ELECTRICALLY OPERATED WELL TOOLS

• US 20080053662A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Williamson, Jimmie R., Vick, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/381
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated

Abstract

Electrically operated well tools. A well system includes a well tool positioned in a wellbore. The well tool includes an actuator and an operating member displaceable to operate the well tool. The actuator includes a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets, in which current is controllable in a predetermined pattern to thereby variably control longitudinal displacement of the operating member. In another well system, the operating member is displaceable between opposite maximum limits of displacement to operate the well tool, and an electromagnet is operative to displace the operating member to at least one position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement. In a method of operating a well tool, the well tool is operated by controlling current in a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets of an actuator in a predetermined pattern, thereby causing corresponding longitudinal displacement of an operating member.

Claims

1. A well system, comprising:

a well tool positioned in a wellbore, the well tool including an operating member which is displaceable to operate the well tool; and

an actuator of the well tool including a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets, and current in the electromagnets being controllable in at least one predetermined pattern to thereby variably control longitudinal displacement of the operating member.

2. The well system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnets are externally positioned relative to at least one permanent magnet connected to the operating member.

3. The well system of claim 1, wherein at least one permanent magnet connected to the operating member is externally positioned relative to the electromagnets.

4. The well system of claim 1, wherein the current in the electromagnets is controllable to position the operating member between opposite maximum limits of displacement.

5. The well system of claim 1, wherein the current in the electromagnets is controllable to variably accelerate the operating member.

6. The well system of claim 1, wherein the current in the electromagnets is controllable to variably decelerate the operating member.

7. The well system of claim 1, wherein the well tool is a safety valve which selectively permits and prevents flow through a tubular string in the well, and wherein displacement of the operating member operates a closure assembly of the safety valve.

8. A well system, comprising:

a well tool positioned in a wellbore, the well tool including an operating member displaceable between opposite maximum limits of displacement to operate the well tool; and

an actuator of the well tool including at least one electromagnet, and wherein the electromagnet is operative to displace the operating member to at least one position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement.

9. The well system of claim 8, wherein the actuator includes a longitudinally distributed series of the electromagnets, and wherein current in the electromagnets is controllable in a predetermined pattern to thereby variably control longitudinal displacement of the operating member.

10. The well system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnet is exposed to fluid pressure within an internal flow passage of the well tool.

11. The well system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnet is isolated from fluid pressure within an internal flow passage of the well tool.

12. The well system of claim 8, wherein current applied to the electromagnet biases the operating member to displace in a first longitudinal direction, and wherein current applied to the electromagnet biases the operating member to displace in a second longitudinal direction opposite to the first longitudinal direction.

13. The well system of claim 8, wherein the well tool is a safety valve, and wherein at one of the maximum limits of displacement of the operating member the safety valve is open, and at the other of the maximum limits of displacement of the operating member the safety valve is closed.

14. A method of operating a well tool in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the well tool within a wellbore of the well, the well tool including an operating member and an actuator for displacing the operating member to operate the well tool; and

operating the well tool by controlling current in a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets of the actuator in a predetermined pattern, thereby causing corresponding longitudinal displacement of the operating member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein in the positioning step, the actuator includes a series of longitudinally distributed permanent magnets.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnets are connected to the operating member.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the electromagnets are connected to the operating member.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein in the positioning step, the well tool is a safety valve, and wherein the operating step further comprises operating a closure assembly of the safety valve in response to displacement of the operating member.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the operating step further comprises applying current to the electromagnets to close the closure assembly, and applying current to the electromagnets to open the closure assembly.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the operating step further comprises controlling the current in the electromagnets to displace the operating member to a position between opposite maximum limits of displacement of the operating member.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein pressure across the closure assembly is equalized when the operating member is at the position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating step further comprises controlling the current in the electromagnets to decelerate the operating member.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating step further comprises controlling current in the electromagnets to accelerate and then decelerate the operating member.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of detecting a position of the operating member by evaluating the position as a function of resistance to current flow in the electromagnets.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating step further comprises displacing the operating member against a biasing force exerted by a biasing device of the well tool.