U.S. patent application number 12/198248 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for system for selective incremental closing of a hydraulic downhole choking valve.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated. Invention is credited to Jesse J. Constantine, Aaron T. Jackson, Conrad G. Weinig.
Application Number | 20100051289 12/198248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723628 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100051289 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Constantine; Jesse J. ; et
al. |
March 4, 2010 |
System for Selective Incremental Closing of a Hydraulic Downhole
Choking Valve
Abstract
Systems for operating one or more sliding sleeve valves in an
incremental, step-type fashion between open and closed positions,
permitting the valve or valves to be choked to progressively
smaller flow areas. The systems of the present invention also
permit the valve or valves to be fully closed without having to
progress through incremental steps.
Inventors: |
Constantine; Jesse J.;
(Kingwood, TX) ; Weinig; Conrad G.; (Missouri,
TX) ; Jackson; Aaron T.; (Tomball, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Shawn Hunter / Baker Hughes Filings
P.O. Box 270110
Houston
TX
77277-0110
US
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
41723628 |
Appl. No.: |
12/198248 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/373 ;
166/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/14 20130101;
E21B 2200/06 20200501; E21B 34/10 20130101; E21B 43/12
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/373 ;
166/320 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/08 20060101
E21B034/08 |
Claims
1. A hydraulic metering assembly for operating a hydraulic device
from a fluid source between a fully open position and a fully
closed position, the hydraulic metering assembly comprising: an
incremental piston assembly operably interconnected with the
hydraulic device and operable to deliver metered amounts of fluid
from the fluid source to the hydraulic device, thereby operating
the hydraulic device incrementally from the fully open position
toward the fully closed position; and a bypass mechanism to
selectively permit substantially unrestricted fluid flow from the
fluid source to the hydraulic device to move the hydraulic device
to the fully closed position.
2. The hydraulic metering assembly of claim 1 wherein the bypass
mechanism comprises a check valve that will open upon application
of a predetermined level of fluid pressure.
3. The hydraulic metering assembly of claim 1 wherein the
incremental piston assembly comprises: a housing defining a piston
chamber and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and a piston
member moveably disposed within the piston chamber between a
retracted position and an extended position, the piston member
displacing a volume of fluid from the piston chamber through the
fluid outlet during movement from its retracted position to its
extended position.
4. The hydraulic metering assembly of claim 3 wherein the
incremental piston assembly further comprises a spring for
returning the piston member from its extended position to its
retracted position.
5. A hydrocarbon production assembly for use in a wellbore
comprising: a hydrocarbon production string; a production nipple
incorporated into the production string, the production nipple
being operable between fully open, fully closed and partially open
positions; a hydraulic open line interconnecting a fluid source
with the production nipple to flow fluid from the fluid source to
the production nipple to move the production nipple toward the
fully open position; a hydraulic close line interconnecting a fluid
source with the production nipple to flow fluid from the fluid
source to move the production nipple toward the fully closed
position; a hydraulic metering assembly incorporated into the close
line, the hydraulic metering assembly comprising: a) an incremental
piston assembly operable to deliver metered amounts of fluid from
the fluid source to the production nipple, thereby operating the
production nipple incrementally from the fully open position toward
the fully closed position; and b) a bypass mechanism to selectively
permit substantially unrestricted fluid flow from the fluid source
to the production nipple to move the production nipple to the fully
closed position.
6. The hydrocarbon production assembly of claim 5 wherein the
bypass mechanism comprises a check valve that permits fluid flow
from the fluid source to the production nipple upon application of
a fluid pressure above a predetermined level.
7. The hydrocarbon production assembly of claim 6 further
comprising a check valve that permits one-way fluid flow away from
the production nipple.
8. The hydrocarbon production assembly of claim 5 wherein the
incremental piston assembly comprises: a housing defining a piston
chamber and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and a piston
member moveably disposed within the piston chamber between a
retracted position and an extended position, the piston member
displacing a volume of fluid from the piston chamber through the
fluid outlet during movement from its retracted position to its
extended position.
9. The hydrocarbon production assembly of claim 8 wherein the
incremental piston assembly further comprises a spring for
returning the piston member from its extended position to its
retracted position.
