This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an example described below, more particularly provides a subterranean well valve activated with differential pressure.
It is beneficial to be able to reduce the power required to actuate well tools downhole. It is also beneficial to be able to reduce the number of components, particularly power consuming components and mechanical elements, in valve actuators.
However, typical valve actuators have high power requirements and many components. Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements are needed in the art of downhole valve construction.
In the disclosure below, a valve and associated methods are provided which bring improvements to the art of actuating valves in subterranean wells. One example is described below in which an actuator of the valve has low power requirements and few electrical and/or mechanical components. Another example is described below in which the valve actuation is partially or completely autonomous.
In one aspect, a method of actuating a valve in a subterranean well is provided. The method can include storing energy as a result of a differential pressure across a closed closure device of the valve, and releasing at least a portion of the stored energy while opening the closure device.
In another aspect, a valve for use in a subterranean well is provided. The valve can include a closure device, a biasing device and an actuator which stores energy in the biasing device in response to a pressure differential across the closure device.
In yet another aspect, a well system provided by the disclosure below can include a tubular string and a valve which controls fluid flow through the tubular string. The valve can include a closure device and an actuator which actuates the valve at least partially in response to a pressure differential across the closure device.
These and other features, advantages and benefits will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative examples below and the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements are indicated in the various figures using the same reference numbers.
Representatively illustrated in
The valve 12 includes a closure assembly 20, which is used to control flow through the tubular string 14. In examples described below, the closure assembly 20 can selectively permit and prevent flow longitudinally through the tubular string 14, but in other examples the closure assembly could control flow through a sidewall of the tubular string, between an interior and exterior of the tubular string, etc.
When the closure assembly 20 is closed, a pressure differential can be created across the closure assembly. As depicted in
The valve 12 depicted in
However, it should be clearly understood that a safety valve is only one type of valve which can incorporate the principles of this disclosure. Examples of other types of valves which can utilize the principles of this disclosure are described below, but the principles of this disclosure are not in any manner limited to any details of the particular valves described herein, since any type of valve may be used in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.
One or more lines 24 are representatively illustrated in
Referring additionally now to
The closure assembly 20 is illustrated in
In the open configuration of
In the closed configuration of
The valve 12 uniquely takes advantage of the pressure differential across the closure device 26 in its closed position, in order to store energy in biasing devices 36, 38 included in an actuator 40 of the valve. The stored energy in the biasing devices 36, 38 can be used to displace the member 34 downward to its position depicted in
The biasing devices 36, 38 are depicted in
In
The energy stored in the biasing devices 36, 38 increases the biasing forces exerted by the biasing devices, in response to the increased pressure differential across the closure device 26. Thus, preferably the pressure differential across the closure device 26 is increased to a predetermined level in the configuration of
The piston 42 is exposed on its upper side to pressure in the fluid 22a below the closure device 26 via a line 44. Although the line 44 is depicted as being routed external to the valve 12, the line could be otherwise positioned without departing from the principles of this disclosure.
The piston 42 is exposed on its lower side to pressure in the fluid 22b above the closure device 26. In this manner, the pressure differential across the closure device 26 is also applied across the piston 42. In other examples described below, the same pressure differential across the closure device 26 is not necessarily also applied across the piston 42.
A releasing device 46 of the actuator 40 includes an electrical solenoid 48, a dog 50 and a detent rod 52. The rod 52 is connected to a tubular opening prong assembly 54, which is biased upward by the biasing device 38. The piston 42 is also connected to the opening prong assembly 54.
When the piston 42 is in its lower position (as depicted in
Thus, in
In
Beginning with the configuration of
1) With the closure device 26 in its closed position, and no pressure differential across the closure device, the piston 42 is in its uppermost position and does not apply any force to the biasing devices 36, 38.
2) A pressure differential across the closure device 26 increases, thereby causing the piston 42 to displace downward and apply increased force to the biasing devices 36, 38 as depicted in
3) The pressure differential is increased to a predetermined minimum level, thereby storing a desired minimum amount of energy in the biasing devices 36, 38.
