Deep set safety valve

• US 20050269103A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Vick, James D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,434,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/375
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/042 using a single piston or multiple mechanically interconnected pistons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/101 with means for equalizing fluid pressure above and below the valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/14 operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools E21B34/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/086 the magnet being movable and actuating a second magnet connected to the closing element

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for actuation of downhole tools. In one example, a deep set safety valve uses a magnetic coupling which permits a portion of the safety valve at control line pressure to be isolated from tubing string internal pressure, without requiring the use of a dynamic seal therebetween. A piston of the safety valve may be displaced in response to a differential between control line pressure and pressure in an annulus surrounding the tubing string, pressure in another control line, or pressure in the tubing string. Other types of well tools may benefit from actuation using principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator piston which displaces in response to a differential between pressure in a line connected to the safety valve, and pressure in an annulus surrounding the safety valve;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the safety valve; and

a magnetic coupling between the piston and the operating member.

2. The safety valve according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is pressure isolated from the piston.

3. The safety valve according to claim 1, wherein there are no dynamic seals between pressure acting on the piston and pressure acting on the operating member.

4. The safety valve according to claim 1, wherein a barrier separates pressure acting on the piston from pressure acting on the operating member, and wherein the magnetic coupling translates displacement from the piston to the operating member across the barrier.

5. The safety valve according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling includes at least one first magnetic device operatively associated with the piston, and at least one second magnetic device operatively associated with the operating member.

6. The safety valve according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve which opens and closes a flapper.

7. The safety valve according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is pressure-balanced.

8. The safety valve according to claim 1, further comprising a flow passage extending axially through the safety valve, pressure in the flow passage being isolated from pressure in the line, without use of a dynamic seal.

9. The safety valve according to claim 1, further comprising a flow passage extending axially through the safety valve, pressure in the flow passage being isolated from pressure in the annulus, without use of a dynamic seal.

10. The safety valve according to claim 1, further comprising a flow passage extending axially through the safety valve, without any dynamic seal being exposed to pressure in the flow passage.

122. The safety valve according to claim 4, wherein the barrier is a rigid pressure isolation barrier.

11. (canceled)

12. A method of actuating a safety valve, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the safety valve; and

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal, a magnetic coupling being used to fix displacement of the operating member to displacement of the actuator member.

13. A method of actuating a safety valve, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the safety valve; and

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal, at least one first magnet being attached to the actuator member and at least one second magnet being attached to the operating member, magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets causing the operating member to displace with the actuator member.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein in the translating step, a differential exists between pressure surrounding the first magnet and pressure surrounding the second magnet.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein in the translating step, the barrier isolates the pressure surrounding the first magnet from the pressure surrounding the second magnet, without use of any dynamic seal.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein both the first and second magnets are permanent magnets.

17-75. -75. (canceled)

76. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator piston which displaces in response to a pressure differential between;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the safety valve; and

a magnetic coupling between the piston and the operating member.

77. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the operating member is pressure isolated from the piston.

78. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein there are no dynamic seals between pressure acting on the piston and pressure acting on the operating member.

79. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein a rigid barrier separates pressure acting on the piston from pressure acting on the operating member, and wherein the magnetic coupling translates displacement from the piston to the operating member across the barrier.

80. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the magnetic coupling includes at least one first magnetic device attached to the piston, and at least one second magnetic device attached to the operating member.

81. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve which opens and closes a flapper.

82. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the operating member is pressure-balanced.

83. The safety valve according to claim 76, further comprising a flow passage extending axially through the safety valve, and at least one line connected to the safety valve for applying the pressure differential to the piston, the flow passage being pressure isolated from the line, without use of a dynamic seal.

84. The safety valve according to claim 76, further comprising a flow passage extending axially through the safety valve, the flow passage being pressure isolated from an annulus surrounding the safety valve, without use of a dynamic seal.

85. The safety valve according to claim 76, further comprising a flow passage extending axially through the safety valve, without any dynamic seal being exposed to pressure in the flow passage.

119. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the pressure differential is between pressures in at least two lines connected to the safety valve.

120. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the pressure differential is between pressure in a line connected to the safety valve and pressure in an internal flow passage of the safety valve.

121. The safety valve according to claim 76, wherein the pressure differential is between pressure in a line connected to the safety valve and pressure in an internal chamber of the safety valve.

86. (canceled)

87. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator having an actuator member and a motor which displaces the actuator member;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the safety valve, the operating member being pressure isolated from the actuator member; and

a magnetic coupling between the actuator member and the operating member.

88. (canceled)

89. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator having an actuator member and a motor which displaces the actuator member;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the safety valve; and

a magnetic coupling between the actuator member and the operating member,

wherein a barrier separates pressure acting on the actuator member from pressure acting on the operating member, and wherein the magnetic coupling translates displacement from the actuator member to the operating member across the barrier.

90-91. -91. (canceled)

92. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator having an actuator member and a motor which displaces the actuator member;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the safety valve, the operating member being pressure-balanced; and

a magnetic coupling between the actuator member and the operating member.

93-96. -96. (canceled)

97. A method of actuating a safety valve, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the safety valve;

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal, a magnetic coupling being used to fix displacement of the operating member relative to displacement of the actuator member; and

actuating the safety valve between open and closed positions in response to displacement of the operating member.

98. A method of actuating a safety valve, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the safety valve;

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal, at least one first magnetic device being attached to the actuator member and at least one second magnetic device being attached to the operating member, magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic devices causing the operating member to displace with the actuator member; and

actuating the safety valve between open and closed positions in response to displacement of the operating member.

99. The method according to claim 98, wherein in the translating step, a differential exists between pressure surrounding the first magnetic device and pressure surrounding the second magnetic device.

100. The method according to claim 99, wherein in the translating step, the barrier isolates the pressure surrounding the first magnetic device from the pressure surrounding the second magnetic device, without use of any dynamic seal.

101. The method according to claim 98, wherein both the first and second magnetic devices include permanent magnets.

102-118. -118. (canceled)