Deep set safety valve

• US 7,624,807 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Vick, James D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephenson; Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US11/471,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20070068680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 166/386, 166/316, 166/319, 166/320, 166/332.1, 166/373, 166/374, 166/375, 166/381, 166/65.1, 166/66.5, 166/66.6, 166/66.7, 166/325, 166/332.8
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/042 using a single piston or multiple mechanically interconnected pistons
• 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 34/101 with means for equalizing fluid pressure above and below the valve
• 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: F16K 31/086 the magnet being movable and actuating a second magnet connected to the closing element

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for actuation of downhole tools. In one example, a deep set safety valve uses a magnetic coupling which permits a portion of the safety valve at control line pressure to be isolated from tubing string internal pressure, without requiring the use of a dynamic seal therebetween. A piston of the safety valve may be displaced in response to a differential between control line pressure and pressure in an annulus surrounding the tubing string, pressure in another control line, or pressure in the tubing string. Other types of well tools may benefit from actuation using principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of actuating a safety valve, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the safety valve;

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal;

preventing flow longitudinally through the pressure isolation barrier when the operating member is in a closed position; and

permitting flow longitudinally through the pressure isolation barrier when the operating member is in an open position.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the safety valve has a flow passage extending axially therethrough, and wherein in the translating step the operating member is displaced without exposing any dynamic seal to pressure in the flow passage.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the safety valve has a flow passage extending axially therethrough, and wherein in the translating step no dynamic seal is exposed to pressure in the flow passage.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the safety valve has a flow passage extending axially therethrough, and wherein in the displacing step the actuator member is isolated from pressure in the flow passage without the use of any dynamic seal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is pressure-balanced.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the translating step, the pressure isolation barrier is a rigid barrier.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member using a motor.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member linearly.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member rotationally.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the translating step, the pressure isolation barrier is a rigid pressure isolation barrier.

11. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator including a piston which displaces in response to a first pressure applied to the piston;

an operating member which displaces to operate the safety valve, the operating member having a second pressure applied thereto; and

a pressure isolation barrier which also serves as a flow conduit when the safety valve is open, wherein displacement of the piston is translated into displacement of the operating member while the first and second pressures are isolated from each other by the pressure isolation barrier, without the use of any dynamic seal isolating the first pressure from the second pressure.

12. The safety valve according to claim 11, wherein the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

13. The safety valve according to claim 11, wherein the first pressure is pressure in a first line connected to the actuator.

14. The safety valve according to claim 11, wherein displacement of the operating member actuates the safety valve between its open and closed positions.

15. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator including a piston which displaces in response to a first pressure applied to the piston;

an operating member which displaces to operate the safety valve, the operating member having a second pressure applied thereto; and

displacement of the piston being translated into displacement of the operating member while the first and second pressures are isolated from each other, without the use of any dynamic seal isolating the first pressure from the second pressure,

wherein the first pressure is pressure in a first line connected to the actuator, and

wherein a third pressure is applied to the piston, and wherein the piston displaces in response to a differential between the first and third pressures.

16. The safety valve according to claim 15, wherein the third pressure is pressure in a second line connected to the actuator.

17. The safety valve according to claim 15, wherein the third pressure is pressure in an annulus surrounding the well tool.

18. The safety valve according to claim 15, wherein the operating member is pressure isolated from the third pressure, without the use of any dynamic seal.

19. A method of actuating a well tool in a well, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the well tool, the well tool having a flow passage for flow of fluid therethrough;

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member by use of a magnetic coupling therebetween; and

actuating the well tool in response to displacement of the operating member in both a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the actuating step the well tool is a safety valve.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein in the actuating step, the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the actuating step the well tool is a sliding sleeve valve.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein in the actuating step, the operating member is a sliding sleeve of the sliding sleeve valve.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the actuating step the well tool is a packer.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein in the actuating step, the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the actuating step the well tool is a choke.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein in the actuating step, the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

28. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the actuating step the operating member is used to rotate an assembly within the well.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein in the actuating step, the assembly is a perforating gun assembly rotationally oriented within the well.

30. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the actuating step, the operating member is a closure member of a valve.

