Electrically operated well tools
First Claim
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 each of the electromagnets being separately controllable in at least one predetermined pattern to thereby variably control longitudinal displacement of the operating member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A well system, comprising:
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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 each of the electromagnets being separately controllable in at least one predetermined pattern to thereby variably control longitudinal displacement of the operating member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A well system, comprising:
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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, wherein the current in the electromagnets is controllable to variably accelerate the operating member.
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7. A well system, comprising:
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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, wherein the current in the electromagnets is controllable to variably decelerate the operating member.
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8. A well system, comprising:
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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 fixedly position the operating member in at least one position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A well system, comprising:
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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 stationary position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement, wherein the electromagnet is exposed to fluid pressure within an internal flow passage of the well tool.
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13. A well system, comprising:
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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 stationary position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement, 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.
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14. A method of operating a well tool in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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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 separately controlling current in each of a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets of the actuator in a predetermined pattern, thereby causing corresponding longitudinal displacement of the operating member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a well tool in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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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, and wherein the operating step further comprises controlling the current in the electromagnets to decelerate the operating member.
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24. A method of operating a well tool in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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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, and wherein the operating step further comprises controlling current in the electromagnets to accelerate and then decelerate the operating member.
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25. A method of operating a well tool in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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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; 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; and detecting a position of the operating member by evaluating the position as a function of resistance to current flow in the electromagnets.
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Specification