherein the at least one sliding sleeve is adapted to be moved from a first closed position to a second open position, and vice-versa, wherein, in the first closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is blocked and wherein, in the second open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is established.
One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a plurality of production trees, each of which is positioned above a well. Each of the production trees comprises a flow cross block, a first flow bore in the flow cross block, wherein the first flow bore comprises a fluid flow gallery, a first fluid flow port and a second fluid flow port, wherein the fluid flow gallery is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow ports. In this example, the production tree also includes a second flow bore in the flow cross block and at least one sliding sleeve positioned in the flow cross block, wherein the at least one sliding sleeve is adapted to be moved from a first closed position to a second open position, and vice-versa, wherein, in the first closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is blocked and wherein, in the second open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is established. In this example, the system further includes a fluid flow conduit system operatively coupled to the first flow bore in each of the plurality of production trees.
The disclosure may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the subject matter disclosed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Various illustrative embodiments of the present subject matter are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The present subject matter will now be described with reference to the attached figures. Various systems, structures and devices are schematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation only and so as to not obscure the present disclosure with details that are well known to those skilled in the art. Nevertheless, the attached drawings are included to describe and explain illustrative examples of the present disclosure. The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.
In the following detailed description, various details may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. However, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that some illustrative embodiments of the invention may be practiced without some or all of such various disclosed details. Furthermore, features and/or processes that are well known in the art may not be described in full detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the disclosure of the present subject matter. In addition, like or identical reference numerals may be used to identify common or similar elements.
As shown in the above-referenced drawings, the sliding sleeve valve 10 comprises a valve body 10R and a sliding sleeve 10A that is at least partially positioned within the valve body 10R. In the depicted example, the sliding sleeve 10A comprises a tubular structure with an internal bore 10H. It should be appreciated that the sliding sleeve 10A is not limited to this particular shape and configuration. As described more fully below, the sliding sleeve 10A may be shifted within the valve body 10R to a first position where the sliding sleeve valve 10 is closed (see
The sliding sleeve valve 10 also comprises fluid flow ports 12, 14, 16 and 18 formed in the valve body 10R. In the depicted example, the valve 10 comprises a first flow bore (or path) 20 and a second flow bore (or path) 22 that intersect one another. In the depicted example, the first flow bore 20 comprises the fluid flow port 12, the fluid flow port 14 and a fluid flow gallery 10X (discussed more fully below) formed in the body 10R of the valve 10. The fluid flow gallery 10X is in fluid communication with the fluid flow ports 12 and 14. The second flow bore 22 comprises the fluid flow port 16, the fluid flow port 18 and the internal bore 10H of the sliding sleeve 10A. In the depicted example, the internal bore 10H of the sliding sleeve 10A is substantially coaxial with the second flow bore 22. Moreover, in one illustrative example, when viewed from above, the fluid flow gallery 10X may have a substantially annular configuration that surrounds the second flow bore 22 and the internal bore 10H of the sliding sleeve 10A. It should be understood that the use of the term “bore” in reference to the first flow bore 20, the second flow bore 22 and the internal bore 10H of the sliding sleeve 10A does not imply any particular physical configuration for the first flow bore 20, the second flow bore 22 and the internal bore 10H.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, when the sliding sleeve valve 10 is closed (see
In the depicted example, the first flow bore 20 is oriented substantially horizontally, while the second flow bore 22 is oriented substantially vertically, i.e., they are oriented substantially orthogonally with respect to one another. However, as will be understood by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 may be oriented in any direction relative to one another or relative to a common reference surface. For example, the valve 10 shown in
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the sliding sleeve valve 10 disclosed herein may be employed in a variety of different applications and various fluid flow paths may be established through the sliding sleeve valve 10 depending upon the particular application. That is, as noted above, depending upon the particular application, each of the fluid flow ports 12, 14, 16 and 18 may function as either a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet. In other applications, one or more of the fluid flow ports 12, 14, 16 and 18 may be blinded (or blocked) on a temporary or permanent basis so as to achieve the desired fluid flow path(s) through the valve 10 when the valve 10 is open or closed. For example, a blind flange (or like structure) may be operatively coupled to the fluid flow port 16 or another valve (not shown, e.g., a gate valve) may be positioned upstream of the fluid flow port 12 to block fluid flow to the fluid flow port 12 on an as needed basis. Various fluid flow conduits (not shown), e.g., piping, may be operatively coupled to one or more of the fluid flow ports 12, 14, 16 and 18 using known techniques. For example, an illustrative flange 36 is coupled to the valve body 10R adjacent to the fluid flow port 18 and it may be coupled to a flanged fluid piping (not shown). In the depicted example, an illustrative and representative cap 35 is coupled to the valve body 10R by some form of a connector 34, e.g., a threaded, bolted or clamped connection. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the illustrative cap 35 is representative in nature as the cap may take other forms or be part of other structures. For example, the cap 35 could be part of a spool that is coupled to the valve 10, it could be part of the body 10R, it could represent part of an actuator housing, etc.
