U.S. patent application number 15/670065 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-07 for in-line liquid trigger valve.
The applicant listed for this patent is IBALL INSTRUMENTS LLC. Invention is credited to Carl Bright.
Application Number | 20190040713 15/670065 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65229180 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190040713 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bright; Carl |
February 7, 2019 |
IN-LINE LIQUID TRIGGER VALVE
Abstract
A trigger valve may be disposed between a fluid source and a gas
utilization destination. A trigger valve can have housing with an
inlet and an outlet. A trigger material may be disposed between the
inlet and outlet within the housing. The trigger material can seal
the housing to prevent fluid flow to the outlet in response to
liquid being present in the housing.
Inventors: |
Bright; Carl; (McLoud,
OK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IBALL INSTRUMENTS LLC |
Norman |
OK |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65229180 |
Appl. No.: |
15/670065 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 21/067 20130101;
E21B 34/00 20130101; E21B 49/081 20130101; E21B 49/08 20130101;
E21B 21/106 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/00 20060101
E21B034/00; E21B 21/06 20060101 E21B021/06; E21B 49/08 20060101
E21B049/08; E21B 21/10 20060101 E21B021/10 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet,
a trigger material disposed between the inlet and outlet within the
housing, the trigger material sealing the housing to prevent fluid
flow to the outlet in response to liquid being present in the
housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material is Sodium
Polyacrylate.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material occupies
less than all of an interior volume of the housing prior to the
presence of liquid.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material is a
powder prior to the presence of liquid.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material is
positioned proximal the inlet and separated from the outlet.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material comprises
multiple different superabsorbent polymers.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material is
retained in a predetermined position in the housing by a single
porous member.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger material is
disposed between first and second porous members within the
housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.
10. A system comprising a first housing connected in-line between a
wellbore and a mudlogging device as part of a transmission
assembly, the first housing having a first trigger material
disposed between an inlet and an outlet within the first housing,
the first trigger material sealing the first housing to prevent
fluid flow to the outlet in response to liquid being present in the
first housing.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first housing is positioned
within 1000 feet of the wellbore.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first housing has an
electrical float switch responsive to a high level of liquid within
the first housing.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission assembly
comprises a pressure source and a second housing containing a
second trigger material, the first and second housings being
separate and connected via a conduit.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission assembly
comprises a moisture trap upstream of the first housing.
15. A method comprising: connecting a housing between a fluid
source and a gas utilization destination, the housing having an
inlet and an outlet, a trigger material disposed between the inlet
and outlet within the housing; flowing a gas sample through the
housing inlet to the housing outlet unimpeded by the trigger
material; introducing liquid into the housing; and sealing the
housing with the trigger material to prevent flow to the outlet in
response to liquid being present in the housing.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the trigger material expands in
size by absorbing the liquid to cover and seal the inlet and outlet
of the housing.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the trigger material expands
over 100 times in size in response to encountering the liquid to
seal the housing.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the trigger material changes
color in response to encountering the liquid.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the trigger material converts
to a gel state in response to encountering the liquid.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the trigger material expands to
force a porous member to contact and seal the inlet of the housing.
Description
SUMMARY
[0001] A liquid blocking trigger valve, in accordance with various
embodiments, has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. A trigger
material is disposed between the inlet and outlet within the
housing and is configured to seal the housing to prevent fluid flow
to the outlet in response to liquid being present in the
housing.
[0002] Both the immediate inlet side of the housing and separating
filter porous member have a pore size that is smaller than the
granular dry size of the trigger material used in the trigger valve
to entrap the trigger material between the immediate inlet port
side and the separating filter porous member. Gasses are not
adsorbed by the trigger material. Upon normal operation, sample
gases from a source normally pass through the housing from the
inlet port side to the outlet port side unimpeded. If the sample
gasses passing through the apparatus contains a liquid component
with the gaseous component, then the liquid component will be
adsorbed and held by the trigger material and will not pass through
to the outlet.
[0003] If enough liquid passes into the housing, the trigger
material expands up to 400 times in size and can turn into a soft
gel which contains and holds the liquids. If enough liquids enters
into the housing, then the expanding gel will block the inlet
and/or outlet entirely and eliminate the possibility of liquid or
gases passing through the housing, thereby protecting any distal or
proximal equipment that is sensitive to liquid intrusion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 represents an example sample system arranged in
accordance with various embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 2 displays an example testing system configured and
operated in accordance with some embodiments.
[0006] FIGS. 3A & 3B respectively show line representations of
an example trigger valve that may be employed in the systems of
FIGS. 1 & 2.
[0007] FIGS. 4A-4C respectively convey cross-sectional line
representations of example trigger valves that can be utilized in
the systems of FIGS. 1 & 2.
[0008] FIG. 5 depicts a block representation of an example
transmission assembly capable of being used by the systems of FIGS.
1 & 2.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example sample flow routine
carried out by the systems of FIGS. 1 & 2 in accordance with
various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Various embodiments are generally directed to apparatus,
systems, and methods of using a liquid trigger valve in an in-line
capacity.
[0011] In assorted fluid transport systems and environments, liquid
is unwanted and can even be detrimental to operating performance.
It is to be understood that a fluid is hereby meant as a genus term
that may consist of any number and volume of liquids and gases. A
liquid is hereby meant as an incompressible substance with firmly,
but not rigidly, bound particles that can freeze or evaporate at
predetermined temperatures. A gas is hereby meant as a compressible
substance with widely separated and free moving particles that can
condense into a liquid or undergo deposition into a solid form.
[0012] While some embodiments will be directed to the collection,
transport, and measurement of fluids associated with hydrocarbon
exploration, extraction, and transmission, which can be
characterized generally as mudlogging, the disclosure is not so
limited. For instance, a liquid trigger valve may be used in the
transportation, processing, and measurement of any type of fluid
combination of gas and liquid, gas alone, or liquid alone.
[0013] Throughout the history of the mudlogging industry, a focus
is the collection of sample gasses out of the drilling fluid
utilized in the drilling of natural resources and the subsequent
quantitation and analyzation of the drilling fluid to ascertain
information about the fluid as well as the underground source of
the fluid. Such ascertained fluid information allows people in
charge of drilling operations to make critical decisions during the
drilling process, such as where to drill and where to stop
drilling.
[0014] A sample gas can be extracted from drilling fluid using a
mechanical agitation means, for example, that is entrapped within
some kind of enclosure and then drawn from an extraction apparatus
to analyzing equipment using a vacuum principal of some sort.
During the mechanical sample gas extraction, water and other
liquids may become atomized and drawn into the vacuum collection
system with the sample gasses. This vaporous water and other
liquids can condensate within the sample transport line during the
travel from the extraction method to the analyzation equipment.
[0015] While liquid extraction means, such as a moisture trap and
drop-out jar, can capture some liquids before the liquids reach the
analyzation equipment, issues occur when the liquid extraction
means fail or have degraded performance that allows liquids to
reach destinations reserved solely for gas. For instance, a drop
out jar or collection vessel may fill to capacity thereby allowing
a full flow of liquid into the sample gas analyzer. Generally, if
condensate liquids are drawn through the sample gas analyzer, the
sample gas analyzer will be damaged and be in need of repair.
Hence, it is a continued industry interest to provide liquid
capture systems that reliably stop any flow of condensate liquids
from reaching downstream gas-specific devices.
[0016] Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure are generally
directed to systems that provide selective mechanical blocking of
liquids in a sample line. In some embodiments, a trigger material,
such as Sodium Polyacrylates, polymer gel, and superabsorbent
polymers, is positioned in a housing so that gases flow through the
housing until liquid is present and the trigger material
mechanically expands to seal the housing against sample flow. The
ability of the trigger material to expand considerably, such as 400
times its normal dry size or more, within a housing attached to the
sample line allows for quick and efficient physically blockage the
flow of the sample line once the trigger material encounters
liquid. As a result of the mechanical trigger material expanding,
the maintenance of the sample line is forced to remove any
condensate liquids and the downstream gas-specific destination is
preserved.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block representation of an example sample system
100 in which various embodiments may be practiced. A fluid sample
102 can originate at one or more sources 104 that may be dissimilar
physical locations and/or types of fluid. For example, the source
104 can be a combination of a first source that is a naturally
occurring reservoir of a fluid combination of different liquids and
gases while a second source is a stream of man-made gas. Hence, it
is contemplated that a sample system 100 can concurrently or
sequentially collect fluid samples containing a diverse variety of
constituent liquids and/or gases from one or more sources 104.
[0018] Regardless of where and what type of fluid sample 102 is
provided by a source 104, a transmission assembly 106 can transport
the sample 102 to one or more gas utilization destinations 108.
While not limiting, the transmission assembly 106 can have various
valves 110 and at least one pressure means 112 to direct the fluid
sample 102 towards the gas utilization destinations 108. The gas
utilization destinations 108 may be gas-specific devices, such as
measurement equipment, that are sensitive to the presence of
liquids in the fluid sample 102. Thus, the transmission assembly
106 can consist of one or more devices that process the fluid
sample 102 into a gas sample 114 that has negligible liquid or
liquid vapor.
[0019] FIG. 2 represents an example mudlogging testing system 130
that is arranged in accordance with some embodiments. The testing
system 130 has a downhole fluid sample source 132 that is
transported to a gas utilization destination 108 via a transmission
assembly 106. The downhole sample source 132 can be a wellbore 134
having a depth 136 below ground-level 138, such as 100 feet or
more. The wellbore 134 may be an open bore or a cased production
string designed to extract underground hydrocarbons in various
forms, such as liquid oil and natural gas.
[0020] At any depth 136 in the wellbore 134, a fluid sample 140 can
be collected via a sample extractor 142. The sample extractor 142
may be placed anywhere drilling fluid 144 is present, such as above
ground-level 138, to extract a sample 140 from the drilling fluid
144. The fluid sample 140 may contain any combination of liquids
and gases that are carried through the transmission assembly 106
via a pressure source 112, which may be a pump, compressor, or
combination of the two to provide positive or vacuum pressure on
the fluid sample 140.
[0021] The transmission of the fluid sample 140 towards the gas
utilization destination 108 via the pressure source 112 flows
through at least one conduit 146, which may be rigid or flexible
tubing and/or piping. The conduit 146 may continuously extend for a
length, such as 100 feet or more, that exposes the fluid sample 140
to environmental conditions outside the conduit 146 that can
condense vaporized liquid in the fluid sample 140. As the fluid
sample 140 collects condensed liquids, the pressure/vacuum from the
pressure source 112 will send the liquid towards the gas
utilization destination 108, which is problematic for destinations
like the example mudlogging device 148 shown in FIG. 2 that are
designed to receive gas samples exclusively.
[0022] It is contemplated that the transmission assembly 106 can
comprise one or more sample processing means 150, such as a
moisture trap, filter, separator, and valves. However, conventional
liquid trapping and/or separating means have proven unreliable over
time, particularly in harsh conditions commonly associated with
hydrocarbon exploration and processing. Accordingly, various
embodiments position at least one trigger valve 152 in-line with
the conduit 146 between the wellbore 134 and the mudlogging device
148 to provide a failsafe that prevents liquid from arriving at the
mudlogging device 148.
[0023] It is noted that the mudlogging device 148 can be positioned
anywhere relative to the wellbore 134, but in some embodiments, is
on-site with the wellbore 134, such as within 1000 feet, and
contained within a single explosion-proof housing with computing
equipment that allows for the input of a gas sample 114 and the
output of at least one gas measurement, such as the presence of one
or more constituent gases, while on-site. As a non-limiting
example, the mudlogging device 148 can have at least one local
processor 154, such as a microprocessor or programmable controller,
that directs gas measurements activity with at least one sensor 156
as directed by software 158 stored in local memory 160. The results
of the gas sample measurements can be locally stored or sent to a
remote host via a communication circuit 162, such as a wireless or
wired radio, telephone, secure, or non-secure broadcast means.
[0024] FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively display line representations of
an example trigger valve 170 that may be employed by the systems
100/130 in accordance with assorted embodiments to prevent liquids
from reaching a gas utilization destination 108. The trigger valve
170 may be utilized anywhere in-line along a transmission assembly
106 to receive a fluid sample 102 that may contain any number and
volume of liquids, liquid vapor, and gas. The trigger valve 170 has
a sealed housing 172 with an inlet 174 and separate outlet 176
connected to one or more pipes, tubes, or conduits. In some
embodiments, the housing has an affixed, or adjustable, electrical
float switch that is activated by a high level of liquid within the
housing.
[0025] The housing 172 contains a trigger material 178 that, in its
initial configuration, allows gas to freely pass from the inlet 174
to the outlet 176. The trigger material 178 may be a powder, solid,
or gel in its initial state that occupies less than all, or the
entirety of, the region between first 180 and second 182 porous
members. The It is contemplated, but not required, that the porous
members 180 and 182 retain the trigger material 178 in a
predetermined location regardless of the volume and speed of sample
flow through the valve 170. The porous members 180/182 can be
rigid, semi-flexible, or wholly flexible material, such as mesh,
paper, polymer, or rubber, of any size and thickness to reliably
retain the trigger material 178 without degrading sample flow.
[0026] While the trigger material 178 allows sample flow through
the valve 170 unimpeded as initially constructed, as shown in FIG.
3A, the presence of liquid or liquid vapor in the housing 172
automatically reacts with the trigger material 178 to cause the
material to drastically expand, such as over 100 times the
material's original size. That is, any liquid in the valve housing
172 is absorbed by the trigger material 178 causing the material to
expand to fill the housing 172, as shown in FIG. 3B, and prevent
the flow of liquids or gases to the outlet 176. It is contemplated
that the trigger material 178 partially or completely transforms
into a gelatin state in the presence of liquid. It is further
contemplated, but not required, that the trigger material comprises
a material that changes color in response to encountering liquid
and/or liquid vapor.
[0027] The material construction of the trigger material 178 is not
limited to a particular substance, and may be a combination of
multiple different substances. However, some embodiments utilize
Sodium Polyacrylate as the trigger material 178 while other
embodiments utilize a combination of multiple different
superabsorbent polymers to ensure the presence of liquid of any
appreciable volume in the housing 172 results in the trigger
material 178 expanding to seal the outlet 176 and render the valve
170 useless for the purposes of sample flow.
[0028] The trigger material 178, in a non-limiting embodiment, can
be constructed to allow gas molecules of a particular size, such as
1 micron or less, to flow through the valve 170 despite the trigger
material 178 having expanded to prevent the flow of any molecules
larger than the particular size. Such restricted flow despite an
expanded trigger material 178 can be created by engineering the
trigger material 178 of a substance, or multiple substances, that
have a density, molecule packing arrangement, and molecule size
that inhibits flow above the predetermined particular size while
allowing flow below that particular size. It is further
contemplated that veins, such as nanotubes, can be positioned
within the housing 172 to resist trigger material 178 expansion so
that at least one pathways of a particular molecular size is
present through the expanded trigger material 178.
[0029] Regardless of the material construction of the trigger
material 178 or whether some molecules are allowed to flow after
expansion, the presence of liquid in the housing 172 quickly and
efficiently closes the valve 170 to normal operation, which
protects the downstream gas utilization destination 108. As such,
the valve 170 would need to be replaced to regain normal flow
through the transmission assembly 106. In yet, the protection of
sensitive downstream equipment is deemed a worthwhile sacrifice for
the system downtime and expense of a new trigger valve 170.
[0030] The position of the trigger material, and any retaining
porous members 180/182, can be tuned within the housing to provide
varying sensitivities to the presence of liquids in a fluid sample.
FIGS. 4A-4C respectively display different trigger material
configurations for an example trigger valve 190 that can be
employed in a fluid sample system in accordance with various
embodiments. In FIG. 4A, a trigger valve housing 192 has an inlet
194 and outlet 196 separated on a common surface 198 of the housing
192.
[0031] The trigger material 200 is retained proximal the common
surface 198 by a single porous member 202. The position of the
trigger material 200 allows, but does not require, the flow of
gases from inlet 194 to outlet 196 without contact with the trigger
material 200 or porous member 202. However, the close proximity of
the trigger material to the outlet 198 corresponds with a fast
reaction time to encountered liquids to seal the outlet 198. It is
noted that the position of the trigger material 200 can result in
less than all the interior space of the housing 192 being occupied
after expansion, as illustrated by the segmented line 204.
