Bypass Diverter Sub for Wireline Retrievable Safety Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsurface safety valves in oil and gas wells often malfunction, requiring costly and time-consuming replacement or repair, especially since they are integrated into production tubing, and there is a need for an efficient method to provide hydraulic pressure to wireline retrievable safety valves for operation.
Innovation Solution
A bypass diverter sub is used to divert hydraulic fluid pressure from a subsurface safety valve to a wireline retrievable safety valve, allowing the wireline retrievable safety valve to assume the safety functions of the malfunctioning subsurface safety valve, utilizing a housing with control and balance line bypass pistons and magnets to re-route pressure when the subsurface safety valve is inoperable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a wireline retrievable safety valve is installed in the TRSV, then the safety function can be maintained without removing production tubing, but hydraulic pressure cannot be provided to the WLRSV for proper operation
Solution Approach 1:
A bypass diverter sub is introduced as an intermediary device between the control line and the WLRSV. This diverter sub includes a bypass port and bypass passage that redirects hydraulic fluid pressure from the control line to the WLRSV, enabling the WLRSV to receive the necessary hydraulic pressure for operation without requiring modification to the original control line configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic control system is segmented into separate pathways: the original control line pathway for the TRSV and a bypass pathway for the WLRSV. The bypass diverter sub creates this segmentation by providing alternative flow paths that allow independent operation of the WLRSV while maintaining the original TRSV control system intact
2Reliability
If the entire production tubing is removed to repair or replace a malfunctioning TRSV, then the TRSV can be properly repaired or replaced, but the process is expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The WLRSV is lowered into the wellbore via wireline and nested inside the existing TRSV assembly without requiring removal of the production tubing. The bypass diverter sub is also nested within the existing tubing configuration, allowing the WLRSV to be installed and operated within the confines of the existing TRSV and production tubing structure
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass diverter sub is pre-configured with bypass ports and passages that can redirect hydraulic pressure before the WLRSV is fully deployed. This preliminary configuration of the bypass system enables immediate operation of the WLRSV once installed, eliminating the need for additional installation steps or system reconfiguration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective operation of wireline retrievable safety valves by redirecting control and balance line pressures, allowing for prompt replacement or repair of malfunctioning subsurface safety valves without removing the entire production tubing, thus reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
A flow tube profile positioned within the flow passage provides an inner magnet magnetically coupled to the outer magnet such that movement of the flow tube profile correspondingly moves the control and balance line bypass pistons
Data Source
AI summary
A bypass diverter sub including a housing defining a flow passage, a control line bypass piston arranged within a control line bypass bore defined in a wall of the housing, and a balance line bypass piston arranged within a balance line bypass bore defined in the wall. An outer magnet is disposed within a magnet chamber and is operatively coupled to the control and balance line bypass. A flow tube profile is positioned within the flow passage and provides an inner magnet magnetically coupled to the outer. The flow tube profile is movable between a first position, where control line and balance line pressures circulate through the bypass diverter sub to a subsurface safety valve, and a second position, where the control line pressure is diverted into the flow passage and the balance line pressure is diverted into a balance line jumper conduit.