One illustrative embodiment of the sliding sleeve valves 10 depicted herein further comprises a perforated wear sleeve 10B, a seal ring 10D, a retainer 10E and a seat 10F. Also shown in the drawings are various simplistically depicted seals 43 that are positioned among and between the various components of the sliding sleeve valve 10. The seat 10F is adapted to be positioned in a recess 10Y formed in the valve body 10R. In the depicted example, the lowermost end of the sliding sleeve 10A is adapted to engage the seat 10F when the sliding sleeve 10A is in its lowermost position. i.e., when the valve 10 is closed (see
In general, with reference to
In the example disclosed herein, the sliding sleeve 10A takes the form of a piston. With reference to
Additional details regarding one illustrative embodiment of the wear sleeve 10B will be discussed more fully with reference to these drawings. More specifically, in some applications, the openings 45 may or may not extend around the entire outer perimeter of the wear sleeve 10B. For example,
With reference to
However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, in some applications, the wear sleeve 10B (or other forms of a perforated member) may be omitted from the sliding sleeve valves 10 disclosed herein. For example, horizontally oriented seals (not shown), e.g., O-rings, may be provided in the valve body 10R above and below the fluid flow cavity 10X so as to sealingly engage the outer circumference of the sliding sleeve 10A, wherein the upper seal engages the sliding sleeve 10A when the valve 10 is in its uppermost open position and both of the seals engage the sliding sleeve 10A when the valve is in its lowermost closed position. Of course, other configurations and locations of the seals may also be provided. Thus, in this example, when the sliding sleeve 10 is moved to its uppermost open position within the valve body 10R, the fluid 31 entering the first flow bore 20 of the valve 10 via the fluid flow ports 12, 14 may simply flow into the second flow bore 22 in the valve 10.
With reference to
The primary sliding sleeve 10P and the secondary sliding sleeve 10S are adapted to be shifted axially at least partially within the body 10R of the valve 10 by application of hydraulic pressure to various hydraulic chambers as described more fully below. Of course, as noted above, movement of the primary sliding sleeve 10P and the secondary sliding sleeve 10S may be accomplished by means other than hydraulic pressure. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the primary sliding sleeve 10P and the secondary sliding sleeve 10S, when considered collectively, are adapted to be moved within the body of the valve 10 from a closed position to an open position, and vice-versa. As before, when the valve 10 is in the closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 is blocked. However, when the valve 10 is in the open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 is established.
