Electro-hydraulic surface controlled subsurface safety valve actuator

• US 6,269,874 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Tompkins, Charles M., Trott, Doug, Rawson, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/302,102
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 166/53, 166/66.4, 166/66.6, 166/66.7, 166/319, 166/321, 166/332.6, 166/332.8
• US Class Current: 166/53
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated

Abstract

An electro-hydraulic surface controlled subsurface safety valve is controllable entirely electrically. The actuator operates on an electrically actuated pressure pump and a supply of hydraulic fluid reservoired in the tool proximate to the safety valve. A dump valve is normally open so that if power fails, pressure is released and the safety valve closes.

Claims

1. An actuation system for a downhole tool comprising:

a downhole actuation fluid reservoir;

a fluid pump in communication with said reservoir and in communication with said tool;

a motor connected to said fluid pump;

a draw sensor connected to said motor for automatic shut-off of said motor; and

a dump valve having access to pressurized fluid moving between said pump and said tool.

2. An actuation system for a downhole tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system further includes a downhole controller to control operation of said pump and said dump valve.

3. An actuation system for a downhole tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reservoir is defined by an outer housing and an inner pressure compensating piston.

4. An actuation system for a downhole tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system further includes a sensor to detect pressure.

5. An actuation system for a downhole tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pressure is differential pressure between different pressure environments.

6. An actuation system for a downhole tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pressure is absolute pressure of the downhole environment.

7. An actuation system for a downhole tool comprising:

a downhole actuation fluid reservoir;

a solenoid operating positive displacement plunger pump in communication with said reservoir and in communication with said tool; and

a dump valve having access to pressurized fluid moving between said pump and said tool.

8. An actuation system for a downhole tool comprising:

a downhole actuation fluid reservoir;

a fluid pump in communication with said reservoir and in communication with said tool; and

a normally open solenoid operating piloting valve having access to pressurized fluid moving between said pump and said tool.

9. An actuation system for a downhole tool comprising:

a downhole actuation fluid reservoir;

a fluid pump in communication with said reservoir and in communication with said tool;

a dump valve having access to pressurized fluid moving between said pump and said tool;

a downhole controller to control operation of said pump and said dump valve wherein said controller powers said dump valve to close said dump valve and powers said motor to pump fluid from said reservoir to said downhole tool.

10. An actuation system for a downhole tool comprising:

a downhole actuation fluid reservoir;

a fluid pump in communication with said reservoir and in communication with said tool; and

a dump valve having access to pressurized fluid moving between said pump and said tool said dump valve being mounted in a manifold that provides access to said pressurized fluid.

11. An actuation system for a downhole tool as claimed in claim 10 wherein said manifold is mounted and maintained within said reservoir and is protected from wellbore fluids thereby.

12. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve comprising:

a housing attachable to a subsurface safety valve, said housing containing;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir;

a fluid pressurizer in fluid communication with said reservoir;

a manifold providing a fluid conduit between said fluid pressurizer and said safety valve and a fluid channel intersecting said fluid conduit;

a dump valve connected to said fluid channel in said manifold;

an electronics package mounted within said housing and electronically connected to said fluid pressurizer and said dump valve.

13. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein said hydraulic fluid reservoir further includes a pressure compensator piston.

14. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dump valve exhausts to said reservoir.

15. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein said fluid pressurizer is a motor and pump combination.

16. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein said fluid pressurizer is a solenoid plunger pump.

17. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 16 wherein said pump is a reciprocating positive displacement pump.

18. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dump valve is a normally open solenoid operating piloting valve.

19. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein said housing contains a pressure sensor.

20. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 19 wherein said pressure sensor is for differential pressure.

21. An actuation system for a surface controlled subsurface safety valve as claimed in claim 19 wherein said pressure sensor is for absolute pressure.