This invention relates to a valve, and in particular but not exclusively to a downhole valve, and most particularly to a hydrostatic control valve.
In the oil and gas exploration and production industry, subsurface hydrocarbon-bearing formations are accessed by drilling bores from surface. In a typical drilling operation a drill bit is mounted on the lower end of a tubular string of pipe extending from surface. Drilling fluid or “mud” is pumped down the drill pipe string from surface and exits through jetting nozzles in the drill bit. The drilling fluid serves a number of purposes, one being to carry drill cuttings out of the bore, that is the drilling fluid entrains the cuttings as the fluid flows back up to surface through the annulus between the drill pipe and the bore wall. On surface the cuttings are separated from the fluid, such that the drilling fluid may be reused or recycled.
The drilling fluid may also be used as a medium to transmit information to surface. In particular, measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tools may be provided in a drill string, which tools include sensors to detect, for example, bore inclination. A transducer in the MWD tool generates a series or cycle of fluid-flow restrictions in the bore of the tool, representative of the sensed inclination of the bore. The restrictions create corresponding pressure pulses in the drilling fluid above the tool. The pressure pulses are detected and analysed on surface, to determine the measured condition.
Problems can be encountered when drilling if lost circulation drilling conditions are encountered; this is when a significant volume of drilling fluid is lost into permeable formations downhole. Thus, the volume of drilling fluid returning to surface is less than that pumped down the bore and on occasion drilling is performed with no returns, that is all the fluid pumped downhole is lost.
A further problem associated with lost circulation occurs when the drilling fluid pumps are stopped; the fluid level in the annulus drops quickly as fluid is lost into the permeable formation and the level of fluid within the drill pipe also drops to equalise the fluid level (known as the U-tube effect). This can create additional difficulties for the operation of MWD tools in such wells as, when the drilling fluid pumps are started again, the drill pipe must be filled with fluid before the MWD tool will start operating and sending signals to surface. If the MWD tool starts operating before the pipe refills the signal is likely to be lost in the air gap. Also, MWD tools can be damaged if they operate in the presence of a mixture of drilling fluid and gas.
According to the present invention there is provided a valve comprising:
a tubular body;
a valve member, the valve member being normally closed to at least restrict passage of a working fluid through the body, and being movable to an open position to permit passage of fluid through the body, a first working fluid pressure being necessary to move the valve member from the closed position and a lower second working fluid pressure being necessary to maintain the valve member in the open position.
The valve may be adapted for use downhole, in a drilled bore, and is preferably adapted for inclusion in a tubular string, typically a drill string. Thus, in use, the valve may be closed and requires the pressure of the working fluid to be raised to said first pressure to initially open or “crack” the valve. Once the valve is open, and the working fluid is flowing through the body, the lower second pressure will maintain the valve open.
Embodiments of the valve may be useful for maintaining a column of fluid in a tubular string above the valve. The valve may be positioned in a lower portion of the string and when there is no flow of fluid through the string the valve will close, retaining the column of fluid above the valve. To open a valve according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid pressure above the valve is increased, and once the fluid is flowing through the valve above a predetermined flow rate the pressure will reduce while the valve remains open.
In other embodiments, the closed valve permits flow through the valve.
Preferably, the valve member is configured to induce a fluid-flow related force tending to maintain the valve member open. Preferably, the valve member defines a restriction, and flow of the working fluid through the valve member creates a pressure differential across the valve member.
The body may define a valve seat, and the valve seat may define a first area over which fluid pressure acts on the valve member when the valve member is in the closed position. The valve member may comprise a plug portion adapted for cooperating with the valve seat. In the open position the plug portion is preferably spaced from the valve seat, so reducing the pressure drop experienced by fluid flowing over the valve seat and reducing erosion. The plug portion may be elongate, and may have a tapered leading end for cooperating with the valve seat. A collar may define the valve seat. The body may define a larger second area over which a valve-opening fluid pressure may act when the valve member is in the open position, and fluid is flowing through the valve.
The valve member may be biased towards the closed position, preferably by a spring.