10. The hydrocarbon production assembly of claim 5 wherein the
production nipple comprises a sliding sleeve valve comprising: an
outer housing defining an axial flowbore; a lateral fluid flow port
disposed through the housing; a sleeve member disposed within the
flowbore of the housing and having a lateral opening disposed
therethrough; the sleeve member being moveable with respect to the
housing so that the lateral opening of the sleeve member is
selectively alignable with the flow port of the housing to provide
an adjustable flow area.
11. The hydrocarbon production assembly of claim 10 wherein: the
flowbore of the housing provides a recess; and the sleeve member
presents a radially extending flange that is disposed within the
recess to define first and second fluid chambers.
12. A method for controlling a sleeve valve between an open
position and a closed position, the method comprising the steps of:
associating the sleeve valve with an open side fluid source for
moving the sleeve valve to its open position; associating the
sleeve valve with a closed side fluid source for moving the sleeve
valve to its closed position; incorporating a hydraulic incremental
piston device between the closed side fluid source and the sleeve
valve, the incremental piston device being operable to transmit
fluid to the sleeve valve in discrete increments; moving the sleeve
valve to a substantially fully open position; and actuating the
incremental piston device to move the sleeve valve from the
substantially fully open position to a partially open position.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of bypassing
the incremental piston device to move the sleeve valve to its
closed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates generally to devices and methods for
operating a valve in an incremental fashion.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Sliding sleeve valves are often used in a hydrocarbon
production string to selectively control the flow of production
fluid into the production string. A sliding sleeve valve typically
includes an outer cylindrical housing that defines a flowbore and a
sleeve member that is moveably disposed within the housing. Both
the housing and the sleeve member include openings. When the
openings are aligned, fluid can be communicated through the
openings and into the flowbore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides systems for operating one or more
sliding sleeve valves in an incremental, step-type fashion between
open and closed positions. This permits the valve or valves to be
choked to progressively smaller flow areas. The systems of the
present invention also permit the valve or valves to be fully
closed without having to progress through incremental steps.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, a sliding sleeve valve is
interconnected with hydraulic open and close lines so that fluid
flow through the hydraulic lines will actuate the sleeve valve
between open and closed positions. In preferred embodiments, the
close line incorporates a fluid metering assembly which is operable
to flow discrete increments of hydraulic fluid into or out of the
sleeve valve. The fluid metering assembly preferably includes a
bi-directional check valve assembly and an incremental piston
assembly.
[0007] During exemplary operation of the system, the sliding sleeve
valve is incrementally choked from a fully open position to a
partially open position by flowing hydraulic fluid into the close
line at a pressure that is below a predetermined level. The
incremental piston assembly will be operated to transmit a
predetermined discrete amount of fluid to the sleeve valve, thereby
moving the sleeve member incrementally toward a closed
position.
[0008] In the event that it is desired to fully close the sliding
sleeve valve, fluid is flowed into the close line at a pressure
that is above the predetermined level. The pressurized fluid will
open a check valve within the check valve assembly and permit fluid
to pass in an unrestricted manner through the fluid metering
assembly. The sleeve valve will then be shifted to a fully closed
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The advantages and further aspects of the invention will be
readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate
like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the
drawing and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary
wellbore containing a production tubing string which incorporates
sliding sleeve valves and a control system in accordance with the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an exemplary sliding
sleeve valve in a fully open position and an operably associated
hydraulic metering assembly, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the sleeve valve shown in
FIG. 2, now having been moved to a partially choked open
position.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the sleeve valve shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, now having been moved to a further partially choked
open position.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the sleeve valve shown in
FIGS. 2-4 now in a fully closed position.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary
bi-directional check valve assembly used in the hydraulic metering
assembly of the present invention
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary
incremental piston assembly used in the hydraulic metering assembly
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side, cross-sectional view of the incremental
piston assembly shown in FIG. 7, now having been actuated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wellbore 10 that that has
been drilled from the surface 12 through the earth 14. The wellbore
10 passes through production formations 16, 18 and 20, which are
separated from one another by substantially impermeable layers 22.
The wellbore 10 has been lined with metallic casing 24, in a manner
known in the art, and perforations 26 extend through the casing 24
and into the formations 16, 18, 20.
