Electro-hydraulically pressurized downhole valve actuator

• US 20030051881A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Savage, William Mountjoy, Burnett, Robert Rex, Vinegar, Harold J., Carl, Frederick Gordon Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/374
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/16 Control means therefor being outside the borehole control systems for submerged well heads E21B33/0355
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A petroleum well having a communication system and a hydraulic system is provided. The petroleum well includes a borehole and a piping structure positioned within the borehole. The communication system supplies a time varying electric current downhole along the piping structure. The hydraulic system (70), which is positioned downhole proximate the piping structure (26), receives the time varying current to operate an electric motor (78). The motor drives a pump (76) which pressurizes hydraulic fluid to selectively drive an actuator (84). The actuator (84) is operably connected to a downhole device, such as a shutoff valve, and operates the downhole device as the actuator (84) is driven by the pressurized hydraulic fluid.

Claims

1. A method of operating a downhole device in a petroleum well having a borehole and a piping structure positioned within the borehole, comprising the steps of:

delivering a time varying current along the piping structure to a downhole location;

pressurizing a hydraulic fluid using the time varying current at the downhole location; and

operating the downhole device using the pressurized hydraulic fluid.

2. The method according to claim 1, including the steps of:

operating a motor at the downhole location; and

driving a pump with said motor to pressurize the hydraulic fluid.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of operating the downhole device further comprises the steps of:

providing an actuator operably connected to the downhole device and hydraulically connected to the pump; and

selectively driving the actuator with the pressurized hydraulic fluid such that the downhole device is actuated.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of selectively driving further comprises

providing a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the pump and the actuator;

and adjusting the pilot valve to selectively drive the actuator.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

storing hydraulic fluid in a reservoir; and

drawing hydraulic fluid from the reservoir.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid in an accumulator; and

selectively releasing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to operate the downhole device.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid in an accumulator;

providing an actuator operably connected to the downhole device and hydraulically connected to the accumulator; and

selectively releasing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to drive the actuator, thereby operating the downhole device.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of selectively releasing further comprises:

providing a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the accumulator and the actuator; and

adjusting the pilot valve to selectively drive the actuator.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

impeding the time varying current on the piping structure;

routing the time varying current along the piping structure to the downhole location;

providing an actuator operably connected to the downhole device and hydraulically connected to a pump; and

selectively operating a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the pump and the actuator to drive the actuator, thereby operating the downhole device.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the downhole device is a main valve and the actuator opens and closes the main valve.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

impeding the time varying current on the piping structure;

routing the time varying current along the piping structure;

collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid in an accumulator;

providing an actuator operably connected to the downhole device and hydraulically connected to the accumulator; and

selectively operating a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the accumulator an, the actuator to drive the actuator, thereby operating the downhole device.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the downhole device is a main valve and the actuator opens and closes the main valve.

3. The method according to claim I wherein the delivering step further comprising:

impeding the time-varying current on the piping structure to define a conductive section; and

routing the time varying current along the conductive section of the piping structure.

14. A petroleum well having a borehole and a piping structure positioned within the borehole comprising:

a communications system operably associated with the piping structure for transmitting a time varying signal along the piping structure; and

a hydraulic system electrically connected to the piping structure and configured for connection to a downhole device, wherein the hydraulic system is configured to receive power from said time varying signal and to operate the downhole device

15. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the time varying signal includes a communications signal to selectively operate the downhole device.

16. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the communication system further comprises:

an impedance device positioned around the piping structure to define a conducting portion; and

wherein the time varying current is passed along the conducting portion of the piping structure.

17. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the downhole device is a downhole emergency shutoff valve.

18. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a motor for receiving the time varying current from the piping structure;

a pump for selectively pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, the pump being operably connected to and driven by the motor;

an actuator hydraulically connected to the pump and operably connected to the downhole device; and

wherein the pressurized hydraulic fluid is used to drive the actuator, thereby operating the downhole device.

19. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a motor for receiving the time varying current from the piping structure;

a pump for selectively pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, the pump being operably connected to and driven by the motor;

a pilot valve hydraulically connected to the pump;

an actuator hydraulically connected to the pilot valve and operably connected to the downhole device; and

wherein the pilot valve selectively routes pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator, thereby driving the actuator and operating the downhole device.

20. The petroleum well of claim 19, wherein the downhole device is a valve.

21. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a motor for receiving the time varying current from the piping structure;

a pump for selectively pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, the pump being operably connected to and driven by the motor;

an accumulator hydraulically connected to the pump for collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid;

an actuator hydraulically connected to the accumulator and operably connected to the downhole device; and

wherein the pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied by the accumulator drives the actuator thereby operating the downhole device.

22. The petroleum well of claim 14 wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a motor for receiving the time varying current from the piping structure;

a pump for selectively pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, the pump being operably connected to and driven by the motor;

an accumulator hydraulically connected to the pump for collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a pilot valve hydraulically connected to the accumulator;

an actuator hydraulically connected to the pilot valve and operably connected to the downhole device; and

wherein the pilot valve selectively routes pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator, thereby driving the actuator and operating the downhole device.

23. A hydraulic actuation system comprising:

a motor configured to receive a time varying signal delivered along a piping structure;

a pump for pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, the pump being operably connected to and being driven by the motor; and

an actuator hydraulically connected to the pump and configured for operable attachment to a target device, wherein the actuator is selectively driven by the pressurized hydraulic fluid, thereby operating the target device.

24. The hydraulic actuation system according to claim 23, including:

an impedance device positioned around the piping structure to define a conducting portion; and

wherein the time varying current is passed along the conducting portion of the piping structure.

25. The hydraulic actuation system according to claim 23, wherein the time varying signal includes a communications signal to selectively operate said target device

26. The hydraulic actuation system according to claim 23 further comprising:

a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the pump and the actuator; and

wherein the pilot valve selectively routes pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator.

27. The hydraulic actuation system according to claim 23 further comprising an accumulator hydraulically connected to the pump for collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid.

28. The hydraulic actuation system according to claim 23 further comprising:

an accumulator hydraulically connected to the pump for collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid; and

a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the accumulator and the actuator, wherein the pilot valve selectively routes pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator

29. The hydraulic actuation system according to claim 23 further comprising:

an accumulator hydraulically connected to the pump for collecting pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a pilot valve hydraulically connected between the accumulator and the actuator, wherein the pilot valve selectively routes pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator;

wherein an electrically insulating joint is positioned on the pipe member;

wherein an induction choke is positioned around the pipe member; and

wherein the time varying current is routed along the pipe member between the electrically insulating joint and the induction choke.