The valve may be adapted to be retained in the open position. Preferably, the valve is provided in combination with a valve-locking member, which may be utilised to retain the valve member open, preferably by preventing the valve member moving to the closed position. The member may be adapted to be pumped into position. In other embodiments the valve member may be coupled to the body via a cam track and the cam track may define a position in which the valve member is prevented from closing.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of retaining a column of fluid in a tubular body, the method comprising:
providing a normally closed valve in a lower portion of a tubular body;
flowing fluid through the valve to maintain the valve open; and
at least reducing the fluid flow rate to allow the valve to close.
The method may further comprise the step of increasing the fluid pressure above the closed valve to a first pressure to open the valve and permit flow through the valve, and then creating a fluid flow-related pressure differential across the valve to maintain the valve open in the presence of a lower second fluid pressure above the valve.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a downhole tool comprising:
a tubular body;
a fluid flow responsive member normally configured in a first configuration and movable to a second configuration, the arrangement being such that the member is movable from the first configuration in response to a first fluid pressure differential across a part of the member while a lower second fluid pressure differential across a part of the member will maintain the member in the second configuration.
The tool may be configured such that, in the first configuration, the tool defines a first flow restriction adapted to create a fluid pressure force over a first area of the member, and the tool defines a second flow restriction adapted to create a fluid pressure force over a larger second area of the member. In the first configuration the first flow restriction may define the minimum flow area through the tool. In the second configuration the second flow restriction may define the minimum flow area through the tool. This may be effected by increasing the area of the first flow restriction as the member moves towards the second configuration. This may be achieved by movement of the member relative to the body, or by relative movement of parts of the member.
The fluid flow responsive member may be a valve member. In the first configuration the valve member may close or restrict fluid flow through the tool.
The flow response member may be operatively associated with another tool or device, such as a bypass tool. Movement of the member may activate, actuate or otherwise reconfigure the other tool or device.
Other preferred and alternative features of this aspect of the invention may coincide with the preferred and alternative features of the first-described aspect, wherein the fluid flow responsive member may include or incorporate the features of the valve member.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of controlling flow through an elongate tubular body, the method comprising:
pumping fluid through a tubular body at a first flow rate, the body comprising a fluid flow responsive member in a first configuration; and then
increasing the fluid flow rate to produce a first fluid pressure differential across a first area to create a first actuating force, the first actuating force moving said member towards a second configuration, and with said member in the second configuration fluid flow at a higher second flow rate producing a lower second fluid pressure differential across a larger second area to create a larger second actuating force to maintain the member in the second configuration.
These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference is first made to
The body 12 contains a fixed valve seat 16 which defines a central through bore 18 of area A1 (
The collar 36 supporting the lower end of the spring 32 forms the lower end of a spring chamber and defines fluid ports 38. To provide damping for the valve member the ports 38 may be relatively small, to restrict the flow of fluid into and from the spring chamber.
When there is no flow and the valve 10 is closed (
When the flow rate is subsequently reduced below the threshold level the valve plug 20 will again be forced towards the valve seat 16 and the pressure drop across the tool will increase. When the flow is stopped the valve plug 20 will contact the valve seat 16 preventing any further flow and maintaining the drill pipe above the valve 10 full of drilling fluid.
Typical values for a valve in accordance with this embodiment of the invention are as follows:
Tool size (o.d.): 8″
Valve opening pressure: 1,500 psi
Threshold flow rate: 800 gpm
Pressure drop across valve @ 1,200 gpm: 550 psi
Thus it is apparent that a relatively high fluid pressure (1,500 psi) is required to open the valve 10, but that once fluid is flowing through the valve 10 at a predetermined rate, in this case 800 gpm, the valve 10 will remain open even if the upstream pressure of the fluid falls below the opening pressure; the flow of fluid through the nozzle 28 creates a pressure differential which acts across a relatively large area A2 and serves to retain the valve open. As is apparent from the above-noted figures, the relatively large area A2 allows the pressure drop across the valve 10 to be kept to a low level at operating flow rates.