31. A method of actuating a safety valve, the method comprising the steps of:

displacing an actuator member of the safety valve;

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal; and

actuating the safety valve between open and closed positions in response to displacement of the operating member, wherein in the open position flow is permitted longitudinally through the pressure isolation barrier.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the safety valve has a flow passage extending axially therethrough, and wherein in the translating step the operating member is displaced without exposing any dynamic seal to pressure in the flow passage.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the safety valve has a flow passage extending axially therethrough, and wherein in the actuating step no dynamic seal is exposed to pressure in the flow passage.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the safety valve has a flow passage extending axially therethrough, and wherein in the displacing step the actuator member is isolated from pressure in the flow passage without the use of any dynamic seal.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein in the actuating step, the operating member is pressure-balanced.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein in the translating step, the pressure isolation barrier is a rigid barrier.

37. The method according to claim 31, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member in response to a pressure differential.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein in the displacing step, the pressure differential is between lines connected to the safety valve.

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein in the displacing step, the pressure differential is between a line connected to the safety valve and an annulus surrounding the safety valve.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein in the displacing step, the pressure differential is between a line connected to the safety valve and an internal flow passage of the safety valve.

41. The method according to claim 37, wherein in the displacing step, the pressure differential is between a line connected to the safety valve and an internal chamber of the safety valve.

42. The method according to claim 31, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member using a motor.

43. The method according to claim 31, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member linearly.

44. The method according to claim 31, wherein the displacing step further comprises displacing the actuator member rotationally.

45. The method according to claim 31, wherein in the translating step, the pressure isolation barrier is a rigid pressure isolation barrier.

46. A well tool, comprising:

a flow passage for flow of fluid therethrough;

an actuator for displacing an actuator member of the well tool;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the well tool, the well tool being operable in response to displacement of the operating member both in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and

a magnetic coupling between the actuator member and the operating member.

47. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the magnetic coupling includes first and second magnetic devices, the first magnetic device being connected to the actuator member, and the second magnetic device being connected to the operating member.

48. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the well tool is a valve.

49. The well tool according to claim 48, wherein the operating member is a closure member of the valve.

50. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the well tool is a sliding sleeve valve.

51. The well tool according to claim 50, wherein the operating member is a sliding sleeve of the sliding sleeve valve.

52. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the well tool is a safety valve.

53. The well tool according to claim 52, wherein the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

54. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the well tool is a packer.

55. The well tool according to claim 54, wherein the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

56. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the well tool is a perforating assembly.

57. The well tool according to claim 56, wherein the operating member is a mandrel used to rotate the perforating assembly.

58. The well tool according to claim 46, wherein the well tool is a choke.

59. The well tool according to claim 58, wherein the operating member is flow regulating member of the choke.

60. A safety valve, comprising:

an actuator having an actuator member;

an operating member which is displaced to operate the safety valve;

a magnetic coupling between the actuator member and the operating member,

wherein the magnetic coupling translates displacement of the actuator member into operating member displacement to thereby operate the safety valve; and

a pressure isolation barrier which isolates pressure on the actuator member from pressure on the operating member, the pressure isolation barrier also serving as a conduit for flow through the operating member when the safety valve is open.

61. A method of completing a well, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a well tool in the well;

displacing an actuator member of the well tool; and

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member of the well tool, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal, and the translation occurring while a pressure differential exists across the pressure isolation barrier.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein in the translating step, the actuator member is exposed to a first pressure, and the operating member is exposed to a second pressure different from the first pressure.

63. The method according to claim 61, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a safety valve.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

65. The method according to claim 61, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a packer.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

67. The method according to claim 61, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a perforating assembly.

68. The method according to claim 67, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is a mandrel used to rotate the perforating assembly.

69. The method according to claim 61, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a choke.

70. The method according to claim 69, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

71. A method of installing a tubular string in a well, the method comprising the steps of:

interconnecting in the tubular string a well tool including an actuator member;

positioning the tubular string in the well;

extending a control line along the tubular string in the well, the control line being in fluid communication with the actuator member; and

translating displacement of the actuator member to displacement of an operating member of the well tool, the translation being performed across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal.

72. The method according to claim 71, wherein in the translating step, a pressure differential exists across the pressure isolation barrier.

73. The method according to claim 71, wherein in the translating step, the actuator member is exposed to a first pressure, and the operating member is exposed to a second pressure different from the first pressure.