[0032] The example trigger valve 190 of FIG. 4B conveys how the
trigger material 200 can be positioned proximal an inlet 194 and
distal from an outlet 196 by a single porous member 202. In a
housing 206 that positions the inlet 194 and outlet 196 on
different surfaces, the trigger material 200 can be positioned so
that the inlet 194 is sealed before the outlet 196 in response to
material expansion as a result of encountered liquid or liquid
vapor. The positioning of trigger material 200 proximal the inlet
194 can ensure that the fluid sample contacts the trigger material
200.
[0033] It is contemplated that multiple separate trigger materials
200 can be utilized in a single valve 190. FIG. 4C displays how a
first porous member 208 retains a first trigger material 200
proximal the inlet 194 while a second porous member 210 retains a
second trigger material 212 proximal the outlet 196. By placing
separate trigger materials 200/212 in a single housing 214, the
overall sensitivity to liquids and liquid vapor can be increased.
Also, separate trigger regions allows for different trigger
materials 200/212 to be concurrently utilized. For instance, the
first trigger material 200 can be different and exhibit different
expansion characteristics, such as expansion speed and density,
than the second trigger material 212.
[0034] The ability to tune the size, position, and number of
trigger materials in a trigger valve 190 allows a diverse variety
of fluids and fluid conditions to be accurately accommodated. For
instance, a single trigger material valve (FIG. 4B) can be swapped
with a multiple trigger material valve (FIG. 4C) to change the
sensitivity and reaction of the valve to liquid present in a fluid
sample. Regardless of the configuration of the trigger material,
the trigger valve can process a fluid sample 102 into a gas sample
114 that is assuredly void of liquids.
[0035] However, a transmission assembly 106 may have additional
sample processing means that can act in concert with one or more
trigger valves to efficiently provide a gas sample to a downstream
gas utilization destination. FIG. 5 illustrates a block
representation of an example transmission assembly 220 that can be
used to transport and process fluid samples 102 into a gas sample
114 ready for use in one or more gas utilization destinations. As
shown, a fluid sample 102 from at least one source 104 can
encounter a check valve 222, first trigger valve 224, filter 226,
moisture trap 228, condenser 230, and second trigger valve 232 in
route to a gas utilization destination 108.
[0036] Although FIG. 5 conveys the respective aspects of the
transmission assembly 220 in a sequence, such arrangement is not
required or limiting as any number and type of device can be placed
in-line between a source 104 and the destination 108. As a result
of flow through the transmission assembly 220, the fluid sample 102
that has an unknown composition upstream results in a gas sample
114 with a solely gaseous composition downstream.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example sample flow routine 240
that can be conducted with the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-5.
The routine 240 begins by connecting at least one source, such as a
downhole wellbore, to at least one gas utilization destination,
such as a mudlogging device, in step 242 via a transmission
assembly. The transmission assembly consists of at least one
trigger valve and may comprise other devices, as conveyed in FIG.
5.
[0038] Step 244 extracts a fluid sample from a source and delivers
the sample to the transmission assembly where it encounters a
trigger valve in step 246. Once within the housing of the trigger
valve, decision 248 is determinative on the presence of liquid
and/or liquid vapor in the fluid sample. If liquids are present,
step 250 automatically responds by expanding the trigger material
of the trigger valve to seal housing and prevent any flow through
the valve. It is noted that step 250 may consist of partial sealing
of the housing to allow gases of a particular molecular size to
flow after trigger material expansion, but such is not
required.
[0039] After step 250, a new trigger valve must be installed before
the routine 240 can return to step 246. In the event decision 248
does not encounter liquid and/or liquid vapor, step 252 delivers a
now gas sample to a gas utilization destination where gas
measurements are conducted in step 254 to provide at least the
composition of the gas sample in step 256.
[0040] Through the various embodiments of the present disclosure,
liquids are reliably prevented from reaching a gas-specific
destination. Configuring a trigger valve with one or more trigger
materials at one or more locations within a valve housing allows
for customization of how the trigger material reacts to encountered
liquids and liquid vapor, which accommodates different sample
processing tolerances and conditions. With a gas sample exiting a
trigger valve without any appreciable liquids present, a gas
utilization destination can employ more precise testing with
heightened performance due to the elimination of safety mechanisms
that guard against liquids contaminating the gas-specific
destination.
* * * * *