A potential disadvantage of such a hydraulic control valve 10 is that when pulling out of hole the valve 10 will be closed and the drill pipe will remain full of drilling fluid. This is inconvenient because when each stand of drill pipe is disconnected at surface a significant amount of drilling fluid is released onto the rig floor. This fluid normally must be contained and returned to the drilling fluid system, which can be time consuming and costly. To avoid this difficulty, the valve may be maintained in the open position, and one example of how this could be achieved is illustrated in
In use, the valve 10 may be located in a drill string adjacent an MWD tool. In normal operation, the valve 10 will be kept open by the flow of drilling fluid through the string. If lost circulation conditions are encountered, and the drilling fluid pumps are stopped, the flow of drilling fluid through the valve 10 will cease and the valve 10 will close. Thus, the column of drilling fluid in the drill string above the valve 10 is retained, even if the fluid level in the annulus drops, as fluid is lost into the permeable formation. When the pumps are restarted, the pressure in the drill string above the valve rises until reaching a level sufficient to open the valve 10. The fluid then flows through the valve 10 and soon reaches the level required to maintain the valve 10 open. During this period, the MWD tool will have remained filled with fluid, and there will be a continuous column of fluid above the MWD tool, ensuring proper operation of the tool and providing for transmission of signals from the MWD tool to surface.
The valve 10 as described above may also be utilised in other applications, or modified forms of the valve may be utilised, as described below.
In the above-described application the valve 10 prevents flow when in the closed configuration. However, valves or tools in accordance with other aspects of the invention may be configured to permit flow in the first or “closed” configuration. With reference to the illustrated embodiment, this could be achieved by, for example, providing ports extending through the valve seat 16, or by changing the form of the plug 20 such that at least the upper end of the plug 20 is of smaller diameter than the seat 16 and an open annulus remains between the plug 20 and seat 16. In this configuration, fluid may be pumped through the closed valve 10 and thus circulated through a pipe string. However, if it is desired to circulate or pump fluid at a relatively high rate, with lower pressure losses, this may be achieved by opening the valve 10. Of course this may be accomplished quickly and easily merely by increasing the pump rate.
In other embodiments the valve member 22 may also be coupled to other tools or devices and the movement of the valve member 22 utilised to activate, actuate or reconfigure another tool or device. In one embodiment the movement of the valve member 22 may open and close a bypass port, as described below, and may be useful, for example, in fracture acidising operations.
For an acidising application such as this the valve 10 may be configured to permit flow when the valve is in the first configuration and may be mounted to coiled tubing above an agitator, such as applicant's AG-itator tool. The valve member 22 is coupled to a bypass tool provided between the valve 10 and the agitator, the bypass tool being normally closed. The bypass tool is also of the form which, when the side ports are open, the axial passage through the tool providing fluid access to the agitator is closed.
As the coiled tubing is run into the bore, fluid is circulated through the tubing to actuate the agitator, the vibration produced by the agitator assisting in advancing the tubing through the bore. The fluid flow rate and fluid pressure necessary to operate the agitator is relatively low and during the running-in phase of the operation the valve 10 remains in the “closed” configuration, as do the side ports of the bypass tool.
When the bypass tool is located adjacent the formation to be fractured, acid is pumped from surface at a high pressure and flow rate through the coiled tubing. There will be an initial resistance to the higher flow rate from the initially closed valve 10. However, as the flow rate through the valve 10 increases the pressure differential induced by the nozzle 28 and acting across the whole area of the valve body 24 will increase and the valve 10 will open. Thus, as the plug 20 is moved away from the seat 16 the pressure drop across the valve 10 will decrease as the flow rate increases. Simultaneously, the side ports of the bypass tool will open, and the further flow of fluid into and through the agitator will be prevented.
The acid being pumped down through the coiled tubing will thus pass through the open valve 10 and then pass through the side ports of the bypass tool into the formation. The actuation of the bypass tool also protects the agitator from the potentially damaging effects of the acid, and from the elevated flow which could create a pressure differential across the agitator sufficient to damage the agitator.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a number of alternative mechanisms could be used to lock the valve 10 open for pulling out of hole. Furthermore, to damp movement of the valve member 22 and to prevent or limit vibration when the valve is opening, the valve may include a dashpot-type damping mechanism.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0500713.3 | Jan 2005 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/GB06/00124 | 1/16/2006 | WO | 00 | 9/4/2008 |