Complementary Valve for Wellbore Pressure Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wellbore applications, pressure activated devices often fail to reset when ambient pressure drops after operation, leading to hydraulic locks that prevent further operations without complex and costly retrieval and reconfiguration processes.
Innovation Solution
A complementary valve system that includes a flow activated valve and a pressure activated device, where the flow activated valve opens when flow through the central bore is below a threshold, allowing pressure equalization and resetting of pressure activated devices by opening a fluid connection between the bore and wellbore when the activation pressure is less than the first activation pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure activated devices are used to control fluid flow in wellbore applications, then device reliability is improved, but device complexity increases when retrieval and reconfiguration processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The complementary valve enables pressure activated devices to reset automatically when flow conditions change. The valve monitors flow rate and automatically opens the fluid connection when flow drops below the threshold, allowing pressure equalization and automatic deactivation of pressure activated devices without requiring external intervention or complex retrieval procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The complementary valve incorporates a flow monitoring mechanism that provides feedback about flow conditions. When the flow rate drops below a predetermined threshold, the valve detects this condition and automatically activates the fluid connection to equalize pressure, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents hydraulic locks before they occur.
2Productivity
If pressure activated devices remain activated after injection, then productivity is improved by preventing fluid loss, but loss of time increases due to inability to perform multiple treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The complementary valve transforms the static state of pressure activated devices into a dynamic system that automatically responds to changing flow conditions. The valve continuously monitors flow rate and adjusts the fluid connection state accordingly, enabling pressure activated devices to transition between activated and deactivated states as needed for multiple treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter as the trigger for resetting pressure activated devices. When flow rate drops below a predetermined threshold after injection, the complementary valve detects this parameter change and automatically initiates pressure equalization, allowing the same equipment to be reused for subsequent treatments without manual intervention.
3Stress or pressure
If flow activated valve closes during operation, then pressure building is improved, but hydraulic locks occur when ambient pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The complementary valve performs a preliminary check of flow conditions before pressure activated devices can become locked. By continuously monitoring flow rate and opening the fluid connection when flow drops below the threshold, the valve prevents the pressure differential from becoming large enough to cause hydraulic locks, acting as a preventive measure before the problem occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The complementary valve acts as an intermediary between the flow activated valve and the pressure activated devices. It monitors flow conditions and mediates pressure equalization by opening or closing the fluid connection, preventing direct harmful effects of pressure differential on the pressure activated devices and avoiding hydraulic locks.
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 resetting of pressure activated devices without the need for complex retrieval, allowing multiple wellbore treatments in a single trip by ensuring pressure equalization and device deactivation, thus preventing hydraulic locks and facilitating repeated high-pressure operations.
Implementation Method 1
a flow activated valve configured to open when a flow through a central bore is less than a predetermined threshold and to close if the flow exceeds the threshold
Implementation Method 2
a pressure activated device configured to be activated when an activation pressure, defined as the difference between a bore pressure within the central bore and an ambient pressure around the string, is greater than or equal to a first activation pressure
Implementation Method 3
The complementary valve is configured to open a fluid connection between the central bore and the ambient wellbore if the activation pressure is less than the first activation pressure and to close the fluid connection when the activation pressure is equal to or greater than the first activation pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A complementary valve (100) for a movable string (1) in a wellbore application, wherein the movable string (1) comprises: a flow activated valve (400) configured to open when a flow through a central bore (2) is less than a predetermined threshold and to close if the flow exceeds the threshold, and a pressure activated device (200, 300) configured to be activated when an activation pressure, defined as the difference between a bore pressure within the central bore (2) and an ambient pressure around the string (1), is greater than or equal to a first activation pressure and to be deactivated when the activation pressure is less than the first activation pressure. The complementary valve (100) is configured to open a fluid connection (111, 121) between the central bore and the ambient wellbore if the activation pressure is less than the first activation pressure, and to close the fluid connection when the activation pressure is equal to or greater than the first activation pressure. Thereby, the complementary valve (100) ensures that the pressure activated device (200, 300) is reset after use.