In the illustrative example, the upper fluid flow port 16 is effectively blinded by a cap 39 that is operatively coupled to the valve body 10R. Thus, in one illustrative configuration, when the valve 10 is in its open position, fluid 31 that enters the valve 10 via the flow ports 12 and 14 flows into the fluid flow gallery 10X, flows through the openings 45 in the wear sleeve 10B and downward into the second flow bore 22 where it exits the valve 10 via the fluid flow port 18. In this illustrative example, the valve 10 is coupled to an optional block 67 that includes a dedicated fluid outlet 68 that is adapted to receive the fluid 31 that exits the fluid flow port 18 in the valve 10. In some applications, the outlet 68 may be dedicated to supplying fracturing fluid to a particular well. When the valve 10 is in its closed position, fluid 31 entering the valve 10 is blocked from flowing into the second flow bore 22 of the valve 10, and the fluid 31 simply flows through the fluid flow gallery 10X and bypasses the valve 10.
To move the valve 10 from its open position to its closed position, hydraulic pressure is supplied to a hydraulic chamber 119 to force the primary sliding sleeve 10P into its closed position wherein an end surface 105 on the primary sliding sleeve 10P sealingly engages the seat 10F. At that point, hydraulic pressure is supplied to another hydraulic chamber 121 to drive the secondary sliding sleeve 10S into sealing engagement with a radial elastomer seal 123, thereby creating a secondary barrier between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, when the valve 10 is in its closed position, the secondary sliding sleeve 10S provides a secondary block or barrier to fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22, thereby providing a second barrier that prevents the flow of fluid 31 into the second flow bore 22.
To move the valve 10 from its closed position to its open position, the hydraulic chamber 121 is vented thereby releasing the secondary sliding sleeve 10S so it can be moved. At that point, hydraulic pressure is supplied to the hydraulic chamber 117 to drive the secondary sliding sleeve 10S, then the primary sliding sleeve 10P to the fully retracted position shown on the left side of
As noted above, the various embodiments of the illustrative sliding sleeve valves 10 disclosed herein may be employed in a variety of different systems and used for a variety of different purposes in a variety of different applications.
Also depicted in
As noted above, in the illustrative system 11 shown in
With reference to
With reference to
The system 11 depicted in
After high-pressure fracturing fluid 31 is supplied to the system 11, the sliding sleeve valve 10 on a particular well may be moved from its closed positon to its open position. At that point, the high-pressure fracturing fluid 31 within the system 11 flows into the second flow bore 22 in sliding sleeve valve 10 for that particular well via one or both of the fluid flow ports 12, 14 in the flow cross block 26 above that particular well. The fracturing fluid 31 continues to flow through the openings 45 in the illustrative wear sleeve 10B, into the second flow bore 22 for that particular valve 10 and ultimately into the production bore of that particular well, i.e., fracturing operations may be performed on that particular well when the sliding sleeve valve 10 of that particular well is open. Thus, fracturing fluid 31 is simplistically depicted with double arrows in
When the sliding sleeve valve 10 on a particular well is in its closed position, fracturing fluid 31 that enters the first flow bore 20 in the valve 10 (via either the fluid flow port 12 or the fluid flow port 14) flows through the first flow bore 20 for that particular valve, bypasses that particular well and flows downstream to the first flow bore 20 of the valve 10 in the adjacent downstream well 15. That is, when the sliding sleeve valve 10 is in its closed position, fracturing fluid 31 that enters the first flow bore 20 in the flow cross block 26 is blocked from entering the second flow bore 22 of that particular valve 10 and ultimately the production bore of that particular well. In effect, in the disclosed example, the wells 15 are chained together with respect to the flow of fracturing fluid 31 to and among all of the wells 15 in the system 11, i.e., there is fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 of each of the valves 10 above each of the wells 15 as it relates to the flow of fracturing fluid 31 within the system 11.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the system 11 disclosed herein provides field operators great flexibility as it relates to performing fracturing operations on the wells 15. In general, as noted above, with the sliding sleeve valve 10 of a particular well 15 closed, fracturing fluid 31 is allowed to bypass that particular well and flow to the adjacent downstream well. In some applications, the sliding sleeve valve 10 of only one well, e.g., well number 3, may be opened so as to provide fracturing fluid 31 to the production bore of well number 3 while the valves 10 in the flow cross blocks 26 of the other wells 1, 2, and 4 remain closed for fracturing operations. That is, fracturing operations may be performed on only the single well by selectively opening the sliding sleeve valve 10 for that particular well while leaving the sliding sleeve valve 10 closed on the other wells in the system 11 (e.g., wells 1, 2 and 4). In other applications, fracturing operations may be performed on two or more wells at the same time while blocking the flow of fracturing fluid 31 to the production bore of the other wells within the system 11. For example, the sliding sleeve valve 10 on wells 1 and 3 may be opened while the sliding sleeve valve 10 on wells 2 and 4 may be closed, thereby permitting fracturing operations to be selectively performed on only wells 1 and 3. This process may be modified by opening and closing certain of the valves 10 so as to direct the flow of fracturing fluid to one or more of the wells 1-4. The system 11 disclosed herein may also result in a more compact footprint for fracturing operations and may reduce the linear feet of flow conduits 28 for fracturing fluid 31 as compared to prior art fracturing systems.
