Wireless activatable valve assembly

• US 9,540,912 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Fripp, Michael L., Bonner, Aaron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk (Philip)
• Application Number:
  US14/126,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/063 Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc E21B34/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• 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: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/114 Perforators using direct fluid action on the wall to be perforated, e.g. abrasive jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well

Abstract

A wireless actuation system comprises a transmitter, an actuation system comprising a receiving antenna, and one or more sliding members transitional from a first position to a second position. The transmitter is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal, and the sliding member prevents a route of fluid communication via one or more ports of a housing when the sliding member is in the first position. The sliding member allows fluid communication via the one or more ports of the housing when the sliding member is in the second position, and the actuation system is configured to allow the sliding member to transition from the first position to the second position in response to recognition of the electromagnetic signal by the receiving antenna.

Claims

1. A well screen assembly for use downhole comprising:

a first fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular;

a flow restrictor disposed in the fluid pathway;

a first actuation system comprising a first receiving antenna, wherein the first receiving antenna is configured to generate an electric current in response to receiving a first electromagnetic signal having a first frequency; and

a first sliding member disposed in series with the flow restrictor in the fluid pathway, wherein the sliding member is transitional from a first position to a second position in response to the electric current;

wherein the sliding member prevents fluid communication along the fluid pathway when the sliding member is in the first position, and wherein the sliding member allows fluid communication along the fluid pathway when the sliding member is in the second position.

2. The well screen assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second actuation system comprising a second receiving antenna, wherein the second receiving antenna is configured to generate an electric current in response to receiving a second electromagnetic signal having a second frequency; and

a second sliding member disposed in parallel with the flow restrictor,

wherein the second sliding member is disposed in a second fluid pathway between the exterior of the wellbore tubular and the interior of the wellbore tubular,

wherein the second fluid pathway bypasses the flow restrictor, and

wherein the second sliding member prevents fluid communication along the second fluid pathway when the second sliding member is in an initial position,

wherein the second sliding member allows fluid communication along the second fluid pathway when the second sliding member is in an actuated position.

3. The well screen assembly of claim 2, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are the same.

4. The well screen assembly of claim 2, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are different.

5. The well screen assembly of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first electromagnetic signal to the first receiving antenna.

6. The well screen assembly of claim 5, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the second electromagnetic signal to the second receiving antenna.

7. The well screen assembly of claim 5, further comprising a second transmitter, wherein the second transmitter is configured to transmit the second electromagnetic signal to the second receiving antenna.

8. The well screen assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a second wellbore tubular and an interior of the second wellbore tubular, wherein the wellbore tubular and the second wellbore tubular form parts of a wellbore tubular string;

a second flow restrictor disposed in the second fluid pathway;

a second actuation system comprising a second receiving antenna, wherein the second receiving antenna is configured to generate a second electric current in response to receiving a second electromagnetic signal having a second frequency; and

a second sliding member disposed in series with the second flow restrictor in the second fluid pathway, wherein the second sliding member is transitional from a third position to a fourth position in response to the second electric current;

wherein the second sliding member prevents fluid communication along the second fluid pathway when the second sliding member is in the third position, and wherein the second sliding member allows fluid communication along the second fluid pathway when the second sliding member is in the fourth position.

9. The well screen assembly of claim 8, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are different.

10. A well screen assembly for use in a wellbore comprising:

a plurality of fluid pathways, wherein each fluid pathway of the plurality of fluid pathways is configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, wherein two or more fluid pathways of the plurality of fluid pathways comprise;

an actuation system comprising a receiving antenna, wherein the receiving antenna is configured to generate an electric current in response to receiving a specific electromagnetic signal;

a flow restrictor disposed in at least one of the two or more fluid pathways; and

a sliding member disposed in the corresponding fluid pathway, wherein the sliding member is transitional from a first position to a second position in response to the electric current;

wherein the sliding member prevents fluid communication along the corresponding fluid pathway when the sliding member is in the first position, and wherein the sliding member allows fluid communication along the corresponding fluid pathway when the sliding member is in the second position.

11. The well screen assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuation systems in each of the two or more fluid pathways are configured to generate the electric current in response to specific electromagnetic signals having different frequencies.

12. The well screen assembly of claim 10, wherein the receiving antenna is physically tuned to the specific electromagnetic signal.

13. The well screen assembly of claim 10, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the specific electromagnetic signal to at least one corresponding receiving antenna.

14. The well screen assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one receiving antenna is configured to not generate an electric current in response to the transmitter transmitting the specific electromagnetic signal to the at least one corresponding receiving antenna.

15. A method comprising:

preventing, by a first sliding member, fluid flow through a first fluid pathway in a well screen assembly, wherein the first fluid pathway is configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular;

inductively coupling, by a first receiving antenna, with a first transmitting antenna that is transmitting a first signal;

generating a first electric current in the first receiving antenna in response to receiving the first signal;

translating the first sliding member using the first electric current; and

allowing fluid flow through a flow restrictor is disposed in the first fluid pathway in response to the translating of the first sliding member.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

preventing, by a second sliding member, fluid flow through a second fluid pathway in the well screen assembly, wherein the second fluid pathway is configured to provide fluid communication between the exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular and wherein the second fluid pathway is disposed in parallel with the fluid pathway;

inductively coupling, by a second receiving antenna, with a second transmitting antenna that is transmitting a second signal;

generating a second electric current in the second receiving antenna in response to receiving the second signal;

translating the second sliding member using the second electric current; and

allowing fluid flow through the second fluid pathway in response to the translating of the second sliding member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first transmitting antenna and the second transmitting antenna are disposed in one transmitter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first signal and the second signal have different frequencies.