Expandable injector pipe

• US 20060027370A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Weinrich, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/313
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/086 Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners comprising porous materials E21B43/082
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/108 Expandable screens or perforated liners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7889 Sleeve

Abstract

An expandable injector pipe has openings and a cover sleeve preferably secured at opposed ends with offset openings. Expansion of the base pipe causes the cover sleeve to expand while keeping the openings in the cover sleeve misaligned with the openings in the base pipe. Pressure from within the base pipe flexes the resilient cover sleeve to allow fluid to exit through the cover sleeve. Upon removal of applied pressure, the cover sleeve moves back against the base pipe to cover the openings in the base pipe to prevent flow in the reverse direction.

Claims

1. A valve for downhole use comprising:

a tubular body defining an interior passage and formed having at least one first opening thereon;

a valve member mounted to said body and moveable with respect to said body and further comprising at least one second opening;

said valve member remaining functional for movement with respect to said body for selective flow and blockage of flow between said first and second openings despite radial expansion from said passage.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second openings remain misaligned even when flow is possible through them.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein:

said valve member is mounted to said tubular body outside said passage.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein:

said valve member is made of a resilient material.

5. The valve of claim 4, wherein:

said valve member is sealingly secured to said body adjacent an upper and lower end of said valve member.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein:

said valve member flexes away from said valve body responsive to pressure within said passage to create a flowpath from said passage and through said first and second openings.

7. The valve of claim 6, wherein:

said first and second openings remain misaligned despite said flexing of said valve member.

8. The valve of claim 4, wherein:

said first opening comprises a plurality of first openings and said second opening comprises a plurality of second openings;

said valve member is made of rubber.

9. A method of regulating flow between a formation and a tubular string in a wellbore comprising:

providing a valve body as part of the tubular string with at least one first opening;

providing a valve member on said valve body with at least one second opening;

expanding the valve body;

selectively creating a flowpath through said first and second openings after said expanding.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

maintaining said openings in misalignment even while flow between them is possible.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising:

flexing the valve member after said expanding to selectively allow flow between said openings.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising:

mounting said valve member around said valve body.

13. The method of claim 9, comprising:

making said valve member of a resilient material.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising:

forming said valve member as a sleeve.

15. The method of claim 9, comprising:

forming said valve member as a scroll.

16. The method of claim 11, comprising:

sealingly securing said valve member to said valve body adjacent opposed ends of said valve member.

17. The method of claim 9, comprising:

creating said flowpath by pressurizing from within said body.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

blocking said flowpath when formation pressure exceeds tubular string pressure.

19. The method of claim 9, comprising:

providing a plurality of bends in said flowpath.

20. The method of claim 13, comprising:

making said resilient valve member out of rubber.