Fracturing fluid 31 is introduced into the body of the first flow bore 20 of valve 10 via the fluid flow port 12 and the fluid flow port 14 which are in in fluid communication with the first flow bore 20 in each of the valves 10J, 10K, respectively. A shared internal flow conduit 33 within the body 10R provides fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 of the valves 10J-K. In this embodiment, the valves 10 include the above-described optional wear sleeve 10B. The valve 10J is in its open position while valve 10K in its closed position. With the valve 10J open, the fracturing fluid 31 entering the valve 10J flows through the openings 45 in the wear sleeve 10B, into the second flow bore 22 of the valve 10J and out of the dedicated fluid outlet 68 to well 1, while the flow of fracturing fluid 31 to the other wells 2-4 is blocked. As before, this process may be modified by opening and closing certain of the valves 10J-10M so as to direct the flow of fracturing fluid to one or more of the wells 1-4.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, there are several novel inventions disclosed herein. In one illustrative example, a valve disclosed herein comprises a body 10R, a first flow bore 20 in the body 10R wherein the first flow bore 20 comprises a fluid flow gallery 10X, a first fluid flow port 12 and a second fluid flow port 14 and wherein the fluid flow gallery 10X is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow ports 12, 14. In this example, the valve also comprises a second flow bore 22 in the body 10R and at least one sliding sleeve positioned in the body 10R, wherein the at least one sliding sleeve is adapted to be moved from a first closed position to a second open position, and vice-versa, wherein, in the first closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 is blocked and wherein, in the second open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 is established. In further embodiments when the at least one sleeve is in the first closed position, the first flow bore 20 may be open to fluid flow through the first flow bore 20. In additional embodiments, when the at least one sleeve is in the first closed position, the second flow bore 22 may be open to fluid flow through the second flow bore 22. In other embodiments, the fluid flow gallery 10X may have a substantially annular configuration and it is positioned around the second flow bore 22.
One novel production tree 25 disclosed herein comprises a flow cross block 26, a first flow bore 20 in the flow cross block 26, wherein the first flow bore 20 comprises a fluid flow gallery 10X, a first fluid flow port 12 and a second fluid flow port 14 and wherein the fluid flow gallery 10X is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow ports. In this illustrative example, the production tree 25 further comprises a second flow bore 22 in the flow cross block 26 and at least one sliding sleeve positioned in the flow cross block 26, wherein the at least one sliding sleeve is adapted to be moved from a first closed position to a second open position, and vice-versa, wherein, in the first closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 is blocked and wherein, in the second open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore 20 and the second flow bore 22 is established. In further embodiments when the at least one sleeve is in the first closed position, the first flow bore 20 may be open to fluid flow through the first flow bore 20. In additional embodiments, when the at least one sleeve is in the first closed position, the second flow bore 22 may be open to fluid flow through the second flow bore 22. In other embodiments, the fluid flow gallery 10X may have a substantially annular configuration and it is positioned around the second flow bore 22.
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. For example, the method steps set forth above may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