4) The releasing device 46 is energized, thereby maintaining the stored energy in the biasing devices 36, 38.
5) When it is desired to open the valve 12, the pressure differential is decreased, thereby allowing the closure device 26 to pivot to its open position as depicted in
6) When it is desired to close the valve 12, the releasing device 46 is de-energized, thereby allowing the biasing device 38 to displace the piston 42 upward to its position as depicted in
Note that step 6 above can be performed intentionally (for example, when periodically testing the valve 12), or the step can be performed unintentionally (for example, when an emergency situation occurs, the lines 24 are severed, etc.). The fail-safe operation of the valve 12 is to its closed configuration, and this happens at any time the releasing device 46 is de-energized.
Thus, interruption of the electrical signal transmitted via the lines 24 is used to cause the valve 12 to actuate to its fail-safe closed configuration. However, this is just one example of a way in which an interrupted signal can be used to actuate a releasing device. In other examples, the interrupted signal could be an acoustic, mechanical, pressure, optical, hydraulic, electromagnetic or other type of signal, and the signal could be transmitted via various forms of telemetry, and the signal could be sensed by a sensor of the valve 12.
Referring additionally now to
The valve 12 of
The actuator 40 of
Preferably, each of the magnet assemblies 58, 60 is made up of a stack of annular shaped magnets. In this manner, the actuator 40 may be similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,556, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
The biasing device 36 biases the member 34 downward relative to the magnet assembly 60. The biasing device 38 biases the magnetic assembly 58 upward.
The releasing device 46 of
When electrically energized, the brake 68 can prevent rotation of the threaded member 64, and thereby can prevent displacement of the nut 66 and the connected magnet assembly 58. When the brake 68 is de-energized, the magnet assembly 58 can displace upwardly or downwardly as biased by the piston 42 and/or the biasing device 38.
Operation of the valve 12 as depicted in
In the energy storing configuration of
In the open configuration of
As with the configuration of
Note that the valve 12 of
Note that another difference between the valve 12 configuration of
Referring additionally now to
The valve 12 configuration of
The releasing device 46 of
The rod 74 is connected to the opening prong assembly 54, as is the piston 42. When the piston 42 has displaced the opening prong assembly 54 downwardly, thereby storing energy in the biasing devices 36, 38, the gripper 72 can be energized to grip the rod 74 and prevent upward displacement of the opening prong assembly 54, thereby maintaining the stored energy in the biasing devices.
To close the valve 12, the gripper 72 is de-energized (either intentionally or unintentionally), thereby permitting upward displacement of the opening prong assembly 54 by the biasing device 38, and allowing the closure device 26 to pivot upward to its closed position.
A control system 76 with a sensor 78 is provided in the configuration of
The sensor 78 detects a signal and provides an indication to the control system 76 as to whether the signal is being detected or has been interrupted. The control system 76 is connected to the gripper 72 for selectively energizing and de-energizing the gripper in response to the indications provided by the sensor 78.
The sensor 78 may, in various examples, detect pressure, mechanical, acoustic, electromagnetic, optical or any other type of signals. In the example of
When the signal is interrupted, the sensor 78 indicates this to the control system 76, which de-energizes the gripper 72, thereby allowing the biasing device 38 to displace the opening prong assembly 54 upward. The closure device 26 closes when the member 34 no longer prevents the closure device from pivoting upward to its closed position.
In other examples, the sensor 78 could detect the presence of a structure (such as a tubular string, a well tool, etc.) in the flow passage, and could cause the valve 12 to close when the presence of the structure is no longer detected. In this manner, the valve 12 can be of the type known as a foot valve or isolation valve. The valve 12 can be opened when it is desired to permit the structure to pass downwardly through the flow passage 32, by applying increased pressure to the passage above the closure device (or otherwise decreasing the pressure differential across the closure device).
Note that the sensor 78 and control system 76 may be used with any of the other configurations of the valve 12 described herein. Furthermore, any of the features of any of the described configurations may be used with any of the other configurations of the valve 12 described herein, in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.
