Frac valve

• US 8,757,265 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eircan Downhole Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Eircan Downhole Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Cuffe, Christopher J., Cuffe, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALKER, RICHARD K
• Application Number:
  US13/815,601
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 166/177.5, 166/308.1, 166/332.1, 166/332.4, 166/334.4, 251/129.01
• US Class Current: 166/308.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 for cementing casings into boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/261 Separate steps of (1) cementing, plugging or consolidating and (2) fracturing or attacking the formation

Abstract

Frac valves used in completing oil and gas wells are provided. The valves comprise a cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into a liner for a well. The valve housing defines a conduit for the passage of fluids through the housing. Preferably the conduit has a substantially uniform diameter. The housing has a port which can allow fluids to pass from the conduit to the exterior of the valve. The port may be shut off or left open by a valve body mounted on the housing. Preferably, the valve body is mounted between inner and outer walls provided in the housing. An actuator is provided to move the valve body between its open and closed positions. It comprises a receiver that is adapted to receive an activation signal. Thus, the valve may be actuated by introducing a transmitter into the housing conduit which transmits an activation signal.

Claims

1. A frac valve for a well liner, said frac valve being adapted for use in fracturing a well formation and comprising:

(a) a cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into said liner for a well and defining a conduit for passage of fluids through said housing;

(b) said housing having an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall and said outer wall being spaced from each other to define an annular space therebetween and each having a plurality of ports therein allowing passage of fluids between said conduit and the exterior of said housing;

(c) a valve body mounted in said annular space between said inner wall and said outer wall, said valve body comprising a cylindrical sleeve which is repeatably moveable between a closed position in which fluid communication between said ports is shut off and an open position in which fluid may flow between said conduit and the exterior of said housing through said ports; and

(d) an actuator adapted to move said sleeve between said closed position and said open position;

(e) wherein said actuator comprises a receiver adapted to receive an activation signal from a transmitter introduced into said conduit; and

(f) wherein said housing comprises a first set of vent ports in said inner wall and disposed in said annular space above said sleeve and a second set of vent ports in said inner wall and disposed in said annular space below said sleeve, said sets of vent ports adapted to cooperate with each other to allow fluid to be displaced from and flow into said annular space upon movement of said sleeve between said closed position and said open position.

2. The frac valve of claim 1, wherein said activation signal is a signal to move said valve body between said closed position and said open position after a time delay.

3. The frac valve of claim 1, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

4. The frac valve of claim 1. wherein said conduit has a substantially uniform diameter.

5. The frac valve of claim 4, wherein said activation signal is a signal to move said valve body between said closed position and said open position after a time delay.

6. The frac valve of claim 4, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

7. The frac valve of claim 6, wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

8. The frac valve of claim 4, wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

9. The frac valve of claim 4, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator.

10. The frac valve of claim 4, wherein said housing comprises:

(a) a first connection sub;

(b) an inner wall sleeve and an outer wall sleeve releasably engaged with said first connection sub;

(c) an actuator housing sleeve releasably engaged with said inner and outer wall sleeves; and

(d) a second connection sub releasably engaged with said actuator housing sleeve.

11. The frac valve of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

12. A liner adapted for installation in a well comprising the frac valve of claim 4.

13. A method of fracturing, a formation in a well, said method comprising:

(a) installing a liner in said well, said liner comprising first and second frac valves of claim 1;

(b) opening said first frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said housing conduit, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal, whereby said activation signal is received by said receiver and said actuator is activated to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position;

(c) pumping fluid through said opened first frac valve to fracture said formation;

(d) shutting said first frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said housing conduit, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal, whereby said activation signal is received by said receiver and said actuator is activated to move said valve body from said open position to said closed position;

(e) opening said second frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said housing conduit, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal, whereby said activation signal is received by said receiver and said actuator is activated to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position; and

(f) pumping fluid through said opened second frac valve to fracture said formation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

15. A method of fracturing a formation in a well, said method comprising:

(a) installing a liner in said well, said liner comprising first and second frac valves of claim 4;

(b) opening said first frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said housing conduit, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal, whereby said activation signal is received by said receiver and said actuator is activated to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position;

(c) pumping fluid through said opened first frac valve to fracture said formation;

(d) shutting said first frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said housing conduit, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal, whereby said activation signal is received by said receiver and said actuator is activated to move said valve body from said open position to said closed position;

(e) opening said second frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said housing conduit, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal, whereby said activation signal is received by said receiver and said actuator is activated to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position; and

(f) pumping fluid through said opened second frac valve to fracture said formation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said installation of said liner comprises cementing said liner in said well.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises opening said first frac valve by introducing a first transmitter, said first transmitter being encoded with a first activation signal to activate said actuator to open said first frac valve and closing said first frac valve and opening said second frac valve by introducing a second transmitter, said second transmitter being encoded with a second activation signal to activate said actuator of said first frac valve to close said first frac valve and to activate said actuator of said second frac valve to open said second frac valve.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second activation signal is received by said receiver in said second frac valve and said actuator in said second frac valve is activated to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position after a time delay, whereby said second frac valve is opened after said first frac valve is closed.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

22. A method of fracturing a formation in a well, said method comprising:

(a) installing a liner in said well, said liner comprising an uphole frac valve and a downhole frac valve, said frac valves each comprising;

i) cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into said liner, said housing defining a conduit for passage of fluids through said housing and a port allowing passage of fluids;

ii) a valve body mounted on said housing and adapted for movement between a closed position in which fluid communication through said port is shut off and an open position in which fluid may flow between said conduit and the exterior of said housing through said port; and

iii) an actuator adapted to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position and comprising a receiver;

(b) actuating said frac valves to fracture said formation in a predetermined sequence;

(c) wherein said actuation of said frac valves comprises actuating said downstream frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said conduit of said downhole frac valve through said conduit of said uphole valve, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal which is received by said receiver in said actuator of said downhole frac valve;

(d) wherein said ports in said uphole frac valve and said downhole frac valve and said transmitter are sized such that said transmitter is precluded from passing through said ports in said uphole frac valve and is capable of passing through said ports in said downhole frac valve.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said valve body of said uphole and said downhole frac valves is mounted between an inner wall and an outer wall of said housing.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said housing, conduit of said uphole and said downhole frac valves has a substantially uniform diameter.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency identification receiver and said transmitter is a radio frequency identification transmitter.