74. The method according to claim 71, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a safety valve.

75. The method according to claim 74, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

76. The method according to claim 71, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a packer.

77. The method according to claim 76, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

78. The method according to claim 71, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a perforating assembly.

79. The method according to claim 78, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is a mandrel used to rotate the perforating assembly.

80. The method according to claim 71, wherein in the translating step, the well tool is a choke.

81. The method according to claim 80, wherein in the translating step, the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

82. A completion string for use in a well, the completion string comprising:

a well tool interconnected in the completion string, the well tool including an actuator member and an operating member, displacement of the actuator member being translatable into displacement of the operating member across a pressure barrier without use of any dynamic seal; and

a control line extending along the completion string and in fluid communication with the actuator member, so that pressure in the control line controls displacement of the actuator member.

83. The completion string according to claim 82, wherein a pressure differential exists across the pressure isolation barrier when displacement of the actuator member is translated into displacement of the operating member.

84. The completion string according to claim 82, wherein the actuator member is exposed to a first pressure, and the operating member is exposed to a second pressure different from the first pressure, when displacement of the actuator member is translated into displacement of the operating member.

85. The completion string according to claim 82, wherein the well tool is a safety valve.

86. The completion string according to claim 85, wherein the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

87. The completion string according to claim 82, wherein the well tool is a packer.

88. The completion string according to claim 87, wherein the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

89. The completion string according to claim 82, wherein the well tool is a perforating assembly.

90. The completion string according to claim 89, wherein the operating member is a mandrel used to rotate the perforating assembly.

91. The completion string according to claim 82, wherein the well tool is a choke.

92. The completion string according to claim 91, wherein the operating member is flow regulating member of the choke.

93. A well tool, comprising:

a flow passage for flow of fluid through the well tool;

an actuator including a piston which is isolated from fluid communication with the flow passage; and

an operating member,

the piston being operable to apply a force to the operating member across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal.

94. The well tool according to claim 93, wherein the well tool is a packer, and the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

95. The well tool according to claim 93, wherein the well tool is a valve, and the operating member is a closure member of the packer.

96. The well tool according to claim 93, wherein the well tool is a safety valve, and the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

97. The well tool according to claim 93, wherein the well tool is a choke, and the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

98. The well tool according to claim 93, wherein the well tool is a perforating assembly.

99. A method of actuating a well tool in a well, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the well tool in the well, the well tool including a flow passage for flow of fluid therethrough, a piston, and an operating member; and

actuating the well tool by applying force from the piston to the operating member across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal, the piston being isolated from the flow passage during the actuating step.

100. The method according to claim 99, wherein the well tool is a packer, and the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

101. The method according to claim 99, wherein the well tool is a valve, and the operating member is a closure member of the packer.

102. The method according to claim 99, wherein the well tool is a safety valve, and the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

103. The method according to claim 99, wherein the well tool is a choke, and the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

104. The method according to claim 99, wherein the well tool is a perforating assembly.

105. A well tool, comprising:

an actuator member; and

an operating member positioned internal to the actuator member,

the actuator member being operable to apply a force to the operating member across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal.

106. The well tool according to claim 105, wherein the well tool is a packer, and the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

107. The well tool according to claim 105, wherein the well tool is a valve, and the operating member is a closure member of the packer.

108. The well tool according to claim 105, wherein the well tool is a safety valve, and the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

109. The well tool according to claim 105, wherein the well tool is a choke, and the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

110. The well tool according to claim 105, wherein the well tool is a perforating assembly.

111. A method of actuating a well tool in a well, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the well tool in the well, the well tool including an actuator member, and an operating member, with the operating member being positioned internal to the actuator member; and

actuating the well tool by applying force from the actuator member to the operating member across a pressure isolation barrier without use of any dynamic seal.

112. The method according to claim 111, wherein the well tool is a packer, and the operating member is a setting mandrel of the packer.

113. The method according to claim 111, wherein the well tool is a valve, and the operating member is a closure member of the packer.

114. The method according to claim 111, wherein the well tool is a safety valve, and the operating member is an opening prong of the safety valve.

115. The method according to claim 111, wherein the well tool is a choke, and the operating member is a flow regulating member of the choke.

116. The method according to claim 111, wherein the well tool is a perforating assembly.