U.S. patent application number 12/710748 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-25 for valving device and method of valving.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Donald F. Ingvardsen, James H. Kritzler.
Application Number | 20110203805 12/710748 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44475525 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110203805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kritzler; James H. ; et
al. |
August 25, 2011 |
Valving Device and Method of Valving
Abstract
A valving device includes a tubular having a wall including a
passageway therethrough fluidically connecting an outside of the
tubular with an inside of the tubular, a plug movable relative to
the wall between a first position wherein the plug substantially
prevents fluid flow through the passageway and a second position
wherein the plug permits fluid flow through the passageway. At
least one force failing member configured to maintain the plug in
the first position until attainment of a selected force acts upon
the plug, and movement of the plug is in a direction substantially
parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular yet non-coaxial with
the tubular.
Inventors: |
Kritzler; James H.;
(Pearland, TX) ; Ingvardsen; Donald F.; (Spring,
TX) |
Assignee: |
BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
44475525 |
Appl. No.: |
12/710748 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/373 ;
166/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/123 20130101;
E21B 34/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/373 ;
166/317 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/06 20060101
E21B034/06 |
Claims
1. A valving device comprising: a tubular having a wall including a
passageway therethrough fluidically connecting an outside of the
tubular with an inside of the tubular; a plug movable relative to
the wall between a first position wherein the plug substantially
prevents fluid flow through the passageway and a second position
wherein the plug permits fluid flow through the passageway,
movement of the plug being in a direction substantially parallel to
a longitudinal axis of the tubular yet non-coaxial with the
tubular; and at least one force failing member configured to
maintain the plug in the first position until attainment of a
selected force acts upon the plug.
2. The valving device of claim 1, wherein a pressure differential
between the outside and the inside acts on the plug to generate a
force thereon.
3. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the tubular is part of a
drillstring positionable in a wellbore.
4. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the valving device is a
gas lift valve.
5. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the valving device is
housed within a side pocket mandrel.
6. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the at least one force
failing member is configured to fail when a pressure at the outside
is greater than a pressure at the inside by a selected value.
7. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the valving device is
configured such that the at least one force failing member is not
loaded when pressure at the inside is greater than pressure at the
outside.
8. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the at least one force
failing member is a shear screw.
9. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the selected force is
defined by a number of the at least one force failing member
employed in the valving device.
10. The valving device of claim 1, wherein the plug is retained in
the second position after the selected force is attained.
11. The valving device of claim 1, further comprising a housing
disposed at the tubular and the plug is movable relative to the
housing.
12. The valving device of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a
bore sealingly slidably engaged by the plug and at least two ports
wherein at least two of the at least two ports are positioned on
opposing sides of the sealing point of the plug when the plug is in
the first position and the at least two of the at least two ports
are positioned on a same side of the sealing point of the plug when
the plug is in the second position.
13. The valving device of claim 1, further comprising a poppet
configured to prevent reverse flow through the passageway after the
valving device is open.
14. A method of valving a tubular comprising: sealing a passageway
through a wall of a tubular with a plug; maintaining the plug in a
sealed position with at least one force failing member; failing the
at least one force failing member by exceeding a selected pressure
differential across the plug; moving the plug a direction
non-coaxially yet substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis
of the tubular; and opening the passageway to fluid flow in at
least one direction.
15. The method of valving a tubular of claim 14, further comprising
preventing fluid flow through the passageway in one direction while
the plug is in an open position.
16. The method of valving a tubular of claim 14, further comprising
retaining the plug while the passageway is in an open position.
17. The method of valving a tubular of claim 14, further comprising
altering a pressure needed to open the passageway by altering a
number of the at least one force failing member employed.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Tubular systems, such as the type employed in the downhole
drilling and completion industry, often include valves to control
fluid flow between an inside and an outside of the tubulars
positioned with a wellbore. Remote operation of such valves
provides savings in both time and cost. The ability to easily set
parameters that effect control of remote operation can provide
still further benefits. Operators, therefore, are always interested
in new valving devices and methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0002] Disclosed herein is a valving device. The valving device
includes a tubular having a wall including a passageway
therethrough fluidically connecting an outside of the tubular with
an inside of the tubular, a plug movable relative to the wall
between a first position wherein the plug substantially prevents
fluid flow through the passageway and a second position wherein the
plug permits fluid flow through the passageway. At least one force
failing member configured to maintain the plug in the first
position until attainment of a selected force acts upon the plug,
and movement of the plug is in a direction substantially parallel
to a longitudinal axis of the tubular yet non-coaxial with the
tubular.