[0019] A hydrocarbon production string 28 is disposed within the
wellbore 10. An annulus 30 is defined between the outer radial
surface of the production string 28 and the casing 24. The
production string 28 may be made up of sections of standard
production tubing or, alternatively, be formed of coiled tubing, in
a manner known in the art. The production string defines an
interior flowbore 32 by which production fluids may be conveyed to
the surface 12. The production string 28 includes production
nipples 34, 36, 38 which are located proximate each of the
production zones 16, 18, 20, respectively.
[0020] Although three production zones and three production nipples
are depicted in FIG. 1, it should be understood that this is for
purposes of illustration only, and that there may be more or fewer
than three such nipples, as needed or desired. Each of the
production nipples 34, 36, 38 is a sliding sleeve valve which can
be opened or closed to selectively permit production fluid entering
the wellbore annulus 30 from the perforations 26 to enter the
central flowbore 32.
[0021] A common hydraulic "open" line 40 extends from a
surface-based pump, or open side fluid source, 42 and is
interconnected with each of the production nipples 34, 36, 38 in a
manner which will be described in further detail shortly. In
addition, a separate hydraulic "close" line extends from a surface
pump, or close side fluid source, 44 to each of the production
nipples 34, 36, 38. Close line 46 extends from the pump 44 to
production nipple 34. Hydraulic close line 48 extends from the pump
44 to the second production nipple 36, and hydraulic close line 50
extends from the pump 44 to the third production nipple 38. A
hydraulic metering assembly 52 is integrated into each of the close
lines 46, 48, 50. It is noted that, while the open side fluid
source 42 and closed side fluid source 44 are depicted
schematically as separate fluid sources, they may, in fact be a
single pump or other fluid source.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary sliding sleeve valve 54 of
the type used for each of the production nipples 34, 36, 38. The
sliding sleeve valve 54 includes an outer cylindrical housing 56
that defines a central flowbore 58. The housing 56 has threaded
axial ends 60 to permit the housing 56 to be integrated into the
production tubing string 28. Multiple lateral flow ports 62 are
disposed through the housing 56. A generally cylindrical sleeve
member 64 is disposed within the central flowbore 58 of the housing
56 and is axially moveable with respect to the housing 56. Lateral
fluid openings 66 are disposed through the sleeve member 64.
[0023] A radially-enlarged recess 68 is formed in a portion of the
flowbore 58 of the housing 56. A flange 70 extends radially
outwardly from the sleeve member 64 and into the recess 68 to
divide the recess 68 into first and second fluid chambers 72, 74.
The fluid chambers 72 and 74 are defined between the inner sleeve
member 64 and the recess 68 of the housing 56. Fluid seals 76, of a
type known in the art, ensure fluid tightness for the chambers 72,
74. One of the hydraulic fluid "close" lines 46, 48 or 50 is
interconnected with the first chamber 72. The hydraulic fluid
"open" line 40 is interconnected with the second chamber 74.
[0024] The fluid metering assemblies 52 each include a
bi-directional check valve assembly 78 and an incremental piston
assembly 80 which are incorporated into the close line 46, 48 or 50
in a parallel fashion by the use of fluid line splitters 82. The
check valve assembly 78 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6 and
includes a housing 84 with a fluid inlet 86 and a fluid outlet 88.
Parallel first and second flow paths 90, 92 extend from the fluid
inlet 86 to the fluid outlet 88. A first check valve 94 is located
within the first flow path 90 and is oriented so as to block fluid
flow from the inlet 86 toward the outlet 88 but selectively permit
fluid flow along the flow path 90 from the outlet 88 toward the
inlet 86. In the depicted embodiment, the first check valve 94
includes a closure member 96 that is biased by compression spring
98 against a valve seat 100. The spring 98 provides a bias force
upon the closure member 96 that can be overcome by a first,
relatively low, level of pressure by fluid flowing along the first
flow path 90 toward inlet 86. As a non-limiting example, a fluid
pressure of 100-200 psi would unseat the closure member 96 from the
valve seat 100 and allow fluid to pass through the first flow path
90.
