SAFETY VALVE WITH INTEGRAL ANNULAR CHAMBER HOUSING

• US 20180340397A1
• Filed: 05/23/2017
• Published: 11/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: LAKE, Gary Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/20 Direct sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 5/106 Tube or ring forms
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/001 valves or valve housings welding B23K; valve housings per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• 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 34/14 operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools E21B34/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0227 with the valve members swinging around an axis located at the edge of or outside the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a safety valve chamber housing can include depositing a chamber housing material, and thereby gradually building up the chamber housing and forming a chamber in the chamber housing enclosed by the chamber housing material, the chamber being bounded by only a single solid structure of the chamber housing. A safety valve can include a piston, and a chamber housing having a piston bore and a chamber formed therein, the piston bore being in communication with the chamber, the chamber being enclosed by only a single chamber housing material. A well system can include a safety valve connected in a tubular string, the safety valve including a chamber housing with a chamber in communication with a control line, inner and outer walls of the chamber housing being made of a continuous chamber housing material.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a safety valve chamber housing, the method comprising:

depositing a chamber housing material, and thereby gradually building up the chamber housing and forming a chamber in the chamber housing enclosed by the chamber housing material, the chamber being bounded by only a single solid structure of the chamber housing.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the forming comprises forming the chamber as an annulus that encircles a central longitudinal flow passage formed through the chamber housing.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the depositing comprises progressively discharging the chamber housing material from an instrument.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the depositing comprises placing the chamber housing material in a mold.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the depositing comprises casting the chamber housing material about the chamber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the depositing, forming a piston bore in the chamber housing, and communicating the piston bore with the chamber.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the depositing, forming a control line port in the chamber housing, the control line port being in communication with the chamber.

8. A safety valve for use in a subterranean well, the safety valve comprising:

a piston; and

a chamber housing having a piston bore and a chamber formed therein, the piston bore being in communication with the chamber, the chamber being enclosed by only a single chamber housing material.

9. The safety valve of claim 8, in which the chamber is bounded by only a single solid structure of the chamber housing.

10. The safety valve of claim 8, in which the chamber housing material is deposited about the chamber.

11. The safety valve of claim 8, in which the chamber housing material is cast about the chamber.

12. The safety valve of claim 8, in which the chamber comprises an annulus that encircles a central longitudinal flow passage formed through the chamber housing.

13. A well system, comprising:

a tubular string; and

a safety valve connected in the tubular string, the safety valve including a chamber housing, a chamber in the chamber housing being in communication with a control line extending to a remote location, an inner wall of the chamber housing being positioned between the chamber and an internal flow passage extending longitudinally through the chamber housing, and an outer wall of the chamber housing being positioned between the chamber and an exterior of the chamber housing, the inner and outer walls comprising a continuous chamber housing material.

14. The well system of claim 13, in which the chamber is enclosed by only the single chamber housing material.

15. The well system of claim 13, in which the chamber comprises an annulus that encircles a central longitudinal flow passage formed through the chamber housing.

16. The well system of claim 13, in which the chamber is bounded by only a single solid structure of the chamber housing.

17. The well system of claim 13, further comprising a communication tool including a member that penetrates the inner wall of the chamber housing to provide communication between the chamber and the communication tool.

18. The well system of claim 17, in which the chamber housing material comprises a material deposited about the chamber.

19. The well system of claim 17, in which the chamber housing material comprises a material cast about the chamber.

20. The well system of claim 17, in which the chamber housing material comprises a material formed about the chamber.