Method and system for determining and controlling position of valve

• US 20040163809A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Maida, John L. Jr., Mayeu, Christopher W., Wilde, Richard M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/255.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for accurately determining the position of a sliding or rotational sleeve valve in real time are disclosed. The apparatus comprises fiber optic cable based sensors which are either linearly or circumferentially arrayed in the housing that surrounds the sleeve and which can comprise bare cable or cable having fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). As the sleeve slides or rotates within the housing, the sensors in the arrays are deformed, and this deformation can be correlated to sleeve position by assessing the sensor'"'"'s reflectivity profiles. Deformation of the sensors is achieved by various mechanical and/or magnetic schemes incorporated into the sleeve.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the position of a moveable first member relative to a second member, comprising:

a cavity formed in the second portion, wherein the first member is moveable within the cavity, and wherein the second member includes a portion having a first side adjacent to the cavity; and

a plurality of optical sensors positioned along a second side of the portion; and

at least one sensor interrogator on the first member for activating the sensors through the portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors are linearly arranged along the second side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged around the second side.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise fiber optic cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors are multiplexed along a single fiber optic cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises delay coils in between the sensors.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise fiber Bragg gratings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor interrogator causes deployment of a mass that deforms the sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors are placed proximate to protrusions or indentations formed at the second side of the portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the optical sensors are coated with a ferromagnetic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one deployable member affixed to the second member for deforming the sensors at the protrusions or indentations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the deployable member is affixed to the second member by springs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the deployable member is attractable to the magnet to deform at least one of the sensors on the protrusions or indentations.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one deformer formed in the portion, wherein the deformer is engageable by the sensor interrogator to activate the sensors.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a discontinuity on a surface of the first member, and wherein the deformer is engaged by the discontinuity.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the deformer is engaged by the magnet.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the deformer is spring biased.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the deformer activates the sensor by physical contact between the deformer and the sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the deformer activates the sensor by mechanically stressing the portion.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor interrogator is associated with each of the sensors.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sensor interrogators activate the sensors in unique combinations indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sensors are linearly arranged along the second side.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged around the second side.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member moves linearly within the cavity.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member moves linearly within the cavity.

27. A valve assembly coupled to a pipe, comprising:

a cavity containing a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is moveable within the cavity;

a cylindrical portion surrounding the cavity and having a first side adjacent to the cavity;

a plurality of optical sensors positioned along a second side of the portion; and

at least one sensor interrogator on the sleeve for activating the sensors through the portion.

28. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the sensors are linearly arranged along the second side.

29. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged around the second side.

30. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the optical sensors comprise fiber optic cable.

31. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the sensors are multiplexed along a single fiber optic cable.

32. The valve assembly of claim 30, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises delay coils in between at least some of the sensors.

33. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the sensors comprise fiber Bragg gratings.

34. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the sensor interrogator causes deployment of a mass that deforms the sensor.

35. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the sensors are placed proximate to protrusions or indentations formed at the second side of the portion.

36. The valve assembly of claim 35, wherein the optical sensors are coated with a ferromagnetic material.

37. The valve assembly of claim 36, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet.

38. The valve assembly of claim 35, further comprising at least one deployable member for deforming the sensors at the protrusions or indentations.

39. The valve assembly of claim 38, wherein the deployable member are affixed to the valve assembly by springs.

40. The valve assembly of claim 39, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the deployable member is attractable to the magnet to deform at least one of the sensors on the protrusions or indentations.

41. The valve assembly of claim 27, further comprising at least one deformer formed in the portion, wherein the deformer is engageable by the sensor interrogator to activate the sensors.

42. The valve assembly of claim 41, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a discontinuity on a surface of the first member, and wherein the deformer is engaged by the discontinuity.

43. The valve assembly of claim 41, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the deformer is engaged by the magnet.

44. The valve assembly of claim 41, wherein the deformer is spring biased.

45. The valve assembly of claim 41, wherein the deformer activates the sensor by physical contact between the deformer and the sensor.

46. The valve assembly of claim 41, wherein the deformer activates the sensor by mechanically stressing the portion.

47. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein at least one sensor interrogator is associated with each of the sensors.

48. The valve assembly of claim 47, wherein the sensor interrogators activate the sensors in unique combinations indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member.

49. The valve assembly of claim 48, wherein the sensors are linearly arranged along the second side.

50. The valve assembly of claim 48, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged around the second side.

51. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the first member moves linearly within the cavity.

52. The valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the first member moves linearly within the cavity.

53. A method for determining the position of a sleeve valve affixed to a pipe, wherein the valve comprises a (i) cavity for housing the sleeve, (ii) a portion surrounding the cavity and having a first side adjacent to the cavity, (iii) a plurality of optical sensors positioned along a second side of the portion;

and, (iv) at least one sensor interrogator on the sleeve for activating the sensors through the portion, the method comprising;

moving the sleeve within the cavity to cause the sensor interrogator to pass proximate to the sensors to deform at least one sensor; and

assessing a reflection profile from the deformed sensor to determine the position of the sleeve.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensors are linearly arranged along the second side.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged around the second side.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the optical sensors comprise fiber optic cable.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensors are multiplexed along a single fiber optic cable.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises delay coils in between the sensors.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensors comprise fiber Bragg gratings.

60. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensor interrogator deploys a mass that deforms the sensor.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensors are placed proximate to protrusions or indentations formed at the second side of the portion.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the sensor is deformed by attracting the sensor to the magnet.

63. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the sensor is deformed by attracting a deployable member to the magnet so that the deployable member is brought into contact with the sensor.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the deployable member is spring biased.

65. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensor is deformed by at least one deformer formed in the portion, wherein the deformer is engageable by the sensor interrogator.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a discontinuity on a surface of the first member, and wherein the deformer is engaged by the discontinuity.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the sensor interrogator comprises a magnet, and wherein the deformer is engaged by the magnet.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the deformer is spring biased.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein the sensor is deformed by physical contact between the deformer and the sensor.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein the sensor is deformed by mechanically stressing the portion with the deformer.

71. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensors are aligned circumferentially around the portion.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein at least one sensor interrogator is associated with each of the sensors.

73. The method of claim 53, wherein at least one sensor interrogator is associated with each of the sensors.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the sensor interrogators activate the sensors in unique combinations indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the sensors are linearly arranged along the second side.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged around the second side.

77. The method of claim 53, wherein the first member moves linearly within the cavity.

78. The method of claim 53, wherein the first member moves linearly within the cavity.

79. The method of claim 53, wherein assessing the reflection profile from the deformed sensor involves a backscattering assessment.

80. The method of claim 53, wherein assessing the reflection profile from the deformed sensor involves an assessment of the intensity of a reflected incident light pulse.

81. The method of claim 53, wherein assessing the reflection profile from the deformed sensor involves an assessment of the wavelength of a reflected light pulse.