WELL TOOL HAVING MAGNETICALLY COUPLED POSITION SENSOR

Abstract

A well tool having a magnetically coupled position sensor. In operation of a well tool, relative displacement is produced between members of the well tool. A magnetically coupled position sensor includes one magnet assembly attached to a member for displacement therewith and another magnet assembly movably attached to the other member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet assembly for displacement therewith. The position sensor further includes a magnetically permeable material which increases a magnetic flux density between the magnet assemblies. In another position sensor, one magnet assembly includes a magnet having a pole axis, the other magnet assembly includes another magnet having another pole axis, and the pole axes are aligned with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic partially cross-sectional view of a well system embodying principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale cross-sectional view of a position sensor which may be used in a well tool in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a resistive element used in the position sensor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a first alternative configuration of the position sensor;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first alternative configuration, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 & 7 are cross-sectional views of respective second and third alternative configurations of the position sensor;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the third alternative configuration of the position sensor, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth alternative configuration of the position sensor installed in an alternative configuration well tool;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth alternative configuration of the position sensor, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged scale cross-sectional view of the configuration of FIG. 2, with an alternative contacts arrangement.

Claims

1. A well tool for use in conjunction with a subterranean well, the well tool comprising: first and second members, relative displacement between the first and second members being produced in operation of the well tool; anda magnetically coupled position sensor including first and second magnet assemblies, the first magnet assembly being attached to the first member for displacement with the first member, the second magnet assembly being movably attached to the second member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet assembly for displacement with the first magnet assembly, and the position sensor further including a magnetically permeable material which increases a magnetic flux density between the first and second magnet assemblies.

2. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly includes at least a first magnet having a first pole axis, the second magnet assembly includes at least a second magnet having a second pole axis, and wherein the first and second pole axes are aligned with each other.

3. The well tool of claim 2, wherein the first and second pole axes are collinear.

4. The well tool of claim 2, wherein the first and second pole axes are parallel to each other.

5. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly includes at least a first magnet having a first pole axis, the second magnet assembly includes at least a second magnet having a second pole axis, and wherein the first and second pole axes are perpendicular to each other.

6. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first member is a portion of a closure assembly of the well tool.

7. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the magnetically permeable material is positioned adjacent the first magnet assembly for displacement with the first magnet assembly.

8. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly is positioned radially inward relative to the second magnet assembly, and the magnetically permeable material longitudinally straddles magnets in the first magnet assembly.

9. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly includes multiple magnets which are circumferentially spaced apart about the first member, and wherein the magnetically permeable material is positioned between the magnets and the first member.

10. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly includes at least a first magnet, the second magnet assembly includes at least a second magnet, and wherein the second magnet is positioned between the magnetically permeable material and the first magnet.

11. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly includes a first housing containing at least a first magnet, the second magnet assembly includes a second housing containing at least a second magnet, and wherein the first and second housings are slidably engaged, thereby permitting relative displacement between the first and second housings but maintaining radial alignment of the first and second magnet assemblies.

12. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the first magnet assembly includes a housing containing at least one magnet, and wherein the housing isolates the magnet from fluid in the well.

13. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the second magnet assembly includes a housing containing at least one magnet, and wherein the housing isolates the magnet from fluid in the well.

14. A well tool for use in conjunction with a subterranean well, the well tool comprising: first and second members, relative displacement between the first and second members being produced in operation of the well tool; anda magnetically coupled position sensor including first and second magnet assemblies, the first magnet assembly being attached to the first member for displacement with the first member, the second magnet assembly being movably attached to the second member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet assembly for displacement with the first magnet assembly, the first magnet assembly including at least a first magnet having a first pole axis, the second magnet assembly including at least a second magnet having a second pole axis, and wherein the first and second pole axes are aligned with each other.

15. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the position sensor further includes a magnetically permeable material which increases a magnetic flux density between the first and second magnet assemblies.

16. The well tool of claim 15, wherein the magnetically permeable material is positioned adjacent the first magnet assembly for displacement with the first magnet assembly.

17. The well tool of claim 15, wherein the first magnet assembly is positioned radially inward relative to the second magnet assembly, and the magnetically permeable material longitudinally straddles magnets in the first magnet assembly.

18. The well tool of claim 15, wherein the first magnet assembly includes multiple magnets which are circumferentially spaced apart about the first member, and wherein the magnetically permeable material is positioned between the magnets and the first member.

19. The well tool of claim 15, wherein the first magnet assembly includes at least a first magnet, the second magnet assembly includes at least a second magnet, and wherein the second magnet is positioned between the magnetically permeable material and the first magnet.

20. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the first and second pole axes are collinear.

21. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the first and second pole axes are parallel to each other.

22. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the first member is a portion of a closure assembly of the well tool.

23. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the first magnet assembly includes a first housing containing at least a first magnet, the second magnet assembly includes a second housing containing at least a second magnet, and wherein the first and second housings are slidably engaged, thereby permitting relative displacement between the first and second housings but maintaining radial alignment of the first and second magnet assemblies.

24. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the first magnet assembly includes a housing containing at least one magnet, and wherein the housing isolates the magnet from fluid in the well.

25. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the second magnet assembly includes a housing containing at least one magnet, and wherein the housing isolates the magnet from fluid in the well.

26. A well tool for use in conjunction with a subterranean well, the well tool comprising: first and second members, relative displacement between the first and second members being produced in operation of the well tool; anda magnetically coupled position sensor including first and second magnet assemblies, the first magnet assembly being attached to the first member for displacement with the first member, the second magnet assembly being movably attached to the second member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet assembly for displacement with the first magnet assembly, and the second magnet assembly including a slider having opposite ends, a first contact positioned at one opposite end, and a second contact positioned at the other opposite end for balancing forces applied to the slider.

27. The well tool of claim 26, wherein each of the first and second contacts provides a conductive path across a resistive element.

28. The well tool of claim 26, where only one of the first and second contacts provides a conductive path across a resistive element.

29. The well tool of claim 26, wherein a combination of the first and second contacts provides a conductive path across a resistive element.

30. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the position sensor further includes a magnetically permeable material which increases a magnetic flux density between the first and second magnet assemblies.

31. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the first magnet assembly includes at least a first magnet having a first pole axis, the second magnet assembly includes at least a second magnet having a second pole axis, and wherein the first and second pole axes are aligned with each other.

32. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the first member is a portion of a closure assembly of the well tool.

33. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the first magnet assembly includes a first housing containing at least a first magnet, the second magnet assembly includes a second housing containing at least a second magnet, and wherein the first and second housings are slidably engaged, thereby permitting relative displacement between the first and second housings but maintaining radial alignment of the first and second magnet assemblies.

34. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the first magnet assembly includes a housing containing at least one magnet, and wherein the housing isolates the magnet from fluid in the well.

35. The well tool of claim 26, wherein the second magnet assembly includes a housing containing at least one magnet, and wherein the housing isolates the magnet from fluid in the well.