Electric wireline insert safety valve

• US 7,967,074 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Patterson, Richard, Andrews, Thad, Lake, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson; Daniel P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ro; Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US12/181,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 166/332.8, 166/66.6, 166/66.7, 166/332.1, 166/66.4, 166/386, 166/373, 251/30.01, 251 68- 71, 251/129.1
• US Class Current: 166/386
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/05 Flapper valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated

Abstract

Methods and devices for utilizing an electrically-actuated wireline insert safety valve (WLSV) within a wellbore. Power is delivered to an electrically actuated WLSV to actuate the WLSV via inductive charging and without the use of wired contact.

Claims

1. A safety valve assembly for selectively closing off and opening fluid flow through a flowbore of a wellbore, the safety valve assembly comprising:

a valve member that is moveable between an open position, wherein fluid flow is permitted through the flowbore and a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the flowbore is blocked by the valve member;

a valve actuator for moving the valve member between its open and closed positions;

an electrical power source powering the valve actuator; and

an induction charging coil operably interconnected with the power source, the induction charging coil operable to receive electrical charge from an inductive coupling with a second induction charging coil.

2. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve member is a flapper valve member.

3. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a valve housing having a latching mechanism for securing the safety valve assembly within the flowbore of the wellbore.

4. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve actuator comprises a fluid pump.

5. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve actuator comprises a solenoid.

6. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve actuator comprises a motor.

7. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve actuator comprises an electro-hydraulic actuator device.

8. The safety valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve actuator further comprises a wireless receiver to receive a wireless command signal from an external source and, in response thereto, move the valve member between the open and closed positions.

9. A safety valve arrangement for blocking fluid flow through a wellbore flowbore, the safety valve arrangement comprising:

a first safety valve assembly disposed within the flowbore and having a housing defining a valve bore and a first valve member that is moveable between open and closed positions to selectively block fluid flow through the valve bore;

the first safety valve assembly having a first induction coil that is selectively energizable with electrical energy;

a second safety valve assembly that is shaped and sized to be disposed within the valve bore of the first safety valve assembly, the second safety valve assembly comprising a second valve member that is moveable between open and closed positions to block fluid flow through the second safety valve assembly;

the second safety valve assembly having a second induction coil that is selectively energizable with electrical energy via induction coupling with the first induction coil, the second induction coil providing electrical power for moving the second valve member between its open and closed positions.

10. The safety valve arrangement of claim 9 wherein the second safety valve assembly comprises a charge storage device operably interconnected with the second induction coil for retaining electrical energy that has been transmitted to the second induction coil.

11. The safety valve arrangement of claim 9 wherein the second safety valve assembly comprises a latching mechanism for securing the safety valve assembly within the valve bore of the first safety valve assembly.

12. The safety valve arrangement of claim 9 further comprising an electrically-powered valve actuator within the second valve assembly to move the second valve member between its open and closed positions.

13. The safety valve arrangement of claim 12 wherein the valve actuator comprises a fluid pump.

14. The safety valve arrangement of claim 12 wherein the valve actuator comprises a motor.

15. The safety valve arrangement of claim 12 wherein the valve actuator comprises a solenoid.

16. The safety valve arrangement of claim 12 wherein the valve actuator comprises an electro-hydraulic actuator device.

17. A method of selectively blocking fluid flow within a production flowbore within a well, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing a first safety valve assembly within the flowbore, the first safety valve assembly having a valve member that is moveable between an open position, wherein fluid flow through the flowbore is permitted, and a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the flowbore is blocked;

operating the first safety valve assembly to selectively block the flowbore until the first safety valve assembly fails to move between the open and closed positions;

disposing a second safety valve assembly into the flowbore, the second safety valve assembly having an electrically-powered valve member that is operable between an open position, wherein fluid flow through the flowbore is permitted, and a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the flowbore is blocked;

transmitting electrical power from the first safety valve assembly to the second safety valve assembly via induction charging for operation of the valve member of the second safety valve assembly; and

operating the second safety valve assembly to selectively block fluid flow through the flowbore.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of transmitting electrical power from the first safety valve assembly to the second safety valve assembly comprises:

forming an inductive coupling between a first induction charging coil associated with the first safety valve assembly and a second induction charging coil associated with the second safety valve assembly; and

energizing the first induction charging coil with electrical energy to transmit electrical energy from the first induction charging coil to the second induction charging coil.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of operating the second safety valve assembly further comprises providing a command signal for actuation of the valve member of the second safety valve assembly via wireless transmission.