[0003] Further disclosed is a method of valving a tubular. The
method of valving a tubular includes sealing a passageway through a
wall of a tubular with a plug, maintaining the plug in a sealed
position with at least one force failing member, failing the at
least one force failing member by exceeding a selected pressure
differential across the plug moving the plug a direction
non-coaxially yet substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis
of the tubular, and opening the passageway to fluid flow in at
least one direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0005] FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectioned view of a valving device
disclosed herein;
[0006] FIG. 2 depicts a magnified partial cross sectioned view of
the valving device of FIG. 1 shown in a closed position;
[0007] FIG. 3 depicts a magnified partial cross sectioned view of
the valving device of FIG. 2 shown in an open position; and
[0008] FIG. 4 depicts a cross sectioned view of an alternate
valving device disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the
disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of
exemplification and not limitation with reference to the
Figures.
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of a valving device
disclosed herein is illustrated generally at 10. The valving device
10 includes, a tubular 14 having a wall 18 that defines a flow
passageway 22 between an outside 26 of the tubular 14 and an inside
30 of the tubular 14. The valving device 10 further includes a plug
34, illustrated in this embodiment as a piston, that sealingly
slidably engages with the wall 18, via a seal 38, shown herein as
an o-ring, such that the plug 34 substantially prevents flow
through the flow passageway 22 when in a first position, as shown
in FIG. 2, and permits flow through the flow passageway 22 when the
plug 34 is in a second position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. At
least one release member that in one embodiment is in the form of a
force failing member 42, illustrated in this embodiment as a
plurality of shear screws, maintains the plug 34 in the first
position until force acting thereupon fails the force failing
member 42 thereby allowing the plug 34 to move from the first
position to the second position. The plug 34 being in the second
position opens the flow passageway 22 thereby allowing fluid to
flow therethrough from the outside 26 to the inside 30.
[0011] The force needed to fail the force failing member 42 can be
generated by a pressure differential across the wall 18, from the
outside 26 to the inside 30 of the tubular 14, that acts on the
plug 34. The pressure differential can be communicated from the
outside 26 through ports 46 and bore 50, defined by an inner
housing 54 of the wall 18. The inner housing 54 can be a separate
component located within a cavity 56 in the wall 18. The cavity 56
oriented substantially parallel to an axis of the tubular 14 is
commonly referred to as a side pocket mandrel in some industries. A
poppet 58, movably located within the inner housing 54, has
channels 60 therein that allow fluid to flow therethrough when the
poppet 58 is not seated against a seat 62 in the housing 54.
Biasing members, such as springs, (not shown) can bias the poppet
58 toward the seat 62 to prevent flow through the bore 50 in the
reverse direction after the force failing member 42 has, failed.
Once the plug 34 has moved to the second position (as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3) fluid is free to flow through ports 66 in the
housing 54 and into the inside 30 of the tubular 14.
[0012] An operator, by selectively altering a number of the force
failing members 42 employed, can alter forces and consequently
pressure needed to fail the force failing members 42 and open the
valving device 10. Additionally, changes in material, hardness and
size of the force failing members 42 can also be used to alter the
forces needed to open the valving device 10.
[0013] Optionally, the plug 34, when in the second and open
position, can be retained in the housing 54 if desired. An optional
shoulder 70 that has a larger dimension than an opening 74 in an
end of the housing 54 prevents the plug 34 from exiting the end of
the housing 54 after failure of the force failing members 42. In an
alternate embodiment of a valving device 110 disclosed herein, and
illustrated in FIG. 4, a plug 112 can be allowed to separate from a
housing 116, after failure of the force failing members 42. Such an
embodiment can open a flow passageway 120 to the inside 30 without
having another change in directional flow as occurs with the ports
66 of the valving device 10.
[0014] Both of the valving devices 10, 110 disclosed herein include
a head 124 on the plug 112, 34 that prevents the plug 112, 34 from
moving in a direction opposite to the opening direction. The head
124 is dimensioned larger than the opening 74 in the housing 54,
116 to absorb any load in a direction opposite to the opening
direction to prevent failing of the force failing members 42 in
this reverse orientation.
[0015] When the valving devices 10, 110 are applied to
applications, such as, in the downhole hydrocarbon recovery
industry, for example, the valving devices 10, 110 can be used to
assist bringing liquids, including oil and water to surface. In
this example, gas is pumped down an annulus 128 defined between the
tubular 14, employed herein as part of a drill string, and a casing
132 that lines a wellbore 138 (FIG. 1). A packer 142 seals the
tubular 14 to the casing 132 allowing the pumping of gas to build
pressure in the annulus 128 until pressure exceeds a pressure
needed to fail the force failing members 42. Once the force failing
members 42 have failed and the plug 112, 34 has moved allowing
fluid to flow through the valving device 10, 110, gas from the
annulus 128 is pumped into the oil and water on the inside 30
thereby assisting lifting of the liquids. In this application the
valving device 10, 110 may be referred to as a gas lift valve.
[0016] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the
scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made
to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in
the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed
exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms
may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so
limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not
denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second,
etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore,
the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of
quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the
referenced item.
* * * * *