[0025] A second check valve 102 is located within the second flow
path 92. The second check valve 102 blocks fluid flow from the
outlet 88 toward the inlet 86, but it will selectively permit fluid
flow from the inlet 86 toward the outlet 88. In the depicted
embodiment, the second check valve 102 includes a closure member
104 that is biased by a compression spring 106 against a valve seat
108. The spring provides a bias force upon the closure member 104
that can be overcome by a second level of pressure by fluid flowing
along the second flow path 92 toward the outlet 88. The second
level of pressure is greater than the first level of pressure. As a
non-limiting example, a fluid pressure of about 5000 psi would
unseat the closure member 104 from the valve seat 108 and allow
fluid to pass through the second flow path 92.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the incremental piston
assembly 80 is shown apart from the other components of the fluid
metering assembly 52. The incremental piston assembly 80 includes a
tubular piston housing 110 with upper and lower end subs 112, 114
secured at opposite axial ends. Fluid passages 116 are disposed
axially through each of the end subs 112, 114. An incremental
piston chamber 118 is defined within the piston housing 110 between
the end subs 112, 114. End sub 112 provides a fluid inlet for the
chamber 118 while end sub 114 provides a fluid outlet. The piston
chamber 118 contains an incremental piston pump, generally shown at
120. The incremental piston pump 120 is useful for sequentially
displacing a predetermined, known amount of fluid through the
piston chamber 118 of the incremental piston assembly 80 and
includes a piston sleeve 122 which radially surrounds a piston
member 124. The exemplary piston member 124 features an enlarged
pressure-receiving end 126, a reduced-diameter shaft portion 128,
and an enlarged piston head 130. It is noted, however, that the
piston member 124 could have other geometrical designs. The piston
member 124 is moveable with respect to the sleeve 122 between a
retracted position (FIG. 7) and an extended position (FIG. 8). When
moved to the extended position, the enlarged piston head 130 of the
piston member 124 displaces a volume of fluid through the fluid
outlet 116 of end sub 114 and substantially the same volume of
fluid is drawn into the fluid inlet of end sub 112 from the close
line 46, 48 or 50. The enlarged piston head 130 of the piston
member 124 contacts an end portion 132 of compression spring member
134, which is disposed within the chamber 88. The spring 134 biases
the piston member 124 toward the retracted position. Although the
spring illustrated in the drawings is a spiral-type compression
spring, those of skill in the art will understand that other
compressible spring designs could be used, including, for example,
Belleville washers or fluid springs, as are known in the art. When
fluid pressure is increased within the close line 46, 48, or 50, it
bears upon the pressure-receiving end portion 126 to urge the
piston member 124 to move axially with respect to the sleeve 122
toward the extended position, and the spring member 134 is
compressed by the piston head 130. It is noted that, while the
pressure-receiving end 126 of the piston member 124 may be disposed
within the surrounding sleeve 122 with a relatively close fit,
there are preferably no elastomeric or other fluid-tight seals
located between the piston member 124 and the sleeve 122. As a
result, it is contemplated that some fluid pressure will seep
between the piston member 124 and sleeve 122 during operation.
[0027] In operation, the fluid metering assemblies 52 are used to
operate each of the production nipples 34, 36, 38 by increments
between an extreme open position (i.e., the fully open position
depicted in FIG. 2) and an extreme, or fully closed position (see
FIG. 5). In other words, the fluid metering assemblies 52 will
operate the production nipples 34, 36, 38 between fully open, fully
closed and partially open, or "choked" positions. It is noted that,
in FIGS. 2-5, the valve is shown in a fully open position (i.e.,
the fluid openings 66 of the sleeve member 64 are fully aligned
with the ports 62 of the housing 56) when the sleeve member 64 is
in a raised or upper position within the housing 56, and is closed
by moving the sleeve member 64 downwardly with respect to the
housing 56, the valve 54 may be constructed so that the valve is
fully opened when the sleeve member 64 is in a lower position with
respect to the housing 56 and is shifted upwardly or even rotated
with respect to the housing for choking and closure to occur. In an
exemplary method of operation, the production string 28 is run into
the wellbore 10 and typically secured in place with sets of packers
(not shown) of a type known in the art. At this point, the
production nipples 34, 36, 38 may all be fully opened by
pressurizing the common open line 40 with surface-based pump, or
open side fluid source, 42. This will flow pressurized fluid into
the second fluid chamber 74 of each of the production nipples 34,
36, 38 and urge the flange 70 and sleeve 64 of each upwardly until
each of the production nipples 34, 36, 38 are in the fully open
position shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that, as fluid enters the
second chamber 74 and urges the sleeve 64 upwardly, the first
chamber 72 will be reduced in volume, and fluid within the first
chamber 72 will exit the first chamber 72 via the respective close
lines 46, 48 or 50. The fluid displaced from the first chamber 72
will flow through the bi-directional check valve assembly 78. In
order to pass through the check valve assembly 78, the displaced
fluid will urge closure member 96 off of its valve seat 100,
permitting the fluid to pass through the first flow path 90 of the
check valve assembly 78.
[0028] When it is desired to choke the production flow into the
production nipples 34, 36, 38, the hydraulic metering assemblies 52
may be actuated to sequentially move their respective production
nipples to choked position of smaller flow area, as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4 and, eventually, the fully closed position depicted
in FIG. 5. It is noted that due to the use of separate and
independent close lines 46, 48, 50 for each individual production
nipple 34, 36 and 38, each production nipple may be choked
separately and to a different degree than the other production
nipples. To choke the production nipple, fluid is flowed by pump 44
into the respective close line 46, 48 or 50 at a pressure that is
below a predetermined level. The predetermined level is the level
of fluid pressure that would lo unseat the closure member 104 from
its valve seat 108 in the bi-directional check valve assembly 78.
The fluid flow into the close line will cause the incremental
piston assembly 80 to displace a predetermined amount of fluid, as
described previously, into the first chamber 72 of the respective
production nipple 34, 36 or 38. The predetermined amount of fluid
entering the first chamber 72, will act upon the flange 70 and urge
the sleeve member 64 axially downwardly with respect to the
surrounding housing 56. From the fully opened position shown in
FIG. 2, the sleeve valve 54 will be moved to the partially choked
position shown in FIG. 3. The fluid openings 66 will be less
aligned with the fluid ports 62 of the housing 56, thereby reducing
the amount of available fluid flow area and choking the production
nipple 34, 36 or 38.
[0029] Once the sleeve member 64 has been moved axially downwardly
in an incremental manner, as described, fluid pressure within the
close line 46, 48 or 50 is reduced or bled off to permit the
compression spring 134 of the incremental piston assembly 80 to
return the piston 124 to its retracted position. The compression
spring 134 will urge the piston member 124 back to its retracted
position. Fluid will pass around the piston portion 126 to refill
the piston chamber 118 with fluid. Following the reduction in
pressure, the close line 46, 48 or 50 can be repressurized as
described above to move the sleeve member 64 a further incremental
distance axially downwardly with respect to its surrounding housing
56. From the partially choked position shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve
valve 54 will be moved incrementally to an even more choked
position, depicted in FIG. 4. The pressure within one or more of
the close line(s) 46, 48, 50 can then again be bled off, and
pressure reapplied to move the sleeve member(s) 64 of the
respective production nipple(s) 34, 36, 38 further downwardly with
respect to the surrounding housing 56, thereby further choking the
flow area provided by those production nipple(s) 34, 36, 38.
[0030] The hydraulic metering assemblies 52 also may be actuated to
move an associated production nipple 34, 36 or 38 to the fully
closed position shown in FIG. 5 in a single step from either a
fully opened position or a choked position. In order to do this,
fluid is flowed by fluid source 44 into the respective close line
46, 48 or 50 at a pressure that is above the predetermined level
necessary to unseat the closure member 104 from its valve is seat
108. This permits fluid to pass in an unrestricted manner through
the second flow path 92 of the bi-directional check valve assembly
78. The pressurized fluid will enter the first chamber 72 of the
production nipples 34, 36, 38, act upon the flange 70 and urge the
sleeve member 64 axially downward to the fully closed position
depicted in FIG. 5. Thus, by applying a fluid pressure to the close
line(s) 46, 48, 50 at a level that is above the predetermined fluid
pressure level, the incremental piston assembly 80 can be
bypassed.
[0031] The foregoing description is directed to particular
embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of
illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one
skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the
embodiment set forth above are possible without departing from the
scope and the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *