U.S. patent number 3,850,238 [Application Number 05/409,536] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-26 for method of operating a surface controlled subsurface safety valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Exxon Production Research Company. Invention is credited to Tom H. Hill.
United States Patent |
3,850,238 |
Hill |
November 26, 1974 |
METHOD OF OPERATING A SURFACE CONTROLLED SUBSURFACE SAFETY
VALVE
Abstract
A surface controlled subsurface safety valve is positioned in a
well production tubing and an adjustable choke is installed in the
surface production tubing. The safety valve is operated by the
absolute pressure of the production fluids in the well tubing. The
adjustable choke is controlled by a timer which periodically cycles
the choke to reduce the flow area available for production of well
fluids for a predetermined short period of time. The reduction in
flow area causes a corresponding build up of pressure in the
surface tubing which is transmitted down the well tubing to the
subsurface valve. Biasing means urges the valve to its closed
position while tubing pressure urges the valve to its open
positions. During normal well flowing conditions the force of the
tubing pressure is less than the force of the biasing means and the
valve, while remaining fully open is moved by the biasing means
towards its closed position. Such movement is retarded by a dash
pot arrangement in the valve. Means are provided in the valve to
bypass the dash pot and cause rapid closure of the valve when the
valve has reached a predetermined point towards its closed
position. Under normal operations before the valve reaches the
point of rapid closure the tubing pressure force at the valve is
increased substantially over the force of the biasing means and the
valve is moved rapidly to its initial open position. The increase
in tubing pressure at the valve results from reducing the flow area
by means of the adjustable choke in the surface tubing.
Inventors: |
Hill; Tom H. (Houston, TX) |
Assignee: |
Exxon Production Research
Company (Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
26968505 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/409,536 |
Filed: |
October 25, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
294399 |
Oct 2, 1972 |
3794112 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/374 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
34/16 (20130101); E21B 43/12 (20130101); E21B
34/108 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
43/12 (20060101); E21B 34/00 (20060101); E21B
34/10 (20060101); E21B 34/16 (20060101); E21b
043/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/314,315,224A,64,53 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Novosad; Stephen J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schneider; John S.
Parent Case Text
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 294,399, filed Oct. 2,
1972, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,112.
Claims
Having fully described the nature, objects, apparatus, method and
advantages of my invention I claim:
1. A method for operating a subsurface safety valve used in closing
off flow of well fluids through a well tubing comprising the steps
of:
periodically reducing momentarily at the surface the flow of fluids
from a well tubing to cause a pressure pulse to travel down the
well tubing from the surface to the subsurface valve;
said pressure pulse causing a flow tube component of said valve to
move from a third position in which said valve is fully open to an
initial second position in which said valve is also fully open;
said flow tube moving under normal operating well fluid pressures
from its initial second position towards said third position
thereof; and
said flow tube moving to its first position in which said valve is
closed from its third position thereof under normal operating well
pressures.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 in which said flow tube moves
slowly from its second position to its third position and rapidly
from its third position to its first position and rapidly from its
third position to its second position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a subsurface safety valve for
controlling the flow of well fluids, particularly oil and/or gas
produced from subsurface formations.
Surface controlled subsurface safety valves offer advantages over
velocity actuated safety valves. These advantages include in-place
testability, capacity production, and positive control from the
surface. However, despite its advantages over velocity actuated
safety valves the common hydraulic surface controlled valve, in
which hydraulic operating fluid is supplied to a subsurface valve
from the surface through exterior small diameter tubing or
concentric larger diameter pipe, also has a disadvantage in its use
in that such a valve cannot be economically installed on many
existing well completions because the well tubing may be cemented
in place or be otherwise unmovable except through costly and high
risk means. The present valve does not require an exterior small
diameter tubing or concentric larger diameter pipe or movement of
the well tubing and therefore overcomes the inherent disadvantages
in the hydraulic surface controlled valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the apparatus of the invention comprises a subsurface
safety valve for use in controlling flow of well fluids through
well tubing or pipe and includes a valve housing and a flow tube
arranged in the valve housing. The flow tube is movable between a
first position in which well fluids are prevented from flowing
through the flow tube and well tubing and a second position in
which the well fluids are permitted to flow through the flow tube
and well tubing. The valve also includes biasing means for urging
the flow tube to its first position as well as means for retarding
movement of the flow tube in its movement toward the first position
thereof. The absolute pressure of the well fluids in the well
tubing acts on the flow tube to move the flow tube, the flow tube
being moved towards its second position against the bias of the
biasing means when the absolute pressure of the well fluids exceeds
a predetermined amount. Periodically, the flow of well fluids is
choked momentarily at the surface by means of a time adjustable
choke which causes a pressure pulse to travel down the well tubing
to the valve. The pressure pulse is at least equal to the
predetermined absolute pressure necessary to move the flow tube to
its second position. The adjustable choke is timed to permit the
flow tube to move slowly from its second position towards its first
position for a selected period of time. Then, before the flow tube
reaches its first position the flow tube is returned to its second
position under normal operations. The valve will close if the
pressure pulse is not sent from the adjustable choke to the valve.
After the valve is closed it can be reopened by increasing the well
tubing pressure in amounts sufficient to overcome the bias of the
biasing means and move the flow tube from its first position to its
second position. The pulsing cycles are then repeated and the flow
of fluids through the well tubing is unimpeded during normal
operations.
In the operation of the subsurface valve of the present invention
the flow of fluids from the well tubing is periodically reduced
momentarily at the surface to cause a pressure pulse to travel down
the well tubing from the surface to the subsurface valve. The
increased absolute pressure at the valve resulting from the
pressure pulse forces the valve to a fully open position. Under
normal flow conditions the force of the absolute pressure at the
valve is less than the force of biasing means tending to close the
valve. Thus the valve moves towards closure under normal flow
conditions while remaining fully open for a selected time period.
Prior to closure of the valve the increased absolute pressure at
the valve caused by reducing the flow of fluids at the surface
causes the valve to reset it its initial open position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a subsurface safety valve in accordance with the
invention arranged in a well tubing suspended in a well casing;
FIG. 2 shows the safety valve of FIG. 1 in open position;
FIG. 3 shows the safety valve of FIG. 1 in fully closed position;
and
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate typical flowing pressure gradient
curves.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
There is shown in FIG. 1 a well casing 10 in which a well pipe or
tubing string 11 is suspended. A packer 12 closes the annulus
between the casing and tubing string. The directional flow of well
fluids from a subsurface producing formation is indicated by the
arrowed lines. A safety valve 13 is arranged in tubing 11. An
adjustable choke 14 is connected to tubing 11 at the surface and a
suitable timer control 15 controls the operation of choke 14.
In FIG. 2 details of valve 13 are shown. A valve housing 20
contains a valve seat 21 and an opening 22 in which is positioned a
valve 22a. The lower end of flow tube 25 contains openings 26 and a
valve seating surface 27. In the valve's closed position as seen in
FIG. 3 surface 27 has engaged valve seat 21 and openings 26 in the
flow tube are positioned within housing 20. Flow tube 25 is
provided with an outwardly extending upper shoulder piston 30 and
an outwardly extending lower shoulder piston 31. These shoulders
together with inner wall of housing 20 form three chambers, 35, 36
and 37, isolated from each other by seals 40 which engage the inner
wall of housing 20. Upper seal 41 on the inner wall of housing 20
above chamber 35 and lower seal 41 on the inner wall of housing 20
below chamber 37 are balanced seals. They engage the outer wall of
flow tube 25 and prevent fluids from flowing between flow tube 25
and the inner wall of housing 20 at those points. Lower chamber 37
contains a spring 45 which acts against shoulder 31 to urge or bias
flow tube 25 upwardly towards the closed position of the valve.
