Charging device for hydraulic systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, said body being formed from a sidewall defining a bore positioned along said longitudinal axis and extending therethrough, wherein said first end of said body forms a substantially flat face;
a stem having a portion positioned within the bore of the body and being movably mounted in said body for movement from a first position to a second position with respect to said body;
a port defined through the sidewall communicating with said bore;
a valve means mounted outside of the sidewall and positioned in flow communication with said port, wherein said valve means is adapted to charge said bore with fluid;
a valve coupler having a first end, a second end, a fluid line, and a second valve means disposed within said valve coupler and in flow communication with said fluid line, said first end of said valve coupler being configured to complement said flat face of said body, said valve coupler being connected to a down hole valve of a tubing hanger in a subsea environment;
fastening means adjacent to said first end of said body for matingly attaching said substantially flat face of said first end of said body to said surface of said first end of said valve coupler;
adjustment means attached to said stem for adjusting the position of said stem within said body in such a manner that activation of said stem further actuates said second valve means between an open and closed position in order to communicate fluid flow pressure through said second valve means to selectively charge a downhole valve.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is described herein an apparatus for charging a fluid line through a coupler such as a penetrator. The apparatus comprises a body formed from a sidewall defining a bore positioned along the longitudinal axis and extending therethrough. The first end of the body forms a substantially flat face. There is a stem positioned within the bore of the body and being movably mounted in the body for movement from a first position to a second position with respect to the body. There is a valve means attached to the apparatus for filling the body with hydraulic fluid. The substantially flat face of the body is fastened to a coupler. There is also an adjustment means attached to the stem for adjusting the position of the stem within the body. A method for charging a downhole hydraulic system is also described. There is also a method for installing a tubing hanger having a production string depending therefrom in a subsea wellhead while maintaining a hydraulically actuated downhole valve in an open position.
23 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, said body being formed from a sidewall defining a bore positioned along said longitudinal axis and extending therethrough, wherein said first end of said body forms a substantially flat face;
a stem having a portion positioned within the bore of the body and being movably mounted in said body for movement from a first position to a second position with respect to said body;
a port defined through the sidewall communicating with said bore;
a valve means mounted outside of the sidewall and positioned in flow communication with said port, wherein said valve means is adapted to charge said bore with fluid;
a valve coupler having a first end, a second end, a fluid line, and a second valve means disposed within said valve coupler and in flow communication with said fluid line, said first end of said valve coupler being configured to complement said flat face of said body, said valve coupler being connected to a down hole valve of a tubing hanger in a subsea environment;
fastening means adjacent to said first end of said body for matingly attaching said substantially flat face of said first end of said body to said surface of said first end of said valve coupler;
adjustment means attached to said stem for adjusting the position of said stem within said body in such a manner that activation of said stem further actuates said second valve means between an open and closed position in order to communicate fluid flow pressure through said second valve means to selectively charge a downhole valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for charging a downhole hydraulic system said method comprising:
-
providing a coupler having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, said coupler defining a passage having a first end and a second end attached to tubing that actuates a hydraulic system, wherein a valve means is positioned within said passage adjacent to the first end;
sealably attaching a charging device to the first end of the coupler, said charging device comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, said body being formed from a sidewall defining a bore positioned along said longitudinal axis and extending therethrough, wherein said first end forms a substantially flat face, a stem having a portion positioned within the bore of the body and being movably mounted in the body, and means for charging a hydraulic system;
charging the charging device with hydraulic fluid from the means for charging a hydraulic system;
moving the stem so that stem contacts the valve means in the coupler and moves the valve means to an open position;
charging the hyrdaulic system with hydraulic fluid to a desired pressure;
opening a downhole valve with the desired pressure;
closing the valve means in the coupler to maintain the desired pressure within the hydraulic system so that said downhole valve remains in an open position.
-
-
22. A method for charging a downhole hydraulic system, said method comprising:
-
providing a valve coupler having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between said first end and said second end, said valve coupler defining a passage having a first end and a second end attached to tubing that actuates a hydraulic system, said valve coupler further having a valve means positioned within said passage adjacent to said first end of said passage, wherein said valve coupler is connected to a downhole valve of a tubing hanger in a subsea environment and said valve means is adapted to charge a downhole hydraulic system with fluid;
sealably attaching a charging device to said first end of said valve coupler, said charging device comprising;
a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, said body being formed from a sidewall defining a bore positioned along said longitudinal axis and extending therethrough, wherein said first end of said body forms a substantially flat face which is configured to complement said first end of said valve coupler;
a stem having a portion positioned within the bore of the body and being movably mounted in the body for movement from a first position to a second position with respect to said body;
adjustment means attached to said stem for adjusting the position of said stem within said body in such a manner that activation of said stem actuates said valve means between an open and closed position in order to communicate fluid flow through said valve means and to a downhole valve;
fastening means adjacent to said first end of said body for matingly attaching said substantially flat face of said first end of said body to said first end of said valve coupler, and charging means for charging a hydraulic system;
charging said charging device with hydraulic fluid from said charging means;
moving said stem in such a manner that said stem contacts said valve means in said valve coupler and moves said valve means to an open position;
selectively charging the hydraulic system with hydraulic fluid to a desired pressure;
opening a downhole valve with the desired pressure;
closing said valve means in said valve coupler to maintain the desired pressure within the downhole hydraulic system so that said downhole valve remains in an open position.
-
-
23. A method for installing a tubing hanger having a production string depending therefrom in a subsea wellhead while maintaining a hydraulically actuated downhole valve in an open position, said method comprising:
-
providing a tubing hanger having a production string depending therefrom, said production string having a hydraulically actuated downhole valve attached thereto;
providing a valve coupler having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between first end and said second end, said coupler defining a passage having a first end and a second end attached to tubing that actuates a hydraulic system, a valve means positioned within said passage adjacent to said first end of said passage, said downhole valve having a hydraulic line attached thereto establishing a hydraulic fluid flow path from the downhole valve to said coupler;
connecting a charging device for charging the hydraulic line to said coupler and subsequently to said downhole valve, said charging device comprising;
a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, said body being formed from a sidewall defining a bore positioned along said longitudinal axis and extending therethrough, wherein said first end of said body forms a substantially flat face;
a stem having a portion positioned within the bore of the body and being moveably mounted in the body for movement from a first position to a second position with respect to said body;
adjustment means attached to said stem for adjusting the position of said stem within said body in such a manner that activation of said stem actuates said valve means between an open and closed position in order to communicate fluid flow through said valve means and to a downhole valve, and means for selectively charging a hydraulic system to a desired pressure;
charging said valve coupler and said hydraulic line with a hydraulic fluid such that the hydraulically actuated downhole valve is moved to an open position;
maintaining said hydraulically actuated downhole valve in an open position; and
lowering the tubing hanger and production string downhole.
-
Specification