Referring additionally now to
One significant difference between the valve 12 of
The closure device 26 is depicted in a closed position in
The valve 12 of
Operation of the valve 12 of
When sufficient energy has been stored in the biasing devices 36, 38, the gripper 72 is energized, thereby preventing the opening prong assembly 54 from displacing downward. When the gripper 72 is de-energized, the closure device 26 rotates to its open position in response to upward displacement of the member 34.
The valve 12 configuration of
It may now be fully appreciated that the above disclosure provides several advancements to the art of constructing valves for downhole use. In examples described above, operation of the valve 12 is conveniently and reliably accomplished, without large electrical power requirements. In addition, examples described above can operate autonomously (e.g., using battery power or power generated downhole, using a sensor to detect when the valve is to be actuated, etc.).
The above disclosure provides to the art a method of actuating a valve 12 in a subterranean well. The method can include storing energy as a result of a differential pressure across a closed closure device 26 of the valve 12, and releasing at least a portion of the stored energy while opening the closure device 26.
The releasing step can be performed in response to interruption of a signal received by a control system 76 of the valve 12. The signal may comprise at least one of a hydraulic, mechanical, acoustic, pressure, electromagnetic, electric and optical signal. The signal may be transmitted from a remote location to a sensor 78 of the valve 12.
The storing energy step can include increasing a biasing force exerted by a biasing device 36 and/or 38 of the valve 12.
The storing energy step can include compressing a biasing device 36 and/or 38 with force generated by the pressure differential.
The releasing step may be performed in response to reducing the pressure differential across the closure device 26.
Also provided by the above disclosure is a valve 12 for use in a subterranean well. The valve 12 can include a closure device 26, a biasing device 36 and/or 38, and an actuator 40 which stores energy in the biasing device 36 and/or 38 in response to a pressure differential across the closure device 26.
The actuator 40 may include a piston 42 which is exposed to pressure on one side of the closure device 26. The piston 42 may further be exposed to pressure on an opposite side of the closure device 26. The piston 42 may be exposed to pressure external to the valve 12.
The actuator 40 may increase a biasing force exerted by the biasing device 36 and/or 38 in response to the pressure differential across the closure device 26.
The valve 12 may include an energy releasing device 46 which releases at least a portion of the energy from the biasing device 36 and/or 38. The releasing device 46 may release the energy in response to interruption of at least one of a hydraulic, mechanical, acoustic, pressure, electromagnetic, electric and optical signal.
The valve 12 may also include a sensor 78. The releasing device 46 can release the energy in response to interruption of a signal received by the sensor 78.
A well system 10 is also provided by the above disclosure. The well system 10 can include a tubular string 14 and a valve 12 which controls fluid flow through the tubular string. The valve 12 may include a closure device 26 and an actuator 40 which actuates the valve at least partially in response to a pressure differential across the closure device.
The actuator 40 can store energy as a result of the differential pressure, and can release at least a portion of the stored energy when the closure device 26 is opened. The energy may be released in response to interruption of a signal received by a control system 76 of the valve 12.
The signal may comprises at least one of a hydraulic, mechanical, acoustic, pressure, electromagnetic, electric and optical signal. The signal can be transmitted from a remote location to a sensor 78 of the valve 12.
A biasing force exerted by a biasing device 36 and/or 38 of the valve 12 may increase in response to the pressure differential across the closure device 26. The biasing device 36 and/or 38 may be compressed with force generated by the pressure differential.
The closure device 26 may open in response to reducing the pressure differential across the closure device.
It is to be understood that the various examples described above may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. The embodiments illustrated in the drawings are depicted and described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the disclosure, which are not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.
In the above description of the representative examples of the disclosure, directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” etc., are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, “above,” “upper,” “upward” and similar terms refer to a direction toward the earth's surface along a wellbore, and “below,” “lower,” “downward” and similar terms refer to a direction away from the earth's surface along the wellbore.
Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to these specific embodiments, and such changes are within the scope of the principles of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.