Shoulder 31 may be provided with a passage 46 which extends from
the inner wall of flow tube 25 to the outer wall thereof between
seals 40 located on shoulder 31. The valve 22a, arranged in the
opening 22, is used to charge chamber 30 with and retain in chamber
30 nitrogen or other gas. Chamber 36 is completely filled with a
suitable hydraulic fluid as indicated. The outer wall of flow tube
25 is formed to provide an annular recess 47 a predetermined
distance below shoulder piston 30. An annular shoulder 48 is
provided on the inner wall of housing 20. Shoulder 48 contains a
small sized orifice 49 and a large fluid return bypass 50 on one
end of which is positioned a flexible check valve flapper 51. A
seal 52 is positioned on the inner wall of shoulder 48 and engages
the unrecessed portion of the outer wall of flow tube 25. An
opening 55 in flow tube 25 is covered with sintered metal or other
filter and fluidly communicates chamber 35 and the interior of flow
tube 25.
Typical flowing pressure gradient curves are shown in FIGS. 4 and
5. In FIG. 4 the flowing pressure at an assumed valve depth of
3,000 feet for a gas-oil ratio(GOR) of 600 is 540 psig as indicated
at 60. In FIG. 5 at 3,000 feet and a GOR of 600 the flowing
pressure is 1,190 psig as indicated at 61. Thus, when the producing
rate is reduced from 300 barrels per day to 400 barrels per day the
surface tubing pressure increases to 400 psig and the pressure
3,000 feet depth increases to 1,190 psig. A 200 psig pressure
change at the surface results in a 650 psi pressure change at 3,000
feet. These flowing pressure gradient curves are for stabilized
conditions and do not reflect the time required to achieve the
pressure changes.
In operation, referring in particular to FIG. 2 and using the
pressure curve examples given above flow tube 25 is biased upwardly
by spring 45 and, if used, nitrogen pressure, acting with an upward
force on shoulder 31 to bias the valve toward its closed position.
The valve is operable by spring force alone however addition of the
nitrogen charge increases flexibility. Flow tube 25 is biased
downwardly by the force of tubing fluid pressure acting with a
downward force on piston shoulder 30 in chamber 35 to bias the
valve open. Chamber 35 is in fluid communication with tubing
pressure within flow tube 25 through the sintered metal or other
filter covered opening 55. The valve closes when seating surface 27
engages valve seat 21 as shown in FIG. 3.
During normal flowing conditions the force exerted by for example
540 psig tubing pressure is less than the force acting upwardly on
shoulder piston 31 caused by spring 45 alone or together with a gas
charge in chamber 37 and the valve is consequently attempting to
close by movement of flow tube 25 upwardly as indicated in FIG. 2.
Closure of the valve is slowed or retarded however by the hydraulic
fluid in chamber 36 which is forced to pass through the small sized
orifice 49 in shoulder 48 while seal 52 engages the outer wall of
flow tube 25. After the flow tube has moved a perdetermined
distance towards closure, the recess 47 on the outer wall of flow
tube 25 moves into position adjacent seal 52 permitting the
hydraulic fluid to bypass the small sized orifice 49 and cause
rapid upward movement of flow tube 25 and thereby rapid closure of
the valve. However, before recess 47 reaches seal 52 to permit
fluid to bypass the small sized orifice 49 the pressure at the
safety valve has increased to 1,190 psig tubing pressure through
prior operation of the timer 15 and decreasing the size of
adjustable choke 14. The pressure pulse passes through opening 55
into chamber 35 and acts on shoulder piston 30 to force flow tube
25 downwardly to its initial position. In moving the flow tube
downwardly hydraulic fluid in chamber 36 bypasses small sized
orifice 49 and flows through large fluid return bypass 50 and
flapper valve 51 which results in rapid resetting of flow tube 25
and the safety valve. The tubing pressure is cycled continuously to
allow continuous production of fluids through flow tube 25 without
interruption under normal operations. When it is necessary or
desirable to close the safety valve the timer does not operate the
adjustable choke to reduce the size thereof and flow tube 25 moves
upwardly to engage the valve seating surfaces as shown in FIG.
3.
Timer 15, choke 14 and the control apparatus for controlling choke
14 are commercially available components. For example, the choke
might suitably be a diaphragm-type valve which is spring-opened and
fluid pressure closable. The timer may suitably be an electric or
mechanical clock mechanism which energized a solenoid valve at
preselected times. The solenoid valve opens at such times to permit
a gas pressure to operate the choke to reduce choke size a
preselected amount momentarily.
Changes and modifications may be made in the illustrative
embodiments of the invention shown and described herein without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *